I’m Taylor Peters, and this is how I’m living deeply. 

“I knew from my teenage years that starting a family might be difficult for me. So after Scott and I got married, we started trying to have a baby early on. Nothing. By the time we were nearing our first anniversary, I decided it was time to see a doctor. My first visit with our fertility specialist was in the fall of 2021. We started with bloodwork, scans, and tests. By December, we had a treatment plan. My first attempt at ovulation induction was on Mother’s Day weekend in May 2022. But my body didn’t even respond to the medicine- it was heartbreaking. I remember flipping through my prayer journals during that time, crying out to God, ‘Children are a blessing, so why can’t I have a family?’ We were doing everything ‘right’— faithful in church, praying, trusting. But nothing seemed to work. That was really tough, trying to understand why our prayers weren’t being answered the way we hoped. By August 2022, I finally had a successful ovulation, allowing us to try an IUI (intrauterine insemination). We were cautiously optimistic, but the pregnancy test in September came back negative. In October, I did get pregnant- we were overjoyed! That Sunday at CSPC, I was greeting everyone with such excitement, sharing our good news. But that joy was short-lived. I started bleeding that same day, and it turned out to be an ectopic pregnancy. I remember the day we found out for sure that the pregnancy wasn’t viable. My mom came over, and I just curled up on her lap, crying. My stepdad prayed in our living room, asking God for strength and acknowledging His sovereignty, even when we didn’t understand His plan. The following months were incredibly challenging. I had to take medication to stop cell growth. Even though I knew the pregnancy wasn’t viable, taking the medication was mentally taxing- it almost felt like I was stopping life from developing. I had surgery in December, which revealed that my ovaries showed no signs of ever ovulating naturally. This was a significant revelation- it meant getting pregnant without help would be nearly impossible. 

In January 2023, my doctor was hopeful, even saying he believed I would get pregnant within six months! Scott and I resumed our prayers with a renewed sense of submission, trusting that God’s plan might not align with our desires, but He was still at work. Romans 5 talks about perseverance building character, and I clung to that promise. By February, we had another IUI, but it was negative. Perseverance, though, right? We tried again, and my fertility nurse, Ms. Mona, told me she believed I would get pregnant this time and have a girl. I promised her that if I did, we’d name our daughter after her. When I got a positive pregnancy test shortly after, I was filled with anxiety because of the past losses. We scheduled an ultrasound at six weeks and four days. My mom, a nurse practitioner, joined us. When the doctor started the scan, I saw the gestational sac, but no baby. My mom’s hand tightened on my shoulder, and I knew something was wrong. The doctor confirmed our worst fears: no baby, no heartbeat. Devastating. We went home, trying to process yet another loss. Also, if my body didn’t pass everything naturally, I would need to have a DNC (a procedure to clear the uterine lining) the following week. So one week later, the day after my birthday, I went back to have another ultrasound in preparation for the expected DNC. I told Scott and my mom they didn’t need to come with me- that even if I didn’t understand, I was at peace. (And the DNC was scheduled for the following day, meaning Scott was already taking that day off from work.) Oddly, I noticed I was more tired than usual, and I’d been sick as a dog on my birthday the day before. But I didn’t really think much of any of that- I just wanted to get through this sad setback. It was just me, Ms. Mona, and my doctor in the room. As soon as the ultrasound began, I noticed something and blurted out, ‘What is that?’ The doctor, stunned, replied, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a baby.’ Ms. Mona bolted out of the room, exclaiming to the other nurses, ‘There’s a baby! We found it!’

Overwhelmed with emotion, I raised my hands and started praising God, reciting Psalm 34, my favorite: ‘Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.’ I tried to call Scott, who was at work, and my mom, who was with a patient. When neither answered, I felt a rush of anxiety. My doctor gently reminded me, ‘God wants you to have this moment with just you and your baby.’ His words calmed me, allowing me to fully appreciate the miracle unfolding before my eyes. Eventually, Scott and my mom joined via FaceTime, both shedding tears of joy. That day, Ms. Mona told me, ‘Taylor, I left here last week heartbroken for you. I went to church Sunday and told my church people, ‘We’re going to pray for a miracle.’’And then that day in the office, she had prayed, ‘God, let me see a miracle.’ My doctor also told me he had asked, ‘God, let me witness a miracle today.’ How kind the Lord was to answer! Despite the initial anxiety from our previous losses, the pregnancy was remarkably smooth. Apart from some gestational diabetes, which I managed with a bit of insulin, everything progressed really, really well. Our baby girl, whom we were initially preparing to lose, was measuring perfectly at seven weeks and four days during that ultrasound. My doctor, a seasoned practitioner, said he’d never seen this happen before. He told me, ‘This goes into the books as a miracle. This is a God thing.’ It was a moment that reaffirmed my faith- and my belief in the power of prayer. Months later, our daughter’s birth was another testament to God’s grace. She decided to arrive early and in a breech position, leading to an unplanned C-section. Scott saw her first, and he was quick to capture the moment on his phone. When they handed her to me, it was 1:40 in the morning, and I had been awake since 5 a.m. the previous day. Exhausted but elated, I just whispered, ‘Thank you, God, for your mercies.’ In her tiny face, I saw the culmination of countless prayers- not just ours, but from our family, friends, small group and CSPC, Ms. Mona, and my doctor. 

Holding our miracle baby, Adelaide Claire Mona Peters (yes, I kept my promise to Ms. Mona!) was surreal. It was a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, God is working in ways we cannot see. The prayers that sustained us through the journey were now evident in the life we held in our arms. Adelaide’s birth wasn’t just the end of a long, painful chapter; it was the beginning of a new one, filled with hope, gratitude, and awe at God’s faithfulness. As I think back on it now, I’m struck by the profound lessons I learned about prayer. First, prayer isn’t just about asking and receiving- it builds a longing in our hearts for God, deepening our relationship with Him. The delays and disappointments, though painful, taught me to yearn for His presence more than the answers I sought. Secondly, prayer revealed what I didn’t know I needed- patience, gratitude, and gentleness. It wasn’t just about receiving a child but about growing in virtues that made me closer to the Lord. And prayer strengthened my relationships, too. It taught me how to pray for my husband, my child, and others around me in deeper, more meaningful ways. It wasn’t just about asking for blessings but about becoming the person God wanted me to be. Thirdly, in waiting, I learned to praise God for His goodness, even when my desires weren’t immediately fulfilled. Adelaide, our little Sassafras, has transformed our lives. Her presence is a daily reminder of God’s grace and the fruit of persistent prayer. She’s made me a better person, teaching me to appreciate the little things and to live in the moment. Seeing Scott as a dad, seeing my mom and Scott’s mom become grandmothers, and experiencing the joy Adelaide brings to our family has been incredibly fulfilling. She’s not just our miracle; she’s a testament to the power of prayer and God’s faithfulness.”