Lesli’s story
Just like the picture of Lesli, her dream came true to open up a doll on Christmas morning. To play mommy to all the children, a dream to become a mother someday. Many years have passed since that Christmas. After college, life was all about a career and saving money to pay cash for a house. The dream seemed distant and it was only something little girls do.
However, a deep void crept in and she began to pray. Time progressed. One day as she was leading a Bible study in her home there was a question asked, “What are the five desires of your heart?” Lesli began to scribble them down. As she looked over her answers four out the five desires listed were for her husband. It was at this time she felt the leading of God, to begin to pray His desires within her heart.
So she did.
Fast forward to a few months later attending a Mother’s Day church service. The pastor began to speak on barrenness, not only for those who felt barren spiritually, but women who desired children. As soon as the words left the pastor’s lips it was like an arrow into Lesli’s heart. In that moment the cavernous feeling was filled. The prayer of praying His desires in her heart were answered. She left church arm-in-arm with her husband, the southeast Texas sun shining on her face and the overflowing desire for motherhood.
She thought, “Great! I’ll get pregnant soon and be a mother!”
But pregnancy never came, the longing for children was just that, a longing.
Unfortunately, Lesli is no stranger to infertility. She has experienced the gamut of feelings, asking God endless questions, along with the prodding of doctors she’s heard their words of “endometriosis, fibroids, surgery, fertility treatments along with the phrase ‘there’s no hope for you to conceive’.”
All through her infertility journey she journaled, recording God’s faithfulness of meeting her in the times of deep disappointment not realizing at the time He was turning these deep disappointments into an appointment with Him. It is through this overflow she writes how He has healed her from the grief of infertility.
Even though God has led her down a road not of her own choosing, God has opened up to her a smooth highway upon the desert of infertility, all by believing in Him. This journey has caused her to stop gazing inward with a determination to look outward toward others.
In 2007, she was asked to initiate and lead HOPE – Hearts Of Promise and Expectation for Women, a Christian infertility support group in one of the largest churches in America. From the experiences of isolation and grief shared within the support group, e-mails from around the country and beyond, as well as her own experience, a deep compassion has formed for those who are hurting. The Christian Infertility Support Ministry has grown! Lesli leads and oversees three support groups within her hometown and is consulted with inquiries from around the world on how to lead and start Christian support groups.
At Lesli and her husband’s last fertility treatment is when she heard the doctor’s devastating words, “There’s no hope for you to conceive.” She left the doctor’s office in despair. She was depleted emotionally as well as physically, but she knew there was one thing left that she could do.
She could pray and worship God.
And, so she did.
That night she happened to be invited to a meeting led by a charismatic, over-the-top-personality preacher. It was a night she’s never forgotten. It’s was night of trajectory that changed the course of her life. God, with his supernatural ability and His infinite mercy touched her broken heart forever healing her from the grief of infertility. It’s a night where her pain turned into with the birth of the online ministry, Dancing Upon Barren Land-Spiritual Nourishment for the Infertility Road.
Dancing Upon Barren Land is an extension of that compassion, informing women/couples there is a loving, caring God who has not forsaken them.
Lesli’s desire is for you to enjoy this moment in life, even though you are not yet gazing into the eyes of your newborn or embracing your adopted son or daughter. She’s an empathetic voice to those hurting during this painful season and she so wants you to learn how to Dance Upon Barren Land!
Lesli enjoys her moments in life by her jobs; being a wife to a very busy man, teaching etiquette and cooking classes to children, working as a manager for the non-profit organization Ronald McDonald House, as well as her own non-profit, the Dancing Upon Barren Land Ministry.
However, she finds most pleasure in spending time with family and friends, deep conversation and traveling with her man (especially road trips). She likes creating through home decorating, gardening and watching PBS’ Masterpiece Theater while simultaneously eating dark chocolate! She’s the author of Dancing Upon Barren Land – Prayer, Scripture Reflection & Hope for Infertility and a sought out speaker for national infertility and adoption conferences, as well as women’s church retreats and luncheons.
Most of all, she loves Jesus and enjoys sharing His love and teaching the Bible to women. She is happily married to her crazy man of faith, live-in comedian and best friend, Larry, of 25 years.
Lesli’s prayer for you:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen” Romans 15:13