Amanda's Story

Before Embrace Grace, my life was incredibly difficult. I had lost my husband, experienced homelessness, and relapsed. After finding some stability and moving into an apartment, I experienced another devastating loss when my sister passed away. While grieving with my family, I remember looking at my nieces and nephews and wondering if I had missed my opportunity to have children of my own. Just one month later, I found out I was pregnant.

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I went to a local pregnancy center, where I learned about Embrace Grace. The program helped me reconnect with God while surrounding me with women I could share my experiences with. Because I don't have family living nearby, having that support made such a difference. I could be honest about what I had been through without feeling judged. Instead, I felt welcomed and reminded that I didn't have to walk through pregnancy alone.

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The baby shower was also a huge blessing because I'm living on a fixed income. Even after the semester ended, I've stayed friends with my leaders and some of the other moms. I also started attending the church where my Embrace Grace group was held and have really enjoyed becoming part of the community. I loved my experience so much that I may even help with the baby showers for the next group. I'm so grateful Embrace Grace gave me the opportunity to reconnect with God and find the support I needed.

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