Anchored: Finding Hope in the Unexpected

I've "known" Kayla online since before she was pregnant. We chatted on forums together and I began following her when her story of infertility, miscarriage, and and a hyperemetic pregnancy mirrored my own. I remember the day we were informed that she was in the hospital and the baby was coming and I don't think I've missed anything she's written since then.I say that to say that I expected that I would know this story, and that it would be a recap of her blog. I almost didn't buy the book because I thought it would just be a reprint of what I've already read.It's not.It's still signature Kayla, with a mastery of story telling that will lead you from hysterical stitches to tears and back again so quickly, you'll find yourself unsure of what just happened. But there is a depth and vulnerability in this book that is more intimate, personal, and carefully woven. She never challenges the reader to change her own mind about something she may believe or have experienced. However, the way in which she presents the things that changed, shaped, or challenged her is so real, and normal, that your guard is down and you can unthreateningly examine the conclusions and experiences your own life has made in response to pain and sorrow. Kayla is not preachy, and a lot of times I thought I was just reading a nice story, and then "bam!" something so poignant it caught my breath in my chest would jump right off the page at me. I have many doggeared pages to read again at another time. I read the book in less than one day because it was so easy to read with her. Even though I already knew how the story "ends" (up to this point), I could not stop reading.Kayla's book is not just for NICU Mommies. If you or someone you love has ever faced despair, or if you simply want to read witness to how one woman walking in grace learned to face her despair, this book is for you. Read it, savor it, be encouraged by it, be challenged by it, and join me in appreciating Kayla's wise stewardship of the story that has been given to her.

The author, Kayla Aimee, is five feet tall, of slight build and by her own admission is often mistaken for a child. But what a literary punch she has. I was prepared for a "nice" Christian read, whatever that may look like...but, oh my goodness! The event that triggers the writing of this book is the birth of Scarlette. Scarlette enters this world a micro-preemie..."weighing less than 6 sticks of butter", a quote from her mother, Kayla Aimee. Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster ride of emotion as you read...one minute you burst out in laughter and the next you are sobbing into your pillow. God's wisdom, His trustworthiness, His steadfastness is all on display in this book, but the finding of His hope seems to be in the unexpected joy of laughter. I loved this book!

Reading Anchored was like sitting across from a dear friend over coffee at a quaint little shop, tucked in a cozy corner where laughter and tears are acceptable. Tissues would pass back and forth between sips of coffee and bites of something yummy. A cherished time of faith building and hope filling.In 208 short pages (you'll keep turning the pages or swiping the screen), Kayla Aimee shares her mother's heartbeat in the telling of her daughter's story. Scarlette, a micro-preemie, fought dramatic odds that were stacked against her, much like the six sticks of butter she didn't quite match in weight.Anchored reads like a personal journal (with real journal entries included), transparent and full of gut wrenching emotion. The author's southern charm, wit, and outright "real" moments endear her to the reader, to the point where your tears will leave trails on the pages (or on your electronic device, so be careful). Moment to moment for months and months, Kayla and her husband watched as their tiny daughter fought for the precious gift of life. Never knowing what the outcome of each day held, grace became the lifeline of their existence.Below is a passage I, along with many other readers, highlighted:"There in the most wrenching moment of grief and fear arose the deepest assurance that if all else shattered, He would remain."I am the mother of a preemie, but his 35 week status was practically full-term compared to Scarlette's journey. Regardless of your status as a mother, both men and women can relate to this journey of finding hope in the unexpected. Highly recommend.