The Hopelessness is a Lie 

Phil, you brought tears to my eyes. Just three days ago I was telling God I don’t want to be here anymore and to take me “home”. Home where there is no anger, fear, jealousy, judgement, pain or suffering. I came down the street and my 17-year old granddaughter and her dad, my oldest son, had stopped by to visit. God sent them to teach me that I am needed here, that there is good just waiting around the corner if I just look.

I lost my older sister back in June after losing my mom in the October before. A little much but I am leaning on my faith. I remembered when Alex lost her sister unexpectedly like I did. It’s very hard but I know my hope and comfort are in the Lord. Thank you for your positivity and your comforting words.

I am one of those people and I'm losing this battle.... 😭 Depression is the worst thing....

We recently lost our little miracle IVF baby boy at 8days old .. It’s only been 8weeks. He was in the NICU and I thought of cassidy’s journey often, I pray that God uses our story and I hope that one day, Maybe, we can be blessed With another miracle to ease the empty arm phase we are in 😢 Our little one was Called Tommy 💙 thank you for your words here. We don’t have any embryos left and so at the moment hopeless is the feeling so this was a comfort 😢

God bless you and your Family Philip I am the Lady you Prayed for this summer after the loss of my Mom and my Husband in just 8 months. You took a crying wife out of the store and sit me down and Prayed for me and ask me to pray for you and your lovely wife. I remember telling you that YOU making your videos has helped me so much and I still mean it. And just let me say That God still has everything under control,he spoke the world into existence and I hear the lord saying,Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord,thoughts of peace and not evil, to give to you an expected end. God Bless you.

Thank you Phil for recognizing the hard parts of this holiday season. My beautiful son Jim was born on New Year's day 1971. He was able to be with us for 18 years until he was hit by a truck while biking and his time here ended. We have survived many times since then with Jim in our hearts every day. I always recite the poem by Emily Dickenson, 'Hope is a thing with feathers...".

I lost my daughter 9 years ago, never question why us. I decided to be strong for my husband and son. Yes , I cried but decided that I needed to go on. The first Christmas without her my son asked me to decorate our house for the holidays. With love ,l did it, not only for him but for my husband. It was not easy God was with us and my daughter was seeing us from heaven. We missed her a lot. God is always by your side helping you to get by day by day. Wishing everyone one a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year.

I am one of those that haven't felt joy during Christmas. My favorite Aunt will be laid to rest Thursday. Just one more thing piled on, but I agree the hopelessness IS a lie! I'm going to pick up the food order for the lunch I'm helping prepare for the funeral lunch. Pray for me please...

You are so right Philip. So many hurting and/or worried..it’s been a really rough year but interspersed with happiness and blessings too. It does help to know there are kindred spirits out there that do understand and care. 💖💖👍👍🙏🙏

Thank you Phil❤️❤️ you are a great encouragement

If Phillip would do a sermon online on Sundays- I would watch!

Philip is so sensitive. Love that

Sitting in ER with my 21y/o daughter with gut problems getting admitted with tests tomorrow. Not hopeless, but feeling unsure. Thank you for encouragement.

I buried my husband 12th December...... 4 hours before that my daughter lost her father inlaw also....2 dads in one day....my hubby loved Christmas so I have up all my decorations and we are going to raise a glass for him....fly high Benny,gone fishing with Jesus x

I had to have a hysterectomy in Sept, lost my mamaw in October and lost my Papaw in November. All in between was RSV and stomach bugs for us and our kids. The holidays have been bleak and fraught with grief and sickness. I finally took all the decor down today and it was 65 degrees where I live (Western NC) and I cleaned with the windows open and let some fresh air in. I tried to be intentional to work toward renewal today and transition into a new season. Keeping a grateful heart for me has been the key to not losing hope. Thank you, Phil for always knowing what to say. It’s clear that the Lord speaks through you so beautifully. It’s so sweet.

I lost my baby Dec 14th 1981. Not a holiday goes by that I don’t think about that night. I have three sons that I love with everything in me. Gods been good to me. Thank you Phil and Alex. I love you all Merry Christmas ❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️

Thank you so much for your pep talks Phillip-especially this one. I lost my husband in September of last year. He was a victim of Covid protocols in the hospital. I was a stay at home mom of 4 children prior to that. This is our second Christmas without him and in some ways its harder than it was the first Christmas. You guys were such an intricate part of my own journey when I almost had a miscarriage back in 2018. I've been watching you ever since. My husband eventually got interested in your journey with me and followed along as well like our favorite TV show. It was almost difficult to watch alone for a while, but I guess I'm dealing with my grief because the last few months I really look forward to your videos again. You're both are such a encouragement to everyone. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

This is my first Christmas without my husband, he passed away this year. But our Heavenly Father gives us the peace to know He sees our tears and even through those tears He gives us Joy.

Thank you Phil!!! I am not hopless but I am very sad!!! I will be all alone this Christmas!!! No family no friends!!! But I know that God will be with me!!! Merry Christmas!!! God Bless!!!

I LOVE your message at the end of the video. I think something else to note is, if you’re a person who tends to ASK those questions…maybe start trying not to. Train yourself to not ask and practice not bringing it up in general because you never know who is going through a difficult situation with pregnancy/infertility. And even the smallest curiosity on someone’s part could be incredibly painful for someone just trying to make it day by day and keeping the faith. Some people are more private and really don’t want to be asked or talk about it, it can be exhausting and anxiety inducing to have to mentally prepare to face people, and I think the kindest thing to do is let the couple lead the conversation…If people are open and comfortable talking about their challenges, they will bring it up, if not, let them have their peace this year because it’s clearly what they might be needing.

I love the encouragements you guys share. And I love the way Alex was looking at Phil while he was talking at the end. Your love is multiplying in us! Love it!!

This is my first Christmas without my husband. I am struggling to feel ok in celebrating the season because there was so much we did together. Thank you, Philip, for what you said at the end gave me hope that it is ok to enjoy the season.

Phillip your speech gave me hope. I lost my mother in June. And I’m still grieving. ❤

Thank you! Your words of support and hope matter. Happy Holidays!

I just want to say your message reached so much further then anyone doing IVF or infertility issues. Thank you God bless may be continue to bless your family. I'm thankful when watching your videos I don't feel so alone.

Bless you for your words of comfort for those of us who are saddened by the holidays. Whether it is from post trauma to costs associated with the holidays, it can drain attempts to find joy. Thank you for lifting spirits and hearts. Your kindness means so much 🙏🎄🙄

Wow did I not need this thank you thank you ! That was so needed to so many. What a blessing you and your precious family

Thank you for your beautiful words, Phil and Alex. They touched my heart deeply. I love you both and your beautiful family so much and I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a healthy happy New Year. Sending holiday hugs from Palm Desert, California. ❤️🎄

Thank you Phil for recognizing the hard parts of the holidays, after my mom passed away in 1998, i felt so lost and abandon by my family, my dad stopped talking to me and moved to another province and brother also went to same province just different place close to his girlfriend he married and had their 2 nd child. i had 2 children with my boyfriend who i got married and divorced every hoildays they went to their dad's place and i was alone. now my children are young adults. my daughter lives with me cause of her cognitive delays it never feels like a season to be joyful i try my best to make it happy and joyful with movies, homemade treats, Christmas cards to family and friends and try to have a good holiday meal. this year i have been sick with acid reflux and common cold. i had one person his name was ray he passed away this year on August 20 now his brother helps us when we have appointments thats nothing more and i am grateful Thank you for your positivity words

Thank you for the message of hope today Phil & Alex. I needed it so badly. Just discovered our 3rd IUI failed. I had so hoped to surprise my parents at Christmas but instead I’m contemplating how to avoid the subject of my health. ❤

I am not sure how or why.. but many times I’ve found myself watching your videos and when Phillip preaches it always speaks to me, just when I need it. Phillip you have a gift with words - thank you. Merry Christmas all

Thank you Phillip for those encouraging & supportive words. I needed to hear them. I love you all so much. Have a Blessed Christmas.

Your vlogs have helped me through the years and especially this year.This year was a year of grief for me and my husband. I lost my cousin/best friend of 25 years a year ago. And we’ve been trying to conceive for almost 2 years. I have a cyst that makes it hard for me to get pregnant and surgery to remove is a bit risky because I have a lot of scar tissue from my past surgeries and if I do the surgery there’s risk of infection . So we are praying for a miracle. I love your channel. Love you guys. I hardly comment on your channel but I also wanted to say thank you ❤ your channel has helped me a lot.

Thank you so much for talking about the struggles we all feel during the holidays .Praying for you and your family this Christmas season ❤️

Seasons greetings to you all and to anyone who reads this. I'm glad y'all feeling better. 🎅🤶

Your honesty has encouraged me beyond belief

Thank You for reminding me what my daddy used to Always tell me.. 'We have to live with hope'.. I don't know how i forgot that, what he said,, and, so, Phillip, you just reminded me.. I lost him some years ago. His loss was unexpected, and it left a deep, well, of a hole inside. I also lost my best friend, suddenly, this past January 13th,, almost a year ago now. It all seems like a little while ago. Any loss is extremely difficult. It's a lingering, longing, lonely feeling. Y'all do help more than you would know, with the losses, because you understand. Loneliness is brutal. Thank Y'all for the encouragement needed to walk through the pain. 'If you haven't gone through the darkness, how can you show them the light'... Thank Y'all for shining a light, of Hope.. ♡

Thank you Phillip and Alex you both are the best? I am sure your wise and heartfelt words, Phillip, will help so many people in various stages of life's difficulties, they may be facing!!!!! God Bless you both

I can feel the earth’s vibration in my feet.

As mentioned in Every Christmas Vlog the Sadness of now 17 years Estrangement with my only child Amie (now 42 years old)... This year I celebrated 14 years of Sobriety but the loss of my relationship with Amie breaks my heart more & more each year that passes... I try very hard to go into the stores but for the most run out without picking up half of what I went in for because I feel forcing a SMILE while listening to Christmas music & feeling my heart literally shattering inside just wanting to just hear my daughter's voice throws me into a deep depression that I literally stay secluded so not to drag down everyone's Christmas Joy💔💔💔🥺... I can only celebrate JESUS BIRTH with Thankfulness for my sober life & PRAY daily that THE LORD can put someone into Amie's path to soften her heart... MERRY CHRISTMAS to you ALL & Your Beautiful Families... GBY ALL with Peace, Good Health & Happiness throughout the Holiday Season & The New Year 🙏❤️💙💖💖💖🐕❤️💙❤️💙🏡🧑‍🎄🤶🎁🎄☃️✝️🤗 Thank You Phil for your words of Hope & Encouragement 🙏✝️🤗

I Absolutely Love your family. You bring me encouragement even though I never had infertility I have issues. Thanking you for allowing me into a small part of your family. Also they make hurricane tie downs for trampolines. My son-n-law used it and it has been many nor easters and a couple of hurricanes. Well worth getting. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I am fighting Covid right now so if you wouldn't mind saying a few prayers. God Bless.

Words are so true. My sweet Daddy passed away in July 2021. I haven’t even put my Christmas tree up this year. Just not feeling it. Mourning comes in waves, especially during the holidays.

You are already bringing us hope,encouragement. I cried listening to you. I may not be going through infertility but i morn the loss of my dad and now my auntie, all my health issues(autoimmune diseases) What you have said doesn’t just go out to ppl struggling infertility so thank you so much for your words. Love your family Love from Minnesota

You are already bringing hope and encouragement! Your family does represent it to me. ❤

Oh Philip😭 you really made me cry. Coz yes I have been struggling between this is His season to be joyful but its also my season of loneliness. Thank you guys for being of encouragement 💛

I want to wish you five, and both sets of parents, a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I hope you know, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, that the love and acceptance you show each other is something I aspire to have in my life. I thought I did, but my husband left six months ago and wants a divorce after 20 years together and I’m crushed. When you guys post videos it gives me happiness, helps my anxiety, and reminds me that there’s always something in this life to strive for and look forward to. I absolutely adore you all and I appreciate you sharing your journeys with us. It truly does make life easier for many of us to have families like your to watch and be fond of. ❤ I am in the space that Phillip is speaking of-I am dealing with tremendous grief and already deal with clinical depression and multiple health issues. Hopelessness is a daily fight. 😢Thank you as always

Thank you Phil!!! I wish you were my therapist. Your words brought me so much encouragement & hope. God is working through both of you. Love you both!

Awe what lovely family time. Picking out the tree to decorating. What a fun video. Merry Christmas

Ohhhhh Phil u are AAMAZING!!!! U are sooooo filled with the HOLY SPIRIT!!

Thank you Philip. My condition, causing disability does not define me. We have hope in God for all situations. God bless you all. Have an awesome Christmas time.

Beautifully said Philip. You guys are so wonderful. Thank you for all you guidance and love. ❤you right back!

I truly appreciate these message. I needed it ❤️🙏🏾

I just love your family so much & Thank You from the bottom of my ♥️ for you encouragement at this end of this video. After all your struggles you still find time to reach out to others. Losing my mum so suddenly recently has meant this first holiday without her is going to be tough, but we will smile & remember the wonderful memories we have of our darling Mum. Take care everyone & remember what Phil & Alex say ‘ there is always hope’, we just have to find it, Sending love & light to you all ♥️😘♥️😘♥️😘♥️

Hey Phil .. as far as the trampoline.. what we did when I was young was dig a big hole and set the trampoline base on it.. the makes it more safe and wind resistant. ❤️

I loved the look on Alex's face at the end of the video when Philip talked about hope and hard times during the holidays. Alex, you are so lucky to have such an amazing man! Phil, you would make a PHENOMENAL therapist!

My beautiful mumma left us in March. She was 91 and 1/2 and OMG I miss her so so much. You brought me to tears Philip and l try not to cry because she is in a better place but l want her back just for 1 day. Thankyou for caring 💓

Thank you for that message. I really needed that today. Thank you and God bless you guys.

Thank you Phil. I needed that talk.❤

The girls are growing so fast!! Cassidy has quite the vocabulary now!!

Aww Phil.. I love how deep into your heart you get x

Thanks guys for the encouragement. I lost 10 babies in my younger years, and then just recently I had my name slandered by a family member who was out to cause “mischief”. So much so that my family are now ghosting me (since March 2019). I feel so abandoned and hurt. The only thing keeping me going is my love for God and the knowledge that He will never abandon me.

That’s actually a very beautiful tree. I like that. Good shape good size. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄👍♥️

Mine is not infertility but another all rogether different. It is my challenge. We have son 45 who was brought up in a happy home. Being brought home from birth to bringing his daughter to visit his home. He still has the same parents that brought him home however our challenge is getting him to come home for just a cisit. He has not been home in 21 Thanksgivings and just 0 Christmases in 11 years. Your talk today hit me as if you were talking directly to me not about infertility but about our son and us. We are now elderly 74 and 71 so going to viait rhem is getting almost impoasivle now. Its not an east trip they live in a complete other state than us so it is hard. Thank you for your talk today. Tears and all.

This is the season that suicide is at its worse. There is hope. You can wipe that slate clean and put on the board whatever makes things better for you. Focus on gratitude then the negativity melts away. I have been dealing with 2 terminal diseases and instead of being miserable from these dx, I practice gratitude. I have another day to try and do positive things for the benefit of our community. The growth that we can experience by focusing on the positive is unbelievable. Peace to all.

My son has a few toys from my husband’s childhood and he adores them and I loved we have them for him!

That was so beautiful Phil! ☺️ Thank you so much for your encouragement ❤I needed to hear that .

Thank you Phil. What a wonderful message you gave to all of us.

Please know that we are family and it saddens me when you don’t pos5 cause I fear your having troubles and think we expect perfection.. we are here for the smiles with you in bad times and good…thank you for sharing with us.

the way that Alex looks at him when he was talking... Melted my heart! I lost my dad last year right before Christmas, and I needed this Phil. Thank you!

I don’t have faith, but I fully believe in good people, and the goodness within humanity. Merry Christmas! Hope you have a wonderful holiday, and Merry Christmas to all of your viewers.

Thankyou, may God bless you with Hope love and newlife miracle in 2023! Hang in there,, I believe your old fertility zoom doctor is a miracle worker !

Thank you for sharing and acknowledging the hard times. I am going through the third Christmas since my husband went to be with Jesus. Our grown children and I are trying to keep the positives, but some days it is so hard. I love you all sharing your love and reality with us!!

Thank you🙏🏼 God has good timing. I am sending it to my daughter.

Phillip, that was so touching 💕 thank you for acknowledging & holding space for those of us who aren't feeling the typical holiday cheer we so desperately want - no matter the reason, hurting through the holidays is hard. Thank you for making so many of us feel seen. Alex, you are an inspiration as a mother, a gardener & a homesteader. Thank you for your presence. 🫂

Thank you for your love💕

I lost my eldest brother in oct 2020 I’m still struggling it’s hard at Christmas because his birthday was on Christmas Eve , he would have been 65 today. Both of you are amazing people . Proof that angels walk among us . Merry Christmas to you all xx

Merry Christmas to all of you. 🎄🎁🎅. When I’m sick I make sure to Lysol as much as I can and change pillowcases q night. Keep the germs away😁. Love your tree this year. I miss Tennessee. Pray for me please. I’ve been alone now a long time. I’ve been praying God this introduces me to a nice Christian man. I still pray for your next child to come to you soon. Love y’all denah

❤💐Lord God, please have mercy on Your suffering humanity🙏💐

We used to get real trees for Christmas, but some of us would get sick (cold like symptoms) it turns out, we were allergic to the tree. So, we had to get an artificial tree,

The Earth needs our trees, I love all of you and I used to LOVE a real tree until I found out how much the earth needs them, They make beautiful artificial trees, I thought that would be - such a bummer, but the tree we use is BEAUTIFUL!! The earth tells us thank you every Christmas we do not cut one down... I am NOT CRITISIZING, so help me goodness, but it is worth a thought for next year... MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!! Keeping all of you in Prayers. XOXO

Phil you really should be a Pastor of a church!! Your words of encouragement are spot one!! So your sermons would be wonderful as well!!!

Thank you Phil. I needed that encouragement. ❤

The girls are getting so big..look at Cassidy she talks up a storm 🥰

Lost my dad in August.. he was the most important person in my life. I miss him so much..

Love your talks Philip. My loss isn't fertility related rather my son passed away 3 years ago as a baby and the holidays is such a mixed bag of emotions for us. It can be so hard praying for all struggling this holiday season!

Your family is the best of the best..you inspire the world 🌎 🎄⚘🙏🏼💗

Thanks you guys

Love you guys too 🎄Merry Christmas To Your Family 🎄⛄️🎄

I'm so glad y'all are feeling better I know being sick is no fun we just got over our second round of covid 19 your videos is such an encouragement and helped me through it ....your videos is such a blessing to us all no matter what we are going through .....love you guys a whole lot 💖💖💖💖💖💖🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

I felt every word… sometimes you have everything and depression is not letting you see or feel this. And is tiring. 😔 but thank you.

I so needed to hear this, even past the holiday, I felt this sooo much. After our November loss it rocked us hard, and to many I was told to fake my feelings, and I just can’t. Praying for everyone in their journey. ❤

Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family 🎄❤️ my second year without my youngest son. It's hard

Beautiful message guys thank you

Thank you Phil ♥️

Thank you! I’ve been feeling incredibly depressed this Christmas season for multiple reasons but I think the biggest one is having empty arms again. Fighting myself on not feeling discouraged but failing miserably. I’ll admit I’ve been listening to the hopelessness and fear I have for the future. Thank you for the encouragement and have a safe and happy Christmas. ❤❤❤

💞🇬🇧💞 Love and appreciate you guys so so much.

Such a beautiful man and family he has such a big heart ♥

Thank you! ❤

We love y’all thank you you are right you guys

Merry Christmas! Love you guys! Good to see you!