Winter Butterflies by author Kenzie Janzen will bring tears of sadness and of joy to the eyes of readers. In Winter Butterflies the author recounts her walk with the Lord and her quest to increase the size of her family. Like most women Kenzie Janzen had an innate desire for children. She and her husband Cedric had a healthy daughter but had a great desire for more children. They were ecstatic when they discovered they were pregnant, but were quickly devastated by a miscarriage. Afterwards doctors ran numerous tests on Kenzie but discovered nothing wrong. However, the two subsequent pregnancies also ended tragically. Through the trauma and loss, Kenzie made a new friend, Diane. It was through Diane that the Janzens met Kourtney, a woman not only willing but desiring to be a surrogate mother. The Lord continues to teach Kenzie to totally rely on Him.

Winter butterflies by author Kenzie Janzen is an incredible story. Two biblical stories came to my mind as I read this book the first being the story of Job. He faced trial after trial and yet he continued to praise God. While there were times that Kenzie railed at the Lord and wondered why he was against her, deep in her heart she never stopped loving him and knew that he was always at her side. The second biblical tale that came to my mind was the store of Hagar. Sarai so wanted a baby that she gave her servant to her husband Abraham. Unfortunately, things did not go smoothly for Hagar or Sarai. When comparing the trials of Kenzie to those in the Biblical story, those of Kenzie seem minor. I do not believe in coincidence. It seems obvious to me that the friendship between Diane and Kenzie was a blessing from God for that brought about Brody and Laney.

Author Kenzie Janzen has an excellent writing style I often felt I was sharing a cup of tea with her as she shared her story with me. She writes in a comfortable conversational manner and manages to not only convey her emotions but is able to elicit them in the reader. While babies Laney and Brody appeared to be the focus of this tale they were really secondary. The unobtrusive focus was on God and the growing relationship between the author and the Lord.

In her book Winter Butterflies, Kenzie Janzen narrates her struggles through the years as she faced her most challenging times in the quest to get the family she had always dreamed of. Kenzie had always wanted a big family, just like the one she was raised in, but God had other plans for her maternal journey. After having her first child, she expected her next pregnancy to be an easy one but this was never the case. Kenzie went on to face the most painful times any pregnant woman could ever face and many times she found her faith wavering; she could not understand why God would do this to her, and not just once. She felt abandoned by God at the time she needed Him most and started questioning His love for her. Kenzie Janzen finally submitted to God's will and accepted that all was to be as per God's plan. She later discovered that He indeed had not forsaken her.

Winter Butterflies by Kenzie Janzen is a profoundly emotional and inspirational story that touched the core of my heart. I was touched, not just by Kenzie Janzen's story, but also by her willingness to share such an intimate part of her life with the world. I hope after reading her story, many women going through the same struggles will know that they are not alone and that God has not forsaken them. I picked up many invaluable lessons from her story but there are some that really stood out. In the face of trials and tragedies, we may feel God has abandoned us and we in turn forsake Him, but if we hang in there long enough, we will know what God's plan is for our lives. God might sometimes put us through the darkest and most trying times, but this does not mean that He does not love us or that He has forgotten us. We should always remember God at all times, irrespective of our trials or triumphs; and when we are having tough times, we should always have faith that He will take us through. Another thing that really stood out for me was that the unconditional support and understanding by family and friends is key in helping one cope with even the most devastating losses.

I am not a reader at all. I could not put it down. Omg the trials her family and the other were amazing. Tears flowed for sadness and for excitement of joy that God is using both families to create a child. One no two special children made with God's love! God bless your family!