When Life Throws Curveballs

In a world where family planning often follows predictable paths, Karen Dittman's story is a testament to God's unpredictable grace and perfect timing. Her journey from being told she couldn't conceive naturally to adopting two children and then experiencing a surprise pregnancy at 46 demonstrates how God works beyond human limitations and medical certainties.

Karen's faith journey began around age 11, when she witnessed a dramatic transformation in her mother after she accepted Christ. This visible change—from someone struggling with expressing love due to her difficult upbringing to someone radiating genuine affection—convinced Karen that faith in Christ was real and transformative. This early understanding of grace would serve as the foundation for navigating the complex terrain of family building and parenting that lay ahead.

---------------------

WHAT'S DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE?

• After discovering her husband's autoimmune issues compromised their ability to conceive naturally, Karen and her husband chose adoption over medical interventions like IVF. They welcomed two children into their home and considered their family complete. Yet, God had other plans. Years later, after their daughter had prayed persistently for a sibling (particularly wanting to adopt from Haiti), Karen discovered she was pregnant—an outcome doctors had deemed impossible. What makes this story particularly moving is how this surprise pregnancy served as a profound answer to their daughter's prayers, reinforcing to her that God indeed hears and responds, even when the answer comes in unexpected packages.

• The Dittman family's journey hasn't been without significant challenges. Their son struggled with undiagnosed ADHD until age 19. Their daughter fell into unhealthy relationships and substance abuse during her teen years, eventually becoming homeless at 19 with a child of her own. Karen and her husband found themselves raising their granddaughter while praying for their daughter's return—which eventually happened through God's grace. These trials taught Karen crucial lessons about control, boundaries, and surrendering her children to God's care. As she poignantly notes, "I can set up boundaries, I can set up limits, but ultimately, even when they're young, they are their people, and they are on a journey that God has for them, and I can't control it."
• Perhaps one of the most painful aspects of their journey was experiencing the failure of the church community when they needed it most. When their daughter began struggling, instead of receiving grace and support, they faced church discipline for their minor child. This experience highlights the critical gap between the church's theoretical commitment to grace and the practical exercise of judgment that too often occurs in congregational settings. Thankfully, Karen's family eventually found healing in a small house church community where they experienced authentic support and practical help with their children and grandchild.

--------------

FINAL THOUGHTS

Karen's story emphasizes the vital importance of an authentic Christian community. She observes that sometimes, secular mom groups demonstrate more vulnerability and openness than church settings, where there's often pressure to "look like we've got it all together." This insight challenges Christian communities to create spaces where real struggles can be shared without judgment, where practical help flows naturally, and where everyone acknowledges their need for support rather than trying to "power through" life's challenges alone.

For those navigating adoption, surprise pregnancies, parenting prodigals, raising grandchildren, or simply struggling with the daily demands of motherhood, Karen's journey offers both hope and practical wisdom. Her testimony reminds us that God's plans often unfold in ways we couldn't have anticipated, that His grace is sufficient for every unexpected turn, and that authentic community is not a luxury but a necessity for the Christian life.