The Christian Crew

A Very Merry Christmas! may you make lots of memories and cherish every moment with your children and family! And Some special time with your birth families- if you are so blessed! Have a Happy New Year too! Be back after the Holidays!

SO, now that we have LOTS of Birth families in our little family- visits can be tricky. Here's a few tips I've come up with when it comes to planning your visits with family and birth families... 1. ALWAYS do what is BEST for YOUR immediate family first-not your parents or extended family. You can't please everyone all the time so, quit trying. Focus on who you can please- your spouse and kiddos! 2. Make a MAP of your trip/ Timeline but, don't make a play by play list. LEAVE your plans open and flexible when it's possible. The coolest things/ experiences happen when they are not planned! So for us, we have one afternoon/evening in UT on our way to NV to see Gavin's Birth mom and her entire family. We will have a dinner there but otherwise the rest if the evening in unplanned. We are open to whatever:) You can overbook your hours too quickly, stress out that you are not following your plan or way behind schedule and there goes your sanity and stress levels. 3. D...

To Halloween and our visit with Jessica and Daylen! The kids loved playing with both Jessica and Daylen! You know kids are the best filters for BAD/ODD people, right? So, if they can see and feel love in your eyes- you are free to jump all over them and play till they peel you off!* Thanks for being very patient with the girls, guys! We attended a Church Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat, went to a dance and had dinner with friends and played games and such. It was relaxing at times and stressful at times too ( way too many parties and cold). Jessica and I handled this beast of a pumpkin carving project! Food Network Challenge- here we come! Bring it! ( okay not really- don't call i won't answer) Gavin IS the BEST Tootsie Roll EVER! I let the Girls PICK what they wanted to be this year- Brielle chose Sleeping Beauty! Aria chose Ariel. Both girls got their costumes for their birthdays but, i had to severely alter Aria's and add 7 inches to Brielle's so, i got a bit creative with ...

Happen Everyday! So, Adoption is threaded through my everyday LIFE. Not just b/c i have children who are adopted and a husband who is adopted or cousins and friends who are birth parents, But because I just seem to run into everyone who is associated with Adoption. Take the last TWO.5 weeks.... I was driving back from getting waxed and i stopped by this ladies house who was standing by some head and end boards in fabulous shape. I asked her if she was selling them, She said she was giving them away. Turns out 6 of her 7 kids are adopted!!! She got all the parts and such and later that day we got a Gorgeous Bunkbed for the girls for 0.00! Thanks a bunch, Margaret! pics to come soon- my phone won't email properly- grrr In the store , the Checker is a birthmom and the lady in front of me is a Foster adopt mom with 3 adopted kids and one hopeful, underweight 2 year old she is helping get better. The awesome Lady, Karel, who sewed up the quilt I designed for Gavin, is adopted! A birt...

to the first two days with Gavin.... Such a Tiny lil' Man! Boys were exhausted from traveling and late nights! Gorgeous Jessica, Gavin's First momma! One Adopted Child kissing another adopted child! BLISS! Love knows no Bounds! Getting the idea of being a Big Sister now! Gav's Aunt and her family- YES, this is where his RED comes from! Grandpa MAX, Gavin's Birth grandpa! Jessica and Brielle getting some Quality coloring and bonding in! I love this head shot! It signifies the arms and life that Brought Gavin into this world before he was brought into ours! WE LOVE Our Birth Family and are so honored to have adopted again! We often wonder what the future Holds and How long before the Lord brings another child into our family! We are in no rush at all but, we know our family is not complete yet. That may sound odd to some but, what lies in your heart and in your soul about your family, is individual and sacred to each couple. We will act upon our inspiration and follow th...

... Nellie! Yep, It's been very busy here with many things going on and little time to blog. So sorry if time is escaping me. It will be like that till mid-January! Here's Gav's 5 month pic from a bit ago. And We take His 6 months one in a week and a half( gees that went quick) still no finalization date due to circumstances out of our control but, whatever- it will be here before you know it! We are so excited for the Next week off and I know we will all have fun and i will get some sewing done too! I have about 2 blankets, a quilt, a play apron, 2 dresses and possibly some small items too! This weekend will be singing time and gingerbread decorating contest time. I had a nightmare last night about it but, thank heavens it was a dream. I woke up kind of angry! Well, Happy Turkey Day and National Adoption Month , again! Share the love, please! Cool side story, we got a free, designer ( good looking) bunk bed from an adoptive momma of 7 ( one bio six adopted). It is such a b...

SO, You like Birthmom blogs - Check out this new one i found . Be ready to choke back a few tears when you read Her ( Amanda) birth mother letter to her child! Just Wonderful and emotional and I'm so grateful for Birth Parents who speak out and Embrace the choice they made. You are all SO STRONG. Thanks for saying something b/c many say nothing and hide in shame when we all know adoption is NOT shameful. It's Beautiful and Blessing to All involved! Also, on My FB page I have 1 3 Adoption and Birth mom onesies and tanks for sale ranging from 4-21. so, grab them while you can! Pay through paypal!Thanks so much and Keep spreading the good word of adoption to Everyone!

I always LOVE editing my adoptive couples with their birth parents! Right now, We are getting ready for the FSA Fireside in a few weeks and pulling photos together for a montage/slide show! It will be awesome! Here's my friend, Jessica L., with their baby and adoptive couple! She turned ONE! I can't believe it happened so fast! Next thing you know Gavin will be ONE! Don't blink anyone, hold your breath... Time just flies by! ( now breathe if you haven't let it out, silly!) ALSO... This awesome couple is CURRENTLY HOPING TO ADOPT AGAIN! YEP, they are eligible now that she is over 1 year! If you'd like their email, Shoot me a quick email b/c they aren't up on the IAL website quite yet!

I have posted on this before and i wish to post on it again in a different light! I found a perfect article that sums up my feelings about gift giving! If you read my last post about this. I told you that i really don't like gifts, getting things that are meaningless, or just random stuff. I like them to be thoughtful and heartfelt or something i really needed/wanted! I've been gearing up for the holidays and on our last FSA CENTRAL meeting call i found this article by Henry B. Eyring and He gave it the year I was born. 1982 ( yeah, I'm almost 30!) And I love what he says... "Great gift-giving involves three things: you feel what the other feels ; you give freely ; and you count sacrifice a bargain." I thought about that in the context of adoption. And about Expectant Parents who choose to place. As they are looking at so many profiles of couples hoping to adopt a baby. they FEEL for US. Adoptive Couples fe el for what our birth parents may be going through...

I'm going to be a little lagging in posts for a week or so b/c i have to finish all my clients work but, have no worries. Things are GOOD here! So, Here's some pics of our visit with Gavin's Birth father and Birth grandma, Tammy! Tammy had to Spoil the girls and get fun cookies to decorate and pumpkins to carry their Halloween Candy in! She is such a Sweet lady and we are so grateful for her enthusiasm and desire to be a part of our fun and crazy family! Brielle was very meticulous too! We played at the park on a couple occasions and enjoyed getting to know one another. The girls love Dustin and He learned how to handle Tiny Girls who like to crawl or rough house with anyone who will let them! Aria was sort of confused at first when we told her that Dustin and Tammy were coming b/c she thought it was Tami, Jessica's Step mom( lovingly called Grandma Tami). So, Aria asked her this: " Can i call you Grandma Tammy too?" She was sweet and obliged! So, we now have ...

Just for FUN! for waiting adoptive hopefuls Praying,Waiting Anticipating one tiny babe. For placed couples Loosing Sleep Gaining A Forever Family For Finalization Day Courtroom No Drama Peace fills our ever growing hearts For Sealing Day All in White Waiting Over Precious child Your Ours Eternally OPEN ADOPTION You found Us We Said Yes Hearts Knit Together Forever Overseas Adoption Boarding flight landing, waiting Breathe, holding you tears of Joy! Foster Adoption Broken you came time and love healed both our hearts forever * these are my friends kids both whom are adopted! PLEASE feel free to leave a comment with your own Haiku - on your adoption experience. I'm looking for Birth parent Haiku's( 17 or less syllables) as well. These will go in an Adoption Poetry Collection Book! No need to be a pro writer- just from the heart or your experiences!

These are my friends Jessica & Tarik! They are Christian and wonderful and hoping to adopt a bi-racial baby boy! Check out their profile ( i took many of the pictures:) They are working through Lifetime adoptions , which i hear is great! I know this sweet family will be fabulous with any adoption situation too! Jessica has 4 adopted siblings and her and Tarik have twin girls and he is a pediatrician and she stays at home. Both have degrees and stay active and fit! Just love these too!

We had such a fantastic visit! When Phil and Dawn got into town we went out to one of our fav. restaurants, Los Dos Portrillos, for some fab. Mexican cuisine! The Next day we went Up to Evergreen area to a stocked Fishing pond and Had tons of fun catching BIG trout! Phil, Brandon and I helped Brielle & Aria reel them in while Dawn helped out with Gavin and putting bait on and such. We cranked in tons with this awesome bait too! Mini Man slept the majority of the time :) Brielle had the biggest catch of the day 18.5 inches and 3.5 lbs! This is not the biggest one but, it was a good sized one! Our Lovely Grandma Dawn! Here's one of the bigger one! aria squirmed a bit when it wiggled and flopped around! We had fun cleaning them and then Phil and Brandon cooked them up well that night! P & D were able to come through on the way back too! We already miss them!

are hoping for an adoption miracle! These two are sweet and fun and Jess is a terrific lady that i love! You couldn't find a better gal around! Check them out here! Oh and check out all the new families that have been added on the side bar! Maybe you will find your match there! ( p.s. If you personally know me, please shoot me an email and i will feature your link there and spotlight you!)