The Christian Crew

...Was all we got! Yesterday, We took a sweet little angel ( we will call her Baby H ) back to the agency, after 1 week of caring for her. Without going into detail about her BP's lives we will just say- they had issues and struggles. So, a week ago, we picked up this cutie pie and she was dirty and wreeked of smoke! She had a rough 1st day but, totally calmed down and became this chill, smiley baby! Every morning my girls would wake up and rush over to baby H and want to feed, burp, change or snuggle her! They took turns singing or playing peek-a-boo with her. Brandon and I loved this tiny girl who was rockin' our world! We lost some sleep but, who cared. We met with her BP's last Sunday and it was pretty traumatic for Baby H- she screamed bloody murder every time the BP's held her until she was so exhausted she finally fell asleep. It was tough and Baby H had reactions the rest of that day. The following 2 days after that were wonderful! Then last Tuesday, our CW ca...

My prayers changed . My heart grew and I began to inhale what i was trying to avoid- The Stuff Out of my Control! I embraced it a few months back and in my prayers, I asked for Strength to do what HE wanted me to do - not just what I wanted to do. I also felt inspired to start praying not only for all those involved in adoption and all birth parents to have support and love but, to specifically start praying for OUR birthmom! Yep, I said it. We have no idea who she is but, i felt that it was time. Each night, I'd sit in front of my Heater/Fireplace and pray for her before i went to bed. Sometimes I'd ask God to give her strength, comfort, support, avoid danger, help where she needed it and LOVE to surround her. Each night it was something different and what i felt she may need at that moment. It started to become really real to me. On the outside... I ran around spouting out to everyone that we are switching to foster care/ foster adoption. We have long since finished our tr...

ARIA... as of late has been obsessed about riding her bike as much as possible (this is not her bike in the picture). She LOVES wearing a swimsuit or leotard around the house and often under her clothes when she can get away with it! She is so FUN and Silly and can be very HOT or COLD to you! She is a snuggle bug and a comic relief with her addictive giggles! Her tiny 34 lb. body is practically solid muscle and she is one tough girl who doesn't really back down from physical challenges! She will lose it if you give her a dirty look or talk rough though- or if she hasn't eaten in a while ( a little hypo like her momma)! She is the girl who GROWLS and play animals as well as dress up! Her favorite treats are Peeps and gummies! Her nicknames are Bitsy and Bitty Girl! We are so happy God brought her to our Family! She will be an awesome BIG sister to our future children when that time comes b/c SHE LOVES babies and animals! BRIELLE... is so full of Sweetness and Sass! She will ...

Cool stuff happens to you. I believe things happen for a reason, in most cases and this last Saturday night, We went out for Joelle's Birthday to D Bar Desserts again! We noticed the dessert menu had a NEW item on it... wait... wasn't that the SPECIAL dessert Keegan made for me the very first time i came in and said i am needing something egg free? Why Yes it was! The "Citricle" is that dessert. So, i hollard at him to come over and i asked him if he remembered me and he said "yeah, i remember you" i pointed to the dessert and he said" Yep that's the one- i put it on the menu a few days later" We continued to talk with him for almost 20 minutes about life, marriage, kids, adoption and he told me he'd get us some passes to go behind the scenes and watch some of the Food Network Challenges-this summer. They are done recording until July so, HOW LUCKY were we that night? But, that night i decided to not heed my food allergies and ended up fee...

You just never know how and who you will outreach too. Katie, found my onesie on my etsy store and shares her memories of her belated mother- an adopted woman and... READ HERE Thanks for sharing! Adoption is wonderful and I Thank the Lord for it every single day!

This is what has been in my heart. I am the luckiest Woman- Ever! Please click to enlarge. This morning, I read this to Brandon for the First time ever. Aria and Brielle were snuggled on our bed and after i finished reading Aria says" Mom, you got sumping drippin' from your eye onto your nose!" So cute. I told her they are happy tears! Sometimes, people don't think about what single parenting does to a child- in the long run. Many children grow up without a father or sometimes a mother and it makes a HUGE impact on their lives forever. Choosing to think about the child first, is what sets Birth Mothers apart in this world. They are AMAZING! I'm forever blessed b/c of Jane's Decision! Thank You for Eternity!

So... a while ago i bought this table- solid wood chunky curvy base for 34.00 Then I found 4 chairs on craigslist and bought them for 60. They were also solid wood and in pretty sad shape. Although the wood, design and look was what i was going for- they need joint repairs. That cost me 80.for someone to FIX them up! Then, i need some paint- 28.00 for the top coats and 8. for primer 4 for rollers... total project 214. ( i think that's a steal) Did i mention everything is SOLID WOOD- no veneers! And I Got exactly what i wanted in the end... A black, distressed kitchen table and chairs. I don't have to worry about if the kids beat it up a bit b/c it's solid and it's distressed! Works for me! Even though it took some man hours it turned out awesome! So glad i waited to find the right stuff and jumped at the opportunity when i found these things!

is now on my Photography blog ... Check it out! And please leave a comment on what you think about it! Thanks and Enjoy! All of these photos were free of charge. If you live in CO and want free adoption photos please send me an email!

on my etsy store with this coupon code at checkout: FREESHIPAPRIL Grab your adoption onesies and tanks and all the other snazzy stuff! I'm hoping to close this as soon as i can but... i have inventory left and i get excited about Adoption Stuff so... I may have some sleep sacks and toddler tees coming. It all depends on how things go over the next fe w months. Today... i will enjoy folding laundry finishing my table and chairs makeover, taking care of little sick Aria and see what needs to leave us before we move to our new place in June! Oh, and I'll be editing pics fro the adoption conference last weekend- it was awesome!

I can't believe i can still do some of this crazy shtuff!!! I may be almost 30 but, I'm not dead yet! ( plus i think 30 is still very young!) Elisabeth and Brielle LOVE the foam pit and rope but they can't climb it yet( neither can i) But, my friends can do it! Little Merich loved the pit! I got to babysit my friend's son for a day and HE was a riot! I even got to give him a faux hawk hair style! The girls thought having a boy around was fun but, they did say that his pee pee ( seen while changing diapers) looks like a worm. And once, Aria called it a tiny snake. Silly girls! Man, having a boy would rock our world in such a cool way! Here's to hoping, right? ( boy,girl, giraffe... we'd be ecstatic!) Aria is very serious on the beam ! She is getting pretty good at balance and strength stuff! Brinley ( in background) is getting some pointers! All my friends are doing cartwheels and very well i might add! But, I have to kick it up a notch with some aerial...

So... Brielle is getting pretty good at tracing and writing her name and other small words! And today she decided to use the chalk to her advantage after church. She is such a creative little girl and sometimes a little sneaky with her masterpieces too. She loves getting her hands on anything she can to draw, cut, glue, color etc. Luckily, we are here to help direct it properly- most of the time! Since this picture has the W.O.W. in it. I want to share OUR view on this! We totally agree with it! Everything in Moderation, Every Herb is ordained and Constituted by God for the use of Man,( of course the obvious one- no addictive substances) and greater knowledge and wisdom comes through obedience to these health laws of the Lord. And we want to be great examples to our children as well! Neither of us struggle with major parts of this and we plan on raising our kids to be happy, healthy and fit children. That does not mean we are in perfect health though- both of us are striving to be a bi...

The FSA conference went so great!!! I had a terrible nights sleep before that ( about 2.5 hours total) and i tripped outside the door on a wood chip. But, none of that mattered! We had excellent speakers and presenters and all the panels and classes went well! ( i will have whole post on this later) all the work that went into it was so appreciated and we are all exhausted now! Now, I'm excited to get some sleep and onto new things this week! Like planning a friends Baby shower, getting a house lined up for JUNE! We found one that we love but, not sure on it yet! And i found another one today- our conditions are: 5 beds, nice backyard and great area! We LOVE space and our yard currently is so very small- we didn't even put up our trampoline he re. Well, I wish i wasn't so sleepy- I'd write a bunch more! Have a fabulous weekend peeps! *here's some 2 week old pics of my girls at the park- my phone was taking crappy pics that day! Can't always have what you want wh...

have happened to the Awesome couples hoping for a Miracle column in my sidebar. Some are good and some are what they are! I have removed a few names and normally i do this glorious post of who adopted a child and then go gaga about it! This time... i do not know what happened to one of the couples and the other has yet to know of the great news that awaits them! Well, that's all for me now... I have to work on my talk for the Adoption Conf. It's gonna be FUN! Want to know how this picture ties into my class??? you will just have to find out on Saturday!

this poem is awesome. Read it slowly when you are not rushed. Every word is true and as AP's we are at the mercy of God's Time line and for good reason- just as this poem says! Enjoy!

Hey Peeps- I'm donating this sweet onesie and some adoption binks for the door prizes at the Area conference:) If you don't win it- you can purchase it at my etsy store :) Limited quantities! here's a few more to choose from! all new and all 100% cotton apparel!

..., her awesome BLOG and story of being a Proud Birth Mama - give me so much hope and understanding! Christina's Life is so incredible and the changes that have come b/c she chose to place her sweet baby girl, 12 years ago are fantastic! Please- Check out her blog - and get ready to see her at the CO/WY Area FSA Conference! Thanks for finding me, Christina- I'm the lucky one who gets to be your friend!

Click here and get entered to WIN this amazing Adoption BOOK!!! Kelsey will give this away to one lucky winner and IF you are in the CO are and coming to the conference- IT WILL BE EXTRA AWESOME! Since she , herself can hand it to you autographed!!! Don't miss this!

Thus far, has been pretty eventful! I visited 3 hospitals- one to take birth mother and baby pics, one to drop off a gratitude basket to a social worker and one to visit our friends daughter who was getting checked out after a car accident- Everyone is okay and the Car took the brunt of the accident. My friend , Dara, was driving home from the gym and was hit by a drunk driver from behind. The man had a DUI, suspended license,a warrant out and NO Insurance!!!!! What the heck was he thinking??? Emily and i went to D Bar desserts again! The meal and the cake and shake were so scrumptious and we met the owner of another bakery in Nashville- where my sister lives. It's called Crumb de la Crumb! Her and her husband are competing on a Food Network Cake Challenge that was to be filmed 2 days after we met and they were also thinking about adoption! And I sat by an adopted college lady too! She was about 2 years younger than me and knows both her birth parents now! Pretty awesome nigh...