She's getting Older

Last Sunday Our Little Aria Turned 4! We can't believe it!






We have all kinds of FUN with this crazy girl who digs for worms in a leotard or dress up! She likes to say " Tend I'm a princess and you say_____" And she will tell you what to say or do! she LOVES to EAT MEAT and salad and anything sweet. She isn't fond of breads and the like.









Aria always loves to cuddle and often falls asleep in ODD places like between the love sac and the TV stand, under a table, On a step,on the bathroom floor, half on her bed half off and so on! She CRACKS us up and we LOVE IT! We are happy to watch her grow but sad It's moving so quickly! LOVE YOU, SWEET BITTY GIRL!

Adoption Story -Part 4

So, On the following Friday we took our trip to UT! We hardly told a soul ( okay maybe a few people) and after all of our talking,I anticipated a perfect meeting.
Well... We took the LOOOOONG way to UT and ended up being like 3 hours past what we had planned on. We were supposed to meet at the LDSFS office at 4:30 and we actually ended up meeting at the South Towne Mall at 7:30 with No Case worker at all!

Our phones were dying so we charged up at the T-Mobile store and we were eager to meet Jessica and her entourage of relatives, Step mom, grandma and sister too! Jessica walked in as we were standing around the Gumball machines and IT was Magic!
She walked in and I know this sounds so cliche' for adoption but, It was like we already knew her and her family! We talked about all kinds of silly things and rode the carousel, grabbed a bite and then we headed over to Jessica's parents home and talked and laughed and our girls LOVED her kitties and doggies and chasing them all around!

I was kind of waiting for Jessica to officially tell us that she was Choosing US that day but, it really didn't matter- we already knew in our hearts it was a great match. SO, we left around 11pm with very tired kids and planned on meeting her the next day for some running around together and just hanging out!

We were blessed to stay with Dara's Mom, Terry, while we were there and our girls just love her and her husband, Mark( thanks so very much-again!)
So, we picked up Jessica the next morning and headed to IKEA, where we found some good stuff and I tripped going down the stairs in heels. So, hilarious and we will all never forget that.
On the way there, I asked J if she was considering any other couples still and She said " Oh, no - YOU GUYS are IT- I'm choosing you for SURE! " Music to our ears and hearts!

Then we headed to the peppermint palace or place and snagged some delicious treats and then called it a day! We were on cloud nine for sure!

Who knew swedish meatballs and Falling down stairs would turn out so good! ( oh and we bribed her with chocolate and cinnamon rolls there too:)

The next morning we headed out after a quick goodbye with J and the family that were were about to adopt , along with a sweet little boy!...

how we told our friends and some family:)

*sidenote: I always told Jessica that is she decided to change her mind, that would be fine too. It's her choice and although we would be crushed- adoption is not something anyone takes lightly! Always keep the Ball in your Birthmoms court b/c _ it really is All about HER and the CHILD- not Adoptive parents!

The FRESH AIR CHILDREN

Maybe YOU Can Make a Difference- please check out this link for more info on this amazing program!

Gratitude for freedom

Sunday, at the closing hymn at church was the Star Spangled Banner and as i snuggled Gavin in his sling, I belted out this heavenly ANTHEM with some gusto and joy! There were about 300+ people there so, only about 50 people could actually hear me.

I LOVE our anthem and our country! Even in these hard and difficult times- I'd take living here over any other country any day! We are so blessed beyond belief.

I'm grateful for religious freedoms and the God Given Agency we are born with to make our own choices! I'm ever indebted to our birth parents who made the most difficult of choices to give their children a fighting chance at success in this world and in a family unit. The way GOD ordained it!

I am grateful for our troops who fight and serve and protect both past and present. We love and miss Jessie L and Brent H. - you are my family and friends! Both past and present heros served in many big and small roles in our military and we should always be praising their names for our freedom!

I'm grateful for those who have come before me in my family and those who loved and served and grew with my family members. I loved the stories my grandparents would tell about their parents and cousins and how they met. I basked in the presence of my grandparents telling me how they met during the war times!...

RD version: My grandma Billie Jean was a dancer at the starlight opera house in LA and she met a man who was in the Navy and he had to go out to sea so, the man asked one of his best friend's to watch over his girl while he was gone. The Best friend was Leonard, a strong and handsome man who swept Billie Jean off her feet and Married his Best friend's GIRL!

I am forever indebted who all those who have come before me, sacrificed for me and my Family! WE LOVE YOU ALL and Happy 4th of July!