The Christian Crew

So.... TODAY. I took my 2nd Ballet Class! Some of you may wonder WHY an old-ish lady decides to try to fit into a leotard and why on earth now? Well, I can tell you- it's been on my mind for a while. I have wanted to learn all about ballet and the ART of the dance- so, why not now, I'm not getting any younger and i can dance WITH my girls.( not the same class though) And I love the challenge and process I'm going through as i try and learn this new love! Today, as we had our stretch, the teacher asked me about my baby BOY! ( i love telling his story but we didn't that have that much time so, i said yes, We Adopted almost 4 months ago... BINGO! That leads into the ADVOCACY part. I thought to myself ( sweet another op. to shar e my LOVE for adoption) BUT, before i could utter any thing else, Angie ( one of the students who is also a MOM) says: I'm Adopted! Where did you adopt through? Me: LDSFS! Angie: Cool, I spoke on panels with the Albequerque office a couple ...

Is a Birth Mother through Foster Care! Check out her FIRST POST - It's Heavens light shining down. I hope she does some public speaking to others both Adoptive and Foster parents as well as BP's in the Foster System! I'm Thoroughly IMPRESSED!

On Dr. Karen Purvis .... Please read here- i agree with this 100% - now how do we get her to speak in CO to ALL Adoptive and FOSTER Parents! I had the pleasure of meeting her (and if my card reader wasn't ruined by a cute 4 yr old girl with big sweet blue eyes- you'd see the picture of us together:) and She is PHENOMENAL! I want to be BETTER at being a parent and i KNOW i will soak up her knowledge as a foster parent in the upcoming months! *linked to the adoption & Foster Care blog- such a lovely one!

Hoping to adopt! Thane & Annie are seriously fun and silly- You will never lack for a great time when you are with them! Ask anyone! And Annie's pictures do not do her justice- Gorgeous! I just want to steal her locks of loveliness too:) Have fun figuring these 2 love birds out!

---- My name is Jessica I’m 24 I found out I was pregnant shortly after I turned 23. I was so scared to find out I was pregnant. I was a college dropout in the army reserve and I was working security full time making $12/hour and was barely making it. When I first found out I was pregnant I considered abortion for about two seconds. I didn’t want my family knowing I made a mistake and I screwed up. I wanted to hide my actions. After I thought about it and then remembered my values and beliefs that thought was gone as quickly as it came. My next options were to be a single parent or place her up for adoption. I thought long and hard about what I needed to do. At this point no one knew I was pregnant. When I went to the doctor to confirm my suspicions I found out I was 12 weeks along. At this point I started reflecting on my life, my finances and where I was at that point in time. The biggest question that went through my head was can I do this on my own. After goi...

These are friends who are HOPING TO ADOPT now! Steve & Amanda Are ExtRa CoOl! Seriously, they did the Tough Mudder Race, are super healthy and LOVE the outdoors and their huge family! They are full of zest for life and love! Anyone would be so blessed to find these sweet peeps!

Advice for Friends of Adoptive parents Many times, well-meaning relatives, friends and co-workers do things or make comments that unintentionally cause pre-adoptive and/or adoptive parents unnecessary emotional stress. The following is a quick guide that may be copied and distributed to those people in an effort to educate them on how they can support you during the adoption process. DO... 1. DO accept our decision to adopt without question. 2. DO accept our choice of a child regardless of his/her race, heritage, age, 'social background, etc. 3. Do remain positive and enthusiastic during waiting periods. 4. DO offer to give practical help if you don't mind giving us your time. 5. DO respect our choice not to disclose details about our personal life and our decisions. DON'T... 1. DON'T tell us that if we adopt a child we will get pregnant and have a child of "our own." Adoption does not cure infertility, and our adopted child will be "our chil...

Besides doing the MOM-THING, I'm still and ARTSY SMARTSY lady! So, if you know me- you are invited! and yes, I MADE ALL THESE from SCRATCH with no pre-cut anything and no patterns! Who needs them anyway!

From Brielle's Birth Grandparents this weekend! We are SOOO EXCITED! Phil & Dawn are so awesome and we love them like they were our own. They adopted us when we adopted Brielle! And we adopted all of Kara's Family! We love you all and can't wait to see you Saturday! PS . OPEN ADOPTION ROCKS!

YEP, I have delayed a few of these posts but, I am taking MANY names of this list again of HOPING TO ADOPT... CONGRATS to: Paul and April with Mason Marty & Miriam with Wyatt Mike & Liz with Ava ( naturally conceived after 6+ years of trying) Jake & Traci with 2 yr. old Zander and these couples have either adopted/ pulled off the profile/ chose a different agency to work with or we have lost touch! but i know MOST of these are to be congratulated! Ryan and Nicole Que & Brittany Scott & Mitzi Forest & Karrina Jim & Lisa So, There will BE a HUGE NEED to put more names ON this list- LOOK for the new friends and couples that POP up soon:) If i know you, email me and I will put you on this list too! and a few more will be popping off that list over the next few weeks:)

I hate it when ALL birth fathers get a bad rap. Even though every adoption and birth parent situation is different- without BF's - OUR KIDS WOULDN'T BE HERE! And more & more, you see bf's supporting adoption plans and/or building relationships with the adoptive families! It's no surprise to me that they'd want to have some involvement. If I was in their shoes, I'd want the same. Take a look at Baby Darling's Birth Father ! Ben is a STUD! And we are all human with Natural, deep feelings! So, when we had the opportunity, granted by Jessica, to meet DUSTIN , we were thrilled & scared to explore it! So, during the National FSA conference we went on our lunch break and ditched the Birth father panel to meet Gavin's own birth father in the Layton Mall! Even though I had never met him, I automatically felt a motherly/sisterly love for this young man who had played a part in Gavin's existence. Though it be by accident to some- We all...