Our Family ~ Nov 2017

Our Family ~ Nov 2017

Friday, November 21, 2014

UFA conference!

The UFA conference went well!!!
Terra Cooper and i got to finally meet and i was able to shoot for the event and had a great time being INSPIRED and getting connected with many of those in the adoption arena! I even got to see my old friends Tamra & Jessa and meet new amazing people as well! 
I was able to be the photographer for the event and we learned alot about leading with LOVE and not fear in our adoption journeys. I considered so much of this b/c our international adoptions are still 1-2 yrs out and its seems daunting and scary and i worry. BUT, i know i shouldn't and that God has everything lined up for our family. And we need to do all that we can do and leave the rest in his hands and timing!

Can't wait to watch out CO chapter grow! It's going to be great!!!

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Halloween 2014

We had such a fun time doing our first Family Costumes this year!!!


We had a great FRIDAY going to school parties and our ward Trunk-or-Treat where we won most creative for my Gluten free Turkey Chili and we won BEST FAMILY COSTUMES for our CREW!




Brielle refused to be be WENDY- so i got that opportunity! She made a Darling First Mate of Capt, Hooks crew!
ANd who could beat this JOHN boy- those cheeks and eyes just melt your heart!


OUR TINK is especially feisty too!


It was such an Adventure! Now to plan for next year's costumes!

seriously- BEST Gavin Costume yet- He is PERFECT for this role!


the girls got heeps of treats!


And we still have way too much Candy left over:)

Monday, November 10, 2014

OUR FIRST UFA PARTY!

WE had our Kick-Off Party and ENJOYED getting to know each other!


We had VISITORS come all the way from CO Springs as well!
and our OLDEST decided to WRITE what she feels Adoption means on the white board and helped set up as well! Her birth momma would be proud- she is growing up so fast!


FOOD and Adoption Art/Literature  Tables!

Kids being kids:)



We Played a Getting to know you GAME! 

The Reddekopps even made it here from down south! It was such a treat to see them!

You read a question then tossed the ball to the person you wanted to answer that question!


Some were easy, some were funny, ALL got us talking and thinking!


Myself and Gavin ( He was in a back scratching coma:)


Jessica- our birth momma friend ( not my son's Birth mom though:) and SLADE our baby!


Our Guest, LCSW, who specializes in working with foster care and adopted kids and her little man!


Ray, who was recently adopted this year through FC! Such a handsome guy!


Sporting the PINK Carrier:) Go Randall!


Brandon( adoptee), with the wild boys!


The kids doing the handprint cards for birth parents and family!


Ray's parents- Randall and Gwen! Our Awesome friends/ foster parents and legal TEAM 
( well kind of:)

It was a great start for our first UFA CO meeting! I'm so excited to see us GROW with every month and as we advocate for Adoption/ Foster care in our community!  NOW... to UTAH on FRIDAY for the UFA Conference and a visit with our son's birth father, his family & friends! YAY!

Monday, September 22, 2014

United for Adoption- a new ORG for adoptive families, birth parents and adoptees in CO!


HI Everyone! I know it's been a while since I have been involved in Sharing the adoption love in this state but, I have been doing what I could while my life was going through some changes, like welcoming a child and moving to a new home ( which btw is still in semi construction and boxes)! I'm always reaching out to others about adoption and foster care and opening my mouth about how beautiful our OPEN adoptions are with our Birth families! I never really stopped after FSA!
WHY?
B/c as a matter of fact- THIS IS WHAT I LOVE! It's implanted in my SOUL and every fiber of my being! I know that being a mother is a DIVINE CALLING and HELPING UNITE FAMILIES is my other Calling in life! I've felt this for a Very long time! I knew at a Young age( 15) that I'd struggle to have children and the mission to know about adoption started for me. I LOVED and memorized the Song *"From God's Arms, To My Arms, To yours"
(* this video is amazing b/c it was made by the Birth parents who tried to raise their sweet girl, then chose to place- what bravery!)
I sang this song in the HS girls bathroom to a teammate of mine when she found out she was pregnant!
She chose to place too! Then, I sang it to my soccer coaches' wife and THEY adopted a son shortly after! I knew God had put this in my Heart to share this amazing love He has for His Children! I did not know I would end up marrying a wonderful man, who also is adopted! ( And so much more but we will get to that later!)

BASICALLY, What I'm saying is that IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE the people of Colorado in any capacity of adoption that I can!
I am so excited and blessed and I have been crying this whole time I have been typing! I know God needs me in this area- and He needs ALL of you who love adoption to be involved in spreading the Goodness it brings.

Lives are changed forever through this Miracle! We are here to Support you- in any way we can! I'm excited to outreach and educate and bless others lives, like many of you have blessed mine!
           

Currently, we have a *FB group that is being set up right now! If you are not on FB, please leave me a comment and we will get you on the EMAIL loop so, you are included in the Events, Celebrations, Education Nights, Birth Parent activities and so forth. This group serves the general population of CO but we have hopes to have branches so, those closer to one another can have their own meetings as well! EVERY type of adoption, every person who hopes to adopt, who loves adoption, is involved or desires to be involved is welcome! We need YOU and your light and Insight on areas that we may have little Experience with!
We need committee members for Foster Care/ Legislative/ International Adoptions/Activities& Socials/ Birth Parent/ Outreach & Education and more!

Please email me: Corrine.ccbabyinc@gmail.com!

We look forward to Hearing from you, Seeing you and GROWING with you and your family!
My Heart is constantly FULL and over flowing ( hence the tears) with LOVE for all of you! Seriously, I would not be the person God wants me to be without this Truly Astounding Blessing! ( i'm not even close to perfect so, bear with me too!) Love you all!
~Corrine

*Please ask to join the group if you are on FB and your request will be granted!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

The beginning of the seasons change...

And Give us AWESOME days like this!

Yep, Misty FOG hanging in the mountains- so what did we do with it??? 
Go for a nature Walk, what else!!!


GAVIN is a little Man now- love this crazy boy!


 Holding the ANTLER , Brielle found!



  CRAZY ORANGE FUNGI growing on an old log! Brielle took this picture too!



giant MUSHROOM

our locals!

Slade is getting so big!


Friday, August 15, 2014

HOPE... a Letter to Infertile and Childless Couples

It's Been on my mind for the past few weeks to write a bit of wisdom and understanding concerning becoming a parent through adoption. Mainly in part, because I have so many sweet friends and associates who are still Waiting for the Miracle of a Child.

These friend of mine are smart, educated, have nice homes, pets, degrees, are well-respected in the community and GIVE so much to those they serve yet, they long to be called Mommy and Daddy.

 Their arms ache for a child and their hearts seem to be held together with strings of hope after such long periods of time without kids. I've Been there. Maybe in a different way and time in my life but, I've had those crummy, hard experiences. Like speaking in church on mothers day after three years of infertility and empty arms. Or days when I didn't want to try any more, like after I lost the 5th baby on my birthday one year!

I want you precious and wonderful couples to know that HOPE is okay to have again!!! YEP, after 20 some odd negative signs on your pregnancy tests- I challenge you to GAIN an ounce of Hope and see where it leads you. One Condition though... YOUR HOPE MUST BE IN GOD'S PLAN FOR YOU and YOUR FAMILY.


Yep, That comes with learning to Trust In God all over again. and believe you me, I have done my fair share in trying to Bargain with the Almighty!

It doesn't fly with Him who Knows all things- It took me YEARS to adopt the philosophy of BEING ON GOD's ROLLER COASTER and enjoying the highs and lows and views from every angle- or just trying to hang on thru the parts that were hard!

You see Sometimes we think we know what is best and we expect things in our time, in this instance, I'm Talking about having children. But, what we cannot see is How God is working in us while we do not have them. PATIENCE is a virtue we are constantly working on. I love this Talk about Patience. Here's a excerpt...

In the 1960s, a professor at Stanford University began a modest experiment testing the willpower of four-year-old children. He placed before them a large marshmallow and then told them they could eat it right away or, if they waited for 15 minutes, they could have two marshmallows.
He then left the children alone and watched what happened behind a two-way mirror. Some of the children ate the marshmallow immediately; some could wait only a few minutes before giving in to temptation. Only 30 percent were able to wait.
It was a mildly interesting experiment, and the professor moved on to other areas of research, for, in his own words, “there are only so many things you can do with kids trying not to eat marshmallows.” But as time went on, he kept track of the children and began to notice an interesting correlation: the children who could not wait struggled later in life and had more behavioral problems, while those who waited tended to be more positive and better motivated, have higher grades and incomes, and have healthier relationships.
What started as a simple experiment with children and marshmallows became a landmark study suggesting that the ability to wait—to be patient—was a key character trait that might predict later success in life. 1

So, my point here is that the time i was childless, i was being taught patience and i have become a stronger more independent and successful person and that has helped me in every facet of my life. Though at the time it was just tough to hear from others, to just be patient and wait. I have received double the blessings just as the children received twice the reward in this experiment.

I hated the comments like :" Just go on a long vacation and you will get pregnant. "Or " stop trying and then you will conceive ." I Knew that the option of Adoption was something i had already embraced in my youth. I was told at 16 yrs of age that it would be hard or nearly impossible for me to have children. But, i still grieved in my own ways. The grief cycle is a Mack Truck aiming right for your heart! I was angry at people who were pregnant or looked too young to be pregnant. I was upset at hearing about young moms who could just sneeze and they were with-child. I remember  one night in a restaurant hearing a mom complaining about her kid being so clingy and just thinking " Gosh, i would die to have that!"

Through all of that- the Grief, The love, the desires, the disappointment, I remained Steadfast to the HOPE of becoming a mother one Day. And God did not let me down!

With my four kids, two through adoption and 2 through biological conception, I am one busy women. 

My Message for you who feel Hopeless or Forgotten by God- YOU ARE NOT ALONE and you are NOT FORGOTTEN. Sometimes you just need to Open all the Windows and Let the Lord lead you. 
One of my friends tried tradition adoption and the day after the baby was born the birth mother changed her mind, she did Foster care and had seven placements none whom she adopted, then she tried embryo adoption but it didn't stick, then back to FC and no luck again. She finally threw her hands up to God and Let Him lead and less than a year later( after seven long years) they were blessed with a beautiful little girl!

 Don't think that for one Second that you have to be childless or you are resorting to live a childless life. Get busy doing everything possible to OPEN the Windows and avenues to Find the Child or Children who are meant to be in your family. PRAY, Get your message out to others, make a pass-along card with your desire to become a parent through adoption, Get online and get a profile out there so others can connect to you and your story. Go through Foster Care training , get connected with others who are also in this field. Meet agencies or attorneys who deal with this on a daily basis. Volunteer anywhere you can. Be PROACTIVE! DO SOMETHING!!! children do not just magically fall in your lap( well, in most cases)- you need to SEEK and YE SHALL FIND. 

The Saddest thing to see is a couple who has given up hope and resorted to live a less than ideal 

life when there has been little to no effort to achieve the outcome they most desired. 

One more Time... in case you heard me wrong " GET OFF YOUR FANNY AND GET MOVING- Time waits for no man- Babies do not fall out of the sky. There are children in foster care and orphanages who would LOVE to have you as parents- you just need to do all you can and HOPE and TRUST in the LORD and ASK HIM TO GUIDE YOU!

You can Look at a beautiful Sunset and be sad that the day is over- OR you can think of the gorgeous Sunrise that awaits the following morning! God Gives us these to remind us of the Beauty of all His creations- imperfect as we are- we still deserve to become parents!

During this childless time...You should BECOME the parents you want to be BEFORE the kid gets here- Set Goals, Save your money, get in better shape, learn to cook, take a few more college courses, go on an adventure or two, learn a new skill,  Journal, volunteer, join a club or a gym or a social group, Strengthen your marriage, get some needed vacation and some therapy. Work through your demons or addictions, Conquer those things that are holding you back- or what-have-you! DO NOT WAIT!

This is the Land of HOPE and Opportunity and  Becoming a Parent is not impossible through the Miracle of Adoption and other advances in technology. 

We must take a quick inventory on our challenges and trials and decide if we want to WHINE and WAIL and ask WHY ME.? Or we can see WHy and How God has been shaping us to becoming Stronger and better people. "disappointments can be seen either as a prelude to continued failure in our lives or as occasions for great personal growth and even the beginning of truly outstanding performance.  "
 full article

I want to finish with a piece about being Grateful in Any Circumstance- in hopes that those who read this might consider a paradigm shift...

It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach?
Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.

There is an old story of a waiter who asked a customer whether he had enjoyed the meal. The guest replied that everything was fine, but it would have been better if they had served more bread. The next day, when the man returned, the waiter doubled the amount of bread, giving him four slices instead of two, but still the man was not happy. The next day, the waiter doubled the bread again, without success.
On the fourth day, the waiter was really determined to make the man happy. And so he took a nine-foot-long (3-m) loaf of bread, cut it in half, and with a smile, served that to the customer. The waiter could scarcely wait for the man’s reaction.
After the meal, the man looked up and said, “Good as always. But I see you’re back to giving only two slices of bread.”____------____-----

Are we Always looking at the meadow of wildflowers and pointing out all the cow patties instead of gazing at the flowers and views ahead?
I look back on my years of childlessness and my miscarriages with such fondness now ( i know hindsight is 20/20). I enjoyed the time alone with just my hubby- we grew so strong during that time- we are better for it. He is such a fabulous father and husband and through all of our Trials- I have Seen the Hand of God in our lives. I have been helped, loved, guided and served by those around me during my tough times. I have enjoyed the Upside down loops and slow climbs to the top on this Roller Coaster Ride. I'm not perfect nor am I anywhere near it- I just know that I was not forgotten during my trials and NEITHER are you! Now, Go and DO all that you can to find your missing pieces to your family. Be guided by the Holy Spirit, Commune with God, Ask with Faith and Hope and TRUST HIM for He knows you better than you Know yourself! 
God Bless you on this Journey and Hold Fast --The Light will Come- and It will be Glorious!




Sunday, May 25, 2014

the future is YOURS...

So, Make it count!

We think about the future all the time- and yet we remain present in the Present! We love every second of our time and have a blast being parents! When our girls sing along in the car or the boys play blocks together, even when they are all Crying or whining we wouldn't trade it for anything!

We sat down with and Financial planner a bit ago and they showed us these BIG overwhelming numbers for college savings and asked the big Question " Are you planning on having any more children in the future?" We both looked at each other and said a resounding YES, we are! We plan on adopting out of the country in a couple years and it may be one or 2 and we never know WHO GOD has lined up for us that currently isnt in our plan in between or after that time!

The guys looked baffled but, said OKAY , lets restructure some numbers around!

Honestly, it would be SO easy to just be DONE with having and adopting children at this point. Seriously, Slade is walking well now, Everybody is healthy and Happy and we love their tiny personalities but, WHEN you have that NAGGING feeling in your whole being that your family is not complete- you LISTEN to it and you PRAY and let yourself be LED by God's desires for you.

 We are excited to see WHO it is or WHO they are. These precious children that aren't in our family yet or may not even be born yet- We will greet them some day with loving open arms and hearts and It will be wonderful! This is still years away so, no pressure at the moment- but, We keep thinking about this upcoming day every so often and we talk about it as well. My girls ask about their sisters or brothers they have yet to meet and what they will be like. It's awesome! One Day.... in the future we will be united and then, maybe, we will feel complete as a family unit! There will be no empty spaces in our hearts longing for these missing pieces to our family puzzle anymore. That will be one BLESSED DAY!