The Christian Crew

 UFA  has been receiving so much HELP getting ready for this amazing birth parent retreat! I am overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude by the kindness this community has given so far! We still have a bit more funds to raise for food and  therapists' costs- but I KNOW and TRUST that we will find a way- God is Good- we are STRONG- we Trust in our HEARTS and the KINDNESS of others! ... There are so many people BEHIND these names on this picture- I will THANK you all as this progresses- but I must thank SARAH R. for all you diligence currently-you are amazing! LOVING THIS SONG from the NEW Cinderella- it explains how I feel and the gratitude I have!..  

  We all NEED to have courage and live each day to the fullest without FEAR of the unknown. It's easier to SAY then DO... for adoptive hopefuls-the unknown can be scary and tumultuous. The WAIT time before placement or matching can be DRAINING and full of unrest on WHAT MIGHT BE! As Birth parents the ROAD after placement can be all of the same- exhausting, scary, full of twists and turns and unknowns. As expectant parents- the thoughts of adoption and placement are ALL of those things and MORE! And everyone's support system is so VASTLY unique and different. It's SO important that we all LOVE AND SUPPORT each other as we go through these changes- even if we can't see what's ahead- WE CAN BE BRAVE enough to TRUST in GOD and our abilities- and SOAR to places we never have been before- in our lives, our hearts and minds!   We can GROW abilities and characteristics through our journeys and learn to EMBRACE the EXCITING UNKNOWN instead of ...

We will have a big JAR on site Labeled BOOTY for BIRTH PARENTS! Please feel free to contribute any denomination as we raise funds for the UFA Birth Parent Retreat, here in Colorado- Instead of a gift! Without Gavin's birth mom- He wouldn't be part of our family ( and birth dad too)!  Jessica- His gorgeous birth mom     Dustin- Handsome Birth dad:)       BIRTH PARENT RETREAT INFO...     DONATE HERE - if you wish! & Thank you!          

I wanted to SHARE Brina's letter to others who may be considering Adoption as a choice... It is astounding! She is so brave and so open and honest- everything we all need to hear! PLEASE READ THE FULL LETTER HERE Now... Here's a tid bit from it... "Sweet mama, you are so loved. Many of the women who came before you are thinking about you. We are praying for your peace. We know what this is like and how hard it is. No one but a birth mother knows this path. This path is hard and it's full of heartbreak, but it's also full of joy and beauty. You learn to love like you've never loved before. You learn what true selflessness is. You put this tiny person ahead of yourself so that they can thrive. You do whatever it takes to make sure that their life is the best it can be. For that, you are an AMAZING MOTHER. Don't let anyone tell you different." Don't forget to read the FULL letter and frequent her blog!

Not that I think I'm super mature or anything ( really, I dance around my house and still do ballet with the teenagers in my class;) BUT, I can say that having adopted TWICE already, having very open relationships, a genuine sense of Who I am and Who God is still Making me to be- brings a sense of maturity to Us as a family and this NEW process we find ourselves in. Hoping to adopt but not seeking! You see, most hopeful adoptive couples are on pins and needles WAITING for the call/ email/ text from a prospective expectant parent or case worker. I've been in their shoes. I felt this way MOSTLY with Gavin's adoption. Here we were- a family with 2 girls and I had been told that having 2 or more will MAKE YOU WAIT FOREVER for another! I'm not gonna lie- we did everything to get our profile and blog looking awesome and SUPERB. I don't know if I really wanted it to OUTSHINE anyone though- I just wanted it to be the BEST representation of ourselves- Kind of like when...

I remember when Brielle had her 3rd birthday and the party we threw at our home with a bunch of her little friends, her birth family and all her grandparents from every side that could be there. We make a fun cake and large bounce house was inflated in our living room! There was FUN in the air but, also a lingering feeling of " OH CRAP- it's about to get REAL!" In our original placement agreement- we would terminate contact in person with Brielle's birth parents except for pictures and letters/emails/ blog at 3 years so, She could have a NORMAL life! Our heads and our hearts couldn't wrap around the idea of never seeing our NEW family ever again- or Keeping Brielle from knowing her birth family, in person. What kind of selfish people were we? Well, I think when we made that agreement- everything was just so unknown and new (and Yet Kara and Kyle agreed that this would be okay with them.:/) After our tiny girl dug into her presents and the last pieces of...

Let me explain exactly where we stand in regards to our status as adoptive/hopeful adoptive parents... I have to be REALLY HONEST with You ( or myself)... As hard as this is- WE aren't SEEKING or TRYING to adopt right now. In that I mean- I'm not going to PURSUE an agency or solicit our blog/profile out to people. I have done that TWICE and it had amazing success ( and of COURSE the Almighty's timing has a hand in it all!) BUT... We really do desire to adopt again - IF and ONLY IF it's RIGHT, It's Meant to be, and If the expectant parents and ourselves are totally on board with everything. I mean- come on- we have 4 kids- who is really going to consider us UNLESS they desire a large family for the child? That's a small margin of people who would actually look at our profile or even consider us. You see, we had this PLAN ( okay - everyone laugh now- b/c we all know God loves to mess plans up) to do our international adoption home study- travel down to...

SO, in February, Grandma Dawn ( Kara's mom) asked us to come to Las Vegas. She wanted to have some time with Just the girls ! She bought tickets for the girls and I purchased one for me so we could all visit & I could see my friends and family while we were there! We took 2 days off school and the girls got to fly on an airplane for the first time, as bigger kids! The girls had fun meeting the capt, getting their wings, watching us take off and land and all the bumps along the way! ( this was good prep for the upcoming trip they are taking with us to Hawaii next spring!) We landed safely and were greeted by Brielle's birth mom , Kara and her mom Grandma Dawn! Over the next couple of days the girls had time with Just the Grandmas and great Grandma Maxine too!- spending a Day with Grandma Betty- going to jumpstreet out to eat, doing nails, Going to Adventure Dome, restaurants & going to Chuck E Cheese, getting presents and ice cream and pretty much being SPO...

SO I know its UBER important when someone is trying to adopt ( not saying we are really trying b/c it's not up to us- its up to God) That the Father be a HUGE part of the IMAGE of What the couple of the Year , is supposed to look like. He needs to WANT to be involved and WANT to be ACTIVE in this process but, the fact is- MEN FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY than WOMEN! We WOMEN worry and loose sleep over things, nit pick details or what might be misconstrued. We carry on with an overload of pictures where we BOTH look wonderful in every setting! We especially don't want a potential expectant parent to look at our blog or profile and think " did they even put any thought into this?"  Now GUYS... They help get the finger prints and financial paperwork done, hang back until it's GO time. And in between, they may day dream or look at another person's child and wonder but, heck if they will tell you that! Once it's GO time and its time to meet an expectant mom or ex...

BIRTH PARENTS of CO and SURROUNDING STATES COME JOIN WITH OTHERS ... ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND FUN HIGH ADVENTURE SPORTS like the Leap of Faith, ropes courses, obstacles courses, canoeing, hiking, rappelling, rock climbing, zip line and night hike! Come to get in touch with Nature, other birth parents, have fun like a kid again, grow and learn from others and ALL FOOD is provided for you! 75. per birth parent and YES you can come for FREE with our  ADOPT A BIRTH MOM  sponsorship! Travel can be included in this program- so- if you want to come- LET'S GET YOU HERE! We can make arrangements for birth fathers or couples (separate tents) 5 Spaces are filled so we only have 11 LEFT! REGISTER by Clicking Here and depositing 25. to hold your spot ( if you are getting sponsored- you can get this refunded)

We are...... SO BLESSED living up here in the Mtns of CO! The kids are growing like weeds ( Especially Brielle, our oldest!) and Its currently April and we have 2 inches of snow on the ground! But, it will melt and give moisture to some of the most gorgeous wildflowers!!! SO, Updates... DUSTIN IS GETTING MARRIED! YEP, He has found the gal for him- SARAH! She is amazing and I am so Happy for the two of them. She is a Special needs teacher who works with children from hard circumstances which makes her job even tougher but- She loves her kids and what she does. She has a heart of GOLD and Dustin is a lucky man! Between the two they own 2 homes and are very smart with the choices they are making in life! I know they will find happiness and success together. GAVIN will get to be the cutest ring bearer Ever and the girls will make some fine Flower girls too! SO, for us currently there is a bit going on... We are remodeling the home we bought and it seems like there are people...