The Christian Crew

...When picking your path to find the missing pieces of your HEART! I am asked quite often " Who should we pick for an agency/ attorney etc?" "What do you think about fostering to adopt?" " What worked for your family?" All legitimate questions and guess what- the ANSWER is different for each person and family! Gavin at 5 days old after placement I wish I had a rote answer- it might be easier that way but, honestly, my advice is to SEARCH out the agency, facilitator, attorney, foster program and ponder on what you are being led to. If you pray- do that too- a lot! With our last adoption, I found the agency on the Internet and then I asked a colleague of mine what He thought ( he has been working in the adoption field for 30+ years) about this particular agency. He had great things to say about ethics and good practice of adoption laws. I researched them more, prayed about it, and reached out to them to see if they'd even be interested in ...

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:)

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 2...

SO... (drumroll please) WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! YEP, we did it. Sorry for the lack of pics right now- you will get them soon! We found a place up in the Mountains of CO and we are LOVING IT! Though we haven't moved in yet- every time we visit it- it feels a bit more like home. We did demo on the house last friday and i sledge-hammered the kitchen tile today and we have had lots of help to get it to the 89% completely demoed phase. There is still more stone to remove from the fireplace and more flooring and tack strip to remove but, WE ARE SO CLOSE! Next is gas lines ran to the kitchen, upgraded and new furnace and HVAC stuff, some plumbing and electrical work then THE GOOD STUFF- new floors, new paint, new counters, new appliances, new doors , new trim etc... We are however doing some RECLAIMED projects too ( another day i'll talk about it). Today, the Rainbow play set got installed in our yard ( did i mention it's 2.4 acres?) G-man also locked the KEYS in our car! Luckily...

 GAVIN WAS ONLY ABOUT  6 MONTHS_ HE WAS SOO TINY!  look at TREVOR( on Todd's lap by Gavin- looks a lot like SLADE)  I LOVE GINGERBREAD SO MUCH- I THINK IT"S AN ADDICTION  Gavin's Birth dad and Birth family on that side! WE LOVE OPEN ADOPTION!

Recently, there has been a mixed bag of emotions being thrown around FB and blogs and such ( what's new, right?) about Couples who have bio children and choose to pursue or even look into adoption. I fully understand that we all grieve in different ways and in different times in our process. I'm not asking anyone to speed through their emotions or telling you that what your thinking/ feeling is wrong. I just want you to take a moment to stop before you criticize, or throw out harmful words b/c you are so full of emotion and the desire to have a child. People have that same desire to serve and love and raise a child, regardless if they have children or not. Who are you to say things that make no sense at all like... " if you adopt a child and you already have kids, then that's one less baby for a couple without kids to have!" " why can't you just be grateful for what you have been given?" " Why don't you adopt an older kid from foster care- ...

Happen Everyday! So, Adoption is threaded through my everyday LIFE. Not just b/c i have children who are adopted and a husband who is adopted or cousins and friends who are birth parents, But because I just seem to run into everyone who is associated with Adoption. Take the last TWO.5 weeks.... I was driving back from getting waxed and i stopped by this ladies house who was standing by some head and end boards in fabulous shape. I asked her if she was selling them, She said she was giving them away. Turns out 6 of her 7 kids are adopted!!! She got all the parts and such and later that day we got a Gorgeous Bunkbed for the girls for 0.00! Thanks a bunch, Margaret! pics to come soon- my phone won't email properly- grrr In the store , the Checker is a birthmom and the lady in front of me is a Foster adopt mom with 3 adopted kids and one hopeful, underweight 2 year old she is helping get better. The awesome Lady, Karel, who sewed up the quilt I designed for Gavin, is adopted! A birt...

I have posted on this before and i wish to post on it again in a different light! I found a perfect article that sums up my feelings about gift giving! If you read my last post about this. I told you that i really don't like gifts, getting things that are meaningless, or just random stuff. I like them to be thoughtful and heartfelt or something i really needed/wanted! I've been gearing up for the holidays and on our last FSA CENTRAL meeting call i found this article by Henry B. Eyring and He gave it the year I was born. 1982 ( yeah, I'm almost 30!) And I love what he says... "Great gift-giving involves three things: you feel what the other feels ; you give freely ; and you count sacrifice a bargain." I thought about that in the context of adoption. And about Expectant Parents who choose to place. As they are looking at so many profiles of couples hoping to adopt a baby. they FEEL for US. Adoptive Couples fe el for what our birth parents may be going through...

lest ye be judged... Where am i going with this post? Well, in a few directions but these ones specifically The role of an adoption advocate ( referred to as AA) is NOT to COAX people into wanting to adopt a baby or to convince women to place their child with others ! The Primary ROLE of an AA is : To impart one's love of adoption, the testimony of what adoption is to you, to educate, dispel adoption myths and unify others in this great miraculous process. And even though we and others may be hoping to adopt- it is not really our duty to TELL others what they should do , or cast judgment upon someone b/c they choose to parent instead of place! AP's should be very wise to not be pushy with their unwed pregnant associates. They need to understand that we all have our agency and opinions and they will all be very different. And no potential birth mom should feel obligated or guilt tripped into placing their baby- if that is not where their heart is leading them to! Here's a...

...Nellie!! So, i just went on a blog hopping- reading spree. And I've decided on a FEW things!!! Some in particular to this blog... 1. I want to gear this blog continually to the advocating for adoption side, regardless of our hopes for another child. 2. I want to FEATURE birth parent stories more often! 3. MORE ADOPTION EVENTS will be posted on our blog 4. I will NOT CHARGE money or make money by anything that is posted on my blog. I will select what the contents are and i will go on inspiration and faith as i head down this path. I don't need peoples money and I'm Happy to put my LOVE for adoption to better USE! I'm not trying to down play those who need to charge for ad space on their blogs/sites either- It's just not what I'm about or do i need it! ( thanks honey for all your hard work in real estate and taking care of us so well:) 5. I WANT TO GIVEAWAY more. My photography will be something I DONATE to those involved in adoption ( Especially Birth Moms) ...