The Christian Crew

Over the last couple of days, I have been talking with different Agencies and attorneys and I needed some time to reflect upon all this new information I've been processing. I've been talking to ones in the East and MAN, they do things very differently over there and I'm kind of taken aback- like WAY BACK- 50 yrs or so... WHY? Because one agency told me they are TRADITIONAL meaning they are not FOR open adoptions at all. In Fact, you never meet the expectant mom before she has the baby and you don't come to the hospital or anything until papers are signed. In my heart, that's not right- how would you NOT want to form a relationship with the woman who is choosing you to parent Her child? And in that sentence, I realized that back even 15-20 years ago- most women didn't even have the choice to meet the couples hoping to adopt. That just wasn't the way they did things. Any who, now things are different and We have the choice to build relationships if that...

Oh My Word - this has to be one of the hardest things for most of us to do. Like how often do you meet someone you want to impress and just unload all things private and sacred in your life on them? Practically Never! The same goes for Being In the Adoption community/world. It's a HARD space full of judgement on all sides. And most of those things we all judge each other on, are irrelevant in nature! Who Cares if you are a stay at home or work at home mom or if you cook dinner ever single night for your kids with 3 different tastes. Who even cares if the expectant mom is living on a diet of kool-aid and Cheetos.  The THING I've learned through adopting 3 times is that YOU have to LET things GO that don't matter and you have to LOVE someone where they are at! You can't wish someone better or change the fact that the Adoptive parents let the kid read Goosebumps at age 9 when you think they are too young. Just Stop it. Let's focus on Building each other UP and se...

This is NOT MY article but, i will link you to it- SINCE IT's FABULOUS! and Insightful! this pic is of my friend , Miki, and her family! She has such blessings after such heartache! She lost 3 babies then held her niece for 3 weeks before the niece went to her forever family! She later had 3 kids and was told she would die if she had anymore! So, she hoped to adopt for 3+ years then, it happened and Shaylee ( in yellow) joined the family b/c of a selfless birth mother! Now, the Watt Family also waited 3 ish years and had a beautiful baby girl placed with them- only to be reunified with the Father who does'nt stay clean( but wanted the govt' handouts for this sweet girl). Then about a year later a loving couple who chose them placed their big BOY with them on FATHERS day weekend! It was an amazing day to say the least! Adoption blesses many lives, the child, the parents and the birth parents but, we must consider what we say and educate others as we LI...

I always LOVE editing my adoptive couples with their birth parents! Right now, We are getting ready for the FSA Fireside in a few weeks and pulling photos together for a montage/slide show! It will be awesome! Here's my friend, Jessica L., with their baby and adoptive couple! She turned ONE! I can't believe it happened so fast! Next thing you know Gavin will be ONE! Don't blink anyone, hold your breath... Time just flies by! ( now breathe if you haven't let it out, silly!) ALSO... This awesome couple is CURRENTLY HOPING TO ADOPT AGAIN! YEP, they are eligible now that she is over 1 year! If you'd like their email, Shoot me a quick email b/c they aren't up on the IAL website quite yet!

---- 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...

on Blessing in a Basket! I'm loving this blog:) get your kleenex out! I thought this picture I recently took of my friend's newly adopted daughter, very appropriate! She truly and literally is a Blessing in a Basket! I'm so very grateful for these wonderful women- you inspire me more than you know!

Make my DAY!- Recently,i was contacted by Ashley from Blessings in a Basket !( read about her on that link:) She is amazing! She asked to feature us on her blog and i said of course! I'm amazed at her life and where she is now. Having challenges and trials in our pasts make us stronger better parents who can relate to almost anyone who may be facing any sort of challenge! Now, I'm not promoting going NUTS for the sake of having life experiences but, i want you to know this... People who Come to KNOW Christ and God's Love after many years and trials are AMAZING! They add a dynamic that cannot be fabricated by those people who lived in a bubble their whole lives! Testimonies GROW stronger by hearing from people like Ashley! I hope you awesome readers can take a glance or two at this wonderful blog and feel of her amazing Christ-like love! Thanks for doing what you do and being who you are- Ashley! BIB

Makes me Cry with JOY!!! I don't Care how, who, or where my future children come from. I don't care if my kids "match" my skin color. I don't even think twice about ME anymore b/c it's NOT about ME!!! It's about the children. I cry for different reasons all the time but, today, i cried watching a movie about a couple who adopted 2 babies from Ethiopia. It tugged at my heart strings and I remember meeting my friend Shay's newest Addition from Ethiopia. Her one and only Son, in house full of girls! He was gorgeous and so sweet and when i got to meet him, he was so friendly but, you could tell He knew who his mommy was. I asked Shay about why she chose Ethiopia- she said something like" it just felt like where we were being led to find him". I Often wonder if adoptive couples let themselves be LED in their adoption journeys anymore. I wonder the same thing for Birth Parents. I wonder if people are just going with the easiest, cheapest, or most...

a flight for Brielle's awesome birthmom, KARA, to come see us for the week of her birthday! I'm so excited to see them at Thanksgiving and have her and her little boy come up for a visit. They better get ready for some good times and snow!!! This will be the first Birthday that Brielle's whole Birth family won't be at b/c we live 12 hours away now. But... Having Kara there will be so Special. We are very close and can't wait!!! Plus, January birthdays can be tough. So, i go ALL OUT when it comes to them b/c i know how it feels ( mines the 4th of Jan.). I always wished mine was in the summer but, i can't change that and I'm so glad i was born when i was. Even if it was only for the purpose of making Brielle's Birthdays even better!!! She's hitting the big half decade mark too:) Man, has it really been that long? It feels like only a few blinks ago, we were standing in a hospital room gazing at this perfect tiny baby and amazing young woman. Now, Kara...

Please take a second and read this awesome article on this blog !!! Birth Parents are AMAZING!!! this is a picture i took of 2 birth moms who placed with the same couple ( in the background) It's all about LOVE. ADOPTION is so amazing!!!

a fabulous poem is on this site. What an awesome Birth mother and individual!

Please take a second and donate if you can! Here's the details.... We are holding a contest! The person to donate the 100th dollar will win a prize! If you support adoption help us out! Take what you would spend on a one time manicure, fast food, soda pop, etc and put it towards a good cause! If you need a receipt let me know! Hey guys! Our goal is 100 in 100 so in 100 hours starting at 4 o clock our goal is to get 100 dollars for scholarships 4 birthmothers! Remember it is tax deductible! If you own a business you will go on the website! Even 1 dollar helps!! Spread the work we want to meet our goal! www.scholarships4birthmothers. blogspot.com -- Jessalynn Bills Speight www.birthmothers4adoption.blogspot.com We support you awesome Birth parents!

Something i haven't really mentioned before is how we envision our family in the few years to come. I have always felt in my heart that we would have about 5-6 kids, maybe more. Most will come through adoption. I'm not an idiot and I'm not trying to be GREEDY, either! We just know what we know and feel that we have missing children in our family! It's like this huge part of my heart that aches daily. As each day passes, i feel more urgency to do something about it. But, i can only do what i can do and God plays the biggest part in this process. Then our future birth mother plays the next part and us the last part. We've always hoped for many races of children in our family. I actually thought i'd marry interracial but, who would have known I'd fall head over heels for a Blondy! I am so glad i did though:) Brandon is my perfect match, best friend and sweetest husband and father. That doesn't mean we always agree on everything(let's be real people) an...

Let me just start off by Saying How much i LOVE all the birth moms, fathers and grandparents i met at the conference. I am so inspired by your strength and courage and ability to overcome what non-adoptive people throw at you, verbally and emotionally. I met, Jill, Taryn, Celeste, Julie, Heather, Tamra and a whole bunch more awesome ladies! I adore you all and I can't wait till our awesome future birth parents find us:) I learned a TON at the conference about so many things and i could just write a book but, i will avoid it for time's sake. The highlights were too many to number. I can't wait until next year and will be BUSY at work with FSA. WHY? Because we love adoption and everyone involved in it and I was asked to Be the CENTRAL REGIONAL FSA C0-Chair with my sweet husband!!! That means that we will follow the direction of the National Board FSA leaders in guiding and helping the FSA Chapter Chairs in these states: Wyoming, Montana, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, Missouri an...

As Mother's Day approaches, I can't help but think about the Awesome Birth Moms and Moms in our lives! I wouldn't have such a great man without Brandon's Birth mother. I wouldn't have such a fabulous spouse without his Mother, Betty! We wouldn't have Brielle, if it weren't for Kara and I wouldn't be a mom, if she hadn't placed her with us! My mom taught me all she could about mothering and parenting and through the adoption experience with Brielle, She was taught about selfless love and the special love that all birth parents have for the children they place with families. I can only begin to think that what they feel has to be much like what God felt when he Gave Up his Only Begotten to the W orld to Save us from our sins through the Power of the Atonement! On a lighter note: I just can't express how much we love Brielle's "Tummy Mommy"! Brielle loves asking everyone who their tummy mommy is and she looks at you kind of f...

before i slumped off to bed, i decide to check my facebook and i'm so glad i did too. I got to chat with Brielle's Birth father for the first time in 3.5 years! He is doing good and working hard and learning everyday! He and i chatted for quite a while and He told me that HE KNEW that placing Brielle with Us, was RIGHT and he never has regretted his decision! It was good to hear that from him and I hope and pray that any expectant parents who a re thinking of placing a child will make sure that they have a confirmation by God that who they choose is right for them and their baby! I am so overjoyed when i hear news of friends adoptions and births! I am never bitter that it hasn't happened for us yet, nor do i think that maybe we weren't good enough! I truly know that When we are chosen by someone, she and possibly he( as in our last situation) truly can say that they KNOW in their hearts and by a confirming witness that We will all be united as we sha re the joy of add...