The Christian Crew

This book is from the Series Chicken Soup for the Soul and I have had the pleasure of reading it over the last 2 months, Thanks to the publishers for sending me a copy!  As a busy adoptive mom, I only had time to read at night or times of rest and I have 4 kids so, it could have been a quicker read. I enjoyed hearing about all the UNIQUE ways families were brought together and loved the amazing writings of the contributors. Since there is not ONE timeline or one story- its hard to review all 101 stories but, I did get a sense that each person, was HAPPY and joyous in their journey to adopt, as an adoptee and the few that placed. Some stories I wished would have gone on for a few more pages and some were a glimpse into these families lives so different from my own.  PROS and CONS on this book! PROS - you get to read MANY stories of love resolution, healing & faith Lots of International Adoption stories The writings were Fantastic and REAL, which felt relat...

God is so Good! I am Amazed How he has changed our family through the Miracle of Adoption and three incredible women!  And to Brandon's Birth mom...

SO the KIDS were awesome! Gavin did the best job as a first time trick or treater! He galloped from door to door and only got frightened a few times. We are so happy they love dress up but, I'm excited for the HOlidays. I have SOOO much catching up to do on this blog and about my Works with Adoption advocacy- all good news!  Brielle was a VAMPIRESS  Aria was a werewolf , and a pink princess and Belle for various parties  Slade was a scary Dragon ( he looks so vicious;) Gavin was our lil' buckaroo cowboy! So darling!

Setting up the Room has been an adventure... One of the crib screws got stuck ( it was the wrong screw) we had a friend pry it out and then we put in the right one! I've moved the furniture about 6 times so far. I used Aria's old Crib, our old Lay-Z-Boy and a few pillows i had in storage. I got the bedding from a sweet lady off CL. The Crib skirt, quilt, 5 wall decor pieces, night light, lamp( not pictured, bumper, 2 valances, breathable bumper( not pictured), musical things that hangs over the crib and a diaper stacker for 20.! Yeah, score, i know! I bought the toddler bed off CL a year or so ago for 45. ( retails for 175.) And i just ordered some cute wall vinyl for the room off ETSY... The giraffe will go on the crib wall and this saying will go over the window in chocolate brown! I think it's fitting b/c no matter where or what we are born into- we can go any which way we choose to go in life! Dr. Seuss in a Genius! Now... to get a rad rug and to tackle this closet. ...

SO, You like Birthmom blogs - Check out this new one i found . Be ready to choke back a few tears when you read Her ( Amanda) birth mother letter to her child! Just Wonderful and emotional and I'm so grateful for Birth Parents who speak out and Embrace the choice they made. You are all SO STRONG. Thanks for saying something b/c many say nothing and hide in shame when we all know adoption is NOT shameful. It's Beautiful and Blessing to All involved! Also, on My FB page I have 1 3 Adoption and Birth mom onesies and tanks for sale ranging from 4-21. so, grab them while you can! Pay through paypal!Thanks so much and Keep spreading the good word of adoption to Everyone!

That night ( april 9th) I got home and to my surprise- we had an email from her! I had asked her what had made her want to contact us, in particular. Her response was something like .... there's not ONE thing that drew me to you guys it was a bunch of things and i kept thinking about these 2 blond girls with big red flowers in their hair and i would always go look at your blog and profile. I figured I'd better do something about it if I kept returning to the same family.. . I was SO relieved to know that 1. she was NOT a mis-directed email & 2. she was a living person and is really quite awesome! I could go on and on about our many emails that led to texting and then one day about 2 weeks later, WE made the first CALL to chat! During all that time, Brandon would hound me with excitement about checking our email and he'd read through the texts and sometimes even text her. Come to find out- they have a very similar sense of humor, like brother and sister!!! So, when J...

SO... They actually had a walking ceremony and It was adorable and emotional. ( My camera battery died so, this is what i got with my phone cam) They filmed them walking through the halls out of their classroom doors and into the line ups. All the parents got to see it on the Big Screen as we anticipated the kids arrival into the Main Room. I started Bawling when Brielle came on the screen. Maybe I'm emo , maybe I'm just a parent but, Man, I'm so blessed b/c of a Birthmom named Kara! In the ceremony the kids sang 3 songs and this was one of them! It hit me hard and even though i was smiling through tears, i kept thinking about the Kids who will never know all of the above. I thought about kids raised by single parents, kids in poverty, kids in foster care, kids who've been used and abused for selfish adult reasons. It pains me greatly to know that some kids will never have what my girls have: A Mother & Father, who surround them with love and comfort, giving them ...

Our Daughter's Birth Grandparents and Birth family! Today Grandpa Phil & Grandma Dawn sent us some See's Valentine's treats!!! It was so unexpected and the girls and myself were so excited and I have to just say a public THANK YOU to them. Not Only Is Kara ( b's BM) in our lives but, her WHOLE family is and it makes me choke up thinking about how different our lives would be if we had chosen semi-open or even closed adoption. I am so glad we will not choose those with any designated (where someone chooses us) placement we may have. I know that I can't expect the same relationship with our future placements but, i am not going to lie... I HOPE that we will get to build strong loving bonds with our future birthmom and her family. I'd love to see the birth father's side too- if that is at all possible but, not to the detriment of our amazing future birth mom, of course:) I know that VERY OPEN adoptions are not for everyone. I just know that Brandon a...

I know i have TONS to catch up on and the reason why i have blogged less is due to busy work. I'm editing a bunch of photos, planning and helping with parties, decorating the home for Christmas and so forth. So, for today You will get these pics of us and our friends- Jesse and Dara- at the Denver Nuggets Game. I will give you the FUN details in a later blog post. SO much cool stuff to say about this night!!! Till later! and yes we are STILL Hoping for a Miracle and hoping that it will come when It's right!!! Our friends are all awesome here and are hopeful right along with us!!!

We had way too much fun this day! Garden of the Gods is situated near Colorado Springs and it's a pretty cool park. Though it's not a huge place- it is so interesting to see how the layers of sediment have eroded over time- leaving these formations of sandstone and limestone. Us with Gpa Danny! some horses pulled up and we just had to pet them! The girls were just doing a "shake your booty" cheer and asked dad to give them a hug! It was funny and cute. And YES- one of our most important goals in life is to keep our daughters "off the Pole". Kind of a Vegas joke since we used to live there:) This is Jessica, our friend and a birth mother, watching and protecting Aria, who has her moments with her. They cuddle some days and sometimes Aria wants nothing to do with her. I chalk it up to terrible threes. And the fact that she's been a baby too long. Here these two crazies are obviously trying to hold up the rock:) So silly! My dad!!! Balance Rock ( well, i t...

So today i had the privieledge of doing a Photo shoot for the Larson Family with their 2 kids and 2 BIRTHMOMS!!! It was unforgettable and I am so happy for them and a bit envious ( in all the best ways) too! I can't wait to have another amazing birth parent and child as part of our family when It's the right time:) Here's to waiting and hoping and praying!!! * This is the shirt B and A wore and IT'S almost an understatement!!! They really do have him wrapped around their little pinkies! Hope to learn more about our adoption family? Click on the words underneath our picture!

Just so you know... I am very aware that everyone is going through something different in their journey of adopting a child. Some people are like eggs and crack under the slightest pressure. When People do Fall apart- they often show their weakest, worst character dimensions. Pay attention to that- searching expectant parents- friends- fellow beings of the world ( okay everyone) Here's some fabulous quotes on adversity ( or trials) If you click on that link and read on... You will understand exactly what I'm getting at... Trials can make you stronger- if you view them as part of natural life and not an event that happened to you... I've had my share- hence i have thickened up my Elephant Skin and very rarely am i offended by anything or anyone!!! Thank goodness for that!

I don't do this much but... Tonight, when i was biking home after a long evening with friends, I looked up at the beautiful moon in the night sky and was grateful it was there for me . I was also thinking about the myth or legend that you get pregnant when there's a full moon or you go into labor on a full moon! It's something to do with how woman's bodies are in harmony with the cycles of nature- yada yada yada (you get my drift). That thought lead to the thought of all the Ladies in the world who get pregnant with no intention of b eing a good mother to their babies. I thought of that b/c i have distant a relative who gets pregnant and has babies just to have the Gov't Handouts that come to poor, unfortunate people who have children!!! I am so upset at this group of humans in this world. I'm disgusted that you use your children as meal tickets. You procreate for CASH- which makes you a WHORE to the Gov't system. Seriously- this may seem harsh and I'm...

Our friend Liz took this pic of Brielle right before we walked in the parade! Her Balloon says "Adoption Rocks" with some scribbles from the kids too! She is totally right - IT DOES ROCK! Here's another cool Adoption tee:) Available to purchase on adoptionbug.com

...of things i have to do before preschool starts is getting longer and longer!!! If i didn't have the desire to make some things instead of buying them- it would probably be much shorter! BUT, i love sewing and making dresses and skirts and hair flowers and bows and jewelry and so on. It's fun when you know that my kids have some special one-of-a-kind items and i enjoy making these things. I also LOVE to shop online for adorable items i can't make! Shopping in the mall or stores is fun too but, i can normally find a lot more in a smaller amount of time! And time is something of a precious thing right now. Luckily, i don't get overwhelmed very easily! I just roll with it, make LISTS, and start getting things done! I am glad my mother instilled in me the ability to have GOALS and make lists to organize my time and thoughts and energy! I think everyone should have so sort of a goal- both long term goals and short term goals! I also know that when things don't work o...