She came out of nowhere and into our life...

It took 18 months to do all that was required to be approved as an adoptive family. This photo was taken at Thanksgiving 2011. We had only been "waiting" for 7 months. But the emotional roller coaster had started years before with countless miscarriages and failed infertility treatments. I had grown tired and was feeling guilty for spending countless hours on adoption networking when I already had an amazing husband and son. So I prayed and asked the Lord if I could be done. Could I just enjoy and cherish the precious little family I had already been given? The answer was a clear no, you are not done yet. So I made a compromise and asked if I could do absolutely NOTHING related to adoption during winter break and enjoy my little family. I'd say from looking back at the photos I did a fabulous job.

 

After Winter Break it was back to teaching Kindergarten and adoption networking. I made a new profile photo for our adoption agency's website with Michael Buble's lyrnics:

 

"Wherever you are..whenever it is right...you will come out of nowhere and into our life."

 

I had no idea how soon that would be. Our birthmom came out of nowhere and into our life exactly a year ago TODAY. That was just a few weeks after adding the photo.

 

We are so grateful for the incredible blessings that have followed. Our family was not only blessed with a precious baby but with the love of his birthfamily. We are eternally grateful for all of them and how they have become our extended family. The lyrics and song below describe my journey perfectly and how I wouldn't trade the heartaches over the past several years for all the blessings I have now. Heaven has definitely shown me miracles I wouldn't have seen otherwise.  

 

 

 

I had it all mapped out in front of me,
Knew just where I wanted to go;
But life decided to change my plans,
And I found a mountain in the middle of my road.

I knew there was no way over it,
So I searched for a way around;
Brokenhearted I started climbin',
And at the top I found...

Every fear, every doubt,
All the pain I went through;
Was the price that I paid to see this view;
And now that I'm here I would never trade...

The grace that I feel,
And the faith that I find;
Through the bitter-sweet tears,
 And the sleepless nights;

I used to pray he'd take it all away,
But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak.

I never dreamed my heart would make it,
I thought about turning around;
But heaven has shown me miracles,
I never would have seen from the ground.

 

Now I take the rain with the sunshine,
Cause there's one thing that I know;
He picks up the pieces,
Along each broken road.

Every fear, every doubt,
All the pain I went through;
Was the price that I paid to see this view;
And now that I'm here I would never trade...

The grace that I feel,
And the faith that I find;
Through the bitter-sweet tears,
And the sleepless nights.

I used to pray he'd take it all away,
But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak.

Talent Show

Tyler rocked it at the church talent show tonight. He sang "Get Off of My Back" from his favorite movie Spirit Stallion of the Cimmarron.

 

Then the missionaries entertained us with their "interpretive dance." They are the BEST!!!

For Sheldon's 10 Month Birthday we got him a baby...?

Sheldon turned ten months old on January 7th. The entire family headed to the doctor's office to find out whether we are going to have a boy or a girl. Chris and I guessed a girl and Tyler guessed a boy.

 

 

At first they did all the important measurements. Tyler started asking how they would know the difference. I told him the doctor would hopefully be able to look between the baby's legs. "If she sees something that looks like a "turtle" we're having a boy. If she doesn't see anything we're having a girl." Just then she said, "I think I just saw something."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyler jumped for joy. She asked if we had a name picked out yet. Tyler said, "No, but now we can call him Turtle Man until we decide!" Absolutely NOT!  Can I just say Turtle Man is the most obnoxious television show on the planet. Here's a photo if you don't know who he is. I think it just about says it all.

 

I guess there won't be a shortage of camo at this house :) But we're not completely redneck. We have all our teeth. I'm very excited we will soon have three loud, sometimes stinky, fun boys running around here. Hopefully that means I'll be treated like a princess.

Abe the Babe

Happy Birthday to the best baby brother a girl could ask for.

This photo was taken just days before he was deployed.

 Makenzy is so grown up and as adorable as ever.

Sending Birthday messages to Daddy in heaven.

 Love you Abe!!!!!

On the Move

Christmas Party

Blogspot is still giving me trouble. I have to upload all the photos to a seperate web photo album and then again to this blog. It takes FOREVER so my posts will be a bit slow. Hopefully they can fix it soon.

 

 

 

 Every year we get together with my siblings and their families. Abe's wife and three kids live in Florida so weren't there and Elizabeth was at her Dads.:( 

 

It is tradition to pork out on scones. Not like the kind at the fair. These are deep fried bread that you cut open and fill like a taco. When you are almost filled to the brim you have a few with butter and jelly or honey. My family has been eating these since I can remember.

 

 

 

Katie and Tyler relaxing while Mom and Dad get everything ready to head to Aunt Katie's

for the Christmas Party.

 Grandma and Dalton on the piano.

Mike taking a snooze. 

 The two Katies

 Snuggle time

 Giggle time

 Uncle Jim and Aunt Jen

 Can you guess which sport all three of my brothers played? I think wrestling runs in our blood.

 This photo makes my head look weird but I don't get many Mom pictures. I'm always behind the camera.

 Baby Bump

 Tyler wanted to wear matching shirts with Sheldon.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

Sisters

 Sheldon with his Tummy Mommy and Tummy Sister

  Cousins

 Grandma, Grandpa and Tyler



Squeaky clean!!

This was taken on my cell phone and isn't the best quality but he sure is adorable. One of my favorite multi-tasking Momma ideas. Sheldon sits in his bumbo, splashes in the water and plays with his toys while I get a nice long uninterrupted shower each morning. When I'm done I suds him up in the bumbo and then turn down the water a bit so I can pick him up and rinse him off. We're both happy and clean and I can use nap time to get other stuff done.

 

 

 

It doesn't get much cuter than this.