Adoption Process, Finding the Perfect Family, Not quite....

So I have been thinking of something lately. Finding the right couple and wondering if they are the “ones” or not does not mean finding the perfect couple, no one is perfect. But what it does mean is finding the right family.

I looked on the web and found this quote here about marriage but it still in its own way applies:

“The importance of choice may be illustrated by a homespun concept that came to mind one day when I was shopping in a large retail store. I call it “patterns of the shopper.”

“Wise shoppers study their options thoroughly before they make a selection. They focus primarily on the quality and durability of a desired product. They want the very best…”

Russell M. Nelson goes on to talk about people who bargain shop and splurge. It would be hard not to want someone who was …( fill in the blank…) this or that, but what matters most is setting aside what you think you want for what feels right to you. What feels the most natural and in time you find that you are on the right path towards the right CHOICE.

Peace is the end result of a good decision even if it is hard to make!

Dan and I say, when in doubt throw it out. We would rather walk away and lose out on something then make the wrong decision and we find that we quickly seem to forget about the choice we were making and quickly move on to the right choice even when it is not what we originally thought was best.

What MATTERS TODAY!!

Tonight  we listened to our son talk all about our day and his ever changing ideas of what we all should be for Halloween. I told Dan, this is the most magical time, when you can just hear what he's thinking. It's wonderful and I could stay awake for hours just listening to him. I think he is the most wonderful creation.

One of the greatest things we try to do as a family is capture all of the moments in between the big ones. When we are gathered around the table, talking about adoption, answering questions about Christ from our son. These are the moments and they pass bye quickly, I challenge you to take them in, each one, whether it is a stressful one or a happy one, no matter when there is something to love in every moment of life. 

Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

his parents

Last night Dawson said out of the blue.... "I'm glad I have parents" I didn't even know he knew the word.

This kid...

Traditions

JOY

This kid has spunk

Oh the JOY, we love this boy

bonding/ bringing home dawson from dans point of veiw

Someday

"You will be freed"

I know this is a different kind of post, but when I saw the title I was curious to watch it. After watching it, It gave me the chills. I know I felt like I should post this. No matter how perfect someone looks, or how wonderful they seem, we all have vices, things that we struggle with and when I watched this video it literally gave me chills, why because I have things that I want to change, I want to make better and this video gave me hope to not feel so stuck. Sometimes I don't feel like I am enough, sometimes I get stuck, and when I feel this way, I stop doing things that make people happy. I look down on life instead of up. 

Grammy Love

This is Dawson when he was younger with his "Grammy". She just wanted to stare and love him while he was sleeping. As soon as we walked in she said, "ohhh can I hold him" She loves Dawson so much, She loves all of her grandkids. She calls on the phone while playing the piano and sings happy birthday to all of her kids and grandkids. We love you Grammy!

what happens when Dan falls asleep

I can not remember that day why Dan was so tired... all I remember is that he really had worked hard.. Dawson and I were talking while he was playing with some of his toys, this is what he did... he lined up all the his toys on Dan and called it the "mountain".

JIMMER WHO?

Not an easy DECISION

I don’t know what the affects of posting this are but it is something that I have thought about many, many times. Adoption isn’t easy. Let me explain, if I can even type these words with a blur of tears.  When we brought home Dawson we felt pretty somber. We could not explain what it was like to lay him down in our home for the first time and just look at him. We could not wrap ourselves around all that took place for us to be a family.

When we came home after placement, I was wrapped with emotion that I cannot put into words. When you come home with a baby, you can imagine the , excitement, worry, gratitude….. We felt all of those things bringing home our little baby but even more we felt heartache.

I want you to know that even though we brought home such an miracle, we didn’t forget how he came.

 We didn't know about Dawson until a few weeks after he had been born. 

We finished our adoption process many days following that special day. We were told about a girl who was young and looking to place. Her baby was due in May although we had not been officially approved through our adoption agency, we were asked to write a letter about us with pictures for her to see.

I was excited, yet we both felt like something was off. We were told to submit our papers on a Thursday so she could come in on Friday and look at a collection of couples to review over the weekend.  It was conference weekend and I kept feeling as though she was not going to pick us, I felt confused.

When we were asked to submit a letter and picture I felt really good about it, and so when I kept feeling conflicting feelings at the same time,I started to question God. 

I know, why question something so small?  Because I had felt like our baby was coming if not I even wondered if we had already missed our chance for the right baby?

During my doubt,  M* came in the same day the other girl was meant to come in and pick up our letter (who ended up picking another couple). Needless to say M* found us.

The feelings we have for her are sacred and above any of that which can be imagined.

We went home that day Dawson was placed (the picture below) feeling a feeling of sorrow and thankfulness all at the same time. Bringing home a baby does not mean that you forget about the journey of how they came to be. We talk about M*, about her family, Z*, his birth dad.

 Someday Dawson hopes to marry his birth mom, why? because, he loves her, SHE IS HIS FIRST LOVE. That tells you how much he loves her. Its really sweet, how much he looks up to her.

We are thankful for the opportunity to adopt, and would never want anyone to believe that as adoptive parents we forget about the miracle adoption truly is.

Happy Birthday Dawson (4 years old!)

Tonight we celebrated Dawson's 4th Birthday. We went bowling and made homeade chocolate cake. We can't believe that he is already 4 years old. He is growing up so fast!

Every birthday I reminisce but this time, he is four no longer a baby no longer a toddler, today I feel like I am saying goodbye to babyhood and that is okay I wouldn't take back the little conversations we have now that he is older for anything. I love you Dawson!!! and so does daddy we are so proud to have you as our sweet little boy! You are so amazing and dynamic and smart and sweet. Happy birthday son!