Our Adoption Story

     Since our final adoption just a few days ago I felt it appropriate now to share our story of how these sweet little ones came into our lives.  Some might wonder why we wanted more children since we had, in the worlds view, the perfect family, twins...one boy and one girl. Our family, simply, did not feel complete.  So we went on an adventure since the birth of our twins...the journey consisted of change, and we all know what that means... GROWTH(or should I say challenge) in all aspects of life, not just the childless ones.  And now here we are 7 years later and 2 more babies in just one year.  I don't want to "collect them like stamps, or because they are cuter than cupcakes."  I want to take part in creating something with God.  I know it will require some stretching in every aspect of my life, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically.  But, in the life here after, I want to meet my Maker with dirty knees and chipped nails and say "I did What you asked me to do, and I did my very Best."  I want to follow my saviors example, to feed the sick and afflicted, and to comfort the naked.
    After over a year of contimplating the idea of foster care we decided to give it a whirl.  We felt that if we couldn't have more children of our own, then lets start serving someone else. I wanted to give our family the opportunity of service, and maybe get nothing in return but a broken heart and wonderful memories.  That is how it seemed at first.  We had our first placement, and then sweet little Ian left 2 days later.   That same weekend we went out of town, only this time Brad stayed home for work, and I took our twins.  Well you can guess what happened next.  My husband called telling me they have a 3 month old baby at child Haven for us (a homeless baby I thought), if we wanted to come and see him and hold him before we made the decision we could.  So, my sweet Husband went down by himself, while I was still out of town.  Sat with this this little guy and held him. lets take him home.  Again, my sweet husband took him home, while i am frantically telling him were all the bottles were stored in the garage and what size diapers to purchase etc. etc.  He says "Anna, don't worry about it and you don't need to come home early."  I still wonder how that first night was, just Him and this new little baby.  He took him to all of his church meetings.  The ride home from Utah could not have been more filled with excitement and anticipation for all of us.  I still remember seeing him for the first time, he was asleep and we just had to wake him and give him a bath.  Oh man, that was it.  It did not take long for us to fall in love.  I hugged my husband and said, "I used to think i was so shallow because i felt that if your baby was not cute you could not bond, but I was wrong, this baby was not cute and I LOVED him all the more." He truly was a ray of sunshine. 3 months later we were given another opportunity to take in a beautiful baby girl.  This is not typical in the foster world for anyone to take in 2 children under the age of 1 that are not siblings.  This would mean we would have a 6 month old and a newborn.  With special authorization and a million little miracles to go along with it.  Natalie was placed in our home on Aug. 27th 2011.  I felt like I saw it all, saw what the lord was doing in my life.  Giving me Paul (his caseworker was such a wonderful advocate for us in getting Natalie) so that I could have Natalie.  She was a fullfillment of a dream I had years earlier. That baby girl with black hair and tan skin.  Her natural mother relinquished her parental rights very quickly and we knew she would be ours.  I even did a relactation and breast fed this sweet baby.  Who knew you could breast feed an adopted baby. The proof is here, and I did it!  Paul's situation didnt change. I kept perspective, but wondered what the Lord really had in store.  I wanted him to either go home soon and get this whole thing over with or let me embrase my new life. My hands were very full at this point with a new baby, Paul and 2 other children who needed love and attention.   Finally in Jan. 2012 Paul's natural mother decided that it would better for her to have us adopt him.  She loved him dearly, but knew it was in Paul's best interest to stay with us.  I really could not believe all of this was happening.  Certainly life would be easier with one baby at a time, but that is not how we do things around here.  When it rains it usually pours!  Then the doubt started to come in my own mind, do I have the capacity to do this? Can everyone feel loved and given the attention they needed?  Am I being selfish in being given such a blessing when I know there are so many who desire for children?  Well, I realized that the Lord is the Author of my life and I am just his Pencil.  We prayed. A lot.  I know these babies are ment to be in my life, in our life.  Sure, I had fears and still do.  Adoption can be scary.  I don't know the challenges we will be up against in the future, but I am going to live by Faith.  Faith and optimism go hand and hand.  Yes, I have my days when I am not seeing things with my eternal eyes, and life catches up with me.  On those days, sometimes even weeks, I take a step back, Quiet my mind, see all the blessings around me, slow down and live in the moment.  That is when the Joy enters!
   I have to say I truly feel as if the lord is blessing me for obedience, and also, Letting go sometimes allows us to recieve.  As much as I wanted children, I made up my mind a couple of years ago that if this was all, I would still be happy.  That was when, I think, the miracles started to happen.
   Now here we are, feeling so blessed it almost feels wrong.  I thank my father in Heaven everyday for my family, I pray for strength and the capacity to do all that is required of me.  I pray for my children to feel whole in mind, body and spirit.  I  pray all the time.  I see his tender mercies daily, even hourly.  He has been so good to me. I have my challenges, but I know this life was ment to be fullfilling and joyful.
    I wish anyone who reads this the Best on there own personal journey. This is my story, and you will have your own. Oh the many seasons of our life!

Great quote...

 "It is better to be taught, than to have to be compelled to learn."  

My one over productive 5 senses

Today I start a weight loss journey.  Of all my 5 senses, my taste has been way over stimulated in recent days.  My theory is to use my other 4 senses... touch, smell, see, and hear in abundance.  I anticipate life filled with even more beauty as I break this chain of obsession to food.  When I am so hungry the one thing that has helped in the past has been to remember that "I just need to fill my stomache and the pain of hunger will disipate."  Once it is satisfied, my desire to self sabotage with bad food is a distant desire.  I Know I can do this, I am strong and capable.  My goal is to create a new way of thinking about food, just a catalyst to give me energy and strength rather than a destiny.  Good Luck to everyone on there own journey to Peace.  This is a piece to my puzzle that allows other beautiful and wonderful things into my life.  I know my spirit is dependent upon it.  I am not talking about having a beautifully honed body, but to create space in my life for my spirit to soar!

The joys of Fall Gardening...

Fall gardening hardly gets the recognition it deserves.  To me this is the greatest season to garden, no bugs, a greater variety of veggies that my family enjoys and it's not so darn hot.  Try these little garden gems: All Kinds of lettuces, butter head, red leaf, romaine.  Swiss chard (which is a personal favorite and better than spinach), spinach, snap peas, radishes, artichokes, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and root veggies like carrots and beets.  Give fall gardening a whirl, you may find it to be your favorite as well.