Traveling the Road to Adoption

Adoption is Everywhere

2011-09-06T14:53:00.001-06:00

Great story on Hugh Jackman and their adoption

http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/articles/story95599.htm

Also check out this video from a friend

http://youtu.be/y3UTh40q8KM

Infertility and faith

2011-03-31T20:04:00.002-06:00

Great article on Infertility...even better since we know the 4 couples it interviews http://lds.org/ensign/2011/04/faith-and-infertility?lang=eng

Old Poems but still work

2011-03-12T17:29:00.001-07:00

I was going through some of my old hard drives and flash drives. I found a lot of things I had forgotten about.

These 3 poems are part of that. While they are still in the rough first run form I thought I would share them.

Even after 3 years have passed since I wrote these words they still tug at my heart.

4am Feeding

You grasp my finger
In your small hand
(Which is not like mine
Yet it fits.)

You hungrily latch
Your lips on tight,
(Lips not like mine
Yet I make them smile.)

You gurgle then
Grunt your special
Noises, (that I encourage)
Stopping mid gulp to
Open your eyes
(That I did not give you
Yet they reach
Into my soul.)

I hear one small
Word in my
Mind, that settles
In my heart.
This you give to me.
Simply
Dad.
sb

Untitled
Your body did not conceive me.
Yet your mind saw who I was.

I did not physically grow within you
But my soul started then
grew in your heart

It took longer for me to get here
Than you wanted
(We both had growing to do.)
I came when it was time.

I can not speak the words I want,
So I smile and hope you hear

These special words
That are just for you
“Hi MOM!”
sb

Adoption Love moment #2

You have been in our
Prayers for over 3 years.
Hoping you would come.

We see your strength, your love
As you follow your heart.

Few can fully
understand your
Reasons,

Yet He knows
And is smiling
As you place
Your daughter
Into her mothers arms.

We hug, cry,
Melt into each other
The 3 of us
Forever bound
Together
Through the love
We have for
This small wiggling
Bundle.

This moment
Like our arms
Intertwining together
With the power of pure
Unselfish love.
sb

Defending the family

2011-03-04T20:40:00.002-07:00

Here is a great article on the family.

http://lds.org/ensign/2011/03/teaching-the-doctrine-of-the-family?lang=eng

"Marriage rates are declining, the age of marriage is rising, and divorce rates are rising. Out-of-wedlock births are growing. Abortion is rising and becoming increasingly legal. We see lower birth rates. We see unequal relationships between men and women, and we see cultures that still practice abuse within family relationships. Many times a career gains importance over the family.

Many of our youth are losing confidence in the institution of families. They’re placing more and more value on education and less and less importance on forming an eternal family. Many don’t see forming families as a faith-based work. "

Makes me wonder on how much more Boo and my grandchildren will have to face.
I am grateful for the knowledge I have on the family and it's importance

Proclamation on the Family and adoption

2011-02-18T21:11:00.006-07:00

We believe that the Proclamation on the Family as stated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints applies to adoption. Here is a brief article that backs that up

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/42211/Family-proclamation-applies-to-adoption.html

The family unit was ordained by God to help adults be better people and to help children grow to be responsible adults. It doesn't matter if the children are born or adopted into the family.

I remember when we were in court for the "Official proceeding" The judge said that "she is yours as if she were born to you"

We are responsible for our children.

I know that in adoption that there is a higher power that leads the work. Too many miracles happen to ever have me believe otherwise

Here is the link to the actual Proclamation:
http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,FF.html

3 years already

2011-02-18T12:28:00.004-07:00

This blog started as a way to help document and track our journey through adoption.

Boo is now 3 years old. Natalie mentioned that we have had her as long as we officially waited for her. My how time flys!

We were able to see Boo's birth mom and her parents just over a week ago. Before that it had been over a year. It was so great to see her and how her life is doing good. Boo went right to her without any of her normal shyness, which really touched me. I do believe there is a connection and i would not have it any other way.

As I look back over the joy we have had the last 3 years and compare it to the heartache and pain of the waiting/working period, I would gladly double the time it took us to get her knowing the joy we have now. It is hard to think what our life was like before she came into it.

I think I will try to post more here. The road of adoption is still there for us. We are still on it. Not that we are looking to adopt again but once you adopt you are on the road and it effects your life.

Boo, even at 3, has vocabulary that most 3 years do not. "Birth mother, Adopting, temple sealing" just to name a few. This is good and we embrace it.

As I have said before...Adoption Rocks!!!

First Year of Forever!

2009-09-04T10:23:00.003-06:00

One year ago we had the blessing of Boo being sealed to us for time and all eternity. Where did that year go, where has the past 19 months gone since we got that call that forever changed our lives. Boo is such a part of us it is hard to remember what life was like before she came into it. In some ways she has always been with us it seems.

The road to our adoption was long, and it isn't over yet. The miracle that is adoption is forever part of our lives as well as our extended family.

We are forever thinking and grateful for our wonderful birth mother and her family. She has given us the greatest gift I could ever ask for...that of allowing my wife to become a mom and me to be a dad again! Thanks J we love you and are so proud of all you are doing in your life.

We have also made great and lasting friendships through adoption. We get excited when we see how others are being blessed and we pray and relate to those who are still working on their miracle. I can truly say that when I see Boo smile at me as she tries to tickle me, or shows me what spider man or the hulk does, or even laughs like the joker, I know that every tear we shed and every minute of agony we went through to get her was worth it!

One Year ago in court!

2009-08-15T07:31:00.001-06:00

One year ago (yesterday) we went to court to have Boo become legally ours! Some in the adoption world celebrate it as gotcha day, not so much for us. However that does not mean I am not grateful for what happened then. It forever changed our family. To hear the Judge say she is ours "as if she had been naturally born to you" was great. Even though we knew we would have no problems to know that she was legally ours and nothing the state or any one else could do would change that. It made the years of waiting and waiting all worth it.I love all 4 of my kids equally, but Boo has brought such a glue to our family.I am forever grateful to her birth mother for having the courage and selfless love to do what was best for her baby and place 3 day old Boo in Natalie's arms and then walk away. She is forever a hero to me and everyone i talk to! Over the past 18 months a day has not gone by that I do not think of her and how she is doing or thank the Lord in my prayers for her and ask Him to guide and bless her.

18 Months old

2009-07-31T23:30:00.009-06:00

We have been on this part of our journey for almost 18 months. Boo has been such a blessing to us.

I know I do not keep this blog up as well as I should so please check out our other blogs. I do want to give a brief update with pictures.

Just a quick update

2009-01-07T10:04:00.014-07:00

The Holidays have come and gone and they were great!

The week after Christmas we were able to have dinner with 2 of Boo's Birth Grandparents. It was good to see them.

We are so grateful to our birth mother and all she has done for us.

Here are a few pictures of the fun we all had over the last couple of months.

10 month update!

2008-12-02T12:48:00.005-07:00

Wow, has it really been 10 months since Boo came into our life? It is hard to imagaine life without her. I still remember that Saturday 10 months ago when we got the call saying to come and meet our baby and her wonderful birth mother.

We have grown closer as a family and have enjoyed every second we have with Boo.

It is now time to start to think wether or not we want to start the process agian for another adoption. (With our agency you wait 12 months from placement until you can reup your paper woirk.) We will more than likely try again, I don't want to wait 3 years this time but know that the Lord is in control and what is meant to happen will.

Adoption Awareness Month!!!

2008-11-10T09:32:00.002-07:00

November is Adoption Awareness month. To celebrate Scott, Boo and I attended the 3rd Annual Adoption Walk with me 5k at Liberty park. We bundled Boo up and braved the cold air. We had so much fun, saw good friends and had a yummy burrito (compliments of Chipolte... YUM)

It is so amazing to see how adoption has blessed the lives of so many people.
We are obviously blessed to have Boo but she wouldn't be in our lives if it wasnt for her courageous birth mother. Not a day goes by that I dont think of her and the sacrifice she made on Boos behalf. We are lucky to have an open adoption and to have a great relationship with our birth mother and her family. We are eternally grateful for them and all they have done for Boo.
In our family we celebrate Adoption everyday, but this month in particular our goal is to spread one word..... that word is...... ADOPTION!! Our goal is that you all know and understand how special adoption is and that it is a viable option for anyone who is faced with a crisis pregnancy.

More Pics from the sealing

2008-10-06T14:18:00.007-06:00

Finaly...Forever

2008-09-05T11:12:00.004-06:00

This week we went to the Salt Lake Temple and had Boo sealed to us. This means we have hit the final end purpose with the adoption, to add to our eternal family.
It was a great day surrounded by family and friends. Boo was so cute. She spent most the time wanting to sit up and see who all were in the room.
I am so lucky to have a perfect wife and daughter. My other kids love and adore Boo as their little sister and I could not be happier.
This Sunday we will bless her at Church. More family and friends will be there as well as our wonderful birth mother and her step mom.
Adoption bless every life it touches

Finalization

2008-08-18T20:53:00.005-06:00

Last week we went to court and it all became legal. Boo is ours...just as if she was born to us.

It was quick, our lawyer called our case worker from the agency to the stand (oh yeah we were all sworn in). She discussed our home visits and the agency thoughts on us. He then questioned me on name age, occupation and if I was financly, moraly and phyiscial able to care for Boo. Then he asked the same of Natalie.

Boo spoke up and tired talking, the judge looked up and just smiled. He then had us introduce the family that came. He ask if everyone was in favor of this action. Then he said "I have reviewed this case and signed it. Boo is now yours, just as if she had been naturaly born to you"

We then had the judge come down and took pictures with him. He turned to me and said that he had 3 adopted children himself.

I belive trhat the only time judges get their pictures taken with those that appear before them is adoptions.

What a great day!!!

6 months and FSA

2008-08-11T09:20:00.005-06:00

Wow 6 months already! We have finalization just around the corner. It is unreal to think how fast the time has gone by. Yet, when I think about it, we can’t remember or imagine our life without Boo in it.
This past week end Natalie and I were part of the National Adoption Conference for Families Supporting Adoption. We are on the National board as well as the chair couple for two of the local chapters.
FSA is basically the volunteer arm of LDS Family Services adoption program. We work hard to promote adoption as a positive thing and give support to those working on their miracle to happen and friendship to those that have adoption as part of their lives.
Besides helping direct people and filling in where needed Natalie and I were asked to teach a class on the new itsaboutlove.org (adoption website) that is coming out as well as talk about other adoption websites. We seem to have become the experts on the whole inter thing over the past 3 years.

The best part of FSA is the friends we have. Adoption is a very positive word in our home and family and Boo will have the chance as she grows to have many friends who’s families are just like hers, created through the miracle of adoption.

Blogs a new part of openness

2008-07-16T14:36:00.002-06:00

We have a open relationship with our Birth family. Each Sunday night Nat writes an email to our wonderful Birth Mom, she includes about 10-20 pictures taken during the week.(Thank goodness for digital) I also write a short email to her as well as to our birth mothers Dad and step mom and her mom and step dad. I include 4-6 pictures (from the ones Nat sends).
Most couples cut back the writing at 3 months etc we are still doing weekly. We do not mind since it gives us a record of what went on that week in Maggie's life.
We have also given them our blog address so they can look at both our blogs and those of family and friends. It is a great way to help them know what is going on without marking extra effort.

Wow 5 Months!

2008-07-09T10:22:00.002-06:00

Well, it has been awhile since I wrote. Maggie is now 5 months old! She has grown a lot and gets cuter every day.
We have stayed in contact with the birth family. We send weekly emails and pictures. We even met them once.
Today we have our final supervisory visit with our case worker. Next thing will be the court date and finalization then on to the Temple to be sealed as a family.
The past 5 months have been better than we could ever expected or dreamed of.
It is hard to remember what our life was like before Maggie came into our lives.
Natalie is a full time mother and it really seems to suit her. She is happier than I have ever seen her.
We still stay active in Families Supporting Adoption. It is refreshing to socialize with those that have adopted as well as those still working on their miracle.
Adoption is a miracle and has truly changed our lives. A day does not go by without me thinking of how blessed we are to have Maggie and for her special birth mother and family.

Month 3

2008-05-01T12:59:00.001-06:00

This past month was filled with shots at the doctor’s visit, lots of arm and leg movement, getting the paperwork to the Lawyer to petition the court, lots of pictures and a chance to visit with our wonderful birth mother and her family. We had met her dad and step mom at placement but she had a brother getting married and the extended family was in town and we got to meet them. It was a very special night.
It is hard to remember not having Maggie in our life. We have always had a image and idea in the back of our minds about what our baby would look like and act like. Maggie fits that image perfectly. In the coming months we have the finalization and then the sealing and the blessing to look forward too.
Life is just great!!!

2 months

2008-04-06T13:01:00.002-06:00

Well we have hit our 2 month mark. In alot of ways it still seems so unreal. We are getting more sleep now. Maggie is sleeping for 6-7 ours at night. Wow how lucky.
We have also finaly got Nat to decide on the paint color for the room. We had a nice yellow. In fact after we painted it I said. "I like this, it is just so friendly" nat started to laugh since the name of the color is Freindly Yellow.
We did do a nice square pattern on the one wall and it looks so great.
This week we go for shots and another Doctors visit fun d fun.
Maggie is great, she smiles and tries so hard to make real noises.

Open or not

2008-03-16T19:19:00.003-06:00

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Open adoption is a term generally used to describe a variety of arrangements allowing for ongoing contact between members of the 'adoption triad' (adoptive family, birth family, and adopted child). The level of openness in any relationship varies widely. Degrees of open arrangements span from mediated contact, which implies letters and photographs sent through a third party (so that the adoptive family can maintain privacy), to full disclosure of the adoptive family's personal information. In fully open adoptions, there is actual physical contact, through meetings and visits between the birth family and the adptive family. Sometimes an adoption agency may describe an adoption as 'open' when the birth-mother (and/or birth-father) may have a say or may make the actual decision on who is chosen to parent their child, though this is not the generally accepted definition.
An adoption where the adoptive and birth parents do not become aware of each others' identities and where only medical and historical information is given to the adoptive parents is known as a closed adoption.
Although open adoptions are thought to be a relatively new phenomenon, in fact most adoptions in the United States were open until the twentieth century. Until the 1930's, most adoptive parents and birth parents had contact at least during the adoption process.[1] In many cases, adoption was seen as a social support: young children were adopted out not only to help their parents (by reducing the number of children they had to support) but also to help another family by providing an apprentice.
Adoptions became closed when social pressures mandated that families preserve the myth that they were formed biologically. One researcher has referred to these families, that made every attempt to match the child physically to their adoptive families, as 'as if' families.[2][3]
Openness became the norm when infants available for adoption became scarce, and birth parents had the ability to negotiate acceptable terms for their children, including the ability to participate in decisions about who they wanted to parent their child.
Proponents of open adoption maintain that such adoptions are better for the child and represent best practice. Increasingly, as children growing up in open adoptive homes are studied, adoption researchers are finding that this might be a preferable adoption arrangement.[4] Civil rights advocates argue that openness is the right of all children, who are entitled to information about their history and heritage.
One important fact related to openness is that open adoptions are not legally enforceable agreements in many jurisdictions[5]. The adoptive parents may terminate all contact with the birth parent(s) at any time and for any reason.

We are often asked if we are in an open adoption or closed. That is always a hard one to give a simple answer to. Mainly due to the fact that everyone has their own idea on what it means.
We willing share emails and pictures with our wonderful birth mother, and family. Each week Nat writes a special one to one email just to her. I write a family email to her, her dad and step mom, her mom and step dad. I have even written to the birth father per his request but have not herd back. We have received emails from all the rest. We are printing them out and saving them for Maggie to read when the time comes.
We have also given them the address to our blogs and encourage them to share that with anyone they wish. So yeah we are open. We still have some boundaries but they are small and not set in stone.
I truly believe that blogs are the most perfect way to share information and to let people get to know who we are and how we think.

1 Month Update

2008-03-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

So our first month as a family has passed. Life as sure changed. Who knew that something that spent so much time asleep could take up so much of your time! Of course we love every minute of it.
This month we have adjusted work schedules, mine some times from home, Nats totaly at home. We have set up car seats, cribs and decided on paint for the room. Of course we have also advised family and friends when we will be having the sealing and blessing of Maggie.
We have kept in touch with our wonderful birth mother and parts of her family. I even sent an email and some pictures to the birth father per his request that came to us through the agency.

All in all we have grown and loved this month.

With adoption that happens fast like ours you are first bowled over but now things are smoother and we can catch our breath and smile.

Oh yeah we got wonderful pics of her too.

First Supervisory Visit

2008-02-18T20:00:00.002-07:00

After you place and before you finalize (at least in Utah) you have 3 supervisory visit with someone from the agency. We had our first visit last week. Our case worker came over and it was great. She asked the questions that are required, Basically how are we and the baby doing? What changes have you had to make? How are you and the rest of the family bonding etc.
We will have another visit in a couple of months and then right before the 6 month mark before finalization.
Family and friends have been going nuts and we are so lucky to have so many people who are instantly in love with Maggie and so supportive.

You've placed...now what?

2008-02-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

This week has been crazy. Family and friends have all gone nuts. The Ward really went head over hills for our news. Non stop people dropping by, family all around, and a great shower from the Ward. Admist all this we knew we had to do a few things.
1. Get a Lawyer
2. Get a Doctor
3. Get her on insurance

Well, for the Lawyer, I (Scott) metioned to our Stake President that we were going to place when I saw him on Sunday before High Council. He is involed in adoption and has known of our wait and the service we do for FSA. He is a lawyer and said he would love to represent us. Wed night I saw him again and confirmed we had placed and told him the details. I asked what we needed to do now and he said nothing, I'll let you know.

For the Doctor, we have been told over and over again who is the best in the town and one name kept coming up. So we called his office only to find out that he is pretty busy and did not have an opening till end of March. I then figured out that his mom and dad live in our Ward and know us, so I called his mom, talked to her, she said she would call him and 45 minutes later the office called back with our appointment.

Insurance is tomorrow. As well as asking the insurance for the adoption benefit. So far we have been extremly lucky and know that we truly are blessed.

IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-07T12:09:00.001-07:00

Ok I (Scott) have not updated this and you would think this would be the first place I would go. Saturday afternoon Natalie got a call from one of the case workers we know. Our baby was born the day before and we needed to come met her and the birthmother that night. We were blown away. We had no idea we were even being shown. Well we drove to the hospital and met her, the birth mother and her dad and stepmom. What a cool night it was. We told them over and over again how touched we were that they would trust us with this responsibility. Placement happen Monday night and Maggie Grace came home to a mass of family. We let a couple of people know in the ward and boy did the news s[spread like wildfire. Family, friends, neighbors who have been praying for this to happen for the last 3 years all broke down in tears that it finally had come about.
Wow life is great.
We will keep updating this blog as our journey is not yet done. In fact it will never be done because adoption is part of our life as well as Maggie’s. Nat said it best.
“Adoption is a positive word in our family”

Friends help!

2008-01-11T10:00:00.001-07:00

Last night we had a board meeting for our FSA group.(Our meetings are 50% business and 50% laughs it seems) These people we work with have become our friends. They understand the road to adoption since they are on it. They also have hit bumps as well. The best part of getting together is we can talk and laugh about what we are going through.
Humor is a great help, I don’t think we could have made it through the past 3 years without good friends who understand and a good laugh once in awhile.

FIND vs WAIT

2008-01-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

Scott and I have been "waiting" for our miracle for almost three years now. I will be the first to say that this time has not been easy but as I said in my blog today, Trials are a part of life and how you deal with those trials measure your strength of character.
We try to stay away from the word WAIT and you will often hear us talking about finding our baby. We know that there is a baby out there that is supposed to come to our family; it is just a matter of finding that baby.
There is a great comparison between FIND and WAIT in a booklet called Someones Missing

WAIT

Waiting is passive. It is being idle and is extremely unfulfilling

W— “WHAT IF?”

As we wait, we may stay in a constant stat of “what if?” We may put off plans and not take full advantage of our present opportunities while we sit by the phone waiting for that important call.

A— ANXIOUS

As we wait we may get restless and uneasy. We may feel a lot of anxiety and worry about things over which we have no control

I— INSECURE

As we wait we may feel insecure and doubt our capacity to parent. We may feel un-worthy and have a sense of low self-esteem

T—TENSE

As we wait the tension may grow. If we are not careful contention can easily enter the home and we may begin to blame and easily hurt each other’s feelings

FIND

Finding is active. It is begin proactive in the search for your child. It is following the principle of doing all that we can and then relying on the Lord to help all things work together for our good.

F—FAITH

It takes faith to search for your child” faith in prayer that Heavenly Father will guide us and place us in the right places; faith through fasting that we will encounter the birthmother carrying our child; faith that the Lord will direct our paths and help us find our children.

I—INSPIRATION

The Spirit can inspire us to talk with those around us about our desire to adopt. As we listed to promptings and live close to the Spirit, we can be divinely guided in our efforts.

N—NETWORKING

It is beneficial to talk to everyone. Using every possible channel to get the word our can expand our voice and can increase the likelihood of finding our child.

D—DIVINE INTERVENTION

Once we have done all that we can do, we can rely on the Lord to intervene in our behalf. It is only through Him that all things are possible. The Lord will direct our paths.

***

I personally have found, especially recently, that if you focus on the Lord and put your trust and faith in him, things generally have a way of working out. Not to say that things aren’t still difficult, they are just more manageable.

Placing vs. Giving up

2007-12-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

It is great to see several stories in the news this past week on adoption. It was even nicer to see that they were positive. However, one small thing really gets me as I hear or read these stories. The term “give up” or She gave up her baby. Over the past 3 years we have been waiting/working on our miracle and especially the last 2 years where we have been teaching the adoptive couples to be class, I have yet to hear or see a birth mother who “gave up” her baby. They give up their right to parent that child not the child itself. To give up sounds like they don’t care or love that child. Nothing could be further from the truth. They loving place their baby (often their first born) into the arms of another mother. Hoping and trusting that this couple can give their child the life she can’t. Other terms bug us as well. Babies are not “put up” for adoption; you put your house up for sale. They are not “adopted out” like you would a litter of puppies. She doesn’t “get rid of” the baby either.
The whole adoption process, as we have seen it, most of the time is all about love for the child. Love of a birth parent that can make the rough choices and the love of the adoptive family as they get what they have been aching and yearning and praying for. Simply put. “It’s about Love”

Merry Christmas to All!!

2007-12-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

We wish everyone Glad Tidings. May you all have Joy and Happiness the Holiday Season. We are so grateful for the love and support from all of our family and friends. The holiday season is a time to reflect and remember all that we have been given. We are truely grateful for the blessings that we have. We know that the Lord hears and answers our prayers and we pray that 2008 will be the year that our miracle finds us.

We pray for your continued happiness. May you all be blessed this holiday season and throughout the coming year.

All our Love

Scott and Natalie

We are not alone on the journey

2007-12-16T12:06:00.001-07:00

We got a really nice Christmas card from our case worker yesterday. In it she stated how much she appreciated all that we were doing to help other couples with their own adoption miracles. (With FSA). She also mentioned that she knew it can be hard to be long waiters and that she knew many people were praying for us and our own miracle. That felt good. It seems that every time we get a bit down or discouraged we get the lift we need from a friend or neighbor. They simple say that they are praying for us and that makes us feel so grateful.
We know that we are doing what we should be doing. We will help any couple with their profile or what to do and say. We have a firm testimony of the great work that Adoption is. We have couples tell us they are placing after waiting a whole 3 months, We are happy for them but it’s still hard wondering why we haven’t had the blessing yet. Some couples get so upset that it is taking so long…a whole 6 months or almost a year. Well, we let them know that it doesn’t get much easier coming up on the 3 year mark, but its not about getting any baby, its about getting your baby. We had a case worker tell us that there was a reason we were having to wait so long, they just didn’t know what it was. I guess it is for a reason. We had a couple that was facing a failed placement (the birth mother was going to change her mind) I asked how they were dealing with it and they told me that they had to smile and have a positive attitude, “You guys would do that so we need to be like you” That was nice, but we are nothing special. We just know that there is a higher power and knowledge behind this work. After all, that’s what Faith without fear really means.

Being Baby Hungry

2007-12-14T12:40:00.001-07:00

I guess I should say that I, Scott, am writing these entries. Natalie sees them and adds opinions, and I am sure she will write once in awhile.

I have 3 kids from a previous marriage and I have been accused by friends of being “baby hungry”. Well, I guess I am. When my kids were little I worked graveyard shift so I could be home in the day to take care of them. My ex-wife and I split when the kids were 10, 7, 4. So I missed out on a lot of the day to day stuff. Doing homework in person rather than over the phone, seeing friends come and go. Working on school projects and just the daily growth that happens. I have a great relationship with my kids then and now and we have great memories of them growing up. We were very lucky that the divorce did not have a bad impact on them. It was hard work but worth it.
So yeah, I am baby hungry; I want the late nights and the homework duties. So when my friends say it I agree.

The First Part of The Journey

2007-12-12T23:01:00.001-07:00

In order to be able to adopt through LDS Family Services we had to be interviewed, together and individually. We also had to attend a 8 week course on adoption. There we learned about birth mothers and how they came into the agency, not to give up their baby but to make a plan for their child. Sometimes that plan included placing the baby for adoption, sometimes it meant single parenting. We also learned about the laws and other things in the adoption world.
Shortly after the class was finished we had our home study and back ground checks then we were approved to have our profile start to be shown to birth mothers. We were finally approved in March and felt sure that we would have a baby by Christmas. (That was 2004). We put our profile online with Its about love and in Aug started it online with Parent profiles. We had a few contacts from each but nothing panned out. We also had some who were not being truthful with us that first 3 months. This really opened our eyes to dealing with people on the internet. We learned and have tired to help others as they start out. We still strongly believe in the internet as a way to get our faces out there. It is worth the small risk.

In Feb. last year we were approached by a birth mother through Parent Profiles. We emailed back and forth for several months. She delivered 6 weeks early and the baby did not make it. We have also had other contacts from both the internet and our agency, but nothing has finished our travel yet.

Several months ago we heard Glenn Beck speak about their adoption. He said a line that has really stuck with us and that we believe and try to teach to all we come in contact with. It is “You don’t just want any baby. You want your baby.” We truly believe that.

We are now the chair couple for FSA for 2 of the agencies we live by as well as being on the National Board for all of FSA. We have really come to see that blessings that come form adoption.

This road has had many ups and downs but through it all we have each other, our family, friends and faith that it will happen.
Our family motto is FAITH WITHOUT FEAR!

The road so far

2007-12-12T14:22:00.001-07:00

Well, here we are. Our names are Scott and Natalie. We have been on this road to adoption for 3 years now. It all started when a co-worker said that she was expecting and wanted to place the child with us. We were exicted and contacted the agency she was going through to get qualified. Well, she decided the best plan for her baby was with another family so we are still on the road.

We are going through the LDS Family Services agency. We are very active in the "Families Supporting Adoption" group that they sponser. (see link for more info).

The reason to do this blog is to share the joys and hurts that happen as we work on our miracle happening. We have profiles on Parent profiles as well as Its about Love.org.

Fell free to drop in any time to see how we are doing. Also, feel free to share our information with anyone that might have a use for it. We firmly belive that we can help our miracle along by letting as many people know as possible about us.