Adoption is Everywhere

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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!