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!

One Year ago in court!

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

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

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!

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!!!

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

Finaly...Forever

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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.