YSALLMN

I think that might be our new license plate. YSALLMN or HNDSFUL or HRTSFUL. Or maybe I should just have a shirt made up. I did get a new one today "Looks like you're feeding an army!" :) Oh I can't wait for the looks when I have one or two more.

But you already have three kids.....

In a loving response to the question "Why?" It's a perfectly natural question. Yes, I'm aware that I've been blessed many times over. I have three perfectly healthy, perfectly beautiful, perfectly perfect boys. I'm in awe at how lucky I am. I read so many blogs where women just can't have babies, or have to spend thousands to have one. I'm lucky, mine just came. Sometimes when I planned it, sometimes as a surprise. But equally without work or cost. So, why are we spending money and going out of our way to get another child, when we already have three kids.

I realize in today's society having more that 2 children is cause for stares. It's cause for "You have your hands full, You know what causes that?, Are you done?, Better you than me, Are they ALL yours?, and the occasional stare. I have three children, I personally don't think that is over the top at all. When we had foster babes, we had 4, that was cause for all kinds of stares and comments. But we want more. So why adoption?

That story begins in 2006. I had three boys, all under 4 and none that were potty trained or slept through the night. I had major hip and back pain. I was exhausted. The doctors told me that if I had more than my hips wouldn't allow me to walk. I was scared. I was tired. Did I mention tired? So we decided to "take care of things" My husband had the surgery and we were done with babies. Fast forward 3 years. I was not done having babies! I realized that maybe if I had just given my body a break, maybe my hips wouldn't hurt, maybe my kids would have been potty trained, maybe they would be sleeping through the night. So we decided to look into foster-to-adopt care.

Well two years after that, we've had two placements and no permanent baby. Now don't get me wrong, I loved my foster babies. That's what made it even harder to give them back. Especially Baby J, we thought for over 6 months that he might be adoptable. Baby A, we knew pretty early on that she wouldn't be ours for long. So we decided to stop foster care for a minute. In the mean time I realized that I really did want another child.

I feel that I was meant to be a mother, I could never imagine doing something else. I feel that the surgery, done in a time of tired panic, took that opportunity away from me. Now, we've been asked, "Why don't you just reverse it?" We did consider that, but after doing foster care, we had our eyes wide open to the thousands of children already here, in need of a home. This was our personal conviction. (not a put down to anyone who's done a reversal) Our personal conviction to bring home one or two of the children in waiting.

We looked into all forms of adoption, foreign, domestic, infant, older children, and waiting children. We decided on waiting children. We came to this decision pretty quickly. As foster parents we're aware of all the waiting children in the USA, over 123,00! Also, as our youngest is 5, neither of us were certain we wanted to "start over" with a newborn or infant.

So in honor of our coming 4th child, here are four reasons why we're adopting:

1. We love children. We're a family household that thrives on activities, noise, controlled chaos, dreams, painting, cooking, laundry, dishes, playdough, Garfield, football, Nascar, large cars, extra freezers of food, and all the fun and joy that comes with a larger family.

2. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 We feel convicted to adopt and bring one or two of God's children home to a forever home. We have more room and more love to give.


3. "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him." Psalm 127:3 Children are a gift. When we had the surgery, we took that gift away from our family. While we're choosing not to have more biological children, we hope that God sees fit to bless and reward our family with more children.

4. Why not? Our house is loud and so joy filled right now, why not add some more to the mix?

Yes, it's scary. We don't know what child will be entering our home. It's hard to let go of the easy life I have at this moment and "walk out of my comfort zone, into the realm of the unknown" (to quote some song, I can't remember who) But we know that there is good waiting for us, more blessings, more smiles, more hugs. There is a child who needs a home, who needs loving parents and siblings. We feel that we can be that family! So for all these and many more reasons. That is why we're adopting!

And Away We Go!!

The 32 letters with our family photo and our bio have been sent. I repeat, the letters have left the building! Now we wait. :) We are so excited to see the child that God has for us. We've been praying for them since we started the process. Assuming that they are in foster care now, we've been praying that they are being well taken care of and being prepared to come to a forever family. Our lives are about to change forever, and we can't wait to see what happens.

The family photo we chose.

Sam mailing half the letters.

Jackson mailing the other half.

Lord, guide these letters into the hands of the person who knows the perfect child for our family.

Skirting the Truth---may cause blushing.

My first born is almost 9. Questions are starting. For starters, we've always used real names for body parts. So that's helpful. Today he said "if we get a six year old then her and Jackson will be like twins" (Jackson in 6). So I had to explain that that's not how twins are made. "Well then HOW?" Crap, what did I get myself into? "Well a mommy has an egg, a teeny tiny egg, and a daddy has an....umm....ingredient. When they mix, they make a baby. Sometimes a mommy has two eggs. If the ingredient mixes with two eggs you get twins that don't look alike, if the mommy has one egg that splits in two, you get twins that look alike."

The wheels are turning, the hamster is running at full speed and the question comes out of his mouth "well do they have the same birthday" Oh thank you!!!! So I explained that mostly they do, but if one is born late at night and the other born early the next morning then they have different birthdays. I was so thankful that they was the question. He's almost 9, I know some facts need to come out soon. But he's not interested. Do we force the issues with "the talk"? Or do we wait and let the questions come as he sees fit to ask them? We have the books, we have the speech prepared (more or less). I just know my "talk" was horrible. It wasn't my mother's fault. It was the girl down the street. I came running into my mom's bathroom, horrified, I remember plainly that she was blow drying her hair. My face must of concerned her, she turned off the dryer and asked me what was wrong. "Mommy is it true to have a baby a man has to put his "who-who" in my "puter" (my parents didn't use correct words, and for years, I blushed when saying or spelling computer) She stared and probably thought "oh crap" But she explained it as best as she could. Of course, I was the naive child that didn't know you have sex for fun until I was 13 and in the 8th grade (never mind that there were two pregnant 8th graders) So, I was fairly horrified at the age of 7 at the thought of a "who-who" in my "puter". So I don't want the same trauma to occur to my sons. So, my hope is that if I answer his questions on a level he can understand, then when we get to the real stuff, it won't be so horrible. By we, I mean his father. :)

Also, they know babies grow in bellies, there are no storks involved. By gosh, no darn bird is getting credit for my labor and delivery (also, the storks eat their young, I was disturbed to find that out at the zoo, and they're really mean). But so far there have been no questions of how the baby gets out. I remember working with the 5 year old. I was hugely pregnant with Shane and they were arguing one day. "What are you two fighting about?" I asked. The reply "we're fighting about where your baby will come out!" Me: jaw drops. "Uh, you'll need to ask your parents." Them: "I say from where you pee, he says from your belly button." Turns out, one mom had just has a C-section to deliver his little sister, so in reality is was right. 

So any advice as to not traumatize and horrified my very innocent almost 9 year old?

Fundraiser for Adoption Questions.

We've been asked what our goal is in fund-raising. It's a hard question. With foreign adoptions, you get a price lists, you buy your tickets and have a fee schedule. With most domestic adoptions, it's similar. We're adopting from the waiting children in America. By, adopting from social services, the state covers $2,000. That's the cap. Anything over that, we're responsible for. We have to pay for any travel expenses. We're going to have to travel two or three times to meet the child before they come to live with us. This is a good thing, but we could be traveling anywhere, though right now we're trying to stay in state, just because paperwork is so much simpler. Also, this child will come with the minimum of personal items. So we'll be responsible for clothes, school supplies, bedding and all the fun stuff. So I guess our realistic goal is in the $3,000 range. Our social worker was pretty confident that it should be more than $4,000 to cover the actual adoption process, so with the two grand the state uses, the $3,000 would be used to cover the other $2,000 and and extra would be for all the things the child will need as soon as they get here.

So thank you everyone that's sharing the link for the fundraiser. It's a great prize to win. Paula is an amazing artist and for her donate the painting is really incredible! Check out the rest of her artwork at The-Abstract-Bedouin.

To help another waiting family.

Over at Pitter Patter Art, she's hosting a giveaway. She makes a piece for each month that they've been waiting. I enjoy following their journey and her artwork is amazing!

I love you yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

My husband and I are not Valentine's Day people. At all. Yeah, some years he comes home with something, most years not. One year, he did come home with a beautiful painting, that I had been drooling over for a year. That was our fist Valentine's Day in 2002. My husband shows me he loves me every day. Every day! Whether is be a simple, I love you, bringing home a chocolate bar or pepsi, sending me away on vacations, or even taking out the trash first thing in the morning. I love him, all the time. I find this day so trivial. Of course, if you celebrate, more power to you. I get that some people thing it's important. When my husband asked if I'd like flowers, I said "Sure, but wait until Friday, when prices go back to normal." I love our relationship! In the words of Matthew West "It's perfect imperfect, so crazy, but it's worth it. I'm wrapped around you like this ring, and something tells me, even if I could, I wouldn't change a thing."

Instead of pouting!

I'm sick. I'm nauseous. I have strep. I have to take Jackson for the doctor for strep. So instead of whining about all that (hehehe)
1. Though Jackson might have strep, he's acting fine. (after puking in my friends expensive Suburban)
2. I was able to see my favorite Dr. quickly yesterday and could afford my meds.
3. We're sending out our family bios this week to social services around the state.
4. Got pictures of Little Miss yesterday and she's looks fantastic!
5. The weather is edging towards spring!
6. One more month until the daffodils explode!
7. My husband left me a love poem this morning!
8. State refunds are not on the same delayed schedule as federal, so we get them soon!
9. My best friend is pregnant, and I've heard news of lots more. It's going to be a busy fall!!!
10. A lady from church gave us a beautiful girls bedroom set for our new little lady!

Fundraiser!!!

My personalized tree!

We are having our first fundraiser to cover adoption costs! My crazy talented friend at The Abstract Bedouin is donating a 12 x 24 personalized family tree painting. I have one and I love and treasure it! The winner of the raffle will get to pick from her pretty much endless designs. To see a few of the painting she's done, check out Hattire, her Etsy.com page. The painting is a $50.00 value, but mine is priceless to me :) I will be choosing the winner, via a drawing on March 31st. If you want to get tickets, they are $1.00 for one or 6 for $5.00. I will accept cash or Paypal. If you want to use paypal, leave your email address and I'll get you the information.

For an extra bonus! If you buy $5.00 worth the tickets you can earn more tickets, by sharing this blog link. If you leave a comment telling you posting in your blog or on facebook, you'll earn another ticket for the drawing!

Thanks so much for helping us bring home our forever child. For those interested, yes, the state will cover most of the fees involved in adopting from the system, but there will be unforeseen fees. Also when the child(ren) comes to our home, they will most likely have many needs, such a new bedding and clothes. This fundraiser is to cover all this costs.

 Follow my journey God from the mundane to the miraculous!

I'm Pregnant

Sort of! I was searching adoption items on Etsy.com. There are tons and it's a dangerous place. I kept seeing "I'm Pregnant" things. I thought this was weird since I searched "adoption". When I looked closer it said "I'm Pregnant on Paper" or "I'm Paper Pregnant". I really like that idea. I'm still waiting for a child, still surrounded in the unknown, still dreaming of the future they may have, still praying for their safety. I'm just not physically pregnant, I'm Paper Pregnant!

This is the strangest pregnancy I've ever had :) I didn't find out what my first child was, so this is kind of similar. However, when I was pregnant, I knew a baby of some sort was coming sometime within 40-42 weeks. This paper pregnancy has a lot of unknowns. I don't don't if I'm having a boy or a girl, their weight may be from 8-60 pounds. They may have hair down to their backs or be bald. They might be short or very tall. There might even be more than one. It's a pretty amazing pregnancy for sure!

The journey of a thousand miles....

Begins with a single step. We took the first step. We had the talk with the social worker. Today I finished step two. Our social worker suggested we send a letter to local agencies, telling them about ourselves. I found a list of agencies. 32 to be exact. We decided to send them to areas surrounding us, and the area around my parents. I wrote the bio letter and stuffed the envelopes. We just have to take a family photo to add to them and send them off. And wait.