The one with...

The best post ever!

and another...

best post ever.
What a great year this has started out to be.

There are so many more exciting stories out there.

Another adoption miracle!

Congratulations Tyson and Janeal!

I really must be getting old...

I am officially a GREAT Aunt!!

 

Congrats Kels!  We love you!  And are so stinkin' excited for you!

Can't wait to meet little Hunter.

Introducing my newest niece . . .

Little Miss T.

(I don't know the details yet)

Daughter of Dustyn's sister, Alyshia.

Dustyn's mom and lil miss t.

White walls

Through our adoption journey we have been matched, packed, and ready to leave at a moments notice at least 6 or so times (really, I've lost count.  We've been "matched" many more times).  We prepared, loved and prayed for so so many little children.  Children of God.  Children we hoped and prayed would come into our home. We are prepared.  We are ready.  We have everything a baby would need to thrive and grow.

Lately I have felt the urge to get rid of everything. Remember the nursery?  I feel like I need to paint it white.  I want white walls.  Now, I know you are asking, "Why put so much work into something that you are just going to paint white and start over?"  I want to start over.  I want to go back to the first year of our adoption journey where we were excited!  Anxious!  Ready!  I want to feel the fresh feeling of HOPE again.

I can't look at the nursery.  I never go in there, but it is always tugging at the back of my mind.  After packing and unpacking so many times, it's a mess.  I want to go organize it and make it perfect.  Ready.  But I just can't.  I want to get rid of it.

Thankfully I have the gospel in my life that continually gives me hope.  I have friends.  Many friends that are hoping and praying for us!  I have so many friends that are always there offering support.  I love reading blogs.  They help me so much to see how great things can turn out.  And how sometimes, they don't turn out.  But you know what?  I am not the only one going through this.  There are other people out there, like me.  Yes.  Little old me.

I have family that are always there!  Ready to hand out pass-along cards, talk to everyone they know about adoption, and to support us in every way they can.

There is so much love and support surrounding me.  How can I want to start over?  I never want to forget the experiences we have had.  I never want to forget the little spirits we have loved and hoped for.  I never want to forget the spirit that has filled our lives with each experience.  Those are perfect moments.  Moments when my heart wants to jump out of my chest.  Those are moments that keep me going and wanting to try again and again.  Those are moments that give me hope.

8 things.

Tagged by Necia!

8 T.V shows I love to watch:
The Office
American Idol
One Tree Hill (except I haven't watched it for-ev-er)
Big Brother
Anything on TLC
Iron Chef America
Good Eats
Food Network Challenge
(now if we only had all those channels!)

8 Favorite Restaurants:
Cafe Rio
Cheesecake Factory
McGrath's Fish House
Steve's Steakhouse
Noodles
Olive Garden
Thaifoon
The Pie

8 things that happened yesterday:
Went out to eat Chinese with my family.
Subbed.
Went to Wal-Mart two or three times.  I think three.
Visited with both sets of my grandparents.
Bought a new Charlie and Lola book and eye liner.
Ate at Subway.
Got the mail.
Ate a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie that Dustyn made.

8 things I am looking forward to:
Adopting.
Going to North Carolina.
Going to Minneapolis.
Getting out of debt.
Getting our yard finished.
Thanksgiving.
FSA Conference next year!  :)
Vacation!

8 things I love about fall:
The smell and chill in the air.
Baking.  Lots of baking.
The beautiful changing scenery.
My angels birthday.
Thanksgiving, Christmas and family gatherings.
Our house is the perfect temperature!
I get motivated to accomplish things again.
CamRee's birthday!!  YAY!  Can you believe she will be 7?

8 things on my wish list:
A baby. And then maybe a little brother or sister.
A new HDTV and Satellite. (The Food Network and TLC, etc.)
A new fridge.
A new couch! (for Dustyn) ;)
A new wardrobe.
New holiday decorations/Everyday decorations for my house.
An iPhone that works in this area!
A new pair of sunglasses.

October

Can you believe it is already October?  Seriously, were did the year go?

I am completely excited that it is fall.  I love fall.  It is my most favorite time of the year.  October marks a lot of major events in our lives.  It's kinda a special month for us, full of emotions, memories, traditions, and fun.

5 years ago this month, Dustyn and I started dating!  It was 5 years ago this month that I found the best husband that there could possibly be for me.  He is amazing and I am completely lucky that I found him!  Can you believe it's been 5 years?  I can not believe that in 3 month I will have been married 5 years!  That is just crazy.  I feel like it was just yesterday.

4 years ago this month, our angel baby, Hannah, came to earth for a short moment. We are thankful for her and for her presence in our lives.  She is such a strength to us and continually turns our thoughts to Heaven and Eternal Life.  She helps us be the people that we need to be.  She gives us strength to keep going.  She reminds us daily of our Eternal plan.  What a blessing.

2 years ago this month, we were officially approved to adopt!  What an amazing journey the past 2+ year have been.  I can not even begin to tell you what I have learned.  I have learned more about myself.  More than I ever thought I wanted to know, but it turns out, I'm not so bad!  I didn't know who I was.  Slowly through trial and error, I am finding myself and the person that I really want to be.

I have learned about Dustyn, about our marriage.  What a miracle to be married to Dustyn for all time and all eternity.  Through all the trials, we sit and wonder what in the world we were suppose to learn.  What good can we take out of our pain and heartache?  Somehow we always find it.  We are together and that is all that matters.  If we never have children here on this earth, I will always be blessed to have Dustyn.  He's all I need on this earth.  I know I have eternity to raise and be with my children.  Now, that doesn't mean that I don't want to have children here, but I am happy to have the eternal family that I have!

Adoption.  Seriously, this is the work of the Lord.  He truly knows what we need and when we need it.  Adoption is such an amazing program.  I mean, something that ends in an eternal family sealed in the Temple for all time and eternity.  Can there be anything more special?  My heart is so full of love for adoption.  My whole and complete heart is in adoption.  I wish I could explain with words how I feel, but I fear there is nothing I can say to explain the feelings of my heart.  Just know, that I feel the love of Christ in adoption.  What an amazing work.

I am not the same person I was two years ago.  I have completely changed through love, heartaches, and experiences.  I will never be the same person I once was and for that I am grateful.

I love October.  I love what it represents to me and my little eternal family.  I love that no matter how sad I am during October, I can find happiness in my Heavenly Father and in his son Jesus Christ.  He is there for me!  He wants me to be happy!  And when he feels we are ready, he will bless us with miracles.  What a loving Heavenly Father we have.  We are so blessed.

I love October!

Congratulations!!

To my cute cousin Kristan and her adorable baby girl. Love you guys! :) (is it okay for me to post a pic?)

Also - congrats to this family expecting a baby girl in September 2008. Love you guys! And so very excited for you!

And last but not least . . . It's Dustyn's first day of School! (although he might not be that excited!) Have a fabulous day Dust!

New Baby!

My friend from High School just had her new baby yesterday. Melodie Joy
5 lb 12 oz 19 inches long
She is adorable! I can't wait to meet her.

Congratulations Aaron and Toni! She is beautiful!