Spotlight Saturday - Todd & Karine

Please take a moment to get to know Todd & Karine and their beautiful family.

You can find out more about them and contact them by visiting their adoption blog:

http://familyjourneyintoeternity.blogspot.com

Todd & Karine, Virginia, Kalene, Cally, Taylor, & Jaden

We are a couple who have been married for a long time and have a strong marriage...

We met in church when I was 16, became best friends first, then dated... fell in love and married when I was 18 Todd was 22.

Todd and Karine have been married now for 19 years. Our love is only stronger and our relationship is only better today than when we first fell in love!

We are a big family! Our next child will have lots of love and siblings...

We are a family that loves animals... We own 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 birds and 2 bunnies.

We are a family that loves music...

We are a family that likes Camping...

We are a family that takes family vacations...

We are a fun, talented and creative family...We are a family that takes time to spend qaulity time together!

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Spotlight Saturday - Josh & Kenna: Looking For Their 'Little'

Please take a moment to get to know Josh & Kenna.

If you know an expectant mother who is considering adoption, she can find out more about them and contact them by visiting their adoption blog:

http://shumwayadoption.blogspot.com

Update: Congratulations to Josh & Kenna who recently adopted a baby boy!

Josh & Kenna

When we got married almost four years ago, we thought we would have the life we’d always planned for. We dreamed of finishing school… working and saving our hard-earned money… having kids. Little did we know what was in store for us. Fast-forward to present day: two miscarriages, one perfect, still-born child at almost 20 weeks, one brain tumor and an infinite amount of heart break later. We have waded through life’s trials and have sought to see the light at the end of this horrendous tunnel. But it’s hard some days. Most days. You see, the one thing we desire most in this life—a child—is the one thing that we have been told we cannot have. At least not the way we always thought we would.

Josh Says. . .

I am a student at Utah Valley University studying biology and chemistry. I am striving to get into Pharmacy School. I enjoy learning new things and being able to teach others. I have always liked the outdoors as well as sports. Sometimes I even take time to relax and play a few games on the Wii. I feel that I work hard to get what I want. I am patient with people and am very slow to anger. I like opportunities to help others in whatever way possible. Most important of all, I can't wait to be a dad to my own 'little.'

Kenna is a very caring person. I have always enjoyed watcher her do secret acts of service for others. She'll write beautiful notes to people to lift them up and help out in any way possible. She has a great sense of humor and can always bring a smile to my face. I am always amazed at how strong she is. Kenna is very determined. She knows what she wants and will do everything in her power to accomplish her goals. She is very smart and loves to learn. This comes in very hand for me because she helps me out in school. Kenna is very organized and keeps things in order. She is tender and calm and she is going to make an amazing mommy to a lucky 'little.'

Kenna Says. . .

I am a sassy music junkie who often expresses my feelings through the lyrics of a song. It is something that I connect deeply with. I relish the quiet, calm moments in life. I love my family and friends deeply and am fiercely protective of them. I am passionate and driven so when I put my mind to something, I accomplish it. I love to write, whether on my blog or my book. In turn I also love to read. My true love, other than Josh of course, is the ocean. I am looking forward, and want nothing more, than to being a mommy to a sweet 'little' through adoption.

Josh is the most loving, strong and calm man I have ever encountered. This is, of course, why I snatched him up before anyone else could get to him. He has been my stability through the trials we have faced. He is my best friend, my sounding board, my partner in crime. Josh is a disciplined, proactive worker & leader. He has a tenacity and drive that I have never seen in an individual. Josh also has a gentle, soft side, especially when it comes to the 'littles.' Children adore him and are drawn to him. He is playful and patient. Josh wants nothing more than to be a daddy to his own 'little.'

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Aunt Marci has come and gone

He keeps saying, "Remember when Aunt Marci came to my house?! I love Aunt Marci. I miss Aunt Marci."

There's nothing quite like someone you love being smitten over your baby! Marci's last visit to AZ was before Carter was born. It was the best gift for me to have my sister come get to know my kids and spend time with us (and the warm weather was a bonus for her). Now if only she hadn't needed to leave early to beat that dang storm home! The day she went home we all just kind of stumbled around like zombies. Carter was totally bummed to find Aunt Marci gone. I felt it too, Buddy!

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five months has come and gone

This is late, but way too good not to share.Sometimes I think I could just gobble her right up!

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Spotlight Saturday - Mike, Hallie & Landon

Please take a moment to get to know Mike and Hallie and their little guy, Landon.

You can find out more about them and contact them by visiting their adoption blog:

http://lookingtoadoptagain.blogspot.com/

We have been married ten years, and during that time we have been on many adventures. We are best friends. We tell each other everything and have complete trust and faith in each other. We are truly committed to one another because we want to see each other succeed in life, and we want to see the other be fully and completely happy. The two of us want to experience all that life has to offer with each other and with the children we hope to bring into our family. In October of 2007 we added to our family through adoption. Landon was placed in our home by a wonderful birth mother who chose us to raise her darling son. He has been a wonderful addition to our family. Every day is an adventure that we truly cherish.

Micheal About Hallie:

I think the most important thing to know about Hallie is that she is a really genuine person. When she is happy, you can tell. She can’t hide it! Hallie is also the oldest of her siblings, so she takes on a lot of responsibility. She cares for her friends and is very loyal. She does an excellent job caring for other people in her family and at church. She is a wonderful mom to Landon. She always has some exciting or dramatic story to tell about her day’s events and their activities together. I never have a boring time when Hallie is near. Hallie loves music, and she gets super excited whenever her favorite band is in town. She plays the piano, and she usually either has music playing on the radio, or she can be found humming a little tune. She loves to explore new places and revisit favorite haunts. She has taken me to visit some of her favorite parts of the world, and she has been brave enough to come with me to some of my favorite places too. She makes an effort to improve herself each day, and she doesn’t let the fact that she’s not perfect stop her from changing herself for the better.

Hallie About Michael:

Michael grew up in Southern California as the oldest of four kids and the only boy. For me that has paid off because he really knows how to treat a lady right. During his growing up years, Michael babysat a lot and was one of the few boys in his area to do so. Serving a mission in Argentina has been a highlight of his life. Michael speaks beautiful Spanish, and he feels it important to share his love of language and culture with Landon and our future children. Being on time is important to me, and on our first date Mike was arrived right on time, which impressed me. From the time Michael was little he has always done very well in school. We joke that he liked school so much that he got a PhD! But there is more to Mike than just being a good student. He is kind to others and is willing to help others. He also loves to decorate and do maintenance on the house. Some of the things I love about Michael are that he is willing to take risks with me, and he supports me in all that I do even if it means making a mistake. Michael is a gentleman. He holds the door open for me, is willing to go clothes shopping with me, and knows the little things in life that make me happy, like cleaning the house. Michael is a hard worker. He will not stop working on a project until he gets it done. Mike loves it when I laugh, and he is willing to put himself out there to be silly enough to get a smile on my face. Michael is always concerned for our well-being. He helps us eat healthy, exercise, write in our journals, attend church, and be the best people we can. Michael loves our son. He has so much fun with Landon showing him all of the neat things in this great big world around him.

About Landon:

Landon is 2 years old and so very active. Each and every day he is developing new skills that amaze us. Love shines through this little guy's eyes. He's a special little man, and people of all ages seem drawn to him and his engaging personality. Our families are so excited to be around him when we go to visit. Landon has tried at least all of the foods we have given him, even if they do make his face pucker. He's a little daredevil and fearlessly climbs over any obstacle in his way.

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Catchin' theives, just like flies!

To Carter's delight (and to the chagrin of local imaginary super-villains), our friends gave him his first spidey suit. He has seen very little of Spiderman - mostly just board books - but he has caught on quickly. At times it seems like we see more of this wall-crawling webslinger around here, than his alter ego we call our son. To date, there have been sightings at the library, grocery store, and park. Church may be the only place criminals will find sancutuary, but let's keep that on the down low.

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Spotlight Saturday - A Happy Nevada Couple Hoping to Adopt

Please take a moment to get to know Brad and Dawn-Marie.

You can find out more about them and contact them by visiting their adoption blog:

http://ouradoptionblogbdm.blogspot.com

Brad & Dawn-Marie

We both enjoy the outdoors, and love 4-Wheeling and camping. We love spending time with our family, playing with our dog Maggie, playing games, playing X Box 360, and watching movies. We love just being together.

Brad grew up in a little town outside of Casper, Wyoming. He is the fourth of six kids. He grew up in a very active family, playing baseball, basketball, football, and running track and cross country. His favorite sport is hockey. He also served a two year church mission in Peru.

He works in the sporting goods department at local store selling guns. He loves it, especially since he was raised going shooting with his dad and brothers. Brad's interests are: anything outdoors, paintballing, shooting, playing X Box 360, rock climbing and repelling.

Dawn-Marie loves almost any craft, including sewing, cross-stitching, scrapbooking, and painting. She loves music and photography, as well as writing and hopes to someday write a book. Her all-time favorite show is Friends. She loves spending time with her sisters’ kids.

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Spotlight Saturday - Father & Mother, Sister & Brother Waiting for Baby to Come

Please take a moment to get to know Brian and Leisha and their adorable little ones.

You can find out more about them and contact them by visiting their adoption blog:

http://joinourfamily.blogspot.com

Brian & Leisha, Landon & Kate

Hi! We are Brian, Leisha, Landon & Kate along with our dog, Buster. We are excited to tell you a little bit about our family. Brian and I have been married for eleven years. There are nights that we lay in bed laughing and talking (when we should be sleeping) and although that may seem like a simple thing, it is one of our favorite times together.

We met at work right after Brian came home from serving an LDS mission for our church in Argentina. I was the waitress, he was the cook and it all happened from there. Well, it didn’t happen that fast. We spent many nights hanging out together with friends before he actually made his move. He had been home from his mission for almost a year before he asked me out. He says it was because I was so young (which I guess looking back I can see his point). But, regardless of his reasoning at the time, I’m so glad he finally did! We dated for about five months before getting engaged and were married that September in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

After getting married, we looked forward to having a family but after years of struggling with infertility, we decided to pursue adoption. Three years later, our lives were blessed through the miracle of adoption with a beautiful baby boy. Right after Landon turned two, we got a surprise phone call from a birth mother wondering if we were open to adopting again. Of course we said yes! and Kathryn was born two weeks later. Landon & Kate are such a joy in our lives. We love them so much and treasure the special way they each came into our family. They bring a smile to our face and more joy than we could have imagined to our home. We are so grateful for the opportunity we have to be parents and would love to add to our family through the love of adoption.

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