WE HAVE THE BEST FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN THE WORLD!!!
(big cheesy wink)
We're not trying to brag, but we're pretty excited about how Ruby's nursery turned out. We threw it together in just three days over the weekend! We've been dying to show it to you.
What's that? you love it too? We thought you might. ;) We're betting you'd also love to see us win a $750, $500, or $250 shopping spree to Dwell.com, right?? Well then you better click HERE immediately (we only have 48 hours to collect votes on Ruby's room!) to register (We know this takes precious time and energy, but we would be SO grateful! All they need is a user name, an e-mail address and a password) and vote for Ruby Jane's Bright and Cheery Nursery (entry #37) in the Ohdeedoh.com Small Kids, Big Color Contest! You vote by clicking on the thumbs up icon located just under the pictures of Ruby's room. Your comments will be appreciated as well. When we applied for the contest, they told us comments and votes will both have influence in choosing the finalists and winners.
Oh and P.S. - Please feel free to pass on the info or a link to this post to kind, generous friends and family who would also be willing to vote for sweet little Ruby and her new nursery for the win!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
How much do you love us?
WOWZERS! Wednesday #2
We were working to create a nursery for our new little one all weekend and dealing with the aftermath of neglected housework ever since! Needless to say, we got a bit distracted from our daily adoption-related posts.
When I saw this post over at the r house the other day, I knew this would make a great feature for this week's WOWZERS! (we never cease to be amazed by birth families) Wednesday post. I'm sorry it took me this long to post the link, but I know you will enjoy reading about this amazing birth mother. Whenever I think of Joniece, I think the word STRENGTH. We love the r house and we love to hear about their sons' courageous birth mothers. We hope to get to meet Joniece some day. We've prayed a lot for her lately as she and the R's have faced a contested adoption from baby G's birth father. Another amazing birth mom we are in awe of! WOWZERS! ;)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tweeting Tuesday
Here are a few of the things people are saying about adoption this week on Twitter:
Adoption is filled with exciting highs...
coffeetalkwc #Igivethanks for my parents always speaking openly to me about #adoption
GiftforaChild Adoptive Dads: They are too often forgotten. Many are role models and changing lives that might otherwise be forgotten. #adoption #dads
letlovegrow getting ready to leave Uganda! i've appreciated your sweet words & prayers so much! #adoption
Izziland There is not gr8er gift than that of a child. To be a mom through the blessing of #adoption makes it that much more special! Sentimental mth
yarnnation Check out my adorable #adoption etsy finds. http://bit.ly/2sMRhE
Izziland Did you know... Nov is National #Adoption Month! Nov 21 is Nat'l Adoption Day. Izzi and I celebrate being brought together every day!
along some lows (so you appreciate the highs).
Upstatemomof3 It can be frustrating that people just don't seem to understand our decisions. But... http://tinyurl.com/allthatmatters #family #adoption
MamaDramedy I had forgotten how hard #adoption waiting can be!!!
yarnation Blog post on the grief a adoptive couple feels when an #adoption fails http://adoptionfyi.blogspot.com
rhyzome If you were adopted but never told, you are a Late Discovery Adoptee. www.latediscovery.org #adoption
keithjennings The waiting period during the adoption process is very very tough #adoption
Inspiration...
therhouse my ALL TIME favorite video about #adoption. enjoy. <3 http://therhouse.blogspot.com/2009/11/adopted.html
GiftforaChild Adoption Story: A birth mother wanted to give her baby everything and decided #adoption was the best choice for her unborn child's future.
and calls to action.
tippingptmedia November is #Adoption Month. Please help us grow our family www.alovingfamily.info
PerfectParent Read President Obama's proclamation on National Adoption Month! http://bit.ly/3GxtMX
AdoptInfo Donate your favorite adoption book to your school teachers' libary for Adoption Awareness Month #adoption
Monday, November 09, 2009
Matching Monday 11/9/09
See the Matching Monday post over at the r house for new info on how we can help children find their families and to see the kids featured today.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Our Story Sunday - Part One: Romans 8
"Our Story Sunday" is meant to feature a bit of our story you may not have heard before. This could range from a tiny detail to a major miracle, from the beginning of our story to the present.
This week I wanted to tell you about an experience I had the night Carter was born. At the time, we had been in Utah for a week and Carter's due date had come and gone. (He was due Monday and it was now Friday.) Shane really needed to think about getting back to work at home and we hadn't heard anything from anyone about what was going on. We didn't even know if Carter was going to be able to come to our family. I began to panic. I was so worried about Carter's sweet birth mom. I prayed constantly for her, hoping she was safe and okay. I prayed that she'd know of our love for her. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep. I had a quiet few minutes before bed, just around 11:00 that night. I spent some time crying out to my Father in Heaven and then turned to the scriptures hoping for some guidance.This was what I randomly found in Romans 8:15-17--
15 For ye have not received the spirit of abondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of badoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
17 And if children, then heirs; aheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we bsuffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Peace seemed to wash over me as I was filled with a familiar voice, "You are not forgotten. I hear you. I am with you," and I knew I was heard and that eventually (shout out to the r house!) all would be well.
I continued reading and the calm increased as I read things like
(v.23)...even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the cadoption...
Peace seemed to wash over me as I was filled with a familiar voice, "You are not forgotten. I hear you. I am with you," and I knew I was heard and that eventually (shout out to the r house!) all would be well.
I continued reading and the calm increased as I read things like
(v.23)...even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the cadoption...
Seriously -- I am not making this up. This is really in the scriptures people. I was trying to pick out what other verses to share, but really the rest of the chapter touched me in a wonderful way and if you are struggling, it just might be what you need today if you are waiting or are unsure.
I found out a day and a half later that I was finally a mother to a precious baby boy and I gasped when I saw when he was born...
Friday night, just as I was kneeling and begging for help and then reading Romans 8. Even now, as I type this three plus years later, I feel the warmth that chapter brings as grateful tears stream down my cheeks.
look at him now! so grown up! (11/04/09)Do you have certain scriptures that have helped you through the rough days? This can apply to everything, not just adoption. I love how the scriptures can be so easily adapted to apply to each of our struggles. What a mighty blessing!
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Spotlight Saturday: Barry, Rebecca and Owen
Barry and Rebecca are a loving couple in Idaho hoping to adopt. Owen can't wait to be a big brother. You can find out more about them and contact them by visiting: barryandrebecca.com
Barry, Rebecca & Owen
Barry:
We have been married now for 6 years. Rebecca and I have a loving relationship and I love to make her smile and be happy. Since being married we have tried to always spend a lot of time together. Sharing our hobbies and interests with each other has been a wonderful part of our marriage.
We adopted Owen as a newborn 2 years ago and this has been a wonderful blessing in our lives. Owen is a little bundle of energy. He loves running all over the place and is a very active 2 year old. He has always been a very loving little boy and will be a great big brother when the time comes.
Rebecca is a loving mother. She tends to have a drive and devotion to finish something that she starts. Rebecca is a strong person in the sense that she has known a lot of hardship in her life. Rebecca lost her mother, brother, and grandmother while in high school. It was a really tough experience for her to go through. Since we've been married she has developed a special bond with my mother. They love going shopping or just talking. We also know that those that have passed on are never very far away and this has been a special comfort to us.
I absolutely love being a dad to Owen. It is a big responsibility, but it has many rewards. I just hope and pray all the time that I will be a good daddy to Owen and our future children. Being a good dad, role model, and provider for my family is very important to me. I know that there are children out there that still need to come to our family, and the way that will happen for us is through adoption.
Rebecca:
We were both born and raised in Idaho. Barry grew up in a small rural community. His graduating high school class was just 60 kids. I grew up in the city, where my graduating class was around 350. Each of us has a little different perspective on life and this has helped to make our marriage strong. Barry is a partner in a family business selling landscape material and I work from home developing Web applications.
We actually met on a blind date nearly 7 years ago. When I met Barry, I couldn't help but fall in love with his irresistible smile and sense of humor. He just had this way of making me laugh and smile and still does. He was so easy to talk to; he was simply a down to earth kind of guy. It was hard to find us apart after we started dating and the same holds true today.
Two years ago our ultimate dream of being parents was fulfilled. I am ever grateful for Owen's birth mother and her love for him. The time spent waiting for Owen truly deepen my appreciation for her sacrifice. I love Owen so much. He is the best thing to happen to us and has brought such indescribable happiness into my life. Owen loves music. He also loves to have books read to him. I hope I can instill a love of reading in Owen just like my mother did for me.
Watching Barry and Owen spend time together has been a dream come true. Barry is wonderful with Owen. Barry will come home from work exhausted but always scoops Owen up the minute he gets home and holds him. Barry is just a big teddy bear at heart.
Friday, November 06, 2009
T-R-O-U-B-L-E?
{I wish you could see the adorable bunny slippers she's wearing better. Thanks Diane!}Today is the day Ruby turns 3 months old. She's rolling over. Carter didn't do that until he was 5 months old. I think we're in for it. She could be crawling WAY too early! Didn't we just take the baby gate down for Carter when we brought her home???
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