Me and Dan, we are team mates

I am so glad I have Dan by my side

Simplicity

Dan and I are doing major reorganizing our entire house!!! We have been redecorating, switching rooms around, our goal is to become more simplistic.

I have been reading a really awesome book

Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross

I love it! There are a few other's that I have been reading lately.  And organizing even more. I asked Dawson to put all the toys he wants to keep on his bed, and he did an AwEsOmE job! The rest we donated or.. we put in a storage bin for our future children. He still has many toys left, and super hero dress ups but it is to nice to organize all of his things.

 I usually enjoy organizing, but I have not gotten rid of a lot of stuff... I donate a lot but I have gotten down to the nitty gritty. And after reading the book I am pairing down even more. A week ago Dan and I had talked about getting and i pad or something, how nice would it be to organizing my grocery shopping, schedule and everything else.... but after reading this book I have decided to UN-PLUG!

Neither Dan or I have a Face book account and I have decided to text less and check email less. I rather see someone in person, or talk on the phone. In which we got a land line, using a cell as much as I have can not be good for my health.

Although we have our work cut out for us, it already has made things more relaxing, calm and peaceful. 

Me and Dan and our future selves ....together

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
E. M. Forster

"The very best thing for TJ"

ey

We won this book from Halene Petersen Dahlstrom on a giveaway. This is the best adoption book I have ever read! I can't explain why it is so great you just have to get a copy yourself and I highly suggest getting one for every child that you know that has been adopted. I know  that we will get a copy for the next birth mom/ Dad/ family that picks us. You can buy it on their website They also sell it on Amazon.com 


The neat thing about this book is that there are empty pages in the pack of the book that the child can journal about adoption. You can also write down their story and have their birth mom/ Dad? family write about their feelings of the child.


You are missing out if you do not have this book in your library an adoption has touched your life!


I want to thank Halene Petersen Dahlstrom  for giving us this book, it means so much to us. Thank you, Emily and family

Weekend Warriors

(Dan Here) This past weekend we did something great as a family. We played in the Mud! More specifically I ran a 5k Mud/Obstacle race with some buddies from work. I have always loved sports and played a lot basketball but I would never consider myself a runner, and in fact have never ran more than the 1 mile I was required to in 8th grade PE class.

But something about this race called out to me and so I trained the best I could for a few months and then gave it by best effort. Not only did I finish and have a great experience, but it was so fulfilling to physically push myself to do something like this, that Emily and I have decided to do the 10k version of the Dirty Dash when it comes to town in September.

Growing up I always had a desire for adventure, but my parents were not the outdoors type, so my adventures came vicariously through playing computer games or watching movies. Now in adulthood I have this great desire to go explore the outdoors and do fun things that challenge the mind, body and spirit.

Dawson saw some scuba divers on a cartoon and has been asking to go scuba diving. So tonight we drove over to the store and spent $2 to buy a mask and snorkel. We came home and after a little water safety talk from Emily, he jumped into the bath and started to put his head under the water and blow through the snorkel. We sat in the bathroom and watched him experience this little adventure for the first time and he loved it.

I decided tonight that I want to become a weekend warrior. I love business and I love wearing a suit. I like to walk into nice offices and negotiate deals with clients. I enjoy the work that I do. I would not want to be a park ranger or ski instructor full time.. However.. on the weekend I want to hang up my suit, pack our car full of water bottles and snacks and go out and explore the mountains around us, or drive down to Moab to do a hike (where I met and proposed to Emily). The euphoric feeling that I got from our family activity last weekend has stayed with me all week long and has me thirsting for more.

I think experiencing the outdoors and little adventures is a great way to spend quality time together as a family on a weekend or through a trip. Especially now days with all of the technology, it is so easy to get sidetracked by idle activities.

Emily and I think it is so important that we take the time to unplug the technology, and recharge our family through being Weekend Warriors. Be on the lookout for our upcoming adventures!

Romeo Romeo

Where art thou Romeo??

Today was a day, it was a good day! We talked to Dawson's Birth grandma who ate a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch just like we did two states away! Coincidence? I think not, we are family!

It's HOT all of the sudden we have gone from snow in June to above 90's, still in June. My air conditioning went out in our car and I just have not felt like going anywhere!

Ideally in the mornings I take a shower before Dawson wakes up...today he woke up right after me. In such a case I sometimes will wait until Dan comes home from work so that I can have a shower with out my super hero sidekick, after all even super hero's don't reveal their entire identity!

Evening was approaching and Dan was due to be home. I really kind of felt crummy after cleaning and doing other projects around the house. I really wanted a hot shower, I felt.... grimy!

I decided to take a shower really really fast and when I say fast, 15 minutes in my long shower! I had the feeling to close my front room window... but why? I have my clothes with me, I will change in the bathroom when I am done, it's perfect!

So here I am 2 seconds into my hot shower and momentary escape with soap in my hair and I hear... HI MOM!!! I look down and a little naked Dawson hops in.....uh.... Hi Dawson?! 

I told him to hop back out, I hadn't realized that the shower curtain had collected a ton of water....Swoosh!!  the floor was an instant swimming hole. I quickly threw my towel down mop up the water (which was my only towel in the bathroom). I quickly told Dawson to go get another one from the clean laundry upstairs. I told him there is a big red towel in a blue laundry basket in daddies office. 

He comes back down and hands me a hand towel :). I tell him to try one more time and tell him again where to find the big red beach towel ( because I know there will be more water to be mopped up).

While I am waiting for him to bring me the towel I finish rinsing out my sudsy hair and my privacy curtain falls from my bathroom window. Yes, this is over a 2x2 foot window. We have privacy glass but we have been told by neighbors that it conceals nothing! Nothing...

I have no choice but to rinse off  and pray no one sees me in the window!

I dry myself off with the hand towel...I couldn't put my dry clothes on sopping wet, have you ever tired that? I have it doesn't work and while I am about to prance my way down the hall into our bedroom,  I notice... my front room window is WIDE OPEN! Well if they didn't see it before they have seen it all now and I prance gracefully down the hall trying to conceal my self and I leap into my room where I know I have a clean towel ( yes my folded laundry piles are everywhere in fact today is laundry party day where we all work together to put it away, because sometimes I just do not get it all done, who does).

I dry off, ah I think to myself.. okay okay start all over again, it's going to be a great evening. Where are my clothes??? AH! I forgot to grab them on my way down the hall... I prance back down the hall into the bathroom and get dressed. 

Okay, Okay it's going to be a great evening, I can't wait till Dan comes home! I mop up the little wet foot prints from Dawson going back and forth trying to find the right towel. 

I feel the need to air out my feelings... I go into Dan's office, hello red towel!  I sit down and in a millisecond I think, Oh there is that water bottle I thought to take downstairs with me before I showered so Dawson doesn't ...oh too late, water everywhere.

Okay okay... get this out, Dan will come home, it's going to be great, wait no, I'm starting to feel a little frustrated......  WHACK!!!!

 the sound of a little Dawson on the hard floor, I thought I had cleaned up all the water but Dawson must have found a little bit of water on the Kitchen Floor and slipped on it! I race down the hall, while Dawson tries to make his way to me at the same time bloody lip and all

and with typing these last three words Dan just pulled up... 

Dan met us at the park

 Dan met us at the park! 

Dawson LOVES it when Dan pushes him on the swing, he always tells me when I push him, " higher , higher just like daddy does"    Dawson was watching the other kids while on the swing and yes his shoes are not on the right feet but he is getting better at that and he is animate that he do it all on his own so he does, and he corrects himself! We are very impressed his our boy!

This is how the night ended, he looks pretty fierce! We both have time with just Dawson, and we also have family time, it is something we feel is very important to do with all of our kids! We have our family time which includes dinner, reading the scriptures, talking together and having family prayers. (I read books in the day, and ) Dan reads books to Dawson in the night and he does some seriously funny voices. But all of that is after an nightly epic battle between the two of them!

How do I love thee

By small and simple things..video

    "Ordinary people who faithfully, diligently, and consistently do simple things that are right before God will bring forth extraordinary results." —Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


I some how landed on this (watch this video) video, it is a short message that if you are a woman or know a woman listen to it!

I. AM. HERE.

Dr. Laura :: Letters :: Email of the Day - I. AM. HERE.

I'm a mother of 2 year old twins, and married to the man of my dreams. I love people, animals, have blonde hair, sing, dance and paint pictures. My life was in the hands of a 16 year old girl 33 years ago.

I've always been a bit awkward and self conscious, but recently I've realized I come from a hero. My mother is so brave, and so strong. I feel empowered by her unbelievable actions and I honor her daily by being the absolute best person I can be. She fought to let me live, and when I look at flowers, trees blowing in the wind, clouds, birds, people's faces...I am so grateful and I am so happy. I'm a part of this human race because she thought that my life was worth saving. Before she knew me. Before she saw my face. Before I had a name.

She was 16 and pregnant when she ran from the appointment room of an abortion clinic. As a result, she was kicked out of her house. Her 16 year old boyfriend was as scared as she was and eventually moved to another part of the country. She was alone and homeless, yet she was selflessly preparing to do something she knew would hurt more than anything.

After I was born, a nurse placed me on my hero's chest. As we slept, someone sketched a picture of mother and daughter and gave it to her. Then, I was gone. She had looked through many applications, and had chosen a couple she would have liked to have had as parents. They had a home, the woman would quit her job to raise the baby, they had extended family and they had a lot of love.

After losing everything for this baby, she let go of the little being she had nurtured inside of her womb for 9 months. She could have clung to me and the romance of the idea of "we'll make it through together," but she wanted to give me a real life, and a great chance in life. This has been extremely valuable to me. At 16, she knew a two parent family was best.

She lived with foster families until she was of age, and never regained a proper relationship with those who would have had me dead. Her heart ached for the loss of her baby, but she has made a life for herself and is very loved by the children she went on to have.

And I look at my fingers as I type, and I feel my tears running down my cheeks and I see photos of people I love hanging on the wall beside me. I am so thankful and I just don't know how to put it into words because I. AM. HERE.

My birth mother is the most heroic person I know, and when I think about it, every birth mother who has given a child up for adoption is hero. These women need to be praised for what they have done. They stood up for us...lives who some say are not worth saving. They gave us to families who would love us...and with us lost a piece of their hearts. Who can do something so brave? Only a hero. Their private struggle has been so huge...they need to be lifted up.

And, to my Birth Mother I say: "I don't know how to say thank you. I just don't....But I am here. I am here. I will make my life, this gift, your suffering count. You will see, I was worth it."

Thanks Dr. Laura.

L.

Did you get a red cape?

Dawson asked me to make a red cape for one of his " guys" it then turned into three capes, and more...
                            (by the way spider man doesn't need a cape, he throws spiderwebs to be able to  fly).

Is it just me or are they smiling? 

When we tell people we are hoping to adopt or have adopted sometimes, they say, " oh good for you.." When I hear this I cringe. 

Some people think we are super hero's for adopting.          We are not the super hero's! 

Those who choose to place their child, are the real super hero's. 

It is not about creating a family for an adoptive couple, its about the parent's of this child and their choice.

 They are the real deal, THE SUPER HERO!! 

They deserve honor and praise.

Sometimes after choosing something heroic..

An epic battle appears and people can say mean things..

The dynamics of friends and family can change,  based on maybe what they can see? Their opinion!

Uniquely are the shoes we wear in this life, it is not anyone's right to judge, but ONE who  LOVES us as His own.

Whenever you are in the presence of a parent weather they have placed a child or not, they deserve 

Love.  Respect. Honor.

On Mother's Day

On this very special day, I hold very sacred, I just want to wish everyone a happy day! And to Dawson's M*  you are cherished most of all! I wish you could see this! We love you!

A wake up story, please share, thank you...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE HAVING A LITTLE BOY IN MY LIFE!

I Love having a little boy in my life and I hope that we have more of them they WONDERFUL!!

There is something about a boy that is so special, I do not know what it is, maybe constant curiosity, sense of adventure, willingness to be BRAVE, win the girl, have a tender spot (they all have one young or old). Be the captain, superhero, concrete thinker.... I love having a little boy!!!!

There is so much more to it then that! But What I can say is this!

  

 I am one grateful momma!

Birth mom Buds

www.birthmombuds.com and blog www.birthmom-buds.blogspot.com  are really good websites! They list so many resources for support and asking questions about being a birth mom. They have forums, they have so many things to offer, check them out! They even help you make a hospital plan which is so important.

Scholarships 4 birth mothers NEEDS YOUR HELP

Scholarships 4 Birth mothers needs your help!!!

They are running an auction check it our HERE

Here is a statement from their site:

WHAT WE ARE ABOUT!!

This is a non-profit organizations started just for birthmoms!!
At the beginning of every semester we will accept applications for the available scholarships.

The scholarships are exclusively for girls who have placed their babies for adoption.

All the funds can be donated to our fund at the bank and can be made by businesses or individuals. Even if only 100 people donated 20 dollars each that is 2 x 1000 dollar scholarships.

Everyone who donates will have their name and a link to their site or information or it can be done anonymously.

For more information email
birthmothers4adoption@gmail.com

Sometimes I Eat Ants.....

Disclaimer: we are for the humanity and safety of all creatures, except for spiders


Sscrrape....


Dawson came into the kitchen the other day and said, "Mom sometimes I eat ants..." I thought maybe this was an imaginary thing???

As I looked into the situation deeper, I learned he really did have an ant in his mouth, it looked like a crumpled cake crumb.

You would not believe the things this kid says. In addition to being a little intellectual, he says some seriously funny things.

The other day he said, "Mom you can't have dairy right?"  RIGHT! Then he said, " but sometimes you eat diarrhea."

Thought provoking...

We had a fun packed weekend. One of the best parts was spending time with my brothers little girl. She is almost 18 months old and really really cute. Dawson had a lot of fun playing with her until late in the night. Her parents had to go to a play for school and so my mom (Grammy) watched her. My family, Dan, Dawson and myself slept at my moms house so we had all this fun time with this sweet little girl. She and Dawson had so much fun together.

My brother and his wife are expected a baby boy this FRIDAY! It got me thinking, talking to her about pregnancy and everything else, what a miracle the process is, how babies go through this whole growth period and just the process of their birth. It really made me feel fortunate to have Dawson. I feel grateful that after the entire miracle of carrying a baby, birthing a baby, that through M*  we were able to receive him through adoption. This whole process for one life. It really makes me feel that the Lord knows all. Although I experience times where I feel that I am lacking some hope. I can not help be in AWE of how life comes about and HOW GRATEFUL we are to have been chosen to be his parents by his birth mom.

I call him, my CHRISTMAS PRESENT because, to me everyday is a gift, he is a gift, not only ours but he is a blessing to so many and I hope that he will touch many many lives down his road. I am GRATEFUL for THIS LIFE, all that The Lord has blessed us with.

There have been so many times we have struggles, feeling like we can't breathe, and all the while I KNOW were being watched over, even though we FELT like we were treading above water.

M* ( although I know you won't be able to read this) we are thankful for you, for being on a journey and making us a part of it. As I know of some, I imagine all the while you were treading your own water, thank you on the behalf of Dawson. For strength and courage AND for CHOOSING LIFE!

Making lemonade out of noth'n at all...

You know when someone tires to cheer you up by saying something about, " making lemon's  out of lemonade"? Sometimes that is the WORST thing to hear. Sometimes I don't want my situation compared to anyone else. It doesn't seem to help when someone tells you, you don't have it as bad as someone else. Sometimes I just want someone to say...  you know that would be hard.... and lend some validation!Why does that not happen?

 Why do people try to solve issues when the solver has not ever gone through it and seem to think that if you do A, B &C for sure you will achieve a specific result!

Why can't I just sometimes have a hard time, a rainstorm of my OWN and let it blow over without someone stepping in?  It seems like when we are in pain or struggling with something, people try to bandage it up!

Sometimes its good for things to air out a bit before you go and cover it up with a bandage. Neosporin, go for it but you don't have to cover up.

A rainstorm and some wind can be helpful and sometimes that is all that is needed to clear out an inversion.

Sometimes its hard to hope for children that you don't know when they are coming, whether its by infertility treatments or for us, adoption.

I'm having a hard time hearing Dawson pray for siblings and I can't provide that for him in the conventional way of carrying a baby.

The thing is, when people get pregnant it is like they are treated as if they are a super hero, because they created a baby (which is great but that's not what I am talking about), when you have infertility issues people try to solve your issues, you hear all about how to get pregnant.... my sisters aunts cousin did this and got pregnant. Because I don't carry a baby it does not make me, Emily broken, it does not define me. It means, I don't carry babies in my womb it means I have had miscarriages, it means my body doesn't carry babies successfully but it does not take away my ability to be a mother.

Please don't feel bad for me, don't try to solve something that is Right just as it is. And when my rainstorms come because we HOPE for another CHILD, pray for us. Share hope with us, advocate on our behalf and let other's know about the ABSOLUTE JOY we have THROUGH OPEN ADOPTION.

 It is a way to add to a Family, our family and you don't just add that little baby or child, you hope to add an entire family. And that family feels like family you have never had and wonder how you lived so long with out being a part of them. So don't pity those that adopt, we are loved beyond measure and our hearts are full with gratitude for the gift we have and the family we have gained ( whether it be the baby/ child or an entire other family).

So the next time you are near someone who may not have children ( or anyone who is struggling with something) CHANCES are you have not experienced what they have, and although  you may have good intentions, if you have not gone through infertility yourself, please don't send out unsolicited advice, and if you have not adopted or love someone who has adopted don't try to solve it.

Sometimes I do need to look at a situation and be glad in it but really I do know how to make lemonade and I will when I am right and ready but sometimes, please if a storm is coming in, be there for me or anyone else who may have storms of their own. And most importantly do not judge that women that chooses adoption for her child, she has more wisdom then most. Read.here this is a really good post written by a birth mom Jessa.  And then just as important read here  And if you want join us for this...click here and let me know!