I have to post tonight--to write about another of the miracles that have happened along our journey of adoption. I don't want to forget any of them--and so I must write them down.
The most recent happened just a few days ago when I received approval from CIS for our I600 form. It wasn't supposed to come for 2 more weeks, and then to see that it had been approved on February 17 (just the morning after Mike and I had attended the temple)---I felt it was a tender mercy. I was again reaffirmed when I emailed my adoption counselor this morning, and she replied "How quick!" --addressing the fact that we would receive this form--I guess it's not the norm. (Reaffirms my faith--and makes me so happy trusting that the Lord is in charge).
I decided three weeks ago that I would attend the temple once a week for added power (both in my life and especially in this adoption process that is going on in Ghana as I write) and especially for help and the protection of our children that we hope are waiting safely in the arms of unseen angels in Ghana.
Continually--I feel like the Spirit is guiding this process for our family. I don't dwell on it--I hope for it and pray for them continually. I also find myself praying for our papers (wherever they may be) in Accra, that they will be safeguarded--and put into the hands of those who will be influenced by the spirit. It's crazy how scary and overwhelming this process can be at times.
As I was visiting with my sister this morning about our adoption--I was again reminded of the sweet tender mercies and miracles we have experienced. I know to many others, they don't look like that big of a deal. But I know--with every fiber of my being--that the Lord is in charge and directing the affairs of my life. I have never needed or tried harder to live by the spirit more than I have this past 4 months. Truthfully, I cannot get over the fact of how many good--extremely good Christian families are out there. I have stumbled over hundreds of blogs---(it has become my life :))--and I cannot believe how much compassion, charity and love for the Savior, that people have. It restores my faith in human kind, and in people all over the world. I want so badly for all of them to listen to and accept the Gospel! Maybe oneday...
Today as I was reading my scriptures, I read at the bottom of the page a sidenote--saying that earthquakes will precede the Second Coming of the Savior. I read it over and over because it brought me so much joy--thinking about welcoming Him in someday. >Peace too--especially thinking about those scary earthquakes that we may have to experience before we see Him. Wow--do I love the Lord.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
How It All Started...
I have wanted to write down everything from the beginning of our adoption journey just so that I don't forget the details. It's not meant to be anything other than it is. And so I hope whomever reads this (probably just my family :))--that they will understand that it is written honestly, and from the heart.
My parents went over to Africa last fall to visit David and Julie Jensen (our family's lifelong and bestest friends). They have been serving a mission there since December 30 of 2010. I was excited for my parents to have a chance to go see them because their friendship with the Jensen's is just so real and spontaneous with tons of laughs and sweet moments. I knew that my parents would have a great time--and they did. When I brought them home from the airport I listened and asked questions as they told me about all of the fun they had! And the treasures they brought each of my children were fun. They gave me a dark wooden elephant that I sit above my kitchen sink and symbolizes so much to me --since that day. Anyway, long and short of it---my mom told me about a particular man named Steven who was a driver for the church, and whom David and Julie had gotten to know quite well. He makes a living by carving wooden animals ---(the wooden elephant my parents brought back) and donates 60% of his income--to an orphanage that he and his wife have started--by pulling children off of the street that needed a place to live. He started with 5 and now he and his wife have close to 80 children. It's a very sobering thought.
When I heard that--I felt sick inside--thinking about the great need. My parents thought it would be a good idea for our family to donate money to him for the orphanage instead of giving gifts to them or my siblings for Christmas. Steven--sent over pictures of some of the children to my mom--who then forwarded the email onto us. I opened the email one Tuesday night--after I was in a particularly bad mood and mad at Mike! As I scrolled down through those pictures, there was a little boy that caught my eye. He reminded me completely of Jonas--but he looked like one of my kids. I stared at the picture and tried to hold back tears.
Feeling a little more humbled--I walked into Mike's office and told him I was sorry. Then I asked him if he would come look at something for a minute. He came into the kitchen and I showed him the picture of this little boy. He stared at it for a minute, and then he got a little bit emotional. I said to him very quietly, "Should we adopt this boy?" He stared at the picture and then said to me--"Yes. Maybe we should." He scrolled down and looked at all of the children--paying particular attention to this little boy--wearing pink sandals and holding a doll. We talked about it more--and then I asked him if it was ok to find out the possibility of adopting this little boy from Kenya. He said that would be fine.
I called Julie and David that night---speaking with David first--who said he would find our more information.
That night I couldn't sleep--I just kept thinking about this little boy.
The next morning, I woke up and got the kids off to school. And then I began researching adoption--and international adoption agencies. I found one in North Carolina that did adoptions--but Kenya was very difficult. I found out that they have a rule that you may not adopt from Kenya unless you live in that country for 3 months to a year. I felt discouraged but still optimistic. I left messages with 2 other agencies and then finally got through to one in Texas called Children Of All Nations. I spoke with a man named Tim Kiesling who answered every one of my questions and gave me some really good information. He was so nice to me on the phone and told me to learn as much as I could and then to call him back with any other questions. He said he would send me information on all of the different countries, but he did say that Ghana was a brand new country that they had just opened up for adoptions. I was familiar with Ghana because of the Farnes family --and everything that they had done with WorldJoy. The more that I visited with Tim about Ghana, the more it just felt right. I waited that night and talked everything over with Mike. We decided to fill out the application fee and send it in. A week later we were approved by Ghana to adopt (even though we already had 5 children). And after that--it just seemed that everything came together.
We were worried about it financially because we knew the wide possibility of what it could end up costing--but we plunged forward with faith.
The next fast Sunday came around and Mike and I including our children decided to fast with the specific purpose of hoping it would feel right---whether or not we should adopt. By the evening, we knew that Heavenly Father had okayed it. We felt peace and our children felt excitement about the possibility.
Thanksgiving came and went and the Holidays rolled around. The more I researched adoption and learned of families that had decided to go the same route we were going, the more my spirit came alive. I cannot say why--but every time I would read about adoption, and all of the things it could or could not entail--my spirit burned with a passion and excitement that I can't explain. I have had nights where I have gone to bed scared---worrying that I am venturing into the unknown of possibilities--and yet as I do this and have said my prayers, praying for peace, it has come. The next day I have felt new optimism and moments from the spirit when I have felt that this is what I am supposed to be doing.
Less and less of the world has an impact on me lately. Continually I feel the words "...with an eye single to the glory of God..." in my mind--and that's the only way to explain it---cheesy as it may sound.
There was a morning when I was walking on my treadmill just reading and thinking, and I had a thought come over my mind--that the feelings that I have felt over this adoption, has been the same feelings I have felt each time Mike and I would prepare to have another child come to our family. I feel certain it was the Holy Ghost whispering to me this similar comparison. Interesting.
We were also extremely blessed. Mike was in a car accident (not hurt) but damage to the other car--and the policeman had given the other person the ticket. Still--the deductible we had to pay--and the worry of it raising our insurance on top of Christmas with having just sent big $ off to our agency to start the process of adoption. We had a miracle occur--that I won't go into details--but we were reimbursed and then some--for the accident. Both Mike and I felt that the Lord had stepped in and worked it out.
We were also blessed to find a homestudy agency that was very affordable--and extremely good (having done homestudies and adoptions for over 25 years) in December. We met with her the first of January, and we were able to get the whole homestudy done and sent off by the 3rd week in January--which is miraculous in and of itself. Suzanne was terrific at giving us great advice and very centered and focused on what was important. What could have been scary was a very positive experience for our family.
Then--we had an unexpected happen which sounds bigger than it is, but it felt to me as I look back that the Lord was guiding things.
I had met several families (through the Internet and by word of mouth) that have adopted internationally. Through our home study agency, Suzanne worked with a family that brought home a little girl from Ghana at the beginning of December. I was able to call and talk with this mother--who was LDS and was a really great resource to ask questions and find out as much as I could about the adoption process in Ghana. She shared with me some very sacred things---that I cried over. She also told me that they had used Rainbowkids--to adopt their daughter (she has 5 biological and adopted 4 more over the past years). What she said was very poignant for me. She said to look at all of their pictures, and I would know. She said that I would feel the Spirit prompting me and helping me through the process which again--made me cry--but helped me feel a lot of peace. So for the next few weeks, I began researching the Waiting Children's list. (Waiting children are usually children with special needs and they also include children that are past the age of 3, 4, or 5 or consist of groups of siblings). As I would look over these lists--I felt so sick inside--mostly due to the large need of families for these children. I can't tell you how many times I have looked over pictures--just aching inside knowing that most all of them will never be adopted.
One morning I woke up and was going to look at some lists--or maybe I already had--I can't remember, but I felt that I should quit looking at those lists. It made good sense in my mind and so I decided to have faith in my adoption agency that they would find the children that are supposed to come to our family.
In the middle of January, when our home study was finished and sent to CAN, I didn't hear much for about a week. I emailed Claire--our adoption counselor who said that she hadn't recieved anything. I called our home study agency who said that they had sent it off a week earlier. We got it worked out--but still I felt deflated that it had been delayed a week for no good reason other than a lack of communication.
Two days later Sunday rolled around, and I decided to fast. I needed help with this adoption--that things would fall in place and that there wouldn't be any more delays (at least while the papers were in the United States!). I can remember sitting in my bed and I opened the scriptures to read. As I read I felt this burning desire grow in me that we should be adopting 2 children. I kept dismissing the thought---knowing that Mike was not on board and scaring myself into thinking that it just sounded too hard. But as I continued reading my scriptures, I kept having the thought occur. As I look back--I know the Spirit was guiding me--but at the time, I just kept praying for peace.
Mike came home from Church meetings, and I told him that I was fasting, and I also asked him to think about adopting 2 instead of just 1 child. I told him that no matter what--that what he felt we should do--was what we were going to do---I just wanted unity and if he wasn't okay with 2 up until then---that was just fine.
Two hours later he came home (I had stayed home with Sam and Jonas who were both sick that day) and sat on the couch telling me that it would be fine. He said he had thought of it the other day when he was at the temple--sitting in the Celestial Room, that there may have been a possibility of 2 children but it didn't come up until I had decided to fast that day. Again--the hand of the Lord guiding us. And it didn't dawn on me until the next day that if our home study hadn't been delayed a week, I may have not been prompted to fast--and change things to adopting 2 instead of one.
Lauren was thrilled to say the least--wanting a little sister more than anything. And we changed some of our adoption papers and also had to get an okay from our attorney in Ghana with the addition of the child. We also had a tender mercy--our home study advocate Suzanne, had cleared us for 2 children--which sometimes, families have had to redo their home study just for that purpose.
We were then able to submit everything the following week--our Dossier to Ghana (with every government paper, etc) and apply for the I-600A form from Department of Homeland Security. I was thrilled to have everything off--checking and double checking everything tons of times. I prayed as I sent the papers off that they would be protected and sent to those that were supposed to receive them and also those that would allow the Spirit to guide and influence them to our children.
After we sent everything off, there was one Monday evening in particular, that Mike said our prayers as we kneeled with our kids before bedtime. In the prayer, he asked that the Powers of Heaven and angels would protect our children in Africa until we could bring them safely home to our family. I still get teary when I think of that moment and the power of the Priesthood along with prayer--and what it means to our family.
And now---we get to just wait. However, I have to write that every time I feel a need for hope or inspiration---I can find it. Last Thursday, I was sitting with some of my neighbors at ward temple night, and a lady in my ward on my right, began whispering with the person next to her. We were waiting to go up to the veil and had a few moments to just sit. This lady (Cathy Johnson) leaned over to me and said, "The girl next to me is in the middle of adopting 2 boys from Ethiopia and she adopted 2 other boys 4 years ago!" I couldn't believe it! And come to find out, her good friend is in the middle of adopting twin girls from Ghana--to which she is picking them up in the next 3 weeks! And of all places---to meet this girl in the temple and be able to talk to her in the Celestial Room! I felt so blessed to get to know her and ask her questions. We exchanged information and I called her the next day. She told me that her husband had been against adoption, but that she had been able to have 3 children biologically --but it had nearly killed her. She said that her husband was painting a room one day in their house, when he felt the Spirit tell him that there were 4 little boys waiting for him in Ethiopia, and that he needed to start the adoption process right away. She said they did--and adopted 2 little boys from different birth families, and now they are in the process of adopting 2 more. It was awesome to talk to her--mostly because we are in the same boat--she has 5 children adopting 2 more. Plus--her great experience and wisdom from her previous adoptions.
I cannot tell you how blessed I have felt --both Mike and I have felt--throughout this process. Mike is up snowmobiling in Wyoming today (he went up yesterday) and he called me last night and told me that one of the members of the group that went up--adopted 2 children from Haiti. This whole experience has opened our eyes extremely--as well as our children's.
A few weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, Mike and I were getting ready to go to the temple. Lauren came into the kitchen, and very soberly told us that she had just woken up from a dream about our two children in Africa. She said that we had decided to take her with us to pick up the children, and that she had come to the orphanage and the little girl whom she said was 6 or 7 came up to her and wrapped her arms around Lauren's legs and said, "A family! I have a family!" Lauren also told us that she had seen her little brother--who was 2 years old and so cute! She remembers his eyes most of all--but didn't remember the little girls face at all. She said that orphanage was so sad--there were dirt floors and no clean water. I thought it was so interesting that she would have this experience--and told her to write everything down. I think she was a bit shaken up by the dream because I could see in her eyes how surprised she was seeing the extreme poverty in her dream. It was a sweet experience.
Well, I know there is more to tell. But I am so glad to have some of what our family has been experiencing written down. I will sign off for now--and have to say how much I love the Lord. How blessed I feel to have the Gospel in our lives.
My parents went over to Africa last fall to visit David and Julie Jensen (our family's lifelong and bestest friends). They have been serving a mission there since December 30 of 2010. I was excited for my parents to have a chance to go see them because their friendship with the Jensen's is just so real and spontaneous with tons of laughs and sweet moments. I knew that my parents would have a great time--and they did. When I brought them home from the airport I listened and asked questions as they told me about all of the fun they had! And the treasures they brought each of my children were fun. They gave me a dark wooden elephant that I sit above my kitchen sink and symbolizes so much to me --since that day. Anyway, long and short of it---my mom told me about a particular man named Steven who was a driver for the church, and whom David and Julie had gotten to know quite well. He makes a living by carving wooden animals ---(the wooden elephant my parents brought back) and donates 60% of his income--to an orphanage that he and his wife have started--by pulling children off of the street that needed a place to live. He started with 5 and now he and his wife have close to 80 children. It's a very sobering thought.
When I heard that--I felt sick inside--thinking about the great need. My parents thought it would be a good idea for our family to donate money to him for the orphanage instead of giving gifts to them or my siblings for Christmas. Steven--sent over pictures of some of the children to my mom--who then forwarded the email onto us. I opened the email one Tuesday night--after I was in a particularly bad mood and mad at Mike! As I scrolled down through those pictures, there was a little boy that caught my eye. He reminded me completely of Jonas--but he looked like one of my kids. I stared at the picture and tried to hold back tears.
Feeling a little more humbled--I walked into Mike's office and told him I was sorry. Then I asked him if he would come look at something for a minute. He came into the kitchen and I showed him the picture of this little boy. He stared at it for a minute, and then he got a little bit emotional. I said to him very quietly, "Should we adopt this boy?" He stared at the picture and then said to me--"Yes. Maybe we should." He scrolled down and looked at all of the children--paying particular attention to this little boy--wearing pink sandals and holding a doll. We talked about it more--and then I asked him if it was ok to find out the possibility of adopting this little boy from Kenya. He said that would be fine.
I called Julie and David that night---speaking with David first--who said he would find our more information.
That night I couldn't sleep--I just kept thinking about this little boy.
The next morning, I woke up and got the kids off to school. And then I began researching adoption--and international adoption agencies. I found one in North Carolina that did adoptions--but Kenya was very difficult. I found out that they have a rule that you may not adopt from Kenya unless you live in that country for 3 months to a year. I felt discouraged but still optimistic. I left messages with 2 other agencies and then finally got through to one in Texas called Children Of All Nations. I spoke with a man named Tim Kiesling who answered every one of my questions and gave me some really good information. He was so nice to me on the phone and told me to learn as much as I could and then to call him back with any other questions. He said he would send me information on all of the different countries, but he did say that Ghana was a brand new country that they had just opened up for adoptions. I was familiar with Ghana because of the Farnes family --and everything that they had done with WorldJoy. The more that I visited with Tim about Ghana, the more it just felt right. I waited that night and talked everything over with Mike. We decided to fill out the application fee and send it in. A week later we were approved by Ghana to adopt (even though we already had 5 children). And after that--it just seemed that everything came together.
We were worried about it financially because we knew the wide possibility of what it could end up costing--but we plunged forward with faith.
The next fast Sunday came around and Mike and I including our children decided to fast with the specific purpose of hoping it would feel right---whether or not we should adopt. By the evening, we knew that Heavenly Father had okayed it. We felt peace and our children felt excitement about the possibility.
Thanksgiving came and went and the Holidays rolled around. The more I researched adoption and learned of families that had decided to go the same route we were going, the more my spirit came alive. I cannot say why--but every time I would read about adoption, and all of the things it could or could not entail--my spirit burned with a passion and excitement that I can't explain. I have had nights where I have gone to bed scared---worrying that I am venturing into the unknown of possibilities--and yet as I do this and have said my prayers, praying for peace, it has come. The next day I have felt new optimism and moments from the spirit when I have felt that this is what I am supposed to be doing.
Less and less of the world has an impact on me lately. Continually I feel the words "...with an eye single to the glory of God..." in my mind--and that's the only way to explain it---cheesy as it may sound.
There was a morning when I was walking on my treadmill just reading and thinking, and I had a thought come over my mind--that the feelings that I have felt over this adoption, has been the same feelings I have felt each time Mike and I would prepare to have another child come to our family. I feel certain it was the Holy Ghost whispering to me this similar comparison. Interesting.
We were also extremely blessed. Mike was in a car accident (not hurt) but damage to the other car--and the policeman had given the other person the ticket. Still--the deductible we had to pay--and the worry of it raising our insurance on top of Christmas with having just sent big $ off to our agency to start the process of adoption. We had a miracle occur--that I won't go into details--but we were reimbursed and then some--for the accident. Both Mike and I felt that the Lord had stepped in and worked it out.
We were also blessed to find a homestudy agency that was very affordable--and extremely good (having done homestudies and adoptions for over 25 years) in December. We met with her the first of January, and we were able to get the whole homestudy done and sent off by the 3rd week in January--which is miraculous in and of itself. Suzanne was terrific at giving us great advice and very centered and focused on what was important. What could have been scary was a very positive experience for our family.
Then--we had an unexpected happen which sounds bigger than it is, but it felt to me as I look back that the Lord was guiding things.
I had met several families (through the Internet and by word of mouth) that have adopted internationally. Through our home study agency, Suzanne worked with a family that brought home a little girl from Ghana at the beginning of December. I was able to call and talk with this mother--who was LDS and was a really great resource to ask questions and find out as much as I could about the adoption process in Ghana. She shared with me some very sacred things---that I cried over. She also told me that they had used Rainbowkids--to adopt their daughter (she has 5 biological and adopted 4 more over the past years). What she said was very poignant for me. She said to look at all of their pictures, and I would know. She said that I would feel the Spirit prompting me and helping me through the process which again--made me cry--but helped me feel a lot of peace. So for the next few weeks, I began researching the Waiting Children's list. (Waiting children are usually children with special needs and they also include children that are past the age of 3, 4, or 5 or consist of groups of siblings). As I would look over these lists--I felt so sick inside--mostly due to the large need of families for these children. I can't tell you how many times I have looked over pictures--just aching inside knowing that most all of them will never be adopted.
One morning I woke up and was going to look at some lists--or maybe I already had--I can't remember, but I felt that I should quit looking at those lists. It made good sense in my mind and so I decided to have faith in my adoption agency that they would find the children that are supposed to come to our family.
In the middle of January, when our home study was finished and sent to CAN, I didn't hear much for about a week. I emailed Claire--our adoption counselor who said that she hadn't recieved anything. I called our home study agency who said that they had sent it off a week earlier. We got it worked out--but still I felt deflated that it had been delayed a week for no good reason other than a lack of communication.
Two days later Sunday rolled around, and I decided to fast. I needed help with this adoption--that things would fall in place and that there wouldn't be any more delays (at least while the papers were in the United States!). I can remember sitting in my bed and I opened the scriptures to read. As I read I felt this burning desire grow in me that we should be adopting 2 children. I kept dismissing the thought---knowing that Mike was not on board and scaring myself into thinking that it just sounded too hard. But as I continued reading my scriptures, I kept having the thought occur. As I look back--I know the Spirit was guiding me--but at the time, I just kept praying for peace.
Mike came home from Church meetings, and I told him that I was fasting, and I also asked him to think about adopting 2 instead of just 1 child. I told him that no matter what--that what he felt we should do--was what we were going to do---I just wanted unity and if he wasn't okay with 2 up until then---that was just fine.
Two hours later he came home (I had stayed home with Sam and Jonas who were both sick that day) and sat on the couch telling me that it would be fine. He said he had thought of it the other day when he was at the temple--sitting in the Celestial Room, that there may have been a possibility of 2 children but it didn't come up until I had decided to fast that day. Again--the hand of the Lord guiding us. And it didn't dawn on me until the next day that if our home study hadn't been delayed a week, I may have not been prompted to fast--and change things to adopting 2 instead of one.
Lauren was thrilled to say the least--wanting a little sister more than anything. And we changed some of our adoption papers and also had to get an okay from our attorney in Ghana with the addition of the child. We also had a tender mercy--our home study advocate Suzanne, had cleared us for 2 children--which sometimes, families have had to redo their home study just for that purpose.
We were then able to submit everything the following week--our Dossier to Ghana (with every government paper, etc) and apply for the I-600A form from Department of Homeland Security. I was thrilled to have everything off--checking and double checking everything tons of times. I prayed as I sent the papers off that they would be protected and sent to those that were supposed to receive them and also those that would allow the Spirit to guide and influence them to our children.
After we sent everything off, there was one Monday evening in particular, that Mike said our prayers as we kneeled with our kids before bedtime. In the prayer, he asked that the Powers of Heaven and angels would protect our children in Africa until we could bring them safely home to our family. I still get teary when I think of that moment and the power of the Priesthood along with prayer--and what it means to our family.
And now---we get to just wait. However, I have to write that every time I feel a need for hope or inspiration---I can find it. Last Thursday, I was sitting with some of my neighbors at ward temple night, and a lady in my ward on my right, began whispering with the person next to her. We were waiting to go up to the veil and had a few moments to just sit. This lady (Cathy Johnson) leaned over to me and said, "The girl next to me is in the middle of adopting 2 boys from Ethiopia and she adopted 2 other boys 4 years ago!" I couldn't believe it! And come to find out, her good friend is in the middle of adopting twin girls from Ghana--to which she is picking them up in the next 3 weeks! And of all places---to meet this girl in the temple and be able to talk to her in the Celestial Room! I felt so blessed to get to know her and ask her questions. We exchanged information and I called her the next day. She told me that her husband had been against adoption, but that she had been able to have 3 children biologically --but it had nearly killed her. She said that her husband was painting a room one day in their house, when he felt the Spirit tell him that there were 4 little boys waiting for him in Ethiopia, and that he needed to start the adoption process right away. She said they did--and adopted 2 little boys from different birth families, and now they are in the process of adopting 2 more. It was awesome to talk to her--mostly because we are in the same boat--she has 5 children adopting 2 more. Plus--her great experience and wisdom from her previous adoptions.
I cannot tell you how blessed I have felt --both Mike and I have felt--throughout this process. Mike is up snowmobiling in Wyoming today (he went up yesterday) and he called me last night and told me that one of the members of the group that went up--adopted 2 children from Haiti. This whole experience has opened our eyes extremely--as well as our children's.
A few weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, Mike and I were getting ready to go to the temple. Lauren came into the kitchen, and very soberly told us that she had just woken up from a dream about our two children in Africa. She said that we had decided to take her with us to pick up the children, and that she had come to the orphanage and the little girl whom she said was 6 or 7 came up to her and wrapped her arms around Lauren's legs and said, "A family! I have a family!" Lauren also told us that she had seen her little brother--who was 2 years old and so cute! She remembers his eyes most of all--but didn't remember the little girls face at all. She said that orphanage was so sad--there were dirt floors and no clean water. I thought it was so interesting that she would have this experience--and told her to write everything down. I think she was a bit shaken up by the dream because I could see in her eyes how surprised she was seeing the extreme poverty in her dream. It was a sweet experience.
Well, I know there is more to tell. But I am so glad to have some of what our family has been experiencing written down. I will sign off for now--and have to say how much I love the Lord. How blessed I feel to have the Gospel in our lives.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Just Getting Started...
After following hundreds of blogs for the last three years of my life (!) I have decided to finally start my own blog. For my personal sanity--and to keep a record of my life. I only hope it won't be one more thing to pull me away from my family--but I'm thinking I will just keep it as a journal--which may be 6 times a year (in the past it has been). And if I need it to be more, I will do it.
I have so much to say--but considering the fact that it's 10:30 at night I will keep it short.
Our family has been on an adoption journey for almost 3 months now--which is a bit crazy, but awesome in and of itself. I have felt the spirit so strongly throughout our journey--and had some very sacred moments by myself and with Mike and our children--off and on. My goal every day is to live by the spirit. I need help SO greatly--with every decision I am making in our journey as well as raising our 5 other little ones. Most of all--I am so amazed by the love --the great love and blessings from the Lord. There are moments when I have prayed really needing answers right then--and they come. I have so much peace in my Heavenly Father, and in the Savior. I am going to write more later---because believe me - I have SO much to say! So until then... :)
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