On our next adoption

We have been looking into two other agencies to sign up with in addition to Project Cuddle and our own agency that places kids from the foster care system. Both agencies are small and located in our home state... they only do a few adoptions a year (each do about 6 a year) but I am hoping that between the three we are on with that something will happen. I have the applications filled out - just gotta mail them in this week. The fact that we are pretty open - open to race & gender alone should make a placement quicker - but thats not always the case. I would think that a placement in our home state would make things SO much easier - but I also know that I would go through all the stress and inconvienece of an out of state adoption to have my beautiful Kinsey in a heart beat. Since when is life suposed to be easy and stress free? :) Kinsey's adoption and everything surrounding how it went was pretty much perfect. I am not counting on the next one to go as smoothly but it would be nice :) Things never go the way you want anyway, no matter how close to home they are. I have no clue the direction God is gonna take us and I can't possibly guess. I play out scenarios in my head of when and where but I know it will be nothing like I imagine... and I think that is a good thing :) We keep trying to figure out if Kyle will stay home with the girls, if all four of us will go, if we will leave the girls with my parents... but really we can't know what to do until we get the call and the situations surrounding it. As far as our budget we are applying for grants and trying not to worry. We know God can provide the funds needed - and I just assume he will provide through grants... but what if he doesn't? Its a little harder to trust when he doesn't provide the way you want him to. I don't know.. just rambling a bit. I think adopting the second time around is alot easier than the first... at least I seem to have more patience this time. I am content where God has me and who he has entrusted to me. I am excited about the future but I am excited about the present too. I'll keep ya updated!

He is RISEN!

More April 2010

Here we are -- us moms and our beautiful kids! I don't know what it is about being around other women who are

as passionate as I am about adoption... it thrills me.

It energizes me.

I wish they loved closer.

Andi - move closer!!

I got to visit with Andi and her family when they came to meet their beautiful new

daughter! What a blessing it was - seriously. I have enjoyed getting to know her and following her for the past couple years. More recently I have been bouncing

ideas/frustrations/joys off of her for the last several

months on a more consistent basis and its been great.

She is my adoption buddy :)

I love that we are both passionate about adoption and

the women who choose life for their children.

This guy is amazing... what a joy he is

Cali was EXCITED!
I love this look Kinsey has...

Yep - its precious...

Isn't Kingsley the cutest little guy??!!

And Cali couldn't get enough of holding baby Naya!

I think he likes her!

Now he wants his sister back :)

More from April 2010:

My beautiful girl looking so big!

Ahhhhh such a fast slide!

She loves great grandma

They love aunt shauna!

My babies are growing so fast. Its crazy! We have been LOVING the warm weather!! I can't believe how my babies are turning into little girls. They bring so much joy!

J :)

Well, J got his family! But it wasn't us. I had been holding out a little hope that we would be selected but I was prepared that we weren't. The caseworker for J said that there was nothing negative said about us, they were impressed with our family presentation and that the comittee loved us... but they felt that what was best for J was to be with his foster brother and the new adoptive family. I can't blame them... its who I would have picked too. Its just hard. When you view a child as the one who would be your son.... then you realize its not. That boy waited SIX YEARS to be adopted. My heart breaks that he waited so long. For the last two months I kept thinking that if he WAS my son - how could I explain that it took me so long to find him?? I am so happy for him though. So were his workers... he had a special place in their hearts. Maybe we will work with his worker in the future?? She said the committee loved us and then she said "Now they want to find a kid for your home!!" But she said all the kids that were mentioned wouldn't do well with our girls... I knew adopting thru the system would be hard and would take a while... especially with two young girls. Maybe we will have to wait til they are older... maybe God wants us somewhere else right now.

We are submitting our info to two other agencies besides Project Cuddle.... still open to any gender, any race, some unknowns. I feel so much more peace this time around. I get anxious and try to control but God gives me a little reminder that he has a plan.

Maybe its through one of the agencies we are signing up with...?

I pray for our future child's mom... Where ever she is... the same way I pray for Kinsey's first family. Having an open adoption changed my life. It changed the way I love and care about the women entrusting us with their child. I feel called to these women the same way I feel called to parent their children. I am thankful God will use me.

ANYWAY! That is the update! Its official - he isn't ours.

Grandma & Grandpa's Farm :)

I love living so close to my inlaws. I love it. love it. LOVE IT!

Love my babies being able to walk across the field. Love them being able to grow up so close to where daddy did.

I am blessed.

Yay for sunshine!

Love my babies! Love the sunshine! More pics to come when I have more time :)