Merry Christmas

Christmas Nativity 2011

Spencer has the neatest tradition in his family.  Every year, Spencer and his siblings would don their dad’s bathrobes and old shirts and act out the Nativity while their mom narrated from the Bible. 

We have not really continued the tradition since we got married because it’s a bit difficult with just the two of us, but I was re-listening to past Christmas Devotionals, I came across this one given in 2008 by President Eyring.  I realized that we don’t have to wait to start some family traditions I had previously put on hold.  It may be a bit harder to do with just two, but it can be done. 

We had a very small cast, as you can see, but it is a tradition I hope we continue in our own little family. 

Small Shoes to Fill

Spencer and I are so excited to share that we are expecting a baby in February.

We are so happy and totally adore our baby’s birhmom and birthdad.  They are awesome people.  I can’t wait to tell you more about them. 

As excited as we are about our good adoption news, it is bittersweet for us to share.  We are mindful of our many friends who are still waiting for their little one.  The wait is so hard and we don’t want to do anything to make it harder on any of the people we care about so much. 

We love you guys.  Thanks for all of the support and prayers offered on our behalf.  We know we aren’t the only ones who have been praying for this baby, and we are very touched and very grateful. 

Season’s Greetings

“Fine Mom, I’ll wear the stupid hat, but you can’t make me like it!”

Thanksgiving

(The delicious feast I was too sick to enjoy)

I’m a bit dismayed that I didn’t manage to blog much at all this month because I love November for a couple of obvious reasons.  1. Thanksgiving of course!  I LOVE that during this time of the year so many people take the opportunity to focus on gratitude.  I love seeing people counting their blessings on blogs and Facebook; it just makes me happy.  2. It’s national adoption month!  I love adoption and love the opportunity to share more about adoption!  I’ve really enjoyed reading what other people have had to say during this special month, even though I didn’t contribute.     

Thanksgiving was a bit rough around our house.  We got to spend some quality time in Urgent Care and then the ER.

I’ll tell you one thing though, my little trip to the emergency room made me that much more grateful for my general good health.  I’m so glad that I don’t feel like I'm on the verge of death ALL the time.  Whew, I am very very very grateful to be feeling better today. 

And I tell you what, if you are ever feeling sorry for yourself, take a trip to the hospital and sit inside the front doors for a while.  You will see some really amazing people with some really difficult challenges coming and going.  I guarantee whatever problem you have will seem a bit smaller after you sit there for an hour or two.  

I’m especially grateful for my husband who stayed up with me all night and held my hand while I got a big fat shot in the bum (OUCH! I mean have you ever HAD one of those!  I kind of screamed and then kept apologizing over and over again to the nurse for being such a baby.  But seriously, just thinking about it makes me eyes water.) 

Though Thanksgiving wasn’t exactly an ideal celebration, our family has so much to be thankful for.  I’m glad that there’s at least one day a year set aside to remember that.   

Pupkin

When we picked up Lizzy from the groomers yesterday, I was delighted to see that they had put little Halloween bows on her ears.  SO CUTE! 

And then on our way to the check out we found this little punkin dog costume that was only a couple of dollars… so we decided that Lizzy just had to dress up for Halloween with the rest of us.  And Lizzy LOVED it.  Really she did (I think mostly because it keeps her warm).  But she trotted around as a pumpkin all day today.  It was so cute I couldn’t bear to take it off. 

I kept saying things like, “Oh my goodness honey, there’s a pumpkin on the couch!” or, “Guess what Spencie there’s a pumpkin romping around in the bathroom.”  I thought I was so funny.  You have to admit though, it is kind of adorable that there is a punkin pup frolicking around our house.        

Spencer and I are pretty dang excited for our costumes this year.  Well, mostly I am, I kind of had to urge Spencer to dress up for his part.  But in his heart, he loves it.  We will have to share pictures soon.

Sun Kissed

We had the most delightful weekend.  We hopped over to Utah and were able to spend some time with family.  We enjoyed several fun activities, but perhaps one of the highlights was going to the BYU- Idaho State football game. 

Spencer was kind of in heaven.

Now, I am not the biggest football fan myself, but I love that Spencer loves it.  He talks about football WEEKS, nay, MONTHS before it has actually started.  He hoots and hollers (even if he’s just listening to the game on the radio or watching it on TV).  He paints himself blue.  He jabbers about various players and games and other football trivia that I honestly wouldn't have otherwise known much about.  I have certainly learned a lot about the sport since marrying my Spencer!  And I admit I do like to watch football with him just because it makes him so darn happy.   

It was awesome to be back at BYU.  We had fun being in the stadium.  We had fun seeing our friends.  We cheered.  We sang the fight song.  We at frozen lemonade.  Though it wasn’t an intense game, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. 

We (and by “we” I mean mostly Spencer, Mike, and Dad) also got a tad bit sunburned.  We weren’t expecting such sunny weather. 

Notice anything different about him? 

How ‘bout now?

Spencer has this chap stick that is SPF 15.  I borrowed it before the game.  I think you know the rest of the story.  He was a bit embarrassed.  Good thing he wears make up for work anyways.   

It was a good day.   

To Our Dear Birthmom:

Our prayers have changed.  It is not a bad thing; it’s just an observation. 

When we first started hoping for our family to grow, we would pray that Heavenly Father would help us get pregnant.  Month after month we would hope and pray and hope and pray some more.  

Nothing happened, so we prayed to find a good doctor.  We did.  We found a wonderful doctor.  We began fertility treatments.  With every procedure we would pray, “Please oh please let it work this time.”  We always prayed, “thy will be done” but always hoped that this time, maybe, our little baby would come. 

Then we began to wonder… “What if we are praying to get pregnant, but that is not Heavenly Father’s will for us?  What if we are meant to find our baby through adoption?”  So we began to pray, “Please help us find our baby, in the way they were meant to come to us.” 

But our prayers changed again.  We still pray to find our baby, but we pray more fervently than ever, “Please bless our birthmom.  Bless her to know how much we love her.  Bless her to be healthy.  Bless her to be happy.  Bless her to know how much she means to us, even though we haven’t met her yet.  Bless her to find us.”  Because really, if we are to find our baby, our birthmom must first find us. 

It is amazing how we can love someone so much, even though we haven’t ever met.  But we do.  If I were able to tell our birthmom one thing, I would tell her how much I love her.  I would tell her how brave she is.  I would tell her that her selfless sacrifice means more than words could ever possibly express.  How could you ever begin to thank someone for making your family complete?  The task is impossible, and yet I long to try.  I want her to know that I am her biggest fan.  I am her greatest advocate.  I want the best for her not just because of what she will do for her baby, but for who she is.  Because it takes someone incredibly, indescribably  special to sacrifice so much so that her baby can have the life they were meant to have.  It takes courage, faith, maturity, selflessness, hope, tears, and love to place her child in an eternal family. 

Our dear Birthmom, if you could only see yourself as we see you, and as your Heavenly Father sees you!  I hope you do.  I hope you recognize what a beautiful gift you are giving your child.  I hope you realize just how much you are valued and loved.  I hope you see your own goodness. 

We think about you all of the time.  We wonder what we can do to reach out to you.  We hope we are doing our part so that you can find us.  We pray to know what more we can do to let you feel our love for you.  When I say that you are always on our mind, I mean it literally.  We pray for you with every prayer we say and we think of you even more often than that.  We sometimes feel powerless to reach you.  However, if I know ANYTHING I KNOW that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.  I know He is watching over you.  I know he will help you find us.   

We can’t wait to meet you.  To tell you these things in person.  Until that day we will continue to pray, “Please oh please bless our birthmom.”