{ 2 years old today }

Happy Birthday Mase!! I can't believe my baby is two today. What a two years its been ups and downs, fearful, long, wonderful and full of miracles!

Let me start from the beginning. In august of 2005 we got our papers to start number three adoption we had our little Lauren who was one by then and we weren't sure how long it would take having 2 children already. {of course you never know what a birthmother is looking for but.. } we felt like the time was right to put in our papers so we did the mounds of paperwork, homestudy, interviews and more paperwork and documents all done and in with our profile and approved by Dec. In march we were asked to tell our stories and bring in our photo albums and talk to a group of birthmothers deciding whether to place or parent. We had done these classes before and both times had resulted in telling someone we know about them and the birthmother placing with that couple. SO its really, really nerve wracking to do a class especially when your profile is out there too. Totally overwhelming we felt good about the class and I remember thinking about a young girl there that wow that baby would look like Kolten. Well a week later on April 12 we got a phone call that we had been chosen by THAT BIRTHMOTHER our Chelsie. I guess we had done a good job on our presentation? It happened to be the same day that my sister had her baby and the coincidence is that she told me she was pregnant the day we called to have the adoption packet to start again. What a day it was and to find out that the baby was due on MAY 14 less then a month from the time of our face to face and once again 9 months from paperwork to placement how blessed and rare that is in adoption. In meeting her and her parents it was wonderful as with our previous two there is almost an immediate connection a feeling of having known these girls before and when we were finished crying, talking, hugging, laughing and talking again, we felt good and that all would be alright {we knew from the beginning that it was a high risk placement because of the birthfather and his family} But after attending the temple and the little miracles along the way we knew this baby was meant for our family. On May 14th Masen was born healthy and strong 7 lds 3 oz on Mothers Day of that year what a mothers day gift. There is nothing harder then knowing your baby is born and having to wait for a couple of days for placement those times are full of anticipation, fear, hope, prayer and excitement and so many phonecalls and wondering what he looks like. So the high risk placement came into effect because Masen was born on a weekend we needed papers to be signed by the judge to be able to take him from the hospital and it so happened that the judge was on HOLIDAY for two weeks so there were decisions to be made regarding who takes the baby home. We felt with all our heart and after lots of prayers that we would risk it and continue on with placement instead of risking our dear birthmother taking the baby home and changing her mind. But another miracle happened when just before placement a couple hours before the LDS family services lawyer ran into the judge having the papers and got the right signatures. We bawled because it really was a miracle and already they were calling so many things about this adoption a miracle {little did we know the trials that would come and miracle after miracle would happen} We were so relieved ! We had a very special and spiritual placement it was very beautiful and Chelsie was a rock. {Did I mention she was also our caseworkers niece so that made it even closer to home for our caseworker} Very powerful placement.

Here we have 10 days after placement and those ten days passed and we thought all would be just fine so we worked on our paperwork so we could be finalized and sealed} Masen was a wonderful, happy, strong, beautiful baby. In august of that year we were sued {thankfully another blessing was that they didn't know who we were so they sued LDSFS saving us a whole lot of money} for the first time which would be the first of three times of wondering if our baby would be taken from us, of wondering who was watching us because there was information that shouldn't have been given to the other parties but was somehow making it there from somebody in our town?? Very unnerving. We did find out who it was and it was taken care of they disappeared mysteriously j/k as if}. But it was a horrible, horrible time full of tears, prayers, worrying. In my heart I think I knew that there was no way the birthfathers family could win, but it was the thought that somebody wanted our baby. The baby that was a part of our family that I got up with every night, that we fed, loved, played with, bonded with, cared for and loved. Who had a mother and a father and a brother and sister who were now apart of a family. Imagine someone trying to take your baby.

This case was a case that the head and top adoption authorities were interested in the outcome so all our paperwork and documents went to the head government adoption workers. Crazy to think about now. We had so many miracles that I can't even write them all or this would be more of a novel then it already is! But we were definitely blessed and watched over and Heavenly Father was watching over us and knew this boy belonged with our family and what a blessing he is to us. All our children all. So now he is two and all that is behind us. We were sealed in December of the same year he was born which was a beautiful and spiritual day and to know that he was forever ours was such a feeling I can't even describe. I guess really only those who have been through it know what I'm talking about. {we were sued twice after that too} So you can imagine how hard that was too, he was ours not only now, but forever.

Fast forward to today I have a boy who loves to run, play, laugh, escape {he has a guardian angel I'm pretty sure after the times he has escaped across the highway or stood in front of a truck within 2 seconds} and the things he has eaten or put in his mouth yeah he is watched over. He loves animals especially dogs and horses. He loves his sister and brother and anything they have or do he wants to have or do too!! He loves his dad like a big addiction he cries when he can't leave with him. He is a busy busy boy but he it tenderhearted and full of life. I know he loves me and I love how excited he gets when he gets out of nursery and says MOMMY MOMMY look!! and shows me what he learned or colored that day. He is smart and funny. I love him so much and really can't imagine life without him as part of our family.

I am so blessed with my three beautiful, fun, good kids. I know of course I would love to be pregnant someday but I know that these children were meant to come to our home and that my Heavenly Father loves me and hears my prayers and just had another plan for our family. I can't imagine it any other way. Happy 2nd BIRTHDAY My Masen boy!!! I love you.