{Adjustments...and Thankful Thursday...}

Adjustments ....

in life are kind of like going to the chiropractor
you know you need to go

but you put it off
you know it hurts
but you keep going,
until you realize that you better do something about it now
before its to late...
The last month has been one of adjustments
a new baby
to late nights ....early mornings
12 days single moming it this month we survived
lack of sleep
finding limits.... we can only do so much
figuring out that I can't keep up to Everything like i did before
to helping the kids find things to do to occupy their time and finding the time to be with them and spend good quality time together
life in general... finding time to do those things that are important and prioritizing the most important
one of my new favorite quotes is...

"The most important things in life aren't things"...

So very true
they are my kids and my husband, my family and the gospel

S0 my chiropractor would say my adjustments need to be
in the knees to have family prayer in the mornings more regular even if D is gone already to always remember mine amoung other things
adjustments in the hands to hold more hands read more books its so much harder in the summer . to hug more, hold more, talk less, listen more, get down and play more
There needs to be adjustments with my mouth to ask nicer, to follow through, give more kisses {and accept more slobbery ones masen's favorite thing lately he thinks its funny to spit all over my cheek basically oh how I love him and all his spunk..}
Adjustments to my brain thoughts, actions and deeds just like all of us
when finding out things about yourself that you didn't know or realize sometimes knowing your limits and knowing its okay is a good first start
but its best to sit back, regroup and get up and try again.
Learn from the past, figure out what works best for me and us
what doesn't and move on.
With life, kids, work, friends, and most importantly within our families.
Adjustments to my FEET to keep moving forward in the path that we all need to be on..
......to keep things up and running smoothly with
everything adjusted properly and working like it should for every single one of us it all takes time but it starts small and it starts somewhere...
Adjustments...... life is full of them.

I'm am thankful for life's adjustments to ponder on them change things and work on new goals .
I'm especially thankful for this big one -Karsen- he's going to be 1 month old already in 2 days crazy how time flies -- how the cheeks start filling in before you even realize it! He is such a good baby we are so loving and enjoying him! I was just thinking of all the getting used to new things that come with a new baby, new schedules, less time for other things
but good times just figuring it all out so worth it!!
I think he has seriously slept the whole month away...
some things in his one month so far..
he's growing and healthy and a happy, content baby most of the time
he's around almost 9 lbs already
he hates tummy time
he eats 4 -5 oz's in a sitting every three hours about sometimes he goes longer
when he is awake he is looking around and very alert
he gets up at 3 am around there every night
he loves to be cuddled
he loves a soother!
and hates to be poopy....
oh and he loves to SLEEP all day long!!

I'm thankful for this crazy boy who makes us laugh he thought it was so funny that his eyes were so big he had us all laughing..thank goodness L's never look like that..she was laughing pretty hard too... and L she is growing up so fast all she can think about lately is her birthday she is so excited!! she is in the don't take my picture stage so thats why I don't have many lately with her ....
I'm thankful for yummy brownies my favorite dessert from scratch or duncan hines chunk so good and my kids love it too. I've had lots of fun talks over brownies and ice cream at home or with friends! Weird thing to be thankful for I know but where would we be without brownies--
chocolate brownies, moxie's white chocolate brownies yum.....

I'm thankful for my new yellow pillows that brighten my living room and make me happy every time I see them. My friend made them for me {remember my favorite pottery barn pillows that I was to cheap to spend 40-80 dollars on} Well she decided to whip some up 2 smaller ones and a big one she is amazing!! They look just like the P.B ones if not better I love them and her for thinking of me.Yellow is such a happy color! Friends are the best and I am so so thankful for all of them especially all the ones within my own family!! Now I just need to add some decorating to match them!!
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow."

Helen Keller

Be thankful for everything! Look around so much to be thankful for isn't there even in rough and tough times like so many are going through right now!!

Have a BeAutIfUL Weekend!!

{Me thinks Monday... Path of Life...}

A little of this and a little of that this weekend and a whole lot of fun. D and I even got out on a date { plus K2 } but it was nice to get away together even if it was just running errands and a nice dinner just to be able to talk about life and be together. Everybody needs it!!
We just about got to waterski too Friday night {except the boat decided not to work D even spent forever cleaning and getting everything ready for the lake all his hard work oh well so they all went swimming for awhile instead and I took some pics!}
That's life...
My baby is getting so big! hard to believe. he is such a good kid I hope he never changes..

jumping with dad in the lake I love this picture cause it looks like he is walking on water....M found a random friend and they had fun too....Then M was in heaven getting to ride horses his aunt took him for a little ride and he didn't want to get off... the other kids went too but it got to dark to take a decent picture but L was so cute she wanted a cowgirl shirt on and kept saying mom did you bring my shirt I need to change before I get on the horse.. She is so fun!And I love this picture from today {K2 was so alert and just looked around today he also got circ'd today too, so he was a little uncomfortable, um I'm thinking I probably would be too lol! But he was still so good and cuddly..
k loves to feed him and talk to him and today it looked like K2 wanted to just talk right back. I love my boys.. and my girl!!!-------------------------------------------------
mE THiNkS

Where do our feet take us? where will they take us? and where have they been?.... I could have written this next part but i found it looking through some poems and stories.
I love it cause doesn't it seem like we are always waiting for something no matter what stage of life we are in. Instead of realizing that its all part of what makes up life.

I thought of this while looking a K2's feet thinking how we all start out just like that so fresh and innocent free of anything guile, hard or worldly. But all of what we go through from baby to adulthood makes up what we call our lives.... shapes us into who we become.

Where do our feet take us each day? In the right direction?

On the right path?

----------------
"We convince ourselves that we will be better once we are married, have a baby, then another.
Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough,
and think that all will be well when they are older.
Then we are frustrated because they reach adolescence and we must deal with them.
Surely we'll be happier when they grow out of the teen years.
We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets his/her act together,
when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, or when we finally retire.

The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now.

If not, then when?

Your life will always be full of challenges.
It is better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.

For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start.
Real life.
But there was always some obstacle along the way, an ordeal to get through,
some work to be finished, some time to be given, a bill to be paid.

Then life would start.I finally came to understand that those obstacles were life. That point of view helped me to see that there wasn't any road to happiness.

Happiness IS the road.

So, enjoy every moment.

Stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter, for the first or the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn... before deciding to be happy. Happiness to a voyage, not a destination.
There is no better time to be happy than...NOW!

Live and enjoy the moment.

-Author Unknown

“This is our one and only chance at life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.”

- Thomas S. Monson

Make it a good one! Life is good..

{Thankful..}

So I missed yesterdays thankful Thursday post, but for a good reason. We had our first post placement home visit from family services. I cleaned got the house ready and we had a nice visit. But I'm thankful its done till next time! We also got alot done around the house that needed to be done so they are kind of nice in a way for getting things done that haven't been done yet!

Its been so hot the past few days and today is cloudy and feels so good. We had my sil Katelyn and her husband and baby over last night so that was fun to visit and see them again its amazing how fast babies grow. Their baby is so cute!!

L has been able to spend some time at grandmas with her cousins and having a sleepover and then K has been painting fences going on fun excursions with his cousins and hopefully enjoying his time with them. I missed them!!

But its good for them to get out and have some fun! Little K2 is growing so fast already, filling out and still the best baby yet, calm, alert when he's awake and so fun. Though he does sleep like all the time we do enjoy his awake periods alot!!
Fun times the summer is passing quick swim lessons and swimming, boating and skiing and lake time are all going to be done before we know it!

But we are enjoying every minute!

------------------------

So I was reading my sil Allison's blog and she had this poem not sure by who but I love it hope she doesn't care I'm passing it on.

Makes me thankful for every minute I have and every year that I'm given. They all pass to quickly. Every minute we live, breath and walk is another minute we have to be thankful for.

----------------

To realize
The value of ten years
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.
To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
who has given birth to
A premature baby.
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special.
To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.

-----------------------

I also have to say I am so very

thankful and appreciative

for the dinners

the visits

the gifts

the packages in the mail,

from people I have never met but sure hope to someday

it means alot to me.

the beautiful, thoughtful emails, phone calls and messages, cards

the wonderful people who just come and

take some of my kids for a day to the park or pool!!

We feel so spoiled and so loved.

People have been so so good to us

so ...

THANK YOU ♥ THANK YOU♥ THANK YOU

have a great weekend..

{ Stuff and Statements.....}

I am: blessed {love the above quote its one of my favorites- can't remember where I stole it from either!!}

I have: everything I need

I know: that our prayers do get answered one way or the other and never on our timetable

I think: I need a rocking chair really bad, and some good exercise

I don't think: pettiness and drama should exist

I want: a nice nursery for Karsen never had a nice one

I like: order and harmony….. can’t stand friction or hurt feelings

I dislike: rudeness and people who treat others bad

I hate: bugs, messes, and disorder,and that I don't have grass or place for the kids to play yet and all the construction and bulldozers around...all in time!!

I dream: that my kids will always be happy and chose the right and that we could live in the country with lots of room to run and grow..

I fear: that I will lose someone I love

I am annoyed: sometimes

I crave: time alone once n awhile

I usually: have prayers, scriptures and shower and kids ready before 9 am

I search: for new ways to discipline… something that will work. Any grand ideas??

I hide: treats I don’t want the kids to have sometimes,

I wonder: what we will be doing in twenty years

I know: that spending time with my family means a lot to me, creating memories that will last a lifetime…

I just can't help: blogging and checking face book…being excited for all things new....

I regret: not much, all things happen for a reason it’s what we learn from it.

I love: my husband,K,L,M,K2 and the rest of our families, in laws etc...new friends!! Karsen''s hair I love it!!

I can't live without: my family, my scriptures, sadly my computer more than I like to admit!

I try to: have patience everyday….then I get out of bed lol
I enjoy: watching my kids play nicely together and doing lots of family activities, my treadmill and reading!!
I don't care: what people think {but secretly I care a little too much what a certain few think}
I always: try really hard to be aware of others needs, and to serve where I can
I never want to: lose my kids or husband to anything bad..
I rely on: myself and D and my Heavenly Father daily
I believe: that life is short and how we act here is the test to what happens later after this life…
I dance: with my kids and husband every now and then!I sing: in the car, to my iPod and to my children everyday..
I argue: once a month lol write: here a lot and in my actual journal not so much as I used toI win: occasionally
I lose: my mind when things are chaotic j/k but it feels like it sometimes
I wish: I knew……I wish life were easy but it isn’t, and I wish those of my friends and family trying to conceive would…infertility sucks.. I know…
I listen: to music every day and to my scriptures on tape every morning while I’m getting ready
I don't understand: people sometimes

I forgot: that newborns just sleep, eat, poop, pee, & cry! {I forgot I didn’t get to sleep anymore! Here is my new fav pic I took last night he is getting big already!! Goes by so fast}
So very worth every sleepless night though with this handsome little, happy baby!!
{{My friend Jill took some pics the other day and here are some of her sneak peaks. Thanks so much Jill!! I don't really think you need practice anymore you are already really good!! I'm so excited to have so many pics. My other friend, Rebecca took some too I'll post a link when some are up, its nice to have photographers for friends!! Can't wait to see them all and share!!}}I am happy: when my house is content, my children are happy, my husband is happy,we have food to eat, money in the bank, the gospel and my testimony... life is good……We are blessed

Have a fun day!!

{Me thinks Monday...}

My kids rock all the way to the top they were such amazing troopers! We thought L would have a hard time cause she hates to walk a block but she hiked the entire way!!And kept saying "Aren't you so proud of me on my first hike" it was so cute! When she was done she was so dang proud of herself I loved it!!
D just got back after being gone for a business trip for awhile so it was a nice family weekend we all needed out and to spend time together. So we drove a ways went on a hike, got ice cream and walked to the park the kids were in heaven and we all had so much fun! Sunday we went to grandma's and the kids had so much all playing together and we enjoyed visiting with everybody! Now we are heading out to roast hot dogs and have some fhe fun with some friends! WE LOVE SUMMER!!!

Think it was windy up top??and Proof that D was there lol!! Thirsty kids??
------------------------------
ME THINKS

Laughter, joy and happiness is healthy for you. They say laughter is the best medicine. It can cure illness and extends life. A good laugh boosts the immune system, relieves depression and stress, relaxes all the body's muscles, is good exercise for the heart and helps prevent heart attacks, it cleanses the lungs, and provides an overall sense of well being.
We don't need to wait for someone else to bring us happiness - happiness is a choice we can make at any time we want. You can choose to look on the good side of things and take life more lightly, or you can choose to think gloomy and sad. It's up to you.

Life is the movie you see through your own eyes - it's up to you how you take it.
----------

so me thinks....

We can't depend on others to make us happy, we have to be happy with our circumstances our life, our attitudes or we need to change what we are doing and make it work so we can be happy. We can't take our hurt feelings out on others or make others feel bad by how we choose to treat them, life is to short.

If we did all we could to be happy and make others happy, and treated others with kindness caring and serving. We would all feel a lot better and happier inside and out. We can only do our best and live each day like its our last. We aren't perfect. But happiness is a choice.

Choose it. {or} Change it.

Have a great week...

{ Some thankful thursday favs right now..}

Just out of sheer boredom or lots of one handed typing/ feeding times in front of the computer until we get a rocker again here are some of my favorite things right now.....
These signs from here..... I want to do some for my kids rooms...and this here I'm having done up for the kids rooms right now so cute!!_____________________

My new favorite song {that won't let you add to playlist but here is the link!} Love the message of itOkay this next music video is hilarious check it out -- its a nice backlash to united air for breaking his guitar and they wouldn't do anything about it so he wrote a song about it --bet they wish they something about it now eh!!
-----------------------------

My favorite reading boy can you tell what he is reading...I love that he loves to read and reads while he is eating I do the same thing and my mom does too I just think its funny!!My new favorite hoodie bargin price $7 zebra print and all...and our favorite little lovedbaby in the house!! Love the line too check it out so snuggly and adorable!! link here

and this is creepy and funny I think...

Alright enough hope everybody is having a great day if not here is a nice reminder ha ha.. be happy...........

{Me thinks Monday...}

JOYS JOYS JOYS what a week honestly Karsen is such a good, good baby. I hope it lasts!! My problems this week are the non listening other three who are pushing every limit there is... granted I don't overly blame them there have been so many fast changes ...
Joys of parenthood right...

We still get the most important things done, and were working together to figure out our actions and consequences its working well.. {sarcasm}

Other then that we are just kind of laying low at home

I did take all FOUR kids to the pool for 4 hours on friday crazy to say the least but they had so much fun and thats what mattered most to me. Tired them right out and they all slept really good.

Really I'm just enjoying watching my kids grow and interact with each other

the moments where there not fighting ha ha

How loving and willing to help with Kars they are so good with him and love him to bits!!

Moments like watching Kolt help teach lauren to ride a two wheeler and pumping up a tire for her...

or Kolt reading to the kids

watching all three figure out how to play a little game without getting mad at each other and sitting there listening and watching while feeding Karsen and thinking how blessed I feel to have these three cute little kids...

Life as we know it right....

Live, Laugh, Love
and Learn...
through our mistakes, our trials and everyday life..
that's what its all about!

----------------------------

Sleeping K2 in all his cuteness...we just love him!!
Silly three that I love and adore too..

and
Little Lauren sidewalk chalkin it...

--------------------------

ME Thinks
A couple of kids think
I'm the meanest mom ever
Lets list the reason's why:
I ask that they clean up the toy room/bedrooms
once in awhile
hummm I don't let my kids play outside before 10am so we can get a few things done in the morning like breakfast and baths, prayers and pickup?
oh and I don't let them play on the street where cars drive I prefer they play in the back yard but thats just me I guess...
I want them to come in before 7pm
so we can have stories and dinner and prayers, scriptures you know wind down and clean up....
I sometimes feel like I'm the only mean mom on the street
who has a few guidelines and sometimes it looks like my kids are the
deprived secret garden boy looking longingly out the window at some of the neighbor kids playing till dark
I know its summer but ...still
boundaries ?? routine ?? privacy??
{I know move to the country get a fence some gates and locks oh and some grass I know I know...}
Let's see cause we do chores on Saturday mornings and then we get to play.. some work some play.. That is so mean!!
I'm a mean mom cause I don't let my 3 year old just leave the house anytime he wants and roam the neighborhood or the next door neighbors house anytime he feels like {Although he already does this he just thinks he can anytime he wants..}
I'm mean cause I don't let my kids go where ever they feel like going without telling me where they are...
Oh a classic cause I don't let them eat ice cream for breakfast that is so mean...
I'm sure I could think of a few more but I have to ask
Am I MEAN?
I secretly think they just might be a few other mean mom's out there too...
SO {some of this poem has to do with all grown up kids but it applies...}

To all you Mean Mom's.

Someday when my children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will
tell them, as my Mean Mom told me: I loved you
enough to ask where you were going, with whom,
and what time you would be home.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you
discover that your new best friend was a creep.

I loved you enough to make you go pay for the
bubble gum you had taken and tell the clerk,
"I stole this yesterday and want to pay for it."

I loved you enough to stand over you for
two hours while you cleaned your room,
a job that should have taken 15 minutes.

I loved you enough to let you see anger,
disappointment, and tears in my eyes.
Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.

I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the
penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.

But most of all, I loved you enough . . . to say
NO when I knew you would hate me for it.

Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm
glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates parents, you
will tell them.

Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the
meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids
ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal,
eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a
Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you
can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was
different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times.
You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She
had to know who our friends were, and what we were
doing with them. She insisted that if we said we
would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an
hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve
to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We
had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook,
vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and
all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie
awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time
we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had
eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really
tough!

Because of our mother we missed out on lots of
things other kids experienced. None of us have ever
been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's
property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all
her fault.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated,
honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean
parents just like Mom was.

I think that is what's wrong with the world today.
It just doesn't have enough mean moms!

What do you think??
Have a great week!

{Thankful Thursday...}

THANK YOU

I am so so thankful especially this week.
More than I can adequately express its
AWESOME
to have friends who care
and serve
family who love you.
a loving husband
four great kids
the gospel
PRAYER
I'm thankful
for the rain
the thunder
and beautiful sunsets
cool mornings
new friends
sleeping children
my cuddly blond yummy new baby
my growing up beautiful princess
my tall handsome freckled seven year old
and my feisty blond haired chocolate chip eye colored three year old
good music {turn up sound}
life.
trials.
blessings.
forgiveness.
examples.
babysitters.
friends
all of you.
a washing machine
email.
school.
phones.
childhood innocence.
WD's cooking.
summer.
so much to be thankful for everyday.

Have the best weekend.

{ ME THINKS....}

That's a great quote for us for this week!!

I think he's happy to be here look at that smile {or gas but I chose to believe it's a smile lol!!}

Wow the last week has been a whirlwind...... I did just get my floors mopped that needed it since the chaos of our family bbq last wednesday!! All good though!!! Plus right now all four kids are napping how that happened not sure but its quiet, the house is clean again, and I'm feeling completely thankful for all the blessings of the past week.
For the comments here and on facebook, the phone calls, the visits, the dinners, the gifts, and most of all little Karsen he is a dream baby he is so good {he has the days and nights mixed up but right now I just get excited when I hear his little cry so I can see and hold him again} he has THE cutest little cry, he just looks at us like he is looking straight at us, the kids are in love with him too and always want to hold or "Tiss Tarsen" as Masen says. {We still have no middle name picked out either I know he is almost a week old but we'll get it!!}
There are almost no words to describe how blessed we feel and thankful we feel to have these four beautiful children in our lives. I was driving to town the other morning and just started sobbing thinking of the day when I thought we would have no children, and here we are today after so many prayers, fasting and pleading with four awesome children.
{With equally awesome Birth parents who we owe everything to for the forever family that we get to be cause without any of them we wouldn't be where we are today and some days the love I have for each one is overwhelming}

ME THINKS
WE ♥ Adoption it has blessed our lives more then we ever thought possible we have seen miracles happen and coincidences that aren't coincidences, people in places they wouldn't have been otherwise but maybe for the comments or impact they would unknowingly have on these birth parents that only the hand of a loving Heavenly Father made happen, seen strength and peace in birth mothers and fathers that never would have been that strong without a higher power giving them peace and assurance along the journey.
We have felt a reassurance and calming with each adoption that these little babes were meant for our home in ways that I can't even explain. That through the hand of the lord and the mercy and unselfish love made that detour to be apart of our eternal family.
I have learned lessons I never would have otherwise, made friends I never would have without the connections and trials we have been through.
I KNOW our prayers are heard I KNOW that sometimes its not on our timetable but always on his, I KNOW that whats best for us isn't always what's best for someone else, I KNOW that we have to live everyday like our Heavenly Father is right with us because I can't tell you how many times I've thought what if we had made this decision or done this back when and it would have followed us around, and come back to be a detriment to where we are today. I'm thankful for the life and choices D and I have made that we are who we are because of them.
I am so thankful for the children we are blessed with. For the strength and comfort, and the eternal companion D is to me for the husband he is and the family we are.
I can't stop crying at random times thinking of all that has happened all week you'd think I just had a baby or something for how emotional I am. It's been a spiritual, emotional week one I will never forget that is for sure.

THE STORY
SO June 29 8:30 am we got a call that we had been chosen by the birth parents of a soon to be born little baby boy who was due the next week. So we told our kids got excited had the holiday coming up a day later and a big family bbq here so we concentrated on getting ready for that so totally going to get stuff after the holiday we were thinking, then we get a phone call on July 1st telling us our birth mother is in labour ahhh was kind of our thoughts.....
I was most worried about what to give the birth parents should she have the baby overnight which we all thought would be the case. So nothing was open here so I ran to town to grab a few things you know formula, diapers, some clothes, bottles things we would need, and a couple gifts to start with. Then I came home and we took the kids to the fireworks and found a backup to call in the middle of the night if if the call should come. ....Anyway we didn't' sleep very well of course but the call never came until JULY 2ND just after 11:30 that she had just had the baby and we needed to come now. Two hours almost exactly after he was born we got to meet our new little son..the tears flowed, the love flowed and we loved him the second we saw him
{this quote from the book For the love of a Child The journey of Adoption::: and is exactly how it feels....
" The very moment we had our children placed in our arms, we knew it was the will of our Heavenly Father that this child be raised by us. We had prayed and pleaded, promised, and reasoned. And here we were at last, with a son/daughter that our Father had so lovingly sent to be a part of our eternal family. Each time we had the undeniable witness that these children were special children meant to be raised by us."
-so so true.
So we were able to give Karsen his first bath and spend the next two days at the hospital loving him, feeding him, bonding with him and staring at at his adorableness and his calmness I think he is our calmest most peaceful baby yet. We have never had the hospital experience before and it was much different then an agency placement that takes maybe two hours and lots of tears and hugs.
There was a lot of waiting, some confusion, a few insensitive people and nurses and comments, but for the most part on our end they were wonderful and understanding of the situation.
I did learn the world could us some tolerance and understanding of adoption and all those involved it IS NOT easy on anybodies part but especially on the birth mothers and fathers.
I cannot put into words how much love and respect I have for each of our birth mothers and father for the strength and love they have for these precious little babies.
There was a peace and strength, a calmness and assurance in this placement that i hadn't seen so up close in our other placements Karsen's birthparents were so amazing. Its amazing actually how much love you have for people you barely know but feel like you've know your whole life,
this placement had a different feeling all equally and profoundly spiritual and emotional. There is nothing in my life that comes close to the spirituality of our children's adoptions and placements and sealings....
I guess only those who have gone through it know exactly what I am trying to say, where the greatest gifts we received are our children and there is nothing we can give back as a gift at the time that even remotely compares--
but the gift in return is a promise to love these babies for eternity, to teach them, train them and give them every opportunity to succeed and grow, to know they are so, so loved by so many before they even get here to this earth. To know that our Heavenly Father loves them too and knows each one of us. Isn't that everyone's wish for our children whether adopted or not.
Makes no difference.
----------------------
"Adoption transforms the pain felt by all involved as they experience the ways God works in the lives of many people through one precious child."
This one precious child {and three others} are loved by so, so many already!!
Blessed.
Is how I feel.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!! MAKE IT COUNT.

{Introducing...}

KARSEN D.
Born July 2nd
7lbs 2oz

He is perfect, healthy
and so so cute and sweet
its
been quite the couple of days
I'll share more when I get a few minutes
soon....
till then here is a link for some pics..

Have a great weekend and Fourth of July!!

Thank you thank you for all for the wonderful comments and phone calls it has been such an overwhelming emotional week!! Please Keep our awesome birth parents in your prayers they were incredible, strong and unwavering.