What a day

Today was one of those Sundays where I was just spiritually fed too the max. I feel like I need a nap because it was SO much to take in.

Being the 5th Sunday, we had a combined relief society/priesthood meeting. Walking in to the meeting, I was given this article as was everyone in attendance. The whole meeting was dedicated on educating ward members on LDS Family Services and Adoption. We were instructed by a couple in our ward, who are the stake representatives, about adoption and what services LDS family services provides.

They started out by sharing their own experiences in adopting their 3 beautiful children. I was so over-come by the spirit. I had tears streaming down my face and I couldn't make them stop no matter how hard I tried. At one point, the husband said that the birth mother of their first child they adopted, almost changed her mind in placing their daughter up for adoption to them... but once she saw the baby in his arms, she knew that child was meant for this couple, she was overcome by the spirit and went through with the adoption. He was so over-come with emotion, it was so easy to feel the love this man and woman had for their 3 children they have adopted.

It was an amazing meeting. I felt the love of my Heavenly Father. I just know that I need to be preparing for a special child that Heavenly Father is sending us through someone else. There is no doubt in my mind, especially after the spirit I felt today, that we are meant to adopt. It is going to be the most amazing day of my life when I get to hold that sweet baby for the first time. I am so grateful that I was able to get that confirmation, yet again, today.

and so it begins

I have decided I want to remember every detail of this whole process of adoption and will soon be starting an adoption blog, but for now, I will write my thoughts and feelings on this blog.

I can't even begin to describe the roller-coaster of emotions and heartache it has taken to get to this point... Three miscarriages and failed infertility treatments (not the doctors fault, just not in the cards for us at this time), and lots and lots of tears shed... and I can tell you it feels SO good to let that all go and begin this new step towards starting a family. Since we were first married, I have always said to Geoff that I would love to adopt someday. I have seen the blessings first hand with cousins who were adopted and friends who have adopted. Adoption is such a beautiful thing and I can't wait for the day when the phone rings saying we have been chosen. I get chills just thinking about it (:

We just submitted the first part of our adoption application today with our "down-payment" as well. It was the most exhilarating huge chunk of change I have ever spent in my life! Tears came to my eyes when I was able to get online and complete the first portion of our application for approval. I feel so at peace with this decision and truly feel so many blessings are coming our way because of this decision. We have fasted and prayed countless times and it was not up until about 2 weeks ago that we truly felt this is the route Heavenly Father wanted us to go through.

I had a friend ask me something the other day that really made me think. She asked that if I could have foreseen all of this and just skipped over the last few years of trying on our own and gone right to adoption, would I have? The question really made me think. As hard as it has all been, I think I would still want those experiences to have happened. Those moments, especially after each miscarriage, were some of the most spiritual moments of my life. I have vivid memories the most overwhelming feelings of love from my Father in Heaven and because of that, my testimony was truly strengthened.

We have much to do before we are officially approved. We have to still get finger-printed, FBI background check, get our CPR certification renewed (both about to expire), Physicals from our Doctor... and about a bajillion other documents... but I have never been more excited for any of these things (and I swear I have been fingerprinted about a million times in my life for employment purposes as have Geoff...) because I know how well worth it will all be.

I am so thankful to everyone for being so supportive and cheering us on through this process. We are SO incredibly blessed with friends and family who pray for us and love us more than we deserve!

Extra Extra... Read all about it!

Well, I promised myself I wouldn't post anything for awhile and it has been a few weeks and I just can't contain my excitement....

Geoff and I are going to start the adoption process!!!

We are in the process of getting our paperwork together... We have decided to go through LDS family services and it takes a couple months to get all the screening done and be approved then we will be put on the actual waiting list. I couldn't feel more at peace with this decision. I understand it could be a long time before we ever get a child... but I know somehow, someday... it WILL happen.

Just wanted to share this happy news with everyone. I will be sure to keep everyone posted about the progress of it all (:

Holly Jollies

There is too much to post in both words and pictures to describe all that we did this past week to celebrate Christmas. We are truly blessed to have such amazing friends and family. A few highlights were:
-Going Ice-skating @ the Galleria on Christmas Eve with the family
-Having Santa come to see my nieces on Christmas Eve
-Singing Karaoke with Abbi for hours on her new karaoke machine (thanks grandpa!)
-Late night settlers of catan games
-drinking all the diet coke a girl could want!
-making sugar cookies with my mom & abbi

Hope your Christmas was just as amazing and eventful!

Christmas Shinangans

Geoff and I feel so very blessed to have moved into a ward where we made instant best friends with 3 other couples. We spend almost every weekend together with these people and I seriously can't get enough of the three girls. I honestly believe we felt compelled to move into our place not only to be near amazing doctors-- but to meet these awesome friends. They have been so supportive and just amazing to us from day one.

This month we have done a few really fun things with them. We threw Kim a surprise birthday party and also went on a Christmas downtown tour of Houston. It's been a busy month but filled with SO much fun!

Raindrops on roses

One of my favorite things about Christmas time is the tradition of getting a new holiday dress. This year, I decided I needed a really awesome RED dress... and of course I turn to Shabby Apple to make all my dreams come true. Yes, i am a tad obsessed, but I never have to worry about modesty with the dresses but also never have to sacrifice style. I love pairing the dress with black lacey tights and my 5 inch black stilettos! Makes me wish I could dress up like this every single day!

Holiday Trivia

Saw this on a friend's blog and thought it was fun!

1. Holiday spirit ... is the BEST. I think that is one reason I love Christmas music so much. I love the feeling I get when you are sitting around with family drinking hot chocolate, listening to Bing Crosby by the Christmas tree. Does it get any better than that??

2. The Holidays are incomplete without....family. We have been blessed to spend our first couple of Christmas' of marriage with Geoff's family and the last one & this year with my family and they have all been so amazing just because we are with those we love. I don't think I could love a group of people anymore than I do my family.


3. My favorite things to do around the holidays are: bake with my Mom, play games with my family, watch It's a Wonderful Life and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and go look at Christmas lights.


4. A holiday tradition my family has is ... we have a small Christmas program every Christmas Eve, we enjoy quite the decadent feast, and we always open up pajamas on Christmas Eve night... and we always have a big slumber party. A new tradition the guys have started this year is staying up late playing computer games together, haha.


5. Christmas music is ... my favorite thing ever. I start listening at the end of October-- I am a freak! I love the old school stuff like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra... mixed in with the newer stuff like Michael Buble and Harry Connick Jr.


6. This year I'll be spending the holidays ... at my brother's house in Pearland. We will ALL be home this year and spending the night there. It will be a PARTY!


7. Holiday Wish List... to have a baby next year (:Other than that- I have everything I have ever wanted!

Christmas

I am the first to admit I get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas. I adore decorating my tree and baking bread for neighbors and friends... that sometimes I forget what this season is all about. Tonight I came across this quote and it reminded me of the real reason for the "magic" of the season that is upon us and I just wanted to share it with all those who read my blog.

"Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is Love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It is Magnificent and Beautiful." -President Gordon B. Hinckley

Next step

Well, finally my doctors and my MRI specialist came to a conclusion... my uterus looks GOOD! I am so glad they were thorough and really took time to make sure they did everything they could to come to that conclusion.

Next step is a consultation with both of my fertility doctors to write a plan for treatment. Can I just say how grateful I am for these wonderful men? They really have no idea how much HOPE they have given me that I can become a Mother with their help.

I wish I had some awesome pictures to post... but I don't. Geoff and I have been going a million miles an hour between teaching, but we are doing well. We enjoyed a visit with his parents over the Thanksgiving break and took them everywhere around Houston and enjoyed all the amazing food Texas has to offer (can't believe I actually lost a pound over Thanksgiving!)

I am so grateful for all the good people in our lives. I have had COUNTLESS friends and family tell us how they have fasted, prayed and thought about us with all that we have been dealing with. I feel like the luckiest person alive to have so many wonderful people in my life!! I will post more whenever I know more that is going on.

even more news

For those who are wondering and have read the post below, I just scheduled a pelvic MRI for the week of Thanksgiving to determine where and if my uterus (i have never said that word so much in all my life as i have the past couple of days!) can be fixed. if it can, we will schedule surgery (most likely over my 2 week christmas vacation-- merry christmas to us!)... so long as insurance will cover most of it. we are hoping and praying it is not too expensive... keep your fingers crossed!