Exciting News!

We have a very exciting announcement to make! It looks like our family of three will become a family of four this summer!!! We met Beautiful J via our online profile a few weeks ago, met her in person last week, and this week she gave us the good news. We are ecstatic, grateful and humbled. Even though I've known about this for several days, I haven't written anything because, honestly, I feel at a loss for words. You'd probably think or expect that I'd be shouting it from the rooftops, announcing the news on Facebook, and posting all about it here. But, as I discussed with J and her mom, there really aren't adequate words in the English language to express my feelings. It's also sacred to me in a way that makes me feel very private and protective of everyone involved.

This news also means that our adoption profile is on a hard hold. Basically, this means that it's not online anymore because we have a pending placement/adoption. I can't believe I just typed those words. It still seems like a dream!

Stay tuned ...

p.s. We love you, J =)

Hallelujah!

It FINALLY snowed!!!

This came as a complete and very welcome surprise. I feel like a kid this morning!

We're off to find a good sledding hill. It's about time Cohen's snow boots get broken in!

Also, we've been feeling very blessed, grateful and hopeful this week. Please keep us and beautiful J in your prayers.

** Added several Hours Later ... **

Cohen excited to go "sliding".

This is a video of Cohen learning how to make snow angels.

(please overlook that it's horizontal instead of vertical)

Happy New Year!

As usual, December was a very busy and fun month. Here's what we've been up to:

Sam helped the scouts make snow shoes. Now all they need is snow! We've had a few flurries here and there, but no real snow all winter. How boring!

Cohen in an elf hat he made at a local book store's story time.

Sam experimented making what he called "Grinch Candy Canes".

"I'm not sure what to think about this guy, but I sure do like his candy!"

We've been able to spend some much anticipated time with Katrina's family. One night they all came over for dinner and then we went to Temple Square. Another night they all watched Cohen while Sam and I went to a movie--the babysitter to kid ratio was 8:1. Just one more perk of our open adoption. 

Temple Square w/ Katrina's family

One Christmas Eve we had brunch with and spent most of the day with Megan's family.

The two beautiful Great Grannies who started it all.

Cohen discovering the joys of Flarp.

Megan's Dad, a.k.a. The Pancake Master

Cohen playing Wii "bats" (baseball) with his Uncle Dan and cousin Jackson.

Cohen got at least 10 cars, plus a motorcycle and a helicopter for Christmas. He loves each and every one (especially the latter two).

 Cohen gave Sam and me a much appreciated present on Christmas morning ... he slept in until about 9:30! He got up just in time for a present that surprised us all--we got to Skype Katrina! She looked and sounded so happy. While we miss her a ton, we're so grateful she's where she is. She also received a much needed Christmas gift--an investigator attended church.

After chatting with Katrina we opened presents, went to church and then had family over for dinner.

Cohen thinks his Missionary in Training tag is pretty cool. Too bad he hadn't opened it before our Skype session with Katrina. We'll be sending her a photo.

Cohen got a toy grill--I think he likes it!

Cohen making Sam a delicious plastic hamburger. Yum!

For New Year's Eve we went out for pizza and and then went bowling with some family and friends. Cohen liked bowling, but his favorite part was dancing to the music with his cousins.

Cohen's first time bowling.

This past year has brought us so much to be grateful for: a new job for Sam that he LOVES, lots of time with family and friends, Cohen learned to talk, and we were approved to adopt again. Hopefully the coming year will bring a new addition to our family!

The Sweetest Thing

Listening to my husband and my two-year-old singing together a lullaby rendition of "Popcorn Popping" has got to be the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

Serendipity

Sam's parents and sister have been in town for a couple of days, and last night we went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. While we were listening to the narration of and looking at the main nativity ...  

someone from behind called my name ...

Katrina's brother Chris and his beautiful (and preggers!) wife!! 

Serendipity at its finest!

Among the zillions of people there, Chris noticed Cohen's darling wolf hat (given to him by Katrina) and then the cute little face peaking out. We are actually planning to go the Temple Square with Katrina's family in a few days (Chris hadn't heard yet) , but I'm so glad we bumped into them.

Luckily Sam's sister, Emily, had her camera handy. Sam's parents and Emily went with us last year to see the lights, so I didn't bring my camera this time. Besides, she recently took some amazing photos of Paris at night, so I know she'd take better pictures than me anyway. I was right.

Cohen talks a LOT about wanting to go inside the temple. I'm so excited to take him there again. The first time was sincerely beyond words--an experience I gladly share in person when prompted, but am hesitant to share through this medium. I'll just say that even though he was only six months old, he understood what was going on--probably better than anyone else in the room. The privilege of taking your child to the temple is truly a tender mercy from our Father in Heaven to us couples who cannot create children together. 

Anyway, Cohen knows that he will get to go inside the temple again when he gets a sister or brother. So he (and we) pray for that every day. 

REPOST - Slumber Party

A while ago Katrina's mom suggested I repost her favorite blog entry that she read when they were considering us to be Cohen's family. Here you go, Grandma Debi--we love you!

**Originally Posted February 2009**

Last weekend my sister and brother-in-law went out of town. We figured this was the perfect time to follow through with a promise Sam made to their kids to have a slumber party where we stayed up all night watching movies and eating popcorn and candy.

We didn’t end up staying up all night, but we did watch a movie and eat popcorn and candy.

And of course there was jumping on the bed that turned into a pillow fight.

The 4-year-old woke up in the middle of the night because she had a nightmare that her daddy was the Grinch. I tried to console her, but I was also trying not to crack up at her nightmare story. She woke up again, but before I could get up, Sam was headed to the living room to check on her. I woke up awhile later and Sam was still gone. Then I found this:

After that I only woke up once because the baby wanted to snuggle (that was heaven!). In the morning I was awakened when Sam and the girls brought me breakfast in bed.

Yes, I married the best man in the world!

We went to church the next day and got some interesting looks. A lot of people know we are hoping to adopt, so I think they thought we hit the jackpot!

November Roundup

our back yard cherry tree

Wow! This month has flown by. I just realized I have only published one post this month and December begins in a couple of hours. Here's a quick rundown of what we've been up to this month: 

Sam went to work peeling and sanding the logs he harvested for his parents banister. 

Cohen started using the toilet - very infrequently, but it's still a major celebration at your house!

Sam taught Cohen the art of tortilla making and Cohen became a master of glue while making our first displayed Christmas decoration (it's on the fridge behind him)

For the 3rd year in a row, we participated in the annual Adoption Walk With Me 5K to raise awareness of the positive outcomes of adoption in our community. BTW, Katrina is doing great on her mission. She's in a new area that she loves. We miss her TONS and can't wait to spend some time with her family who will be in town next month. 

Sam tried to use the shop-vac as a leaf blower. It didn't work very well, but Cohen had a blast playing with it. 

We discovered the joy of indoor camping. Cohen calls marshmallows "farfallows".

The newest member of our extended family was born last month. He was born 8 minutes after Megan's sister arrived at the hospital! Cohen calls him Baby Will and we can't get enough of him. 

Grandma (Megan's mom), Cohen and William on Thanksgiving.

We decorated for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Cohen's tree ended up looking very similar to the way he decorated it last year. At least this year he hasn't tried eating any of the ornaments.

One night when Cohen was supposed to be in bed he got into the gift wrapping box and had a lot of fun with the ribbon.

And last of all, some stuff I've been thinking about A LOT lately, but I'm not quite sure what to say about it ...

We've only been approved to adopt again for a few months. Why does it feel like SO MUCH longer?! I obviously have yet to master the art of patience!

This month we've had contact with a couple of different women trying to find families for their children. This time is such a roller coster of emotions. Trying to be realistic while staying hopeful, faithful and grateful can be a struggle at times. Discouragement and doubt keep trying to rear their ugly heads. And trying to make sure we're doing all we can to help our next child find his/her way to our family vs. having faith that the Lord will bring us together can be a tough balancing act. 

However, as frustrated and powerless as I sometimes feel, I always think of those planning to  place their child for adoption and the task they have of trying to find the right family. Now THEY have the hard part in all of this. I cannot imagine the pressure that must accompany making such an important decision. I'm glad we can be a part of a few of their journeys. I truly feel blessed for the opportunity to do whatever we can to help them with their decision. We clearly experienced through Cohen's adoption that Heavenly Father has a way of working things out. I just have to be patient.