Media Monday: God Found us You

God Found us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren

We give it 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Here is a summary from Christianbook.com:
When a little fox cub climbs into bed, he asks his mom about how he came to live with her. As she tucks him in, she tells the miraculous story of his arrival---and assures him that he made her "the happiest mama in the world." A tenderly told tale that captures the blessings of adoption.

Our Thoughts: We love the tender, open, loving conversation they have about adoption. We also love that it talks about how they had to wait. We love that it is based on faith and the belief that "God found us you". It says "I trusted that God knew you, and knew me, and knew when we'd fit perfectly together". That is such a sweet and true statement! We love how Mama talks positively about the birth mom, saying how the birth mom must have prayed a lot. We love that it says that the adoptive parents prayed for the birth mom as well. In an adoption talk we watched from the Families Supporting Adoption International Conference, it said that adoptive families and birth families are swapping prayers. What a great blessing adoption is! We pray for the birth parents and they pray to find the right family for their child. God answers both the prayers and connects the two couples to each other. Once again, the only thing we would change is to add the father to the story.

Media Monday: Beautiful Heartbreak

A friend of mine sent me a link to a youtube video of a new song by Hillary Weeks called "Beautiful Hearbreak". It brought me to tears and I loved how it applied to infertility and adoption. Apparently Birthmothers 4 adoption had the same thought, only applying it to placing a child for adoption. The lyrics to this song are amazing, and her story is even more moving.



Here are her words: Placing my birth daughter for adoption in 2008 was the hardest thing i have ever had to do. It was heartbreaking. But with this heartbreak I also felt love, peace, and comfort knowing I was doing the right thing for my baby girl. My life has changed because of her. To learn more of my story and read others like it go to birthmothers4adoption.blogspot.com

For more of her story about making this video, check out this post: http://birthmothers4adoption.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-beautiful-heartbreak.html

I am so grateful that she took the time to make this video to show just how much it hurts to place a baby for adoption, but that it turns out to be a blessing and that it takes them (and adoptive couples) to places they would never see if it weren't for this challenge. LOVE IT!!

Media Monday: Families Supporting Adoption fireside

In honor of National Adoption Awareness month, Families Supporting Adoption (FSA) hosted a special fireside to celebrate adoption! We had three speakers, and a special musical number with a slide show. The whole night was great!!

(For a few highlights from last year's fireside, check out this post)

The first speaker was a friend of ours that was adopted when she was a baby. She shared a great quote that said something like "in the end, love was stronger than blood". She talked about how grateful she was to her birth mom (who she has never met and knows very little about) because she gave her a chance to be raised in the family she was supposed to be in. She also talked about when her parents adopted both of her younger sisters and how she "instantly" loved them so much. Love isn't limited to a blood relation, but for those that are willing to open their hearts, it can be shared with anyone. This is especially true for adoption.

The second speaker was a birth mom that placed her baby with our friends. She was so honest and open about the highs and lows of placing a baby for adoption. We loved that she was so full of love, not just for her baby, but also for the adoptive parents. She talked about how she knew when she saw the adoptive couple that they were the parents for her child. She was so selfless during labor, because she wanted to let the adoptive mom experience the birth of a child. She was an amazing, fun and loving woman!

The third speaker was our friend that adopted the baby placed by the second speaker. It was so awesome to hear both sides of the story. We were very touched by the love that the birth parents and adoptive couple had for each other, and we loved that they gave each other a huge hug after they spoke. She was so sincere about the struggles of infertility and coming to grips with adoption for their family. She was so emotional when she talked about her open relationship with the birth mom and her love for her boy.

The special musical number was "Something Perfect" by Michael McLean. Our friend did a great job singing! The lyrics are so awesome and very applicable to adoption. There was a slide show during the song with pics of adoptive couples in the area, birth parents, kids and activities from FSA.

The whole night was amazing! It was so great to celebrate adoption and the way that it blesses the lives of all those involved!

List of Thanks

As we sit here watching the Macy's day parade, smelling the delicious apple crisp fresh out of the oven, w can't help but think of all the things that I we are thankful for. There is a huge long list, but we will just post the top few.

1. Always at the top of the list is our loving Heavenly Father. He always listens to every prayer we offer and loves us with an immense love that we can't even fathom. He blesses us daily!

2. We can't help but be thankful for the two amazing people that have changed our lives forever, by giving us the chance to raise baby Chase. J and A, we give thanks every day for your selfless love and our friendship. You are like angels to us!!!

3. Chase. We could go on and on. He woke up cooing this morning after sleeping all night. What a dream. It made us smile and our hearts overflow with love to hear him cooing and to see him smiling. There is no greater blessing!

4. Caden. He is so much fun, is learning so much and is so helpful. He is the best big brother ever!! He loves Chase and always wants to be with him. He always talks to him, makes him smile, tells others about him, etc.

5. Russ. I get to take over now! Russ is such a patient, loving, forgiving, understanding, fun husband. He is an awesome husband that loves both of his boys. He always comes home and immediately takes Chase into his arms. Then, he plays sports with Caden. I couldn't ask for more! I love him so much!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Media Monday: Adoption Story Time

In honor of National Adoption Awareness month, Families Supporting Adoption (FSA) got a local library to host a special story time all about adoption. It was awesome!! The librarian read a few children's books about adoption, including A Mother for Choco (one of our faves, see our review here). A ton of friends from FSA were there and it was so fun to chat with all of them and to let the kids play together. I love the opportunity to let other people see just how amazing adoption is and to create some positive views of adoption!

FSA also hosted a fireside to celebrate adoption. More on that next Monday!

Media Monday: A Beautiful Disaster

I came across this wonderful blog post, which is a letter from a birth mom written to her daughter. It is so sincere, honest and beautiful. I just loved it!

Here is the link: http://missmandapassarelli.blogspot.com/2011/11/dear-hannah-letter-from-your-birth.html

Here are a few of our favorite quotes:
"I gave you a better life then I could have given you at the time. I gave you two wonderful parents and a big sister to take care of you. I gave you happiness and the opportunity to excel and follow your dreams."

"But I am so glad we have this beautiful thing together. Its like our two families have become one. A very unique and special one. It is so wonderful that your parents let this be so open and honest."

"So again Hannah, I LOVE YOU. WE LOVE YOU. Please do not ever forget that. Placing you for adoption wasn't easy, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but it was the best thing I ever did for you. You mean the world to me, beautiful."

Our Thoughts: This letter is so sweet! We love so much about it. We love that Amanda (the birth mom) is so honest that placing her daughter for adoption was the hardest thing, but also the best thing. We love that she has an open relationship with the adoptive couple. We love how it says that their two families have become one. Chase's birth parents (J and A) will forever be a part of our family because we share something so unique, precious and beautiful. This letter from the birth parent is a must read!

Media Monday: The Red Blanket

The Red Blanket by Eliza Thomas.

We gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Here is a summary from Adoptive Families:
Children adopted anywhere will cuddle up to this story of a little girl, a loving single mom, and the cozy blanket that eased their transition from strangers to family.

The story of PanPan’s adoption is told from her mother’s perspective. As she explains her desire for a child, her sadness is palpable, but there’s no self-pity. Adoption can solve this problem, so Thomas gets down to work. When she receives her referral for PanPan, she buys all the usual baby gear plus a soft red blanket, perfect for cuddling. Into the suitcase it goes, and Thomas heads for China.

At the orphanage, deliriously happy with her new baby in her arms, Thomas notices that PanPan won’t meet her gaze. Building attachment will take time and effort, consistency, faith, and patience. In their hotel room, Thomas talks encouragingly about their new life together, but she recalls, “you weren’t listening. Instead, you looked around the room at the chair, the bed, the bureau….You looked everywhere but at me.”

After a day of rejection, Thomas remembers the red blanket tucked away in her suitcase and cuddles her daughter in it. At last, with PanPan snuggled in the warm folds of that soft blanket, the two begin to bond.

Our Thoughts: This book is about international adoption and does a good job of relating to what the mom and the child are feeling. There is no father present in the story, which is sad. We love the idea of having a special blanket for the child to hold and cherish.

Halloween Festivities

We LOVE Halloween! It is such a fun time of year! We have many traditions, parties and fun costumes to look forward to.

We went to a local garden center pumpkin patch, that had a hay maze, corn to play in and lots of fun games (and bounce houses!)
I love how Caden totally tackled this thing in the bounce house! Makes me so proud!
Our good friends invited us to a Halloween party with tractor rides, games, trick-or-treating, great food and great company! This year, Caden was Luigi and Chase was Toad.We love carving and decorating pumpkins! I think this was Caden's last year to paint his pumpkin. He painted the names of all the family on there.
(including Chase! What a sweet brother!)Russ was beyond excited to do a Calvin and Hobbes themed pumpkin this year!
We went trick-or-treating at Russ' work. Caden was so excited! Chase was the star of the day, because everyone LOVED seeing him!
We have an annual Mystery Dinner, but that will get its own post. Stay tuned for fun pics!

Our church has a fall festival every year with a chili cook-off, festival games and then a trunk-or-treat for the kids. Russ dressed up as Mario and I was Princess Peach.
I took the kids to the park on Halloween to get pics in their costumes. Too cute!

Media Monday: Max and the Adoption Day Party

Max and the Adoption Day Party by Adria F. Klein

We gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

You can read it on Google Books.

Here is a brief summary from Good Reads:
It is Maxs friend Josés adoption day party. There is cake and ice cream, games, and presents. What special present did Max bring?

Our Thoughts: This book also comes in Spanish! We have read it in both languages, since Caden is bi-lingual. We love that this is also an easy reader, that Caden can read all by himself! We LOVE the idea of an adoption day party! There is nothing better for a kid to celebrate with a party, and this helps his friends and family celebrate the miracle of adoption with him. We are definitely going to do this!

Tender feelings!

We are LOVING having sweet Chase in our family. Caden almost always says this in his prayers: "We thank thee we have Chase, Mommy and Daddy in our family". He could not be more proud of his baby brother. He tells EVERYONE we pass in the store that we have a new baby. He is constantly checking on him, giving him a stuffed animal, making faces at Chase to get him to smile, etc. It is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. It makes my heart so happy and full of gratitude when I watch them together.

The other day when I was walking Caden to school and pushing Chase in the stroller, Caden said "I can't wait until we have another baby!" I was completely shocked (since Chase is just over a month) and asked him why. He said "I love babies". He is the best big brother EVER!!

Today, we took Chase to church for the first time. He looked so handsome in his white button up shirt and khakis! In choir practice, we were practicing "Silent Night". I barely got through the first lyrics before the power of those words hit me and made me want to cry. I was rocking Chase in the car seat with my foot and looking at him while I tried to sing:

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

These are some special days always to be cherished. We always give thanks in our prayers to two very special people that made it all possible. We just had them over on Friday night and we were playing the Kinect. After awhile, Caden said "I know. This is family game night!". It warmed my heart to think that yes, this was family game night because J and A are (and always will be) a part of our family now. What a blessing!

Media Monday (or Wednesday): Conversations at the Park

Sorry this post is late! We have been loving on Chase and not getting as many other things done as we used to.

Sometimes our interactions with others are the best media available. We had a great experience with the power of open adoption recently.

Last Saturday, we went to the park with Chase's birth parents to get pictures done with them. We had a great time seeing them (as always) and Caden loved playing at the park. One sweet older lady started talking to us, trying to guess who Chase's parents were. We told her that we adopted him and that A and J were the birth parents. She started talking about how neat that was that we were still in contact with each other. She said "I hope you know how special this is to me". "That makes me want to cry. That is just so special".

She meant every word of it. We reassured her it was even more special to us! We LOVE open adoption and the way that it allows more people to love, hold, kiss and be with a very special baby. We have already seen the blessings of open adoption and are excited to continue seeing those blessings for years to come with A and J.

Media Monday: My Adopted Child, There's No One Like You

My Adopted Child, There's No One Like You by Kevin Leman & Kevin Leman II

We gave it 4 out of 5 stars

Here is a summary from Christianbook.com
This delightful story, filled with colorful illustrations, is designed to be read by parents and their adopted children with one goal in mind: to show them just how special and loved they are. Your child will realize that while your family is "different," it is a family built on love both from the birth mother who gave them up for adoption and the adoptive family who chose them. Perfect for children ages 3 and up.

Our Thoughts: It seems like this was the first discussion that they had about adoption, but we would rather have our child know about adoption as early as possible. We love that Mama Bear in this story welcomed any questions he had and was willing to give him information about who he was. We are going to create an environment for our child to feel willing to ask any questions they have and to celebrate who they are! Our favorite part is how it talks so positively about birth parents. She talks about how smart and loving the birth parents are. She then says, "That's adoption honeybear. It's the most loving thing someone can do." Such a sweet, simple and incredibly true statement!

Big news!

Here are two (of many) of Caden's versions of our big news:
And here is our version of our big news:These are our dear friends that we have grown to know and love these past few months that made everything possible. They are so much fun to hang out with, play Kinect with, talk with, etc. We even played hackey sack and Phase 10 while J was in labor! We have loved getting to know them and we look forward to a long friendship and open adoption with them.
I love this pic of Caden meeting his new little brother, my Mom holding him and J looking on as proud as can be. Introducing....Chase Adam! He was born on September 26th at 7:36 AM. He weighed 6 lbs 12 ounces and was 20 inches long! We feel so blessed and we love the miracle of adoption! We love, and are so grateful, for J and A for trusting us with their sweet little boy.

Media Monday: You're Not My REAL Mother

You're Not My REAL Mother by Molly Friedrich

We give this 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Here is a summary from Good Reads:
What are some of the qualities of a real mother? She's nurturing--she'll let you put twenty Band-Aids on a bruised knee when you only need one; she's dedicated--she'll drive miles out of her way to retrieve your beloved bear left behind; she's playful--she catches fireflies with you after bedtime . . . and much, much more. Drawn from the author's everyday life as an adoptive parent, this cheerful yet tender parent-child conversation offers a response to children who've ever asked an adoptive parent why they don't look like one another. Gentle, lighthearted watercolors by Christy Hale complete the picture of a very special relationship. Here is an invaluable companion for adopted children--and the adults who love them--as they explore the emotional realities of a different kind of family.

Our Thoughts: We love how it points out that looking alike isn't what families/mothers are all about. A true mother is there to care for, help, teach, love, raise a child and so much more! We love that the daughter realizes for herself what makes her mother her mother, even when she doesn't look like her. The only thing we would change is to add the father into the story and to have it be an open adoption, where the child can see/know their birth parents. It is a very cute and fun story to read.

Kylee's Family Reunion, days 6 and 7

We woke up and went on hike through the lush forests to a beach in Oswald State Park. This was the most peaceful, heavenly part of the trip. I soaked up every minute of the beautiful greenery and I was happy to share it with Russ and Caden (and the rest of the fam)!!
There was a beautiful waterfall on the beach!
Caden finally was brave enough to touch the anemones.
Me and my Pops with Caden. My Pops is the most gentle, loving, patient father!
After the hike in Oswald State Park, we went to Hug Point to walk around the caves there and to walk to the other side of a huge rock (since it was low tide).
After that, Russ was kind enough to take Caden and I out to eat at Pizza 'A Fetta. He is the best husband ever! You have no idea how excited I was. Well, I guess the pic shows it.
Then, he even let me walk over to Bruce's Candy Kitchen one last time just to see if they were making taffy...and they were! At this point, I was already getting sad about leaving the next day.
We had to go back to the beach as a family and play in the waves and sand more. We had the traditional bonfire on the beach to roast smores and starburst.
There was a small freshwater creek leading to the ocean, so we went over there to throw rocks in the water. Then, the boys (old and young) and some girls started building a dam. It turned out really well!
After the kids were in bed, we had the traditional tie exchange. All the men bring ties to trade and then they take turns picking ties. It is a fun tradition.
The next morning, we packed up and drove back to Utah and then back to Colorado. We were so sad to leave because we had such a great time in a great place!