Media Monday: Top 20 adoption blogs

For Media Monday, I am posting this list of the top 20 adoption blogs from the Adoptive Families website.

Here is what they say about it:

"We scoured the blogosphere for the most funny, heartwarming, honest online reads. Our congratulations to these 20 outstanding picks."

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=2160

Enjoy!

Our Trip to Utah

We had a great time in Utah. There is always so much to do there in such a short amount of time! We squeezed in as much as we could! We got there Friday night and left Monday at 5 PM. Here is what we did each day:

Saturday

Russ was able to help his company do some recruiting and interviews. He went in the morning to Aspen Grove to do some activities with the students. Then, they had all the spouses (including me) come up for a delicious lunch. It was fun to talk to all the students and remember what it was like when we were trying to decide where to work/live/etc. We were able to see a little snow up there too! My parents (that just moved to UT) were able to have quality time with Caden while Russ and I were at Aspen Grove. He was SO excited for it!That night, we were able to watch the BYU basketball game with my parents. It was such a great game! Go Cougs! The BYU flag was proudly waving up at Aspen Grove.

Sunday

We went to Stake Conference with my parents. Caden especially enjoyed eating the gummy bears that Grandma brought with her. We had a family dinner with two of my sisters and their families that live there. It was so good to see them again! We also had my aunt and my grandma and her husband (she remarried after my grandpa passed away) over. It had been awhile since I had seen them and it was so fun. My grandma is truly a role model in my life! Caden had a great time with his 4 girl cousins that were there.

Sunday night, we went to see Russ' brother and his family that live out there. It was so fun to see them and Caden had a blast playing with his two cousins (and their toys).

Monday

Russ went to do interviews all day at BYU, so I seized the opportunity to go to Tai Pan (a home decor store) with my sisters and my mom. We had a great time and I got these adorable picture frames for our half bathroom (beach theme). Caden stayed with Grandpa to play Kinect Sports. We came back home and had lunch. We then packed up the car and said goodbye. I was able to meet up with Russ' sister that flew into town to help our sister-in-law. She is finishing up school with a baby, and her husband (who served his mission in Sendai) was in Japan helping the people there. It was awesome to see not only Russ' sister, but also three of her four girls and my sister-in-law's baby. I also had a brief 10 minutes to walk through the Carl Bloch exhibit on the BYU campus. I really wish I would have had more time to study each painting, but at least we went. It was awesome to feel the peace and serenity that was there. Caden said "Mom, that was the best part of the day".

Then, we met up with Russ and drove back home. It was great to reminisce on all the fun memories from when we went to school there and to see so much family.

Media Monday (Tuesday): Les Miserables!!

Media Monday changed to Tuesday this week because yesterday we were driving home from a quick trip to Utah. Russ helped his company do some recruiting and interviews, and Kylee got to see her parents, her two sisters and their families and also Russ' two siblings and their families. More on the trip later.

As we were driving home, we were listening to all sorts of fun music. Kylee put in the Les Miserables cd, and was reminded that it talks about adoption! Kylee grew up listening to Les Mis with her Dad when they drove in the car. She would ask what each song was about and instantly LOVED it! She read the book when she was in middle school and FINALLY got to see it when she was a senior in high school. Lucky for us, it is coming to Denver and we are (hopefully) going to see it again! We can't wait!!

Here is the adoption part (and a link to the storyline): Jean Valjean adopts Cosette and takes her as his own daughter when her mom passes away. The whole story of how much he loves and cares for her is very touching. She was a huge blessing in his life, and he was a huge blessing in hers. We love this quote from Wikipedia - "In his final moments, he realizes happiness with his adopted daughter and son-in-law by his side."

This video shows the song when Fantine (Cosette's mom) is dying and Jean Valjean is promising to take care of her. So moving!



Also, for your listening pleasure we have one of our favorite Les Mis songs (Bring Him Home) in our playlist on the side of the blog. Enjoy! :)

Media Monday (or Tuesday): Oregon Law

Oregon was trying to pass a law (hb 2904) that was going to reform adoption. Every birth mother and advocate of adoption was against this law for numerous reasons. As of now, the bill is dead for this and (most likely) for the next legislative session! It is awesome when the people can voice their concerns and they are considered in passing laws, especially about adoption.

You can read more about the law and the current status here.

Media Monday: Emily Procter

We are not big TV people. We have our occasional shows that we like, and CSI: Miami is not one of them. I happened across this article in the "Parade" from the Denver Post (as I was looking for coupons).

Here is a summary (and a link):

• Emily was "adopted as an infant" and "has never met her biological parents". I really wish they had open adoptions years before they started becoming more common. Nevertheless, I am glad they have them now.
• "I've always known that I was adopted" She then relates a story her mom often tells about how she (as a 3 or 4 year old) told a lady that wanted a kid just like her, "well, you can get one from the children's home". I love the fact that as a little kid, she always knew that she was adopted. She apparently understood it well enough to tell other people too. It isn't anything to be ashamed of, or a secret to hide. It is a miraculous journey of love and faith that makes that child who they are.
  
• "I have always thought about my birth mother and what she went through...I cannot imagine how brave and painful that would be, to make the choice to let someone else raise your baby if you couldn't do it." Birth parents are the bravest, most courageous, mature and selfless people ever! We couldn't say enough how much we admire and look up to them for the choices they make!
• "I adore my parents, but I always wondered if I would feel a different kind of love - not more or less, just different - for someone who was biologically related.....the birth of my daughter has helped me see that the love I feel for her is the same love I feel for my mother or father or Paul. For me, family love is family love, no matter what." What a remarkable and true statement. That is the exact same way we feel, and that is why we are so excited to adopt!
  

Happy brithday Dr. Seuss

Thank you for all your amazing books, especially this one! We discovered it last year and we love it! Caden especially likes it when we read "Oh say can you say". Thanks for making childhood so fun with all your creativity!

This is why....

...we LOVE being parents! Making cookies and eating the dough on a snow day. And getting it all over your face. Nothing is better than that!