The Fortunate 10 :)

2011-11-18T18:44:00.001-08:00

Catch up! ADOPTION DAY TODAY!

2011-11-18T06:50:00.001-08:00

My oldest got married 11/11/11 :) it was a beautiful day! To a great guy that I just am so happy to call "SON"!
We are adopting our three little children today! I am so very excited to finally be complete. To end this journey of searching and to know that the new journey that begins today is going to be amazing and eternal!

These are all my children with one added boyfriend who we hope one day will seal the deal and marry my second daughter!

look at what my Mom made :)

2011-09-16T08:36:00.001-07:00

Look what my Mom made for the children for our ADOPTION DAY!

A wedding, an adoption and thanksgiving in Nov.

2011-09-04T15:19:00.001-07:00

SO MY OLDEST IS GETTING MARRIED ON 11/11/11 and then on the 18 is our adoption and then Thanksgiving... VERY BUSY MONTH NOVEMBER WILL BE! :) SO MUCH JOY!

our new name :)

2011-08-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a good friend of mine, I have decided on the new name for this blog. One that is positive and reflects how we feel about each other. We are fortunate to have found these three children who needed a family to love them. They have blessed us and made me especially as Mother be more. I hope I am not failing them because there are new things I have to try and parent that I have never dealt with in my 19 years of motherhood experience with my other five children. But I keep praying and I feel that I will be ok, more importantly... THEY WILL BE OK... and thru all my hard efforts and love, they will be taught right from wrong and grow up to be amazing people.
Boy that sounded conceded. Not trying to sound like that because believe me, I am only hopeful here...but in my heart of hearts, I do feel the Lord has control on this one, he is going to be there for me and them. He will lead me down whatever path I need to go so that they can be ok and better than ok. It has been a lot of hard work and I know there is more work coming, but its so worth it.

I feel fortunate as well in this journey we have been on to find these children and after finding them. For all the wonderful support and love from so many others. I felt greatly loved and have no way of expressing my gratitude to everyone who has been there for us in so many different ways. Thank you all for your love and support. It really means the world to me :)to US!

Chang in title...

2011-08-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

thinking of changing my title to this blog to..... NOT THE DUGGARS BUT CLOSE ENOUGH! What ya think? LOL I feel like saying 10 is enough is almost negative sounding. Any ideas?

Can't wait to share pictures....

2011-05-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to share pictures of my newest little children we are adopting. I wish I could right now! They had a great Easter! It was so much fun having little children around for Easter again. We went and saw the Easter Bunny. We had to wake them for Easter Morning and get them all excited. I don't think these children have ever had Easter like it is at our house. We did easter egg hunts and breakfast and Grandpa's. They loved the little gifts we bought them to go in their baskets with the candy. They were so excited! So much fun!

So here's the catch up. All three children are all finally healthy, caught up in shots, dental and are still getting some evaluations done on them. We think J (age 5 boy) has autism. My husband thinks he has it so bad we will have to keep him with us forever. I am not so sure. He is teachable. He is so smart. He wants to work and is a hard little worker. I think we will be suprised :) But if not its ok, because I look at him and love him so much! HE IS MY SON! :)

These little ones do fit our family so well. They have settled down so much since the first time we got them in Jan. They are learning the house rules and what is expected of them and holding to it :) They have brought us all so much joy already. There are my days where I am wiped and wonder if I am too old to do this. 8 kids WOW! Especially since now we have 6 girls and two boys. The girls love to talk and sometimes its all I can do to focus on what they say. You know how they go into every little detail... HE SAID/SHE SAID/THOUGHT/ lol....

We are planting a garden. We didn't think we would get it done in time but the young men from our church came over for a service project and in 2 hours had all our rock gone and we were able to rotatil and get more dirt and stuff for it :) Now we just have to plant! :)

We have upped our food storage. Litterally went out and bough 1600 worth of food for our storage. Its like a 1/3 of what we should have but its a great start and what peace I feel for having it if something were to happen. (Loss of job, gas prices go up, natural disaster)

Today I go get a physical to be able to adopt these three. I am nervous. I hate going to the doctors. I hate needles!

I had an amazing Mother's Day. My children are so great. Woke up to flowers and cards. The children were so good. They put on a play they made up for me :) so cute! They planted pretty flowers out front for me :) I had a blessed day. Thinking about how blessed I am to say I am a mother of 8 :)

Now we are just preparing for the adoptiong. WAITING!!! Not sure yet when... there is some court thing in June. They are trying to make sure no DADDIES come forward to claim the kiddos. So yeah... gotta wait. We are also trying to get them all evaluated to make sure we won't need help with medical or anything while they are being raised with us. The state will help us if J turns out to have autism. Which will be a huge blessing. Doctors and therapist for that are so expensive.
BUT THAT IS IT FOR NOW :) WE ARE SO HAPPY!

Kalene's Prom

2011-04-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

Kalene went to Prom with a friend. :) She had a blast! My Mom made her dress! She was so beautifuL!

What I have learned from our adoption journey...

2011-03-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

I know that Revelation is real and confirmation too. I know that God has answered all my prayers.(some quicker than others, some to refine me and in his time) That he is in my life and that many angels from heaven and on earth, have helped our family in our journey for that last two years.

I know that as a family we have grown closer, that our faith has become stronger and that we were given hope even in our darkest hours.
Looking back these last two years I can see where all of this has come about for me personally and for my family.

We KNEW as a family, individually and together that SOMEONE was missing. We could not deny it. There is something very beautiful and sacred about a family praying for a long period of time together, individually at ever opportunity to pray... meal time, family prayer time, individual prayer and prayers said in the temple... Praying with ONE purpose, ONE HEART and full of hope and faith while doing so. It brought us closer together to do this as a family.

Looking back, I can see where one of us might of felt down or less in faith about our journey, how the others who were strong were able to lift that person, we could lean on the other ones faith and testimony and become strong again. Our family unit has never been so solid until we had this opportunity to grow in such a spiritual manner. (I am thinking we must continue on doing this with other purposes that we agree on as a family)

It was such a blessing to see our children anxiously waiting to hear about our temple trips and what we felt when we prayed about our adoption journey. What comfort it brought my children to hear that, YES we are meant to adopt, That YES there is a special someone still meant to join our family and YES we were still on the right path. That peace, that revelation and that confirmation was the very food to our souls and faith that we needed to continue, as a family, to wait patiently for the Lord to tell us when it was time... (IN HIS TIME)

I am stubborn woman, I testify that God knows us individually because he knew I had it set in my head that we were getting an infant. He had to patiently and slowly soften my heart to his will, and open my mind to the idea of not an infant but a child and not just one, but 3. Over time, he truly did that.

Many times angels did attend us, in our prayers we all could feel them surrounding us and praying with us. Comforting us and cheering us on because we were doing all that we could possibly do to ensure these things would come about, one being living the way we knew we should to the best of our ability. Angels were there in my darkest hours, when I felt alone and faithless or full of doubt. They did comfort me... softly encouraging me to continue on in this journey. I felt them.

Then there were angels who came to our needing hour from earth (people) and who had been prompted to do certain kind acts of kindness that truly filled a need in our life. From just listening to me, to sharing how they knew we were meant to have another person too, to putting food in our house after the children arrived and I had no money to get us food, due to no time to rearrange our food budget that was already spent that month. To clothes and even toys for these children! The amount of help, love and support from others who truly wanted to be apart of this journey with us has been amazingly overwhelming and beautiful! I feel so blessed!

God answered many important prayers for me immediately to show me he was there and that YES these were my children. In Nov, I poured out my heart to the Lord, and had signed us up for pride classes to become a foster parent so we could open our adoption options up but that class wasn't available until February and an hour later, after praying on my knees and begging for direction, a case worker called and told me that a class was available that next weekend and our name came to them. THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS, she repeated that several times. I knew God wanted us to do foster to adopt and had no doubt from that moment that our child/children would come thru the foster system.
Another prayer answered was when we got the children on January 5th, We were broke and had already gotten our food for the payday. I had nothing in the check book and I once again prayed how will I feed these children? I was thinking of going to the church for help but a dear friend felt the promptings of the Lord and had plenty of money left over on her food stamps and just showed up one day with a great amount of food to that filled our pantry and freezer! SHE HAD NO IDEA OUR DESPERATE NEED she just knew that she had to do this for us. How blessed I am that she followed that spiritual promptings. So many more prayers were answered, so many telling us that YES THESE THREE CHILDREN ARE OURS!

I must share that there were many trials and one trial that was difficult for me was so many people looked at us like, YOU HAVE FIVE KIDS WHY DO YOU WANT MORE? YOUR SO OLD!!! IS THIS MIDLIFE CRISIS?? EMPTY NEST SYNDROME? (because Virginia was leaving for College) I heard So many rude comments and received so many disturbing looks. It was hard to ignore and sometimes even hurtful, but I made it through all that... and I held my head up high for I knew what the true meaning of this life was... to me... its FAMILY! That is all that matters. That is what the whole plan of salvation is based around... FOREVER FAMILIES! At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks but what we know as a family. Together as a family we can do anything with the Lord on our side! And for us, this journey has proven that.

I am excited about the day I go to court and sign my name on the papers that I am indeed the Mother of these children. Then I will walk into the temple holding my families hands, kneel before the alter all in white as my other three little angels will walk in all in white and join us. Becoming our forever children! Making us a FOREVER COMPLETE FAMILY! I know that day angels will attend... MANY MANY ANGELS FROM EARTH AND IN HEAVEN! Oh sweet will be that day!

We signed!

2011-03-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

So Monday the 21st we signed pre-adoption papers for all three little ones :) From the sounds of our case worker and now adoption worker the judge wants them adopted by June :)
That doesn't mean it will happen by then but sounds like they are shooting for that! I am just thrilled! The children are very excited too. They all want new names and have helped in picking them. They are so cute. There are days where they tell me what their new names are LOL :)
I can't wait for the day to share more pictures of our life and these children! Of our FAMILY! :)
I still find myself saying to myself," I am a mother of 8 children!" and ya know, it sounds so RIGHT!

1st Place Winner!

2011-03-23T10:26:00.001-07:00

I am so PROUD of Kalene my 17 yr old. She gave a speech for a $2500 scholarship for college and WON 1st place :) I am so proud of her courage to do such a thing in the first place. I could of never done it! :) She is amazing and SHE DID IT ON THE FOSTER SYSTEM!

Keeping fingers crossed!

2011-03-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow or Thursday we sign pre-adoption papers! So excited and nervous! :) Wish us luck!

our first family trip

2011-03-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

We went to Rexburg to see Virginia :) It was such a NEEDED trip! Jesse and Todd bonded so much :) and I got away from everything that was stressing me out! How I wish it lasted longer than just two days!
I can't show all the pictures I want until these kids are adopted but I will show you one that I love because its my family! All of us were walking around campus with Virginia and it was so neat to see how big our family was! I just kept thinking WOW this is my family! People looking at us made comments sometimes, especially when we came out of an elevator and they thought we were done coming out and yet there were 5 more LOL :)

We stayed with our cousin Julie. We didn't get into her place till late but she has a beautiful home and it was plenty big for us as well! :)
I loved the mountains! They were so beautiful and full of snow!

The Highschool Musical and a Ball.....

2011-03-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

My Mom (Grandmax ) Came to meet the three new children, see Kalene in the high school musical, "Your a Good Man Charlie Brown," and my other daughters had a masquerade ball :)

We Got a Van....

2011-02-15T05:49:00.000-08:00

So we got a van so that NOW we can ALL fit in our FAMILY VEHICLE ! :) WAHOO! I am so happy. We got it for an amazing price at an auction, which was so much fun to go to! It was the best one there, the tires are brand new. Absolutely NOTHING is wrong with it and it had little milage. It was used as a commuter van. They take care of their vehicles. So we are really pleased!

The kids love it! Each day they try out a new seat! SO FUNNY! :)

Also, Todd got his colonoscopy and the doc said he has a beautiful colon :) PERFECTLY HEALTHY! Which is such a big relief with his mother dieing from Colon cancer recently! :)

My Mom *GRANDMAX* comes next week. Kalene is in the highschool musical and my Mom is flying out to support her and see the new grandbabies :) Who are doing great!

Things are really going well here at home. They have settled in so well. J is learning consequences and his bad behaviors are changing for the good :) B and & E are doing well too :) I want to start potty training after the musical. E is looking interested :)

LIFE IS JUST GREAT AT THIS MOMENT!

Pine Wood Derby

2011-01-27T08:38:00.001-08:00

So my son Jaden is a cub scout and J (our foster son, hopefully adopted son this summer) wants to be a cub scout too :) SO GREAT!
WE went to the pine wood derby lastnight.... Jaden made a cool car.. it was a wolf :)
Every year Jaden has won first place in the pine wood derby so this year we thought we would make it a cool car and give someone else a chance to win. :) He still got 3rd place :) In some of them first but the final one was 3rd.
Our Foster Children had so much fun. I can't post those pictures yet. DARN IT! But when we adopt them I will catch you up on it all :)
They had a little track set up for the little kids ;) IT WAS GREAT! Here are some pictures that i can share.

Oh I also have been taking pictures to put up on our wall of our three little ones :) I want them to know how much we love them. How apart of our lives they are :)

Our Foster Children....

2011-01-18T18:17:00.001-08:00

I wish I could post pictures of three of the most amazing children that have recently blessed us. But I can't. I can't even share much of why they are with us or anything personal like that, but I can share that I am loving it~! Loving having little children in my home. Loving that I can say I am currently a mother of 8 children! Yes... EIGHT!!!!!

Crazy 7 went to Crazy 10 :) LOVE THAT! I am not sure if we will be able to make it permanent but I know that for now, this is where they belong. My children love them!
My son loves having a brother and two younger baby sisters :)

It is a lot of work getting them in and out of the car. A total of 6 times, 3 car seats and that is just dropping kids off to school and picking them up! But :) I still feel its worth it :)

All the WORK! ALL THE LOVE I HAVE TO GIVE! They have blessed us with laughter and joy! With fun! :) Todd is just adored by them. I love that they call us Mommy and Daddy. They didn't have to but chose to :) It brings only joy to my heart!
YOU SHOULD SEE US AT CHURCH! WE TAKE UP A WHOLE PEW :) I LOVE IT!
just had to share, that i love this job (BEING A MOM!) Its the best in the WHOLE WORLD~!

Todd's Birthday

2011-01-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

We had a party for Todd with Friends and family : ) It was fun. Our friends have a baby :) And Todd spent most of the time holding her :) He got a Wii Fit and Just dance which we all did :) It was so fun!

Ugly Sweater Party

2010-12-31T06:43:00.000-08:00

Lastnight Todd and I went to an Ugly Sweater Party! SO MUCH FUN! We are one crazy bunch! :) The baby I am holding is a friends. :)

Merry Christmas :)

2010-12-25T07:00:00.001-08:00

Virginia turned 19 while away at college so this is a picture of her ice cream cake :)

We made home made root bear ....

We Christmas Caroled, watched movies as a family and ate yummy food :)

We were DOOR BELL DITCHED CHRISTMAS EVE!!! :) It made my whole night what this letter said put tears in my eyes :) We have no clue who it was!

This was the gifts left with the note....

Our Tree ready :)

Stockings full after Santa came ;)

Look at the foot prints... all over ... we could see where Santa went....

The kids waiting anxiously for us to say OK come see what Santa gave ya :)

The stuff Santa left for everyone...

The kids seeing Santa's stash he left :)

Taylor asked Santa to make a house out of the cookies we had... Santa really tried but the pellet stove must of melted it :) But Taylor was tickled he tried. Taylor keeps us on our feet!

Opening Gifts and Grandpa spent the night :)

some stocking stuffers too...

It was a wonderful Christmas.... our hearts still are missing Grandma Sherry and are not used to her not being around... the first Holidays are always the hardest... but the children are happy and we spent qaulity time together :) We are so blessed!!!!!

Jaden and his sisters singing!

2010-12-10T10:10:00.001-08:00

Turn off my blog music at the bottom first ;) This is great! I love my kids and we love music!

A catch me up...

2010-12-05T07:54:00.003-08:00

Here is a catch me up on us :) My mom (Karine's mom) The kids call her Grandmax, she made my girls winter skirts :) They are so beautiful! Kalene's is Black, Cally's is Blue and Taylor's is brown. She is always sending packages for the kids. This time she didn't make anything for Jaden, but bought him a bag of t-shirts (which he loves to wear because Grandpa wears them, so cute!) and some gold with information for him to share with his class. :) He was so excited.

Then there was a snow day! :) The kids had no school because we got a lot of snow... More than we have had in years. 11 inches... and the kids were out side playing in the snow all day! They made a cute MONSTER IGLOO and the bunnies had a blast in the snow too.

This is Cally being silly, that is a Santa Hat that I have to cover my kitchen chairs at Christmas. She wanted to see how cute it looked on her! She is so fun!

You can't tell too well because I took this picture in the dark but there is a hole under that mouth.

I also have caught up my blog that helps me stay positive and focus on the positives in my life...here it is, check it out ;)
http://makingitnotfakingit.blogspot.com/

Are WE the FAMILY your searching for?

2010-12-05T07:54:00.001-08:00

Are you looking for... A couple who have been married for a long time and have a strong marriage... We met in church when I was 16, became best friends first, then dated... fell in love and married when I was 18 Todd was 22. We were sealed for all time and eternity in the Washington D.C. Temple a year after we were married. (Both parents were not able to attend a temple marriage so we did civil first, our family being apart of our wedding was important) Todd and I (Karine) have been married now for 19 years. Our love is only stronger and our relationship is only better today than when we first fell in love! Are you hoping to find a big family so that the child will have lots of love and siblings... Want a family that loves animals... We own 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 birds and 2 bunnies. How about a family that loves Music... Do you hope to find a family that likes Camping... What about a family that takes family vacations... Our Trip to Nauvoo, Carthridge Jail, the temple and the gardens. Shoshone Falls and Twin Falls Temple open house Salt Lake City, the temple and Beehive house... Hoover Dam The Grand Canyon Montezuma's Castle This is a fun, talented and creative family...We are a family that takes time to spend qaulity time together!

Here are some traditions we do as a family and are open to do any new traditions you would like us to include:

BIRTHDAYS:

For slumber parties and for family movie night we make Pop-Corn suprise...which is popcorn that has something sweet hidden in the bottom of each persons bowl... like candy
For birthdays, we usually ask the person whose birthday it is what they want for breakfast, and then they are served whatever they desire in bed. If they are in school on their birthday, they will receive something special like balloons or flowers.
Sweet 16 the kids have a really big party with boys and girls
When our child turns 16 they get a ring.

NEW YEARS:
Our family loves Water fights (inside and outside the house) and Whip Cream fights (usually on holidays)
On New Years we love to bang pots and pans at midnight as a family. We usually spend the night together playing games and watching movies.

EASTER:
Easter egg hunts: Most of the time at Grandma’s house with cousins.
Toasts at Easter and Thanksgiving… (Usually with juice or soda): usually started with "to Motorcycles" in honor of Karine's Dad who is no longer with us. Everyone takes a turn and toasts to whatever they want.

FOURTH OF JULY:

The 4th of July we usually go over to Todd's parents for a big breakfast and watch the towns’ parade together. Sometimes we are in it. Then at night we will go to the towns’ stadium and watch the fireworks show. After wards we usually come home or go to family’s house and light our own. The kids love the 4th of July.

HALLOWEEN:
One of our favorite Halloween traditions is to go to the pumpkin patch and pick out our own pumpkin. That usually includes a hay ride and some fun mazes and activities.
Boo give away at Halloween (cookies and yummies but done in door bell ditch style)
Our family really enjoys Trunk or Treat on Halloween.(done at the church parking lot with our ward)

THANKSGIVING:
On Thanksgiving we rotate dinner between relatives’ homes each year. We all bring our favorite dishes and enjoy the day as a family eating and being together. Chocolate pie and Pumpkin pie is our families’ favorite holiday desert.

CHRISTMAS:Our Family loves to make igloos and snowmen in the winter and have snowball fights too.
Christmas is one of our favorite holidays. We decorate everything inside and out! The more lights the better.
At Christmas we love to drive around as a family and look at other houses decorated.
Gifts to give to a need a family at Christmas time

We dress up and act out the birth of Jesus and manger scene every year at Christmas.
We go Christmas caroling as a family with hot chocolate
We love to decorate Christmas Cookies and show them off.
We usually make a cookie plate up for our neighbors at Christmas and sing one song.
Christmas eve, everyone opens one gift…

FAMILY:
All of Todd’s family lives very close. We have family dinners and get togethers often.
Karine’s Mother and Step Father visit several times a year and send care packages to the children often.

A Poem I love so much...

2010-11-29T08:11:00.001-08:00

The Girl I Used To Be…

She came tonight as I sat alone.
The girl that I used to be…
And she gazed at me with her earnest eye
And she questioned reproachfully:

Have you forgotten the many plans
And hopes that I had for you?
The great career. The splendid fame
All wonderful things to do?

Where is the mansion of stately height
With all of its gardens rare?
The silken robes that I dreamed for you
And the jewels for your hair?

And as she spoke I was very sad.
For I wanted her pleased with me…
The slender girl from the shadowy past
The girl that I used to be.

So gently arising, I took her hand
And guided her up the stair
Where peacefully sleeping my babes lay
Innocent, sweet and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems
And precious they are to me:
That silken robe is my Motherhood
Of costly simplicity.

And my mansion of stately height is love
And the only career I know:
Is serving each day in these sheltering walls
For the dear ones who come and go.
And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,
She smiled through her tears at me:
And I saw that woman that I am now
Pleased the girl that I used to be…
Author Unknown

Happy Thanksgiving...

2010-11-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

This year we were going to travel to see family in Jackson Wyoming, but the weather was too bad. So we had a blast just our little family :)
We are now off to go see the new movie TANGLED :) So excited! HAppy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for!
P.s. we also re-arranged the house so we could put up the Christmas tree. So now this is how it all looks :) I think it looks nice and cozy :)

Grandma Sherry died...

2010-11-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

This is Sheryl (Grandma Sherry) with Todd, her son when he was little.
This is Todd and his Mom (grandma Sherry) at his wedding to Karine
This is Sherry (grandma) before she died on 11/7/10.
She left 11 grandchildren, three children and is now out of pain from Colon Cancer. She was surrounded by her family/husband/children and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed! We were truly blessed by this amazing woman!

Happy Halloween...

2010-11-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween, a little late. My Mother in law has been very sick this last month, she is dieing of liver cancer, so we have been over there helping out and visiting as much as possible. But our Halloween was still fun :) We made Cake Pops, the kids loved it! And I know Virginia was an indian for Halloween but she is off at college. So here are pictures of the rest of our monkeys :)

Hippy Chic Kalene

Star Trooper Jaden

Funky Punk Cally

Faily Taylor

GrandMax Made Jammies :)

2010-10-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

Every year, my Mom (Karine's) GrandMax makes my kids jammies. They love them! :) So here they are :) First Virginia, who is off to College :)

Then Taylor who is 12

Then Cally who is 13

Then Kalene who is 16

and Jaden who is 10 gets two pairs :)

Faith.... keeping it!

2010-10-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

This adoption journey for us has been a great journey so far. For the last year and a half, we have learned many things. Hope, Faith and most of all, Patience.
I have watched my children go through the high's and low's of it as we have. We have had several hopeful opportunities that just were not meant to be, because they did not happen. We have had so many wonderful friends and family share with others that we are hoping to adopt, and I am so thankful for that! I have been so blessed, in hopes and search of the last child that is missing from our lives.
Some people ask me,"WHY? WHY START OVER?" I simply reply because I know we have so much to give and to offer a child. Because we are not complete. Because I love being a Mother! These people are people who don't understand big families either. They have 1.2 kids and live to play and retire.
I have come to trust the Lord more than I have ever trusted him. I have come to him in tears and with hope in my heart, and I believe if it's his will, we will be blessed with a child.
I love watching my children praying, as we gather for family prayer, and listening to them to bless the woman who is pregnant that might be carrying the child that is meant to be with our family. Listening to them pray for others to help her to find us so that she can become family too, touches my heart. Listening to them have faith and hope. They know, they just have that child like faith... that this will happen for us. No doubts. I am so blessed. They can't wait to welcome another child in our family.
I just had to write down my thoughts for a little while. They won't stay up long, for I like to keep this mainly about the kids and our family. But for a moment I felt I needed to share my gratitude towards my Heavenly Father for what I do have and for helping us as a family learn in more depth the meaning behind unconditional love, faith, hope and patience.

Pictures :)

2010-10-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

So I finally took this years pictures. I like to take pictures but I love to take them especially of each child in the spring and fall for my Wall :) To show off my beautiful children.
So here they are :) Some of my favorites. I did Virignia's (the oldest before she left for college)

Kalene is in Band :)

2010-09-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

My second daughter Kalene is really talented. She has taught herself to play the guitar and now the Flute :) She has joined band in her 11th year in high school and she wants to teach herself to play the violin and the banjo! Just pure talent! This girl is going places!
Lastnight was her first band performance at a highschool game.

New Kid Pictures...

2010-08-29T16:24:00.001-07:00

Just for the record, I did take all these photo's. I love to take pictures and I love photography. It is a little difficult to get all the children to do what you want them to at the same time, but that is why I posted all of them. Even the goofy ones. Just keeping it real :) I love my kids! They are just fun!

We are about to send our oldest off to college. So we did family fun pictures. :)

A letter from Jaden

2010-08-27T12:42:00.001-07:00

Letter from Jaden

Dear Birth Parents,
My name is Jaden and I am the only boy so far in our family. My family and I have been praying for our baby to come to us. Everyone, even my sisters, know that someone very special is missing. I am excited to be a big brother too. Let me tell you about our family. First about me, I am a cub scout and my Dad loves scouts and helping me in scouts.

My Dad is awesome. He can do anything. He goes to work and college. He even goes on field trips with us kids. All the kids in my family get to have date time with my Mom and Dad, which is always fun! My Mom and I play ping pong, I am better at it and always win. Our family loves animals, we have lots of them. They are really nice and love people. We do a lot of family things together.

We play games together, sing together and even dance together. We love to go camping and roasting marsh mellows is yummy. We sometimes make a tent with blankets in our house and watch movies together. That is the best! For my birthday I made a wish that our baby would come to our family. My parents told my sisters and I that we will have an open adoption. Which means you can be my family too.

Mom says it is up to our birth parents and we will love and respect them on what they want. Please check us out. Please pray about us. I can't wait to thank you for my baby brother that my Mommy could not give to me.
Love, Jaden

p.s. we can be found at http://hopingtoadopt.org/index.php/family/letters/56
and https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/23105206/ourMessage.jsf

An Adopted Child

2010-08-20T06:27:00.000-07:00

"An adopted child isn’t an unloved child; rather, one that was loved so much by someone who was willing to sacrifice her greatest accomplishment so that child could have more than just her love
By adopting a child and helping them reach their potential, they help us reach ours. An adopted child is not an unwanted child; to the contrary. They are a child who was searched for, prayed for, cried for, begged for; received by arms that ached, making empty hearts full. Love is meant to be shared."
Author unknown

Taylor and Cally Singing RESPECT

2010-08-19T06:26:00.001-07:00

My kids love to sing!

Its my Taylor Wynns Birthday Today!

2010-08-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

She was born Aug 19th 1998 weighted 8 pounds 4 ounces :)

She has this wonderful happy go lucky attitude and is always found with a smile on her face or telling a joke!

She loves standing out :) SHE IS JUST FUN!

I am so blessed to be called her MOTHER!!! I love her so much!!!

Happy Birthday my beautiful TayTay!

Boys are just FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

This is one of my nephews and Jaden. Jason is 6 weeks older than Jaden. Jason is the blonde and Jaden (my son) is the darker haired. They are the best of friends! We have Jason over a lot :) Their hair is wet because we just got back from swimming at the ymca :)

Last night they wanted to make their own tent and be in the jungle! Check out all the stuff animals! THEY JUST MAKE ME SMILE!

I think some of the tent fell down, because I took these in the morning. But they are so cute!

Jason sleeping below

And this fuzzy picture, which I thought came out better (sorry) is my sweet Jaden! :)

Boys are just fun! :) Jaden can't wait to be a big brother and do this kind of stuff with the child that will become the baby of our family :)

Cally is 13 today!

2010-07-07T06:29:00.000-07:00

13 years ago I had my 3rd baby, 3rd daughter too. She was my littliest baby (so far :) She was 7 pounds 10 ounces and 21 inches long. :) She had no hair. I love it! She was my only bald baby (so far) the rest had hair! She is such an amazing young woman! I love who she is. Her smile and her eyes light up every room! Her laugh is so contagieous! Her spirit is so sweet that others want to be around her all the time.

This is my Cally post! I made this cake for her party tonight. Happy Birthday baby girl! I love you!~

Hike & Girls Camp & Girls night out :)

2010-07-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

Girls went on a hike! :) Kalene 16, Cally 12 & Taylor 11 :)

My girls are so beautiful! :)

loved the water fall!

Then Cally and Taylor went to girls camp. Kalene was doing drivers Ed.

Then we went on a GIRLS NIGHT OUT! IT WAS A BLAST! MET UP WITH FRIENDS AT TGIF AND THEN WENT TO THE MIDNIGHT SHOWING OF ECLIPSE :)

Our eyes look so evil from the flash! LOL we are vampires! LOL

A new outfit...

2010-06-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

I saw this outfit and just had to have it! Its so cute! Todd played football in highschool. So I just thought this was perfect. I love the little logo on it. TACKLED 4 KISSES! In this family, the baby we are blessed with will be so loved :)

I love the brown and blues together :)

Forever And For Always 20 years together! :)

2010-06-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

This is to the love of my life! Today we celebrate 20 years together!
to listen, turn off my blog musica at bottom.
I am so blessed... we both feel blessed to have come so far in our marriage and to be so in love!

One Amazing DAD

2010-06-20T13:31:00.001-07:00

They say a Picture's worth a thousand words... so I thought I would show you pictures of the Father of our Home. :) We love and adore this man! He is a hard worker & a great provider! A loving Husband and Father. He is very involved in his children's lives and is there for them! He loves being involved in scouts. He is a man of many talents. He can build, fix or make just about anything :) He puts the Lord first in his life and then his family! He is fun and patient! He can be silly too! He enjoys hugs and kisses from his kids and cuddle time too. He is a great example to our children. He teaches our son how to treat a lady right and our girls how guys are to respect them. He teaches our children to do their best and to have integrity by example. He does homework with the kids, field trips, sled rides, snow ball fights and teaches by example to stand up for what is right . He plays games with the kids, takes his wife out on dates weekly (which teaches the kids how to be when married) The list is endless on what a Great Man/Father/Husband Todd is. We are so blessed to have such a Great Man be the Father of our home! Happy Father's Day my Love! Thank you for being my Man and the Father of our children!

Todd took the scouts to the Fire House

a birthday... Todd is always apart of the parties and helping me :)

Todd loves to carve pumpkins, dye eggs, make Christmas cookies. holidays are great!

He has always been and always will be a GREAT DAD!

He loves his wife! He spoils her! :) He works so she can be the stay at home Mom

Camping is just FUN!

Throwing the ball around with his son!

A family walk across a man made bridge

_He is helping Aylin across that we are helping to raise. (_Her mom died 2 years ago)

Daddy/Son time happens a lot! :)

Going on trip here... spending time with his daughters

reading scriptures with the kids...

He can build anything... -here he was helping me (Karine) make gifts for birth mothers.

He is putting in our yard here! He takes care of us well!

Helping with homework, which happened to be about the military and Todd served in the Navy on a submarine! Isn't that cool! he was a sonar tech
( he listened for the enemy but got to hear whales and sea life)

at school for a birthday party! :) He is very apart of our children's lives!

Sleeping with one of his baby girls! :) (Cally)

This picture says it all! He is HOT and COOL!

A Father/Daughter date

Snow time is fun time :)

More fun in the snow :)

We love him! We know we are missing a child! We are excited to complete our family!

Todd and the girls went to Martin's Cove and did a pioneer trek!

Jaden and Todd playing an airplane game :) Todd loves planes!

He is so handsome and a righteous man! He loves church!

Nothing like jammin out at home on Rock band together.

Dancing with Daddy! Love it! He does it with all our girls. I love it when he dances with me!

Boy time.... although he has taught all our girls how to shoot a gun and gun safety!

He is always around to help and to teach :)

He made the horse ride for Jaden and Aylin for the parade we were in to support Adoption! :)

The kids love animals and have bunnies, he and the kids fixed up a cage for the bunnies :)

fun riding with Todd! :)

Hands on learning. Todd was helping Jaden with a science project.

I could show a zillion pictures! He is just always here for us and the Best Dad around!

Its Jaden's Birthday Today :)

2010-06-14T14:28:00.002-07:00

Jaden was born on Flag day. He thinks that is cool! :) Not so long ago our family was blessed with a beautiful baby boy named Jaden. He was 8 pounds 5 ounces and 21 1/2 inches long. We were so excited to have a boy! Finally! Lastnight, Jaden had a request. He wanted to sleep on the hammock so we brought it in and placed pillows on the floor in case he fell out. He ended up on the coach in the early morning hours, where he recieved breakfast in bed. (Or on the coach LOL)

Make a WISH! :)
He said he wished for his baby brother to hurry and come to our family! He is ready to be a big brother! :)

A Great Camporee Day (Scouting Event)

2010-06-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

I love my husband. He is such a great Husband/Father/role model and leader. He is a leader in scouts! :) It was a CAMPOREE TIME!

Todd and the leaders of their group made a Trebuchet. Here is a NOT SO FLATTERING picture of me LOL and my man pulling the string to fling concrete :)

Today Virginia had to work! Which is hard to get use to doing family things without her! We missed you honey!

He is just so cute! I LOVE HIM DEARLY!

This is MISS IDAHO, Jessica Hellwinkel. Aylin is the little girl in the picture. She is very much apart of our family. Her Mommy died 2 years ago and I have watched her, loved her and helped raise her since she was a baby :)

TEE PEE TIME

Ok it stunk inside cause of the heat I think. LOL

This was so neat to see :)

Check out where the missiles go MOM! LOL :) What a cutie!

One Happy Camper!

She wanted apart of the action! LOL none of my other girls did... ? Go figure!

Have to check out the whole thing MOM :)

Nothing like a fun big parachute tent :)

Tight walk time :) STRING BRIDGE :)

Aylin's turn!

It is not easy really, so proud of her!

The two men in my life that I adore! :) (SO FAR!)

The camp site :) The guys stay for 3 days and two nights :)

Aylin picking flowers while waiting in lines to do stuff

Jaden threw it great :)
The picture below someone else threw that but thought it was great!

Jaden shooting a gun powder filled gun :)

Daddy and his girls! :)

A bridge the scouts made ! It was fun to cross on :)

Tay and Jaden climbing a fort like thing that the scouts made.

Jaden and Tay sitting together watching the helicopter take off! :)

Just thought Aylin looked beautiful here sitting :)

(My brother, Uncle JON, actually worked on these in the Gulf War)

It was a great day. We finished it off with girls swimming at the ymca because the boys were still camping :)

Our Family WALL Project :)

2010-06-04T17:30:00.001-07:00

This is our latest FAMILY Project! Everyone took part in putting this wall and closet up :) Our loft area is now an enclosed room :) Very excited!!! Grandpa Wayne & Todd did most of the handy work :) The first one is Kalene talking really SILLY not how she sounds normally! LOL Oh you might need to turn off the music at the bottom. Sorry, I love music. But if you do, you can hear the video's better :) ENJOY!

This is Jaden helping by screwing in the dry wall :) He helped in almost the whole thing!

Then we have Cally doing some work :)

Virginia too!

Kalene working with Grandpa Wayne ;)

Such a natural :)

Grandpa Wayne thinking :) LOL and Cally documenting stuff with camera

Taylor doing the wall too! :)

This is what it looks like on the inside :) Before texture and paint. We still have to do that. BIG CLOSET :)

THE CLOSET :)

Out in the hall way :)

SO NEAT TO HAVE DONE THIS AS A FAMILY!

Then while we were taking turns helping, others were singing :) Tay and Grandmax and Uncle Wayne Jr :)

All the videos to watch :)

2010-05-27T09:25:00.001-07:00

The videos below are from our karoake singing after Virginia graduated. We had a blast! :) As you can tell we get into it :) Hope you enjoy!
TURN OFF MY MUSIC FOR MY BLOG FIRST TO LISTEN TO THEM! Go to the bottom click the stop button :) That should do it for you :) ALSO go to OLDER POST! YOU HAVE TO SEE TODD SING MONSTER MASH! IT just was too much for BLOGGER to hold all on one page. :)
For some reason some of the video is not viewable, but you can at least see how much fun we really do have!
Virginia graduated from highschool on the 25th :) of May! This is my MOM (Grandmax, Virginia and Me (Karine the MOM) MOMMY & DADDY with their baby girl! We can't believe she is old enough to graduate! All the kids :) The kids loving on Virginia Virginia trying on her hat for the first time :) Outside before we went into the Idaho center Walking to where the kids all go :) Virginia and her friends... Virginia and Grandmax All the kids :) Virginia after she got her diploma Grandpa Wayne, Wayne Jr (In wheel chair) Grandmax and Virginia after :) Virginia with Grandma Sherry and Grandpa Jim Virginia walking with Taylor to our car. VIDEOS OF OUR CELEBRATION are UP ABOVE! :) :)

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2010-05-27T07:48:00.001-07:00

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2010-05-27T06:44:00.001-07:00

Real QUICK...

2010-05-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

Taylor made a death mask at school :) I thought she did a great job on it :)

My Mom (GRANDMAX) is visiting! so pictures will be up soon! Having a blast with her! Very busy! Jaden won 2nd place in SCIENCE FAIR! SO PROUD OF HIM! MORE TO COME WITH PICTURES!~

OUR GREAT MONDAY!

2010-05-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

The morning started off like this! With a beautiful way to wake up and look outside. Looked heavenly!

Then Jaden and I (mama) went on a field trip to Baker City! :) We had a blast. He was so tired on the bus! Look at them tired eyes! Such a cutie.

Here we are :)

This was neat to feel the buffalo hair :) Jaden is so cute!

Lots of exibits to see and much to learn :)

Jaden and his friends showing us what dance they have to do at the last day of school :)

It was beautiful there!

This was the wagon circle :)

Another display of how they set up camp.

Jaden and the kids in our group had to load a wagon with what they would need for the trip by pounds :) IT was so cool!

More loading the wagon

Jaden on the trail :)

Jaden so cute here!

THEN FOR FAMILY HOME EVENING we got together with 5 families and had a potluck dinner and four wheeled and dirt biked! IT WAS A BLAST!
Jaden is in red.

The field with everyone having fun!

Kalene was playing with a little boy she adores on the slide. Cally was watching a little girl on the tramp in stripes.

Todd hi fivin his guy friends .. HE is on the dirt bike :) SUCH A CUTE MAN! I LOVE HIM!

TODD JUMPING! WHAT A MAN!

Jaden on the 4 wheeler. SO CUTE!

Virginia giving Cally a ride

GO Virginia...

Taylor waiting her turn :) Which she got! :)

Jaden running around

Todd giving rides to all the little kids

Todd again with a friend of ours little girl

Virginia sitting in green. Cally talking to one our friends little girls

Jaden and his friends chatting

Cally riding alone.

Kalene did not want to ride. She loves this little boy on the tramp. She just wanted to spend time with him! :) She will be a great MOM someday :)We had a blast! It was a great day!

Taylor and Virginia riding!

Saw this had to share it

2010-05-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

Saw this on one of my friends facebook pages. She just adopted a little boy! I had to share this!

The little boy unfrowned and then
Sort of smiled
when
After hearing the dictionary definition
He was told
that what adopted really meant was
Searched for
Prayed for
Worked
for
Finally gratefully got
Unquestionably on purpose
And loved
a lot!
~ Carol Lynn Pearson

Boy time and fun

2010-05-11T12:31:00.001-07:00

Jaden was invited to a friends birthday party. They had a blast! Todd and Jaden went four wheeling. Jaden is the one on the yellow four wheeler. :)

Prom Weekend, Wedding trip and Mom/Son date night

2010-05-01T18:18:00.001-07:00

Taylor & Cally getting ready to go on a trip with Grandpa and Daddy to see Uncle Jeff get married...

SILLY GIRLS :)

BYE DADDY, CALLY, TAYLOR & Grandpa... have fun!

This is Taber... Cera's husband ( Karine's Best Friends daughter & husband)

They came over and while Cera helped me with the girls for Prom...

Taber played with Jaden on the Wii :)

Cera and Taber :)

Cera grew up with Virginia and my kids, she is "family" Taber is now too! Jaden loves them!

Jaden and I getting ready to have a date night :) He wants to see "HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON in 3D :) " So we will! Just us! NO GIRLS

Virginia is in gold/yellow... Kalene in Green/blue

Grandmax (Karine's Mom ) Made these dresses for the girls Prom :)

Beautiful Kalene, I did her hair (I = MOM/KARINE)

Virginia and I (MOM/KARINE) did her hair :)

HER SASSY LOOK LOL!

Her date Kyle (just friends) look what they have... behind their backs

She loves how the dress flips out when she spins!

They are off to a fun night... going to pick up a few more kids to join!

Kalene and her girlfriends :) They went together :)

What a busy but fun weekend we are having!

Field trip and a hair cut :)

2010-04-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

I GOT A HAIR CUT!!!! LOVE IT :) its layered... feels so great! :)

TAYLOR IS THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT! :) her Choir group went to FESTIVAL! Earned a 2 :) :) :) :)

TAYLOR WALKING IN AND NERVOUS :)

TAYLOR AND I (Karine the MOM ) being SILLY ON THE BUS ... just keeping it REAL! LOL

I thought we were BOTH smiling in this one... appearently not... THAT IS TAYLOR! :)

It was a good Mommy/Daughter day!

Our fun & crazy weekend...

2010-04-26T12:29:00.002-07:00

Our weekend was busy, fun and a little crazy... ;) Taylor made paper airplanes, she cracks me up! I gave Cally a Hair cut... ;) Cally and I (Karine the Mom) Worked on Personal Progress together. ( I am doing it this year too with my girls :) Todd and Jaden started a science project together... Virginia and Todd were going over some scriptures together. Sadly we didn't see much of Virginia this weekend, she worked a lot on Sat and she was wiped Sunday after church, plus homework! She is a hard worker! :) This is Jaden's project...
This is Kalene practicing her flute, which she taught herself to play :) I am so proud of her! :) She is joining band this next coming year :)
What I don't have pictures of is the game mastermind that Taylor, Cally and I (Karine) played together :) We had the ward missionaries over because Kalene has some friends we are going to help teach. So they stopped by and we watched a nice video with them.
For some reason this blog won't upload the video I made of us playing monkey in the middle in the house! It was crazy but fun! :) Guess who was in the middle the most... yep me! LOL

Our Saturday Project :)

2010-04-17T21:29:00.000-07:00

We took all day to put a hutch together for our bunnies :) They are so happy now :) We really enjoy doing projects together as a family. The kids are excited that the bunnies have a new big home. Will try to get pictures of them in it soon. It was dark when we put them in it and set them up.

Our latest camping trip to the Sand Dunes

2010-04-07T14:22:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time. Videos are at the bottom. We roasted marsh mellows, sang camp fire songs, star gazed at the observatory, hiked around camp and up the dunes, slid down the dunes, dug in the sand, flew kites, threw the ball around, shot cans with bb guns, relaxed and make new friends!!! Nothing but great family fun! This is Cally walking up the dune for the 3rd time... I love the view around this place! Beautiful! The kids are going up the dunes and Kalene was coming down. Virginia flying her kite. Jaden trying to shoot some cans with his bb gun. Grandma & Grandpa & Virginia and Cally relaxing. Taylor Wynn and Todd playing catch with the ball. Jaden catching the ball! :) He did great! Taylor watching a movie at night before bed. All the kids roasting Marshmellows and singing camp fire songs. Todd relaxing and enjoying the sun the first day we got there. (it was a little chilly that day) Cally and Taylor walking/running with the dogs. Jaden shutting Kalene's hood telling her to stop reading HAMLET and come play! Virginia and Karine (mom) being silly taking a photo of ourselves. Kalene reading Hamlet and Taylor checking out littlest pet shop characters.

I want you all to know 20 years might seem like a long time but it doesn't feel that long ago for us! WE are so young in heart and our love is only stronger today than it was when we were first married. Isn't my man cute! I adore him!

Our Baby Pictures...

2010-04-05T09:07:00.001-07:00

This is Todd as an infant he weighted 7 pounds 5 oz ... we don't have many pictures of him, he had a cleft lip as a baby.

The next two pictures are Karine (me, the mom) I was 6 pounds

The next two are Virginia, the oldest child weighted 8pounds 14 oz.

This is Kalene our second daughter she was our biggest baby 9 pounds.

Cally was our littlest baby 7pound 10 oz.

Taylor Wynn is our fourth daughter and she weighted 8 pounds.

Then our only boy so far Jaden who was 8 pounds 5 oz.

Jaden & Taylor singing

2010-03-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

we love to sing in our family... I caught Jaden and Taylor on video. Jaden doesn't realize until the end of it :) Its cute!

My Mom (Grandmax) is the BEST!!

2010-03-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

So my Mom, (Karine's Mom) made a blanket. She said she "feels" he is coming soon and wanted to have a blanket ready to wrap around him with her love. So she took the time to make this beautiful blanket. I thought it was so sweet! She going to make the sealing and blessing outfit too. She is so talented in sewing. We love GRANDMAX!!!! :)

Two more new little outfits....

2010-03-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

So if you can't see what it says, they say... Banana's over Mommy and Mommy's little monster...

Todd bought them tonight :) We saw them and could not resist!! I love how excited he is to be a father again :) He is an amazing husband and father :) just had to share the two newest and cutest little outfits :)

My talented kids... a bragging moment :)

2010-03-01T06:07:00.000-08:00

The high school my two oldest children go to was putting on the musical "THE MUSIC MAN" my oldest was a lead, Mariann and my second daughter was a towns person. They sing and dance... here are two clips of them. Virginia is singing Good night my someone... and Kalene is the one that sings, There could be curtains and is in Brown and White beautiful dress. Enjoy

I am so proud of my girls.... They worked so hard at practices, making the scenes... everything! This was so much fun to see my children shine! :) I am so blessed to be their mother! I love you my beautiful girls! Thank you for being my very talented daughters!

Where we have been...

2010-02-20T03:48:00.000-08:00

Karine
Born: Alexandria Virginia
Lived:
Woodbridge Virginia , Rockaway New Jersey, Rohnert Park California ,
Nashua New Hampshire,Virginia Beach Virginia , Idaho
Has been to and seen :
Mt Rush Moore, The Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Mt St. Helens, The East Coast Ocean,
The West Coast Ocean, Disneyland, Disney World, Nauvoo Illinois, New York, Yellow Stone ,
The Tetons Mt, Washington D.C. , San Francisco, Williamsburg Virginia, White Mountains N.H., Nags Head N.C. , New Orleans
Is Going to: Turkey this March 4th for a week :) In Istanbul

Todd
Born: Pocatello Idaho
Lived:
Pocatello Idaho, Aberdeen Idaho, American Falls Idaho, Boise Idaho, Jordon Valley Oregon ,
Groton Connecticut , San Diego California, Great Lakes Illinois , Virginia Beach Virginia

Has been to and seen:
Mt. Rush Moore, The Grand Canyon, Devil's Tower, San Diego, Disney Land, Sea World,
Turkey, Nauvoo Illinois, The East Coast Ocean, The West Coast Ocean, The Black Sea,
Israel, Italy, France, Bahamas, Mexico, Maine, Florida, Chicago, New York, Yellow Stone ,
The Teton Mt , Washington D.C. , Disneyland

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-13T20:00:00.001-08:00

This wonderful Man of mine, took me out for a night of Dinner and Music :) I Love Him! I am so blessed to be so loved and to have such a great husband! I even got roses/chocolates and love letter!!! :)
Happy Valentines Day!

A Prayer is said....

2010-02-07T08:57:00.000-08:00

This is a painting my daughter did by hand. It is our birth mother praying for guidance and comfort. Praying for strength and to be led to the family that is meant to raise the child she carries. The family she wants to be apart of as well.
As I look at this picture I see two people... I see it being our birth mother and I see it could possibly be me. I am praying constantly to Heavenly Father that our birth mother is doing well, being loved and supported. Hoping to find our family that will love her and embrace her as part of our family. I know in my heart that who ever is our birth mother, we met long ago... before we were born. That we made a promise to find each other in this life and to be forever bonded by a special child... one that both his mothers will love. A child that will blessed to have more than just an adoptive family but a birth family too. With Birth Grandparents, if the birth parents family wants to be involved. A child that will know love and have peace with who he is, where he came from and where he is going. A child that will know he has a great purpose in this life. A purpose that can only be accomplished by having such love from both a birth mother and an adoptive mother. I want these things for my child. I want him to know how special he is. I love that my daughter felt inspired to paint this picture. It is truly beautiful.

Adoption...

2010-01-27T05:50:00.001-08:00

My thoughts on Adoption:
Before I share a personal story with you, I just want to express in behalf of my husband and myself, that who ever chooses us needs to know. I am open to whatever the birth mother needs and wants in the relationship between us (the adoptive parents/birth parents)I am open to change, when you need more pictures or communication, just let me know. When your needing less, I will make a blog just for you, that way you can see as much or as little. Whatever the birth mother is needing or hopes to attain in this relationship with us, we are open to :)

I know I have not yet adopted, but I have a good perspective of what Adoption is.
Adoption to me is about love and the CHILD :) Having the priveledge to watch a little girl that I have watched since her birth has been a huge blessing to me and as of last year a blessing to her. Let me explain.... when my friend, Gesa got pregnant, She asked me to watch her child while she worked. She was a doctor. I was able to watch her child the day she came home.
Gesa had a c-section. She knew I had a great love for this child. She trusted me completely. So I helped Gesa raise this little girl Aylin.

She and I had moments where we talked about how we were raising her... what we were teaching her and what Gesa wanted out of life for her. Everything I did, I did with respect , love and because I did it for Aylin, the child. Gesa and I shared a motherhood in her life. I would take her to work so Gesa could breastfeed her... and then bring her back to my home. I got to watch this child learn to roll over, crawl, walk, speak her first words, and sentences... I got all the priveledges of a mother and I love her just as much as one of my own children. Gesa was so sharing with Aylin to me :) Well a year ago, Gesa and Aylin were in a horrible car accident. Gesa died. Aylin was 3 years old. This is their last picture together, a day before the crash...

She had a broken neck and a broken knee... along with a broken heart...

but having been apart of her life since she was born, I think it helped to heal her. She is very much apart of our family. Her dad sometimes has to leave for business trips and we get to keep her for weeks at a time. :) I love it . She loves it. She can't wait to be a big sister...(when we adopt, she says she is the baby right now of the family, but soon she will be a big sister ) So this was a situation where two mothers loved one child, shared in that childs raising and communication was a really important part of what we were doing.... helped me realized, it was never about me, or Gesa, it was always about the child....just like adoption...its about the child!

I might not have adopted Aylin legally in this life, but I have in my heart... and I think that open adoption is possible, for I feel I have somewhat already experienced it.
To this day, I know what Gesa wanted for her daughter and I honor her by trying to raise Aylin in that manner, along with my ideas. I am very excited for the day I am able to be a mother to another child, my child, the one I adopt.

This is our Flower Pot that we dedicated to the baby. It holds just a few things that we have bought to keep us focused that our child will come :)

This is our first outfit we have bought. I love bugs, I had a convertable bug for my first car... so I fell in love with the colors and the design on this sleeper. Just had to have it.

Cally my 12 year old made this hat for the baby :) I thought that was so sweet. She just came downstairs one day and said, look what I made for the baby :)

Poor Aylin she was sick, so we made her up a bed and spent the day reading books, coloring and watching movies together!

WE MADE OUR FIRST BLANKET FOR THE BABY :)

I loved the pattern on this fleece. I call my children little monkeys sometimes... so it fits perfect! I Loved it... Taylor helped me make it:)

Monkey Fever :)

2010-01-13T09:14:00.001-08:00

Do you like monkeys? I have been drawn to Monkeys since last summer... before they started coming out in bulk in the stores. I am reaping the benefits of there being so much monkey stuff in the store. I even call my children from time to time "my little Monkies"
Here are two outfits I bought. I love them. Check out the feet.. sooo cute! If I could find a cute diaper bag I would. I even made a blanket with my daughter Taylor. :)

Our Christmas Gifts....

2009-12-30T16:20:00.001-08:00

For Christmas my oldest daughter Virginia made us some beautiful frames with pictures of each of us and poems to go with them that she made up. She is hoping to get accepted into Rexburg Idaho College 2010/11. She wanted to make gifts that meant something and these do. She said she will make one for the baby when we adopt of them together too.

To My Hero, Forever and Always
True hero's aren't those you see
In magazines or on t.v.
Not Superman or Hercules
Who save the day with an ease
It's a man who with his love still
Guides me, protects me and teaches me to kneel
True and faithful to his country and Lord he
for sure may be
He still finds time just for me
Our long conversations that help me through life
And his priesthood that guides me through my strife
From him I know how important America is to me
And to give all in charity
He has watched over me since I was born
And from temple blessings we will never be torn
My Hero has helped me to be
The Lady I am and one day he'll see
I'll reach the temple and make him proud
To receive sealing blessings and be forever endowed
I love you my father, my hero forever
You've blessed me so much, don't forget, never!
I'm so lucky the Lord gave me you!
To be my Daddy and Hero too!
(written by Virginia)

Guardian Angels aren't just from above
They're in our homes and give us love
One of mine have been with me,
Since I was a little baby
She gave me life and watched me grow
She taught me to crawl and throw cheerios
Through the years she's been my best friend
Who stuck with me to the very end
She supports me and loves me so
I couldn't live without her, no matter how tall I grow
Now I've grown and she can see
The child she raised is a lady
Soon I'll be off and on my way
But my Mom is in my heart to always stay
Thank you for all the years and years to come
Full of love, advice, and teachings from
The best Mom the Lord could send
To be my guardian angel and best friend.
(written by Virginia)

TO ALL MY SISTERS LOVE YOUR SISTER
Sister, O Sister I love you so
You're as cute as a button and as beautiful as a bow
Life won't be easy as you think
Sometimes it can really stink
So when you're down and feeling blue
Remember your Big Sister who loves you!
There is so much ahead, good and bad...
Take the experiences for all you had
The Lord loves you and has given you a light
That can shine through the darkest night
Don't be afraid to kneel down and pray
For the Love he has for you will EVER STAY!
You are my sister so please know
Our love will never shrink but only grow
I'm here for you, whatever you need
Even with the world's nasty weed
Never doubt yourself or look down
For you're a daughter of a king and deserve the prettiest crown
( Written by Virginia)

My little brother you will forever be
But one day you'll be taller than me
As you get older keep in mind
You're brilliant and one of a kind
Choose the right in ALL you do
And be the man the Lord needs of you
Don't be scared to stand alone for what's right
Let your light so shine even in the darkest night
Be faithful and strong and respect all girls
No matter their height, age, weight, or curls
You are very lucky but have responsibility
To hold the priesthood to the best of your ability
Remember that the special keys you will hold
Connect Earth to Heaven's windows
I love you very much for the man you are and will be
Stick to the Church and your family
You are amazing, my brother, know this forever
Your sister loves you more than you can measure!
(written by Virginia)

Todd playin with the kids

2009-12-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

Todd is giving back rides to the kids. He gives it to Taylor and then to Aylin, the little girl we have watched since birth. She is staying with us this weekend.:)

Some cute videos of the kids

2009-12-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

Kalene playing her guitar, she self taught herself and knows several others :)

Jaden and Aylin playing cute together

Christmas Fun!

2009-12-08T15:51:00.000-08:00

Jaden riding the Christmas Train at the Night LIGHT Christmas Parade
Virginia and her class singing Christmas Carols
Aylin and Virginia and Taylor all sitting around enjoying Virginia playin and singing along! CUTE!

Christmas inside our house

2009-12-01T19:38:00.000-08:00

We still have to decorate the outside, but I love how the inside is looking :)

Our Thanksgiving 2009 :)

2009-11-26T19:26:00.000-08:00

Cooking together, being together, eating together, playing games together and watching family movies together! Thanksgiving was great!!!!

Recent pictures

2009-11-05T06:25:00.000-08:00

My silly boy :) He is so much fun!

Halloween

Taylor helping to make a blanket for the baby

Cally our little cheerleader :)

My children before church dancing

2009-10-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

My three children had no idea I was video taping them :) This is fun to watch! Look at my son doing his own thing. He is so cute! He is the only boy so far and its been so fun to watch how different he is from the girls :)

My Adoption Journey, my view point...

2009-10-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share who I am with you on a more personal note. I am a person who wears her heart out on her sleeve. You usually know if I am upset, why I am upset or what I am thinking most of the time. I am a communicator. My children and husband and friends always know what I am thinking or how I am feeling. One of my friends called it honest, no games with me. Who has time for that stuff and what is the point?!
So this journey has been one big roller coaster for us. I have had highs and lows. The "finding" waiting to be chosen stage has been so hard for me. You know when you know something; really know something... can't deny something in your heart. Doesn't matter what it is that your thinking of at this moment... it can be anything that comes to your mind, even to placing your child. Well for me, I know I am meant to have a child through the gift of a birth mothers love. I have always "JUST KNOWN" since young teenager too. When I dated guys, I had two questions for them. Did they like the name Virginia Lee for a child’s name and how did they feel about adoption. My husband answered correctly and so today he is my husband :) HAHAHA I seriously did that. Virginia Lee was a promise I made to my grandmother, that I would name my first daughter that. And the question about adoption was something that I just knew in my heart and could not deny that some day you would complete our family with a child thru adoption.
My highs have been dreams that I have had, my children have had, my husband has had and even my friends have had of this child coming into our family. My lows have been the silence. Not knowing if our birth mother has found us and is just waiting for a certain moment to say we are chosen. The not knowing when or who is hard for me.
So as I sit and hope that some one (the birth mother who is meant to be our birth mother) is reading my blogs and can feel a sense of who we are... what kind of people we are... and will feel drawn to us and connected. Hopeful she will want to know more, meet us and choose us soon.
I know that others have waited years and years to be chosen by a birth mother and so many have no children where I have been blessed with five, so far. I feel guilty in one way for being so impatient and anxious about being chosen when I think about how many have waited longer and with less. I am not trying to be selfish. I just know what I know. I felt a great sense of URGENCY when we started our adoption process. I felt like we could not hurry fast enough. That the person who was carrying the child that was meant to be with our family was pregnant and looking for us. I have done all that I can think of to get the word out for her to find us. From word of mouth everywhere I go, to pass a long cards (which I will be honest, they make me feel like I am selling myself or begging, I don't like that feeling) to putting it on face book. You name it. I have exhausted myself in putting our blog and info out there so that our birth mother could find us.
I know many look at us and think WHY? They have five kids. They don't look twice at us or even into us into any great length. But that is ok because all of this is done for the ONE birth mother that is meant to find us, not the zillion others.
We do have a big family already! We chose to have a big family. We love children and we have ideas that we are teaching our children on how family should be. To me family should always come first, family will always be there for one another and reliable, family is the most important thing in life. Not all the "THINGS" or the "FRIENDS" that will come and go. We have what we need and a little more. We are not rich in the ways of the world. We are rich in love! We are not hurting to make it, we have a 3666 sq ft home, but inside its simple. We live in our home :) You have to when you have kids :) Each child has room to have their own rooms, but the younger two girls share and Jaden joins them from time to time on who's room do you want to sleep in tonight. I love how close they are :)
One day all my children will be grown and married and they will come home for the holidays. All the grandchildren under one roof :) We will be together even after they are all grown up! :) Big Family Dinners and celebrations like we have now. I will have fun having all my grandchildren over and watching them bond with their cousins. :) (that is what I see for the future)
I know grandparents is far off, but those are my family ideas. My children know how important family is. They know of my dreams for the future and we are starting now with our children by making traditions. Spending quality time with one another and really knowing each other, as well as loving each other! We are also people who make our friends family. So to me, I hope that our birth mother will want to be apart of us :) as family. I have a friend who is a birth mother that has a wonderful open adoption with the family she chose for her son. They have her come for visits. They keep in contact by phone and many other ways. They love her and she loves them. They are family :) I have learned so much from my many birth mother friends. I adore all of them and they have become family to me even though they are not "our" birth mother.

This is me reaching out to you... telling you that I know you are going through so much right now... searching, praying and hoping to find the "RIGHT" family. But while your searching and hurting... I am too... I am hoping, praying and trying to have faith that you will find us. That we will meet and be forever connected :) I have nights where I cry and beg for our family to be completed soon. My arms long to hold this child that you carry. To love this child and to be a mother again. My heart longs to be complete and full. My children long for the sibling they too feel is missing. My husband is excited and ready to be a father to another child. He is so cute; he has to show our friends the latest things we have gotten for this child. He is an amazing and very involved father. His children are his world. He works hard so that they have all their needs met and some of their dreams too. He is an amazing provider. Our goal as a couple is to have me be the stay at home mother always. We have been able to keep it that way for 19 years. We have been blessed.
We are not perfect, we have pet peeves and the children do what all children do, tattle, fight, nit pick, and so on.... but there is much love in our home. We center our family on Christ and on our family. We make time to be together. We strive to be better to not just each other but to those around us in the world. We are always trying to be the best we can be and when we fall short of that we know it’s something to learn from and to move forward. This life is about living, loving and learning. We try to keep that attitude.
We are praying for you every day and night. My children are praying for you to find us as well. We are praying that if you have any needs that they are being met. If you have any upsets that you are being comforted. You’re prayed for in the temple weekly when my husband and I go. You are so very close to our hearts and in our minds.
I look forward to the day I can meet you. Hug you and love you too! If you would like to meet us or talk to us... please don't hesitate to email me and contact me. crazy7bunch@cableone.net
I am trying to be patient but will honest I am really excited for the day we meet!

Adoption...

2009-10-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

Our Family Project...

2009-10-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

IGNORE THE DATE on this post.... I wanted my flower one to be at the top, so I just put this under that one... the actual date on these finished and complete is 10/19/09

We went to an adoption class where 7 ladies were asked to share their adoption story. These wonderful women were birth mothers. Each story was unique and different. Each gave us something to think about so that we can have a sucessful open adoption with the birth mother that chooses us. We felt the need to thank these wonderful woman, so as a family we made Angels for them. It was just a thank you, but I hope when they look at it, they know they are never alone, that angels are with them and that someone thinks they are amazing. We love birth mothers :)
We had fun and check out the mess on the floor! LOL
On the side of the blog is a poem I wrote just for these ladies, its not the best but I tried and hope that they feel of my love for each of them.

My son asked...

2009-10-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

During Mommy snuggle time with Jaden, this is our conversation... it was so sweet!

Jaden: Mom when is our baby coming?
Mom: honey, I don't know, its all in Gods hands.
Jaden: Do you think I will get a brother?
Mom: I think we will get what God wants us to have and if its a brother or a sister we will be so blessed.
Jaden: Mom can I pray for a brother?
Mom: Yes, honey you can, but you must remember its in God's hands and you would be sad if your sisters were not here with us, right?
Jaden: yes I would miss my sisters. But I really want a brother.
Mom: Well Honey... all I know, is when this child or children come into our lives, we will be so happy and this child or children will be loved.
Jaden: You said Children?
Mom: well we could be blessed with Twins, which is two babies...
Jaden: Mom, we have enough people in our family to take care of five babies!
Mom: Yes honey (Giggle giggle) but I am not sure we will end up with that many. Jaden: Mom, I just can't wait to be a big brother.
Mom: Jaden your going to be the best big brother ever!

Out of the mouth of babes!

Some bragging moments...

2009-10-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

What kind of a mom would I be if I didn't brag a little :) I just have to share this latest stuff...
Taylor is learning the violin and my oldest Virginia who plays really well was teaching her, I snuck in and took the picture while they were practicing together.

Then I have to share this next picture... I had a calling in the church where I taught 10 -12 year old girls. We did activities that are a blast twice a month. I am no longer going to do that calling because I have been called to primary. But on my last night, we did a Parent/child night were we had fun get to know your child/parent games. I took this picture of Todd and Taylor :)

Last but not least is Kalene's great artistic job. She designed this shirt for her homecoming sophomore class. They liked it so much that they made into a shirt and sold it :) I am so proud of her and her amazing talents. I am really blessed with children who have different talents and are willing to use them :)

Random Pictures

2009-09-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

I love to take pictures. I have so many I want to share... but these are just a few random ones I picked today :)

So I told Cally, Taylor and Jaden to make a funny face :) I love it! They keep me smiling! Cally is on left and Taylor is on right :) I am sure you figured out Jaden.

Virginia was Statue of Liberty for a school project. I thought it was a cute outfit she came up with :)

Todd and Jaden checking out the bats and birds in the caves when we went to Craters of the Moon. Cute Daddy and son picture.

These are my two older daughters. Virginia is the blonde and Kalene is the brunette. Kalene was so excited to be getting taller. Virginia is tall, the tallest in our family. I don't think any of the other children will ever be as tall as she is. She is slightly taller than me now. She likes it that way :)

This is us in our Dairy Days Parade, supporting FSA (Families Supporting Adoption). Check out the horse ride we made for Jaden and the little girl I watch Aylin. They had more fun riding the whole parade waving. They were the stars of the parade :)

I loved this sunset. I love sun rises and sunsets. They are very serene to me :)

This is my Mom! We are very close. She currently lives in Arizona but she visits often and we visit her. She and I have so much fun together. She is one of my Best Friends! I adore her. She is called GrandMax by the kids :)

OH I love this picture of Jaden. He wanted to be a big boy like his Daddy so he got a fake shaving kit for Christmas one year and hasn't stopped using. He shaves on Sundays and for special occasions. Its so cute! Todd and Jaden have their own special stash of cologne. He is my little man. :)

Ok, I love TREES! When I was growing up, my grandmother who we called "Goggi" had a tree that looked like this but it didn't have candles like mine. Where the circles were on hers had pictures of everyone in the family. So when I found this at Graples, I fell in love and had to have it. It reminds me of my childhood and brings great comfort :)

These two pictures Todd actually took. I loved the view and asked him to take it while I was driving. This field is next to our subdivision. This last year someone told me they were growing canola. Not sure but it was beautiful!!!!

This was precious, I found Jaden asleep on the couch with his little hands like that. I thought he looked like a little angel. :) Boys are so much fun! I can't wait to get another one!