I Wanna Bake You Birthday Cake

switching over.

2011-05-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

I have decided to "fix" the name of my blog! Please come over to I Want To Bake You A Birthday Cake and follow me! I will be switching over on Facebook too when I get a spare 10 minutes!
Please forgive the "dust" as I make the switch. I haven't had much time for blog beautifying lately.

Oh, and stay tuned to I Want To Bake You A Birthday Cake for an announcement coming soon!

Superman Was Adopted Party

2011-05-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so a while ago I ran across an adorable onsie that said "Superman was adopted" and I loved it. I got to thinking this week about a boy gotcha party theme and that onsie ran across my mind again. Then I saw a super-hero party on Facebook this morning and it hit me- Super Hero Gotcha party...why not? This would be great for older toddlers and children because it is fun and boy without being too "done". It's also a cool way to tie in adoption to the theme. You could use this idea for a baby too!

Feature Party on Anders Ruff

You can get more design ideas using their designs here:

Here is a DIY Super Hero Party for more ideas:

Super Hero Party:

Here is a Sup er Hero Baby Shower!

Another Super Hero Baby Shower:

Adorable Super Hero favors:

Hero Lollipops

Kryptonite Favors with downloadable template:

Super Hero Printables:

Super Hero Printable

Vintage Super Hero Printable:

Chinese/Asian Themed Birthday Party or Shower

2011-05-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

Check out this adorable Asian themed party!
There are even instructions for how to make this lovely invite:

You could easily use these ideas and translate them into a different color theme or switch it up a bit so that you could have a boy's party or shower. I love the dipped fortune cookies and the fruit kabobs!

I also found this Asian themed baby shower with Sushi diaper cakes!! Too Cute!

Hungry for Sushi CAKE? Check out the tutorial!

Use this simple idea for center pieces:

The pain of infertility.

2011-05-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

I am debatably the most blessed woman in the world.

I have a loving, devoted husband who puts up with me and my insecurities. I have two adoring, beautiful, wonderful, healthy and active miracle children. I have had a lifetime of love and blessings. I am so grateful for the gift of adoption and I cannot imagine my life without adoption! It has changed me, opened my eyes and shown me the kind of love and relationship that only God can create.

There was a time in my life when I could not imagine a life without giving birth. A time when I felt that my whole life depended on that one significant thing. I was mourning, in pain and depressed by my situation. I went through a lot. I went through loss, grief and saying goodbye to my pregnancy before it was even real.

To this day I find myself wondering what it would be like to carry a baby in my own body. I struggle to feel that I am fully "normal" because so many perceive adoption as foreign and their painful words cut me to the core. But I imagine life is like this for many people in different circumstances. I know that I am seeing my life long dream come true- to be a mom. It's entirely different than I imagined in my head when I was younger. I wouldn't change it though. Not for anything!

That doesn't mean I don't wish that I could know what it's like. It doesn't mean I don't wish that I didn't feel the need to explain my family all of the time. It doesn't mean that when someone (particularly those who are close to me) asks me about my children's "real mom" I don't cringe.

I think it means that I have grieved a loss and I am embracing God's plan for my life.

I know many people that tell me I shouldn't give up on the "dream of childbirth". I honestly haven't "given up a dream". I've embraced a different one. I look forward to my future and hope that it involves many more opportunities to adopt, help someone adopt and minister to adoptive families.

If you find yourself still in the process of grieving, I want to encourage you to talk to someone who has adopted. Talk to an adult that was adopted. Listen to the miracle stories and I pray that your hope for your dream of a child is fulfilled. No one should have to face a hopeless future, and let me assure you, infertility is not a hopeless future. It is hard, painful, lonely (I certainly know this) and sometimes it is hopeless for a while. I pray you find your hope. This is what my hope looks like....

I am truly blessed beyond measure.

Cupcake Stands- DIY Ideas

2011-05-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am still working on my Phia's Princess party and started looking into displays on the web. I found some stunning and easy DIY tutorials so I thought I should share them on the blog! I think we will be doing a variation of the wrapped boxes. I will be posting plenty of pictures of the party with detailed outline of my choices so stay tuned! -Sarah

Wrapped boxes cupcake stand

Bird's Party paper cupcake stand

Tutu Cupcake Stand by allthingscupcake

Pretty tiered box cupcake stand by chattybrides

DIY Cupcake Stand
yespleaseblog square cupcake stand

A Mother's Legacy

2011-05-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

This is a lovely picture of my Grandmother holding my mother as a baby. Every Mother's Day I think of the wonderful legacy that the women in my life have left.

My Grandmother passed away when I was 11 on Mother's Day. I will never forget that day. Even though I was young...I understood the pain of losing someone so beloved. More so, losing someone painfully- to cancer. It brings tears to my eyes to this day to think of what a loss this world had that day.

My grandmother was beautiful, inside and out. She was strong, incredibly kind and always had a sense of humor. She was the type of woman that I believed could do anything! She was very intelligent, crafty, a great baker, gardener, teacher and wonderful.... wonderful Grandmother.

I know that she was the best kind of mother to my mom and her sister and brothers too. I know they miss her sweet smiles and warm hugs. I know they miss her laugh and words of wisdom. I know they miss her stories (she was the best story teller I've known). I know, they miss her.

The best thing about remembering my Grandmother is knowing that being a good mom and Grandmother was an important part of her legacy and she accomplished that in her life. She left an impression on so many lives and has inspired so many.

If she were alive today I know that she would say that she is incredibly proud of her children. They have all accomplished great things and all of them have BEAUTIFUL families.

Let's look at my family...My mom Sherry...

The whole family including husbands, wives, grandkids and cousins minus my family

Family reunion with all of the extended family including Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and Cousins, minus my family.

There are SO MANY of us that it is hard to all be together in one place at one time! And it just keeps on growing! My mom had 10 children.

1)Joshua

Joshua, Ella, Bennett, Livi and his wife Leah

2)Kristin
Kristin, Julie, Kayla, Mariah, her husband Anthony, lil' Anthony, Emily and Olivia

3)Jonathan:

{Photo credit: Rachel Grace Photography} Jonathan and his lovely wife Esther

4)My self, Sarah:
My husband Tony, Michael, Sophia and me

5)Rebekah:

{Photo Credit: Rachel Grace Photography} Rebekah's husband Donald, Jack, Riley and Rebekah

6)Rachel:

7) Benjamin

8)Alyssa

{photo credit: Rachel Grace Photography}

and 9 & 10) Noah and Josiah:

Josiah and Noah

All of us have been touched by my Grandmother's legacy.

If I could speak to her today I would tell her that my life is not the same without her presence. I would tell her just how beautiful and lovely she is and how much I love, respect and admire her.

I'd also thank her for giving my own mom and me the wonderful example of mothering that she gave. Every aspect of my desire to be a good mom stems from her. She made me feel like the most special child in the world when I felt lost in the crowd of 10 kids. She made me feel like I could accomplish anything I set my mind to.

I would also tell her that she gave my mom so many of her wonderful attributes. My mom is loving, incredibly compassionate and kind. She sees injustice in the world and takes action. She's witty, talented, smart and very tender. She loves her kids and her grandkids with the same sort of warmth and devotion. She sees the good in people and the world around her.

As I grow older and look at my mom through "mom" eyes I see that she has given 10 kids an incredible gift. She's shown us that life is "not about me". It's about more than just the you and I. For that and many many other gifts that my mom has given....

Thank you.

Thank you for the wonderful mom that you are and continue to be. Thank you for your love and example. Thank you for being an amazing Grandmother to my kids. For them, you are leaving the best legacy. To think, they have you by the grace of God as their Grandmother. What a wonder that is!

To all of the Mothers and Grandmothers out there that love without abandon and touch lives, Happy Mother's Day!

{In loving memory of Minnie, the best Grandmother a girl could ever dream of having. I miss you.}

Christen's First Mother's Day- A Guest Blogger Post

2011-05-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

My First Mother's Day May 2011

I cannot find the words to describe what it is like to be a mother on this mother's day. I am mommy to a beautiful, precious, vivacious girl who is the most wonderful thing to behold. What makes this holiday so amazing is my daughter's history.

My daughter called someone else mom last year during this holiday.

Last year during this holiday, my heart was ripped to pieces. I wanted so badly to be this adorable girl's mom, and to celebrate this day with her, but my daughter was – at best – confused by what was happening in her life. She didn't really understand why – at four years old, she began meeting these new people, and people were saying I was her “mom” too..... I literally remember sobbing (that horrible ugly cry when you can't breathe) telling a friend how hard that Mother's Day was during that season of short visits with her, and waiting, unknown, and limbo.

She gave me a gift she made at school last year, and then decided she wanted to give it to her foster mother instead. My husband would have stopped her to save me from hurt, but I didn't say a word - I couldn't do that to my sweet confused little girl. On a visit together she asked me if I could buy her mom some flowers for mothers day; and we did. It was a struggle with all these people who controlled her life then, (agencies, foster family, etc.) to even get to see her on Mother's Day last year, and although it was wonderful to see her and play at the park, it really didn't mean anything to her. It was a hard, bittersweet day.

This year is – well, amazing. They have made a big deal at her preschool of explaining what Mothers Day means, and made gifts for mom. She has made me heartfelt papers she colored on and had her teacher write “I love you mommy” on it. She said she is making me something every day this week for mothers day at school – I can't wait to see it all!

She keeps covering her mouth because she wants so badly to tell me all the secrets she and Daddy have cooked up for me. And somehow, she accidentally told me she has made me a Crown to wear on Mother's Day. She asked me three times if I liked her Mother's Day drawing. Three times, with an embarrassed smile! Then she buried her head on me and said quietly “Happy Mother's Day Mommy”.

The real truth is that sometimes during the past year I have wondered if she thinks of someone else when people ask who her mom is. Sometimes I have wondered who she really associates with that special title.

But not anymore. Not after this. Her eyes hold nothing back when she tells me she loves me. Her face shines with excitement when she tells me Mother's Day will be so much fun.

Her school is doing a Mother's Day picnic on Friday. And when I sit with her on a blanket eating heart shaped sandwiches I will never forget what it is like to be – not just a mom, - but my sweet daughter's mom.

Mom to a girl who has had her own heart ripped to pieces by abandonment and trauma. Mom to a girl who somehow has opened her heart to me, loves me, and calls me “Mommy”. How is it possible that God has blessed me this big?

What indescribable joy. I will never forget this Mother's Day. -Christen

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Thank you so much Christen for sharing your story and your heart! Your daughter is a beautiful and wonderful gift! You are a wonderful mom and you inspire me with your tenderness, love and the nurture that you show to your daughter and those around you! I just love how God knits together families through adoption! There isn't anything more marvelous than a family pieced together by God.

-Sarah

Jack's Airplane Birthday Party

2011-04-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

I am beyond excited that my lovely sister Rebekah offered to share her party for my nephew Jack on my blog! She is so creative and talented! I hope that you are as inspired by her ideas as I am. I love the simple but thoughtful way she puts things together. If you would like to see more of her creativity you can check out her Etsy store here: Your Mom Designs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The theme - Airplanes

The two year old birthday boy - Jack

My kiddos and I recently took a trip by airplane to visit a sister and her family, this was the first airplane ride for my little boy, and boy oh boy did he enjoy himself... He loved every minute of it, and i knew at that point that I wanted his small little family birthday party to at least be themed one of his new favorite things, so we went for airplanes, and the planning and making began.

I had an vintage travel poster calendar from a few years back that i was able to repurpose and cute airplane silohouttes out of. i made 9 silhouhettes and then sewed them together by twos and threes and hung them by a suspended art wire right beside the goodies table.

I happen to save things, lots of things, mostly when I envision turning them into a craft project of sorts someday. One of the many things I have been saving is airplane travel boarding passes, baggage claims and the like that I was able to turn into a collage and add to the airplane theme of the party, and now i have another piece of art to hang on my wall that is completely personalized and nostalgic.

I completely went in an vintage direction with the airplane theme, especially after finding a vintage cosmetic case that I displayed as a gift holder.

There were many, many airplanes about.... I had to have a garland of sorts, and so i repurposed a very large and old world map into mounds of paper airplanes in various sizes that i attached to fishing wire and hung above our bar.

And of course there was a need for a runway. and what better spot then the serving table, I don't seem to have a picture of it with all the food from the evening, but I do have a picture of the runway with several of the paper airplanes that party guests made for our paper airplane flying contest.

Peanuts and clouds(white cotton candy) up for grabs.

Banana cupcakes with peanut butter frosting, topped off by propellers(wafer cookies and a meringues).

I wanted just a small detail for my little girl, so I made her a hair clip to resemble a paper airplane, and then made one for myself to match.

and the birthday boy himself... dressed up in his pilot costume.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you Rebekah for letting me share your party! The best part for me? Totally the adorable pilot pictured above and his gorgeous sister with her paper airplane hair clip! I want one of those for myself!

Do you have a party that you would like to share? I would love to blog your party ideas too! Simply e-mail your party to sarahviera@yahoo.com with "party for blog" in the subject line.

Tiaras and Wands Oh My!

2011-04-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

I am looking for ideas for my daughter's party and keep coming across all of these amazingly girly tutorials. Here is a really cute one for a wand with curly ribbon!

Fairy Princess Wand by littlebirdiesecrets

And Check out this adorable felt crown tutorial from Juicy Bits! I just love this idea.

Felt Birthday Crown from Juicy Bits

Or, make it using the templet that Koala Brains made:

Koala Brains Felt Crown Pattern

Nothing like making Tiaras and Wands to make a girl feel like royalty. I hope that these tutorials will inspire you as much as they have me!

A Royal Princess Birthday Party

2011-04-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, I am simply amazed at the details and creative thought that went into this party! I love the cute little tags she used on the glasses saying "be royal, sip politely". The little "royal ball" pit was a cute idea and great for little ones. I will be looking at this party for ideas for Phia for sure! See all the beautiful pictures here on the lovely photographer Diane Elizabeth's blog!

Party Banner Ideas

2011-03-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Seems like this blog has taken on a "party" theme lately. Can you tell I'm gearing up for a birthday? Well, my daughter will be 4 in a couple of months (holy smokes....). I have waited my whole life for the girly birthday parties that I will throw for my daughter. I am so excited about the process and I'm loving all of the amazing and talented ideas I am finding all over the web.

Here are some amazing inspirations for Birthday Banner's that I have seen lately!

Beautiful Banner design by lovetheday on Etsy.

How cute is this?! Little Monkeys and Bananas for a 1st birthday! Too cute!
First Birthday Banner from merrimentdesign

Of course I love every bit of party design by TomKatStudio! She has customizable banners for whatever design you are looking for!

TomKatStudio

Here is a great banner how to from Paper Source:

Here is a FREE printable Birthday Banner from Anders Ruff:

Back to School Party! This is so cute, I think I'll be using this for my graduation party!

2011-03-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Back to School Party.
Printables!

I just love this! So cute for back to school, a teacher shower or graduation party!

Sweet Craft Cakes: {Sweet Tutorial} DIY Tutu Table Skirt

2011-03-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

This is perfect for a girly party table! I'm thinking about this for Phia's Princess party.

Sweet Craft Cakes: {Sweet Tutorial} DIY Tutu Table Skirt: "Supplies you will need: 10 yards of TulleTableclothRibbonPins First lay down your tablecloth onto your table. Next fold your tulle in..."

We finally made it to orientation! Woohoo!:-)

2011-03-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not sure that either of us have any Irish blood, but somehow the luck of St. Patties Day rubbed off and we made it to our foster adopt orientation last night (I kid, I know that God has his hand on this). It almost didn't happen AGAIN. The traffic was horrible and Tony made it almost half an hour late but we managed to attend and we both left excited. I was a bit afraid that Tony would be scared off by the honesty of the director, Freddie.

She was honest. She was very honest about the types of children that are in this system. I really liked Freddie and look forward to working with her during the process.

The next step is signing up for our MAPS classes and training. It looks like the next cycle that we can do is starting in June. I'm really excited to be moving towards this. My biggest concern is preparing our children. How do you do that when you have no time line? Mighty had very little notice when Phia came into our lives and I want him to be better prepared this time around.

Stay tuned as I will be blogging about this experience in hopes that others will want to walk this path.

On another adoption note, a friend of mine Erica Shubin is right now meeting her daughter in Ethiopia!!! I am so excited for her and her beautiful daughter. Please be praying for their court process, the attachment of her, her husband and sweet Zahra. What a beautiful thing...

Sophia's Party-Ideas

2011-03-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

Fairy Wand Lollypops

Pastel Chocolate Bark

Chocolate Mint Oreo Cookie Balls

French Macaroons

Food Ideas:

Lunch boxes for the kids-PB&J or Ham and Cheese with bags of chips and fruit and water bottle. Maybe Princess & knight stickers on pink and blue take-out boxes or bags
Big salad for adults
Cubans for adults
Pink Lemonade
Blue punch
Vanilla Cupcakes with pink and blue frosting
little cups with carrots and celery with ranch at the bottom
mini fruit skewers
popcorn balls
cake pops
maybe Chick-Fil-A mini skewers with like 4 nuggets on each? Sauce?
Cones for fries or chips or popcorn

princess party food ideas by sarahviera featuring a diy

An Adoption Shower -Polka Dots and Elephants

2011-03-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of helping a bit with a shower for a friend of mine who recently adopted. I had a great deal of fun looking at shower ideas and chatting with the girls about the whole event.
Here was our inspiration board:

shower ideas #1 by sarahviera featuring evening party dresses

We had a craft area for designing onsies, bibs and burp cloths for the Jax. There were iron on designs and puffy paints as well as some hand-made appliques that were designed to be modern and chic.

The favors were candy bar treats. We created a candy bar with the couples favorite candies and had little "Jax" stickers to seal the bags.

The food and cakes were catered and the tables were covered with fresh flowers.

For the game we had a trivia slide show on the flat screen about adopted celebrities. It was a lot of fun and a way to get guests talking and laughing. It was also very informative:-).

The Onsie Crafting Table:

Paper Lanterns as Polka Dots:

Candy Bar:

Cakes & Cookie table.

Travel Theme Adoption Shower Idea

2011-03-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

Travel Inspired Party-This theme was designed to be used as a wedding shower I believe but the idea would be great for a family who had to travel to get their adoptive child.

'Love You To The Moon' Adoption Shower

2011-03-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

I just love the idea of this shower for an adoptive family! We did Mighty's nursery in moon and stars theme so this is bringing back bitty baby memories for me! I love the saying "I love you to the moon and back" and it's so appropriate for any new adoptive mom! You could also do this shower in pink and yellow, pink and purple, green and cream, green and yellow, navy and yellow...the possibilities are endless!
To get the scoop and see more pictures check out Sweet Designs.

Asian Inspired Party & Adoption Shower Ideas

2011-03-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

Asian Themed Shower:

Foe-Sushi!

This party would be wonderful for an adoption shower, Gotcha Day party or birthday party. I love this one! I am not a fan of fondant, which is used a lot here, but you could always find a way to use substitutions like chocolate coating and candies for the roe instead of fondant balls. Super Cute! You can see more pictures and read the details here: Sweet Designs

Adoption Showers & Parties

2011-03-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to feature parties, birthday parties and specifically Adoption Parties, Showers and Gotcha Day events. If you know someone who has hosted, or you have hosted such an even please contact me if you would like to feature your party with how to's and ideas on throwing a successful Adoption party!

Here are some ideas I got searching the web, I hope they inspire you to throw someone you love an adoption shower!

Stork Themed Shower, Blue and Orange

Asian Themed Shower:

Foe-Sushi!

Russian Doll Shower:

Russian Doll Boy Theme:

Barn Style BBQ Chic. Could be adorable for an Adoption party or Gotcha Day celebration. Perfect for a large crowd.

This would be beautiful for any daughter's adoption party or shower! Love the use of bright colors! Frosted Events

Safari Party- Africa? This blog has tons of up close pics of this adorable Safari themed party. This was actually a one year old birthday party but this would be so cute for any adoption shower, boy or girl using some girly colors in there!

Pandaemonium Baby Shower- So cute! Perfect for Asian adoption!

Pink and Grey Safari Shower ( could be done in yellow and green, blue and grey...ect)

Adoption Party Ideas {The Sweetest Occasion}

Ethiopian Shower

Lady Bug Adoption Shower- China

Why choose to Foster? Foster Adopt?

2011-03-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

I have been rolling around dozens if not hundreds of questions around in my head for the last six months or so. The big question? How do we choose? Adopting Internationally, Domestically, Foster Adopt?

It's hard because let's face it, there is a huge need in all of those areas for loving, nurturing and providing families. No child is more loved and desired than the next by God.

So I've struggled to find answers. I have had the honor of recently meeting several Ethiopian adoptive families including the Shubin Clan and the Walser's. We also have friends from church who started the process to adopt from Ethiopia. Hearing all of their stories and seeing their beautiful children tugged at my heart strings. But there was no clear and loud direction.

We adopted the first two times through domestic situations and while I wouldn't change any of it the process wasn't painless. Recently we have seen domestic situations go miraculously well and heartbreakingly bad. We wondered if we should do things differently this time around.

Then we started thinking about Foster Adoption. Fostering and Foster Adoption can truly have bad stigma attached. Sometimes when I mention Foster Adoption to people they physically cringe before they go off on how dangerous and unpredictable the process is. The truth is, adoption is not predictable in any way, shape or form. There is nothing expected about adoption. This is true Internationally, Domestically and in the Foster system. Just look at the turmoil now in Ethiopian adoption. Many families waiting on their referral or travel are waiting and hoping things don't fall apart.

The truth is, when I think about Foster Care/Adoption I am scared. Scared of being vulnerable. Scared because I don't know much about it. Scared because of all of the unknown, unpredictable and unexpected outcomes. Scared at the unbelievable lack of control that I would have.

You see, when you adopt through an agency or even an attorney you sign paper work, you start the process and at some point you wait to be "referred" or "picked" by a birth family. You work, then you wait, then you are matched and then you have a child.

With Foster Adoption it's a bit different. You go to an orientation meeting. You start a 10 week process to be trained to Foster. Then you complete a home-study through the State which takes longer and is more involved (or so I'm told). Then you wait. Wait, not to be chosen or referred but wait for a child to either be removed from their parents long enough for the parents to work to get them back and fail...therefore having their rights terminated. Or you wait until there is a situation where the parents rights are terminated on the spot for something so horrible as to not give them a second chance. Then, you get a call and-bam. There you are. Faced with the choice to take that child or wait for the next.

Just typing those words are scary. but then I see a video like this and I realize...for all the fear and anxiety I face about the process and all of the unknowns, how much worse is it for the child who doesn't even know if they will ever have a permanent home again, or someone to love and care for them maybe even for the very first time in their life. And, to think, if there were more families willing to open their arms to Foster, Foster Adopt or just support their local Foster Families, this little boys story might have been so different....

Here is a great blog post by WeLoveOurLucy discussing some of the facts about Adopting through Foster Care and Fostering:
http://weloveourlucy.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-arent-we-all-foster-parents.html

Project Hopeful and Aids/HIV Adoption

2011-03-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

Did you know that in a normal family setting there has never been a case of a child transmitting HIV or Aids from their sibling?

This organization is truly inspirational and is educating and advocating for orphans who suffer from HIV and Aids from around the globe. Do your part and spread the word, purchase Project Hopeful gear or donate.

HIV is totally preventable.

Love makes someone family

2011-02-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

We have known Gwen and Don since 2000. They have been dear friends through thick and thin and we have gone through a lot together. Including infertility, adoption and just general "life". I could not ask for better friends and a better support system. They are compassionate, loving, committed, fun and just plain great. They are family. They are family because they love us like family, and we love them like family. There is nothing that bonds people together more closely than doing life together, the good and the bad and though for at least half of the time we have known them they have lived in other places they are always connected in some way and we cherish that.

This year we decided to do our Disney vacation together so that we could actually be together with our families! It was so much fun. The kids had a wonderful time and made great memories. We enjoyed just being around them and sharing family time with them and their beautiful children. My sister Aly also came along to help out and it was wonderful to have her around! These are my favorite people! I have missed my peeps:-)

Here are some highlights from the trip...

Isn't my mom cute?:-)

2011-01-20T13:32:00.000-08:00

Just had to point out that the picture I used for my header is a picture of my mom when she was a little girl. So cute! She baked lots of birthday cakes when I was a child, in many ways my passion for motherhood and adoption started with with my mom, Shery. She is an inspirational woman who mothered 10 children.

When things don't go my way....

2011-01-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

I am not going to lie...I am not a patient person by nature. When I found out in November that we had to wait until the end of January to get started on our adoption process I threw a little fit (this my husband will attest to!). I wanted to get the ball rolling {NOW}. I think that most of us are that way by nature. We figure out what we want and it's like a fly to a light we are so focused on the goal ahead of us that we lose sight of the important things along the way (like remembering to not drive our spouse crazy).

Well, today is the day we are scheduled for our orientation meeting and as you can tell by yesterdays post I was really excited and looking forward to getting to that step in our journey.

And then, my beautiful and lovely daughter got sick with the flu....and gave that flu to me!

I am not feeling well and generally worn out because I've been up the last two nights nursing her back to health with medicine, fluids and snuggling. On top of that I am stressed out because I have assignments due and seriously lack the energy or time to do them. I also am supposed to start interning on Tuesday in a third grade class and will not be able to do so if I am still contagious!

So, I started to feel real sorry for myself this morning. I was bummed out and just pouty (this my husband will attest to as well). Then I got to thinking about the other times in my life that I have been at this point of looking into adoption. Let me tell you about those times...

When I was a girl I knew I wanted to be a mom. I played with dolls, adored babies and knew that I'd be a mom one day. When I got married I couldn't wait to have a baby. I was so anxious for it that I had a really hard time waiting until my husband was ready. When we started trying I did not get pregnant. After a year I did not get pregnant. We tried IVF and I failed to give birth.

Then, we decided to adopt. We made some calls, did some research and found a wonderful agency in our town. We signed up and then we waited (not long though). It was about 4 months when we got the call that we were chosen. About 5 months later we were parents to our son "Mighty" who is our pride and joy. We didn't plan on things happening that way...didn't frankly want things to go that way at first. But I wouldn't change it for the world and the heavens today because I have my dear son. He was God's plan for us.

Then, we started to think about a second child about the time that M turned 14 months old. We thought that because adoptions generally take longer for a second child that we would need to plan for at-least a year of waiting for a child. We knew we wanted a girl. We did some looking around, spoke with some agencies and even met with a couple of them. Then, we got a call one day from an angel (named Kelli), she connected us with an adoption attorney (named Lee, another angel) who was looking for a home for a baby girl that was due in 8 weeks time. Wow, just....wow. We didn't plan on things going the way they did. We were a mess in those weeks leading up to Princess's birth but...wow...God does some seriously amazing things for His children. 6 short weeks later we met our daughter. She was every single thing we had hoped for and prayed for in a little girl. She is perfect for us.

I was upset about today at first and then I realized that if things always went the way we wanted and intended them to go that our beautiful children would never have become ours. I am excited to get this ball rolling, but I am ok that it isn't today.