Awesome story and relation to that story

As I was looking at blogs the other day, Stefanie, she's one of the incredible birth mom's that I've somewhat come to know over the internet, did an incredible post. Here it is for you to read. Yeah, I could relate it but I wouldn't do the story justice. Sorry! Totally worth it to read the story. OH! Thank you so incredibly much, Stefanie, for letting me share this and for letting me blog stalk you!

Here is why I choose to share this on my blog though. First off, the lady who's story this is, is a nurse too, so I can totally 100% relate having a hectic day and flowers making it all better. There have been a few shifts where I was having a bad day, Jared ended up surprising me with flowers, and it just brightened my day so much! I've never been asked to give up the flowers Jared gave me, but I could imagine I'd really struggle with it. I want to say I'd be strong enough to give up the flowers, but I don't know that I would be, to be honest. The flowers just give you that extra ... love that you need to make it to the end of the day. To know that something better is waiting if you do give up the flowers though... it would make it worth the initial pain.

I also, obviously, can relate on the adoption part Stefanie did. I guess it's hypocritical of me to expect someone to give up their "flowers" when I don't know that I could. Maybe that's why I have the utmost respect and such a great love for all birth moms... and birth families! Anyway~ when Stefanie changes the elderly woman's story into an adoptive mom's story it just really struck home. Mine is a bit different because I didn't barely find out that we couldn't conceive or struggle getting pregnant. It's all the same though in that I can't biologically have kids, I have emotional struggles about it, and I long to be a mom one day. I know that our birth mom, whoever she may be, is an angel and I can't wait to have her be a part of our life!!

CHRISTMAS!!!

As promised here's our Christmas post. It was awesome. We didn't do anything like extraordinary, but we had fun. The 4 sisters went out to lunch, we visited, had more food involved, cooked, and cleaned. Jared and I were able to finish our Christmas shopping (I blame school for not getting it done before :o) ) We read Luke 2, watched Shan and Mel perform, and just had fun. I had the opportunity to meet up with two of my best friends, Jessi and Paula. I haven't seen Jess since my wedding! It was so fun being with those two! So fun. Anyway~ hope you enjoy the pictures. I've only put 5 of them. If you want to see more then look at our Picasa album (there's a link under the picture heading thing on here) or theres even more than picasa on facebook. ENJOY! Oh... be sure to watch the video. It was so hilarious I thought.

Shan and Josh

Shan and Mel... when we were younger Nate (my bro.) would make us sit on his lap while he would play the piano. Shan and Mel were reenacting this memory.

Me with my L.P.N. ornament. Thank you Anna!!

Jared with his Buddy ornament.

Jessi, me and Paula (left to right). So fun seeing them

And here's the hilarious video

Adoptive parent retreat

I have been asked to spread the word and happy to spread this... there's an adoptive parent retreat happening soon! So excited. I hope we can go. School may get in the way. Anyway~ click here to find out the details. Please feel free to spread the word yourself. Anybody who is thinking about adopting, hoping to adopt (like us), and have adopted is welcome to come!! Hope to see all you adoptive couples there.

HALLELUJAH... a post

Yes... we are still alive. Busy as ever, but alive. hehe Let's see what we've been up to

Jared- staying busy at work. They put out a release on Dec. 16th! Scouts is kind of low key with all the holidays, but he is still really involved. On Dec. 18th some of his scouts came over and they earned 4 merit badges!! So proud of them. They all work hard. Jared is still filling in for the 10 yr. old class. He's so loving it. I still stand scouts is where his heart is though.

Devin- finished 3rd semester of nursing school on Dec. 15th!!! So freakin' excited. I only have one more semester until I earn my associates in nursing and can sit for boards. Since finishing school I have been busy trying to catch up on things that I neglect during the semester. Things like organizing, running errands, and getting things done around the house.

I think I mentioned we went to Las Vegas to celebrate Thanksgiving with my side of our family. We also went to Las Vegas for Christmas. So fun! I'll be doing a separate post for that. Um... OH! We celebrated our 4 year anniversary yesterday. I totally meant to take pictures, but yeah... didn't happen. Here's what we did though. We had breakfast and then went to the temple. That ended up taking all morning. We went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch, then went to go see "Despicable Me". So dang cute. That movie is definitely one we'll be buying. I highly recommend it. We came home to get a shopping list together, then we went to get the groceries. After that we just had dinner and hung out. It was such a nice, relaxing day. I loved just being with Jared and not being stressed. My goal for the day was to not do anything I didn't have to and just relax. I think I was successful. You'd have to ask Jared though. Anyway~ that's about it for us. Hope you all are having a great holiday season!!

Guest blogger- Mom Zobrist

YAY! Finally a post :o) But it's not from me. I PROMISE mine is coming soon. I finally got my mom's wonderful feelings on adoption. My mom is my hero! She is an incredible woman. She's so strong in all she does. I hope to become at least half the woman she is. Anyway~ I hope you enjoy reading her thoughts

most of the family. My mom didn't want her picture up here. I figured... I'm not putting her picture. I'm putting a family picture up :o) I love you Mom!!

Devin has requested that I share some of my feelings relating to adoption, and how I feel about being a grandmother to an adopted child.

I began pondering the reality of adoption some years ago, as a teenager I was told that there was a very real possibility that I would never be able to bear children. I struggled to understand what that would mean to me and eventually I concluded that adopting a child would be a wonderful thing and if I could not have children of my own I would most definitely adopt. Years later my sister was face with the most difficult decision of her life. She was expecting a child. A child that she desperately loved, but sadly she was not in a position to give this child the life she knew he deserved and she made the agonizing decision to place him in the arms of a couple who could not give birth to children of their own. I watched her pain, I still see her pain; she knows that she made the correct decision but it still hurts and there is a hole in her heart. She longs to know where he is, to see the man he has become and to let him know that she let him go out of love. Through her I have come to glimpse the pain that a birth mother will go through to give the precious gift of a child to my lovely daughter and her wonderful husband Jared.

I remember well when Devin was born and the Dr. told me that there was a possibility that she had Turner’s Syndrome and briefly explained what that would mean in our life. My thought at the time was something to the effect that if I was going to have a child with special needs I surely got off easy. Test later proved that Devin did indeed have Turner’s Syndrome, I learned what I could, and enjoyed my precious baby. Devin did have some critical health problems as an infant. She weighed 9 lbs. when she was born, she still weighed 9 lbs. on her first birthday; the first year was rough and many hours were spent in and out of doctor offices. I was terrified that Devin’s life on earth would be short. As it turned out she out grew her problems, and by her first birthday my biggest concern was putting a little fat on her bones. Her problem was in no way related to the lack of an X chromosome.

From the time of her birth we were very open with Devin and her siblings concerning the differences and challenges that resulted from Devin’s birth defect. We worked around what we needed too, we joked about her short stature and we lived our lives in a very normal way. We frequently discussed the fact that Devin would be unable to give birth to children of her own, and we would often put in our orders for the type of child we wanted. We had fun with it but we all are in agreement that any child is to be cherished and any child would be welcome not only in Jared and Devin’s home but in our family as well.

Due to her kind and loving disposition Devin was always everyone’s favorite sister. She was quick to give a helping hand to any member of the family and her brothers and sisters were frequently guilty of taking advantage of her – but she didn’t care. Devin is still quick to offer a helping hand to anyone in need, she loves to work and she loves to help others. Her ability to love everyone is a wonderful gift and it will serve her well in her chosen profession and as an adoptive mother.

I believe that a child is a gift from God to be cherished and loved and that is true whether it be an adoptive or birth child. I eagerly look forward to the day when I will hold Devin and Jared’s child in my arms and give thanks to my Heavenly Father for their precious miracle.

blankets for birthmoms

This last month for pack meeting we did a couple of service projects. One of them is called "Blankets for Birthmom". Its an awesome charity our friend Jessalynn started. To see a blog post talking about them click here Just an FYI though... I'd double check the mailing address with her. Here are pictures during our time making the blankets.

Jessalynn telling us about the great charity.

Making the blankets

Another picture of making the blankets

Recent happenings

As promised, here's an update on what's been going on with us. It's nothing to much, but it's been fun!! Let's start by talking about Buddy, "the horse" :o) Jared's brother and his family were over when we decided one weekend that our nephew wanted to ride Buddy. I thought it was cute!

Both of them don't quite know what's going on.

"Come on horsey! Get up!"

Next is Thanksgiving. We went down to good old Las Vegas and spent it with my side of our family. Unfortunately I was sick like the whole time we were down there, but it was still a blast. Here are some pictures of the trip.

My 3 beautiful sisters when we went to go see "Harry Potter".

Crazy sisters!!!

Anna thought that our 7 yr. old nephew needed to learn how to change a diaper. Here's T learning:

And of course- lots of wrestling happened.

As always, we have been up to our normal scouting responsibilities. Love those boys! It has been so fun working with them and the other leaders. Here's a picture of Jared performing an advancement ceremony. These boys earned their wolf!

We went to see Michael McLean's "The Forgotten Carols". LOVE IT!!! Click here to learn about it. I think it should become a family tradition for us. Still trying to convince Jared of that one though. ;o) No, he likes it. He just thinks they need to change it up a bit. Ask him if you want to know how.

Jared's bored waiting for the program to start.

"Cheese!"

From our seats. Definitely wasn't the best seats... but it was still great.

Oh! AND the most exciting news of all (no, we have not been chosen for adoption) BUT we got a new niece!!!! Little miss Maggie was born on Tues., Nov. 30. Unfortunately we haven't seen her yet since she was born in TX. But hopefully before to long. Congratulations Tyler and Jess!!! Hope all is going well for all of you. Keep us posted on your happenings. Love to all