One year of relief

Today marks the one year anniversary of "The Phone Call". This month has been really weird for me, as I for some reason have been reliving the stress of last year's July. I have been really unmotivated and depressed lately and I think it has to do with thinking about everything that happened last year. How grateful I feel today to realize that B and M made the most painful decision of their lives and yet it was one of the happiest days for us. We will forever be grateful to them for allowing us to raise Nevaeh. She brings us such joy and happiness. Yet I still feel so sorry for them. They are homeless now and whenever I take her to see them I see such pain in their eyes. I really wish that our joy didn't have to bring them so much pain. So of course I can't help but think of Nevaeh's favorite song from Wicked.
That's why I couldn't be happier - No, I couldn't be happier - Though it is, I admit - The tiniest bit unlike I anticipated - But I couldn't be happier - Simply couldn't be happier - Well - not "simply -'Cause getting your dreams it's strange, but it seems a little - well - complicated. There's a kind of a sort of - cost. There's a couple of things get - lost. There are bridges you crossed you didn't know you crossed until you've crossed. And if that joy, that thrill - Doesn't thrill you like you think it will - Still - With this perfect finale the cheers and ballyhoo. Who wouldn't be happier? So I couldn't be happier. Because happy is what happens
When all your dreams come true. Well, isn't it? Happy is what happens when your dreams come true!

Another New Addition

I know I said I would never do it again and I'm still not quite sure why I did, but we got a new dog last Wednesday. He is 6 months old and is a Rat Terrier. He was doing really well with not doing his business in the house until today when he peed all over my bed comforter. We will have to be more careful about not letting him just run around the house.

Nevaeh thinks he is her new best friend. She chases him around and then he chases her around. They seem to wear each other out which is a good thing. We are still working on him not jumping up on her. He likes to give her kisses but sometimes gives her puppy bites instead.He is really cute and just the right size for our family. Meet Ringo.

End of the Year School Party at Castle Park

I can't believe another year has flown by and school is already over. Where does the time go? The boys' school paid for an end-of-the-year party at Castle Park. We had not been there in a while. We use to go all the time when they were little. I was proud of myself for finding some coupons on-line that allowed them to have $30.00 in spending money for free at the arcade. I think that is where they sent most of there time. I think everyone had a good time except for when we had to wait in line for one hour for our pizza.





Having a great time on the logride


Nevaeh was so excited that she got to ride by herself
Nevaeh was wiped out after her fun day.
Josh, Jared and Jacob at the end of the day with their friend Tim

For Good Video of Nevaeh

This video is dedicated to all my Angel Family Friends who have had to love and let go. To everyone who has had an Angel baby leave a handprint on their heart and cried because they might never know how their story ends. To all who have been changed for the better and for good by the smiles and laughter an Angel baby brings to your home. And to everyone who knows they have made a change for good in the life of a child by providing unconditional love at a time that is so crucial in a baby's life.

I made this video for our family one year ago when we thought our Angel was going back to her birth parents. I had my friend take the last set of pictures for me right before Nevaeh started having overnight visits. This Angel baby gets to stay with us forever but I will always hold a special place in my heart for the other two who returned home.

Thank you Angel Family for your love and support and for all you do for these beautiful children. May you always know you have changed a baby's life for good even if you only loved them for a short while.

Happy Mother's Day

So I told my husband the other night that I think I am an amazing woman. I know at first this may sound like a joke. Who would actually brag about such a thing unless you were kidding? The thing is that I know a lot of amazing women who don't realize they are amazing. We think of amazing women as those we here about on the news or interviewed by Oprah. But I know women in my life who do amazing things everyday.

So why am I amazing? Is it news worthy? Maybe not to Oprah but to me it is. Why should I only look up to everyone else thinking that they are amazing and that what I do isn't good enough? Have I been burned in a plane crash and write an inspirational blog? No. Have I overcome some debilitating disease? No. Do I have a career that saves people's lives? No. But I took the time to save one starfish in the sea. I put my heart out on the line and took the risk of loving someone else's child while they tried to get their life back on track. I am a loving wife and dedicate mother. I am amazed that I made it through the last year of my life as well as I did.

So this post is for all the women in my life who forget to realize they are amazing. Why? Because you are a daughter of a Heavenly King. Because you are compassionate, understanding and helpful. Because you have your own trials that your are going through yet somehow manage to think that everyone else's must be so much more difficult. And because you are my friend and find ways to lift me up and make me smile when I am not sure I can make it through another day. You truly are amazing just the way you are.

Mormon Helping Hands Day

Every year our church sponsors a community clean up day. This year we were asked to help clean up a park in our neighborhood and replant and paint. The boys worked hard and I chased Nevaeh around the park. She thought she was helping too but mostly wanted to run around and play on the slide. We got there late so they had ran out of the fashionable yellow vest.










Jacob worked hard carrying woodchips to the playground and Nevaeh took a break to ride a toy.




Josh and Jared worked hard pulling out old plants so that new ones could be planted. Jared also went to paint and was sad that he got paint on his favorite pants.

Adoption Celebration

Last night we celebrated Nevaeh's adoption with family and friends. I was so busy rushing around the house that I forgot to take pictures of people who came. I am so grateful to have had so many people supporting our family during the process. Amy made this beautiful cake for Nevaeh and matched what she was wearing for the day. My mom and sister/sister-in-laws came and brought gifts. My mom gave her a new bike which she absolutely loves. We asked friends to make a donation to Angels Foster Family Agency instead of bringing gifts. This is the agency that we fostered Nevaeh through.