Christmas 2013

Be prepared for LOTS of pictures!!! We had three Christmas get togethers the week-end before Christmas, two on Christmas day and will finish up on New Year's Day! It was a busy week but I loved every minute of it!

My favorite time of the year!

Started off with the Nelson Christmas!

They fit right in with the kids coloring ;)



My aunt and cousin. Pretty ladies!

My aunt and uncle

Me and my momma

My dad with his sister, brother and g-ma



The Knepp Christmas was next!

Katie Jo

Me and one of my favorite girls!



The kids did a gift exchange and had a blast! It is always more exciting to watch the kids open gifts!

They love each other

Then the Nelson Christmas with my parents



My dad loves to grill so he was in heaven when he got omaha steaks!

The dogs scoping things out

 Lindsey's gift. It reminded me of her sleeping in the clouds in heaven.

Christmas Eve Jarod didn't get home till 7:15....the latest ever for him on Chrtsmas Eve. We were counting down the days for peak to end at UPS because it was a busy winter. After this we got in our new jammies, made hot chocolate and watched a Christmas Story. It was a debate between that and Elf! One of our traditions we started. 

In our jammies. Love my little family!

Hot chocolate. Yup! 

Khloe didn't do so well training to be an elf last year. So, this year we thought maybe a reindeer?! She looks so funny in this picture. hehe.

Our Christmas



I had to get a gift while we are waiting! 

Then Schroering Christmas!

This was the only photo I got because there were so many running around most of the time.

Last but not least Christmas at Jarod's mom

Jarod and nephew Dre

Jarod's mom

The boys minus Justin



Update in Pictures

 It's almost CHRISTMAS!!!! I have some pictures I took the past couple weeks and didn't want to forget to post them. Trying to stay on top of things! I have done pretty good so far!

 Our Christmas card

I usually pick a card with atleast some Christmas colors but wanted someting different this year. I loved it!

Shoveling ALL that snow we got that took forever to melt

Our nephew's got baptised

We got to hang out with our niece one sunday! I could just hug and kiss her all day:) She had a couple "episodes" and my brother in law said, do you still want a kid? Heck yeah.....give me 3. Kidding! Well, we will just start with 1! 

So intense. lol

Having fun!

Whenver I see this it reminds me how great a father Jarod is going to be!

 With some of the family

For some reason ALL of the neighbors were bad and had to get coal;)

Khloe turned SIX and celebrated with some ice-cream.....she is ready to chow down!

Hope everyone is ready for Christmas!

I can't help but to keep thinking this may be our last Christmas just the two of us....and Khloe!

  

December Update

I called our agency to get an update on our status yesterday! I plan on calling them the first week or so of each month.....hopefully I don't have to do it for too many months! But, we just don't know. They told me that our profile was given to two birth mother's in November and one in December so far!!! I get all excited when they tell me this because one of those women could possibly choose us:) It varies when the birth mother's call or get back to our agency. It could be days, weeks or months. I know they need time to think about everything.....I would want them to do that! But, I can't help and get excited! That is one part of the wait that makes it hard because you have such hope and joy but really don't know what is going to happen. I just keep praying! It is crazy to think that our child could be conceived and growing as I type!

We were number 28 on the waiting list last month and we our now number 25!!

The Truth

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone.....and Black Friday (yes, I love to go shopping online and in stores that day). I know there is so much to be Thankful for and I AM Thankful for so much! But, at the same time this Thanksgiving I didn't get into as much as I you usually do. The truth is I feel like there is a missing piece and that just holds me back. I went to bed with tears in my eyes praying for the time to come for us to have "our little family". I love seeing all those pictures posted on Facebook and blogs but at the same time am envious. I know Christmas will be here before we know it! In 23 days....is that, right!? Whew! I lOVE listening to Christmas music, baking, decorating, spending time with family and friends, driving around looking at Christmas lights, picking out gifts and remembering the true reason of Christmas! But, deep down inside I will be waiting on the BEST gift EVER.

Adoption Class

Yesterday Jarod and I headed to Indy for our last adoption class. I have really enjoyed these classes because they talk about so much! And, you are with many other couples that are going through the same thing that you can talk to. It really opens your eyes! Yesterday I left with a full heart!! They had birth mothers and a couple that just adopted a baby come speak in the afternoon and that was by far my favorite part!!! Whenever the couple spoke that just adopted you could just see the other couples eyes just light up and they were so attentive. It wasn't just a room with couples. It was a room with couples waiting and praying for the same thing and getting a glimpse of what their future may hold. Every couple that was there will get to experience that joy of parenthood through the gift of adoption. And, each will have a different story on how they became a family!

The class teaches you how important it is to be open with your kids about adopting them, being honest, educating not us but how to educate others and discussed a birthparent's perspectives. I would have to say my favorite part was when the actual birth mother's spoke to everyone. There were five that spoke and each had a touching story. When they found out they were pregnant they were ages 16-35ish. A wider range than I would have thought. These women were so brave and truly loved their child. I had tears in my eyes whenever they were talking and was trying so hard to hold them back. I can't imagine. None of them regretted the decision they had made. All of them receive pictures and updates and I definitely want to do the same whenever we adopt. I know getting that reassurance and hearing about milestones reached means the world to birth mothers. One of the women made a comment......I thought it was neat that I like Giraffe and Zebras and so does she. Just a similiar like and she loved just knowing that! The little things can mean so much!

In part of a newspaper clipping I have kept says, one gave you a seed of talent, the other an aim, one became your guiding star, the other became your sun, the first gave you life, and the second taught you to live it. This kinda reminds of what that birth mother said about having similarities. That child was already destined to like giraffes and zebras but her mother exposed her to those and taught her all about them so that she could love those animals even more.

I always knew adoption was such a blessing but it has touched me even more than I thought could be imaginable. I can't imagine what it will feel like whenever we do meet our child and get to bring he/she home with us!

I know there will be struggles but that is with every family. I want our child to feel like the most loved child ever and want to do whatever possible to provide a loving home for them! I feel fortunate having so many other families near to us that have adopted as well that I can talk to and ask questions. Having support and someone to just ask a simple questions means the world.

And, I know they have recommended not really buying much because it may be too hard having a room set up and not knowing "when" but a couple weeks ago I did order a crib. I debated about waiting but for me I feel better knowing I have some things. I have to plan a little. On our way home we picked it up yeasterday! I am a picture taker and wanted to get a picture of us picking it up but then thought maybe that will look silly. So, whenever we set it up I will have to:) I am not sure when we will put it up. But, We Have IT!!

Adoption Wait

I still can't believe we are on a waiting list to adopt!! It seems so surreal. We have dreamed of being parents. Can we actually be this much closer to that dream coming true! I was thinking about how long we have been married and how long we have been praying for our child. We have been married a little over 6 years and have been waiting for 4 years almost exactly. And, we have been together for 12 years. Sometimes it's hard to imagine it not being just the two of us. It has been just Jarod and I for so long that it sometimes feels like our little family is never going to grow.

I sometimes feel like I am a kid in a candy store waiting in line for my favorite piece of candy. BUT, all the other kids keep passing me and getting that special piece of candy. Even 2, maybe 3 pieces. While I am still waiting and not even nudging a bit. You can only imagine that you would get a little frustrated, wonder why, feel sad and want to just leave and give up. You try to work on your patience and think when my time comes that piece of candy is going to taste so good. This is kinda how I feel. This has lessened somewhat since we decided to adopt but these feelings are still there. I don't think it will completely go away until we are holding our precious gift in our arms.

Being on the waiting list is a great feeling but still hard at the same time. I have so much anticipation and excitement. But have no idea when that excitement can be a reality. We could be parent's in 2 months or 2 years. Which kinda scares me because I want to be a mommy now. I don't want to wait anymore. I know.....patience, patience. The holiday's are approaching and I know that is always a harder time.

I have to keep reminding myself though, when our day comes it is going to be AMAZING!!! We will seriously be the happiest parent's alive! I probably won't be able to sleep for a couple days. If you see a lady running up and down a street hollering that may be me.....and you know what that will mean;) lol. Well, I probably won't quite do that!

After being on the list for 2 months I did finally call last week to get an update. We were number 32 when we went active and are now number 28:)

Gatlinburg

Towards the end of October we took a little road trip to Gatlinburg. Whenever we leave it is usally to somewhere warm and atleast 9-10 hours away. This time that was different! Only 6 hours (that was so nice) but no warm weather. We LOVED the fall scenery but our next trip will be back to the beach! No doubt we are sunny skies, sand in your toes and fruity drink on the beach kinda people:) It was nice enjoying the mountains though!

We had to do something with animals!!! Always!

 Awww...mommy and baby

Sloppy eater

Guess what day it is?

Cute little family owned buisness

Fall time!

On one of our hikes

No fear if a bear would have tried attacking us Jarod does have a weapon. lol

I LOVED the light shining in the woods! Beautiful!



Clingmans Dome

A little chilly way up there

Best 5 bucks we spent!

The loser. hehe

The winner:)