30A in Florida

A couple weeks ago it was my birthday. Jarod knew I didn't want any gifts but I really wanted to travel! Of course! So, we went to 30A, which most people may have not heard of. It is about 15 minutes west of Destin. Destin is nice but I LOVE the laid back feel of 30A and all the neat little towns along it! We went there 2 years ago and decided to go back. I like seeing different places but sometimes you fall in love with certain ones. I uploaded quite a few photos but had plenty more.....didn't want to overload too much;) It was not crowded since most kids just started school and the weather was so nice! We were scared at first about the weather because the day before we arrived they had flood warnings and it was pouring for at least three days straight. Whew! We stayed 4 nights but we could have stayed longer...can't we all during vacay:) 

We got water! Almost to our destination. 

The cutest little town called Rosemary Beach

It felt like we were somewhere else...

I wanna take a ride!...

We walked around the town and I thought I was in a movie. I couldn't get over how pretty it was!

Seaside

Yummy food at this place!

We ate in Seaside twice for lunch at these little streamline RV's. I don't know how thrilled Jarod is of me taking a picture of him eating though!

Walking around Watercolor

Mcquire's Irish Pub. Reuben sandwich and peanut butter burger (yes, it was good if you are wandering).

Hey, it's my birthday! They had dollar bills everywhere!

Jarod's friends took off without him on the bus. lol

This bed and breakfast was amazing! I wish we would have stayed here the entire trip but it was a little pricey.

I LOVED our little photo shoot! One of the workers was able to snap a couple photos for us! Love this man to death!!!

We are ACTIVE!

I wanted to announce that we are officially ACTIVE on the waiting list!!!!!!

Can it really be?

YES:)

We are so EXCITED!

We now get to experience the "wait" that everyone that has adopted or is currently waiting talks about. I was talking to our agency and asked them, what do we do now? They said, just wait. I guess after working on different things and making sure everything was getting done I felt like I should be doing something. 

I was looking back on our journey and wanted to put these dates down mostly for my myself for when we look back. We visited our agency for the first time to ask questions on May 24th. We got to meet our social worker for the first time on June 20th, went to our first class on July 19th and had our home study on August 8th. It took three months to complete everything but it didn't feel that long! At first I was like, it won't take that long but it does. 

We mail all of our printed letters tomorrow and then keep our phones on us pretty much at all times. In our class they said to feel like you are expecting because we could possibly have a child in nine months. I know that is not always the case but I still want to prepare myself for these months ahead and the possibilities! We really don't know what HE has planned for us but we do know there are plans. Praying for us and the mother that is out there!         

Friends & Family

Just a post with updates in pictures! Sometimes that just works best to record what has been going on in our life. 

 

We took Jarod's half brothers putt putting and to get ice-cream one evening! Aidan got a hole in one! 

The boys

Being silly and having fun

Our niece turned the big ONE! This is right before she started crying because she got icing on her foot.

Girls day one Saturday with two of my college roomies! So glad we can find time to get together....even though it is hard to do sometimes.

Jarod helped coach with his cousins and the team won in their age group! Woo Hoo!

Katie is big buddies with Khloe. We watched Katie one evening and they played ball for an hour! No joke! It is the funniest thing.

Chasing Khloe

Awww

All that playing worked up an appetite!

Don't want to forget Khloe....I couldn't help it and had to take a picture after her bath. She isn't fond of them and she is giving the sadest eyes right here! She has it so rough;)

And celebrated my 28th Birthday last week!

Since most of you know I LOVE to travel my next post will have pictures from our little trip to 30A in Florida for my Birthday:) 

AND an update on our adoption process!!!!! 



Remembering Lindsey

On July 21st it would have been Lindsey's 23rd Birthday and on July 27th it has been 9 years since my little sister went to heaven. There is not a day that goes that I don't think of her. Last week was especially hard, but it is like that whenever it gets close to the Anniversary date. I was talking to someone that lost a family member. They said, they really didn't know what I went through until they lost someone so close. So true. You have an understanding but until you go through it you totally don't know. My parents go to a support group called "Compassionate Friends" for parents that lost a child. It is a great support group and helps them cope with the loss.

I always wonder what it would be like if she was still here. Would she still raise her rabbits or have her dream come true of having a horse. She loved her animals! With us thinking about a nursery I wonder if we should have a rabbit theme just because of her or some sort of animal theme. I want her to be a part even with her not here with us. I Love you Lindsey Rochelle and Happy 9th Birthday in Heaven!

6 Year Anniversary and 4th of July

On July 7th we celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary!!! We have officially dated 6 years and have now been married 6 years. I am looking forward to many more wonderful years with this amazing guy! We didn't do a lot on our anniversary. We went to church, ate at Olive Garden, shopped at a couple stores and just spent the day together. It was such a pretty day out too!

We stopped at our home on our wedding day. This has always been a favorite picture!

My love

A year or so before we were married. We look so young.

I always have to make something that goes with the holiday:)

Fireworks at Boggs

Playing ball

What is everyone looking at?! ha



Katie Jo was feeding Dre. Too cute!

How many guys to get a lantern in the air? No luck that day because it was too windy.

Love that smile!

At our neighbors 4th of July party! The kids are in line waiting on sparklers but it was a never ending cycle.

Always a corn hole tournament going on.



More updates to come!

Our Adoption Decision

As most of you know we haven't had the easiest time "trying" to get pregnant. Between the news when first started trying 3.5 years ago, canceled IUI's/FET, negative IVF and the ups and downs of trying to find the best medications so my body wouldn't stimulate too much. Oh what a journey that has been. I wanted it to work so bad and had dreams that I would get pregnant. But, that didn't happen. It was so hard getting my hopes up then getting them knocked down again and again! At times I felt like I was getting punished. After the horrible accident that paralyzed my dad and killed my sister instantly I thought I wouldn't have any heartache for a while. I never in a million years thought me, being the only one that can give my parents a grandchild can't do that now, but I can. At first I was upset but over time I have actually grown closer to God. I rely on my faith more than ever and HIS plans for us. It amazes me how HE can work.

It is funny how things can just hit you. One day I was at home and said to Jarod, I think I am done with treatments! Just like that I was ready to move on. Well, I did think about it A LOT. I thought about what we should do and I wanted to feel comfortable with my decision. Jarod has always wanted to adopt from the beginning but I wanted to try a few treatments first and then we had talked about adopting our second child. It isn't happening like that and that is okay. We are going to become parents and grow as a family and we can't wait! Yeah, I would LOVE to get pregnant but I have to accept that may never happen. We will love any child that becomes ours whole heartedly no matter what!!

We decided in early May to adopt. And right away I was ready to get started with ALL the paperwork! We were so excited! The paperwork and everything we had to do scared me at first and it was all a little overwhelming. We have completed most of it and I feel more relieved. I am hoping we can have our home study done by early/mid August and be active sometime in August:)

Hoping for a smooth process! 

Life Changing News

I have been holding back and I can't take it any longer to announce our EXCITING news!!

Doing cartwheels because of excitement!

We are ADOPTING!!!!!! 

Woo Hoo I get to tell everyone finally! hehe. I never knew when the time would come but deep inside I always had this feeling we would be guided into this direction. After multiple fertility treatments I kept telling God to guide me in the direction that is meant for us and to help me feel comfortable with His decision. And that is what HE did and that is what makes this even more special. I get Teary eyed and cry sometimes just thinking and talking about this. We would be ready to adopt right now if we could but currently we are in the process of working on our home study. I mainly wanted to just post our news and can't wait to update on the details and process.....

Ahhhhh......are we finally, really going to be parents:) 

I kept waiting to post this and after our sermon at church about adoption I just had to post this!