have i done any good

"have i done any good in the world today?

have i helped anyone in need?

have i cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

if not, i have failed indeed. 

has anyone's burden been lighter today

because i was willing to share?

have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

when they needed my help was i there?

then wake up and do something more

than dream of your mansion above

doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, 

a blessing of duty and love. 

there are chances for work all around just now, 

opportunities right in our way. 

do not let them pass by, saying, "sometime i'll try,"

but go and do something today. 

'tis noble of man to work and to give; 

love's labor has merit alone. 

only he who does something helps others to live. 

to God each good work will be known. 

then wake up and do something more

than dream of your mansion above.

doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, 

a blessing of duty and love."

make sure you go out and make someone smile today. :) 

5 years old

so, how have you been doing? 

good? 

great! 

we've been doing alright over here. 

i noticed that it's been a couple of months since i've posted anything. 

i should probably get on that..

yeah. 

bubba turned 5 last month. 

can you believe it? 

i certainly can't. it's hard for me to think that it's been 5 wonderful years since he was placed in our arms. 

and i love him more and more each day. 

his favorite things right now are: 

star wars

batman

any kind of costume

broccoli

mushrooms

strawberries

ramen noodles

riding his bike

playing skylanders and star wars lego for the wii

snuggles 

stories

talking

nice people

trying to read

 chocolate milk

things that he doesn't like are: 

any mexican food. 

except quesadillas 

chores 

naps 

homework 

cleaning 

waiting 

mean people 

he is a very determined kid when it comes to something he wants. 

he can be one of the sweetest kids as well. he loves giving hugs to people, and will give complete strangers hugs, just cause he feels like it. 

he is someone who does small talk

and i am not. 

so he will get me talking to someone out in public

not a day goes by that he doesn't ask when his baby sister is coming. 

and i have to keep telling him "i don't know"

he also only prays for a baby sister. 

he will for a baby brother when he thinks about it, 

but his mind automatically goes towards a sister. 

he is funny and he loves to tease everyone. 

he also likes having his way, and gets his "feelings hurt" when he doesn't. 

he says he wants to marry me when he grows up, so he can live with me for always. 

he also wants to marry his aunts. 

and pretty much any female that crosses his path. 

he's a flirt, and can sweet talk anyone. 

he loves to eat, and i can see our grocery bill going up in the future. 

my brother left on his mission for the LDS church last month, and he asks every day when curtis will be home. 

he also says he wants to be just like curtis when he grows up, and go on a mission. 

he is absolutely the light of our life, and we are SO grateful that he is with us!! we love him to the moon and beyond. 

:) 

on other notes, we are still waiting to be chosen by a birthmother, and we are looking at buying a house. 

boo and yay! 

please share

I would like to open up a little bit of me for you.

This is my wonderful little family. I am thankful for them EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for them. And I also look at them as a proud accomplishment. I worked HARD for this little family. I gave my body and dignity up to injections, surgeries, ultrasounds, doctor visits, medication, and  multiple disappointment to get this little family. We have endured 10+ years of infertility, multiple rounds of IUI's, 3 rounds of IVF, and 3 miscarriages.

I can't birth kids of my own. We've been told by 3 different doctors that it isn't possible. It would literally take a miracle.

This little man, came to our family through the wonderful gift of adoption. And I won't go a single day without expressing my thanks to God for him, and his wonderful momma. I would NOT be living my dream without them. I can't express my feelings for adoption. It has blessed my life like nothing else can. I know there are a lot of differing opinions on it, and everyone deserves their opinion. But, I would not be where I am without it. And his momma? She is a WONDERFUL person who we still keep in contact with. We love her, and consider her part of our family.

Well...we absolutely love our family of three, but know there are other littles out there for our family. So, we are trying to adopt again. It's been a long process. We completed the paperwork 1.5 years ago. We've had ups, and downs. We've had hopeful situations not work out, and we've recently been scammed.  It's not easy. And I won't lie, some days I HATE the wait. Most days though, I look forward to our future with SO much hope.

But there are still strains with adopting.

If you aren't aware, adoption costs range anywhere from $7K to $50K and up. Depending on the agency. That can be a huge chunk of change.So we are asking for help to offset some of the costs of adoption. But don't worry, we have something to offer :) We have set up a page where you can purchase prints of your choice.

 You  can go HERE to view and purchase prints.

We have a variety of photos that you are welcome to purchase and 100% of the profit will go towards an adoption. I absolutely HATE asking for money, so we thought this was a win/win where you can purchase something pretty for your home, and it would be going to a good cause.

If you don't see a photo that you would like printed, but still would like to contribute, we won't say no. :) You can click on the donate link on the right side bar --------->>

Thank you so much for helping us grow our family. I hope you enjoy your prints in your home, and that is makes you smile whenever you look at it. 

if you are suffering from infertility, or are going through adoption. please feel free to contact us. we love to help out however we can, and want you to know you aren't alone. :) 

half? step? who cares?

what is a half sister? 

what is a step brother? 

what is a full sibling? 

as adults we know the answers. 

one set of dna from one of the same parents, children from another marriage brought into the current marriage, and children with the same biological mom and dad. 

kids don't know this. 

according to small children, they don't care. 

i've seen this recently. 

and they're right. 

it.doesn't.matter. 

aren't we all children of our Heavenly Father? 

doesn't that make us all brother's and sisters? 

i know there are rolls that we have to follow here on earth (you now, parent/child/grandparents/etc)

but aren't we all siblings?

so why does it matter if we don't use the proper "labeling"?

if we had to label each child for how they came to earth, 

my children would never be siblings. 

they will most likely never have the same dna as their siblings. 

so wouldn't that make them step children to each other, and to sam and i?

NO. 

i can't accept that. 

i won't accept that. 

my children will be my children. my sons and daughters. 

my children will be siblings. 

full brother and sister. 

no matter HOW they come into our family. 

we are ALL a giant family. 

we are ALL children of God. 

we are ALL brother and sister. 

let's act like it. 

and maybe i'm off in my thinking.
and i know that there are a lot of people who won't agree with me.
but that's ok.
i respect your thoughts, so please respect mine. :) 

5

that's right. 

5 views have been on my blog in the last 5 days. 

michelle, my mom, me, my mom, my mom, and...

my mom. 

you would think that i update my mom enough, 

seeming as i can't go a single day without calling her. 

wait scratch that. 

it's 10:00pm and i haven't called her today yet. 

you can bet your pretty face i'll be calling her shortly. 

i'm sure glad she loves me. 

i think most people would be annoyed to spend as much time with me as my mother does. 

oh wait. 

sam does. 

so, michelle and mom, you should ask if sam gets annoyed with me. 

and mom, if you get annoyed with me...

don't tell me. :) 

i really don't want to know. 

so

how is your 2013 treating you? 

mine is going juuuuuuust peachy. 

i've spent most of it with my mom. 

did you know my sister is getting married in 13 days? 

or is it 12..

either way, there's a lot o' stress coming from that house. 

but she's marrying a pretty amazing guy. 

he's going to be fun in our family. 

and he's pretty lucky, because he's marrying one of my best friends. 

and i still can't believe she is old enough to marry. 

do you ever have an event in your life where the people are kind of frozen in that state?

mine was 10.5 years ago when i got married. 

my sister was 10. 

she will forever remain 10 in my mind.

and my brother will remain 8. 

did i tell you that he's leaving in 2 months? 

good grief, where have i been? 

he's leaving to serve a 2 year mission for our church. 

in louisville kentucky. 

i still can't believe it. 

and even though i'm pretty excited for him, 

i'm not looking forward to missing him for 2 years. 

but he will be a GREAT missionary. 

trust me. 

can i take a moment and tell you how content i feel with life right now? 

no things aren't perfect. 

there is still a lot that i wish would happen, or things i could do. 

but i snuggled the most AMAZING little boy this evening, and i am currently wrapped up in my chair, sitting next to sam as he looks through sports, and i am overcome with 

gratitude. 

simple.gratitude.

it makes my heart swell, and a lump press it's way into my throat. 

and even though some things suck, and i wish some things would change. 

i am grateful for moments like this. 

life

life is pretty good right now. 

and, michelle and mom, 

i love your guts. :)

and if you're not my mother, or my michelle
leave a comment so i know you're reading. :)

merry christmas and happy new year

good riddance 2012. 

i won't really miss you. 

you aren't a year that i want to live through again. 

i am, however, thankful for a few things. 

my hubby has a job again

bubba is the highlight of my life

my business did good this year

but..

bring on 2013

happy new year.

December

i've been avoiding you

seriously. 

i haven't known what to write, what to portray, what to disclose. 

le sigh. 

but i am here. it's a week before christmas, and we are settling in to enjoy our last bit of the year. 

work is pretty much caught up. 

bubba is almost done with pre-school for the year.

we are excited for 2013 and what the possibilities are. 

let's start with the most exciting news so far. 

SAM GOT A JOB. 

that's right. 

he got a job again, and we are getting back into the routine of a schedule. 

i admit that after six months of not being employed it's hard letting him go back to work. 

i have to clean. 

i have to cook. 

i have to shop. 

(yes. sam did all of those while he was home. yes, i hit the jackpot in my marriage choice :)) 

but it's good. he's enjoying it, and we are enjoying the benefits of him working again. 

bubba is over 4.5 now, and i can't believe he will be 5 in just a few months.  he's the highlight of my world. he makes me laugh, smile, melt, etc. he has an imagination that will leave your head spinning. :) 

seriously. you don't need t.v., with what comes out of his mind, you will be endlessly entertained. 

i love it. 

i don't ever want it to change. 

in a way, i don't want him to know reality. 

his world is so much better. 

and it's protected by armor, so bad guys can't get us. 

who wouldn't want that? :) 

he's loving pre-school, and he's learned a lot the last little bit. 

i can't wait until we can get a sibling for him. 

he will be an amazing big brother. 

we are hanging in there and we are so thankful for everything that we have. 

we truly are blessed, and our hearts are full. 

the Lords answers prayers. 

He hears us. 

and even though we get frustrated that things aren't happening on OUR schedule. 

things somehow work out. 

and i am blessed. 

just look at those two faces above. 

how could i not be?! 

enjoy.