*Adoption Update

     While we were sitting on the beach we received an email that Angel had finished our profile.  They sent us a rough draft via email and wanted to know what we thought.  As always, they did an amazing job and at that point we told them to print it and send it to every birthmother they thought might be a good match for us.  When we arrived home we found a paper copy which was even better sitting in our mailbox.  This means that Angel will begin to show our profile to potential birthmothers but cannot post our information online until our home study is complete. 
     We have almost finished packet #3 for our home study and are waiting to hear back from LCFS for our first interview.  My goal is to finish our home study completely before September.  At that point, Angel would be able to show our profile to any birthmother.  Nothing major going on just wanted to report with an update. 

Families Come In Many Different Forms

     Sunscreen in my pores, waves crashing, and sand on my toes, that was our beach setting for the last week.  As our Myrtle Beach vacation came to an end, I couldn't help but notice all the families that we encountered over the short week who had obviously adopted.  I am talking about the families who have adopted a child from another race other than their own.  On 3 separate occasions I counted 3 couples who adopted.  With that in mind I wonder how many others have adopted that we wouldn't even realize? 
     I wonder if when you are going through a season in life you are more aware or tuned into others who are going through the same experiences you are.  Take this strange example, have you ever started looking for a new vehicle and upon test driving or buying slowly began to notice all the other people that have the exact same vehicle that you do?  I feel, while in the midst of our adoption, my senses have been more in tuned to look around at other families and their make-ups. 
     It was so refreshing to see other happy families having fun with one another.  It's also a reminder for myself to fill out that next paper, send that next email, and make that appointment so we can become that happy loving family we have seen on vacation.  As the days go by, I will think of those families and dream of the day that I can be someone's else hope through their adoption journey.  Until next time, always Chasing Hope. 
    

My Daily Reminder

     With my brain still on vacation time, I barely survived my first Crossfit WOD in over a week.  Instead of feeling like I was going to die I actually missed that madness that is Crossfit.  Even though we missed and didn't workout on vacation and had way too much junk food, I feel like I haven't lost too much ground. 
     While driving home from the sandy shore line, I scoured Pinterest and scrolled through Facebook.  I came upon a Pin that I had posted earlier in the week of a fitness quote that I loved.  Using Word Swag, I fancied it up a bit and added my own back ground and viola the creation you see below.  It's nothing fancy, but I think the quote says it all.  To be honest I felt better about myself this year at the beach but I'm not where I want to be.  Where I want to be is back in a bikini not ashamed of what others think of my body.
     Now I know some of you will say, "Women should love their bodies even if they have curves and blah blah blah."  To have nice curves would be one thing but some where my curves turned into fat.   I haven't been able to stand how I have looked but for the first time in too many years I am finally feeling and looking good.  When I go back to the beach this year I won't be the woman sitting on the beach in her one piece and covered from head to toe.  Nope, I'll be the one in the bikini who isn't ashamed of how she looks in her swimming suit.  Until next time friends, always Chasing Hope and feeling fabulous. 

Just Wait

     Just wait until you have kids and you'll never get sleep, have time to pee, or insert an amazing perk here.  Maybe that was a little too sarcastic.  However, I despise this phrase because to be blunt I have waited A LONG TIME to have kids, but maybe to some people 3 years isn't very long of a wait to have children.
     Everything about this threatening phrase just digs under my skin and I hear it from close family and friends, all people who know our struggle.  Now, I am not trying to down play anything that parents do for their children.  I can only imagine that parenting is exhausting and there are times where you wish they would just stop crying, lay down for their nap, or stop pulling their sisters hair.  Being a parent sounds like a tough job, after all you are entrusted to care for a little person who looks and acts just like you.  However, what are you really trying to accomplish by telling me to wait until I have children?  Is this supposed to make me change my mind about having them?  Or is it supposed to show me how lucky I am to be able to sleep in or not have to watch Barney for the thousandth time. 
     Well, my friends I don't call this lucky at all.  I would give up my days to sleep in, quiet days alone, and all the money I have (oh wait, we kinda already have) to have a child.  Thus pointing out some of the down sides of parenthood isn't going to help.  Am I delusional to think that everyday is going to be a piece of cake?  Duh, no, everything for us thus far has been extremely difficult, and I wouldn't expect parenting to be anything but.  However, when I do encounter those crazy never ending parenting moments I would like to think that my mind will travel back to those times where I was sitting in the bathroom crying again over another failed pregnancy test, getting ready to tackle another mountain of paperwork, or writing another check for a failed treatment.  So the next time you give someone parenting advise please take the time to consider who you are talking to.  After all parenting may be hard but so is infertility.  Until next time, always Chasing Hope. 
    

Plowing Through Paperwork



     I have heard stories of all of the paper work that comes with adopting a child, but never in my wildest dreams could I have truly imagined the horror.  Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little.  With so many different forms already piling up around us, I knew I needed to stay organized.  Off to Staples I went where I found the 13 slotted pocket folder you see below.  Not to toot my own horn, but I am the Queen of organization.  When we built our house we did not have a general contractor who handles paper work, keeps track of liens or anything else that needs taken care of while building.  Chase and I were the general contractors, so organization was key and we did a pretty good job. 

     So, with that in mind I bought an adoption pocket folder.  When we built I used a binder and it wasn't my favorite tool.  However, the pocket folder, I have found, is so much better.  I spent a little extra on this one, the pockets touch the bottom of the folder so nothing can get mixed up or slip between the cracks.  There were several folders that were a little cheaper but remember you get what you pay for and I knew this needed to last a while.  This one also has a large pocket in front for keeping any random items or business cards.   



 

 

     I love all the extra pockets.  As you can see we haven't filled them up yet but I'm sure we will soon enough.  Plus, I am not sure what all I will need in the days to come so I just left the back pockets blank.  For the time being our sections are as follows: receipts, home study, Angel info, fundraising ideas and just a few others.  The home study slot is getting a lot of work since we are in the middle of it.  

 

     Call me crazy, but I can't stand using cheap pens so I splurged on bought Sharpie pens.  They are so nice and write smoothly.  

 

     I know everyone has their own way of being organized while wading through the never ending pile of paperwork.  I just wanted to share what is working for me.  Another plus about the pocket folder is never having to worry about things slipping out if you drop it.  When I had our house building binder, I had to pick it up a certain way or risk picking a million papers up off the ground.  I know this post won't have the interest of everyone, but I thought it needed writing.  Until next time, always Chasing Hope.  

My Aching Body

     For a little over a month now Chase and I have been surviving Crossfit classes at a new gym in our town.  Are we crazy?  Yes, but we have tried many different work-outs and programs and nothing has worked for long.  The first two weeks that we attended there wasn't any charge for the class, so why not give it a try.  Now you need to know something about me and some of you already do.  I am not an athlete.  No, really, in high school I didn't play sports and I have never lifted a large weight in my life.  Within the last few weeks I will say that I survived the weight days and, for a newb, did pretty well, at least in my opinion, and that's really the only one that counts.
     I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would like something as intense and rigorous as Crossfit.  Let me tell you the atmosphere is completely different from going to the regular gym.  Why you ask?  Well don't you worry, you know I will tell you.  For one you have a trainer, and at times 2, showing you how to properly lift or do whatever it is you are trying to accomplish, which at this point for me is complete the work out in the time allotted and I'm always the last one to finish.  However, the way I see it is that I am there and trying to better myself.  The trainers are there for support as well.  Even though I always complain, I am so glad that I have someone telling and showing me what I need to do. 
     Another thing that surprised me was that I actually like it.  Now while in the midst of said work out I will tell you it is pure hell, but I have found that I would rather be sore than have that feeling of not accomplishing anything.  Even when I have rest days I feel like I'm missing something. 
     The last thing that took me off guard was how nice the people were.  Now, by people I mean other people in the class and most have been working out and can do way more than me.  I will never forget the third day we went, the WOD (workout of the day) was a nightmare.  The torture began and yours truly was the last to finish, but as time was almost over the other classmates came over and were cheering me on to finish.  Even though my slow behind didn't finish the WOD completely I made it farther in the workout than I ever thought possible and the fact that others were cheering me on really lifted my spirit.  As I said before I am still the last to finish, but I do finish in the allotted time.  My goal is to one day be that person cheering on a newb to finish their workout because there is no greater feeling that thinking someone is on your side wanting you to accomplish your goal as well.  My body still aches, but in all honest I haven't felt this good in a long time.  Until next time, always Chasing Hope and feeling great. 

Unorigional

     I am neither witty nor brilliant.  However, I love a good quote.  While cruising around Pinterest I have found some excellent infertility and adoption quotes.  This quote is by far my favorite.  I have always known in the back of my mind that it would be hard for me to get pregnant.  Did I know that I would have trouble conceiving?  No way, but there was always this nagging feeling that I had that I would have trouble conceiving. 

     However, throughout this journey I have learned a lot about myself.  I have always wanted to be a mother and always have thought of adopting.  I guess that was God's way of preparing me for our journey.  So my goal is to become a mother and the method by which it happens is unimportant.  Until next time, Chasing Hope.