been tagged...

Talented and Gifted...or just Tag

I have been tagged by a couple of people so I thought I would give it a try, especially because I don't have anything else to post.

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. I was going to school at Lane Community College, and hating it.
2. I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life since I had graduated and I had been planning on moving to Utah and ended up not doing it because of health issues.
3. Just hanging out with my friends.
4. Working at Hallmark at the Valley River Center.
5. I was taking Institute Classes and going to the singles Ward.


5 Things on my to-do list today (Tomorrow):
1. Go to the bank
2. Clean my house
3. Do the dishes
4. Work on scrapbooking
5. Do some grocery shopping


5 Foods I enjoy:
1. I love chocolate, especially if it has nuts or caramel.
2. Carbs: pasta, bread, rice, potatoes...
3. Brownies
4. Italian food
5. Casseroles

5 Bad habits:
1. Not washing my dishes and letting them sit in the sink for a whole week (we don't have a dishwasher).
2. Not finishing books that I have started.
3. Not putting clean clothes away, they usually stay in the laundry basket until they are all used up.
4. Not liking ice cream (I know, I know...it's UnAmerican!!).
5. Not calling people back (I really hate talking on the phone) or emailing people back.

5 of my favorite toys:
1. My camera
2. My rice cooker
3. My Blog
4. Photoshop CS2 and Elements
5. As soon as our baby boy is here, I know that I will love playing with him.


Sorry, I am not going to tag anyone...because I think everyone I know has been tagged or has done it or I don't think would want to do it.

More on Adoption...

First Presidency Endorses National Adoption Month
Kiku Beaufort11/14/2007 12:00 AM MST

November is National Adoption Month, and members of the First Presidency have thrust their support behind the government’s efforts to raise awareness of the need for more parents to adopt.
“We endorse this proclamation [of November as National Adoption Month] and express our support of unwed parents who place their children for adoption in stable homes with a mother and a father,” the First Presidency stated. “We also express our support of the married mothers and fathers who adopt these children.”
The First Presidency’s statement follows years and years of the tradition of celebrating adoption, both inside and outside the Church.
National Adoption Month, which began in 1976, was originally only celebrated for a week. It was initiated on a state level by the governor of Massachusetts. But, when President Gerald Ford caught wind of the idea, he implemented it as a national celebration that same year. In 1990, it was changed from a week to a month-long celebration.
The goal of this month is to celebrate the family, raise awareness of the thousands of children waiting for adoption, and express gratitude to the many parents who have taken foster children into their homes.
“Families who adopt show the generous spirit of our Nation,” President George W. Bush stated in a proclamation announcing adoption month. “Every child desires a permanent home, and when parents adopt a child to love as their own, lives are changed forever.”
Within National Adoption Month, there is a specific, momentous day, National Adoption Day, which will be held this Saturday. On this day, special efforts are made by the courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, and child welfare agencies in all 50 states to finalize adoptions for thousands of children.
The Church’s support derives from its stance on the sanctity of life, and it has done everything in its power to provide adoption services to solidify that belief. In 1919, the Church started LDS Family Services to do just that.
LDS Family Services offers help for both birth parents and adopting parents. It provides information about services, experiences of other birth parents, and agency commercials to offer courage and hope to those making the difficult decision of whether to place their child for adoption.
Regardless of who is promoting adoption, the Church is there to offer their support for the sanctity of life and the importance of the family.
“Children are entitled to the blessing of being reared in a stable family environment where father and mother honor marital vows,” the First Presidency stated. “Having a secure, nurturing, and consistent relationship with both a father and a mother is essential to a child’s well-being. When choosing adoption, unwed parents grant their children this most important blessing. Adoption is an unselfish, loving decision that blesses the child, birth parents, and adoptive parents in this life and throughout the eternities. We commend all those who strengthen children and families by promoting adoption.”

Visit ChildWelfare.gov to learn more about National Adoption Month events and sponsors.
Visit ItsAboutLove.org to learn more about LDS Family Services.

Wanna guess???

Well with our baby's due date only being a month away, I think that it is time to take guesses when he will be born and how big or little he will be.

The winner might get a prize, we will have to see about that...I am not promising anything!



Just guess DATE and WEIGHT and LENGTH!!



Helps:
~"C" says that he is measuring right on with every visit.
~ His due date is December 13th.

Adoption Awareness Month...

Hubs and I feel truly blessed to be able to experience the miracle of adoption in our lives. With just a month left until we experience our own adoption story, my mind is constantly thinking about ADOPTION. I am constantly thinking about what our birthmother will be going through, and what all birthmothers go through. They are the most amazing, brave people that I know. We don't miss a chance to pray for our sweet birthmother in hopes that she may feel peace, comfort and the love of our Heavenly Father and Savior and also the love that we have for her. I am also constantly thinking about so many other couples out there waiting to find their baby, and hoping and praying for them that it will happen soon for them. It is sometimes hard to be so happy about finding our baby when I know so many out there who are still waiting and looking.

I hope that all of you who read my blog will learn more about Adoption...please check out all the Adoption links to the right.

just been thinking about...

"For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin- real life. but there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination."

-souza

POTATO CASSEROLE

This is a M family favorite. The recipe actually came from the Girls Camp Tator-tot-casserole recipe that we made every year at girls camp in the dutch oven. And then about 10 years ago my mom kind of changed it up and started making it at home.

Need:
1 lb of browned ground beef
2 bags of Potatoes O'Brien
1 16 oz container of Sour Cream
1 Family Size can of Cream of Chicken soup
some grated chedder cheese

Brown the beef.
In a bowl mix Sour Cream and Cream of Chicken Soup
Mix in browned beef.
Then mix in both bags of Potatoes
And as much grated cheese as you want.

This is enough for 4-6 people.

Put in casserole dish covered in oven 400 degrees for 1 hr.

Since it is just the two of us...before I cook it, or add the cheese, I put half in a small casserole dish then add cheese to that and cook it and the other half in a large ziplock container and freeze it for another meal another night. (And I add cheese to that before I cook it.)

ENJOY!!!

Shhhhhh...Don't tell Hubs!!

Well, even though it was in the high 30's today...I decided to wear my sandals anyway! Bryce hates me wearing sandals in the winter, and I usually get a good scolding for doing so. But what is great about Montana is that it is sunny almost everyday and that just makes me want to be in my sandals, even if it IS cold.

I Love my CHACOS!!!

The Gift of ADOPTION...

Once upon a time there were two special WOMEN

who lived in different parts of the world. Two women and two different LIVES...and through a remarkable twist of fate, one gave you life and the other gave you purpose.

You were too SMALL to remember one of the women; the other is the one you know as Mother. The first one miraculously gave you life and the SECOND taught you to live your life to the fullest.

One was your guiding STAR and the other became your world. One gave you a beginning and the other gave you forever. One gave you existence, the other gave you their NAME. One gave you the ability to laugh and cry; the other was there to share your JOYS and tears.

When YOU were too small too know, one searched with an aching heart for the perfect home for you, knowing she couldn't provide it. The other anxiously waited for you to be a PART of her home and family and share a lifetime of PRECIOUS moments.

Both women loved you deeply. Both women prayed for your little life to be BLESSED many times over. You are truly a blessing and a precious gift.

Thank you for being the BEAUTIFUL part of our lives that can only be filled with the honored gift of knowing the love of a CHILD. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your world. The person that you have become is not a QUESTION of heredity or environment, but of two women and two kinds of LOVE.

-PATSY GAUT

stuff...

Well, I haven't posted anything for the last week because I haven't had anything to post about. I could complain about my job and all the drama that is going on there right now. I could go on and on about how anxious we are for our baby boy and how he will be here in less than 7 weeks. I could complain about the cold weather, but that hasn't even been that bad. And who wants to hear about all of that anyway.

So this is all I've got...

I finally got my Lucky Baby baby sling in the mail this week. I am really excited to use it. All though I probably wont be taking him anywhere for awhile after he is born (because it will be too cold and in the middle of flu season). But I think I will be using it alot at home when I am doing things around the house. I have read that it is important to hold an adopted baby alot, to help create a better bond.

And this is...

what I made at our Enrichment night at church Friday. The letters are just those cool vinyl letters. There is a lady in our Stake who has a vinyl lettering machine and she holds craft nights every few months so I am really excited about that. Also she said that she can customize anything if I get her the info for it. So I plan on getting her to make me a couple of our baby's name (what ever that ends up being) to put on my tags for my family home evening board. I was kind of worried about getting that to actually make our FHE board functional.

I have also FINALLY started to make my niece Hallie's baptism scrapbook. Her baptism was back in June, so I am way behind. My sister-in-law asked me to make one and then right after that I got my job, so I never really got to it. But it is actually in the works now. When I get some of it done, I will post pictures.

Sorry Shannon, but I promise that I didn't forget about it!

I hope that this satisfies everyone's need for a NEW post!

Happenings...

Well, I thought I would just update everyone on what has been going on with us. Nothing exciting, but here goes...

I was able to go home to Oregon to visit friends and family last month. I got to see Mylisa and was given a very fun baby shower.

Hubs is now teaching Seminary. It starts at 7am, so it isn't too early and he still gets to work on time. He will be released from his current calling this next week as 2nd counselor in Elders Quorum.

We were able to go to the Stake Center and watch all sessions of General Conference. Which we really enjoyed!

Work has been good for me, but really frustrating at times. Especially this last week. The 10 hour days with basically no breaks, is really tiring and getting old. I cant wait until my last day the end of November. In the meantime it will help the days to go by much faster.

We finally got Montana License plates for one of our cars. It cost $275 for one car for one year! OUCH!! We are waiting to get them for the other car next month.

We have yet to get any snow on the valley floor! But I don't think that it is too far away! It has been really cold. We are still trying to figure out what we need to do to get our cars ready for below 0 degree temps.

Hubs and our landlord Perry, took down the window screens and put up the storm windows this last weekend. And it has made a huge difference in our house warms up. It feels less drafty and it stays warmer longer.

The Fall has been beautiful here. The bummer is that there are no real pumpkin patches around. We were really bummed because that is one of our favorite things to do in the fall.

We are getting very anxious for our little boy to get here. Just about 7 weeks left. Hopefully a little sooner.

We cant decide on a name for our little guy, mostly because of Hubs and him not liking ANY name at all. But we don't want to pin a name on him yet anyway, we want to wait to see him and then decide.

So that is all that I can think of at the moment. Hope you all feel caught up on us!

BABY STUFF...

These are just some new baby things we got...

I wasn't going to get a mobile because they are really expensive and I didn't think that it was essential. Plus most of them really aren't that cute or don't match. But when I was at Ross the other day I found this one, that I actually thought was cute and matched and it was only $10. It has two sail boats, a lighthouse, a starfish and I think the middle one is supposed to be a sand castle.

The Starfish!



"C" picked this out for the baby when her and I went shopping last week.

Here is the bouncy/vibrator seat we got this weekend. I liked it because it was pretty plain. But it is really big, which I will have to deal with.

And this is our car seat. It is one of those really nice Britax ones. Hubs's sister gave it to us. Her baby grew out of it just recently. And it is practically brand new.

...the rest of the story!

If you need to refresh your memory, check out the first half of the story!

The next day was General Conference and Hubs had planned on going to the priesthood session at the Institute building and I would meet him there afterwards and pick him up to go to a movie. I think we checked out the movies and there wasn't anything good so we went and rented one and went back to my house and watch it. When it was over we left to take him back to his car at the Institute parking lot. When we got there, there was a truck blocking the entrance. So he wasn't going to be able to leave. So we headed up to Hendrick's Park and thought we would take a little night stroll through the park. When we were walking on the trail I ended up stopping and decided that I would kiss him. And I did successfully! So on our way back to the car Hubs decided to ask me if that meant anything. I was like "are you kidding me, I'm not a player!" And I told him that I really liked him and that is why I kissed him. We then drove back to get his car.

We then continued to spend every moment we could with each other. And a few weeks into dating he started talking about marriage, which totally freaked me out! And I told him that I was not ready yet. And then he so politely didn't bring it up again. A few weeks after that I then decided that I really did want to marry him. So we unofficially were engaged. Hubs then called my parents the next day to see if he could come over and talk to them about "something". And my parents were so excited. After my dad gave him the usual threats he told Hubs he could marry me.

So a few weeks went by and one night I woke up in the middle of the night and was totally FREAKED OUT by getting married, and I didn't sleep the rest of the night. I got up and went to work totally miserable. When I was at work I got a totally random phone call from a guy friend who lived out of state that I had not talked to in a few months. I told him that I was getting married and he totally went off on me, and kept on asking me if I really loved this guy. And that whole phone call did not help out the feeling I was already having. Hubs then called me as usual and he could tell I was being really weird on the phone and kept asking me what was wrong. He asked if he could come over that night so we could talk about what was bothering me. And I agreed. At lunch time I went to my parents house to talk to my mom and I remember sitting on the floor in her kitchen bawling. I told her about everything and she told me that I needed to talk to Hubs about it. That night Hubs came over and we sat on my bed with me bawling and him staying really calm trying to figure out what was wrong. We talked for a really long time and by the end of the night I was more in love with Hubs then ever before!

A few months later I picked out an engagement ring and Hubs went the next day and bought it. When it came in Hubs came over to my parents house and sat on the couch next to me and started rambling off all this stuff. I ended up thinking that he was breaking up with me and was in tears. He then got on one knee and re-asked me to marry him. A few months later we were married and sealed in the Portland Oregon Temple.

And now here we are almost seven years later...we have been through so much together, good and bad. And I love this man more than anything, there is no one on earth that I would rather be with. I am a lucky women!!

Back to Seminary for Hubs...

Hubs was called and appointed to teach Seminary this year. It came as a complete shock!

A few months ago Hubs was asked to teach Sunday School because the teacher was going to be out of town. And it just happened to be Ward Conference, so the Stake Presidency was there. I had heard from alot of people at church that his lesson was awesome. And I guess the Stake Presidency thought so too. When they walked out of Sunday School they all had the thought that he should be teaching Seminary. When he got the call from the Stake Presidency he was really worried it was for Elders Quorum President, because he knew that they were working calling a new one, and Hubs knew his name was on that list. So he went really worried. And then come to find out it was for Seminary. He was totally shocked, he didn't know what to say when they were asking him questions. I thought that it was way cool! It took a little time for him to think that. But today was his first day and all went well!

HaPpY bIrThDaY bLoG!

Today is my blog's 1st birthday!

When I started my blog, I was just doing it to have something to do. And then very quickly more and more people I knew were starting blogs and that is when it became really fun! I have so enjoyed keeping up with my friends and family and also to be able to journal our very exciting year!

For my blog's birthday I thought that it would be fun to see who exactly is visiting my blog.

So here is the challenge...

I want every person (whether you know me or not) to leave a comment on my blog TODAY!

If you know me, you can tell me something about yourself that I don't know already.

If you don't know me, if you want, tell me where you are from and maybe how you found my blog.

I want to hear from everyone, including those I know who look at my blog but have never commented before! If you sign in anonymously, don't forget to sign your name so I know who you are.

Here are instructions for leaving a comment:

To comment on a blog is simple. Just click on the little green comment at the end of this post, next to the time I posted. If you are a regular blogger, you know what to do. If you are someone who doesn't have a Google account, that's OK! Simply open up the comment box by clicking on comment and choose "anonymous", type a comment in the leave your comment box, and then publish your comment. If you need a better step by step description go here: Blogger Help : How do I leave comments on a blog?

TWO Months!

Well it is exactly two months until our sweet baby boy is due!! I am so excited to become a mother and to see Hubs as a father. But as this time creeps forward, I am very scared for the roller coaster of emotions that our sweet birthmother will be going through. I am scared of how to handle them in a sensitive and loving manner. I am scared of how I should handle taking this baby into my arms and not make our birthmother feel like I am stealing him. I hope that I can adequately show our immensely deep love for her during this process so that she knows that she is making an amazing decision on behalf of her beautiful son. And that we are not taking him and leaving her behind. As I have heard someone say, this is the long, painful "birth" for those that adopt. And I am definitely feeling that at this moment.

My Mom sent me this book and CD this past week and it is so beautiful, I love it!

Welcome to my CRIB!!

Hubs and I decided that we needed to get the crib put up and the baby stuff organized.

So that is just what we did.

Here is how it turned out!

We only have two bedrooms and so the baby's room is really just the other side of our room, thankfully there is plenty of room for it.

The bumper and skirt are blue gingham, I got the set at Ross last year for $11.99. I also got these really soft crib sheets at Ross a few months ago for $6.99 for two, and come to find out they don't fit very well, but the mattress fits snug enough that I don't think that it will be moving around until the baby starts moving around a little in the crib. I was able to fit all the 0-3 month clothes in the white storage thing next to the crib. I think it all turned out pretty good!

Being sensitive...

Here is another article that my friend from the The R House has posted on being sensitive to those that are struggling with infertility. Please take the time to read through this article as this is a very important topic that has come up in the years we have struggle to have children of our own.

Blog Widower!!!!

77%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?
I could not help but take this quiz, from my perspective, on behalf of my sweet wife. I have determined how "addicted" my wife is to blogging. Luckily, since Mama B is "only" 77% addicted I may have a chance to help rehabilitate her. For all of you blog widowers I suggest that you try it. It may help you "battle" your wife's addiction to blogging.

HOLY COW!!!

Only 10 more weeks until our little guy is here! Just a little over 2 months! Wow I can't believe that it is getting closer, I am so excited!

Please continue to pray for our sweet birthmother, that she may feel comfort with her decision and the deeply difficult emotions that go with it.

Thank you!!

HOW WE MET...

It was seven years ago last week (Sept. 25th)...

I was sitting at work on a Monday and all of a sudden I had this very weird and very random feeling (or thought). I felt like I was going to meet the man I was going to marry that very night at FHE for my singles ward. It was so strange and totally ridiculous and I wasn't even sure why I had this feeling. Marriage was the farthest thing from my mind, especially since I just had sent off my second missionary the month before this.

So when I got home from work I tried to pick out the perfect outfit and do my hair and makeup perfectly and then headed over to the institute building for FHE. I walked in and saw some friends and started to hang out with them, keeping my eye on every guy that walked into the building, wondering if he was the "one". I ended up hanging out with my friend Clay outside on the steps when all of a sudden Clay got excited to see someone walking up the steps. I turned and saw Hubs and I instantly knew that HE WAS THE ONE! He was so cute of course!

Clay and him started talking and I found out through the two talking that Hubs had just gotten off his mission a few days before. We all went inside to play games and Hubs and I never really talked the rest of the night but were hanging out with the same people, because some how we knew all the same people but did not ever know each other.

Before the night was over I knew I needed to formally introduce myself to him. When it came to guys that I liked or thought were cute I was always very shy. But I managed to put that all aside an walked up to him sitting by himself in a chair and introduced my self to him. I asked him a few questions I am sure then it was over after maybe two minutes.

I left definitely with this guy on my mind. When I got home I told my roommate about him and how cute he was and the little bit that I knew about him. I didn't stop thinking about him all week. So then on Friday of the same week there was a dance at the institute building for the singles ward and I was so hoping that he would be there. And sure enough he eventually showed up. But he sat on the couch in the lobby talking to a friend who had also just returned from his mission. As I was walking by another friend of his said that I needed to go and get one of those guys to dance so that they wouldnt just be sitting on the couch all night. So I walked over and started to talk to them paying most of my attention to Hubs of course. During our conversation, which lasted longer this time, he had to ask me twice what my name was again. But I thought that I had actually caught his interest a little more this time, although I wasn't able to get him to dance.

The following week for FHE we ended up hanging out together with our friend Clay. And then the three of us just ended up hanging out most of the week together. The next week there was going to be a barn dance out of town, and Hubs, Clay and I decided that we would ride together. Then Clay decided that he wanted to go to Utah for some reason. So Hubs tried calling me to see if I still wanted to go with him, but I was gone until midnight celebrating another friends birthday. When I got home that night I was excited to see that he had called, but I didn't call him back because it was way too late. Hubs said that he waited up until really late for my call and was really disappointed when I didn't call him back. But the second I got home from work the next day I called him. We decided that we would still go together as long as he drove.

So he came to my house and we hopped in my car and drove the half hour to the barn dance. All I could remember was that I loved being with him. When we got to the dance I took him to meet my parents who were there because they were serving in the singles ward. Hubs and I ended up dancing every single dance together, and he would hold my hand when we weren't dancing, and oh boy was my heart fluttering. So I was all excited to go home to get a good night kiss. So when it came time for the kiss all I ended up getting was a hug. I was so disappointed. When I walked into my apartment my roommate wanted the scoop and I told her all about it, including my disappointment.

To be continued...