Raphie the Camel

Guess who showed up in our neighborhood? Ralphie the Camel came to visit the area for a local parade. We spent over an hour getting to know him. JD loved petting him, but did not like sitting between the humps.

Family Camp Out 2012

This video displays pictures of our family camp in my home town near Big Creek. It was a fun filled weekend with most of my siblings, aunts, uncles, and many cousins.

Cookie Monster

Here is my little cookie monster helping me make Monster Cookies to take to an adoption social.

We Love the Mountains

Last night we went up the canyon to scope out the sight of girl's camp. We packed a pizza picnic dinner to eat. JD and Dallas loved exploring the area. There was still snow in some of the shady spots. It was a great way to spend a family night out.

All Boy

JD is all boy. Yesterday he wore shorts for the first time since he learned to walk, and of course, he had to fall and skin his knee. Today he had a sore bum so this evening we were letting him run around diaperless to air out a little as we sat on the porch (His onesie kept him modest, Grandmas.). I hear a splash. Yep, he was peeing on the front porch. What could I do but giggle a little? On a teacher happy note he said a few new words today: open, shut, and Pebbles (a nickname for one of his cousins). Yeah! I was sooo excited.

First Day of Summer

Today was fabulous. My first day of summer. No School!! I spent the day with JD; we went for two walks; on the first one we walked Buttons, on the second one we walked Angel. We played on the swing set, folded clothes, unfolded clothes and refolded clothes. Next we took a two hour nap. I should feel lazy, but I don't; it was heavenly. When Dallas came home, we planted our garden. Well, I guess I should say Dallas planted it while JD supervised and I took pictures

. Nonetheless it was quality family time.

We spent the afternoon outside. JD loves feeding the horses little alfalfa treats. I think our mini horse, Buttons, had four or five. I lost count. After feeding her we took Buttons for a walk down the street and back. JD held the lead roped and kissed at her from his stroller. I can't wait for him to have the balance to ride.

Adoption Sitting in sacrament meeting on fine spring day in 2010, I was struck by a scripture in Ephesians "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ himself according to the good pleasure of his will". (Ephesians 1:50.) Immediately, it was testified to me that Dallas and I had been selected by our Heavenly father to adopt. Well I was toward the end of finishing my Masters Degree in Educational Leadership when this witness came. So Dallas began researching the steps that we needed to take. Even though we live near Logan, he discovered that since we lived in Idaho, we needed to go through LDS Family Services in Pocatello. Also he learned that we would need to start with a group orientation. He scheduled that for the soonest date possible, June 23, 2010. There we learned the steps that we would take on our adoption journey. The spirit was so strong, as we left that, we knew that we would be adopting. Dallas and I attended the required workshops, conferences, meetings, and home visits. We had friends and family write letters of recommendation and set up our website, which was not an easy task. At last all we were waiting for were the background checks. We completed our fingerprint cards and mailed them off the first week of August. Three months later. Yes, I said three months later we finally received word. Shockingly, Dallas's was the only background cleared. Apparently my fingerprints were "unclassifiable", which meant I had to do them again. I was distraught. Needless to say, this news came on our fifth wedding anniversary. Should we celebrate? I was not in the mood, but Dallas salvaged the night by taking me to the temple. It was at this time I began to doubt our decision, if Heavenly Father wanted us to adopt, why are we facing so many stumbling blocks. So began another arduous waiting time for my fingerprints. Finally in December I had lost my patience. Neither our caseworker or myself had heard anything about my fingerprints. I decided to put an old saying to work, "The squeaky wheel, get's the grease." I was going to be the squeaky wheel. I called the Idaho Criminal History Unit on December 9, 2010. After a few transfers, I found the right person. Come to find out my background had been clear back in November. I didn't know whether be relieved, angry, excited, but I was buzzing with emotions. Without delay, I contacted our caseworker who speedily began to put the finishing touches on our file by locating a copy of my cleared fingerprints. By the next morning we were online and ready to start yet another waiting process. Little did we know how short it would be. A Blessed Day On December 17, 2010 early in the morning, I was Christmas shopping Logan. At 9:45 a.m. I was attending to my last errand, when my caseworker called. I was in Shopko of all places. When I looked at the caller ID my heart took flight. I gasped in a gulp of air and said remain calm, he is probably checking in or maybe has an interested birth mom. Nervously I answered. He calmly carried on a courteous conversation with the usual, "How are you?" kinds of questions. Then he asked where I was and if Dallas was with me. I told him my location and that Dallas was not with me. Cautiously he proceeded. I was in shock when he said, "I have a little baby for you and Dallas in the Pocatello hospital, right now. He was born last night, Dec. 16 at 5:53 pm and weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and was 20 inches long. His birth mom signed over power of attorney and checked herself out last night. He is strong and appears to very healthy. "Do you understand what I am saying?...How do you feel?" "Yes, I understand what are you saying. There is a healthy baby for us to adopt in Pocatello. I feel like this is our baby." The spirit unmistakably bore witness to me then and there, right there in the middle of Shopko that this was our baby. I knew it, and I knew the caseworker knew it, and I knew that God knew it. "How soon can you be here? The nurses are taking care of his basic needs right now, but he needs you here." "Give me three hours. We should be there by one o'clock." I stood frozen in time while I called Dallas. He was excited and also received a witness that this was our son, but his first question I find rather funny now. "How are we going to pay for him?" I reminded him that we had a savings account for our adoption fund that should be adequate, but that the Lord would provide. Dallas made preparations to leave the house, while I left the store and Logan. Knowing I needed a car seat, I hastily moved in that direction. I took out the items I had in my cart, threw then on top of car seat display shelf, grabbed a car seat/stroller set identical one my sister-in-law and brother had, and awkwardly maneuvered my way to the front of the store. After missing the turn I needed, I made a fast dash through Logan Canyon and back home, picked up Dallas and we were in Pocatello three hours later, where our caseworker met us at the door of the hospital. He went over a few maintenance items. Within minutes we were in the nursery, and the nurse was wheeling our baby boy into a room. There were still some legal things to work through, papers to sign, etc, but I just wanted to hold him. Quizzically, I looked at my caseworker and then at the nurse, "Can I hold him?" "Absolutely!" came a quick reply. So, in awe I held him while we signed the necessary paperwork. The question of the hour was, "What will you name him?" I had thought about that all the way home from Logan and Dallas and I had discussed it all the way to Pocatello. Finally when we held him alone and looked upon his face, we decided to name him JD after both of us. When our caseworker left, it was assumed that we would have to stay the night in a hotel. I did not want to leave my baby to spend another night in the hospital alone. When the night shift came on, the head nurse went to work and we were able to stay on the floor with the moms as long as the room wasn't need. Blessed were we to stay the entire night in the hospital with JD. How grateful we are for that kind nursing staff. Coming Home How to you prepare to bring a baby home, when shortly over twenty-four hours ago you didn't know if you would ever have one? Well, luckily that is where friends and family come in handy. My sister and her husband came to our house with their bassinet and assembled it for us. A really close family friend went shopping and loaded our kitchen table with diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, onesies, socks, clothes, and many other necessities. Mom and dad brought dinner. My sister-in-law and nephews decorated the roadside for miles and the house. Neighbors came by with gifts of blankets and clothes. Great-Grandpa Jack came with Aunt Lisa and Uncle Brian who also brought clothes. Over the next three months the gifts continued to swoop in. We were overwhelmed with the love and support that was shown to us. Due to Christmas Break, I only had to take off two days of the two weeks I was able to spend at home with JD. This was yet another testament of our Heavenly Father's divine plan and love for us. During those first two weeks, my life was forever changed. I no longer woke up for myself or Dallas or with our agenda in my mind. It was about JD and his welfare and what I could do to be the best parent possible. Christmas took on its long lost spirit. Gone were the days of wishing for a child in our home. The magic that had disappeared after our first year of marriage came back stronger than ever. Never before had I felt so close to my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I knew that they knew me, loved me, and had blessed my life with a precious miracle. Court Day At the time of JD's placement, our casework mentioned that adoption courts were taking as little as a month to finalize. Wow! Could we really have JD's adoption finalized in a month. Our miracles had not ceased to come yet. Court was scheduled for February 1, 2011. Present in the courtroom were JD, Dallas, and I, our parents: Wayne and Gaylene and Betty Jo and Perry, and my Gramps. Along with our attorney and caseworker who had to testify as well. At the hearing we met with Judge. He began by the case by teasing Wayne a little bit. I had never taken the stand in a court of law before and I was nervous. I took the oath that I would tell the truth and took the stand. There I was asked to support Dallas's testimony about where we lived and why we were adopting, etc. Furthermore, I was asked to describe my relationship with Dallas, "He is my best friend. I love him with all my heart and soul. I love the time we spend together, and he treats me like a queen. I could not have asked for a better husband." Then I was asked to describe my feelings for JD. "I love him more than I ever thought possible. From the moment I held him and looked into his eyes I felt an overwhelming feeling of love and knew I would do anything for him." When all was said and done the judge declared that JD was ours by the power of his authority. What a feeling! Even better was the feeling as we knelt across the alter of the temple three days later and were sealed as an eternal family.

Well it is spring time in the Rockies. The tulips in our flower bed have popped out of the gound. Dallas is busy working on the farm fencing and burning ditches.