The Kindness of Strangers

The last two weekends we hosted an "Adoption Fundraiser Yard Sale" to try to be ready for our first payment to the adoption agency. Yard sales are always interesting; you tend to see folks who are frugal, looking for gems to re-purpose, or searching for specific things (like the guy who showed up to ask if we wanted to sell our lawn mower).  "Yardies" usually show up at the crack of dawn, and based on past experiences, try to bargain down a $50 sweater marked as $1 to a dime. With this in mind, I armed myself with lots of change and had a little self-talk. You've got this. $1 means a dollar!  Don't look at their cute kids as they play with the toys they want. Don't give away things just because you think someone's dog is cute! Stay focused. No bargaining; it's for baby!

I went through every nook and cranny of our house to get rid of things we no longer wanted and even things we still did want. Friends dropped off items for the sale. We handed out flyers to neighbors the day before inviting them to stop by for pastries and had high hopes.  After weeks of cancelling due to weather and a cold, it was time to fund our adoption one 25 cent sale at a time! 

I'll admit, my hope was to raise funds those days, but I was given a much greater gift at these yard sales: I was touched by the kindness of strangers. Many of them. 

The yard sales weren't busy; we live on a cul-de-sac, and it was a holiday weekend and then FREEEEEZING (according to this SoCal transplant). The thing is, that's what made them so great! 

I got to meet people who have been personally touched by adoption, other moms who have battled infertility, and a Vietnam Vet who made me cry with his personal story. 

We got to get to know some neighbors we had only met in passing since moving here a year ago.  I so enjoyed their personalities and getting to know them-- so much that we've got a pot luck brewing. Some neighbors hung out for a long time in the afternoon and others brought items down to add to the cause. I could not get a single one to eat a homemade pastry or bagel; it ends up that they didn't need the bribe to come and visit. 

The best part is we got to see true acts of kindness that you don't typically see at a yard sale. 

A friend who came to lend me a table, stayed almost all day. As I began to weaken my resolve to stick to certain prices, she would literally stand behind me and say, "Cindy, $10 for all that? It's worth at least $20!" She made me laugh and drew people's attention to WHY we were having a yard sale. She also filled her car with things for her new house with only one request... that I help her decorate. 

A man wanted to buy a lot of our CD's. I counted, lowered the price and said, "How about $20 for all of it?" He smiled at me and said, "How about $25?" That never happens! But it happened at least a dozen times during our yard sale; people were insisting that we take more money. 

A woman showed up who drove from another city when she saw that it was for an adoption. She shared that she was a social worker who works with families adopting, and she just felt she should come and support, knowing what it costs. The next weekend, she showed up again. She said, "I saw it was you again, so I'm back!" In fact, the second weekend, we had at least  20 people who came back again saying they just wanted to support us. Some brought things to add to the yard sale, some brought more friends, and 2 brought us gifts-- a frame and a book about adoption. 

One teacher drove an hour and 40 minutes to buy almost all of my teaching supplies. She later texted me with such kind words. 

I met another California girl in the area that was so darling, we ended up becoming Facebook friends. Three women (sisters, one visiting from Guatemala) helped me pull things out of my garage the last morning, and we talked so much about what it's like to grow up with sisters that when they left, we were hugging. I can't think of them without smiling. 

Two days after the yard sale, a neighbor I'd never met knocked on our door. She handed me an envelope and we talked for 1/2 hour about her own adoption journey involving trips to Korea. She said adoption is a calling, and as she spoke the words, I felt them in my heart. 

In the end, I was reminded of something very important as we look to raise another child in this crazy world. There are good, kind people everywhere. Had the yard sale been busy, I would have missed the opportunity to get to know such wonderful people. I know God intended for each of those people to walk into my life for a reason. 

The most recent Cinderella movie has a great quote: "Where there is kindness, there is goodness, and where there is goodness, there is magic." Isn't it funny how in the most humble of circumstances (selling your clothes to raise money) we can find the things that are most valuable? Witnessing the kindness of others -- the goodness-- WAS magical. It's a reminder that our children are living in a world where kindness shines when we take the time to see the light in each other. 

This Week's "Creating for Love" Crafts

Wow, it's been a busy week! Back to school for Kylie, new job for me, 5 big OHH projects coming up, soccer started back up for the whole family (Pete is now an assistant coach and I'm one of the team managers), and last but not least, we are on the paperwork trail for our home study. We have completed all the paperwork we can and we're just completing doctor's appointments and fingerprinting this next week. I've been sick with bad allergies, so I've been pretty slow moving despite the busy week. 

As I mentioned last week, once a week I'm going to make a post called "Creating for Love" (changed from Creating for My Child). 

Here's how this works: 
 1. I'll post 5-6 "Creating for Love" crafts  each week. They will be crafts that I've made for people I love as gifts, or just for our Creating for Love adoption effort.

2. Along with a picture and description, I'll list what the SUPPLIES ONLY cost me (no labor).

3. If you're interested in buying a craft pictured, I will create a customized version for you. I'll donate the time/labor to the make it if you're willing to pay for the supplies and make a donation amount of your choosing to our adoption fund (link on the side bar to the left). 

4. All proceeds from "Creating for Love" crafts pay back the money spent on supplies to us and then your donation goes toward our adoption fund. Please know that creating these crafts is fun for me. Your donations, on top of the craft supply cost, do not have to be hefty. Every donation amount adds up! And every donation of $25 or more also "buys" you a piece of fundraiser puzzle documenting the true meaning of "it takes a village." (See previous post for more details). 

The idea is that I get to make crafts/gifts for people I love, and then I'll share them online here. 

Here's this week's crafts: (Please keep in mind that this is my first time making these crafts, so I've learned little tricks for next time.)

1. Photo Collage Letter
I made this for a friend whose family is so adorable their photos would make any photo project look good! It is a customized Letter/Initial covered in a black and white photo collage I hand cut to fit. This one is made from a 10.5" wood Q which I painted with chalkboard paint then "modge podged" on my favorite photos of their family. 

Cost: $10.88 in supplies + donation of your choosing for the labor (donated by me). 

How I can customize: You can pick the style and size of letter from Michael's or AC Moore online. I can paint the background any color you like (I decided on black chalboard paint for this because it helped the photos blend in to the letters. Send me a dozen or more of your favorite photos. I can do the collage in black and white or color. 

2. Halloween Wreath
One of my besties LOVES Halloween, so I'm in the process of trying out several different Halloween wreaths. This is the first, made up of orange burlap-like ribbon, a spider print ribbon (black and white) and Halloween text (burlap with black, orange and purple print), and black and white polka dot ribbon. This is definitely one of those projects that I will be much better at now that I've played with it a bit. 

Cost: $23.99  in supplies (used coupon) + donation of your choosing for the labor (donated by me). 

Here is a pic of the wreath with JUST the orange burlap ribbon to give you an idea of how you can add on other ribbons, etc OR leave plain.

How I can customize: You can pick the color theme, ribbon patterns, size of the wreath and I can add initials, monogram letters and/or extras like spiders, embellishments, etc. 

3.  Customized Photo Frame Weekly Planner (use dry erase marker to create your weekly to do lists)
This is a craft a made a few years ago as a going away gift for a friend  (inspired by this pin). I included 2 photos of my friend with the group of us girls, a friendship quote (see Thursday) and included a frame space for each day of the week. You can see here that I wrote in some "to do" items on a few of the days to show that you can write daily tasks on each glass frame and use this piece as weekly calendar. 

Cost: $35.74 in supplies + donation of your choosing for the labor (donated by me). This is one item I would ask for you to include shipping if I am to mail it to you. 

How I can customize: You can pick the color theme or papers I use for each day, the photos you want, the style font for each day (or all the same) and I can add quotes you like as well. 

 4. Birthday Wreath (This is now hanging in Kylie's play room.)

I made this wreath based on a photo I saw on Pinterest but used  Kylie's bday party colors, a lot more balloons than they called for, the letter K and some ribbon. This one is simple but time consuming, so please allow for a week if you want me to make you one. 

Cost: $51.90 in supplies + donation of your choosing for the labor (donated by me). This is one item I would ask for you to include shipping if I am to mail it to you.  I can definitely cut costs using different color balloon combos and making a smaller wreath if you like. 

How I can customize: You can pick the colors and/or theme. Without letter subtract $5.99 from the total. You can pick the color ribbon you'd like, size of wreath, etc.

 

5. Photo Collage Pot

I made this pot for my niece's room. She recently changed the colors of her bedroom to a light yellow with black and white. I took a medium size pot, painted it with chalkboard paint, modgepodged the photo collage, and added ribbon. Because of the shelving I know it will be placed on along with the C (below, I decided to add a pompom flower to the top of it until she has something she wants to put in it to keep a balance between the two projects. 

Cost:$11.17 in supplies + donation of your choosing for the labor (donated by me). Add $2 for pompom flower.

How I can customize: You can pick the color and effect for your pot (crackled, distressed, chalboard, solid, etc.), the color theme for ribbons, send me 8-10 of your favorite photos, choose black and white or color prints, ribbon top and bottom or just top. With or without flower pompom (add $2) add monogram print (add $3)

 6. Decorative Flower Letter

I made this piece for my niece to decorate her room newly redone in light yellow, black and white. I thought this would add a splash of color and tie in a few pink items that remained from her old colors. I hollowed out a 3-d letter, painted it black with chalkboard paint and made this floral arrangement to fit the letter. 

Cost: This one cost me $41.97 in supplies BUT I used 12 different types of flowers, some expensive. I believe, with coupons and limiting to 5-8 various flowers, I can get down the price to $25-$30 + donation of your choosing for the labor (donated by me). 

How I can customize: You can pick the colors and/or theme for your flowers, the color you want the letter painted as the backdrop, whether you want it weighted or light (it's pretty light since I just used floral foam). 

pictured here with just blue and black

hard to see but I added a blue and white chevron ribbon around the bottom sign

7. "School Days" Custom Frame

I originally created this frame for us/Kylie to document her first day/last day/birthday/etc. but then I found out her teacher is a first year teacher, so we took some pics and gave it to the teacher as a gift.  For this particular frame I used 3 different chalboard paint colors (lake blue, black, cream). I distressed the paints and used wax to allow each layer to be seen. I then created custom plaques with velcro to add to the frame (1st day of school, last day of school, 100th day of school, 2nd grade). 

Cost: $29.98 in supplies for frame with two velcro plaque signs (add $4.99 for each additional plaque) + donation of your choosing for the labor (donated by me). This is one item I would ask for you to include shipping if I am to mail it to you. 

How I can customize: You can pick the colors and/or theme. The one pictured has 3 colors and is distressed. You can go with one, plain color, two colors, distressed, crackled, etc. The cost above includes "First day of" and "grade level plaque" with ribbon frame and velcro on each. Add $4.99 for each additional plaque you want (last day, 100th day, birthday girl, age, confirmation, etc.) the 


So... if you're interested in "hiring" me to create a craft for you -- either one here or one of your own choosing, email me at farnumpc@gmail.com! 

To donate, click on the link in the left column. :) 

Life is Like a Box of Puzzle Pieces...

Life is like a box of puzzle pieces... you never know how  the pieces will fit together until you try. Each piece of a puzzle is unique (like people); each piece has value, for without one piece, it would be incomplete; and it takes time and patience to see your efforts complete the big picture. 

For us, our life's puzzle is missing a piece -- we are incomplete! That missing piece is the child (or children) we hope to adopt. 

We've been planning something special to thank our friends, family and strangers guided by their hearts to help us through our adoption fund. We want a permanent way to honor the people who have touched our lives in this way and a way to (one day) share the stories of all the people who helped us bring him/her home. 

My beautiful sister, Andi, designed the print above for our nursery based on a quote I found online and loved. We've turned that print into a 1,000 piece puzzle, and that puzzle will hang in our future child's room. 

This puzzle will serve as a reminder of  the fact that many hearts have WISHED for, PRAYED for, HOPED for and WANTED our child to come home to us and complete our family. 

Here's the plan:

1. For every $25 donation, we will write your name on the back of a puzzle piece. You can buy as many as you wish by donating $25 for each piece. 

2. You can personalize the backs of your puzzle pieces:

• Send me a personal message to write for you
• Send me a photo of you/your family and I can modge podge your photo onto the backs of your puzzle pieces
• Send me a drawing or handwritten note and I can shrink it down to fit the back of your puzzle piece
• If you're in the DC Metro Area, you can come sign and decorate your puzzle piece yourself! 
• My email: farnumpc@gmail.com

3. For those of you helping us in other ways -- helping us organize for our adoption fundraiser yard sale, donating items to the yard sale, buying crafts through my "creating for baby" fundraiser, or giving us much needed baby items for our nursery, we will dedicate puzzle pieces to you with the proceeds from our yard sale and crafting as well. 

4. Once we have all 1,000 pieces accounted for, we will have achieved our $25,000 fundraising goal to put toward the $40,000+ costs we anticipate for this adoption!!!  (more if we take siblings!) 

5. Once the puzzle is complete and funds are raised, it will be time to transform the puzzle into a piece of art for our child's room! We will place the puzzle in a double-paned glass frame which will allow people (and eventually our child) to see both the print my sister created AND the giant family near and far he/she was born into not of blood but love! 

If you'd like to donate to our puzzle fundraiser, there are many ways you can contribute:

1. Donate through our online adoption fundraiser at: https://www.youcaring.com/baby-farnum-409586
2. Mail us your donations. Email me at farnumpc@gmail.com for our address and so we know to be on the lookout.
3. Join us to pick your puzzle piece in person at our adoption fundraiser yard sale SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th from 8am-noon and SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20th from 1pm-5pm
4. Buy a craft through my "Creating for Baby" fundraiser and for each $25 donation beyond the cost for supplies, you can also earn a puzzle piece. 

THANK YOU for your consideration and generosity!

The Adventures of Dug Part I and Why Cesar Millan Needs to be Our Friend

Cody is a 1 and 1/2 year old lab/golden mix we adopted about a year ago.  Pete and I like to call him "DUG" because he is exactly like Dug the golden retriever from the movie UP personality wise.  We find ourselves constantly acting as ventriloquists using the voice of Dug to share Cody's thoughts. "I have just met you and I love you," "Please be my prisoner," "Oh boy, oh boy, a ball!" and "Hi there!" are just some lines we are convinced Cody thinks each day.

He's never met a person he didn't love, but he LOVES TOO MUCH.  In fact, he's an 85+ pound dog who will lay on you like he's the size of a chihuahua and then lick your face off.

 (In Dug voice: "I love you so much I want to eat your face.") 

He doesn't just love people. He loves things, especially things he shouldn't have. He's "loved on" things like Kylie's toys, a bottle of natural cleanse,  and water balloons.  (You can imagine the looks we got laughing while examining his rainbow poop on a walk.) Oh, and he consumed pyrex. He actually ate glass pieces of broken pyrex because he wanted the brownies that happened to be sitting on our counter in pyrex. 

Kylie's doll meets its demise a la"Dug"

Bye bye, natural cleanse. At least you're fertilizing our backyard now.

The good news is that:

A.) He eats inappropriate things less and less

B.) He tends to take "bad boy" items to the bay window to eat them, so we need only walk straight to the window when we get home.

Cody pictured here in said window with a demolished fireman's hat of K's. 

C.) He's showing more and more remorse when he's busted. 

(In DUG voice with ears back: "I ate your shoes when you were gone because I love you.")

The bad news is that

A.) He loves children so much, they either love him right back or they're scared of him because he's so big and wants to be close to them. This is problematic when we're nearing a home visit for our adoption, and more importantly, when we are anticipating a child(ren) infant-3 years old. He would never hurt anyone (doesn't have a mean bone in his furry body) and he's around children all the time. However, we've been scratching our heads wondering if we should "suck it up" and hire someone to train him where we've failed -- to teach him to contain his love. 

Watching over K as she sleeps.

I'll admit... I've tried a variety of Cesar Millan noises ("Pchhhhh!" "Kchhhh!" "Psaaaa!") while tapping his shoulder trying to get him to contain his excitement for kids, but he only thinks I'm playing with him. "I'm the pack leader here," I tell him. He just responds with a look that translates into Dug's voice: "You are my master, and I love you. Now please move so I can lick that tiny person."

I wish we were buds with Cesar Millan and could have him over for a BBQ. Pete could grill something fabulous, I could put out a nice spread, Ky could show him her sweet moves on the trampoline, Bella could show him that we have successfully raised a good dog on our own, and maybe he could give us advice how to calm "Dug" a bit without dimming that special sparkle he has. 

What are your thoughts? We'd love to hear them. Is our overly loving dog something we should worry about as we get one step closer to adoption? 

To be continued as I share the bad news B., which involves diapers...

(yes, that was just A!)

Pinterest Addicton for Good. Time to Get Crafty.



Pete wants me to note I only drink an occasional glass of wine for its health benefits and antioxidants. As a responsible mom and potential adoptive mom, I LOVE water.

The first step is to admit the problem: I'm addicted to crafting, and since finding Pinterest, my need to get crafty is through the roof.

 

I first realized I had this problem at Kylie's last birthday party. I walked out onto our deck behind some of Pete's guy pals as they arrived and formed a protective circle amongst themselves. The conversation, which obviously was meant to take place without me there, went something like this:

Steve: (looking around the backyard): Wow! Holy cow!
Gary: I know!
I beamed with pride as I listened in to what I thought was an expression of appreciation for the hard work we'd done preparing for the party.
Ward: This is just so....
Pete: Yep, my life has been taken over by Pinterest. She had me hanging that homemade football toss game between those trees. I told her, 'I have no rope long enough.' But she says, "You can figure it out. I believe in you," and moves on to changing all those popcorn holders over there from saying "Popcorn" to "PUPcorn" because this is an animal themed party. **sigh**

The men go on to share how Pinterest has intruded on their lives. I pop my head into the circle of them saying something like, "Are the kids having fun? Is Kylie happy? Will she remember this party?... then I'm happy and Pinterest prevails! Besides, the PUPcorn thing came from my brain!"

 

So I find I am unmoved by the naysayers. I love it and I won't let it go. :) This addiction isn't harmful unless you're piece of wood (then it might hurt) and pretty things can be made out of what you have around the house.

Granted, not all ideas from Pinterest turn out fantabulous. I, like many Pinterest users before me, have failed to follow simple instructions to recreate what I see.

 

BUT this gives me an idea! I'm going to turn this addiction into something good for our family!

Love of crafting + love of making things for people + Need to keep fundraising for our adoption=  Making Things for Good, Creating for My Child!

 

So here's the plan:

1. Each week I will have fun making things for people I love as gifts.
2. I will post pictures of the crafts I make.
3. If they are fails, hopefully you'll get a good laugh out of them along with me. If you like them, I can make one personalized for you for a donation to our adoption fund.
4.  I'll share what it costs to make each item (just the supplies)
5. I will donate the time and labor to make the crafts for anyone who wants their own version in return for a donation of any amount (in addition to the cost of supplies) to our adoption fund. 
6. Those interested in any of the crafts can give me specific instructions (colors, patterns, sizes, etc.) and I'll either hand deliver or mail out the items to you.

I have no idea if this will work, but I'll have fun giving it a try!

 

Here are the first of the creations... gifts I made for my friend Tracy's baby shower this past weekend.

 

Item #1: Personalized frame to fit with your nursery theme.

Tracy's having a boy, and after seeing a pic of her nursery and talking to her about colors, I made this for her using a frame I found at homegoods, specialty papers and my printer. Cost for supplies $14.

I personalized this using a play on their last name...

 

 

I can make a personalized frame for any occasion: give me your colors, send me your pictures, tell me what wording you want (birthdate? anniversary? message?), and I'll send you "proofs" until I get it right.

 

Item #2: Personalized Initial, Letter or Monogram Wood Plaque



Tracy's little boy's name will start with the letter E, so I used her nursery colors (light blue and white/cream) to create this distressed/crackled wood plaque using the letter E. This one is layered with light blue, cracked with cloud white, sanded here and there and the letter E is hand painted on to the plaque in blue. I made this using a wood plaque, gesso, crackle paint, two paint colors, sand paper and a stencil with some hand painted touches. Cost for supplies: $19.

 

There is a shadow on the right. The background is white crackled and distressed paint on top of a light blue.

 

Please keep in mind that these are all "firsts" for me, so as I'm creating them for friends, I'm learning what works and doesn't work. I can layer this with any two colors of your choosing, using crackling, distressing or just plain paint. I have several letter stencil patterns but can also make some if you like a certain font, print, etc..

 

Item #3: Matching "hand and foot print" pot.

While experimenting with the crackle paint, I decided to make Tracy a pot that matched the wood plaque -- one that she could put her son's handprint and footprint on when he's born. To make this I used a pot, gesso, crackle paint, cloud white and light blue paints, letter stickers, and I included the rest of the blue paint with it so she can match his handprint/footprint when she's ready. Cost for supplies: $5

 

I can make a pot any color or combination of colors for you, and I have tons of letter stickers and stencils to personalize one just for you or a gift.

 

Item #4: A diaper cake to match a theme or colors. This is actually something I made for another friend's baby shower. The theme was "nesting" with blues and earthy colors, and their last name is Quail. For this particular diaper cake I used 4 different types of ribbon, a wood wreath, a little nest, the letter q, decorate flowers, decorative bird and over 100 diapers. Cost for supplies (for this particular one): $112 but I can make diaper cakes of any theme to fit any budget.

Diaper cake I made for baby Q's shower with the theme "nesting"

I can create a decorative diaper cake or one that is filled with baby items. I can match your theme, budget, colors, size.

 

If you have ideas or would like to put me to work making a craft you've been eyeing for your home, party or as a gift, please email me at farnumpc@gmail.com. I will do whatever it takes to create something you love while also creating ways to fundraise for my future child.

 

 

 

 



Luke (or Mountain or Peaches)... I AM your SISTER!

 

Kids say the "darndest" things! Or... in our family they SING the "darndest" things!

We sing everything in our house. For instance, this morning's breakfast sounded a little like this:

Me: (to the tune of Elmer Fudd's "Kill the Wabbit" ie Wagner's opera)
 Eat your breakfast, eat your break-fast, eat your BREAKfast, eat your breakFAST!
Ky: (about the honey peanut butter I put on her toast to the tune of T.Swift's "Shake it Off")
I'm just going to take it off, take it off, uh huh, take it off...cuz I don't like the way it tastes, tastes, tastes...

So I guess it comes as no surprise (to those who have witnessed our mad singing skills to communicate) that we often react to big moments with song.

Two weeks ago, I sat Kylie down and said, "This is it! This is the day we are going to let our friends and family know we're going to try to adopt!" She gasped with joy, so I continued saying, "Yes, we are finally going to work on getting you that baby brother or sister you've been praying about for years!"

What was her reaction?
DUM DUM DUM DA DE DUM  DA DE DUM! To the tune of DARTH VADER's IMPERIAL MARCH!

I'm not going to lie. I was dumfounded. Pete, who was in the next room, leaned back on his chair through the doorway with a look of disbelief and started laughing.

Me: Was that... was that....?
Pete: Yes, Darth Vader's theme song.
Kylie: From LEGOS!

Me: You let her watch star wars?
Kylie: YES!
Me to Pete: Talk, we must. (about watching star wars)
Me to Kylie: Kylie, amazing how you picked up that tune so quickly! What about the adoption made you think of that song?
Kylie: It's big. It's important. He's a father! I'm a sister... get it?


I guess I do. To Kylie this is BIG. It's IMPORTANT. And she relates the song to "I am your SISTER!" For as long as Kylie has said heartfelt prayers and been able to express her greatest wishes, she has wanted a baby sister... then brother... then either... now both!

I just love her sense of humor, the way her mind works, and I can't wait to watch her bloom into the best big sister anyone could ask for.

The force is strong with this one.

The Beginning of a New Adventure: Our Adoption Journey

I've written and erased this journal entry a dozen times. Each time completely different.

I began to shape the details of our special announcement, but then a lot of questions came to mind. WHAT should I share? Do I tell about the heartbreak that led us to this point so people know how serious we are about this choice and share in our excitement? HOW do I share something so exciting and precious to our family? Do I tell them how vulnerable and nervous we feel? WHEN is it appropriate to share that we've begun this journey? WHY is how we decide to share the news with family and friends so important to us?

Then the teacher in me kicked in; teach about our journey in a fun and creative way.  The advertising major in me wanted to create an awesome visual to share the good news. The effect of a decade of non-profit work took over, and I envisioned a strategic plan to make the vision a reality. The writer in me grasped to tell our story without sounding depressing.  The Christian in me struggled to express God's hand in this decision.  The wife in me wrestled with how much to share while respecting Pete's privacy and career.  In other words, every part of me was competing to express the importance of our new adventure... our adoption journey.

I took a step away from the computer for a few days, and then it dawned on me.  I was getting tugged in all sorts of different directions, and I needed to just speak from the part of me that wanted to jump for joy and scream our news from the rooftops-- the mother in me. There is no greater influence over me than motherhood. There is no part of me stronger, no voice in me louder, no piece of me more treasured than the mother in me.

So, with no special graphics, no short story, no lesson plan, but admittedly with prayer...
As a mother of one with a dream for many, I am so happy to share ...

We are adopting!

We are beginning the process of finding our "somewhere child" through adoption.  The dream of having more children has been alive and well in my heart for over 15 years, but in the past few months, the song of a child I am meant to raise and love through adoption has been whispered into my heart and most importantly into the hearts of our whole family.

We have great hope that the adoption process will work for us, and at the end of this journey, we will hold our "somewhere child" tightly in our arms and forever in our hearts as a family.

There you have it. The journey to find our child has begun. I invite you to make my journey yours and follow along as we post updates and share this new adventure through this blog.