Hoping to Adopt

Just take my hand...together we can do this!



It has been a hard couple of  years. Spencer and I always knew that we wanted a family. Children were quite often the topic of conversation. What would we name them? And yes, Spencer has always like the names I have suggested, score :). We spent countless hours babysitting nieces and nephews and loved every minute. We would always say we could not wait for the day when our little ones entered our home.

 It was one fall day when I was driving home from work when I received the dreaded phone call saying that having children of our own would not be an option for us. I remember the heartache that immediately came and the tears that streamed down my face. Where do we go from here?

Spencer and I turned to our Heavenly Father. We know it is His plan and we completely trust Him. We prayed, fasted, had a lot of faith and received support from family. We then felt enticed to begin the Adoption process. We began the adoption process in June 2011. The adoption process is not easy. There is a lot of paperwork and it can be emotionally draining, but we kept the faith and kept moving forward. We were approved for adoption on October 26, 2011. We felt a lot of weight lifted off our shoulders and felt complete comfort and peace.

With the comfort and peace, we know through adoption, we will have our eternal family.

2011 in pictures!

Fun pictures we had done this year!

                                   
Our cute niece, Elle, wanted to jump into the picture!!

 BYU/UTAH rivals in our very own home...gotta love it AND we do :) Spencer just HAD to get a pic like this :)

                                                     
 Picture with Sash, Kyndal, and Chade!

Spending precious moments with Paysley before she passed away.

Clint Black concert in our lil city!

Spencer working on my mom's house!

My mom and I working out...my mom is my inspiration!!

Down time with Sash...she's a cuddle bug!

Playing outside in our backyard!

 

Hiking with my mom and our dogs and her dogs in good ol' Idaho!

Working out together is so much fun!!

Running with our dogs! Preparing for our race!

We ran in Recovery Day with my hospital. My hospital had a booth there and we helped manage that afterwards. It was a blast!! My mom made the T-Shirts for our hospital and my Bro-inlaw brought us all sandwiches from his awesome store, Port of Subs!!

HALLOWEEN...We went over to my co worker's house and had a lot of fun. We played a lot of games~one being Michael Jackson Dance on the Wii...Spencer and I kicked butt! Okay, for Spencer's costume...we looked everywhere for Superman, but couldn't find it. He even bought a kid's superman hoping to fit, but nope! So, he just used the cape out of it instead! Awe, memories!!!

                  P90X2 has begun...so excited!!!

The guys in my family including some of my nephews and my cute niece getting the game plan down for hunting!!

  

Spencer and Sash out doing what they love...pheasant hunting!!

We worked out with Chalene Johnson (one of my fav instructors) in Park City the day after Christmas. We are on the right on the back row :) Anyone heard of Turbo Kick, Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, Piyo, Hip Hop Hustle, or Chalean Extreme?! She's the creator!!

Here we are with Chalene and she signed my book Push (written by her...I got it for Christmas :)...Sorry it is blurry, I think my friend was a little excited taking the picture!

2011 in Review

I hate to say this, but MAN, I'm sure glad 2011 has come and gone. I keep telling myself, I just don't know how things can get any harder! Well, I've learned my lesson and I'm done saying that! Yes, each year since nursing school has been more challenging for us, but we manage to survive and even come out stronger...how does that happen? A lot of faith and prayer! My mom clearly told me during 2011 to quit being so strong and then trials wouldn't come our way...you know the saying...you are only given what you can handle?. Well, that was on my mind constantly in 2011, but He knows mine and Spencer's plan a lot better than we do. Here is our year in review (you don't want to miss this since I was MIA most of the year).

January: I became Director of Nursing for HRH, Spencer started college, and we became primary teachers (we love CTR 5)!

February: I got in a car wreck ( a car hit me from behind while at a stop light) and Paysley was our #1 concern...we had several vet appointments doing anything we could to prolong her little life.

March: Our sweet Paysley passed away. Kyndal Pays joined our family. Spencer and I celebrated our fifth anniversary!! Another car wreck ( a car hit me from behind while at a stop light).

April: Spencer's birthday and Chade's eye surgery.

May: We started Asylum (the level up from insanity-the workout program)! Yes, we are insane and belong in an asylum!! I get asked that all too often unless they really know me!! Spencer finished his first semester!

June: We began the Adoption process (there will be a post all about this coming soon), Spencer started school again, we planted our first flower bed, my cousin got married, we went to Clint Black concert in our very own city!!

July: Spent the 4th in Idaho with my mom, Spencer's family reunion, painted our fence because of HOA :)

August: Trip to Idaho for Spencer to build a fence and Spencer ended school and began again

September: Trip to Idaho for Spencer to do work for my mom, Utah State Fair, and we ran in Recovery Day with my hospital!!

October: My birthday, 10 years since Spencer and I became a couple (Awe), and approved for Adoption!!

November: Thanksgiving with my family in Idaho!

December: P90x2 arrived, Spencer finished fall semester, hunting with the family and Sash, Christmas, and working out with Chalene Johnson!!!

2011 was HARD! I am pretty sure I can say I experienced every emotion possible, but I am ready for 2012...I believe it is our year!!