the anniversary post. round 3

{music courtesy of our first dance at our wedding- AKA my favorite part of the whole day}

I thought that this year, instead of posting the old wedding photos again… I would post a few more real life pictures. Plus I found these on my old memory card the other day, and decided it was time to share the awesomeness that is “us”. We’re so weird. and sexy.

allow me to explain…

We were at a hotel in Omaha for a weekend last winter…

The Tar Heels had just won a basketball game
{note the jersey, and the obvious celebration}

Well that’s it. 

There is really no explanation for why we are the way we are… but it does make life interesting. gosh I’m lucky.

Happy Anniversary babe.
Can’t wait to be weird with you for the rest of our lives…

okay just one…

Katelyn’s Fund

When we started our adoption paper work, we were, to say the least, overwhelmed.
A domestic adoption can cost between, $18,000-$30,000. 

We stopped working on paper work a couple of different times because I just kept thinking “ We can never afford that”.

I hate that money was holding us back.

I love that God put people in our lives who said to us repeatedly, “The money will come. Do not worry about the money.” I love that after hearing that for the 12th or 15th time (Yes God I hear you now) we decided to forget about the money issue, and move on.

Our adoption ended up costing almost $25,000.
That is a lot of money to anyone, but to us, that was a fortune. At times I felt overwhelmed and sad about the amount of debt we had just racked up. But who am I kidding. She is worth any amount of waiting, pain, suffering, exhaustion… having her home with us is certainly worth any amount of money.

Thanks to a little saving, a few grants, and the generosity of friends, family, and complete strangers… It’s over half paid.  That may seem like we have a long way to go, but right now the good old US of A has an adoption tax credit of over $13,000. Well, wouldn’t you know it… that will pay the rest.  

If you would have told me we could pay our $25,000 bill in less than a year I would have laughed at you. and probably cried. And here we are, confident that God alone has supplied us with exactly what we needed, when we needed it.

One of the biggest blessings we have become a part of  since starting our adoption process is an organization called Katelyn’s Fund. We started attending their adoption support groups at the beginning of last year, and felt immediately at home. These were our people. 

Katelyn’s Fund is not only is our emotional, relational, adoption support but they have been an aid in our financial support. Katelyn’s Fund gives out adoption grants, and we were so blessed to be one of the families to receive one of these $3000 grants.

People adopt for a multitude of reasons, but we all have been lead to the support group meetings for the very same reason. Because God loves all children, and we are called to do the same. period.  The people who go to this support group have kids from all corners of the world, of all ages, of all races, of all abilities. It is so important for us to have these other people to talk to, to look up to, to pray for. Who have prayed for us, for our future, for the future of all children who need a forever home. This is so important.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17   

Katelyn’s Fund is holding an auction to raise money for future grants, and I would love for all of you to join us!

If you have anything (big or small!) that you would like to contribute to the auction please contact me, or you can submit a donation online.

You can check out all of the donated items HERE.

If you live in Northwest Iowa please plan to attend the auction!
Friday, November 4th… meal starts at 5:30, auction at 6:30.
New Life Reformed Church, Sioux Center. 

wordless wednesday

oh tuesday.

It’s so nice to see you again.

Mondays are ca-razy around this house. It’s my long day of work; meaning I work late into the darkness of night (9 or 9:30pm). Wade works all day, and the has school at night until 10pm, and then an hour drive home after school. I go to pick Larkin up at my mom’s after work, feed her put her to bed. The house needs to be picked up because I don’t go to bed with a messy house- laundry taken out of the drier, bottles washed, baby paraphernalia put back in its place.  Needless to say, we both fell into bed last night just shy of midnight, exhausted. He said, I can’t give you a goodnight kiss because my throat hurts. I , half asleep said, okay goodnight.
end of story.

And as always, Tuesday has redeemed my attitude. It’s one of my days off from work every week. I cleared off my entire “to-do” list yesterday, because today is my day with my baby. Who is growing up entirely too fast for the record. As a special treat, today my niece is spending the day with “Garkin & her aunt Dissa”. (It’s her Grandma day actually but my mom and sister are driving 12 hours today to pick up a foster child…We are so excited to have Senia home again! God is good)  We have pumpkins to paint, recipes to try out, and books to read people. It’s gonna be a good tuesday. 

these are the days of our lives

A short synopsis of my life lately. {Time to get back on the blogging horse. here we go}

Last week I witnessed the birth of one of my best friend’s second child.  Finn David was born at 5:37am on October 3. {I know because I was there, I mean holy crap it was awesome} I was literally there taking photos of the whole ordeal. (Okay, like pg13 pictures, don’t freak out) I got to watch with tears in my eyes as Finn’s mommy held him for the first time, and see the smile on his daddy’s face when he was born. 

Welcome to this world little buddy. You will always have such a special place in my heart.

***

Hello Miranda Lambert. Nice to meet you. {from the 4th row}

I pretty much left the concert a reckneck badass. well, okay no I didn’t, but I told Wade when we stopped at the gas station on the way home that I thought I was going to become one.  I’m thinking I should at least purchase a pair of cowboy boots. And yes, her microphone stand is a shotgun. And for the record I shot a shotgun one time. Trap shooting, and I hit 3 of my 25, um, clay things they shot into the air. Thank you very much.

***

The night of my birthday we went, along with Wade’s siblings, to a comedian at a theatre in downtown Minneapolis.  I have honestly never laughed so hard in my life.

Check Jim Gaffigan out for yourself… you will not be sorry.  

 ***

So writing a blog post has taken the back seat in the last couple of weeks. Wade has been gone for a few days for work, we went away for a weekend for my birthday (the big 2-5), and when my angel does decided to take a long nap {you know, 25-30 minutes} I have been writing posts all full of adorable pictures of her to post after we finalize her adoption in December. What, did you think I would never brag about her? Larkin is fine and well, growing, rolling, and stealing a little more of her mama’s heart every single day.

September 2011

{3-4 months}