Thursday, November 29, 2007

COLLIN'S FIRST THANKSGIVING




We had a very nice, relaxing Thanksgiving. We visited with Wyatt's family first and then went to Salvi's to eat with my family. My family usually eats out but that may end soon. It was not exactly a relaxing meal with 3 kids under 3 at the table. We will have to see next year. The food is so good and no one has to cook or clean so it is hard to beat that deal. We usually have to work so it is a quick and easy way to get together with the family.
Wyatt had to work so Collin and I hung out and relaxed at home. Even though I have been home with him every day there was something nice about escaping the holiday stress of having a million different places to go and just sitting at home instead. I think Collin had about all he could take anyway. Everyone wants to hold him and he gets passed around a lot. I'm not real good at telling people they can't hold him and that when he wants me I need to take him. He is still adjusting and bonding with us. He is doing so well that it is hard to remember that sometimes but you can tell when he has been a little too stressed and I always feel bad afterward.
After a bit we got hungry again so we went across the street to Matt and Ann Marie's and crashed their dinner. Collin and Mallory had fun playing. Hopefully they will stay in thier house for a while so that the kids can play when they get older. They look so cute with their matching cars and they really do play well together. We are really lucky to have such good neighbors!
The pictures are from Salvi's, Collin with his cousins and Pops finally getting some time with Collin.

Monday, November 12, 2007


Adoption has touched our family in so many different ways and all are wonderful. I am thankful to people I don't even know and probably never will know for bringing a life into this world and then allowing another to care and nurture that life into something wonderful that can make their mark on our lives and on the world. A birth mother makes a selfless decision to do what is best for her child and makes a family that wants so badly to have a child complete.
I can say that I have learned what mothers always say you can never understand until you have a child of your own. I look at my son and it brings complete joy and happiness with no strings attached. I have never known what it was like to love another human being more than you love yourself. Don't get me wrong, I love Wyatt to death, but the love for that baby is indescribable. I would do anything for him.
My favorite time of day is bedtime when I can just hold him and be quiet and feel him relax into my arms and into sleep. I don't think a night has passed that it hasn't brought tears to my eyes thinking of what a miracle he is and wondering how it is possible to love someone so much. I hope every night that his birth mother feels a sense of peace and knows that someone loves him and is taking care of him and that he is a happy and beautiful boy.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Our First COFLAC Gathering




Yesterday we went to our first gathering with COFLAC (Central Ohio Families with Latin American Children). It was at Jeffrey Mansion in Bexley. Every month a group of people who have adopted from Latin America bring there kids together to play and have fun. Collin was still a little young but the older kids seemed to have a great time playing so I am sure he will love it when he gets older. We got some good play time in while we were there. It brought back a lot of memories since I was there pretty often as a kid. It still looks the same-it's a beautiful place. If you've never been there you should check it out.

Trick or Treat

We had a very eventful Halloween. Mommie and Collin went to a fun party at Amy's house and then Mom and Dad got to go to a grown up party thanks to Nana. Trick or Treat was fun. Mallory and Collin went around to a few neighbors then off to Nana and Pops to trick or treat with Brylie and Kahlen. Poor dad only got to spend a couple of minutes with us until he got called back to work. By the time we made it back to the house all of the kids were asleep so there are no pictures of all the cousins together in their costumes-too bad!!

Guatoberfest Cruise 2009

My soapbox about the Advent Conspiracy

I came across this video on another blog. I have to admit I only looked at it for entertainment value. I assumed with a title like that, it had to be some wacko conspiracy theory and who doesn't need a good laugh. Suprisingly enough it really touched me and made me think. It didn't grab my interest because of it's religious value, because that's not really my thing. I am not the type of person that flaunts religion or believes in pushing your beliefs onto others. It touched me because of it's human value and because it shows me how quickly I forget.

When we were in Guatemala it was truly a life changing experience for a myriad of reasons, only one of which was bringing home a baby! We saw poverty that we could never imagine in this country. I remember thinking when I was there that despite all of the stress of the situation, I was more at peace than I had ever felt in my life. Among other things, there was no pressure to have more...there was nothing to have. People just lived their lives. Families worked together, lived together in cramped housing-if they had a roof over their heads at all-and they were happy! We were forced to enjoy eachother without our "creature comforts" and I loved it. I now remember hoping that once we got home, I would never lose that idea that we don't really need much at all. I realized our society makes us think we need more but we really don't. And after watching the video it makes me realize that I have failed miserably.


I had made up my mind that in order to honor my new found attitude and our sons heritage, we would sponsor a Guatemalan family every year so that they could have food and heat and their children could go to school-things we take for granted on a daily basis. For some reason I can never seem to find the money to do that- BUT- I can find the money to buy coffee every day, sometimes several times a day, Collin will see a room full of gifts on Christmas morning, I can go out to eat, I can do whatever I want for the most part. My priorities have gone right back to where they were before I experienced Guatemala and it makes me sad. That is the reason that I am posting the video in a permenant spot on the blog, so that I am constantly reminded, not only during Christmas but all year to give PRESENCE to my friends and family not PRESENTS and to give back to something that I feel very strongly about. I don't write this to push Guatemalan charity or any charity but to encourage anyone reading this to slow down and take a look at your life and see what means the most to you and see where it takes you.

Advent Conspiracy