Adoption Fund

It's time folks.  We will be starting the process again soon to adopt.  Without a shadow of a doubt, we know our Jesus has called us to do this again.  We are extremely excited and can not wait to fill our home with another sweet little person.  How can you help? As we walk this journey again we will need lots and lots of support and prayer.  We are calling all prayer warriors to stand by us and uphold us.  The ups and downs of adoption can be somewhat daunting.  With the unexpected bills from my hospital stay and Elliott's burial costs we are strapped financially.  But, we have faith that God will bring us the funds we need.  If you would like to help out in this way I have updated the Paypal link on the sidebar of our blog....you do not need a Paypal account and may donate by credit card if you wish. If you choose to remain anonymous (Paypal does not allow for this), but...would like to help out you can also mail a check (please reference our name in the note field) directly to our Adoption Agency at the address here:

Christian Homes and Family Services
Attn:  Margaret Ballew
1202 Estates Dr.
Abilene, TX 79602

Thank you for your continued love and support.  We appreciate each and every one of you. Stay tuned for some adoption fundraisers...namely tutus and personalized t-shirts!

Jesus and the Boat

Can I just tell you how very much I love this little picture??  With it comes a story.  On Sunday we went to pick Halle up from her Sunday School Class....she, like always, runs up to meet us callling "Mommy, Daddy!".  I love that this never gets old for her....She never tires of greeting us after we've been away.  Even for a short time.  On this morning, she handed me the above picture.  I looked at it and asked her what it was. Her answer was simple.  Jesus and a boat.  I then asked what Jesus was doing.  "Walking on the water!" She answered with such passion and excitement...and even jumped up and down clapping her hands.  This I also LOVE.  She is such a passionate, right on kind-of-girl.  Inside and out I was beaming.  Our little girl was listening, she was getting this thing we call faith.  Understanding the reason why we go to this place called church.

Resting in Him

When Aaron and I began trying to conceive (ttc) about 1 1/2 years after we were married I felt kind of lost.  I knew it probably wouldn't be an easy task.  It had taken my Mom some time to get pregnant with me, my cycles were wonky to say the least and everyone around me seemed to simply blink and they were expecting.  I turned to the internet.  I can't remember why, or who told me to, but I decided it would be a good idea to chart my cycles using a basal body thermometer.  I devoured this book.  By the way, as a side note...this book should be required material for any woman in her twenties whether or not she is TTC.  It is incredible.  Never have I learned more about how my body works.  I could tell you all my tricks of the trade, but...read it for yourself.  It's a good one to have in your library.  I searched the internet and found a website called Fertility Friend.  I charted my cycle there as it was much easier than on paper.  Through that website I found Two Week Wait.  It was there I found a group of Christian women who were in the very same place that I was.  We all shared our faith and TTC.  Little did I know these women would be part of my life for years to come.  It's amazing to me how our Jesus brought us all together.  He orchestrated this perfectly.  The founder of the website Two Week Wait lives in Austin, TX...as do many other women in this very group.  We currently have a private Facebook group with 18 of the very same women that I began this group with some 6 years (I'm guessing) ago.  WOW.  These women have lifted me up when I've been so down.  They prayed me through infertility, the death of my Dad, three miscarriages and Elliott's graduation day.  They were the first people I told I was pregnant each and every time...except for Aaron of course!  They probably know more about me than most of my very close friends.  AND...I have only met TWO of them in person.  

When we flew to Texas to pick up our sweet Halle girl, Rachel who I only knew from Two Week Wait offered her home to Aaron, Halle and I. Wow.  I remember when she called me up and talked with me for the very first time.  I felt like I'd known her forever.  It was as if she was one of my closest friends.  And you know what?? She is.  During my pregnancy with Elliott and all the complications and his delivery she covered me in prayer.  I know without a shadow of a doubt she did.  She called many times during our crisis and just talked with me.  About Elliott, about his birth....asked me what he looked like.  Cried with me.  I love her and I've only spent one week of my life with her face-to-face. When we were in Texas I also met Elle, the founder of Two Week Wait who has Ella Bella Photography, and still a member of "Resting in Him".  She generously took amazing photos of Halle one of the first days she was placed with us.  When Elliott passed away this amazing group of women not only sent us flowers, but....two days later I received a box of GIGANTIC chocolate covered strawberries with a note simply saying...we all need some chocolate.  AND...now one of my most treasured possessions.  This beautiful necklace made especially for me with not only Halle, but....Elliott's name as well.  If you are in a similar place in life that I was in I encourage you to reach out to others.  Find a place where you can share your struggles and triumphs.  Where others know what you are going through....a place like Two Week Wait.  More than that, I encourage you to be honest and forthright.  To share with your friends and family, if you feel comfortable doing so...let them know what you are going through.  It helps so much for them to know how to approach you.  More than that, I'm available if you need someone to e-mail or talk to. Leave me a comment here.  I honestly don't know how many or who reads my blog. I would love to "meet" you so to speak, pray for you and stand with you as you walk the unknown, most likely, bumpy road of trying to grow your family while dealing with infertility.  And to my Resting in Him girls...Yes, our Jesus knew what he was doing.  I'm so very thankful for each and every one of you.  

 Rachel (dark hair) with her son Hudson, Elle holding Hunter & her son Hayden next to Halle.

 One of the amazing photos Elle took of Halle.  I can't believe she was ever this small. Sigh.

Those GIGANTIC chocolate covered strawberries.

My necklace as Halle reads it...."Love, Halle & Elliott".  I say perfect.