NINE YEARS!

We've been married for nine years!

I have been in a relationship with Ryan for thirteen! It doesn't seem like it's been that long and then we look back through the things we've got to experience together and there's been so much! I'm so grateful that Ryan is my husband. I don't think anyone else could do what he does as my husband, father of our kiddos, and my greatest supporter.

I love May-day and I love Ryan who continues to put up with me and looks like he loves it as he does!

I asked Ryan what our 10 year anniversary will include. I tried to pull a fast one on him by suggesting that the 10 year anniversary is for diamonds. He didn't fall for it though... DARN IT!

Dear Birth parent(s)

When we think of the difficult decision that you are facing, we are:
*inspired by your strength as you face your challenges,
*amazed by your courage, and
*grateful for your maturity to consider the best options for you and your child.
We are anxious to get to know you. Thank you for spending some time getting to know us.

Ryan was born the youngest of four children in New Mexico. Growing up, I was involved in numerous sports (soccer, basketball, baseball, track and football), played the drums in the marching band, and was a lifeguard during the summer. I played the piano for 8 years when I was younger, but gave it up for the other activities and have regrettably never picked it back up. I loved fishing in the streams up in the mountains near my house and hiking and camping with my family. While I enjoyed the adventure of scouting, I probably wouldn't have earned my Eagle Scout award if it weren't for some loving and consistent prodding from my dear mother.

I spent two years as a missionary in Chile and loved learning Spanish very much. I loved the people of Chile even more and still keep in contact with many of them. After my mission, I returned to BYU, and graduated with honors in Accounting.

During my freshman year of college, I was determined to not go on a mission with a girlfriend, but there was one girl in particular that I couldn't stop thinking about. She had a great smile, was thoughtful and kind to everyone, and her eyes curled when she smiled - seemingly smiling right back at me. However, she had a boyfriend back home, so it took some serious convincing to get her attention, but I was finally able to do it - and I've been a lucky man ever since. Jen continues to amaze me with her willingness to sacrifice on behalf of others, her ability as a mom to teach, love, inspire and motivate, and for her constant support and patience with me as her husband. I find great strength in her love for me and for our family.

While I still love to play any sport whenever I have the chance, most of my time is busy with fixing or building things in the house, tending to my 'honey-do' list, and playing with my kiddos. I love being able to live close to the ocean, where a few times a year I can go fishing for salmon, tuna, or halibut, and hope to share those adventures with my kids as soon as they are old enough.

I have enjoyed numerous service opportunities in the Church - Scouts, Nursery, Activities Committee, Ward Mission Leader, Young Men's, Elder's Quorum, and the Bishopric. I have loved all of the different opportunities I have had to serve and have been blessed to learn from many incredibly spiritual and discerning people that I have served with.

Jen grew up the oldest of seven children in Washington. In my childhood I played soccer, but was also passionate about Drill Team, which occupied all of my extra curricular time during High School. A degree in Interior Design and a high interest in American Sign Language highlighted my time at BYU. Three days after my graduation from BYU Ryan and I were married in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Now I enjoy my time as a stay at home mom. I love experiencing life through my kids' eyes. During High School Dance and Drill Team season I have the opportunity to judge Saturday competitions. I also love to play the piano, draw, paint, dance and photograph my family.

Some of my favorite activities include baking treats and bread with the boys, accompanying our daughter as she plays her violin, playing Crazy 8's, blowing bubbles and watching our dog chase them, watching the kids laugh when I start to "bust a move", and snuggling with the kids for some reading time.

I am currently serving in the Primary at church where I get to teach and sing with the 3-11 year old children.

I love Ryan because of his unshakable dedication to our family. He is loving, non-judgmental, and level headed. Ryan loves to spend any time outside of work with the family. He doesn't view Daddy time as "babysitting". He truly enjoys his responsibility as a parent and he's INCREDIBLE with babies.

Our Family: We currently have three children. Gracie is our seven year old. She is a talented dancer, reader, violinist, soccer player, and she loves to learn. Gracie is a great big sister as she is very sensitive to the needs and feelings of her brothers (and she watches them like a hawk.) Because she always tries to do what is right, she is also a great example. Next comes Braden who is five. Braden loves to do anything that requires movement and danger. He mastered peeling out and doing doughnuts in his power wheels car at 3 years old and pretty much lives life at full throttle! He is always quick to offer help and we love how he reminds us to not take life so seriously and to laugh often. Braden's partner in crime is Tanner, our four year old. Tanner lives for preschool, playing the Wii with the family, and finding trains wherever possible. He is the family fashionista and con often be found wearing one of three outfits: his swimming suit, soccer uniform, or his "police shirt", commonly completing each outfit with a clip-on church tie. Tanner is independent, goofy, and likes to "make Jesus happy". He always reminds us to pray.

We have been greatly blessed by our children so far and love each one for their individual personality, weaknesses, and strengths.

Penny, our Mini Schnauzer, joined the family in June 2009. She is great with the kids and loves wrestling with us, playing fetch, and going to the park.

Since our marriage, we have always felt that adoption would play an important role in forming our family. Jen has diabetes, so we were never sure how many kids we would blessed with. Many friends and family of ours have been blessed through the miracle of adoption. Witnessing those tender mercies has confirmed our belief that Heavenly Father has a special interest in creating families. We have felt the strongest impressions that our family has a divine design about to unfold and are so anxious and excited to see what He has in store for us.

We hope for an open adoption where our child will have the opportunity to know and love their birth parent(s) and know how much love they have for them. We understand that your needs as a birth parent will fluctuate over time, and we embrace the opportunity to be flexible with an adoption plan as those needs change. Most importantly, because you will share a big part of you with us, we hope to share a big part of us with you.

Again, we admire you and your determination to provide for your child. We are in no way perfect, but we offer a house full of joy and love, testimonies of the gospel and atonement of Jesus Christ, and a commitment to love and cherish our children. If you would like more information about us, please email us at jenandryanadopt {at} gmail {dot} com.

We look forward to meeting you.
Ryan and Jen

Profile ID: 23767772

Defeat

I'm feeling defeated today. You know that feeling when you fight really hard for what you believe in? You eat, sleep, breathe your purpose and sometimes the little things around you start to slide (like laundry)?

Well, I was fighting for some things in the community that I felt so passionate about. Things that will affect my family and last night the deciding powers decided against my hopes. I'm so sad about it. It makes me tired thinking about it.

After I vented to my sweet mom last night at 9, she showed up on the doorstep with a giant bouquet of roses and mint ice cream sandwiches! Seriously, how lucky can I be?

Love that mom of mine.

So this morning when my Gracie was also disappointed with the outcome and a little emotional, I tried to give her the same loving treatment I enjoyed last night. I didn't have any roses on hand, and I didn't think that mint ice cream sandwiches were a good idea before 9AM, but I did lovingly pack her lunch with some extra treats and massaged her face after sprucing up her hair, just the way she wanted it. She'll also be happy to find a little vase of roses in her room after school and violin today!

I think we're gonna be OK. I'll admit that last night I felt like egging some one's house but I'm happy to say that I resisted. It's nothing that can't be overcome with a box of ice cream sandwiches, roses and some extra massages!

Lots of Dirt

Our house is covered in it.

Why? Because it's time to start working in the garden.

We didn't get around to covering the garden last year after our little harvest, so we have been prepping by pulling all of the weeds. It's a laboring work in our home, but everyone has pitched in and we have developed a good sense of team. (Don't let me fool you. What kid likes to pull weeds? Our teamwork has a soundtrack with a couple of whining tracks too....:)

Braden and Tanner have really been into doing team huddles. Their favorite huddle ends with arms in and a "TEAMWORK" cheer. And yes, we've been seen doing that in the garden.

We worked a total of about six hours pulling weeds over the weekend. Our motivation? Chocolate Fondue with banana slices, marshmellows and graham crackers for dipping. MMmmmmmm

Next Step: tilling and fertilizing with "cow poop". You can follow our gardening adventures here.

True Love

If you follow Mrs. R you've already seen this fantastic clip. I think it deserves more highlight, so I'm posting it on my blog. Adoption is true, true love.

Valentines Day

I know it was ages ago.

AGES!

I still have to post our pictures from Valentines Day.

Ryan and I spent the evening in downtown Seattle.

We got into the new Hard Rock Cafe during opening weekend

and then meandered down to Post Alley

for some Valentines Day themed improv.

And isn't this wall romantic?

It's kind of gross actually. I like to walk about three feet from the side of the alley.

It's as if I am going to trip and end up stuck to the wall or something.

Ryan added his chewing gum to the collection before we posed for this smooch.

My favorite bloggers in the adoption world

Now that everyone is back at school, I have a second to catch up in blogland. I don't know if I have very many cohesive thoughts, but I do want to post about a couple of blogs that I frequent.

Jumping into the adoption world last year, has opened up a new community of people that I feel so fortunate to have encountered. These three in particular are amazing at being brave and sharing their thoughts about adoption and the way it effects their everyday lives. I've learned so much in the last couple of months religiously reading (and following) their blogs. :)

Miss Marilee and Happiest Sad bring beautiful birthmom perspectives to the blogging world. It doesn't hurt that they are so open and honest in their posts that you feel like you're on the phone with a besty. And finally Mrs. R. Since I've discovered her etsy jewelry shop I've bought something almost once a month! Seriously. They weren't ALL for me. There are some gifts in there too. But that can't continue or I'm going to have to get a job to support my R house addiction!

There's a ton of other fabulous blogs. These ladies have a hold on my heart. Go ahead and check them out. You won't be disappointed, but you may get addicted just like me...

What to say?

Our family has been on Spring Break this week. Ryan's been busy with work (now is the middle of BUSY season) and we have just been trying to get some spring cleaning done. I've been meaning to post but I don't feel like I have anything exciting to say.

We are feeling so anxious about adopting. We wish we were having a baby placed in our home yesterday! :) Tanner's preschool teacher asked him if we had heard anything about a new baby and he told her that our baby is with Jesus! Braden asks me all the time when our baby is going to come and Gracie told me yesterday that she really needs a sister!

In all of my adoption searches on the internet, I have come across MTV's 16 and pregnant episodes. Adoption is such a tender thing. I bawl my eyes out when I see those sweet girls placing their babies in the arms of parents that they have selected for their child, and then I look at the adoptive couple and bawl my eyes out and the thought of emotions they are experiencing. It's amazing to me that the two girls who chose adoption on the show had the thought to consider all the things they wanted their child to have. Even more amazing is that they could look at what their lives were like currently and decide that they would break their own hearts to provide the things they wanted their child to have.

Oh, this is so serious. I usually try to be more light-hearted on here.

On another note- My mom and I were discussing adoption this week.
My mom and sister came along with us on a quick overnight stay at the church ranch Monday. When I was a child, my mom would take us kids camping by herself because my Dad's firefighting schedule kept him close to home a lot of times. I decided to be brave like mom take the kids camping for one night so we could get away eventhough Ryan couldn't come along this time. I was so glad that Grandma and Nellie came along to help keep the fire stoked and the kids not bored with mom. (Pictures taken from Grandma's blog because I forgot the camera!)


We discussed all of the unknowns. It's amazing that we really don't care about any of those things. I know that our Father in Heaven has a child and some special birth parent(s) that are meant to be a part of our family. Whatever that entails will be part of this great gift that completes our family. We can't wait.

It's like having presents wrapped and waiting under the tree during the entire month of December as a child. You can see it and you know that it will eventually be opened, but it seems like it's never going to come when you're admiring the beauty of that sparkly package with the beautiful bows. I wish it was Christmas Eve. :)

More farm fun

My Dad's brothers have all recently gone back to their childhood occupation of farming. They aren't full-time farmers of course- just farming as a hobby. You can imagine the delight of the boys when we went to Uncle Mark's house. Let me introduce you to "the girls".

And if you asked the boys, no trip to the farm is complete without a tractor. Pure bliss (and concentration...).

I find this last picture HILARIOUS.

Jen's Family

Meet my family.

"Family is like fudge. Mostly sweet with a few nuts." -anonymous

We're definitely fudgey.

I lived a majority of my childhood life in a quiet rural city that was once the home of a great dairy farm. (The city even has a statue of a record milk producing cow!)

Most of the dairy farmers have since left town, but barns are still a common piece of the cityscape.

My brother snapped some pictures of my family, but we forgot to tell him how to work the camera so the lighting is a little funky. I still love these.