Adoption Update | Winter

As I mentioned back in this June blog post,  I'm making a more concerted effort this time around to document the adoption process--not only for me (I enjoy rereading old posts from time-to-time), but also for people who might be interested in learning about how private domestic adoption works.

Here's what I've done since the last update in September:

 COMPLETED:

• UPGRADED to a paying subscription on Adoptimist. (Adoptimist is no longer offering free profiles.)  

• MAILED out more pass-along cards to friends. (Thanks to those of you who requested them!)

• SHARED with our priest that we're looking to adopt after a fellow parishioner mentioned to me that there was a woman in the church considering adoption. 

• ANSWERED questions from friends and acquaintances and friends-of-friends who are interested in pursuing domestic adoption. (I'm always willing to share what I know with others who are thinking about adoption or want some advice about how to navigate the process. If you have questions, email me at: brianandjennieadopt@gmail.com.)

• PAINTED the nursery walls gray. I can't take any credit--it was all Brian! (Thanks, Babe!)

CURRENTLY: 

• WORKING with a videographer to create a 3-minute video about us and why we want to adopt again. To be honest, I'd much rather be behind the camera than in front of it, but I see the value in a birth mother or birth parents being able to view us on screen and hear us tell our story. (When the video is completed--hopefully in the next few weeks--I'll be sharing it here on my blog as well as on YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook.) 

• UPDATING our Adoptimist profile weekly with diary entries and new photos.  

•  DECORATING the nursery. I know some of you might be thinking, But wait, you haven't adopted the baby yet. You haven't even matched yet. I totally hear you. My husband thinks I'm a little nuts, too. Smile. But I just know in my heart that it will happen. And right now, decorating the nursery is helping me to prepare for our daughter's arrival--whenever and however that may come. Even though I've never met her, with each purchase I make, with each picture frame I set up, with each outfit I hang up in the closet, she's growing more and more in my heart.

THANK YOU all for your continued support of our dream to adopt a baby girl. Truly!

On days when I'm feeling slightly discouraged, I pull out the pages of supportive and loving Facebook comments you left for me back in early June--when I first announced our desire to adopt again--and I re-read every. single. kind. word. 

Your thoughtful and sweet comments always bring a smile to my face, and remind me how many people are praying for us and supporting us and pulling for us and loving us through this process.

I think Paul Coelho had it right when he wrote: "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it."

Huge hugs,

2014 Video

Last December, I posted our annual family letter here on my blog, instead of enclosing it with our Christmas cards.

I loved that I could share MORE photos and MORE stories with friends, family members, and blog readers.

So, this year, I decided that I wanted to do something similar, but with a slightly different spin.

I knew I wanted to share photos; if you've been reading my blog long, you know how obsessed I am with taking and editing photos. :-)

But, to be honest, I just wasn't up to penning a long letter. 


So, I created a video, 2014. (When you click this link, you'll be taken to Vimeo to view the video.)

It's a 3-minute slideshow (created using Animoto), which highlights some of my
favorite photos from this past year. I threw in a couple of captions for good measure, but all-in-all, it's really basic and simple.

I've watched this video several times now, but every time it brings a big smile to my face.  Lots of wonderful memories were made this year.  

Thanks for watching!

A Golden Retriever to the Rescue

Dear Blog Readers,

I know many of you are fellow dog lovers, so today I want to share a sweet video that I saw on television yesterday.

It's a short clip--just 32 seconds long--featuring a Golden Retriever rescuing a puppy. 

I hope it will bring a smile to your face.

J

My Third Blogoversary + Video

Today marks the third anniversary of my blog! :-)

First off, I want to thank YOU for reading my blog posts, leaving comments, and just generally being supportive of my writing, photography, scrapbooking, and other crafty projects.

I thought today would be the perfect time to unveil a project I've been working on since we returned from vacation. For the past week, I've been compiling a Project Life book.



If you're not familiar with Project Life, essentially it's a 12 x 12 binder with divided photo pocket pages and journaling cards. (After viewing Ali Edwards' pages for several months, I was inspired to create my own.)

I wanted to do something *special* for my blogoversary, so I created a 10-minute video about my Project Life book. In the video, you'll see me flip through the pages of my scrapbook, highlight a few of the key components, and along the way, tell you a little bit about our road trip.

Click here to view the video on Vimeo.

I'm also in the process of writing a few blog posts about my Project Life book. These posts will contain close-up photographs of the pages (so you can see them in greater detail) as well as some more anecdotes from our trip.

J

Meet Logan

In this 5-minute clip, you'll meet Logan, a 13-year-old, who is wise beyond his years.

Sometimes kids really do say it best.

Warning: This video brought tears to my eyes (which may be due to PMS or just my genetic makeup), so you may want to grab the tissue box.



Best,
J