The Carreras Family

My friend Mindy and I have known each other for years. We first met at church when we were 10 or 11 years old, then later became good friends while teaching elementary school together.

And even though I no longer teach with her, I see her at birthday parties and play dates--and even an occasional Bunco get-together!

In January, Mindy asked me to take photographs of her family and I was beyond flattered. And nervous. But I agreed to do it and I'm so glad I did.

I had so much fun capturing this beautiful family of four!

Thank you, Carreras Family!

Love & Light,

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,