And the Search is ON!

Andrew and I have recently started looking into adoption agencies to expand our search to start a family. We have interviewed with one we thought was a great option but I started to have some reservations about them after thinking about it for a while. I don't really know what to think about all the agencies/facilitators out there. I know there are some good reputable ones but I just can't seem to put my finger on them. It's just a little overwhelming researching them and learning about them. It seems like once I find one that I could possibly be interested in; there is just one thing that turns me off about them.

 I have said to myself that I want a Christian based agency that is geared towards the birth mother. Its hard to decide on one too when you read some of the reviews.  I know I can't base my decision off of reviews because not everyone is going to have a positive experience with everyone, but I must say, those negative reviews are in the back of my mind when trying to decide. I've stressed myself out a bit trying to research and dig into some of these agencies looking for just the perfect one. I'm in prayer constantly asking God to lead us to where He wants us to go. So far, I don't have an answer but we are going to be contacting a few other agencies both locally and out of state next week. Who knows, maybe God has other plans for us that He is waiting to reveal? I continue to put my faith in Him because I know that He is going to put us in the right spot.

In the meantime, if you know of any agencies that you think we should look into, please let us know. I am willing to research many of them. Thanks everyone!

And one more thing, please continue to spread the word about our Burpies for Babies that I am making to try and raise funds for our adoption. I have recently posted them on Etsy.com so check them out: http://www.etsy.com/listing/74556886/burpies-for-babies, you can continue to order them as well by sending an email to LAadopt.@yahoo.com

Burpies for Babies

Hey Guys,
Burpies for Babies are still being sold. Ali with Sew Fly Monogramming is offering free monogramming on them as well. They are $10. What a deal considering most places are more and you have to pay extra for monogramming. Let me know if you are interested. Check out the new pictures from Nicole Spikes Photography. She did an awesome job and is a great photographer. She took pictures of my niece Michelle when she was born and they were adorable. Look her up at http://www.nicolespikesphotography.com/. Email me to order your burpies at LAadopt@yahoo.com.

Thanks everyone for all your support and prayers,

Leslie and Andrew

What's to come

Thursday we are meeting with someone from the state to discuss the possiblity of fostering to adopt. I am very interested to see what they have to say about adopting through the state. I think it's a wonderful idea but I also don't want to get my hopes up only to have a child taken away from me. Honestly, I haven't a clue what is involved with fostering or adopting through the state. I do know that those children are no different than if I was to adopt privately. Every child deserves love and I am willing to provide all the love I have and more. Please pray for us as we discuss this option and that we can have a clear understanding on which way God wants us to go. I pray everyday for God to lead every step of our adoption process. I don't want to make any of these decisions on my own and I fully trust that God will lead us down the right path.

If anyone has any experiences they would like to share on this topic. Please feel free to send me an email. I could use some advice. Thanks everyone, God is so good!

Burpies for Babies to Help Adopt!

We have had an unbelievable response to our Burpies for Babies and I thank you all so much for purchasing them. I will continue to make them to raise money for our adoption. I still do not know when we will be adopting but I know that God does and He may still be making our perfect child. I dream of the day when we get the phone call that there is a baby for us. I have rehearsed over and over in my head several reactions to that phone call, but despite all the rehearsals, I know that when that day actually arrives my response will probably not be like any of the ones that I have thought about. I can't imagine how excited and emotional of a day it will be. I thank you all, as well, for all the prayers and support you have offered us during the most difficult time of the adoption process, the wait. Making the burp cloths has helped me keep my mind off this difficult time and has definitely kept me very busy. I just want to remind everyone that they are $10 each and Ali with Sew Fly Monogramming has offered to monogram them for free. She is very talented and has donated her time to help us out and for that I am truly grateful. God is truly amazing and has provided for us more than what we deserve. He is an awesome God and I am blessed to serve Him.

Contact me at laadopt@yahoo.com to order!

Ali has done a fabulous job with the monogramming and the best part about it is that it's FREE! She is amazing!

Babylost Mother's Day

 

Today is International Babylost Mother's Day. It is a day to remember all the mother's out there that have lost a baby. Just as the page says, just because you have lost a baby doesn't mean that you aren't a mother. You are beautiful, strong and courageous for having the strength to move forward. This goes out to all my friends that have lost their babies at any stage in their lives. Mine were only numbers amongst the blood work but I had a glimpse of what it felt like to be pregnant and it was awesome. Norman Eugene and Ethel Rose (their nicknames) are being rocked above by God's little angels and watching us from above. I know they will be so happy when they see us with their baby brother or sister. I have their pictures stored away when they were only embryos and they truly were beautiful. For those that share this loss with me this poem below is for you. You are all beautiful Mothers in my opinion!!!!

Our Sky

By Sheryl McMahon

We live, we breathe under the same sky
Watch the flowers grow with the same awe and wonder
Their petals, reminders of those who sit above the same clouds
Our tears, falling like petals once the flowers have done their bidding
We gaze at the same sky in the same moments
Shed our tears in the same breath
As we share in this special day
The same sky still above us
The flowers blooming at our feet
Let there be comfort in the knowledge
That our children dance together among the same stars
As the night sets on a day we were all sharing
United as Babylost Mama’s and friends who share the tears

Update on Burpies for Babies

First of all I would like to thank everyone who has purchased our Burpies for Babies. I have been amazed at how many we have made and sold. When my sister and I first decided to make these we had no idea that they would sell as they did. We literally had seven of them made when we posted our first post on facebook. I was so excited when many of you posted that you wanted to order some, it literally brought me to tears. I couldn't believe it. My sister and I had to make several trips to the store to get more supplies to start making more. We spent the entire day making burp cloths, ironing, pinning, sewing, cutting, etc. Although we are no experts in the sewing world, I think most of them turned out quite nice. I love my sister for giving up several of her afternoons and Saturdays to help me raise money for adoption. 

We are continuing to take orders for the Burpies for Babies. I have someone that has offered to monogram them for free. Her name is Ali and her business name is "Sew Fly". She is such an awesome person for volunteering her time, materials, and talent to help Andrew and I out. We are truly grateful for her and her willingness to do this. I encourage everyone to use her in the future for all your monogramming needs. If you choose to have your burp cloths monogrammed her tag is attached to the burpies with her business name and phone number. If you would like her phone number you can email me at LAadopt@yahoo.com and I will give it to you.

Again, I thank each of you who have purchased our Burpies for Babies. Please help spread the word about them as well as I will continue to make them until my sewing machine starts smoking or I get worn down from it. As of now I am having a lot of fun putting my new sewing skills to the test. We will also ship them for only $5.00 extra, so keep that in mind. All you have to do to order is contact me at LAadopt@yahoo.com. I will try my best to get them to you as soon as I can. Thanks everyone!!!!!

Easter Bunny

This weekend was a complete blast for me. Andrew and I got to spend the entire weekend with our little nieces and nephews at my dad's house. I think we ate more than we usually do in one week. My dad loves to spoil the family when we go visit him. He made some amazing steaks and for dessert we had several things to choose from including cheese cake, key lime pie, chocolate cake and of course all the Easter candy. My dad lives on the lake so it's very relaxing. The kids enjoyed playing on the old barge boat my dad still has from when my grandparents owned it. It no longer works but it's great to fish on or jump around in, which is what the kids did all weekend. We also spent some time at the "big lake" where the kids got to swim and go down the big slide at the playground. The adults didn't swim because the water was still a little too cold. It's funny how when you are little your interal thermometer doesn't register figid temperatures like they do when you're an adult.

To back track just a bit; before we got to my dad's he went looking for easter ducks to get the little ones. He looked all over and couldn't find them. He use to do that for us around Easter and we would just let them go, once they got old enough, in the lake. It was always fun to come back several months later to see them all grown up. Well, dad couldn't find any ducks so he got a puppy instead. Charley the rat terrior. She was the sweetest puppy. He got her for Laura's kids but she and Brad wouldn't let Charley come home with them. I think Charley was just a little too small for Noah and Ava to handle right now. Charley sure was fun to play with though. She will have a great home at the lake with my dad and his other dog, John McCaine.

Easter morning we all got up to see what the little ones got from the Easter Bunny. Lots of goodies in their baskets and more candy. The Easter Bunny also hid eggs outside and the great hunt was on. Who could collect the most eggs? Of course it was Noah. He's the oldest and fastest right now. Give it a few years and the others will give him a run for his Easter eggs. Everyone had a great Easter! I am really glad we got to participate in these activites with our nieces and nephews. It makes me happy that we are all so close. I can't wait to share this with our sweet angel.

Noah and Ava with Charley

Bryce and Michelle eating cheeseballs for an afternoon snack.

Andrew and I enjoying the nice weather outside by the lake.

Lazy afternoon. Taking a nap with Charley.

Michelle during the Easter egg hunt. Charley wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Easter bunny hats Dad got for all the kids.

Bryce was not having this picture thing.

Michelle amusing herself on the five hour car ride home. Gotta put those Easter stickers somewhere!

Louisiana Saturday Night

"Well, you get down the fiddle and you get down the bow, Kick off your shoes and you throw 'em on the floor. Dance in the kitchen 'til the morning light: Louisiana Saturday night!"

Andrew and I went to my sister's annual crawfish boil this weekend. I love me some crawfish and living in Louisiana there is plenty of it. We had such a great time eating, talking with friends, and playing with all the kids there. The biggest hit was the Mickey Mouse jumpy my friend Moss set up for all the kids. My favorite image was watching my niece, Michelle, holding a live crawfish. I'm not exactly sure she knew what she was holding, but she did a lot better than I would have if I were holding it. She even got upset when the poor little crawfish fell to the ground. Then there was my crazy nephew, Noah, who got confused as to how to put on gloves to peel the crawfish. He put them on his feet instead of his hands. He is so silly. What an awesome time we had and I can't wait until the next one!

Michelle in the Mickey Mouse jumpy

Andrew with his crawfish

Lynn, Amanda, and I enjoying everyones company!



Michelle looking at all the little crawfish



She was very brave to pick up a live one

Silly Noah with gloves on his feet. Had to capture this moment.

My older sister, Laura, with all her kiddos.