November is National Adoption Month.

If you know me or have been following this blog you are aware that our daughter was adopted last year through the state foster/adopt program.  We joke that we could be the poster family for the foster/adopt program, but that we would need to add the phrase "Results not Typical".  Our beautiful girl came home at one day old.  When she was 4 month old she was legally free, and at only 8 months old her adoption was finalized.  Results not typical.  Our experience was amazing.  We didn't experience the bumps in the road that many foster/adopt families face.  We were prepared for them- they just never came.  We have several friends who have adopted through foster/adopt, and some have had a challenging ride, but in the end they would not have changed a thing. 

Celebrating National Adoption Month brings to light that all children deserve a place to call home and a family.  If adoption is something you have been considering don't let preconcieved ideas about foster children scare you away.  There are no guarantees when it comes to becoming a parent and biological parenting can be a risk too.  Becoming a parent is a leap of faith.  Educate yourself and jump.

I LOVE Halloween!

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love Fall with the chill in the air, the leaves turning, and the spooky decorations that adorn people's houses. Prior to this year we have lived in populated neighborhoods where Steve and I would take turns taking the kids out for Trick or Treating- I love walking with the kids, and I also enjoy greeting the children at the door and having a quick chat with their waiting adults. This year we live on a sparsely populated street, and the walk down our driveway would tucker out just about any trick-or-treater (not to mention scare the heck out of them). For this reason, we ventured out to join some new friends in their subdivision. We started early as the kids were anxious to get started. Delaney had her own purple pumpkin to store her candy in and she held it tight the entire night. If I tried to "help" her hold it she shrieked "Nooooooo". Alrighty then-I left it up to her. The boys all came back with pounds of candy. They had a wonderful night, and they will be eating the rewards for days to come.

Halloween is also special because it is the anniversary of our daughter Delaney's adoption. Last year as we were closing in on an adoption date, we were shooting for National Adoption Day- which is in November. We thought it would be great to share that day with so many other adoptive families- including some of our dearest friends. We were a little disappointed when we found out that our lawyer was not available on that day, but when we heard we could finalize the adoption early...and on Halloween to boot we were excited. It has been an amazing year, and today is a day to reflect on our blessings. To commemorate this special day, we got Delaney a beautiful monogrammed charm bracelet and I put on the "Little Sister" charm that my mother sent her last year. It is really precious and Delaney seemed quite taken with it. The boys each got an action figure to play with. We carved pumpkins and enjoyed being a family. Life is good.