Gotcha Day #4

In adoption it is common to refer to Gotcha Day as the day you received your baby. Sometimes it is 48hrs after delivery, sometimes it is 6 months after their birth (like ours).  Every story is different, every story unique, every story perfect for your situation. If you haven't heard our adoption story it is a little more unique.  You can read about it here.  But it's a story I never get tired of looking back on.  How little did I know that on a Wednesday I was going to work, Thursday my husband came home from work saying there was a baby in Logan we could go meet, and casually driving up on Friday after work to meet her and the family she was staying with and by Friday night driving home with a baby in the backseat! 

 

After having 2 other adoptions fall through, our hearts were broken. It was one of the hardest parts of my life, it was hard on our marriage, it was hard all around. I remember praying begging for something good to finally happen. All we wanted was to be a family. We were wanting something good, it wasn't like we were asking for a new car, or a trip to Disneyland, this was something we longed for.  So when our prayers were literally answered that we became parents within 24 hrs, it looks crazy to some but to us it was an answer to prayers!

 

We celebrated our "Gotcha Day" with Liv doing something we hadn't done in the past 4 years!

I mentioned to Casey that we should go up to Logan to take Olivia to the park when we first met her. 

We've always been open with Olivia about her adoption but we are going to be putting our papers in again for another adoption soon, so we have been talking about it more and more. We thought it would be special for her to see place where we met. (actually it was at a home, but we took her to the park by ourselves for a while).

 

We decided to make a day of it, traveling up to Logan we wanted to make a few stops. First we stopped at City Creek and then and went and saw the Salt Lake Temple.  For obvious reasons we love this temple but I happen to think it's one of the most beautiful buildings ever. 

 

Then we stopped at Brigham City, where the new temple there was having it's open house. We didn't have tickets to go in, nor where we dressed appropriately, but we drove around. It again is beautiful and looks pure from just the grounds.  We stopped at a fruit stand and got a box of famous Brigham City peaches.  And ate lunch at this adorable drive-in that sure did give me heart burn but was worth it!

 

Then it was off to Logan to try and find the infamous park. We hadn't been back since but I have this odd sense of direction and can usually find things pretty well. (if only I could put that hidden talent on my resume). We drove around for a few minutes in the small town trying to get our bearings and refresh our memory of that crazy day.  When all of a sudden we both looked to the left and saw the park. We both immediately yelled out "that's it!" It was wonderful being back there.

We sat and enjoyed a little picnic, even though we had been eating the entire day! 

 It was the best day! Refreshing memories and creating new ones.  This is going to be a annual thing from now on.

 

 

Being a mom is the best experience. It ain't easy and no cake walk. But what it has taught me, about myself, about what means in life, about who I am and what I want to teach my child is unbelievable. 

Not being able to carry my own children has been one of the hardest challenges of my life, especially in the culture I live in where it seems everyone around me is pregnant. It still is heartbreaking and I think about it often but having a family where 6 out of the 10 grand kids are adopted, makes it a little easier.  I know I am not alone.  Not being able to get pregnant alone has taught be a lot about myself. How over the years I have become more and more aware of others around me and what challenges they may be facing. It taught me about patience, being judgmental, and kindness to others in the same situation. I always told myself that once I became a mother I never wanted to forget the feeling of how hard it was not being pregnant. I wanted to always remember that and be sensitive to others who may be facing this, even though I was now a mom. 

 

Don't get me wrong motherhood is hard. It isn't baking cupcakes and lunch dates as sometimes it can seem from the outside looking in.  We loved Olivia from the moment we laid eyes on her. Our bond was strong, but it took work, time, and prayers to really feel that strong bond that this was our child.  We knew it was right and we knew this is what our story was. We felt peace knowing Heavenly Father placed Olivia in our lives for us.  But knowing that this is our child is clearly a little different with adoption.  We always say that when you bear your own child you get to witness the birth and experience that, but within our faith, we get to experience our sealing with our child in the temple. It is a sacred experience that others may not get to have. So being sealed to our children is kind of like our birth! 



 

Dear Olivia,

 

Olivia you once again never stop amazing us. 

You are more like us than we like to think sometimes. Depends on what you are doing. 

If it's your sense of humor and kind heart you get that from your daddy. If it's your outgoing and no fear that's your mommy.  You also bring your own traits and qualities that we credit to your special birth mommy.  We thank her everyday for her love for you.  She loves you more than life and continues to love you more and more as she sees you grow up. 

 

We love seeing you grow up and learning knew things. 

You are anxious about getting a new sibling and are darling to all the new babies in the neighborhood.  You are loving school and made a goal to make a new friend everyday. 

Watching you dance and bust a move is one of our favorite things.  Recently you have started putting letters together and reading 3 and 4 letter words. The face you make when you know you have accomplished something is priceless. 

 

You make us proud as parents.  We are happy when you make good choices and learn from bad ones.  Thinking of what you are going to become is mind blowing and unknown but you have the determinination and confidence to do anything.  We love you and are grateful for you everyday for the past 4 years when you we came into your life. 

 

Love Mommy and Daddy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way out of Logan we stopped to visit the burial site of Casey's Grandparents!  Amazing people with an amazing family. 

 

 

13 Years Babe!

13 years!  Wowza. 

Best day of Forever. I still don't think our family has forgiven us from our 6:20 sealing. Yes I said 6:20 in the am. Looking back it was nice to be the first bride of the day and it was quiet, obviously, I think they had 80 weddings that day. I visited the temple the other day with Olivia and she said "Mommy this places makes my body tickle" I think I know what she means.  I reminded her that she has been in that building when she was sealed to mommy and daddy. If time could pause on the face she made as I told her this, she was loving that thought. 

I love more than anything that I know we truly have a good time together.
 Always have, always will.  We will be the crazy old couple dancing down the street.

The day Olivia was sealed to us and her blessing day. 
Awesome day and can't wait to do it again someday with our other little ones.



First day we became parents.  Do we look scared???  No, we'll we were. But when you know it's right and your Heavenly Father had a part in this craziness you can't deny it that this is your little girl. 



Even when I say that out loud it feels like we are ancient and got married when we where 6 and it was an arranged marriage.  Even though our some of the details or our lives may not have panned out as planned, we don't have 4 kids like everyone else in Utah County who is our age, we may not have the ridiculously large home on the hillside, we haven't checked off all our buck list items. I wouldn't have changed anything.  Honestly it is US, is has made US, it will continue to make US stronger.  And don't you dare get me wrong our life has been full of giggles and good times.  I love the fact that we are two easy going peeps,

1. How many seconds it took for me to realize how hot you were from the moment you walked in the conference room at UVU. (even though you denied me shortly thereafter)
2. Number of dates we went on before we never dated anyone else. 
3. Seconds it takes you to make me laugh when you do something so ridiculously stupid it's funny. (Like your arm flap you do)
4. Number of times I think I have seen you cry.  Tough cookie you are!
5. Times a day you just shake you head in embarrassment of something I have just said or done.  "Amyisems"
6. How many cars we have owned over the years. Many we will have a mini van down the road? 
7. Times a day I think to myself how lucky I am. 
8. Number of places we have lived over the years.  We have gotten really good at moving!
9. Times you have driven through a fast food drive through an done something so damn funny I thought for sure we were going to get arrested. Need I remind you of the salad tongs??
10. How many years we waited to be parents!  I see a lot of couples go through many hard things, those were 10 long years but I wouldn't have wanted to learn and grow with anyone else.
11.  Number of times we have stayed in Park City for our anniversary (I may be off but it's probably close)
12. Years that we have grown together as friends, companions,  & parents.
13. Thirteen Great years full of laughter and love. 

I know this is a lot of cheese for one post, it's like a hallmark card. But heavens it is our anniversary. It's bound to be cheesy!
Many other things that don't match up to numbers.....
- How many times you make me laugh like no one else, especially when you know I need it most.
- Number of times I have made you wait outside while I quickly ran into a fabric store to buy fabric that I didn't really need.
- Times we have picnics a year. We are cheap dates.  
- How many times we go for evening rides to chill and wind down the day. Not to mention that you always take the same route! One of these days you are going to get crazy and turn left.

At our 9 year anniversary!  At Thanksgiving Point where we had our reception. 

Memorial Day

We finally had a day together. No interruptions. No sickness. No work. It was a beauty. 

And I think we packed about all that we could into one day.

We started the day off by heading up the canyon to see Bridal Veil falls.

Seriously we live in the most amazing place. 

Then we drove to Midway to feed the ducks.

I think the ducks were on a no carb diet and didn't want anything to do

with our bread. Oh well, more for us.

Liv wanted to take a picture of her mommy and daddy. Not to shabby.

If you are every craving good Mexican, not the water downed chips and salsa you

get everywhere else. Drive yourself up to Park City.

Seriously.

I crave the chips and salsa more than a person should.

And don't get me started on their flautas.  Yummers.

Then we headed with everyone else in the county to the outlets.  

I think we wore her out? 

Then we headed to my brothers house and had a BBQ. 

This is the moment that we told Liv and Drew that we were roasting marshmallow's.  

Day at the park

Yea for daddy and his new job promotion.

Bummer that we never see each other!

Literally the only time we see each other is now on Saturdays (yea since I'm not working at the salon anymore) and on Sundays!

So we cherish the time we have together. 

The other day we happened to have a couple hours in the mid-morning

so we had a impromptu picnic! 

Good times folks, good times.

Easter Weekend

I know I am only a few weeks behind on posting Easter. 

Don't remind me on how behind I am.

But this year we decided to hit up the good old PG egg hunt before I headed off to work. 

Liv was stoked because when we first got there she spotted a bright pink egg.

I have a video of it, that is classic. 

Let's just say she egg hunt was 49 seconds and 37 of those she was chasing after this gosh darn egg.

When she first went to pick it up she accidentatlly kicked it, sending it halfway across the court.

When she caught up to it, she picked it up and dropped it to basket, missing the basket.

Picked it up again to drop it another time.

And believe it or not one more time of picking it up and it fell to the ground.

Finally she got her grubby little fingers on the bright pink egg and IT WAS HERS!!

Gotta give the kid credit for her dedication to the one egg she wanted. 

Then she got to meet the Bunny.

And she and I both were as flustered as can be when the bunny helper talked back to her.

I'm used to be ignored and just given a simple head shake by those guys.

Liv was so excited that the Easter Egg bunny actually spoke!

We don't have a poser on our hands.....I don't know what you are talking about.

Then came Easter morning. 

That gosh darn silly easter bunny made her track through the house to find her basket.

After she found it, we sat her down and talked to her about the real meaning of Easter.

I have this basket that has scriptures and little items that resemble things about Easter.

For example a nail, an egg to represent the empty tomb, sacrament cup and how we take the sacrament to remember our Savior. etc.

She loved it and we didn't want to her only think of Peanut Butter eggs on Easter but the real meaning.

We were planning on spending the day with Casey's family but plans got cancelled.

So we had a mini get together with Cathy and Nan and Gramp.

Liv was in heaven.

She loves those guys, especially since she has their complete and undivivded attention.

You know how you have those expectations of how you will get a "perfect Sunday dress"

picture especially on Easter.

Well ya no, that didn't happen.

So we will take this random picture of us on a walking trail. 

We came across some horses and the country girl in me came out.

Don't laugh.

Liv loved that I was feeding the horses. 

Then believe it or not Liv took all these following pictures.

I think I have a photographer on my hands.