...The Adventures of Breagirl...: My Birthday Present

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

My Birthday Present

I got some wonderful gifts for my birthday yesterday, but this was by far my favorite.

On Saturday night, we went to dinner and a movie and Aunt Ali, Uncle Josh and Maggie kept all the kids. Little did I know, they were also taking pics to surprise me with.

I got this in a beautiful frame last night at my birthday dinner. Josh, your talent never ceases to amaze me!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...: so cute! I love it!; June 24, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Anonymous said...: This is gorgeous. Aunt Kim wants a copy!; June 24, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Anonymous said...: Oh my, this is beautiful!!; June 24, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Rachel Wilson said...: Very Beautiful!; June 25, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Jennifer Fleming said...: very cute!; June 26, 2008 at 1:20 AM
Anonymous said...: love it; June 27, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Unknown said...: Wow...wonderful! Don't you just feel like the most blessed mother in the world. Your family is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing this picture!; June 28, 2008 at 11:51 AM

OUR ADOPTION STORY

FIRST ADOPTION:
*4/1/07 Requested information from Bethany Christian Services via their website

*4/5/07 Preliminary application arrived from BCS

*4/6/07 Mailed application back in to BCS

*5/4/07 8 hour introductory meeting for BCS-received formal packet!!

*5/7/07 First training meeting for BCS (2 hours-1st of 8 trainings-required as part of homestudy)

*5/8/07 Turned in completed packet-only waiting on a few doctor's forms and background check for it to be 100% complete

*5/10/07 2 Hour Psych Evaluation

*5/25/07 Received letter stating the fee amount and telling us that reference letters had been mailed

*5/29/07 Received email stating that "several" african american babies are due soon and they need families! Trying to get all the reference letters in ASAP!!

*6/6/07 First of three interviews with Amanda at Bethany (this is the couples interview)

*6/12/07 Second of three interviews with Amanda at Bethany (this is the individual interviews)

*6/15/07 Third of three interviews with Amanda...this time at our house. She will get to meet the kids and see where we call home!

*7/3/07 Turned in our final training questions! We are done with 8 weeks of training! Waiting for the approval letter!

*7/11/07 Got a phone call from SW Amanda that they are showing our profile to a birthmom tomorrow!

*7/18/07 Found out birthmom didn't pick us...completely at peace with this decision.

*7/27/07 We're approved! PRAISE JESUS!! Now the "official" waiting begins!

*8/7/07 Mary Elizabeth is born at 12:06 am weighing 1 lb 4.3 ozs.

*10/3/07 Were told about Mary Elizabeth

*10/4/07 After a night full of prayer, we decided to show our profile and just a few hours later we found out that she was our daughter

*10/5/07 Met Mary Elizabeth for the 1st time!!

*10/13/07 Signed paperwork and brought our little sprout home!

*9/29/08 Finalized the adoption!

SECOND ADOPTION:

*10/13/08 Requested formal packet for second domestic infant adoption from Bethany Christian Services (today is our one year anniversary of M.E.'s gotcha day!)

*11/6/08 After several God things happened, we decide to pursue adoption of a little boy named Ben who is 5 years old and in Ethiopia. Formally tell BCS on Monday, 11/10.

*11/14/08 Find out that Ben is going to another family. We are devastated and decide to take some time to figure out where God wants us.

*Contact Catholic Charities here in Nashville about doing a home study update

*11/24/08 Drop off initial packet to Catholic Charities...formal packet is immediately emailed to us. Medical forms and fee agreements are mailed.

*2/4/09 First home visit with our social worker here at the house

*2/5/09 Called about 2 different babies. First is a bi-racial baby boy due in March. This never went anywhere. Second is an 11 day old baby boy in Arkansas. We later find out that they already had enough profiles to show birthmother.

*2/26/09 Second home visit with our social worker here at the house

*3/10/09 Found out about twins born that day. Profile being shown late that night. Not picked next day. Told about birthmom looking at profiles on 3/17 and decided to show profile.

*3/17/09 Shown to birthmom having boy in April

*3/21/09 Didn't get picked for baby boy. Told about baby girl that was just born but don't pursue because fees are too high for us.

*3/23/09 Signed with Christian Adoption Consultants and told Catholic Charities we wanted to sign with them

*3/24/09 Got a call from a referral service about an expecting mom in FL having a baby boy via c-section on 3/26. We send our profile

*3/26/09 A crazy day! We got several emails and a phone call from agencies wanting to show our profile. We can't do anything because our profile is in FL

*3/27/09 Found out birthmom in FL is going to parent. Decide to send our profile to GA for a birthmom having a baby girl

*3/28/09 We are matched with birthmom in GA!

*3/30/09 Baby Girl is due today

*4/6/09 Decided to back out of our match with expecting mom in GA. We feel like agency is being unethical in their counseling.

*4/13/09 Profile being shown to e-mom in SC (birthmom went MIA after viewing profiles)

*4/27/09 Profile shown to e-mom in TX, she picked us that afternoon! She is due TODAY!

*5/6/09 Fly to Houston, TX

*5/7/09 Joshua Tucker born at 4:41pm via c-section