Waiting Patiently (sometimes)

It's been two months since we received our Foster Care License....I always said it could be 1 day or 1 year before we got our first call! But my, I under estimated my feelings on waiting! When the time is right to either Foster a child or to adopt a child I know it will be in "HIS" timing.  Oh my- that is easier to say than to do! :) 
Thank you for your love & support friends and family!
-Mama Beth

God, is this our baby?

Until today time has been flying by, zipping past us with each day full and filled with tasks and agendas!  A few weeks ago we went on a very fun and blessed trip to Cabo San Lucas.  We missed flights and got flustered, even made the evening news in San Francisco one night due to all the problems and issues at the airport!  But still, the vacation was a wonderful time and taught us to value what a vacation really is, time to just "enjoy each other and recognize how much fun it is to PLAY!"  Marcus was the most perfect little vacationer, I think he enjoyed it more than anyone could have! Such a treat for our family!

Back to reality: house chores, work, potty-training, rules and well, getting our home ready for our newest family member we have not yet found!  The day after we got back from our vacation in Mexico we got the call our home-study was complete and we could get a call any day informing us of a possible child we would be eligible to adopt.   Today we read not 1 but 4 - yes 4 possible babies that we can send our file for the birth parents / adoption agency to read and review.

We asked God today: Is this our baby? Is this our baby? Please guide us and bring us to the place you want us to be. We pray for these birth parents, the babies they are carrying or have gave birth to. We pray for the Agency workers that they may have the knowledge and ability to know what is best for both families. The family giving and the family receiving. Amen

We feel blessed to be to this point, yet anxiously awaiting God's next command. Oh, our little baby girl we love you and look forward to meeting you soon.

xxoo, Your Forever Family

Creating Our Adoption Page!

Here is a sneak preview of our what our adoption page will have in it... (mostly just the written content...I am still finding pictures that best fit who we are!)

It will be called: "Journey to Four"

I'm excited for the launch and pray for all the Birth Parents that read it. May God bless there journey of choosing the right family to love their precious child.

Thank you for taking the time to look at our profile. We would like to begin with expressing how excited and grateful we are that you are giving us the opportunity to share a little bit about ourselves and why we are choosing adoption.

Our Story

In the fall of 2003 we met while both attending Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. After graduating from college and getting married we realized what our hearts truly desired as a married couple…children! Shortly after celebrating our 4^th wedding anniversary we found out we were expecting a baby, it was a beautiful and exciting moment. The support and love from our extended family and friends has been very important to us when we had our son and now new journey of adoption. Our son Marcus was long awaited and a very nice surprise, in that we have found infertility problems along the way as well as other numerous complications.

God has now presented us with an unbelievable opportunity to grow our family through adoption. We admire your courage in pursing adoption, and pray that God will give you peace and wisdom though the process.

Our lives have been full of adventure and our faith in God has driven us to trust in his plan for us. We live in a beautiful home we bought a few years ago. As a family, we love going camping, trips to the park and lake with our dog Turbo. We enjoy most spending time with friends and family. Family is our number one priority. Our times are spent being active and adventurous, but we also love staying home cooking and playing games as a family! Marcus’ favorite is homemade pizza (he is so good at adding the pepperoni) and creating ‘forts’ in the living room with all the pillows and blankets. He has even more fun when his cousins (who are about the same age) join in!

As a family we have already been touched by adoption. Jay's dad was adopted. Beth has an adopted brother and one of her best friends and co-workers was adopted. We know countless people who were adopted or have adopted children. Our love for it and connection to it is very strong.

Recently Beth found a beautiful non-profit called, Birth Mother Baskets http://birthmotherbaskets.blogspot.com/ while researching ways to connect the one she Co-Founded (Delivered Bundles http://deliveredbundles.blogspot.com/). Since then, it has opened our eyes to both sides of the adoption process and has brought us closer to maybe understanding how you might be feeling at this time.

All about Jay (by Beth)

Coming soon….

All about Beth (by Jay)

Coming soon…

Our Son - Marcus was born June 19^th, 2009. It was a blessing to become a family of three. He has changed our life in the best of ways. Marcus is full of kindness, energy and discovery. Marcus will be the perfect big brother! We are already teaching him how to be gently to our friend’s newborn babies, showing him how to share with other toddlers at the Mommy-Baby Playgroup we attend twice a week, and the importance of loving others as God loves us. But beyond this he has such a great personality…he LOVES music and dancing, loves driving his trucks and tractor toys in the dirt, has a blast throwing the ball for our dog, Turbo, enjoys splashing us with water while he is taking a bath. He’s always giggling! We are raising Marcus to love others and love God. We strive everyday to be the best parents we can possibly be.

As a family we have embraced our decision to adopt whole-heartily. Becoming parents has been a dream-come-true for us. Through the possibility of adoption, we have new-found hope of the day we will hold another little one in our arms to love.

We look forward to learning more of your hopes and dreams for this child so that we can pass this along to him or her. The gift of a child is an incredible blessing. Should you choose us to parent and love your child, they will always know of your tremendous love for them.

With grateful hearts we thank you for considering us to become your child’s parents and family.

Blessings to you,

Jay, Beth & Marcus

Good Bye 2011

What an amazing year! I'm not saying everything was perfect, everything was great, or everything was even good...but I do believe it was the way it was meant to be! It has taken me (Beth) 20+ years in my walk with Christ to actually Listen, Trust & Obey. Hey, guess what? I did it this year the best I could as a friend, employee, employer, mom, daughter, wife, neighbor, stranger, community member etc. and it turned out to be really good, rewarding, and I am happier than I have ever ever been! I look forward to 2012 and all it has to bring, I am not afraid, yet happy and excited to see where my little family is headed. My prayer is that I continue to trust and obey God and always put others before my own selfish 'wants'! Many blessings to you and yours as well. My New Year's Resolution is to not forget the Power of Prayer. Happy New Year & Cheers to all that is good, healthy and fun!

The ultimate job interview...

Marcus says: YOU'RE HIRED Mom & Dad!!! ha, ha, wouldn't that be great if the truth telling 2 year old could explain what kind of parents we are...and what kind of big brother he will be! Oh my!

Jay and I really feel like our decision to adopt was already decided for us long before we knew it. It's funny how things are brought into our lives. We would never put the pieces together on our own, not until it is sitting in our lap smiling back at us like YEAH! YIPPEE...Here you GO! One thing that does surprise me about the process is really how much you share about your decision, the background checks, the references, the paperwork. I am so excited and yet humbled by the process.
I found a wonderful non-profit the other day while researching and finding scripture. It's called Birth Mother Baskets, http://birthmotherbaskets.blogspot.com/. I think to really appreciate your gift from God- a child. You need to understand and respect both sides. Since we are going through the Foster To Adopt Program as well we could be blessed enjoying and loving a baby who has unfortunately been in the foster care system because their parents were unable to properly provide the necessities for the child to safely live and be healthy after a long and drawn out process. This crumbles me to hear about. We attended required classes through DSHS last month-and the stories and examples brought me to tears more than once.

I already pray for our little one, wherever she may be...I know God is taking care of her now and preparing our family to be ready. I pray tonight: "God- prepare me to glorify you in everything I do so that I may be the best mother to Marcus and our new little one that you are so graciously growing in our hearts. Jay and I continue to be thankful."

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and boy do we have a lot to be Thankful for! Just simply thankful, happy and excited to be enjoying all the wonderful things we have been given (especially the wonderful people)! Marcus, you are mommy and daddy's favorite little toddler- you bring more love, excitement, happiness and joy to a room than we ever thought we could feel at once! xoxox, Mommy

Cherish every step...

Halloween themed family holiday: McCoxland

Last weekend was fantastic! Loaded up our family of 3 and joined 13 more and headed to the mountains (past Leavenworth) where a beautiful log home awaited us and the rest of the family...to have everyone all together in the same house for 3 days was crazy-cool! We called it McCoxland! One thing I learned from this experience was to not take it for granted and cherish every minute and memory. I'm still reminiscing!

(siblings: Beth, Grant, Grace, Paul, Kirsten, Michel & Austin)

As I type this I think yeah, much like our adoption process. Not every minute of the McCoxland was great, the toddlers were yelling, the teens were taunting each other and my head was pounding at times, haha! But, it was the best time I have had in years. My family and the time with them means more to me than anything in this world!

Today I said a prayer. I prayed that our family continues with the "McCoxland" vacation...and I hope we add a few more names to it.

Along with this prayer made me think about our baby #2. Will she be with us next time we are on vacation? I began to pray: "Dear Lord, I don't know her, I don't know if she's born, I don't even know if my hopes for a girl is actually your plan or not (I just like PINK, and Sparkle and want to share it okay! ;D ) but I do know that you know God, and that you are taking care of all this right now! I pray for her. I pray that when You decide we are ready that you pour your blessings on her and I know you will give us whatever we need to embrace her into our family, glorifying You, Lord! In your name, AMEN"

By the way, Mr. Marcus is quite the comedian these days and the little person he is becoming is extraordinary to watch! Determined, independent, sensitive and funny are just a few characteristics! His favorite thing right now is being a Scientist, candy....and his babysitter, BFF Sarah! They do make believe play and crafts a lot- she's pretty fun!

Thanksgiving is around the corner...Gobble-Gobble! Lot's to be thankful for!

Almost DONE!

Even Mr. Marcus is shocked...we have our home-study and a few more papers to turn in and then we are off to the races just waiting for God to place a child with us! National Adoption Day is NOVEMBER 1st! We are going to celebrate it this year with finalizing our paperwork!

Could be by this Christmas, could be next Christmas? Either way the last 27 hours of weekend classes are done and I think Our Family is more than amazed by this process and the pure power of God's presence and the faith we need from Him at this time.

Pray for the strength, trust and patience we will need...Forever God Is Faithful.