Once upon a time, I had a gratitude project series I worked on. On my hard days, I’d take my camera in hand and go out to photograph things that would make me happy. Before we got to bring our precious little lady home, I was struggling to figure out what the future would hold. …
Tiny Life Update and Some Love
I know so so many of you are eagerly awaiting when I’ll finally post about Marlee’s adoption story. And honestly, I’m looking forward to finally being able to share it too. Unfortunately, the truth is adoption is complicated and long and right now we’ve been encouraged not to share too much. So that’s why you …
Memorial Day 2017
As many of you know – today is Memorial Day. It means that many of us are enjoying an extended weekend, cookouts, BBQs, and time with family and friends. And maybe it’s just me – but sometimes I think the significance of this holiday gets lost in the fun of an extra day off work …
The First Mother’s Day for a Woman Who Waited
You know… I had already planned out my post for Mother’s Day this year. (The post I shared on Friday.) Never had I imagined that I would suddenly find myself to be a mother this Mother’s Day. For the past seven long years, we have hoped and yearned and ached and fought and surrendered and …
To the Woman with Empty Arms on Mothers Day
(This post was written prior to our placement, but I think it still deserves to be shared and my heart still feels with those who are feeling a little emptiness this Mother’s Day.) Today I want you to know you are not alone. I want you to know that I’m with you… I know how …
Little Life Update
I know it’s not like me to go a whole week without blogging… but I feel like I have a pretty good reason. (wink wink) It simultaneously feels like forever ago and just yesterday that we got back home from Michigan with our beautiful baby girl. Between all the visitors that Marlee has had and …
9 Years of Strength & Love
My dearest Ryan, Earlier this month, I was doing laundry and you came over to give me a kiss. We had yet another emotionally challenging week and for some reason you felt the need to apologize… “I’m so sorry this has been so hard.” I remember looking up at you and saying “It’s okay honey.” …
Our Easter Miracle
Well this Easter was weird for us. It was the first Easter in thirteen years that we’ve missed spending time with family… but it’s for the best reason ever! The past week has been one of the most exciting, stressful, exhausting, heartbreaking, and soul-fulfilling weeks of our lives. A lot of things are still up …
Moments of Clarity
Some of you may know that we had the immense fun of watching our little second cousins a couple of weekends ago, and it was an absolute blast! We’ve gotten to watch Everett and Briella several times in the past, but this was the first time they got to spend the night. So we got …
Uncomfortably Defined
… sigh… So… I’m not sure where to start and I’m not sure how this will come across, but we’ll see if any of this makes sense by the time I’m done writing. You know, I’ve been writing and sharing little pieces of our story, our journey to grow our family here for the past …