Time for a change...

in jobs that is.  It has been an amazing journey that will culminate next Monday as I become an official staff member at Generations Adoptions.  I'm so excited for this next step in our lives.  The opportunity to help create families thru adoption is the ultimate avenue for me to give back the joy that I have received thru the adoption of our children.

For a long time I've wondered what I would do with my life.  Of course, in college I had a dream of becoming a professional track athlete.  But I also knew if that were to happen it wouldn't last forever.  I never had that dream to have a career in a certain profession, i.e. medicine, law, etc., that I would enjoy doing for 30+ years until my retirement.  I've worked for some different companies in different industries but mainly in the same line of work - business development and operations management.  And at almost every stop along my career path, I've had above average success.  There have been thoughts of opening my own business, but the only thing that would truly be a dream occupation as an owner would be to own a water ski school (we don't have the capital to build a private lake or this would have happened already).

Then, in May 2012, I moved from a non-profit to a for profit company and was able to donate my time to helping a Generations Adoptions.  The passion I have for adoption is relatively new in my life.  As recent as 6 years ago, I would have scoffed at the idea of adoption being a part of my life.  But now, there are few things in my life that I'm more passionate about than adoption and especially Generations Adoptions.  There's God, my family and then adoption & water skiing.

So all those days that I pondered "will I ever find that job that will not be a job" have come to a close.  And strangely enough, instead of having a feeling of pride in finding that career position, I find that I'm humbled and nervous.  I know in my heart that I will do well in this new role as every position I've had in the past has trained me for it.  But I'm nervous because the search is over, that chapter of my life is over, what will this change bring?

I'm so humbled by God providing me this opportunity.  It is amazing to think about how our lives have changed over the past 6 years.  When we decided to stop just leaning on God when we had rough times and truly devote our lives to him, things changed.  We started with our finances - handling them the way God instructs in the Bible.  Then came our relationships and the building of our family.  We put aside our wants and desires, our selfish ways, and focused on what God was telling us to do.  We stopped worrying about what other people thought of our actions and starting dedicating our actions to Christ.  And oh - how things have changed.

What a blessing we have in our children and what a blessing I will strive to be for Generations Adoptions.

Jerry

2013 - what will this year hold?

Here is the first post of hopefully many more this year.  I have to apologize, to our little ones especially, for not doing a better job of recording their changes.  But with two toddlers there is not a lot of down time to type my thoughts.

Biggest accomplishment so far in 2013 - Abigail has successfully gone two complete days without wearing a diaper.  Yes that means 2 nights making it thru the night in panties and being dry both nights.  So proud of the little girl, especially since all night for her means 8pm-9am.  That's a long time.  We joked when she was born that being so petite she would not make it to size 5 diapers before she was potty-trained.  Well we were right, she was barely in size 4's before the full transition to no diapers.

In Tai's world - he is getting so big.  He loves to run around the house.  In fact he stands up against the wall or tv and counts to 3 then takes off running across the room.  He also loves to jump on the dogs, yes jump on them.  Luckily they are usually totally ok with it.  We are also getting a glimpse of the younger brother becoming the "bigger" brother.  Tai's shoe size is passing Abigail's.  She still has him in height and barely in weight.  Wonder if he will totally catch her this year.

More to come in 2013...

Jerry

Merry After Christmas

Hello! We enjoyed a quiet Christmas this year and only traveled the weekend before Christmas.  It was a fun visit with my side of the family. The kids had a great time opening gifts.  Abigail is really starting to understand the whole Christmas gift deal.  :)  We are trying to keep her grounded but it is so hard to avoid the craziness of it all.  She is, however, so polite and tells everyone thank you for her gifts and is genuinely excited about each present.  Tai is still figuring it all out.  He loves to thrash through all the wrapping paper and tear it up as soon as it is possible.  He is a hoot! 
Christmas morning was very special as we were able to wake up in our house and surprise the kids with the gifts and stockings when they woke up.  My parents and my grandma pitched in to buy a playhouse for the kids.  Jerry put it together and the kids played with it in our living room all day yesterday. Eventually it will make its way outside but it was rainy and cold yesterday so it was perfect to play with it inside.  Since our extended family was not here yesterday we were able to talk to most of them and even Skyped with my Grandma.  It was a nice and relaxing day.  Chocolate chip pancakes for brunch & Turkey for dinner. Yummy!
Last night Jerry and I watched the Nativity Story. That was the 3rd year in a row we have watched it.  It is a true reminder of the TRUE reason for the season.  happy birthday Jesus!
Today:  clean house & get some exercise.  Time to work off all the holiday extras...
God bless you all today and always!
.....Jenny

Worst Blogger Mom ever!!

Hello.  It has been way too long since my last blog.  I am ashamed to say that i have been better about posting pictures on facebook than I have been keeping up with this blog.  Poor Tai wont have much to document his first year of life.  Maybe I can quickly catch up on a few things.  Here goes...
2012 has been a bit of a blur.....
As stated in an earlier post Tai celebrated his 1st birthday.  We invited his birthfamily and they came in earlier that day so we could spend some extra time with them.  We went to the zoo and had a great time.  Then we went to the park to have his big party with all our friends and family.  It went pretty well. It has a few awkward moments but all in all it was a very special day. Little Tai was pooped out!  We also had a friend take some amazing pictures with Tai and his birthfamily.  Those pictures are priceless!  We are so thankful for that relationship.

The week after his birthday both Tai and Abigail had surgery! Yep, you read that right. Abigail had a tonsillectomy to remove a cyst.  Tai had tubes put in.  The surgeries went well but this Mommy was a wreck.  I felt very disconnected because I had to choose which baby to sit with. Tai came out of surgery just as Abigail was going in. I cuddled him for 2 minutes then took off to go with Abigail. So thankful Daddy and both Grandma and Mimi were there to help.  Tai was silly as usual that afternoon. Abigail: well, it took 10 days or more to get my sweet girl back to normal. Awful! She wouldn't eat or drink and every swallow was a battle. Poor girl! So glad that is over!

June 2012:  Jerry and I got away for a mini vacation.  One of my best girlfriend's, Kelli, got married in California wine country.  My parents came up to stay with the kids while we flew off in the sunset for 5 days! It was a great vacation. I slept for 7 or 8 hours each night! San Francisco was wonderful and Sonoma was beautiful.  The time spent with my other friends and their husbands was so great! Back at home: the kids were having a blast with Mimi and Granddaddy. We recieved pictures via text almost daily.  I know the kids were excited and the Gparents were exhausted.  Their bags were packed and ready to go when we drove up.  :)  But I know they treasured every moment with the kiddos.  And...yes...these little monkeys are exhausting but so worth it.

July 2012:  We were well into the ski season and both kids were having fun out on the lake.  Tai couldn't swim in it due to the tubes in his ears but Abigail was doing great! We left for our annual family trip to Lake Tenkiller at the end of the month.  It was a great time.  Abigail skied! (pictures to follow) 

.....well....Mommy duties are calling....I hope to be back here very soon.  until then...God bless.

Jenny

Lots to celebrate!

I just found this and realized it never posted back in May. 

We have several things to celebrate and blog about so i will try to get through this first part....

Tai's "Gotcha" day!  One year ago we were driving home with our son. What a wonderful surprise! We found out about him a week before we brought him home.  Our little family was complete.  Thank you God for your blessings!

Last friday on May 11th was Tai's first birthday.  Wow! I can't believe how fast he is growing. Just in the last few weeks he has started talking more and um...walking! He started officially walking while we were at my parents house in Pipe Creek on May 5th.  And now he is a walking dude. It is so cute and he gets so excited when he starts walking. So excited that he knocks himself over.  Abigail thinks it is pretty cool too; she says "Momma, Tai's walking." as he approaches her.  He is only 2 pounds lighter than her so he is about be able to tackle her completely! Also, last weekend we celebrated Tai's and m nephews birthdays.  They are 17 years apart! We got to eat cake and blowout candles on Sunday may 6th and Tai ate angelfood cake and icing.  Really sweet and really messy too!
 Anyway, this week he has been busy with his walking and on Friday (his birthday) Jerry's mom and my parents came for a visit.  It was great to have the Gparents here at the same time.  We didn't do  a huge celebration until Saturday.

Yesterday, may 12th....we invited Tai's birthmom and family here to celebrate Tai's bday.  We met them at their hotel and it was great to see them. We hadn't seen them since Tai's 6 month visit. Unfortunately, Tai's BGrandfather couldn't make it but BUncle came to meet Tai and us.It was great to meet him because it now completes BMom's family support system.