Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentines Day!  Chad and I had such a great day.  I bought him a funny t-shirt from Cafe Press and couldn't wait to give it to him so we exchanged presents last night. He bought me some homemade all natural soap.  They smell wonderful and can't wait to try them out.  We came home after work and let the dogs out and then met up with Chad's parents for dinner.  It was great to spend V-Day with him this year.  Chad and I shared a 3 course meal and we had a tasty cheesecake dessert.  I'm so happy that I have a Valentine to share the day with.  I remember being single and would wear black on V-day and wish I was out with a loved one!  Now, I wish I could spend the day with a little one.  My nieces both had matching heart sweaters that were so adorable.  One day, I hope to be able to dress up a little one like that! 



2012

Chad and I went to a New Years Eve party on Sat. night.  It was an ugly sweater party.  We had fun but as it got close to midnight and a friend asked if 2011 was a good year for me, I lost it.  I was so suprised at myself for getting so sad about all of the "bad things" that happened in 2011.  We got to bed late and on Sunday morning when I woke up, I just couldn't shake my bad mood for most of the day (which is very much unlike me.)  So, around supper time I made a homemade chocolate cake and Chad and I went to the gas station so I could get a Diet Mountain Dew as we were out at home and stopped at McDonalds for supper.  After the pop, chicken nuggets and chocolate cake I was beginning to feel better.  We sat down to watch the new and the following story came on:  

http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=54247

I was so suprised that the "New Years Baby" was going to make an adoptive parents dreams come true and what an amazing way to start the year for this couple!  I told myself that someday that couple would be us and until then, we will wait patiently and enjoy the time we have as a couple. 

   

Overall, 2011 was a good year although Chad and I had some rough spots.  We spent a week in April in Denver at a well known Repdroductive Clinic and it was there we learned that that we would never be able to conceive bioligical children.  Let me tell you, we were absolutely devasted!  Through this pain though, we did have some excitement.  Chad and I are now moving on to adoption. It's not a "last step" or a "giving up" for us, it's a bright new beginning. It's something we've discussed and desired since before getting married. I've witnessed how amazing adoption is through my brother's  experience and it's only solidified how much we want to build our family through it. We always pictured having a child of our own first and then adopting but the plans we make for ourselves don't often seem to be the plans God makes for us. It's a hard pill to swallow, but in the end, hindsight is usually pretty dang clear.

In August, we took a vacation to San Francisco and to visit my brother and nephew in Modesto, CA.  After a few days there I learned my mom was in the hospital back home with kidney problems.  We were concerned but not too worried as she has had some issues with her kidneys over the years.  Well, when we got back, she was still in the hospital and learned that she had breast cancer.  I spent September going to doctors appointments with her and my dad and we learned that it was very advanced-Stage IV.  It was been a very emotional and difficult few months with her illness.  She has been in very good spirits lately and we're all doing our best to deal with everything. 

Despite the tough moments, we did have some positive things happen.  We traveled to CA for vacation and SD twice for motorcycle trips (Sturgis and the SD Statwide Ride).  I was able to spend a lot of time with my siblings, nephew and nieces who all live out of state.  We paid off a lot of debt (including our cars, motorcycle and student loans) and are very close to finishing our basement.  We bought an enclosed trailer.  Also, I celebrated my five year anniversary as a lawyer and we helped Chad's parents celebrate 40 years of marriage.  We cemented our plan to adopt a child and attended an adoption workshop in September.  In January 2012, we should have everything finalized and be a waiting family.  I hope in 2012 that we have the opportunity to be parents.  We are very hopeful for good things to come!  Cheers!!