FSA Confenerce

Over the weekend we had the opportunity to go to the FSA (Families Supporting Adoption) Conference. It was in Irvine so there was some driving involved but it was SO worth it. It started Friday night at 6:30, we had a nice dinner and then Melissa (our birth mom) was a special guest and was invited to do a musical number. She was so nervous, and we were nervous for her. It was all 'adoptive' families so her clearly being pregnant was a quick sign to who she was. She sang Michael McLean's "From God's Arms to My Arms to Yours" the song she presented us with when we told us she had chosen us. We knew it was going to be emotional but when she stood up there in front of 50 plus people and sang such a meaningful, deep song with tears coming down her face it touched us right to our souls. I just keep thinking this can't possibly get more emotional or spiritual and it does. It was like her telling us all over again. The spirit just radiated from her. As she struggled to compose her emotion to finish the song I was trying to control mine, I looked up at Seth and surprisingly, he was doing the same thing. Later we talked and he said "Wow, it really, really hit me. My love for her deepened in a way I didn't think it could. It's so real now." As she walked back to our table I stood up and met her halfway and we hugged silently for a moment with our emotional 'flood gates' completely open, I almost forgot people were in the room. She did SO good. And WoW can she sing!!! Beautiful! Her parents and sisters came to support her so it was neat to meet the sister we hadn't got to meet yet.

The next morning, bright and early we headed back to Irvine, to watch a nation wide FSA broadcast and attend some workshops they had set up. It was such a cool day. We really learned a lot. It was so comforting to be around people you can relate to so much. They all were going through what were going through, went through what we went through already or were able to give us advice for what we're about to go through. Whew! that was a lot of 'throughs':) We made some really good friends. We're so glad John, Maggie, Mesa, Matt, Kim and Cort were there. We had so much fun getting to know them. Everyone just loved Melissa the night before, so many people were touched by her performance. We're so proud of her. The workshops were good. Maggie and I cringed through some of the horror stories (they were telling just so we could be prepared for anything). I would look at Maggie who has two successful adoptions with her two kids and she'd just say "no, no don't worry". It was a fun day. We got to hear birth moms speak over a broadcast and in one of the workshops with were able to hear from a Adoptive mom who has a very successful open adoption which was comforting for us because that is our goal. All in all in was great weekend with many emotions.

After the workshops on Saturday, Melissa invited us back to her house to go swimming. It was so fun. We went down the cool rock slide while trying to shoot the basketball... Seth was able to but not so much me and Melissa:( Her dogs came and swam with us, Tiff almost made Seth drown it was pretty funny, she's a faster swimmer than Seth expected;) We were able to talk about "the day" with her and even life after the birth for both ends and what we both wanted. It was a neat conversations and it was neat to feel so good about it. The spirit was definitely there. The Lord has guided this entire process. We love her SO much. I was able to kiss her belly and tell Mason I loved him. This whole thing is such an increditable experience. Amazing! We took some fun pictures and this one was my favorite:)

Taste of San Pedro

Saturday night we went to Taste of San Pedro. It's this little festival thing down at Point Fermin Park. All the resturants in Pedro have little booths set up and you buy tickets at the enterance and then use your tickets at the booths to buy food. It was pretty food. I got some way good pizza and then Kristen and I got cinnanom rolls to die for. YUMMY! At the end they had a fireworks show and it blew us away. It was the best one anyone of us had ever seen and it wasn't even a holiday. It was way cool. Thanks for another fun night Bailey's and Bastow's:)

I made Flynt do a normal one after this... actually I begged. But then I realized this one fit him much better:) ha ha.

Ethan was so cute.. he was looking where to go next

Camping in Trabuco Canyon

Last weekend we went camping with some of our good friends in Trabuco Canyon. It was SO much fun. Ethan and Grant entertained us the whole time. Since we were camping literally a couple of miles from our birthmom's house we invited her down to have tinfoil dinners with us. She came down with her mom and they were able to meet our closest friends, it's was so neat for us. Melissa ended up staying with us to do smores. The best part was I got to FEEL MASON MOVE. Honestly it was the best moment of my life. I had been wanting to feel him forever, however every time we're with her he's sleeping, the little bugger. So that night I asked her to tell me when and if he moved... I went to the bathroom and missed the first movement, I was so sad. Then I decided to just leave my hand on her belly and before you know it he's responding... I freaked out. I reached for seth's hand instinctively so he could feel it. Seth's face lit up. I then put my hand back down and I felt him roll across my palm. So much emotion came to the surface. I so needed that. I was having a weird week. I missed being able to carry him. So feeling him move was amazing for me. I just started to cry... in front of everyone at the campfire. I felt so silly but I couldn't help it. Melissa just grabbed my hand; I knew she understood and from the faces of everyone else so did they. It was such a fun night. I'm so grateful my friends got to meet the most important person in our life. Camping was fun and no I didn't get eaten... I actually slept through the night. Well it wasn't that hard not to be scared with where we camped. We're used to being in the middle of nowhere so bears really are your neighbors. This time our neighbors were's campers... so at least they might get eaten before me... jk. kind of:) The tinfoil dinners turned out so yummy and YES FLYNT, my portion was huge. It looked like two man sizes. Good thing I shared with Melissa or I would have looked like I was prego:D Breakfast was yummy too, thanks boys. Thanks to our friends who joined us... can't wait til next time!



Ethan's war wound... he's a tough little guy:)












My beautiful pregnant friend hiding from the camera... don't worry I got her later!


Seth and I woke up and took a walk in the morning. We walked by the dried up river(poor thing) and then through the camp ground... we took some pictures along the way

Breaking Dawn D-O-N-E

Three days of reading and I'm finally done! Life can now go back to normal- She did it again: Captivating, Adrenaline building, Intense reading, late nights, unable to break away from the story.... Perfectly ended. Awsome book. (Although she did say in an interview that she can't offically say this is the LAST book. She's done with the story from Bella's view but she's not entirely done with the characters:)

a quick breather

So I'm prying my eyes away from Breaking Dawn for a half of second to make an EXCITING post... Last night we offically got the invitation from Melissa to be in at the hospital when our baby comes. DREAM COME TRUE. I was a little worried I'd be pacing the floors at home. She's even mentioned if things go okay I might be able to be in the room, we'll see. I told her it's completely okay, that being at the hospital is amazing enough for us;) Also her due date has been moved up to Oct 9th! YAY! 6 days sooner than we thought.... yes she can still go late but her doctors said they won't let her go past the 16th which is only one day after what we were planning. We are so excited. There are lots of changes happening in our life but we are LOVING them. Life is peachy my friends.

I got this quote off my friend Katy's blog. I LOVE IT. My uncle Mark served over there for a year and a half, my cousin John just got home, my brother-in-law Nick and my two cousins Ben and Jared are still serving. For two of them this is their second and third tour. I could not be more proud of them. We've had many, many conversations about the negative war publicity and this quote hit home: Big Time.

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

(my brother-in-law Nick, is Top row: Second the last on the right)

(Cousin Jared, talking to some of the kids over there)


We LOVE you guys and truly support you from the bottom of our hearts. 4th of July has a whole different meaning to me these last couple of years. I'm grateful that I now understand what it is to be an American. I'm so proud to have my family serving to protect us here at home. I also give my heartfelt thanks to the thousands of families who are left at home without their father, brother or son. My sister Cass has 4 kids and is holding up the 'fort' at home for the second time, cause her amazing husband volunteered to go over again. My Aunt DeAnn has five kids all in school and she kept going to school while her Husband was away for a year and a half. Two of my cousins were newlyweds and their brave wives supported them as they left right after being married. I think they deserve as much as support and love as the soliders. I love both. Those of you who are negative are completely entitled to your opinion, however you might want to pull a solider aside and ask them what they think about what their doing... It might give you something to think about, especially since their the ones fight for you and your free speech.

Whew!

I'm alive. We had a blast... Pictures will be posted soon:)

Pray for me;)

We leaving to go camping in about 5 mins so I just wanted to let everyone know if there's not a post within a few days showing pictures of our awsome time with friends....to know I was eaten and Seth didn't save me fast enough... :D

Funny Quiz!

I am Snow White... I always thought I was more of a GI Jane! ha ha:D

You Are Snow White!

Pure and trusting. You are a gentle soul who can get along with just about anyone. Everyone you meet instantly falls in love with you. How can they resist? You have a pure, lovable nature that's irresistable. Just don't trust everyone who comes across your path.

Which Disney Princess Are You?


Silly or not You know you wanna do it!

Earthquake

Hey just a quick little post... Phone lines are down so I know my family can't get through. We just had an earthquake and wanted them to know we're okay. I'm at home with the kids and Seth is at work. I grabbed Ebby and ran to get Marius, we stayed in a doorway until it stopped and seth is being evacuated at work. It was insane, and nothing I ever want to feel again. Talk about getting a little rattled. The news is saying it was a 5.8 with 3.5 after shocks so it's good that it's lessening. I'll call as soon as I get through. I got Nikki's text so she should be contacting you mom. I'll call as soon as I get through-