Adoption Awareness Month - Day 4

Today, as I sat freezing at a high school football game, I realized how many wonderful people have become a part of our lives because we are Mark and Alex's mom! The community of Amherst County has fully welcomed us and made us feel right at home. They have loved on our boys, have offered a shoulder to lean on during difficult times and have been such genuine people. We are so blessed to call Amherst home and to be surrounded by such great friendships. #adoptionawarenessmonth #lovemyfamily #lovemycmmunity

Adoption Awareness Month - Day 3

National Adoption Month Day 3: When we started our adoption journey we knew we could count our our awesome family for love and support. I am sure, at times, they thought we were crazy for jumping in and becoming parents to 2 teenage boys from another country. Believe me, at times we thought it was crazy too! Until we would sit back and see all that God blessed us with. Our families have been there to cheer us on, to let us cry and to show our boys what unconditional love is. They not only gained a mom and dad on January 14, 2015, they gained a HUGE extended family that has shown them love, grace, kindness, silliness and compassion. We could not have done this without all of you at our side. Thank you for being there for us. And, thank you for loving our boys as if they have been in our family their whole lives!
#adoptionawareness #lovemyfamily #beautyfromashes

Adoption Awareness Month - Day 1&2

This weekend Todd and I will celebrate our 11th anniversary. For the first 8ish years of our marriage we struggled with infertility. We finally stopped trying to get pregnant and started to pursue adoption. We fell for a sweet little boy in India (Mahesh) and felt like God was calling us to adopt him. For months we worked to bring Mahesh home. Sadly, at this time 2 years ago we were told that we were no longer able to adopt him. We didn't understand why but knew that God had set us on this path to adopting our child. Around this same time, we met Mark & Alex. We got to know these 2 crazy kids and felt such a love for them. Again, this was totally God's doing. Two months after finding out we could no longer adopt Mahesh, we were asked to take in Mark & Alex. As in, receive a phone call in the morning and pick them up a few hours later. We said yes without a second thought.

Mark and Alex have been with us for 22 months. We have full, legal custody and are nearing the finalization of adoption! Some days are great. Some days are really hard. But everyday we have discovered new ways to love these boys. They still don't call us Mom and Dad, and half the time they act like they hate us but, I know God's hand has been on us every step of the way.

As for Mahesh, I actually got to Facetime with him a few weeks ago. He is turning into such a fine young man and we are so thankful to still have a small part in his life.

Adoption is hard. Adoption is messy. Adoption is worth every struggle and tear.

#adoptionawareness #lovemyfamily #beauthyfromashes

Mark and Alex November 2014

 Mahesh August 2013

What a Difference!

What a difference 2 years makes! A new language, 6.5" taller, 30 pounds heavier, needs glasses, grown 3.5 shoe sizes..... Mark's growing into such a wonderful young man!  He is even taking up cross country this year!

A New School Year

This morning both boys started at the high school! 

 Mark's first day of 9th grade.

Alex's first day of 11th grade.

Report Cards

I'd like to brag on my kid for a minute. Most parents we know have been celebrating their kid passing all of their SOLs, making honor roll, or having straight A's. I'm celebrating that our kid improved in all classes this year, went up a few grade levels in reading ability and, for the first time in his life, passed all classes on his report card! He didn't make honor roll (yet!), or pass all of his SOLs, or get straight A's. BUT, we are thankful for his hard work. It was tiring at times, and I felt like the homework warden but, it was worth it to see his face when he saw his grades! (I may have even cried!)  We are definitely celebrating his hard work!

Ready for Summer

And just like that another school year has ended!  Hard to believe that both boys will be in the high school next year!