This family Supports Adoption

We were recently invited to be on the board for the Northeast Region Families Supporting Adoption conference in Boston this fall. This was a surprise to us, and we are glad to serve. Our role is "Vice-Chair" with a specific assignment for education. We are working with two other couples and an adviser from Family Services, together we form the board.
Families Supporting Adoption is exactly what the name implies - a real "social network" for those interested in adoption. It provides support and training for families, like us, who are hoping to adopt, and it provides valuable support to birth families. It's a common meeting place for all who come at adoption for different reasons. We have been to many FSA activities in the past and found them very worthwhile.
We hope those of you who have been touched by adoption will participate with your local FSA group. If you are part of a birth family, you will have the opportunity to share your experience with others who are on your path. We assure you the experience will touch your heart, you will make a difference in someone's life, and it will make a difference in yours. We can't emphasize enough how valuable the birth family's perspective is to us - especially our dear friends we know through Benjamin.
If you live between Virginia, Indiana and Maine, we want to invite you to Boston this October. If you can't make it to Boston, there are always other local activities closer to home. We'll keep you posted.

Fire Engine

Our school group went to the fire station two weeks ago. Benjamin was in heaven. He asked the captain to put on his mask. The captain was surprised and stated that usually with a group this young he didn't put on the mask but would do it for Ben. Ben was in heaven. He even got a ride around the block with his friend Jacob. Life is good.

Luggage

I couldn't resist posting these pictures. Ben pulled his own luggage through the airport. Of course the suitcase was full of his toys. It was darling.

Sunny CA

We just came home from sunny California. We had a wonderful time visiting my brother Kenneth and his family. Kenneth has 3 children and adding Ben to the mix was stressful at times (i.e. 4 children 5 and under) but we had a grand time.

We were hoping to help Kenneth and Heidi as he was having his 4th round of Chemotherapy. Unfortunately Benjamin developed a cough and miserable "cold" on our way out and I found myself worried about what we were exposing their family too. We did go to an urgent care facility and got an antibiotic but I think that Ben had something viral.

Nonetheless we have some wonderful pictures and great memories.



Some lazy sea lions were a hit with the kids.

A view of the Golden Gate.

Frisbee in the back yard.
How would it be to have a orange tree in the back yard.

This was a cool teeter-totter that the kids loved.

This spinner made Ben dizzy but he loved it.
Joseph reading to all the children.
This picture was taken at the toy train exhibit at the redwood state park that we went to on Friday. The train had all kinds of characters on and around it. We even found Manny the Mammoth.

Our favorite outing was to the beach. We went to Santa Cruz and the view was breathtaking. The kids loved frolicking in the sand and getting their little legs wet. Ben says it was his favorite part of the trip.








Look at those dirty happy faces. Thank you Kenneth and Heidi!!

Cautiously Optimistic

We had a "couple contact" yesterday from a birth-family here in NY. There is a young woman who is expecting and open to placing the baby for adoption. The birth-father's mother wrote a lovely letter asking that we start the communication process.
Of course our natural response is to be excited. The baby BOY is due May 20th.
Our case worker suggested that we be cautiously optimistic. It's difficult to be open but yet guarded. We so much want to have this happen.
We wrote back last night and are trying hard to not appear to eager but yet have the right balance of excited etc.

I was thinking about it in the shower this morning. I wish I had realized earlier what a remarkable woman Benjamin's birthmother is. Don't get me wrong we have always been in awe of her, but she made things so easy for us. She wanted her little boy to have parents and when she was confident that he had them, she walked out of the hospital and let us parent him. She has taught me so many lessons. Because of her I have had a glimpse of the Savior love and acceptance of all of us, even with our shortcomings. How I love and honor her! Because I'm bawling I'm going to wrap up this post. Pray for us please. The next few months will be exciting and scary and hopefully Ben will wind up being a big brother.

I still had my camera in my bag yesterday at school from the night before's woodworking activity. So I pulled it out and took some shots of Benjamin at school yesterday. Look at the little turkey at the computer. He has mastered the mouse and so enjoys playing some of the games that they have. He can color and do a counting and matching game. I swear that kids today are born with a USB cable. He amazes me. Ben also enjoys the light table and the different things that are put out on it. Often there is a train set and sometimes a building kit. The other table often will house rice, or sand, beans, bears, or even snow. The teachers change it out depending on the topic for the week/month.
We are afraid that with the budget cuts they might cut this play and learn program. We have been told there will be changes but are unsure what they will look like. It will break my heart if they do get rid of it. We have loved the activities and the friends that we have made.

Builder workshop

Tonight we went to a builder's workshop at the school. Lowe's sponsored it and we got to build a lovely snowman. Benjamin loved swinging the hammer.

I will say that I wish Joseph had been able to go. I felt a little out of place as many fathers were there with their kiddos. Joseph had cub scouts.

Benjamin was proud of his creation and did I mention that he loved swinging the hammer? Too bad we couldn't get him to look at the camera.