Fall Begins

I've been in denial that the summer is over.
In fact, this entire year has gone by all too quickly.
I didn't think I was ready for another Fall and Winter,
But then
I noticed
the leaves on the trees in their red and yellow glory
while we spent an afternoon enjoying the Fall festivities
of a local farm.
It made me excited for everything else Fall--
bring on the Jack-o-lanterns, costumes, and caramel apples!

Summer!

Summertime came and went all too fast.

We went on many hikes.

 We visited the aquarium, musuems, the beach, and the zoo.

 And checked out Seattle's gum wall.

 More hiking!

 We went on a loooong road trip down to Arizona for Eric's sister's wedding. On the way, we stopped at the Redwood Forest . . .

 San Francisco . . .

 And Disneyland!!

 Waiting for the Star Tours ride at Disneyland . . .

 We had such a busy, fun summer!

Bird Watchers

Binoculars
Book
Quiet Feet
Whisper voices
Listening
Searching eyes
Spotting
Identifying

We are
now
Bird Watchers.

And
we are
still
ice cream eaters.

Getting Out

We are loving the days of nicer weather and the fact that we can get outside again. We have been doing all sorts of fun things together, such as riding bikes, playing at the park, and building a fire and cooking dinner at the beach. It makes us excited and ready for summer and the end of the school year!

Update

Right after we got licensed through LDS Family Services again,
I debated whether or not
to start a blog that would be linked to our profile.
I already post regularly on my other blog
and I only wanted to start this one
if I was committed to keeping it updated.

Ha,
I failed!

Oh well. Sporadic updates may just have to do.

I think
for me
there's just too many emotions associated with this blog.
Like wanting our family to grow so badly
but feeling like we have no control,
and
feeling so vulnerable and awkward and sometimes silly
to put our family out there as a
"Hey, look at us!
We are such a cool family, don't you wanna pick us?"
thing
but not really knowing how we come across to someone.

This adoption journey is just a rollercoaster of emotions
for everyone involved,
isn't it?

We feel frustrated.
We have hope.
We wonder.
We feel peace.

Back and forth
and all around
at the same time.

Yet, we put our trust in a loving Heavenly Father
through it all.

I am so grateful that adoption is an option for our family
and that there are birthparents out there who consider it
and feel their own waves of emotion
and make a decision. 


On to the update of our last two months . . .

Let's see,

Kacin experimenting in the kitchen

with his very own cookie recipe.

 

My first 5K . . .

 

 

Our new basketball hoop. . .

Our trip to Texas to visit my little sister, her husband, and two boys. . .

 

 

 

Soaked after a ride at Six Flags . . .

Oklahoma Mountains . . .

 

A date with Eric . . .

 

Easter . . .

 

The dollar inside each Golden egg . . .

 

And a beautiful Tulip Festival . . .