We interrupt this program for a public announcement.

I have talked about the adoption blog I some times read on previous posts before, but I will remind you. It is called The R House It's a great blog for adoption advocacy. Well I checked it just the other day and read that the author is doing a giveaway. It is for a cool little restaurant in Salt Lake called The Blue Lemon. Mrs. R, the blog author highly recommends it. I have never heard of the blue lemon and I don't think I would be able to go there for a while if I won the give away but I thought, "This would be PERFECT for Liz and Mark as a little night on the town after the baby comes!"

One of the ways to enter the giveaway is to blog about the contest. It's a little last minute because she is only taking entries up until 11:59 pm tonight but hey, better late then never right? So here I am blogging about the contest. And really jut go check out her blog! It's a lot of fun to read.

 

Day 3 perfect first date? Is there such a thing?

I decided that today I would write my blog earlier so I was not up past midnight trying to get a post written for this darn challenge. I also have decided to start writing on a blog I made years ago about adoption. So now that I have two blogs I have to be even more efficient with my blogging time and actually get something done.

Today is Day 3: Your idea of a perfect first date

Well, we all know now that I have a bit of experience on first dates. When I was 16 years old my best friend and I decided that we would go out on 100 first dates before we got married. She didn't make it, but I DID!

-A perfect first date should be planned yet simple. An activity like dinner and a game is perfect.

70's themed group date

-I actually enjoy first dates that are double dates more then single ones. It gives more of an outlet if the conversation dies. Plus bringing a wing woman/man relieves so much more of the awkwardness of first dates and eliminates lots of the games people play to make up for said awkwardness.

-A first date should be short. Maximum three hours.

-A perfect first date happens when the guy has a sense of humor and can just go with the flow.

When I think of the perfect first date there are a few that I have been on that come to mind. The first one was with Rob. Well actually I was technically on the date with his cousin Zeb, I had brought Liz with me and he had brought Rob but through out the night we kinda switched dates. It was a very simple date. We met at Lee Davis High School and went into Richmond. We ate at Bottoms up Pizza and walked along the canal walk and just talked. The guys showed off a little bit by jumping and climbing all over the canal and it was fun to watch. Both Liz and I went home that night and decided it was the most enjoyable date we had ever been on.

The next date I think of was my first date with Cameron. It was also a double date. He brought his roommate and I brought Catherine. They picked us up at our apartment and we went to a show on campus. I can't remember the name of it but it was a Chinese drum group and it was fabulous! Normally I would not suggest going to things that do not allow for conversation on first dates but this one was worth it and really helped us learn a lot about the guys we were with. We were sitting near the stage and for the closing song Catherine, Cam's roommate, and I all ran up on stage and started dancing with the dancers and the drum group. Cam of course stayed behind in his seat. It was so much fun and very telling of everyone's personalities. After the show we went to Jamba Juice and all talked and laughed. It was great!

The third one was a single BLIND date with Brad. Basically he picked me up at my sister's apartment and we played pool and then went to eat at Denny's. It was very simple but we had a great time!

All three of those perfect first dates resulted in relationships to follow. What makes the date is not the activity but it is the conversation and the person you are on the date with. Less is more people! I am telling you, less is more.

Adoption. It's about Love

Man!!!! I have really been stinking at the whole blog about adoption once a week challenge. I missed last week because 1: I was traveling, and 2: adoption is a challenge for me to talk about in this setting. So to make up for last week I will try to make two posts in one.

About a week and a half ago I did another scary thing in relation to adoption. I spoke to the child welfare class at BYU-Idaho about my story. I have shared my story with people before and I am pretty open about it with those who know. But this time I was scared to death. There's something about talking to a bunch of Mormon kids that really gets ya. So, I put on my best dress, wore my cutest heels, used a little extra deodorant, went in there and did my thing. I talked about LDS Family Services and the training they have given me as I have worked with potential birth-mothers to understand all of their options. I shared my testimony of adoption and the beauty it can bring to everyone involved in hopes it would change the closed minded perspectives I often run into about adoption. I feel that social work students are generally more open minded but I am often surprised with the point of view many have in regards to this topic. I still don't know if what I shared was effective or even useful, but hopefully they will remember my thoughts and stories as they work with unwed mothers and are able to make a difference some how in their lives.

Now, for the second post:

I was trying to think of something really good to write and all of a sudden I thought of my good friend Alicia and her beautiful family.


I have known Alicia for about....13 years. She was the Cool, Beautiful, fun Laurel when I was the brand new awkward Beehive. She was so good at making me feel valued and important even though I was much younger. She and her husband Shawn were high school sweethearts (I remember her talking about him in young womens church group) and really they are the cutest couple. They have two beautiful little boys and are so excited to bring a beautiful little girl into their home through the miracle of adoption. Adoption often happens through word of mouth so just keep them in mind as you go through out your day. And when the topic comes up, here is the link to their adoption profile: Shawn and Alicia for you to share and pass along.

(I stole some pictures from their adoption profile. I hope you don't mind Alicia)

Seriously Alicia is one of the MOST creative people I have met on this planet. I am always in awe at her ability to make everything around her look so great! She really has an eye for beauty! She is a strong woman who I still look up to just like I did as a little 12 year old beehive. Her testimony of the gospel always inspires me and makes me want to strive to be closer to the spirit and do good always. I do not know much about Shawn other then "he is the best guy on the planet." (that's what she'd say and how she acted about him when she'd talk about him in young women's) He sure is a hard worker and does great at supporting their wonderful little family.

Their adorable boys!

Please go check out their profile and learn more about them. I wish I could send you all copies of their pass along card above for you to give out and spread the word. Most of you who read this blog are LDS and should be very familiar with the concept of pass along cards. They are a wonderful wonderful family and I would love to see them welcome a new little baby into their home.

One more thing on Shawn and Alicia

Okay I just got on facebook and realized that my friends Shawn and Alicia have an adoption page on facebook. So not only should you go visit their adoption profile but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go like their page on facebook. You may not think that would be a big deal but every little bit helps right!?

Here's the link: Shawn and Alicia


It really does help! Watch this video about how a couple adopted through Facebook. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/Family_Adopts_Child_Via_Facebook_Washington_DC.html

I only wish that more people read my blog so that I could reach more people. For all my blogging readers out there I would love it if you did a post on Alicia and Shawn to help them reach more people and find their birth-mother and sweet baby!

Adoption

Some times I read The R House Blog. November is adoption awareness month and it's author has issued a challenge to celebrate by blogging about adoption everyday. When I read her challenge I knew there was no way I could blog everyday, but I decided I could blog at least once a week. I don't know if it is the lack of sleep or what but I am finding myself a bit emotional tonight. I have never spoken about adoption before on my blog and honestly I am at a loss as to what to say. It may be because this is something that is so close to my heart that I don't share my feelings about it very often if at all. The thought of talking about it on cyber space is a bit paralyzing. But I made the goal to take the challenge and so here it goes.....

I feel like I should write something quick and uplifting about adoption and then my goal is done for the week! With regards to the topic....This year has been a hard one for me. HA How is that up lifting? I am getting there. Yesterday as I was cleaning the kitchen, I couldn't help but think about how different my life could have been. I am usually pretty strong when it comes to this but sometimes.....you just can't help the what ifs. After my minute vacation on the other side of the fence I began to think of all of the joy in my life because a choice was made for adoption to be a familiar thing.

I feel very strongly that adoption blesses the lives of all parties involved.
For those who for whatever reason are hoping for children, adoption blesses them with the gift of parenthood. People often say that no other joy exceeds that of being a parent. Adoption gives that joy to couples who are not able to experience it otherwise.

For the birth parents who choose to place for adoption it gives them opportunities to provide their child with a home they always imagined for them. Although adoption is made with the welfare of the baby in mind it often allows the birth parents with opportunities to grow and develop in wonderful ways.

But most importantly adoption is a blessing for the child. In most cases the child is loved and adored by both a mother and a father in a stable home. That sweet child is often given every opportunity the adoptive couple can afford. That little baby not only has one family who thinks about them and prays for them, but they have two families who do that.

I wish I could express the joy that can come through adoption but I lack the words.

My heart is full when I think of how it has touched my life and the lives of those I love so dearly. I feel like in this society adoption is thought of as the easy way out and is very under appreciated. However adoption is probably one of the greatest tender mercies the Lord can provide. It requires a great amount of selfless love that in my opinion makes adoption a difficult choice but a huge miracle to the lives of so many people.

Adoption is an incredible gift and I truly am grateful for it's blessings in my life. It enriches my life daily and continues to refine and bless me.