{eternal}

(this post will be heavy on LDS jargon...if you're confused go HERE for some explanations...or email me!)

The day we mailed our adoption application I could never have hoped that exactly two years later I'd be dressed in white, surrounded by loved ones, kneeling across the altar from my sweetheart, having our sweet baby sealed to us for all eternity. 

Saturday October 22nd, our family was made eternal.  It was such a {sweet} experience.  When you discover you will not be able to give birth (don't ever say 'have your own children' it's mean...Miles IS my own) you have to mourn several things.   There are wonderful events we will never get to experience because of our infertility.  BUT there is one thing that we get to experience that others don't...a Temple Sealing.  We get to dress in white as a family, be surrounded by those who love us, and kneel across the alter from each other while we are sealed together FOREVER.   The Temple President was the one who sealed us...which is super cool.  He and his wife adopted children so they understood what it was like to be in our shoes.  Plus we had developed a pretty good relationship with them when we worked in the Temple.  Miles was an angel during the sealing.  He was so alert and attentive, it was as if he knew EXACTLY what was happening.  It's easy to understand when you think that he was just recently in God's presence...he's much closer to the Spirit than us adults. 

Photo by me.  :)

The weather was BEAUTIFUL that day.  Clear, blue sky and it wasn't freezing!  We had many people travel from near and far to be with us on that special day, and it meant the world to us. Here is a photo of most of them...a few snuck away before we could take the picture. 

Photo by Bryn Stucki

The following day Nathan got to realize a dream when he took Miles in his arms and gave him a blessing.  That was something he had longed to do for many, many years.  In fact I think there were moments he wondered if he'd ever get to give a child a blessing.  The blessing was tender...he blessed Miles to be kind, which is something both of us feel strongly is important.  His voice trembled and tears were shed - by more than one eye.  And once again, Miles was an angel.  One of the men at church who stood in the circle told me that when the blessing was finished, Miles looked up and around the circle of men who held him...taking time to look at each face.  Again, I think he recognized the importance of what was happening.  He's a special little guy. 

Photo by me.  :)

Happy Halloween!!

How to train your...wait...or has he trained us??

We have been getting our Halloween on all weekend...here we are at our Ward's Trunk or Treat. 

 

And yes...we took Miles around and collected candy.  Isn't that why parents let their kids GO trick or treating??  To plunder the spoils??  

Family Photos

While we were in Utah in August we had photos taken of my family...we figured it may be 3-4 years before we get the opportunity to do it again so we jumped on it. 

Here are a few of my favorites. 

Photos by Ashley Mackay Photography

12 Days of Halloween

Have I mentioned before that I {love} Halloween??  Well, I do.  And I love singing to Miles while he eats his nighttime bottle.  I sing Primary songs, classic lullabyes...as well as Beatles, Maroon 5, Dave Matthews Band...and others.  But for some reason the other night the 12 Days of Christmas was stuck in my head so I sung it to him.  Then I thought...are you PSYCHO?!??  It's OCTOBER!  So I decided to make up a Halloween version.  Here are the lyrics I used:

12 trick-or-treaters

11 bloody vampires

10 bats a-flapping

9 werewolves howling

8 mummies groaning

7 ghosts a-haunting

6 witches cack'ling

5 jack-o-lanterns

4 dismembered heads

3 skeletons

2 scaredy cats

and a raven in a dead tree

So now if you get the urge to sing a Halloween lullaby to your little one...you have some words. 

Buahaha!!

Walk for Adoption

Yesterday was the 2nd Annual Walk for Adoption Chicago...it was less chilly this year but TONS more windy.  I love being surrounded by all these adoption lovers.  Something about being in a crowd of people who all GET IT...is just awesome.  

Planning it was crazy...just like last year.  At least I've made some pretty good friends from all our efforts:

 Michelle, Christy & I...the planners of the Walk for Adoption. 

Once again, Nathan had to work on the day of the Walk, but this year I was lucky enough to have my mom in town to help. 

My heart is sad to know that this is my last Walk for Adoption...unless I can convince Christy to hold it in Italy next year....Christy?  :)

Come on...don't you want to see this face next year??!?

Five

We've done this before.  Four times to be exact.  (first, second, third, fourth)  And last year it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  This year, our arms had a sweet baby boy to snuggle when they felt heavy and empty.  This year, the hope of {finally} being a mother has been realized.   

I think this day will always be tender...but I hope that as the years roll on the pain continues to lessen.  I hope I never forget though...I NEVER want to take being a mother for granted.  I want to always remember the struggles we had to go through to get where we are. 

Here's to healing!

Halloween wreath

I love Halloween.  Like...seriously LOVE it.  (Miles already has five pairs of Halloween socks...and five Halloween outfits)  I was born on Christmas so you would think that would be my favorite holiday.  Nope.  It's a second...but not even a close second.  The last couple years our Halloween has been super lame.  And since I've learned that Italy doesn't celebrate Halloween (super Catholic country...Pagan holiday...) I decided we needed to go out with a bang, as it were.  So on Sunday (only the second day of October...and I only waited that long because Nathan said I couldn't put Halloween decor up in September) we hauled out all our stuff (three LARGE totes) and started decorating.  

Later in the week I made a trip to Hobby Lobby and picked up the stuff to make myself a fanciful, adorable, original Halloween wreath.  Here it is in all it's glory:

What I used:

Child's feather orange feather boa - $3.99

Metal wreath form - $1.99

Purple glitter berries - $0.75/ea

Beware sign - $1.50

Black feathers - $1

Hot glue

First, tie the end of the boa on the wreath form...and secure the knot with hot glue. 

Then, working your way around the form, hot glue the boa onto the ring.  If you have a long boa or a small form, you'll end up going around more than once...that's ok it will add bulk.

When you get to the end of the boa, tie it to the form and again secure the knot with some hot glue.  What it looks like when the boa is all glued on...view from the back.

Attach the glitter berries by weaving them through the ring and hot gluing them to make it more secure.  My boa went around the form 1.5 times.  So I put all my extra stuff on the half of the wreath that had less feathers. 

It also helps if you have one of these...but I suppose it's not {completely} necessary. 

Toss in a few black feathers for good measure.  

Glue on the sign and viola!  You've got yourself a fabulous {cheap!} Halloween wreath!

Soup's on!

Hello friendlies...I am in need of some help.  I'm hosting a lunch in a few weeks (Temple Sealing!!!) for about 40 or so people.  It'll be fall so I was thinking of doing a soup bar...you know, chili, creamy, cheesy, yummy (...cheesy is a must.  We love cheese at our house).  I have a couple recipes but I am looking for one more.  Right now I'm making my seven bean spicy chili & bacon corn chowder.  It has to be quick...relatively cheap (no lobster bisque) and able to please the masses.   Oh and it has to be able to be cooked in a crock pot.  

Do you have a favorite soup that just screams fall?  Would you share the recipe with me?  

Thanks!