Waiting and Hoping

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know us. We understand that you and your family are going through a difficult time and we pray that you will be comforted and will have peace in your heart. We would like to start off with how we met... Breanna was working for a bank at the time of us meeting. Joe walked in with a friend. While we were chatting, Joe's friend cut in and asked Breanna out on a date for Joe. Apparently, Joe was taking to long to ask her out so his friend did it for him. YES! We know what you are thinking, "Why in the world would Breanna even consider going on a date with him if he couldn't ask her himself?" Well, we will let Joe answer that... To be fair, my friend jumped the gun. I was getting to it. Breanna didn't even answer right away, she made me stand in the corner of the bank while she finished helping the customers. Once she was finished with her work for a bit, she basically interviewed me, like I was applying for a job or something. Brea, do you remember the first question you asked me? Yes, I do! I asked you how old you were and then asked if you had been on a mission. When you said yes, I was sold. Oh and to be fair about the "JOB INTERVIEW", you were applying for a job. You were APPLYING to date me! During our first date we discoverd that Breanna had gone to school with Joe's cousin, which makes family gatherings fun. It is always nice when you have friends that become family. After dating a few months, we were married in the Manti, Utah Temple in August of 2000. We always knew that we wanted to start a family, but after trying to get pregnant, we realized that having a family was not going to happen the traditional way, so we began looking at our options and adoption was at the top of the list. Even though our children may not be ours biologically, we will love them just the same. We know that we are extremly blessed to get the opporunity to have a family no matter how it is created. We know this to be true because we have other adopted children in our extended families. Breanna's sister's oldest daughter was adopted. We all love her just the same as we do the other kids who were not adopted. Breanna comes from a family of three siblings, one brother who she is close to. He is fun and outgoing. She has one sister who is a bit younger, but they are still close. She has a fun and outgoing personality. Breanna also has two parents who love their children and would do anything for them. They support them in all they do. They are all very close and participate in many family activities, such as camping, fishing, and weekly family dinners. Breanna has two nieces and three nephews whom she loves to death. Joe comes from a family of seven siblings (one sister and six brothers). Even though there is only one girl, they still like to wrestle around and tease each other. His sister can hold her own. On this side of the family there are five nieces and three nephews. Joe is really close to his brothers, sister and parents. When the family is all together, there is sure to be lots of energy and fun. Joe served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Knoxville, TN mission. Joe loves karate and anything that goes with it. He has a black belt in Kishindo which is a Japanese style of karate. Joe loves collecting guns, swords and knives. He likes to go camping, hiking, 4-wheeling and just spending time with family and friends. Joe is also really good at remodling homes. There is always a project going on at our house that keeps him busy. Joe also works construction which is where he gets some of his ideas. Breanna loves, and I do mean loves NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt Jr. She likes gymnastics and cheerleading especially the University of Utah. She loves doing crafts, but mostly enjoys scrapbooking. Breanna loves to go 4-wheeling with the family, fishing, camping, and hiking. She also loves to go on long drives up the canyon to see the pretty scenery. Breanna has her Accounting Degree, but loves the tax side of accounting the most. In fact so much so that she works very limited hours during the tax season. She is commited to being a stay at home mom once we become parents. Our hopes and dreams for our children are that we can teach them to be honest in their dealings with others. We want them to get an education. We feel that it is important that they experience family vacations, camping and sports. We want them to succeed in whatever their hopes and dreams are. It is very important to us that our children always know that they are adopted. We will tell them stories about their adoption and our experience. We want them to always know where they come from. Adoption is a very open topic in our home and with our family and we want it to stay that way. We are wanting to keep our options open for pictures, letters, emails and possible visits in the future. We will always have a blog set up that will be centered around our family and different activities. Again, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. We hope you will find peace in your decision, whatever that might be. Best Wishes, Joe and Breanna

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Adoption Conference

On Monday we attended the Adoption Conference that was held at UVU. It was amazing. We learned so much from the classes that were held.

The BIRTHMOM panel was really good. I love hearing their stories. There was a girl who had been promised visits from the adoptive couple and she has not seen her child in 2 years. I really felt for her. I see why our case worker has stressed that we should not promise things we are not comfortable with. It just breaks the birthmoms heart even more when promises are not kept.

It is no secret that Joe and I have a special love and respect for these birthmoms that place their babies so people like us can have a chance to raise a family.

We love the idea of an open adoption. We want to know the medical history just in case we need it. We want our kids to know where they come from and not have this fantasy of their birthparents. We want them to be comfortable talking about adoption and how they came into our world/lives.

The lunch seminar was given by Barb Smith from ABC 4 news. I had heard her story before on the news, but to actually hear it in person, was incredible. There was not a dry eye in that place. We went up to shake her hand afterwards and out of the blue she gave me a hug. It was so cool.

To all of those birthmoms out their we love and respect you and your decision. We know and understand that making that decision is not an easy thing to do.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Manti Utah Temple

I know I have not finished our trip pictures yet, but I promise to get to them as soon as I can, but for now, I wanted to leave a few thoughts about the Manti Temple:

Today Joe and I took a drive to Manti to attend the Temple. It is the Temple that we got married in.

And I hate to admit it, but this was the first time we have been back there in 10 years, but it is true. We always seem to just go to the Timpanogos Temple for the convenience of it being closer, but today we made the drive and I am so THANKFUL that we did.

I love the feelings that I get when we attend the Temple and today was no different. The spirit that is there is so amazing that it is hard to describe, but lets just say I felt peace.

There are times when I sit and think about our life and how we have struggled with infertility and wonder why us? I wonder what life would be like with a little one running around...I wonder what the holidays would be like with our own children...

I don't know the answers to these questions, but I do know that when I am in the Temple, I don't think of those things. I think about the many blessings I do have in my life...like...my wonderful husband who works so hard and who holds the priesthood...our family...our home...our friends...our wonderful ward and neighbors...I am just so thankful for the things I do have.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Last Leg of the Trip prt 1

This is the 2nd to the last day of our trip. We made it as far as the Grand Canyon entrance before it got dark and started to rain. This is were we set up camp for the last time...

Friday, October 29, 2010

Day 12 and 13 of Road Trip (Signal Mt. and the Nashville Temple)

The Lost Sea Adventure was really fun. It was another cave of course and we had to hike down to the lake. We road on a little boat on the lake.

This is us on the boat. Look at those fish!!! They were HUGE!!!

Signal Mountain is so pretty, but man there are a lot of twisty roads.

This was the highlight to Signal Mountain. You can see the Tennessee River and man it was quite the view!!!

This is this house in Signal Mountain that is in the shape of a spaceship. Joe has a picture simular to this one from his mission of the same house.

This is the Nashville Tennessee Temple. It was so pretty. I enjoyed the few minutes that we were able to just sit on the grounds and stare at the Temple.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Day 11 Continued...

Day 11: Joe's Birthday

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge was one of the highlights of our trip. There was so much to do there. It was like the Vegas Strip with all sorts of shops and restraunts.

This is in the "Old Mill District" in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.

After getting back to our hotel from Gatlinburg and Knoxville, we decided that we wanted to stay up way late and enjoy the Pigeon Forge strip and go to all of the shops and enjoy a

Go-Kart race.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Day 11 of Road Trip

This is in Pigeon Forge, Tennesse at our hotel on Joe's birthday!

On a Sky Lift in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

I know it says day 11, but when I went to edit it, it would not let me so it still says day 10. Pictures we took on the sky lift in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

As you can see there was a Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum there and it was AWESOME!!!

I love this waterfall. Again this is really day 11

Just a few pictures of us throughout the trip. Just seeing what we could do with our adoption picture collage.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Day 10 of our Road Trip: Joe's Birthday

So we were gone for our anniversary and for Joe's birthday back in August. Joe wanted to go to the Hard Rock Cafe for his birthday so that is what we did the night before. This was in Gatlinburg Tennessee

Monday, October 4, 2010

Confrence

Most generally we go to Joe's parents for the Sunday's session of Confrence. This time was no different. We got there just before opening prayer. I don't know about you, but I love Confrence weekend. I love hearing from our church leaders as they give us guidence and direction. I love that they announced five new Temples. Its amazing to see how much our Church has grown over the years.

I have a testimony of the Church and of the scriptures and the messages they hold.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Prt 3 of 10 Year Anniversary Road Trip

I am so excited to finally get to the NASCAR Race pictures. We had so much fun going to the Nationwide and the Sprint Cup Races. I know these pictures don't give you the full story, but it shows how much fun we had...

When Kasey Kahne crashed he drove his car on its side along the wall.

The # 88 Car is my beloved Dale Earnhardt Jr.

I am not a big fan of Kyle Busch, but he did win the truck race, the nationwide race and even the sprint cup race all in one weekend. In racing terms they call this the "weekend sweep"

Sunday, September 26, 2010

10 Year Anniversary Road Trip prt 2

Here is part 2 of our trip...

Day 7:

Jonesborough Tennessee. I love all of the old buildings that we saw. They have so much charactor.

Even the museums were really fun.

This is an old covered bridge. They no longer use it as part of the street, but you can still walk through it.

Inside the old covered bridge.

NASCAR Family Race Night:

Day 8: NASCAR RACE!!!

This was a really cool ice cream maker made out of a John Deer Tractor.

These pictures don't even tell the whole story of how many people were at the race and camping with us. We were parked ontop of each other.

More to come soon....

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

10 Year Anniversary/Road Trip

As many of you probably know, Joe and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in August. To celebrate we went on a road trip for two weeks. Our destination: BRISTOL Tennessee. Joe served his mission in the Knoxville, TN mission which included (places Joe actually served): Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee We had so much fun. I only have half the trips pictures put together so I will be adding to this post a couple of times.

DAY 1:

We left Utah and drove till we got to Kansas where we spent a couple of hours sleeping in the car.

We wish we would have went through Colorado during the day, but oh well.

DAY 2:

This beautiful view is an amazing sunrise. The part that these picture don't show was the lightning storm that was going on with it. It was amazing and well worth us going through Colorado in the dark.

We stopped in Illinois to visit Brea's cousin Alisha.

DAY 3:

We went to this place called "Lost River Cave". It was so cool. We had a guide who took us around the grounds of Lost River Cave and told us the history. We then made our way down to the Lost River. It is underground and awesome. We got to ride on a boat while being given some more of the history.

DAY 4:

Daniel Boone National Forest

Cumberland Falls

(Kentucky)

The Cumberland Falls was one of the highlights of the trip. This waterfall was so cool. It makes a rainbow at the bottom of the falls. This rainbow is so amazing that you can even see it at night. I wish we would have had more time and been able to go back at night.

DAY 5:

This is in Abingdon Virginia, one of the areas Joe served in. This is the apartment that he lived in.

Our first night camping on the trip and it rained all night long. We got the tent set up, paid for the spot, went to the store to get groceries and when we got back it was raining so hard that we didn't get to build a fire. We cooked our food under a tarp and slept in wet bedding. Thank goodness this campground had showers. And even though it rained the whole night we still had a ton of fun.

DAY 6:

BRISTOL BABY!!! YEAH!!!

This would be one of the reason for the trip. We went to see the NASCAR Races (Brea's Favorite sport).

This seemed to be one of Joe's favorite activities while on our trip. We went to 4 caves.

Bristol Motor speedway Bill Gains Campground

This is the first place that we actually stayed more than one night. It was so nice to be able to just sit...outside of the car that is...lol

As you can see, we learned our lesson from the first night camping. We put the tarp over the tent (yes we stayed dry) and we also found a Walmart and bought a canapy to sit under. And yes it rained here as well.

It was so warm there that even when it rains, we didn't have to wear jackets and we often did not sleep in our sleeping bags either.

MORE TO COME SOON.....

Thoughts On Open Adoption

Let's be honest, open adoption was a scary term for us at first, but the more we have attended our adoption training classes, the more comfortable we have become with the possibilities of an open adoption. There are so many advantages to have an open adoption: Our child will always know who their birth family is, we will always have access to the birth families medical history, our child will always know that their birth family love them and they will never have to question that. They will always know their heritage and for us, these things are very important. Every adoption is different. Everyone has their own expectations to what they want out of their open adoption and everyone has boundries and a bottom line for they are comfortable with. For us, our bottom line is: 1. Pictures and letters often 2. Have a blog set up just for the birth family 3. Correspondance through emails 4. Calls/Text 5. Depending on the relationship we have with our birth family, we are open to possible visits. (How often is still undecided)