Using Technology when trying to adopt.

I love the story line in the movie "He's just not that into you."  
The movie has some pieces I wish they didn't put in there but the story itself is sweet.  
While watching it one day a few

years ago I realized I  had felt the same way about trying to adopt....putting ourselves out there in hopes the right birth parents would find us and fall in love with us.

While some days it was hard and we experienced our fair share of online scammers technology helped to bring two incredible children to our family and has helped us deal with loss.

So I guess once you get use to it....it ain't so bad.  lol  ;)

Matching Mondays ~ Adoptuskids

In my house the movie

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding"

is in the top 10 favorites.  Sometimes we find ourselves quoting from the hilarious Portokalos family.

When the sweet and funny Nia Vardalos announced back in 2009 she was adopting it just made me love her all the more!

Read this cute interview  I found on Moms and Babies - Celebrity Baby blog. 

Nia has released a book titled

'Instant Mom'.  

Reading the excerpt here made me even more excited to get a copy and devourer it.

There is nothing like a love story!

Nia and her husband Ian found their child through adoptuskids.org.

It is a site I have visited more times than I can count while searching for our forth child.

We even inquired about some.    After searching for a couple of years and fostering some incredible babies and children Spencer came into our lives.   I never expected to get a call like we did with Spencer.   After four adoptions and countless adoption experiences I have seen miracles.   If you are looking for your own miracle remember to try new things, talk to new people and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.  I know for our family some of our greatest blessings were found in an "uncomfortable zone".

 I am forever thankful we took a chance and followed our hearts rather than our fears!

Today I hope you will take a moment to visit the
adoptuskids website
and look around.  
Don't be afraid to inquire about a child you would like to learn more about.  
Don't let fear get in the way of your miracle!

Matching Mondays and Les Miserables

I had the wonderful opportunity to see the new Les Miserables film on Dec. 28th.   I was moved beyond words.  The music and lyrics touched my heart deeply.   Witnessing a mother trusting another person with her child stirred my memories of special mothers trusting me.    Watching the love begin in Jean Valjean as he took little Cosette as his own and loved her touched places in my heart that are only known by those who have lived a similar story.   Seeing the grief in the mothers eyes as she knows she will not be the one to raise her daughter brings back memories of a goodbye I struggled to survive.   I left the movie moved and softened  and full of joy in the act of redemption and felt loved in the reminder of my Redeemer.   The movie was simply beautiful!

Even now as I write this tears spill to my cheeks and I am thankful for the tender feelings that come as I recall the music and words.

When I saw this clip on the United For Adoption blog I thought of second chances and of children waiting for their chance to be saved for whatever situation they are in.   I wanted to share the clip on my blog as well.

Today for Matching Mondays I encourage you to see out children who are waiting for help....some might be waiting for a family to love them, others might be waiting for food or other basic needs.   Some children might be waiting for a loving word or two, a nurturing heart or a friend.  
Look around and see who needs YOU!  
There are things within each of us that prepare us to touch the lives of others.   There is so much good we can do we just have to search and find the one that needs us and then serve them!

I wish you all a Happy New Year!!!
I am so excited about the possibilities of 2013!

My Favorite "just for me" Movies.

Another great thing about Christmas is watching all my favorite addictions!  :)  

Maybe they are some of yours too.

Italian Dreams

I recently went to the movie "Letters to Juliet". 
I really loved it!
You can read my review here.
I have always wanted to travel to Europe to see England, Italy, Scotland and Ireland specifically.  Italian is the only language I have ever had a huge desire to learn....I am not sure why but I have felt this since I was a teenager.   I have a friend (Hi Bethany!) who went to Italy on her LDS Mission.  I wish I could have been a mouse in her pocket.   She has amazing stories and has shared a couple of great recipes with me that she learned while on her mission.  I also have a childhood friend who lives in Italy with her hubby and family.  I see her pictures and wish I could "skadoo" into them and see the landscape in real life.   I realize this isn't possible...and I also realize that chances are I will never make it to Europe.  *sigh*   
So in honor of my dreams of visiting Italy in person I am going to share with you one of the recipes my friend shared with me. 
It is really not a heart healthy dish but it tastes really good!!!

Pasta:  I like spaghetti noodles best
Eggs:  Normally one per person
Bacon: 1/2 to a full package (cooked and cut into bite size pieces)
Parmesan cheese
Cream sauce
Cook your pasta, drain and return to pan.
Beat your eggs in a separate bowl and slowly add them to the hot pasta, stirring constantly.  (I like to keep my burner on low to help keep things hot).  The eggs will scramble onto your noodles.  Then add just a little bit of cream sauce (to your liking) your bacon, and top with some parmesan cheese.

Sounds a little different but it tastes so yummy!!!!
I am going to make this the day I buy the "Letters to Juliet" dvd.
Dinner and a movie date with Brad.   Kids will just need to go to bed early that night. :) 
Shhhh... just don't tell the kids! :)

A new buy worthy movie!

I think I found a new movie I can watch endlessly without tiring!
It has the great components of a "Brenda" movie.

• Takes place in Europe....specifically Italy (a country I want to visit).

• Has an actor who has a great British accent (even thought he is Australian) and can I also say...he is quite good looking.

• References Italian food.

• Italian language is spoken (the language I always wanted to learn).

*I will interrupt my list to share with you that my little Haley is 1/4 Italian..just another reason to love anything Italian!

• Clean flick for the most part.

• It's a love story with some great humor!

Just the kind of movie I LOVE!!!!!
If you haven't seen it....go!  It is worth the heafty price of admission and even the 10 bucks for the popcorn and drink.

Why we love High School Musical.

I find it funny that I seem to enjoy those things my childen love. Sometimes it takes time to grow on me but I eventually fall in love with the same things they do.

Right now it is all about High School Musical. Yes it is really syrup-ee sweet but I love that it is clean. I compare this latest fad with that of my childhood..."Grease". I am so surprised my parents let me watch and listen to that movie. But I remember listening to the record over and over again and dancing my heart out with my friends. So even though HSM is cheesy......I love it and I love the music. My favorite part about it all is watching Brenley, Haley and Camden get all excited when I turn the CD on in the van and I totally love to watch Camden sing and dance to each song as we watch the dvd. Way too cute!

I LOVE being a Mom!!!

Movie Reviews

"The Eye": *** I liked this movie. I was in the mood for something spooky but not too much. I can't handle the horror movies I used to watch in Jr. High School. This movie was just scary enough for me. It was entertaining.

"The Golden Compass": * I hated this movie ALOT! It didn't make sense, stupid story and boring. The only thing I did like was the Armored Bear's voice.