So long, farewell, auf wiedersen, goodbye...

 Wednesday, May 11, 2011, my little sister entered the MTC.  Bekka is going to the California, San Fernando mission.  Annie made an awesome breakfast, Bekka's fave, stuffed french toast, and then we ran a couple last minute errands.  Our final stop was to grab a smoothie before sending her off.  She was too nervous for anything else.   

(I stole a few pictures from Annie.  Hope you don't mind!)

It is weird to think about her as a missionary.  I remember dropping her off at college not that long ago!

Chris was awesome and agreed to say goodbye across the street so he could sit with Easton.  There wasn't enough room in the car for all of us to go.  Madi had fun playing on the fence.  She kept pointing to the temple and saying "pwitty"

She is such a sweetheart!  Bekka didn't want to let her go.  Madi still talks about Bekka on a daily basis.  She gets excited when she sees her picture. 

And here she is making a wonderful impression as she arrived at the MTC.  We gave quick hugs and said our goodbyes and wiped away the tears.  She turned around and ran right into the #2 sign.  She is good at running into poles.  At least she made a quick recovery.  It was a true "Bekka" moment! :D   

We are so proud of Bekka and that she has made the decision to serve a mission.  She will be wonderful and leave a lasting impact on the lives of those she serves.  We will miss her like crazy while she is gone and look forward to her coming home but are glad she is where she needs to be.  Love ya Beck!

The MTC...

My brother, Joshua, went into the MTC on Wednesday. He will be there for three weeks before he heads to Guatamala to serve a mission for two years! It was great to see him for a few hours before we took him. My cousin, Parker, went into the MTC the same day so we had cookies and ice cream with all the family Tuesday night.Chris, Annie and I dropped him off at the MTC. Here is Chris, Joshua and me.
Joshua, Chris and Annie

They let us take a couple pictures and then a missionary grabbed his luggage and said "Tell them goodbye and come on".

He will make a great missionary and Guatamala would be such a fun place to go! I am grateful that he is going and hope he has an incredible experience!

It's about love...

There are so many things said about adoption and about birth moms and adoptive couples that are said usually totally innocently but can cause so much pain and hurt to those that have experienced adoption. I came across a blog that had a post called How to irratate a birth mother and I thought I would share it. It doesn't only irratate a birth mother though, it also irratates the adoptive couple that have the deepest love and respect for these amazing woman and the love they have for their child.

We are grateful for so many reasons for the miracle of adoption. We are grateful that Mindy has wanted to keep in touch with us and that Madi will know her. Mindy loves and adores Madi and although many people question our openness, I know that it is best for our family. Studies have shown that it doesn't confuse a child or make things more complicated. It just gives that child one more person that loves them so very much.

So, before you make a comment to someone that is a birth mom, adoptive couple or even an adopted child, consider the way you ask the question. Consider the tone you use. Consider the feelings that may be evoked by asking such a question. Educate yourself on adoption. Most of the things people know about adoption is false. It's different then it was ten or twenty years ago. It's a wonderful thing, not a negative one.

I want the world to know that I love Madison so very much. I couldn't love her more if I had carried her for the nine months myself. Something that I get that a "normal" mom doesn't... to kneel at the altar in the temple and have the sweetest little angel be brought into the room and have her sealed to Derrick and I for all eternity. I guess that is the trade off that Heavenly Father gives adoptive moms instead of birth and it is TOTALLY worth it! I get to share a connection with an incredible woman for the rest of my life. I get to teach Madi that Mindy loved her so much that she wanted to give her the world and that she knew that wasn't possible on her own so she asked us to do it for her. I get to KNOW that Heavenly Father sent her to our family very much on purpose and that we were not brought together by chance. I get teach her and love her and watch her grow because Mindy loved her THAT MUCH! Thank you Mindy! We love you!

Fun Fridays...

I have started "fun Friday's" with Kyah and Jaxon. It is so fun to get out with them and Madi and see different things. This week they didn't come on Friday so we had to go on Wednesday. We went into down town to the Church History Museum. On the main floor it has some of the early history of the church. They have beds that replicate the bunks you would find in a ship that some of the early saints came to America on. I asked Jaxon if he liked it and what he would think of trading his bed for that. He was all for it! :D

Madi even climbed in the bunk...

Cute Kyah in the bunks...They have a special exhibit for the kids right now to celebrate being a child of God. Everything is hands on and was so much fun for the kids. We spent two or three hours there. Poor Madi was so super tired and had a hard time. On top of being tired she has pretty bad allergies and all the flowers around there were making them crazy. Her eyes were red and puffy the whole day.

she did finally crack a few smiles when she saw herself. She LOVES to look at herself whether it's in a mirror or in a picture. It is so cute to see.
Madi LOVES kisses. She gives herself kisses in the mirror when she sees herself. My new favorite thing that she does is when Derrick and I kiss, she will blow air kisses letting us know she wants kisses too! It is the cutest thing ever!

So happy...

Madi did finally give up and fell asleep...

One of the activities they had for the kids was to make a stained glass window. They had a big one the kids could make and then they had vellum "windows" that they could color and put up to a light board. Kyah loved this activity and colored several.

I LOVE this picture of Jaxon. He is such a sweet, thoughtful boy and such a handful! :D He is full of energy and loves to learn new things. That is one of the things I like best about my time with him. Hopefully he will learn something from me. :D

After the museum we met up with Derrick for a little picnic. Then we headed to the conference center for a tour. They were such troopers. Poor Kyah was worn out. She was tired of walking so we took a little rest before we started the tour.

At the end of the tour they take you to the gardens on the roof. It is so beautiful and I would love to be able to just be there and look and not be rushed through on a tour. Maybe someday but right now it is only open for tours. Our tour guide took a picture of us at the end. (Notice Madi and Kyah. Madi was nice enough to share her stroller when Kyah couldn't go anymore.) Jaxon and Kyah are so sweet to Madi.I think we had a great time and the kids weren't ready to go home. We are going to go back another time and see some more. I really wore them out... Jaxon does NOT take naps but...

This is how they looked by the time we got home. :D

A touching story...

For Mother's Day Derrick and Madi gave me a book called What the Scriptures Teach Us about Raising a Child. It has a very touching journal entry that was originally in the August 1984 Ensign (a magazine my church publishes). The article is titled Living by the Spirit by Joy Webb Rigby. In the article she tells of a journal entry her daughter wrote in seventh grade. It reads:

"One day while we were reading our scriptures, we talked about how important it is for each of us to have our own knowledge and testimony- and that we must not put off asking Heavenly Father for this. That night I went to my room and shut the door. I waited until everything was very quiet. Then I knelt down by my bed and prayed. I asked Heavenly Father to please send me an angel to tell me for sure if the gospel was true. He answered that he would, and I was to get in bed and wait for the angel to come. I felt very peaceful and happy, and I waited.

The house was very still, and I think I had dropped off to sleep. I woke up when I heard a voice. It was Mother. She was kneeling beside my bed praying. She was praying for me. I listened, and when she finished I touched her hair so she would know I was awake. She put her arms around me and held me and her face was wet. She told me I had a Father in Heaven and that he loved me. She said she was glad he had let me come to live in our family. She told me he sent his own Son here to give his life so we could return to live with him if we obeyed his commandments. She told me to always remember that the gospel had been restored, and I must live it so I could go back to my Father.

We held each other for a while, and then Mother left. After she left, Father in Heaven said to my mind, 'I sent you your angel.'"

What an incredible testament that is of the sacredness of motherhood and the impact we have on our children! I am so grateful for the example of my mom and for all that she has taught me. She has always shown her family the love she has of the Gospel and for our Savior. I am grateful for the strength she offers and I hope I can show Madi the same. I love you mom!

Our Eternal Family....

Saturday, March 20, 2010, our family was sealed for all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a beautiful sealing and when they brought her into the room everyone oohed and awed at how beautiful she was. We let her wear her Easter outfit a little bit early and she looked adorable in it! We were really surprised but they let us go out in our white clothes for a picture. So, here we are after our sealing. Some had already left since we didn't know about it until after.
Our little family...

Mommy and Madi

Uncle Andrew and soon to be Aunt Annie

Great Grandma and Grandpa Gurney

The Hawkins Clan

L to R: Grandpa Hawkins, Uncle Chad, Mommy, Madi, Daddy Front Row: Grandma Hawkins, Aunt Susan and Saber

Mommy and Madi

Great Grandma and Grandpa Baum with Madi

The blanket that we used at the temple was crocheted by Great Grandma Baum! It is a special blanket!

So tired! She missed all her naps and was still a happy little girl! Mommy kisses!!!

Madi's had it! Great Grandma and Grandpa Gurney. I think Grandpa Gurney wasn't quite sure what to think!

5 Generations of Women!!!

L to R: Great Grandma Gurney, Grandma Baum, Madi, Mom, and Great Great Grandma Louder

The Baum Clan

Back Row L to R: Nicholas, Daniel, Erin, Andrew, Daddy, Rick, Bekka, Annie, Christopher

Front Row L to R: Christina, Grandma, Mommy, Tiffany

Kids L to R: Brenton, Whitney, Caitlin, Madi

Madi's cousins, Whitney and Caitlin

Grandma Baum made Madi's blessing dress. It was made from the left over fabric and lace from hers and mommy's wedding dresses. It turned out beautiful!

She also was the one that held Madi at the altar in the temple. We are so glad that she was able to be here with us!

Our Eternal Family...

So thankful...

Since this is a week is all about giving thanks I want to share with all the MANY things that I am thankful for.

First, I am thankful for my Savior who is there for me when I need Him. In times when I have struggled or felt alone He was just a prayer away. He has given me great amounts of love, comfort and peace over the last several years and I am so thankful that I know Him and have the gospel in my life.

Second, I am thankful for the most wonderful husband a girl could ever dream of. He has been there for me and stuck with me in the many trials we have had over the last eight years. He is a wonderful example to me of offering service to his family and loved ones. He has been so supportive and willing to do anything to be able to let me be home with our beautiful daughter. I am so blessed to have him as my eternal companion.

Third, I am grateful for my precious daughter, Madi. The only thing I wanted to do my whole life was grow up, get married, have babies and stay home with my kids. Heavenly Father must have known that for me to truly appreciate motherhood I was gonna have to wait a few years. :) I feel like I am living a dream. Madi is such a sweet baby and I will forever be thankful to her birthmom, Mindy, for choosing us to be her parents.

Fourth, I am grateful for our home. We have a warm place to live and food on the table. We have such a great ward and are blessed to be here.

Fifth, I am grateful for my parents and Derrick's parents. They have taught us so much and sacrificed for many years on our behalf. I am so glad that we are able to be close to mom and dad Hawkins and wish my mom was closer (or that we were rich and could fly to Texas whenever we wanted :D).

Sixth, I am grateful for brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, grandparents, friends and all the other loved ones that have taught me and influenced my life in so many ways.

My list could go on forever but I will stop at these. I hope that as the week continues that everyone can take a minute to think of all they have been blessed with and thank our Heavenly Father for the many blessings we all have. I hope you have a happy, safe holiday!

A sigh of relief and a busy boy...

We had our primary program yesterday which I was in charge of and it went GREAT! I can finally breath a sigh of relief. The kids were all reverent and did their parts wonderfully and they sang so well. The spirit was very strong and the kids received so many comments of praise.

Derrick was called and set apart yesterday to be the second counselor in the elders quorum. They didn't waste any time putting him to work. He had a meeting yesterday, two throughout the week and a baptism on Saturday. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve and look forward to the spiritual growth it will bring to our family.

We're done...

We spoke in sacrament meeting yesterday and I have to say that I think we did okay. I took up most of the time so Derrick only had about 8 minutes. He had prepared such a great talk and had to cut it down and just use some stuff. He will have to use it another time. Sorry babe! It is nice to be done with it though and not have to worry about it any more. Now life can get back to normal.

On Saturday our ward had a ward service project. We did yardwork for some of the members in our ward. we were originally supposed to do 7 houses but ended up doing 11! It was awesome to see all the people who showed up to help and all the work that got done. We have a great ward and we are really starting to enjoy the members.

We're speaking...

Derrick and I have been asked to speak in sacrament meeting on May 17th. Anyone that would like to come is more than welcome. I have been given the talk from Elder Holland in this last conference, "None Were with Him" and Derrick was given Elder Bednar's talk "Honerably Hold a Name and Standing". If you have any suggestions we would love to hear!

One of those weeks...

Do you ever have a day that you just need to lay in bed and have a good, hard cry? There really isn't any one reason, just a bunch of little ones. Well, it has been one of those WEEKS for me. It's my fault. On Sunday, we were sick and didn't go to church. It doesn't matter what the reason is but I know that if I miss church my whole week I feel heavy and I can tell I didn't get the spiritual uplifting that I need to make it through the next week. Anyhow, I just have to thank my sweet husband because without him, I don't know what I would do. He has brought me flowers, taken me to dinner and been there to make things better. I love you Derrick!!! I am also very grateful to know that I am a daughter of God and that I can rely on my Savior when I need peace. I am glad that our parents raised us in the Gospel and that we have such wonderful families.