Adoption Story: Mike and Helen

I knew the moment I first talked to Helen she had a sweet spirit. Her family has an amazing story and they had a beautiful daughter who was adopted from Ethiopia. I knew even then the story of how their second baby would come to them would be just as amazing and beautiful. Walking with Helen and Mike, I was often in awe of their strength and their faith. And no less astonished at their perseverance and commitment to the process of continuing to grow their family through adoption... 

When we adopted our daughter 3 years ago from Ethiopia, we were positive that we will adopt from Africa again. We felt that this is a way to maintain a connection to where we come from. We are both originally from Africa and came to the US for education and career advancement (yeah, long story). Adopting domestically was not in our radar. That changed when I met my dear friend JJ. We started to meet for coffee often. We discussed all things adoption and I shared with her our desire to adopt. She shared her adoption story with me and her positive experience with Susan. I was very ambivalent with going domestic. However, international adoption from most African countries was not going well. The agency we almost signed on with was closing its doors. When I heard this, I called JJ again and we sat for a long time for coffee. This time, I was all ears. By the time our coffee date was done, I was all in. 

After we signed on with Susan, she started emailing situations to us. One evening, Susan called us about a birth mom who was a week from delivery and was specifically interested in a black family. We asked to be presented. 2 days later, Susan called us to let us know she had chosen us and that meant we had to be in Las Vegas as soon as possible. We did exactly that and we were on cloud nine when we met the birth family. We could tell they liked us and the feeling was mutual. 

We were there when the baby was born. He was beautiful baby boy. We were crying tears of joy. The next day, it seemed the birth family were ambivalent regarding the adoption plan. However, the birth mom told us there was no way she was going to change her mind. She was just having difficulty processing her feelings but was set on the plan. That changed on the next day when they decided to parent. Though we knew it was a bittersweet moment, we were devastated. Our 3-year-old was crying. We felt defeated. We felt hopeless. However, many people sent us messages of support as soon as they learned of what happened. Many prayed for us. Susan called and supported us along the way. We started reflecting more on the pain of birth parents. In some ways, I could see the pain of what it feels like. Adoption is indeed bittersweet. 

Slowly, our hearts were getting better. This is the season when we learned to truly trust in God. Even though we had so much support, we felt somehow alienated. I remember one evening telling my husband that I was so happy the mom had decided to parent, yet I had tears in my eyes on my own sadness. My husband reminded me that is the reality of adoption. We started wondering if we will adopt again. If it falls through again, will we survive? Will our daughter survive? 

The next day we got a call from the same agency of a little boy who was already born; would we consider parenting him? We told the agency we would get back with them at the end of the day. We wrestled with the decision. We felt like it was too soon to take a leap of faith. But somehow, I felt something inside my heart. I talked to my husband. That evening we said yes. The next day we were in Las Vegas, the same city we had vowed never to return to. By the time Thanksgiving came, we had been with our baby for 2 days and we were bonding and falling in love with him. When we met his birth mom, we were extremely nervous. In my heart, I had a mix of many emotions. I felt her pain and the scene of what had happened two weeks prior came replaying in my head. Secretly, I started questioning if we were deserving of this perfect child. 

As we sat across from each other in a Mexican restaurant and over fajitas, I decided to tell her how I felt. She smiled at my eyes and assured me she was sure this is the plan she wants and she is happy that we are the people to raise her son. Somehow, it was as if the weight in my heart had been lifted. She was at peace. We were at peace. Yet a little lingering sadness was in the air.

As I look at my son now at a month old, I am amazed with the journey that took us to him. I feel an incredible connection to him, so strong that I can't explain. I don't feel lucky. I feel blessed. I think of his birth mom almost every day. I am sure she thinks of him too. We are incredibly blessed to be his parents. Our almost four year old is so in love with him. Just yesterday, as I watched her giving him a bottle (with their father closely supervising!) I was overwhelmed with all the feelings. The story of God's redemptive love. My daughter looked my way and said, "Daddy, Mommy is happy crying again!"

Adoption Story: Jeff and Heather

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

So many times during our journey I read this verse. Sometimes it was with deep hurt wanting to know why this was happening to us, why didn’t we deserve to be parents. I would pray that if we weren’t meant to be a parents then to take the desire away from my heart.  The desire never left and adoption gave us new hope for our future. We are finally a family of three.

We wanted to have a child, but after six fruitless years of trying and several gristmill years of infertility treatments (drugs, inseminations, in vitro). We buried the monthly hope that our bodies would bring forth children and we accepted the fact that we are infertile. Biology had been quietly put to rest, but the desire to become parents did not. We always saw having a family as the next great adventure. So, we turned toward adoption, and as our hearts and spirits began to thaw, adoption filled us with new hope, a sense of possibility we thought still frozen and extinct. We were looked forward to being Mommy and Daddy soon.

We started researching adoption two years ago. This was very overwhelming, there are so many options and we had no idea where to begin. From domestic, international, private, all the different agencies large/small, and the cost of it all was significantly more that we had anticipated. We prayed about it and something just didn’t feel like it was time for us, and my heart really wanted to give my husband a child. We choose to try to fertility treatments one more time which lead to a long a grueling year. We were not only emotionally and financially drained, my body was tired. I struggled with this decision of moving on to adoption much more than Jeff did. I thought I was letting him down not being able to give my husband what a wife was supposed to unable to bare his children. After lots of prayer and Jeff reassuring me that God had a plan, we knew we were done and God was telling us it was time to look back into adoption. We continued to pray about our journey and possibilities of adoption. 

During this time I came across this blog of Susan’s with Christian Adoption Consultants which I followed and fell in love. This gave us new hope an encouragement. I found myself looking at it all the time and reading every post with how she helped everyone through God and adoption. I knew we had to set up a meeting with her.   

We signed with CAC right after Thanksgiving, with the holidays we were home study approved end of February, and start applying to agencies, becoming agency approved in March, and then the situations started coming our way. As we would read the situation and pray over each one deciding if it was the one for us. We were presented 10+ times (I tried not to keep track). It was more of an emotional roller coaster than we had anticipated. With the several “no’s” we heard, we couldn't help by wonder what was wrong with us, why we were not being chosen. Finally were matched July 6. The road to our baby was bumpy and mess with lots of unknowns, but the moment we saw him we melted and finally had a sense of peace and reassurance of God's plan for us.

As we are in the Holiday season, I know several people around us still waiting; struggling with infertility, and loss.  I ask everyone to do something for that person around them (no matter how small).  It will mean so much to them just knowing you are praying and thinking of them during their wait or time of feeling loss. Those of you still waiting: never give up hope, the reward will be so worth the wait! 

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12   

Professional pictures by Kenny Felt Photography

Personalized hat by Knots LLC

Personalized blanket by Highway 3

#200

This text came last night. A text like so many others of a family rushing to the hospital to make it for the birth of their child.

And then, in the wee hours of the morning, the follow up that he had arrived. "He's perfect. Born at 11:46. 7lbs, 13oz" and beautiful pictures of the new family of three.

This text marks number 200. 200 babies welcomed to families through adoption. 200 adoptions I've been honored to be a part of as I walk beside families as an Adoption Consultant with Christian Adoption Consultants.

It seems silly that I know that number. But I know it because it's so much more than a number. Each of these 200 babies represents a story. Each one a way God moved in miraculous and redemptive ways. Each with their own bittersweet details of two families coming together to choose what they believe is the best for their baby.

200 babies

200 birth families who have made brave and selfless decisions

200 times a couple has said “yes” to the scary unknowns of adoption

200 extended families with grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings have welcomed a little one

200 ways a family has opened their hearts and homes

200 families changed forever

I've shared before why I have the best job in the world. But truly, I can't imagine anything more rewarding for me than watching daily as families, both birth and adoptive, say "yes" to all of this. To the hard, good, redemptive, bittersweet, amazing stuff that adoption is made of. 

So this morning, when I got this text, you can understand how overwhelmed I was. It was another chance to be in awe of a God who writes the best stories. And I've had a front row seat to at least 200 beautiful ones...

Repost: The Ache of the Wait in the Holidays

You've met Amy before. A sweet adoptive mama and client turned dear friend. We met over coffee to talk about adoption and the last time I saw her, her family of three was gathered in my living room with our crew. I love her thoughts on adoption, the hard wait, and the holiday season...

For our family this Christmas season will be our most memorable. It is our first Christmas as a family of three. Our home is overflowing with love, magic and new beginnings. This year we get to celebrate Christmas with our son. We spent hours Christmas shopping (and lets be honest, baby B is not even gonna know what's goin' on this year!), we have dreamt of the traditions we hope to start to make the season full of magic. We had no idea just how emotional this Christmas would be for our family. This is a dream I wasn't sure would ever come true. But, one thing I can say for sure?

I would go through all of the heartache and sadness again to get to my son. 

To all of you who have babies growing in your hearts right now, I promise you, this holiday season will soon be filled with love, joy and overwhelming thankfulness. Right now, I know your hearts are dreading spending another holiday without your child. I know your hearts ache watching families celebrate the magic of Christmas with little ones. I know you dream of the day when you get hang up that stocking that says "Baby's First Christmas." I know you can't wait for the day when you get to wrap gifts to put under the treat for your most treasured gift.

Please don't lose hope.

Last year, I was walking with you. I remember being curled up by our fireplace holding tightly to the book I had bought for a baby I had hoped to be holding in my arms.

I remember each tear that fell down my face. 

I remember each silent prayer I whispered to God, begging Him to give me strength. 

You're. Not. Alone. 

Please don't give up hope. Please don't lose your faith.

This season, I'm praying for you hearts to be full of hope for what is to come.

It is worth the wait. 

It's worth every single tear. It's worth every silent prayer. 

Please know you are in my heart this season.

Amy

For more on Amy, her beautiful family, and their adoption journey, you can head to her blog, Glimpses of Hope.

Adoption Story: Joe and Jessica (baby #2!)

The holidays are especially sweet for Joe and Jessica. Just two years ago in November, they welcomed their first son, Micah through adoption. You can read that amazing story here. But they knew their family was not yet complete and started with Christian Adoption Consultants again this September. (As a side, some of my favorite calls to get are families I get to work with a second or third time!)

It was just a month later they were matched with an expectant mama. And a month after that, Emmitt was born. This Thanksgiving the family spent it as a brand new family of four.

Below are some of Jessica's thoughts on going through adoption a second time...

Going through the adoption process the second time was so different than the first. We were much more at peace with knowing and trusting in God’s plan for our family. It made the "no’s" much easier to take and the waiting was easier.  But it was also harder this time because we knew that our happiest moment was going to come at the price of another woman’s worst moment. We love Micah’s birth mom so much, and have such a great relationship with her. I worried that we wouldn’t have that same connection with our second child’s birth family. Those worries melted away quickly though when we met Emmitt’s birth family. I feel so lucky to have two sons, but I also feel incredibly blessed to have added these two birth mothers in our lives. It’s a bond that you just can’t understand unless you’ve experienced it.  I’m so glad that God chose this for our family. 

Adoption Story: Jon and Ruthie (a video journal)

Tuesday, November 8, 2016. There was a lot going on that day. But the text I got from Ruthie that afternoon would be historic for their family in other ways.

Just four days before Jon and Ruthie had received news that the expectant mother they had developed a relationship with for months had chosen to parent. The days had been filled of bittersweet: happy that a mother had decided she could parent her daughter but also grieving over the loss of that adoption. What unfolded in the next few days was nothing short of a miracle. God brought redemption to their family and turned their mourning into dancing. Psalm 30:11-12 became their song...

You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 

that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Never did I think the Lord would write the story He did for us. 5 weeks later, looking at my sleeping son next to me, I still have to ask myself, "Did that really happen?" In November 2012 the Lord called us to adoption on Orphan Sunday. We were visiting our friend's church because the church story team followed them on their adoption journey and I can still picture our friends meeting their son Jacob in the hospital for the first time in their video. The pastor preached on our own spiritual adoption into God's family and after that sermon we looked at each other and said, "Yes, adoption.". Fast forward 3 years and 2 beautiful biological babies later, God continued to show us that adoption is what He had for us. We started asking people we knew who had adopted for advice and recommendations and where to start. A good friend of mine, also an adoptive mama, told me about this company she knew of called Christian Adoption Consultants. A few weeks later I was on Pinterest looking up adoption family profile books and came across Susan's blog. I ended up reading every single post she'd written and emailing her that evening. It was God's providence, I had no idea she worked for CAC and I knew we were meant to use her. 

We were home study approved in February 2016 and sent our profile book to 5 different agencies and were so excited to see expectant mama situations coming in right away. Fast forward again to June 2016 and we received an email from Susan about a birth mom in Las Vegas, due with a baby girl in November. Side note...we hadn't ever sent our profile book to this agency in Las Vegas which is crazy but God will make what He wants happen, am I right? We waited over a week on pins and needles wondering if we would be chosen. We'd presented a few times before and although those "No's" were hard to hear, we knew that meant it was a "Yes" for another family and that our baby was out there. July 5th, 2016 we received a call that we were MATCHED and our baby girl was due on November 10th, 2016. We spent the next four months cultivating a wonderful relationship with both the expectant mother and birth father... Skyping, texting, sending pictures and cards. It was a relationship that was unlike any other relationship I had experienced and one that was so precious and sacred. I got to pray with that birth mom, M, and boy did we love her so so much. We felt like we had hit the jackpot with birth moms, we had even planned on spending baby girl's birthdays together. November 4th, 2016 we got the devastating call that baby girl was born healthy the day before but M could not place her for adoption and chose to parent. We were heartbroken, shocked, and confused. I knew there was such thing as a failed adoption but that was never something that crossed my mind with our perfect relationship with our expectant mom. As much devastation and heartbreak as we experienced, we felt joy for this baby girl who would stay with her mom and have biological siblings. I have so much love and grace for M, we talked many times after the baby was born and it was so beautiful and healing. The next few days the Lord did a lot of healing in our hearts. We had friends and family come cry with us, pray with us, and bring us casseroles and chocolate. I know that each person I saw I told "Man I just want to get a call that a baby has been born and because God has a sense of humor, I am sure it will be a boy." 

Tuesday November 8th, 2016, 2:30pm, we get a call from the social worker we had been working with in Las Vegas. I start pouring my heart out about what a hard weekend it was but also a healing one. The Lord was doing a great work and I felt His presence more than ever before. After I finally stopped talking it was silent and she said, "Ruthie there was a baby born last night, it is a boy. Are you interested?" My heart leapt and I burst into tears. God had been healing our broken hearts so quickly to prepare us for our son. What a kind God He is, four days after losing what we thought was our daughter. Wednesday night we Skyped with the birth mom, R, Thursday she officially chose us, she signed relinquishment papers on Friday, and that evening we jumped on an airplane to Las Vegas to meet our baby boy. In those four days between the loss and the call of about our baby boy, the Lord showed me through three different people the story of Gideon so when we found out we had a son, we knew his name was Gideon. A strong and mighty warrior. 

Because I can so vividly (and emotionally) remember our friend's adoption story and video, I knew I wanted to chronicle this crazy story through video and you can view it below. God didn't have to give us Gideon, but He did. He is so kind, so personal, and so generous. We know that Gideon's life is already touching so many and pray that this story will forever glorify our Heavenly Father and His great works for His children. 

For more of this boy's incredible beginning, their adoption story, and their adventures as a family, you can follow along at Ruthie's blog, The Chronicles of Ruthie Hart.

Adoption Story: Jim and Robin

One day, near the end of September, Jim left his family and headed on a trip out of the country. When he came home a week later, he had a son...

Read as Robin shares how God answered years of prayers in a matter of days.

Several times now I have sat down to try and put our adoption journey into words to share, and have struggled. The emotions, struggles, and blessings in this journey have been so immense. After dealing with my second second trimester miscarriage we were trying to come to peace with the reality that there may not be a baby in our future.  However, little things kept calling to me...the verse from 1 Samuel "for this child I have prayed" kept popping up everywhere I looked, this little wall hanging I kept seeing in the window of the hospital gift shop that said "Then we had you, now we have everything."  I just couldn't find peace, and then one night it happened; clarity. I sat straight up in bed and proclaimed to my husband that we were being called to adopt. I could all of a sudden feel and hear the call so loudly. He maybe wasn't quite as convinced at first, but did not take long to feel it too. 

When my husband and I first realized that our hearts were leading us to adoption, we had no idea what that meant, or how to even get started. I had family members who have adopted in various ways (foster, closed adoption), but I wasn't sure that was right for us.  I had a friend who had adopted and it was an open adoption.  Talking to her made me want to learn more about open adoption, so she set me up with Susan at Christian Adoption Consultants. I was so worried that we wouldn't be "good candidates" for adoption, that birth parents wouldn't choose us for multiple reasons. I called her in April with a list of questions. Susan was so kind and reassuring. She carefully outlined for us the right steps to begin, and we started our journey. We moved through the home study process very quickly, as I was very focused and motivated to get things done. We were home study approved by the end of June and saw our first situation within a few days, and even though it turned out to not be a good fit for us, it raised our hope that our baby was out there somewhere. We saw a couple more potential situations over the summer, but each time as we talked and prayed about it, something didn't feel quite right to us.  

I have to admit that even though we had only been waiting a few months, I started to get frustrated and question if I had answered that "call" I had heard so loudly in the right way. My husband, Jim, is from Canada and had planned a trip to visit family and friends for two weeks at the end of September. Right before he left I joked with him that I was going to bring a baby home while he was gone. He left on a Thursday and on the following Tuesday afternoon I received a phone call saying that there was a baby born situation less than 2 hours from where we live. The baby was ready to be picked up tomorrow if we were interested; a 5 day old baby boy. That was really all of the information I had when I said "yes." I listened to the rest of the details and knew I had to call Jim in Canada and discuss it, but I knew in my heart it was yes.  

Nothing could have ever prepared me for the emotional roller coaster the next 48 hours took me on that included calling my husband and telling him "Our baby is ready to be picked up!", sharing the news with the older kids, buying all of the baby essentials we would need to bring a baby home, trying to get my husband home from Canada over a week early, and jumping through some legal hoops. Within 24 hours it started to look like we had gotten our hopes up for a situation that may not work out. I was crushed, but thankful that if it wasn't truly meant to be that we found out early. I couldn't make peace with it though because in my heart I heard loudly that this was my son, waiting for me to pick him up. My husband was driving back from Canada, and had not yet made it back, so I got in the car and drove to get him just two days after we first heard about him. All of the fear and uncertainty disappeared the moment they placed him in my arms. I knew for sure that this was the child that we had prayed for, the one who motivated us to enter this journey. The Lord had granted the desire of our hearts!  

The first photo taken of me by the social worker from the agency will always be my favorite, as it truly catches the true emotions I was feeling: a confusing mix of overwhelming joy in holding my son, shock, sadness for the grieving birth mom and for my husband missing these first moments, and mostly, totally in awe at this blue eyed boy who I felt like my heart had known forever.

Adoption Story: Gilbert and Kate

A few months ago Gilbert and Kate sat in my living room, on the verge of a possible big move for their family and anticipating the birth of their daughter. With all they had walked through up to that point, with nothing sure and so much of their future unknown, much of our conversation revolved around how faithful God had been to their family and how he could be trusted in the midst of so many changes.

Last week, I met up with Kate again, this time with them settled after moving and with their daughter in her arms. Gilbert and Kate will be the first to tell you their adoption story didn't go anything like they anticipated. But they know it was exactly how God planned it from the beginning...

Our adoption journey began three years ago when a series of events and encounters led us to believe that God was calling us to open our homes to a little one through adoption. This was the first time that I had truly felt called to something that was big and scary, and my first step of courage was approaching Gilbert about this spiritual nudge. We prayed about it for some time, and during that time God revealed to us on several occasions that this was His plan for our family. 

At the time we began the practical steps to adoption, we had six-year-old and three-year-old biological sons, and we felt that it was a good time to get started. I told Gilbert more than once that I didn’t want to be one of those parents who was raising two rounds of kids, so if we were going to do this, we should get things going, so we began paperwork as soon as possible. When asked to think about the types of situations we would consider, we marked “would consider” on every blank—any race, any gender, exposure to any substance, any special needs. We deeply wanted God to use us exactly how we wanted. However, the box we checked that made us the most anxious was the one related to special needs. We felt protective of our boys, and we were nervous about choosing to put our family in a position that would turn their lives upside down in ways other than the normal ways welcoming a baby does. So although we wanted to be open to God’s plan for us, we were most cautious about this type of situation. 

Early on we anticipated that we would have a baby in our arms within a year or two, as we began by working only with a small, new, local agency. After only seeing a small handful of presentation situations during the first year, we made the decision with the encouragement of that agency’s staff to connect with Susan at Christian Adoption Consultants. It was at that point that we imagined things would move quickly for us. Five months after signing on with CAC, we were matched with an expectant mom who was due in May of 2015. The situation was perfect—a little girl to join our boys, and we had so much in common with her mother. We were thrilled and thankful for the way God was rewarding us for our yes. We spent the next three months preparing and developing a relationship with her sweet mother. On the day she was born, we anxiously waited to be called to the hospital, but that call never came. We were heartbroken and confused, and we couldn’t imagine putting our hearts on the line in this way again. Over and over, though, I kept thinking and saying, “This CAN’T be how this story ends. It can’t.” So we mustered the courage to keep saying yes. And we said yes so many times. We had heard many stories of families who experienced failed matches and were quickly afterward matched with the babies intended for them. But we weren’t one of those families. Yes after yes from us and no after no from expectant parents, and many times we questioned what God wanted from us. Maybe we misunderstood his call? And if we hadn’t, how could we possibly end up with a baby more perfect than the one we didn’t bring home? And, the question that baffled me, why did He call us so long before he needed us? It didn’t make sense. 

But six months after our failed match, we received news about a baby to be born with Down Syndrome. As I read about this baby, my heart raced, and it occurred to me that God might be calling me to parent a child with Down Syndrome. So I went to Gilbert and shared my heart. He heard me, but I’m not sure he was quite where I was at the time. Turns out, this specific situation was not the one for us, and months went by that allowed me to decide that I had read too much into my racing heart that day. But this past July, Susan sent us word of a baby girl to be born in August—a baby who had been diagnosed with Down Syndrome. And we were a little more ready this time and a little less caught off-guard, so after a little time thinking and studying and praying, we knew that we should say yes. And finally, three years into our journey and 15 months after our failed match, we got the call that we were matched again. We were nervous and excited at the same time, but mostly excited. We spent the next few weeks (quietly this time) preparing for this little one, cautiously optimistic about the chance we might have to bring her home, and trusting God to equip us for the journey. 

On August 22, we got the call that she had been born and then finally the call to come and meet her. From the moment we laid eyes on her, we truly knew that she was the one we’d been waiting so long for. And we knew we would have waited a thousand more years for her. 

Now, finally, I can look back and see the answer to the question that had made my heart ache. If God truly called us to adoption, why did he make us wait so long? Why didn’t He wait to call us until He was ready for us? We had watched our little boys turn into big boys while we waited. But now we know. He knew it all along, but we couldn’t know. We weren’t waiting for Him to be ready for us. He was waiting for us to be ready for Him. We had wanted desperately to be open to whatever he wanted for us, but we hadn’t quite been where he needed us to be. So he used that time, our long wait, to shape our hearts for parenting this one perfect sweet girl. And we are so, so thankful that we kept saying yes in the midst of the heartache and the painful wait, because we didn’t know that we were just giving him time to grow our family the way He wanted to. 

And already we can’t imagine our lives without her. 

How to Use Essential Oils When You're Feeling Ugh

'Tis the season for the yuck being passed around. UGH. So I wanted to share with you all about how we use our essential oils to combat this nastiness. Since we started using oils, we've all visited the doctor way less (yay for saving on copays!) and been MUCH healthier. When I feel something coming on (or notice Jamy or the kids feeling crummy), I run to our cabinet with the oils first!

I this it's important to note that anyone who tells you that oils are a magical unicorn and they're the only thing you ever need to help you is just silly. Our family still takes vitamins, drinks extra water, and tries to maintain healthy sleeping and eating habits. Oils are an incredible tool in our toolbox, but they coincide best when used with a holistic frame of mind.

So, here's how I use what's in our Premium Starter Kit from Young Living.

If I'm feeling stuffy, I put a drop of Peppermint in my palms, rub my hands together and then inhale deeply for 4-5 breaths. Stay away from fingers, as you don't want peppermint oil in the eye. (If that does happen, simply put a dab of coconut oil and wipe away. Oil takes oil off, not water.)

One of my favorites is using RC on the chest for some lung support. Usually, I have this already made up in a glass jar with a lid, labeled Chest Rub. I put 5 drops of RC per heaping tablespoon of coconut oil in the jar and keep it on hand. It's better to have things pre made so you aren't doing this while in the stressful times of caring for others! Pre game when you can, you guys.

This little roller is what I swear by just as soon as I feel something coming on. In a 10mL roller bottle (you can get these from Amazon!) I add 4 drops of Thieves, 3 drops of Peppermint, and 1 drop of Frankincense and fill the rest with fractionated coconut oil. (For added punch you can add 3 drops of Oregano). Every hour I roll this either on my feet or up and down the spine.

For throat support, I rub a little Lemon or Thieves (with a carrier oil like coconut oil) right on my throat. I even gargle a drop of lemon in some salt water. Isabelle loves making herself hot tea with a drop of Thieves, Lemon, and some honey. It's so soothing!

If I'm feeling toasty, I'll put peppermint up and down the spine hourly until I feel better. If you're out of Peppermint, try PanAway. Both are minty and do the trick.

With occasional aches and pains, I would use one drop of Copaiba oil on the ache and then PanAway or Peppermint on top. Minty oils are known to be "sealing" or "driving-in/amplifying" oils, so I do those last if doing oily combos.

I love running the diffuser in the house, especially when we're battling things. In the diffuser, running constantly (especially in bedrooms at night!), I add 4 drops Thieves, 2 drops Frankincense. If it's a puke fest around the house, I add a couple of drops of purification in there to cut the smell and clear the air!

Speaking of occasional tummy troubles, there's an amazing essential oil blend in the kit called DiGize (I've talked about how this oils has been a life-saver for me here). I really can't say enough about this oil! I put 3 or 4 drops in a capsule and fill the rest with fractionated coconut oil. It settles my stomach so much better than anything else I've tried. It's no secret that ginger and fennel are great for this, but I guess I didn't believe it until it worked for me in this way. The capsule trick worked for me. You can also rub DiGize right below the sternum. Beware, you will smell like a fennel festival. I'm not a fan o the smell, so I just go the capsule route or apply at night so only Jamy has to bear it!

I also put a drop of thieves in my mouth, under my tongue from time to time, or even put it on the tooth brushes to sanitize. If it's too spicy for you, try lemon instead! 

I like using the lavender in the kit to promote a more restful nights sleep. Here's my recipe for a simple sheet and pillow spray: in a 4 ounce glass bottle, add a pinch of salt (this helps distribute the oils so that they don't all float to the top. I still shake before each use). Then I add 5-10 drops lavender essential oil and fill the rest with water. Simple, easy, and so restful!

You can always put all these oils on the feet, focusing on the toes and adding pressure. (I pinch the toes for 10 seconds.) Below is a foot map if you're wondering why I do that, but don't worry about location as much as just getting it on your body! Isn't it crazy how God connected our bodies?!

Anyway, I hope that helps you as work through the more unpleasant parts of the fall and winter season. As much as we all do our best to avoid it, sometimes it's an inevitable part of being a human.

Don't have a kit and want to add to your wellness toolbox? Email me for more info or start here to order! Here's a pic of everything that comes with your starter kit along with FREE Christmas Spirit this month! (Think all the smells of Christmas wrapped up in a little bottle to diffuse in your home this season.) $160 for the kit worth over $250. (Merry Christmas to you just a bit early!)

You can find more on @bella.b.oils on instagram and Bella B Oils on Facebook. Follow along for education and tips.

Adoption Story: Justin and Shawnna

Justin and Shawnna knew years ago adoption would be a part of their family...

Early on in our marriage we talked about our desire to have a uniquely beautiful and diverse family through adoption. This desire deepened when we started trying to conceive. Shawnna had a difficult time sustaining a healthy pregnancy, suffering two miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy. We started speaking with adoption agencies in the midst of our loss, but we didn’t have peace about pursuing adoption at that time. We received a clear word from the Lord that we would have a biological child, despite our doctor telling us the only way to prevent another ectopic pregnancy was through in vitro fertilization, which was an option we didn’t feel was right for us. We were finally blessed with our beautiful daughter, Mya, in God’s perfect timing. We are ready to grow our family again and we know in our hearts that adoption is the next step. God has given us the desire to adopt and he’s softened our hearts for domestic adoption, specifically. 

Fast forward when Justin and Shawnna officially began with Christian Adoption Consultants and working to obtain their home study. Last September, in 2015, they were matched with an expectant mother and anticipated bringing home a baby during the holidays. But that day never came after she decided to parent. Shawna shared about their failed adoption... 

I was his mom for a day. And he was my son... Despite all this, we fully believe and trust that God will use this tragedy for good because He works all things for good. Right now it’s hard to see and even believe, but we know it’s the truth. God is always good. And, even through our loss, I also still believe that adoption is beautiful. But it is also bittersweet, messy, and hard. We are trusting God as he writes each page of our family story, and we know one day be complete and beautiful. Until then, Justin and I are taking our time to grieve and find peace as we lean into Him and each other. God has met us in our grief and held us close.

Fast forward to this past September. One year later God wrote the rest of the story...

It was a Wednesday afternoon in mid September and I received a call from an adoption agency in Texas. They needed to know within an hour if we wanted to present our family profile to an expectant mom scheduled to be induced the next day. I quickly called Justin and we reviewed the limited information. There were a few particulars that seemed risky, but when we saw a picture of this expectant mom, we both felt in our hearts to say yes to her and to her baby boy. The next day the agency called back to say the expectant mom chose our family! I was honestly shocked. In just a couple hours our son was born.

The following 48 hours were a blur of activity as we made tentative plans, while praying this was God’s will for our family. We decided to keep this information in a very tight circle of praying friends.  Just two weeks prior to this, we had a very similar situation that failed. We had involved our families and other friends in the planning only to be disappointed again. This time, we decided to keep the details private and pray, pray, pray.

We found out late Saturday night that birth mom had signed consent. We bought plane tickets to fly out early the next morning. We booked our car rental and hotel just hours before we arrived. As soon as we arrived at our hotel, the caseworker brought us our son, Xavier James. I took one look at him and wept, so overwhelmed by the goodness of God.

Xavier’s birth mom was eager to meet us, so after cuddling our sweet boy for a couple hours, we went to see her. She is amazing, and we have an indescribable amount of gratitude towards her. Though we don’t know her well yet, we love her deeply through the incredible bond we share: our son. Her son, our son. We sat side by side on a couch and passed Xavier to each other, while we admired his hair and little squishy face. We talked for a couple hours, and we got to hear about why she chose to make an adoption plan, her hopes for Xavier, and as much as we could fit in during our brief time together. We’ve been keeping in touch and we’re planning to visit her again next year.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, we are also expecting another biological child next Spring. At the beginning of the year I never would have imagined myself laying in bed with a baby on my chest and another one in my belly, with tears streaming down my face, partially due to sheer exhaustion, but mostly due to an overwhelming thankfulness to my Heavenly Father who gives such good good gifts.

Photography thanks to Brooke Collier Photography.

For more on Justin and Shawnna's adoption, you can read their blog, Our Adoption Adventure.