Adoption and Foster Care Through DCFS

Take a leap of faith.  Cast your nets wide.  Those are our two mottos when it comes to adoption.  We are still working with LDS Family Services, and attend and training class at their office once a month.

In an effort to keep all of our options open, we are also signing up with the Nevada DCFS. 

Tonight was our first class.  An introduction and overview of how things work.  Since we have 10  more three hour classes to take that Jasper can't come to, we decided to bring him tonight.  He was an angel.  He brought a book bag of Highlights Puzzle & Maze books and a Lego magazine.  He sat right up at the big table with all the adults.  The room was full, and as a white couple, I was definitely feeling like a minority.

We have 100% involved Jasper in the adoption process.  We told him that we are looking for a baby or kids who need a home and want to be a part of our family.  Tonight he said, "Do they need a mom?"  And I replied, "Yes, and a brother and a daddy too." 

Mike had to leave after class for Bishopric meeting.  Jasper and I stayed to look at the book of kids waiting for a home.  Listed are their photo, name, and a little bit about them.  Jasper LOVED going through each page as we tried to pronounce everyone's name correctly.  I would read him a little about each kid and he would say, "They like pizza.  I like pizza.  They like soccer.  I like soccer. They like to swim.  I like to swim.  Their name starts with w J.  My name starts with a J."  It was really cute to see him looking for things he had in common with each kid.

When we were done he said something that really surprised me.  And he said it loud enough that the case workers could hear.  "Mom, I don't really want to have two kids join our family."  Great, I thought to myself.  No points for us.  Then he said, just as loudly, "Mom, I want A LOT of kids.  Not just 2, how about 6."  A little ambitious.  :)
 
We just want to adopt, but we are trying to be open to foster care and foster-to-adopt.  My heart is already broken over not being able to have any more kids, and I'm not sure that I can take the additional heart break of having kids in our home, getting attached to them, and then having them leave.  I think if we were already happy with the number of kids in our family I could do it.  But since we still want more kids, I think it would be really hard.

Here's the low down:
1.  Pass background check that we applied for tonight -- takes 1 week.
2.  Get finger printed ($55 each) and clear that check -- 2 to 4 weeks.
3.  Get assigned a case worker and get assigned a class schedule.  10 consecutive weeks for classes from 6-9 PM once a week.  And yes, class is at least 30 minutes away.  So we're talking 10 weeks of needing someone to watch Jasper at a fairly inconvenient time: 5:30-9:30 PM.
4. Start our home study and get to know our case worker at class each week.

Here we go!

Family Scripture Study These Days

We read scriptures as a family together every day.

Usually at night.  If we have a particularly busy day, we might read in our car.  If we are out on a hike, then sometimes we read on the trail during a lunch break.  If Mike is out of town for business, or Jasper and I are out on an adventure, we video chat or just read together on speaker phone.

No matter what, we read every single day.

Our incentive to Jasper for happily showing up for scripture study the first time he's asked and for sitting reverently is that he gets to read.  He LOVES it when it's his turn to read.  Of course since he can't read yet, that means I read 3 or 4 words at a time and he repeats them.  Yes, it's a lengthy process.

I remember last October when Jasper and I stayed at a condo on the beach with some friends.  At night during their family scripture study he was always begging to read every verse.  It definitely is one of his love languages.

In the last few weeks we have watched our friends four kids as part of a babysitting swap.  We usually just have Jasper for scripture study, so adding four other kids, ages 8 and under, is a little more difficult.

Each of the kids sit down with scriptures in their lap turned to the correct page. The first time we had all five kids only read five verses, and the next time read nine verses.  These experiences made me really respect my friends who have more than one child and persevere with family scripture study.

Tonight we read in the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma, Chapter 14.

We spend A LOT of time explaining vocabulary words.  Here's a small sample from just 15 verses.

Chief Judge = The Big Boss
Smote on the cheek = Punched in the face
Bound with strong cords = Tied up really tight
Loosed their bands = Busted free
Began to flee = Run like crazy
Cast into prison = Sent to jail
Answered him nothing = Didn't say a word.

My favorite from tonight was every time we would read 'Chief Judge' Jasper would chime in and say "The Big Boss."  We don't get very far along in the chapter stopping to explain everything.  We do have a good time and I feel good knowing that Jasper understands what we are reading.

Double Date Dinner ---- With Kids!

 We are so happy that Captain Fortier is home from his recent deployment.  Not as happy as his 10 month old baby girl Raynee.

The entire Foriter family met us for dinner tonight at Claim Jumper in Green Valley.  It's the first time we've seen Jeremy, even though he's been back since Feb. 3rd.

We are proud of Jeremy Jasper was thrilled to share some ribs with Mike. He also was quite concerned  about Raynee.

He always checked on her and worried if she needed a bite or a drink or anything. 

Jasper is so anxious to be a big brother.  Hopefully we will be able to adopt soon and he can have a brother or sister to look out for.

  

(Photo of the Fortier Family at Jeremy's Homecoming, Feb. 3, 2012)

Jasper LOVES Raynee and is always concerned if she's not happy or needs anything.

Library Books --Lost and Finally Found!

Jasper is only four, and I'm pretty sure that the amount of money we've paid to the Henderson Library System in fines and lost/damaged books has fully funded the new Gibson Library!

When I found Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile tonight I shouted for joy.  It's $16.95 to replace this book that has been checked out long enough for the library to declare it "missing." 

I am afraid that the fines are going to be as much as the price of the book.  Maybe we should keep it, but I don't even really like this book much.  Jasper picked it out.  Because it has a crocodile on the front.  Of course.

Do you have a great system for not losing library books and avoiding late fees?

My trick that works most of the time is to keep renewing the items online until we can find them.  :)

YOU MAKE MY HEART HAPPY - Valentine's Day 2012

Sending some love and sunshine your way.

My friend Heather made these cute Valentine's for Jasper.   If you think this print is cute you can get it here.http://www.simplyfreshdesigns.com/2012/02/valentines-special/

Heather also made Jasper's Valentine last year.

Here's some love from 2010, 

and Happy Valentine's Day from 2009.

 Here's hoping your day is filled with lots of love!

Happy Valentine's Day to My Sweetheart

Happy Valentine's Day to my sweetheart, Mike.  This May is our 11 year wedding anniversary.
I'm not sure why he puts up with me, but I'm glad he does.  I sure love him!

This is kind of a silly photo.  It was so windy that my veil kept blowing everywhere during our pictures.

I remember that I was mad at Mike for leaving his contacts in Oklahoma.  He had to wear his nerdy glasses.  I told him to just take his glasses off.  If you know Mike, you know that he is blind without his glasses.  He refused to remove them because he wanted to be able to see.

I have to laugh at myself that I was so concerned with Mike looking nerdy in our wedding photos.

Our photographer was Kelly at Gallery Photography, who I highly recommend.

Pirate Island Chicken Salad - RECIPE

Last time we were at Disneyland we crashed my friend Stephanie Warner Bacon's party with her sisters.  Steph lives in Anchorage and I haven't seen her since my baby shower for Jasper in July 2007.  Too long.  Way too long.

Steph brought a yummy chicken salad for lunch.  Adults ate and the kids happily explored Tom Sawyer's Island, which Jasper calls "Pirate Island."

Because of the location for lunch, I have taken the liberty to rename Janna Harkey's Bostonian Chicken Salad. 

Pirate Island Chicken Salad 
by Janna Harkey


1 box Uncle Ben’s long grain and wild rice recipe—cook as directed on box (my husband can't eat rice, so I use min bow tie pasta)
3 chicken breasts, shredded
juice of one lemon
1 bunch green onion, chopped
1 fresh red bell pepper, chopped (I use whatever color pepper I have -- and usually add 2 or 3)
3 oz. resh Chinese or Snow pea pods, cut into thirds (I add in the whole 8 oz bag)
2 med. avocados, diced (still tastes good without avocados)
1 c. chopped pecans (still tastes good without pecans)

Dressing:
2 cloves garlic
1/3 c. seasoned rice vinegar
1 T. dijon mustard
½  t. salt
¼ t. pepper
¼ t. sugar
1/3 c. oil

Combine all salad ingredients.  Blend dressing ingredients and pour over salad.  Serve in pita or croissant.   Best if salad made 2 hrs. before.  ENJOY!

*Everyone who I have shared this recipe with LOVES it.

 (Jasper and Stephanie's son Warner on Pirate Island)

Cute Valentine Printable

I love my creative friends.

Late last night I emailed my friend Heather (Price) Smith the tagline "You Make My Heart Happy" that I want to use for Jasper's Valentine cards this year, and first thing this morning I get these cute prints in my inbox!  LOVE THEM!

Heather is offering this print in 10 different color combinations and 2 sizes for $2.00 in her Etsy shop.  Plus a 10% off coupon for other prints she carries.  (Scroll to the bottom of her post for the coupon, which is good until Valentine's Day.)

Heather has 5 young kids (including a baby) and serves as Relief Society President in her ward.  She also is a meal planning guru and one of the nicest gals you will ever meet. Here's a link to her free meal planning sheet and a link to the 4 week meal planning sheet too.  She is one talented lady and is also one who shares her talents freely with others.

Heather and I served as Academy for Girls counselors together back in 1997 and I am smart enough to have held on tight to her as a friend.  She is a real inspiration for me.  She always has great quotes and uplifting thoughts on her personal blog.  And has oodles of free printables on her Simply Fresh Designs blog.

Heather makes my heart happy!

Love is in the Air

"When is it going to be time for the holiday where we make people love notes and tell them how special they are?"

Jasper has been asking me this question since we started working on our Halloween costumes last year.  Five months.  Five months he's been waiting for Valentine's Day to arrive.

Needless to say, he's a little excited for this holiday.