Saturday, October 27, 2012

100 *Likes* Giveaway

We reached 100 *Likes* on our Facebook page and want to celebrate with give-a-way's!!!

The following individuals are the winners of our All That Jazz Beauty Salon giveaway:

  • Diane B.
  • Carissa C.
  • Margarita S.
  • Abby K.
  • Ashley F.
  • Alejandra S.
Please check out All That Jazz's Facebook page and check them out if you ever find yourself in the Clay Center, Kansas area!

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/All-That-Jazz/134915906558065?fref=pb

Congratulations to Aunie M. for winning the $50 gift certificate to Premier Jewelry!

A BIG thank you to Premier Jewelry consultant Heather Keats for donating.  



Friday, October 26, 2012

Dawn's Story

Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend, and Other Mother


This is more of a waiting for other people’s babies story.  I never seriously thought about having children of my own.  I don’t really know why.  I used to say maybe someday I would, but I think God had a plan for me. I feel complete and happy with the road my life has taken.

  Over the years I never once got pregnant and I should have questioned why but never did.  So when I had to have surgery for an ovarian cyst and the Dr. explained that even though he did not expect any problems, he had to ask that if when he was operating and the possibility came up that he would have to remove my ovaries or anything else if it was ok.  I did not even hesitate when I told him whatever he had to do, go ahead and remove whatever needed to be.  I had no plans to have any kids at this stage in my life.

  The cyst turned out to be normal, nothing to worry about, but while he was waiting for the tests to come back from the lab, which was taking longer than normal, he decided to poke around and see if anything else was going on.  That is when he found the cancer on the other ovary.  Needless to say they had to call in the Oncologist and do a complete Hysterectomy and remove anything that the cells could have touched.  I know I had my guardian angel with me that day.  Even he said normally he would have just closed up and didn’t know why he decided to poke around.  If the cancer would not have been found when it was, another month later it would have been a whole different story as it was one of the fastest growing cancers there is.

 I believe my purpose in life has been to help others with their children.  Maybe it’s because I refuse to grow up and think I am still a kid. 

 I come from a big family so there always seem to be little ones around.  I started babysitting as soon as people would let me.  At 14 I was trapped by a blizzard with my cousin who was 12 and her baby brother while her mom went grocery shopping with my parents and did not make it home for a few days.  After high school a friend of mine had a child and asked me to babysit for a few hours and did not return for him for a week.  She kept in contact and kept apologizing that she wasn’t able to care for him and to please take good care of him until she could.  She just needed to figure things out.  Out of concern for the child I did, I had my own apartment so it wasn’t a big deal to me.  I had a roommate so she helped out as well.  It was just the natural thing to do.

  Later on I was able to help family out when they needed it as well.  My brother was left with 2 daughters to care for, a 6 month old and a 2 ½ year old.  He was a young Dad and knew he had to work and needed to care for the kids as well.  I was only a couple years older than him and didn’t even give it a second thought to move in and care for the girls while he was at work, then when he came home I went to work.  We worked very well together.  They were young, so don’t quite remember all the times I would rock them while they were sick, the trips to the Dr, the books that were read to them, and the play time we had together.  They do remember bits and pieces but it is probably more of what they have been told than actual memories.  It wasn’t all fun and games but we did the best we could for them and both have turned out pretty spectacular if I do say so.  We did this for about a year and a half before my brother tried to put his family back together.  This is a time I will cherish forever.  It has been wonderful to see them grow over the years into such beautiful young women that are now making a difference in this world.  I still treasure that special bond with them that was created way back then.

  I was also blessed with the opportunity to become a part of my best friends family and became close with her two sons and watch them grow from small boys to the young adults they are now.  I was able to experience a lot of school functions, class trips, birthday parties and a lot of baseball games.   Over the years we were able to do a lot of traveling together which hold a lot of fond memories.  Even though they are adults themselves now I still think of them as kids.

  I have nieces and nephews that range from their 30’s all the way down to 2 years old.  I have had just about all of them stay overnight at some point in time, sometimes just 1 or sometimes a bunch of them.  I am looking forward to having a group of the younger ones stay like I did with the older ones when they were little.  I promise we won’t watch scary movies though.  I love going to their school functions and just spending time with them.  I am looking forward to seeing them all grow and have children of their own.

  I guess what I am trying to say is that you don’t have to go thru the pregnancy and delivery process to be a very important part of a child's life.  There are all kinds of options out there to make a difference, you just have to choose the option that is right for you.  The option I chose was to borrow and give them back to their parents and have loved every minute of it.  I think they know I will always be there for them no matter what.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Infertility In The News

Came across this lighthearted article about a couple struggling with infertility and where their story is taking them.~Kassandra

http://news.yahoo.com/rare-card-could-help-houston-couple-child-221407844--nfl.html

Rare card could help Houston couple have a child

HOUSTON (AP) — Barry Sanders knows that his trading cards are bought and sold every day.
When the Hall of Fame running back learned that a Houston couple desperate to have a baby was auctioning off one of his most rare cards to fund one last attempt at in vitro fertilization, he was stunned.
Now the former Detroit Lions star is helping spread the word about the sale of the card signed by both he and Walter Payton so Todd and Ula Nelkin can raise $20,000. It's hard for Sanders to imagine one of his cards helping bring a child into the world.
"It would be very, very special," Sanders said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I'm not sure that I even have the words, but it will be very special if I were able to help. Obviously we know there are no guarantees, but I will do as much as I can."
The 1999 Donruss card has a picture of Sanders and his signature on one side and Payton, who died in November 1999, is seen on the other side with his autograph. It is the only one of its kind rated a 10 by the Beckett grading service.
The Nelkins are auctioning it off this week on eBay.
"I would love to keep the card, but I would rather have a kid," Todd said. "It's a wonderful card. You daydream that maybe 30, 40 years from now, our son or daughter will find out where the card is and what happened to it."
The Nelkins are huge sports fans and own a sports memorabilia shop in Houston. The met on an online dating site and had their first date at a Houston Rockets game before being married at another one.
"We're two big kids at heart," Ula said. "Whenever we go to an outing, whether it be a movie or a symphony or a musical we think: 'We just can't wait to bring our little one to this.'"
They've both always wanted kids, but the 45-year-old Todd and the 42-year-old Ula met later in life and when they decided to have children they learned her eggs were no longer viable. They've been trying to have a child for about three years and already spent about $40,000 on IVF with donor eggs, only to have both rounds end in heartbreak.
Ula had to have emergency surgery after the first try resulted in an ectopic pregnancy. On the next round she never became pregnant. They say their credit cards are maxed out, so they started thinking about their next step. The Nelkins, who are also looking into adoption, say they're financially stable but don't have another $20,000 for when the doctor says Ula is ready for the next procedure.
They hope their intention to use the proceeds of the sale of the card to have a baby will make it more valuable.
"That adds something to the legacy of the card," Ula said. "Maybe this card will be known as the baby maker."
The couple, who donned Lions shirts while talking about the auction, couldn't believe it when Sanders reached out to them on Twitter. They've since texted with and spoke to Sanders by telephone.
"That's a scream-in-your-closet type of thing," Todd said of Sanders' offering to help.
Sanders said he has his "fingers crossed" that the Nelkins are able to raise enough money for the procedure and that it's successful this time. Their story touched him because of the joy his children have brought him.
"Part of why I was willing to get involved is because it is a real unique privilege and something that's very important and precious and like nothing else you'll ever do," he said of parenthood. "So the fact that I can maybe lend a small hand to a couple in this way, is a very unique privilege that I don't take lightly. I certainly feel for them. I know how much my kids mean to me, and I know that sometimes couples have problems with that, so I just wanted to do what I could to help them."
Ula gets emotional when talking about the failed IVF attempts, and that prompts Todd to interrupt her to provide encouragement.
"She would be a wonderful mother," he says, patting her hand.
Todd's parents and Ula's mother are all elderly and they hope to give them a grandchild before it's too late.
"This is our last shot," Ula said.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Getting Pregnant~Just A Click Away?

Getting pregnant.  If only it was only as easy as googling, checking out some facts on a website, doing the deed, and waiting nine months for your baby.  Well, for some of us it's not this easy and we struggle and wonder what to even Google!  So, we took the time to find a couple websites for you to check out and find some information that just might help you in your story.

~Waiting for Baby Stories does not promote all of the content found on the following websites. Please take the time to talk with your spouse, doctor, and family, to find the best plan of action for you.~

*http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-to-get-pregnant/PR00103

*http://www.popepaulvi.com/

*http://www.hannah.org/

*http://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/

*http://www.babycenter.com/getting-pregnant

*http://www.americanpregnancy.org/gettingpregnant/

*http://www.impatientwoman.com/index.html

As always, don't sweat the small stuff, enjoy nights out with friends, eat good food, pray, love each other like crazy, and take time to watch the sunset.







Friday, October 19, 2012

Ashley's Story


I was waiting on a baby once....and I have to admit, my story is probably a lot cleaner than some of yours.  We only waited 6 months from the day we stepped foot in our first informational seminar on adoption to the day we signed papers legally making Baby John our son.  Easy!  Sorta...well...not really.  Let me start at the beginning....I always seem to get ahead of myself!
My name is Ashley O'Brien and I am an adoptive momma to one sweet little boy, John.  I began blogging as a personal outlet to my everyday life and it soon became a place for me to go to talk all things adoption.  So here is my story:

I lived a charmed little life: I was young, I was pretty and I was so very happy with my easy going lifestyle. 18 was a good age.  But then, it was the beginning of summer in my 18th year and after a number of doctors visits to diagnose mystery stomach aches, I was told that I had a rare condition that affected only 1 in every 5,000 woman.  Some of the side effects include lacking major organs, including the 2nd kidney a some or all of the uterus.

I was devastated.  Doctors performed surgery after surgery to correct the problems I had & then when those didn't work, they performed surgery after surgery to correct the problems that their previous surgeries created.  I was a hot mess.  For five years, I worked on filling the void that all that had caused.  Void-fillers included drinking, parties, etc...You get the pictures, yes?  I was the "all alone in the crowded room" type-a-girl.  Anyhoots, I turned 23, met a friend who introduced me to Jesus and the rest was simple.  My void sorta filled itself up with Jesus & my inability to cope with who God made me became easier to deal with as I laid my burdens at the foot of the cross.  I was finally okay and then I met Matthew, my husband.  He hadn't even asked me out yet & I spilled the beans on my inability to carry my child and all the skeletons in my closet that I had collected during my earlier 20's.  He accepted me.  In fact he loved me so much he proposed!  Again, I was doing okay, remember?  But then, from our very first night as husband and wife I began to feel guilty that no matter how hard we would ever try, I would never ever be able to carry his child....

Early into the marriage, about a year, we decided to visit an infertility specialist...but that was NOT the route for us.  After a few pokes, a few prods & a doctor speaking to me as if I were a science experiment, I realized I wanted a child made from love not from science and because of my condition that's all I have been to most doctors, so for us, our child made from love would come via adoption.  You can see how we made our decision to adopt by clicking <a href="http://littleobrienfamily.blogspot.com/2011/12/taking-our-first-baby-step.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.

(Actually, you can see everything about our adoption, including special posts &amp; our adoption timeline by clicking <a href="http://littleobrienfamily.blogspot.com/p/our-adoption.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.)

Long story short, my infertility plagued me and adoption didn't cure that.  In fact, adoption forced me to reevaluate myself all over again and sometimes I still feel sad that I won't ever have that special baby bump...and sometimes I get really frustrated that I didn't get pregnant but I still have stretch marks!  Haha, yes, I just admitted that!  Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that having a baby didn't & doesn't fix everything.  But ultimately I did realize it was the family I wanted and not the pregnancy.  

We signed on with two agencies, not both at the same time, but as we navigated our way through the craziness of the adoption world &  became more educated about all things adoption related, we decided to work with an adoption ministry at a local church & an adoption agency with a national network.  Baby John came to us through the national network. 

Our time in Florida adopting John was beautiful & you can check out the details of our whirlwind trip <a href="http://littleobrienfamily.blogspot.com/2012/08/hi-everybody-i-feel-like-its-been.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.  We met the birth mom at the hospital and were able to spend two days getting to know her and loving her and watching her love our son.  She loved him so much.  It was beautiful & it was heart breaking to watch her leave empty handed after 9 months of loving that sweet boy growing strong inside her. If I have learned one thing from our time there, it is that adoption is messy and complicated but still such a blessing!  

I hope you know, yes, YOU, that the wait DOES end.  For us, our wait was a blink of an eye.  For friends I know in the adoption community, the wait is much longer.  For some of the families I've met, their waits are short in between each match & failed adoption.  But even those families?They've brought their little ones home eventually and have been blessed by sleepless nights and stinky diapers.  The point is, everybody's story is different & it's hard. And it's exhausting.  And sometimes you sorta-kinda just wanna go up to a pregnant woman and bonk her in the nose for having it "So Easy."  Is that bad?  Don't tell anyone I felt that way! But guess what, friends?  My son will never ever be able to say we didn't want him. Because, oh boy, did we want him!  We had an uphill battle of finances & agencies & home studies & finances & finances & finances to be able to get our boy & bring him home.  But he's worth it and I'd do it ten times over!
So this is my challenge for you.  Be joyful amidst the trials and uncertain future.  Whatever path is the right one for you...IVF maybe?  Adoption?  Foster care?  Look I to them all!  Tell everybody you know!  The power or prayer is limitless and the more people who know the more people can pray for you!  Your decision is the perfect plan that our Lord will bless if only you remember to look for those blessings!  I wasted so many days crying because baby was in my heart and not yet in my arms.  I challenge you to not waste your time doing the same thing.  Your baby is coming and finding your way to your sweet blessing is an amazing adventure!  God bless your adventures!

Please check out my blog on all things O'Brien and all things adoption!  There are lots of great posts on fundraisers and prayers and my personal moments of struggle and triumph.  Please stop by and say Hi and let me know how I can be praying for you!  Do you have a blog?  Let me know about that, too!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Amber's Story


FIRST, I WANT TO SAY I THINK IT IS NEAT THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE STRUGGLES PEOPLE FACE WITH HAVING CHILDREN.  TO SO MANY PEOPLE, HAVING A CHILD IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY HAVE EVER WANTED TO DO.  FROM THE TIME I CAN REMEMBER I WANTED TO BE A MOM.  I WANTED A BOY AND A GIRL.  THEIR NAMES WOULD OF BEEN DANIELLE AND ELIZABETH.  MY SON WOULD OF LOOKED LIKE HIS DAD AND MY DAUGHTER A SPITTING IMAGE OF ME, POOR GIRL!  BUT, IT WAS NOT IN THE BIG DESIGN GOD HAD FOR ME.  I WOULD FACE HARD TIMES AS A CHILD THAT WOULD PREVENT ME FROM HAVING CHILDREN AND WHEN I WAS PREGNANT, I CHOSE TO STAY IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP THAT COST ME TWINS. 

NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN, I HAVE HAD HARD TIME BEING HAPPY FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT.  WHEN ONE OF MY FRIENDS IS PREGNANT I HAVE A HARD TIME BEING AROUND THEM.  JUST RIGHT NOW ONE OF MY FRIENDS IS EXPECTING AND I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS.  WHEN I SEE A MOTHER WHO DOES NOT TREAT THEIR CHILD RIGHT, IT INFURIATES ME.  I WANT TO GO OVER TO THAT MOTHER AND SLAP THE CRAP OUT OF HER AND MAKE HER REALIZE THE GIFT SHE HAS.  NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN, I CRY SOMETIMES.  I ASK OUT LOUD WHY, I QUESTION GOD ALL THE TIME.  

I AM GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE MORE INTIMATE DETAILS OF THE PAIN I FEEL WHEN I KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER HAVE A CHILD OF MY OWN.  I HAVE THOUGHT WHAT KIND OF LEGACY CAN I LEAVE NOW WHEN I LEAVE THIS EARTH.  WHY NOT ME!  WHAT MAKES THE WOMEN WHOSE PREGNANT SO SPECIAL?  WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS!  THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT HAUNT ME SOMETIMES!  

BUT, AND I AM SO GLAD THEIR IS A BUT, I REMEMBER THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME A CHANCE TO BE A MOTHER FIGURE TO OTHER CHILDREN IN THIS WORLD WHO NEED SOMEONE TO CARE ABOUT THEM.  A MOTHER WHO LOVES THEM THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE.  I AM THE AUNT FIGURE WHO CAN SPOIL THEM AND THEN SEND THEM HOME.  SO, NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN IS HARD, IT IS DISAPPOINTING, IT IS UNFAIR.  BUT, I ALSO KNOW GOD HAS A PLAN THAT I CAN'T SEE AND HE SHOWS ME A LITTLE BIT EACH TIME I CAN BE A "MOTHER" TO A CHILD WHO HE HAS PUT IN MY LIFE.


Saturday, October 6, 2012

Waiting For Baby~Nick's Story~Part 2

Newly married, time had gone by and still no sight of children. I went through many medical tests only to result in more questions and speculations.  See, my wife's waiting for baby story is a little different from most wives.  The problem does not lie within her, but me.  The doc says she is perfectly healthy and could have a baby any day.  I on the other hand, have to come to the speculation that when I had my surgery for the removal of the pheo tumor, that perhaps scar tissue has deadend some nerves, not allowing the final "product" to happen. Basically, everything happens for me in the sex department, except that nothing comes out.  I have had many test to see if it was retro ejaculation, test to see if there were clogs in the "plumbing," and all have left me with no indication that anything is wrong.  The only thing to really come out of these test, is more complications.

For example, I had a testicular biopsy done a few years ago.  It was supposed to be an in and out and back to work the next day kind of thing.  Instead, my testicle swelled to the size of a Mr. Potato Head and ended up being off work for an entire month.  Because of this incident, I decided to take a hiatus from the medical world , not letting anyone touch, poke, or prod anything remotely associated with that part of my body.  Kassie was very understanding in giving me space to just let things be during this time.  No tests, no docs, no drugs, just her and I.
Four years later it was about the time of our 7th anniversary, I started coming back around to the idea of the world of doctors.  All roads kept pointing towards invitrofertalization if Kassie and I were going to have a child between the two of us.  So, one Sunday morning I was laying in bed and around 4ish in the morning, I started thinking that I needed to start getting things lined up for invitro.  Start opening the doors of communication again and move us forward in this process.  I hadn't told Kassie any of what I was thinking as we got up and headed to church.  We get to church, do the praise and worship thing, and then settle in for the pastors message. 

He begins talking about the story of Abraham and Sarah. Just hearing those two name right out of the gate has me thinking, "Ok God, you got my attention, what do you want to say to me?"  The pastor goes on to to preach about waiting on God and doing things "God's Way."  See, Abraham and Sarah couldn't have children, but God had promised them a son.  They were both old and past their child-baring years.  So Sarah, who was considered barren, gave Abraham Hagar-her maidservant-to have a child with.  This was a common day practice back then.  If the woman couldn't have a child, she provided a maidservant to get the job done.  Abraham ended up having a son through Hagar named Ishmael.  But, God reminded Abraham that this was not the son of the promise and that he WOULD have a child through Sarah.  Today, the descendants of Issac and Ishmael still fight over the birthright and cause much strife in the world.  The moral of the story was to wait ....on God's time to do it HIS way.  Walking away from that message that morning combined with the thoughts earlier, I felt God saying to wait on Him and trust that He would do what needs to be done in His time.

This is a very difficult position to stand on as the husband of the house.  It is difficult to watch the woman you love, who is destined to be a mother pour out her love to little ones around, but have none to call her own.  It is difficult as a man to have no control of fixing the problem and leave things in God's hand.  But, this is the stance I must take.  That God is in control, that again-Romans 8:28-will prevail.  Though I may not know what good is in store, I must have faith to stand not just for Kassie and I, but for all who are experiencing the trials in growing their family.

So, here we are, waiting, writing, praying, persevering in faith, and trying to encourage all that we encounter that THERE IS HOPE.  The world is full of hurting people going through trials and struggles in bearing children.  I can only hope that through faith in in Christ and the story He is weaving in our lives, will bring healing to the broken and hope to the hurting.  You are not alone and perhaps together, through this blog we will witness the wonders of Gods power and healing hand as we all, wait for our babies.


Friday, October 5, 2012

Waiting for Baby~Nick's Story~Part 1


Hi, I'm Nick and this is MY Waiting For Baby Story

This is a little harder for me to write as I am used to writing stories with analogies and BIG epiphanies that lead to some sort of profound ending, revealing conclusions to some moral dilemma.  With this story however, I am not sure I could tell you where I am going or even why I'm headed in the direction I am. So please, bare with me as all I can do is share what I have been through, seen, felt, and hope that someday you and I will come to a place of knowing a happy ending and the meaning behind it all.


My story starts a little something like this....I met my wife-Kassie-in high school. I was going through some serious medical issues and I believed that the only reason she hung out with me is because she felt bad for this six foot tall 120 pound soaking wet peer who when standing next to a white wall, would disappear due to the paleness of my skin.  None the less, I did not shy away from the pity, but embraced the attention of a the brown-eyed curvy brunette.  Through much persistence, I finally got her to agree to a date with me. 

It just so happened that the morning of our first date, I was supposed to have a colonoscopy done.  I was told it was "no big deal"  and that I could go back to school after I was done. This "no big deal of a procedure ended up landing me in the hospital. Once I awoke from delirium, I turned to my mother in a panic and asked her to call Kassie.  "Kassie who?!?" I informed my mother that we were supposed to hang out that night and could she please tell her why I was unable.  great introduction for my mom and Kassie huh?  Anyway, I was in the hospital for two weeks and not being a complete social recluse, I had a couple of friends who would stop by and make fun and draw awkward pictures of the reasons that landed me in the hospital. You know, things like aliens and probes and my derriere.  I look back now and realize it was just 16 year old boys dealing with such awkward circumstances. 

Anyhow, one afternoon a few of the guys came to visit and we moved to the family room for more room while my dad stayed back with the heart monitors and other hospital rigmarole. after a few minutes within the family room, in walked Kassie.  A few seconds later my winded, overly concerned father burst into the room with, "Nick, what's wrong?" this question was followed by crickets as the room just stared at my dad.  He, feeling that justification was needed for his actions, quickly started explaining how he was sitting in the room with my heart monitor and it started going off the charts.  About mid-thought, he scanned the room and realized that there was a brunette that was not normally amongst the group.  Realizing that it was not a medical condition, but natures response to a pretty girl, he sheepishly turned red and left the room laughing.  I turned red, Kassie turned red, and the boys just laughed.

From that day on Kassie and I were like "peas and carrots," well sort of.  I got out of the hospital and resumed a life of multiple medical test that finally revealed a tumor. It's official name-Pheochromoytoma. About eight-hundred people a year are diagnosed with this type of tumor, but are in later stages in their life. I was sort of anomaly.  It took four years for the doctors to find this and during that time, I was reminded of Romans 8:28-"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I wasn't sure what good would come of this, but had to believe Gods plan would unfold.  Kassie stuck by my side through many hospital stays and surgeries.  Some speculated that this was way to intense for a 17 year old girl to be going through in a relationship and that she should go her separate way. To live life care free and with no worries of health and hospitals, but she didn't.  She persevered, we persevered, and by 17 & 18, we had formed a strong bond. I knew this was the woman I was going to spend the rest of my days with.

Time went on, we discussed what we wanted in life.  We both wanted to get married young, have kids early-me nine and her 4 but those were only details that could be worked out when the time came.  We both agreed we wanted to be done having children by 30.  I was a senior now and Kass had graduated a year early. And then, one September morning, I was sitting in a current events class when the librarian pulled in a TV cart  the screen was live with billowing smoke from one skyscraper and a commercial airline colliding into the second tower.  Together with my classmates I watched as the towers collapsed and hundreds died.  I couldn't help but think of Kassie at that moment and wondered where was she? Was she OK? How was she feeling about the state she'd fallen in love with as a girl? This "event" in history was a catalyst to our marrying so young.  Both in love, not being able to stand the thought of living life without the other, and not dying as virgins had me thinking of making plans to propose.

I bought a ring that wasn't much, but it was bought with all I had.  It wasn't a diamond, but amethyst. Dark purple-Kassie's favorite color.  This was something I always liked about Kassie. She's real. She doesn't need what the other girls have to feel secure about herself. Plus, she had been home schooled and had the opportunity to work in Haiti at the age of 16, walking away with a perspective about life that was rather uncommon to find amongst young teenage females.  She had an outlook that said fancy things really didn't matter when there are starving kids half way across the world.  She is deep, has a firm foundation, and is passionate about what she does.  I knew I would not find a stronger partner to experience life with.`

Knowing that Kassie was very much a lover of theatre, I decided to sing to her at a music and drama camp she was helping out at. Now, I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but I knew that she would appreciate the moment. So, I arranged for the leader of the camp to play the piano while I sang, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Tony Bennett. At the end of the talent show I crept out on stage and started singing. I walked out to the audience and grabbed Kassie by the hand to lead her to a solo chair in the middle of the stage.  By now, the kids were screaming with excitement and I'm pretty sure it really didn't matter what I was singing at that point.  Towards the end of the song, I dropped on one knee and the room erupted with the shrill of teenage girls. Kassie was bawling and I asked her to "make me the happiest man and be my wife."  She said, "Yes" and thus began a year long engagement.

We spent the year in pre-marriage counseling and meeting God in every way through the preparations and plans of the wedding.  Eventually, the time came and we were man and wife.  We moved into a VERY small apartment and two months later moved out and into her grandmothers house after the death of her grandfather.  Time went by and there was no sight of children....


....stay tuned for part two of MY Baby Story.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Happy Chuseok-Korean Thanksgiving Day!

To all of our Korean Readers and Families with Korean children, Happy Chuseok!

Chuseok (추석) is by far the biggest and most important holiday in Korea. It is a time when family members from near and far come together to share food and stories and to give thanks to their ancestors for the abundant harvest.
Here are a few links for more information about Chuseok.

*Information site: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650

*Asia Kids Society: http://kids.asiasociety.org/explore/harvest-festival-korea-chuseok

*Adorable footage of a children's school playing a game for Chuseok.  Notice their traditional clothing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UmjhS3Qdyo&feature=related

*Art and Craft Ideas For Chuseok: http://www.theholidayzone.com/chuseok/art.html

*Korean Folk Museum-Chuseok Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHalGu2cRRY


Check out Little Seouls http://www.littleseouls.com/ for all your Korean cultural and educational needs.  
They even have a 10% coupon in honor of Chuseok!