8 years ago today...This wonderfully goofy man asked me to be his wife!! What a lucky girl I am. The picture above speaks volumes. We are never bored. We have adventures that are usually messy and loads of fun!! WOW!!! What a long way we have come in eight years. I am sure you all look back and think of how naive you were about one another when you got together. It is a good thing huh? I don't know if Mark would have ever asked me to be his forever if he knew the REAL me...but I guess that can go both ways huh?

But we are so much better people having grown together through some of the best and worst times of our lives. The last eight years...

One MAJOR family drama (and several little ones)
One wedding
One cross country move (for me)
One NASTY apartment that was wonderful because is was OURS!!
A few jobs
A few cars/trucks
Three travel trailers (we still have one)
Four 4-wheelers (we still have 2)
One house bought and sold
One house built and for sale
Finding out that having babies was not something we could do ourselves
Finding faith to follow the Lords Plan
Tyce finding us through his AMAZING birth parents
Being parents now for nearly 2 years (the best and hardest years of our lives)

And above all else...

Working through it all together!!

Yes, I am a lucky woman and I have never regretted for one minute that I said YES! I love you Mark...more than anything on this earth. Thank you for making me happy...for making my dreams come true. You are my best friend and the best father I could have ever asked for for our son. Here is to MANY more years as your wife! May our life together be long...and if not...we have ETERNITY!!

Sometimes...All You Need Is A Good Movie To Humble Yourself!

So...I just got done watching a movie called "States of Grace". It is an LDS film that shows the human side of members, converts, missionaries, etc. It is a movie that will humble you and make you so grateful for the Atonement that your heart will ache. I cannot begin to tell you how inspiring this movie is. It teaches not to judge. It teaches the true love that Christ and Heavenly Father have for us. No matter what we do...he loves us the same now as if we were still babies. He hurts when we hurt. He DIED for us...so that our sins may be forgiven. How grateful I am for that. Without that...Mark and myself would never return to live with Him in the next life. We try to be faithful and we try to be obedient but we are not Gods...we are human and we make mistakes...sometimes, horrible mistakes.

I encourage you all to rent or buy this movie. It is one that I intend to add to my video library. It is a movie that I want my kids to watch when they are teenagers. I want them to know that the Lord will always love them and always forgive them if they just ask it. My heart is full tonight as I go to bed. Because I know that regardless of the mistakes we make. If we truly and fully repent...we will live with Him again.

Powerful movie. It is entirely possible that I just related to this movie because a lot of the things in it remind me of different parts of my life that I am not proud of. People in my family who have also sinned as I have sinned and how much I have worried about them and their eternal salvation. It reminded me that they can be forgiven as much as I can be forgiven...and we can all have eternal progression with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful for the Gospel in my life. Times like this remind me of how lonley I was before I accepted what I now know. I am blessed. That is really all there is to it and I need to be reminded every so often. It is good for me.

Sleep well my loves...I will!

This sums it up perfectly!

I stole this from another blog...It sums up EXACTLY how I feel about Mark and Tyce! Both I love more than my own life...And both bring all the love I feel into my life! I love you Mark and Tyce! Thank you for being mine!

Before we met, I wanted you …

Before I found you, I loved you …

Before I touched your face, I would die for you …

This is the miracle of love.

Okay...I think I need to loose a few pounds!

So, today I blew up a couple balloons for Tyce! He loves them! Anyway...Mark thought it would be funny to put two in his shirt for boobs and one for a big belly! Well, of course Tyce had to try too. All fun and games right? WRONG!!

A couple hours later, I was laying on the couch and Tyce was sitting on me. He then pulled up my shirt and proceeded to squeeze my tummy and said "BALLOON"!! Then he did the same to my boobs!! OH NO!! I was laughing HYSTERICALLY and so of course, Tyce was too!!

Mark of course got a kick out of this story and I resolved myself to dust off my running shoes...and FAST!!!

Children will always tell you the truth...you don't even have to ask!

"A nation will raise no higher than the strength of it's families" President Hinckley

About a week and a half ago...Mark and I had an Ah...Ha moment. We have been living two seperate lives. It was a scary and humbling realization. We have not been having any problems, fights, etc. but we just realized that we really have lost touch with each other. Again...SCARY! We both knew that with Mark's business and Tyce coming into our family (all within a couple months of each other) that we would have to pay attention and actually make an effort to stay connected within our marriage. A new business and baby is a lot all at once. Eventually, we just went day to day with the occasional outing, camping trip, etc. But for the most part...Mark went to work and ran the business and I began raising our son. So, on my way to work last Wednesday, I decided that it was high time Mark and I got away!! In 7 1/2 years of marriage (not including our wedding night and stops in Boise on the way to WA) we have never gone away to a bed and breakfast or some fun vacation together. And even moreso...we have NEVER left Tyce overnight to go somewhere just the two of us. Tyce is now 20 months old...this getaway is LONG overdue!!

So, I called Mark while I was at work and said..."Can I have your undivided attention from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon?" He says..."Sure...will this be the three of us?" I say "Nope...just you and me. I promise to make it worth your while"!! So, he is now totally on board!! LOL!! So, Friday afternoon, Mark and I dropped Tyce off with Grama and Papa for a sleepover!!! I took Mark up Ogden Canyon to the Oaks. This is an enchanting resturaunt with outdoor wood picnic tables and benches under canopys of fabric and trees...right on the Ogden River. Humming birds were flying around getting their treats out of the hummingbird feeders and the food was yummy!!

After dinner...we went down the canyon just a tad and checked into the Alaskan Inn...a cute and cozy bed and breakfast with wonderfully huge breakfast options!! The room was themed as a mine with real wood beams and a large two person jetted tub...complete with sparkling cider and cookies. We had a wonderful evening "reconnecting"! LOL!! I will spare the details!

The next morning, we checked out and spent the day "dating"! We went to the new Solomon Center in Ogden and spent the afternoon wasting money at the Arcade and playing miniature golf...Galactic!! My toe nails even had blacklight polish on! LOL!! That was fun! We played skeeball and deal or no deal and when all was said and done...we had lots of new little treasures from the prize counter to take home to Tyce!!

We then went out to lunch because Tyce had already gone down for his nap. So, Mark and I took advantage of just a little more time to "date". We went to Bajio (Yum)!! When we finally got to Mark's parents to pick up Tyce...we were exhausted. Tyce was still sleeping so we curled up on the couch and took a nap too! When Tyce woke up we were back to the real world...a place that we love more than life itself! We missed our little boy horribly but have decided that he needs a "connected" mommy and daddy more than anything in his life and so...Tyce will be having sleepovers with Grama and Papa a few times a year so mommy and daddy can "date" and strengthen their marriage!! That is the foundation of a strong family! I love the quote from President Hinckley that is in my home..."A nation will raise no higher than the strength of it's families" and I truly take that to heart!

So, this weekend...I spent an amazing weekend with the love of my life. Words cannot describe how much I love my husband...but I can say with certainty that I love him much, much, much, much more today than the day I married him. That is a very good thing!! I cherish my family and I pray for more to be added to it in the coming months/years!

Hug your families and remember the importance of a STRONG marriage! Take time for yourselves...your kids will survive the temporary neglect and won't even notice if they are being neglected to gramma and papa's house!

Which Villan Are You?

This is fun...post me a comment and let me know which villan you are!!

Your results:
You are Catwoman

Catwoman 50% Riddler 48% Apocalypse 47% Mystique 44% Lex Luthor 40% The Joker 39% Magneto 39% Poison Ivy 39% Dark Phoenix 34% Juggernaut 32% Dr. Doom 32% Kingpin 27% Venom 24% Mr. Freeze 22% Green Goblin 16% Two-Face 12%

With a troubled past and an upbringing on the streets you have learned how to fend for yourself through crime.

Click here to take the Super Villain Personality Test

The potty is a scary thing!!

So…I think potty training is not too far off in the future!! I can’t believe it. I am NOT ready. I know Tyce is getting bigger and he is getting de-babytized but Potty Training? Emotionally, I am just not ready to accept that he is not my “baby” anymore.

He has been interested for quite some time about OUR happenings in the bathroom but lately he has been telling us when he is “pee pee” or “poopy”. But at church on Sunday…he patted his bum and said “poo poo”, so we checked him and nothing…not FIVE minutes later, he was poopy. I couldn’t believe it…he actually told us when he needed to go. He is understanding the sensations. Last week we put him on the toilet and he freaked. It is a big hole to a little bum after all, so I guess we will be getting a toddler toilet seat VERY soon. He was just so lazy with sitting up, crawling, walking, etc. that I really didn’t expect him to be interested in this yet. Such a smart boy!

We are having so much fun lately. Tyce is such a good boy. He expresses himself, acts like a child (gets dirty, makes messes)…all the things that I have looked forward to but at the same time, he is so obedient. I never expected a child of his age to be this obedient. He responds so well to time-outs and only receives a few a week. He stays in the chair the whole time out…even if I leave the room (can you believe it?)

Last night was another first…an amazing first. The only thing is that I regret that Mark wasn’t there. He was at Elder’s Quorum (good reason I guess). Until it hit me last night, I didn’t think Tyce was old enough to help or understand a prayer. So we knelt at his bed and clasped our hands together. I started saying a couple words at a time and he repeated (more the sound than the actual word) but I just know that that short little prayer meant more to our Heavenly Father than any heartfelt prayer I have ever uttered. It was an amazing experience between my little miracle and myself.

This will now be an every night occurrence in our home. Tyce is old enough now (excuse me while I wipe my tears) that he can now learn how to pray. It is precious to actually have him take part in it. There have been many prayers said “around” him in his little life…but not with him being an active prayer in our home. Oh, it was a proud moment for me!

I have more to say but I will save it for another time. We are having some challenges but I would much rather focus on the positive right now. That is what will get me through the day!

Love you all!! Please post comments of any kind…let me know you are there. And any potty training advice would be great!

Advice please!

I feel like I want to blog but to be honest...I really don't know what to write. My mind is just a jumble of things right now and I think that I really need advice...so please feel free to post a comment and give me some...seriously!

My first dilema...the girl that I wrote about in my last blog post, as I said...she is a student at a local beauty college. Before I went to the Enrichment night, the president of my MOMS club asked me to find out about having the students come do a MOMS night out for us. I would love to do that and host it at my house but will this girl think that I am "stalking her", and I really don't want her to feel that way. So what do I do? Have the MOMS night out at another house and not go myself? That is kind of crazy don't you think? What do I have to loose? She could see where we live, etc. It could be a really good thing! What do you all think?

My second issue is my poor little Tyce and his skin problems. I am trying to find a good dermatologist for him. His eczema is just not really getting any better and depending on what we are doing...it is getting worse. The other day, we took him to the pool and the chemicals in the pool dried out his skin so much that when I gave him a bath, the soap burned him and he screamed...I about died I felt so bad and then lotion did the same but I had to get that stuff off his skin. I don't want that to happen ever again. Next time, I will try washing him really good at the pool before we leave and if that still causes problems then I am afraid that the public pools are just too much for his skin. So I will keep you all updated on what the dermatologist says.

I have much more but I have to get some stuff done before I leave work today...so, I'll write more later! Any advice?

The Craziness Begins!!

An interesting thing happened the other day! I try to not look too deeply into it and I "try" to not get my hopes up but let's face it...this is what I do best! I am an optimist, sorry, I just can't help it! To me, this just seems like a little more than coincidence?!

I have recently received a new calling as a member of the Enrichment Committee at church and we had an activity last week...the "Flip Flop Fling". Catchy huh?!! Our activity was to have the girls from the local beauty college come and give manicures and pedicures to us. It was a fabulous time and as I was having my nails done, one of the other students was talking about her being 6 months pregnant and not making a big to do about it because the "circumstances were not good". Her words. She never mentioned adoption but I felt prompted to say something to lead into a conversation about adoption.

I made a comment about how McKelle (Tyce's birth mom) had expressed to me at times about not telling people about her pregnancy, etc. This girl then asked more about Tyce's adoption, etc. She then told me that she was in the process of choosing a family for her unborn baby. I asked her which agency she was going through in her search and it is the Ogden LDS Family Services...same as us. She has only been once so far but I told her we were going through them again and would be approved in August (she is due October 9th). She says..."well, maybe I should get your profile then!" I say, "Maybe you should!"

So there it is. I gave her our information, names, e-mail, case worker's name, etc. It has been a few days and we haven't heard anything but she is still in the early stages of looking at families. Who knows, maybe we don't fit what she wants for her baby? Maybe she isn't the one? But I realized something...I really need to get things in order. Last time, I had pass along cards with a picture and our information on me at all times and I didn't have that this time. The Lord is telling me to be prepared and I had better listen!

So, please...for those of you who pray...pray for us to find our baby soon. We so want Tyce to have a sibling close to his age, especially if the number of children in our family will be 2. I am still working on more than that...but right now I am just focused on making Mark comfortable with another mouth to feed and take to the doctor! LOL!! He worries but he is such a good provider! Pray for this girl who I believe is called Megan. She seemed sweet but I didn't want to push too hard and scare her away. I would have brought her home had she given me the opening so I have to keep myself in check!

Good night all my loves! Until next time...I have much more to update later!

Camping Or Bust!!!

Okay, lets catch up on what has been going on this last week! Well, after the Dunes we were thinking that we would stay home for Memorial Day but on Friday, I woke up and thought… “I really want to go camping” and so halfway through the day Mark called me and said “So, how bad to you really NOT want to go camping” and I just laughed and told him that I was packed and ready to go. So he came home early and off we went!

We went to the Uinta Mountains…Marsh/Bridger Lake area with Jill & Josh and Josh’s family! It was a fun time. There were lots of kids there so Tyce wasn’t bored. At Wal-Mart last week, I found these large size plastic safari animals and dinosaurs for only $.88 a piece! I got a ton! And the kids had so much fun playing with those in the dirt! Tyce got really dirty but had a blast. It wasn’t even too cold like it usually is up there! But it is funny that just the weekend before we were cooking our clothes right off at the Dunes and now we were in 3 layers. Crazy stuff but one thing I love about Utah!

Mark, Tyce and I went fishing and Tyce got to touch his first fish…but really he was more interested in throwing rocks in the water and trying to get IN the water…which had an immediate drop off. No thanks…I’ll hold on to you! Luckily, he didn’t fight me too much!

When we got home, again, I had like 9 loads of laundry to do. Ah, the days of a domestic goddess! Oh yea, want to hear something gross? When Tyce was having his bath after we got home, he pooped in the water and then picked it up and threw it out of the tub. YUCK!! Needless to say…we had to empty the bath, sanitize the tub and start all over again. Nasty! At least I got out of having to change a dirty diaper huh? I am not quite sure what is worse though!

On a much more serious note, I ask that you please pray for my Grandma Lenk. She had to have surgery last night because she fell and shattered one of her lower legs. She will be wheelchair bound for 2 months so after my Aunt leaves…Tyce and I are flying to WA to spend a week taking care of Grandma…the middle of June. My grandma is strong and will make a full recovery (I hope and pray) so hopefully she can reschedule the trip she was leaving on in 2 weeks. Her and her friend Arlene were heading to Africa. They are so upset that the trip is not going to happen…but hopefully it can next summer! Luckily Grandma bought insurance so she will get her money back, but still. I may consider driving if any of you Tri-Town girls want to go on a road trip in a couple weeks? Lindsay...Lacie?

On to better news…We did it!!! We sent in our application for our next adoption. So the ball is rolling! Next, our bishop will send his letter of recommendation and 4 of our friends/family will get their recommendation letters/questionnaires in the mail to fill out and send in. Then we will have an intake interview and then sign up for the next classes, which are in July! I am so ready to start again and hopefully Tyce and the next baby will be close in age! We are already talking to Tyce about it but obviously he just doesn’t care much! LOL!! He just repeats the word...beebee! Cute!

So that is it for now...I will keep you all updated on Grandma and the journey of Adoption #2!

Random Thoughts and Desires...get comfy!

Okay...so, I WANT ANOTHER BABY!!! I know that Tyce is only 17 months old and that it would be better to wait a little longer to have another baby (which will no doubt happen anyway) but I am dying here. The desire for another baby, so far, is not nearly as desperate and mind numbing/consuming as it was while we were waiting for Tyce but it is getting there. I am soooooo excited to start the adoption process again and for some reason I feel that our next baby is already conceived...or will be very soon. I have days where I know it will be a girl and then the next day I think it may be a boy. So as far as that goes...I really don't care.

Tyce is becoming Daddy's little shadow and when he is home, I am feeling left out. Now, I have no interest in tools, building things and working in the yard but there is really nothing better than watching Mark teach Tyce all the "guy" things that go on around my house. So, with that said...I am excited to bring home a little girl who will be my shadow. Who will want to learn all the things that I enjoy, like sewing quilts, scrapbooking, sitting in cozy comfort and read a good book, shopping till we are beyond broke, etc. Don't get me wrong...my poor Tyce is stuck with me all day and I promise that I will teach him these things too so he is well rounded just like his Dad! Yes, Mark is more domesticated than he lets on.

And then there is the desire for another dirty little boy to love until my heart explodes just like it does every time I look at my son. Even when Tyce is throwing his famous tantrums...I find myself feeling so lucky and happy to HAVE a child in my home that tests my patience and throws toys when he is mad because that means that I have a child...that I am a MOM and that he feels comfortable in our home and with me enough to express himself without fear of corporal punishment. And let's face it...you all know that sometimes those tantrums are so ridiculous that we just have to laugh!

I would love more than anything to have a little brother...a little playmate for Tyce who is no younger than 2 years Tyce's junior. How amazing that would be? They could play in the mud together, fix things (or more like, break things) together. They could go on father/son camp outs with their dad. I can't wait to pack the trailer and backpacks with all kinds of mommy goodies for my guys so they can be full while they are discovering new worlds together. I can't wait for my boy(s) to grow up and "protect" me and their little sister (if I get my way)!! Okay...so I really can wait but when the time comes...I can imagine myself looking up into Tyce's beautiful blue eyes and being as proud as can be.

I know it is a mom's right to make plans for her son...and so that is what I do. I picture Tyce going into the MTC and serving a mission honorably like his Dad. I see him taking a beautiful girl to the Temple and starting his own family. I see him being mine and Mark's best friend when he is all grown up...just like my Mom and I are best friends now that I am an adult. I don't know what Tyce will be when he grows up. He will work for Mark for his first job...that I know. He just enjoys all things his Dad enjoys...so it makes sense to me. But, eventually, I can see Tyce going to college and excelling in whatever he takes interest in. He is so smart and witty and he has a personality that attracts everyone around him. He is the center of attention.

I tend to get ahead of myself, don't you think? I hope that all that wonderful future I wish for takes a long time to get here. I want to enjoy my little family for a long time to come. But if years keep flying by like they have been...it will be here before I know it. I see us as the Nielsen's. For those of you who don't know them, they are the family that "adopted" Mark when he was in High School. Their oldest son, Bryan was Mark's best friend. We are very close to this family and they are my guiding light. They have 4 kids. All wonderfully good people. 2 boys, 2 girls. Both boys served missions, both girls married in the Temple to wonderful men. Bryan married in the Temple to a now dear friend of mine.

I want to sit in the Temple some day with my husband, mom, grandma and all my kids. I want lots of kids. I pray for lots of kids. I have so much love to give and lucky Tyce gets to get more kisses than he can handle. For his sake...I pray for another baby soon. I know that is unreasonable to think that we will ever have several kids. We just can't afford them. I feel very blessed to have Tyce and I know for sure (in my heart) that we have another one coming but I really would like at least 3 and hopefully 4. That will take some convincing though. Mark is good with 2! LOL!! It's all in God's plan right? He knows what and who we need and when they get here...they will be very loved!

Well, this has turned into a long rambling and I am sorry for all who had to read it but these are my random thoughts for the day. Now I am off to Google adoption stuff because from now until our next baby comes home...I will be an obsessed woman!! Hang on, all you readers, for my emotional adoption ride. It will all be blogged!!

Birth Families ROCK!!!!

Here is a picture of Tyce and his birth Dad, Jami. We just got back from a camping trip with Jami, his mom and dad, sisters, brothers and their families!! We had an amazing time! I am so glad that we have an adoption as open an ours is...it is truly a blessing! We went to the Dunes in central Utah. Tyce had a blast getting dirty and he actually even let Jami hold him twice. If you know my son...you know what a positive thing this is!

It was so HOT. Imagine being in the middle of the desert and 85 degrees. That was about what it was like...except for the extras like water, food, friends...oh yea, and air conditioned trailers! LOL!! And of course the otter pops in our camper freezer!

It must be hard on Tyce's birth families to see him as OUR son. This is just my opinion. They say that it helps them be reassured that adoption was the right choice for Tyce (I completely agree)!! But for me, it would be a very hard thing to see. To each his own right? They recognized us 100% as Tyce's parents and there were no issues there...which can always be a concern. We are truly blessed by this situation and I just pray that our next adoption is as wonderful as this one!! How loved Tyce will feel growing up. They will be able to show him and tell him that he was and is loved and wanted by his Birth Families as well as by HIS family...being us of course!!

I love talking about open adoption! It does my heart good! I love my husband for the amazing father that he is and my son is the light of my life! I never thought I could love so much. I just can't wait to add to our family and in the process...add another branch to our very close family friends, being, another birth family!!

By the way...how cute is my little baby with his cutie patutie baby crack hanging out of his pants?! LOL!! Oh, how fast they turn into little men!

There is no greater love in the world than the love of a mother to her child

Maybe one of these days I will write more than one blog a month! We'll see. I just felt that I needed to put my emotions on paper in regards to Tyce's birthmom, McKelle on this Mother's Day season. How grateful I am for this woman who gave my son life...and then gave him the life she wanted for him and in the process, she made Mark and I a family. I love my husband so much, even more so now as I see him interact with our son in a way only a father can. I love when Tyce wakes up in the morning and askes for his Daddy!! My heart wants to explode. Mark and I definately have our rolls in Tyce's eyes. Mark is the best buddy and teacher of all things boy and I am the nurturer, disciplinarian who give safe boundries and the feeder of hungry babies! LOL!! I kiss the owies and make them all better...for Mark and Tyce both.

My heart was full to again wake up on Mother's Day and actually be a mom! There is nothing better in this life than having the opportunity to serve one of God's special children. I have such a closeness with McKelle and I love her with all my heart. I will express this love to Tyce so that he has the same kind of love and admiration toward her as Mark and I do. On Mother's Day this year...I got a package from McKelle. It was a willow tree statue of a mother angel holding a sleeping toddler. It reminded me of how big Tyce is getting because the last statue we got from her...the baby was a newborn. Sad.

I am so ready for another baby! We will be submitting our papers again in a couple months when the next classes start. How I hope our next baby is close to coming home to us! Tyce will be such an amazing Big brother.

I have much more I want to write about but I have to go pick up my little man from Grandma's house. Such adventures he had today I am sure and I can't wait for him to tell me all about them in his baby jabber!! Music to my ears!

Oh, we are going camping this weekend with Tyce's birth dad, Jami, and his family. I will write all about it on another post when we get back!! Such fun!! Yea for summer!!!

"I Am Blessed" - Martina McBride

After spending the day with my girls, Lacie (and her little ray of Hope) and Lindsay (and her little luc luc) I have decided that it is time for me to start a blog! I am feeling very blessed these days. My little guy is growing so big and he makes me so proud. He is happy and loves to laugh at himself...and us!!

This weather has been so Yummy!! I am very much a fan of the 60 and 70 degree days!! This summer is going to be the best summer of my life!! Tyce is running all over and loves to swing and slide and explore! He just loves being outside and loves to get dirty!! The way I look at it...at the end of the day when my house is a mess and my son is dirty and I am tired...it has been a GREAT day!! He is such a boy and he wants to be just like his daddy!! His daddy is his hero, it is already obvious!

Tyce is a miracle. He came after 4 1/2 years of dreaming of a baby, and I can admit now that I was really dreaming of a little boy...a minature Mark and that is exactly what I got! Now I have my love, Mark and my little love, Tyce!

I am blessed!!!