November 2014- the roller coaster of our life!

I don't even know where or how to begin. This past November was a roller coaster. Over the past two months we had been in an on again off again adoption process and were not sure how it might end. It ended off again. We were grief stricken especially because we were at the hospital for the birth. With broken hearts we carried on trying to have hope for the future and how we might grow our family. We tried our best to enjoy this season of our lives by attending the last Utah football game and tailgate, helping our friends move, and I got away with a lovely trip to Florida. While in Florida, just after I was walking on the beach "letting it all go" I got a call from Brad saying the birth mom called and asked if we were still interested in the baby. After a mad dash to the Fed Ex. with my steady cousin Amy I signed the papers and Jefferson Amal Dennis was placed with us. Under Utah law adoptions are not finalized for 6 months so the state can make sure the placement is a healthy one. So in 6 months he will be sealed to us and legally forever ours. The case workers at LDS family services were so wonderful and taught us both so many lessons about true charity and faith through this whole process. Our grief quickly turned into so much gratitude and immense joy. Brad brought our baby home (I was still in Florida) to anxiously awaiting grandparents at 1:00 am November 25, 2014. He was our Thanksgiving miracle. Words cannot express the reunion we had when I got home. It was a precious memory I will always hold in my heart. Our family came to our aide to put together a nursery and the basic baby necessities. Jefferson sleeps in a cradle that my uncle built for my aunt and all of her children spent their first days in it. It has held so much love and now holds our little man. Brad's parents gave us a rocking chair Brad's grandpa built that Brad was rocked to sleep in. I love that I get to rock to sleep my little man in the same rocking chair Brad was rocked in. Our family heritage of love for this sweet child surrounds him. The day after I got home I talked with my work and will be taking an extended maternity leave so I can spend every second I can with my little man while he grows. I don't go back until March 2, 2015. So in a matter of a week our life has completely changed, most people have 9 months to prepare for a child we barely had 2, and even that was on again off again. But our hearts were full of love for our little Jefferson the second we saw him and so some diapers, food, blankets, and a car seat are really all you need when you have a home and heart overflowing with love for this sweet miracle.

And then I came home to this:

God has been so good to us. My heart is full.