<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304</id><updated>2011-04-21T18:27:55.159-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Families Can Be Together Forever!</title><subtitle type='html'>"Every child is entitled to grow up in a home where there is warm and secure companionship, where there is love in the family relationship, where appreciation one for another is taught and exemplified, and where God is acknowledged and His peace and blessings invoked before the family altar. "-Gordon B. Hinkley</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>10</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-1864493480945915864</id><published>2008-11-10T09:04:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-11-10T09:50:38.355-08:00</updated><title type='text'>New Website!</title><content type='html'>Hello!  We have a new website!  Please check it out!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://blessed-with-infertility.blogspot.com/"&gt;Blessed With Infertility&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This will be our families new adoption website from now on and all adoption based entries will be posted here.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thanks for Visiting!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-1864493480945915864?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/1864493480945915864/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=1864493480945915864' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/1864493480945915864'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/1864493480945915864'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-website.html' title='New Website!'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-1646612881130329266</id><published>2008-09-14T13:00:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-14T13:00:59.212-07:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SM1tcaABUwI/AAAAAAAAADM/TFUxmRxhKTY/s1600-h/DSC04292-1.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SM1tcaABUwI/AAAAAAAAADM/TFUxmRxhKTY/s200/DSC04292-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245969475739669250" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-1646612881130329266?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/1646612881130329266/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=1646612881130329266' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/1646612881130329266'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/1646612881130329266'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-post.html' title=''/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SM1tcaABUwI/AAAAAAAAADM/TFUxmRxhKTY/s72-c/DSC04292-1.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-6557893566023046261</id><published>2008-08-23T18:13:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2008-08-23T18:14:40.743-07:00</updated><title type='text'>If you think she looks excited right now.....</title><content type='html'>Just wait until she meets her new brother or sister!  Haha, I love this picture!  Michaela is playing with Buddy the dog.  Buddy happens to belong to Michaela's birthmother, Davea.  Hope you are doing well and can feel our prayers.  We love you!&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SLC1tlg-l5I/AAAAAAAAADA/4qYT_eusiZ4/s1600-h/DSC03820.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SLC1tlg-l5I/AAAAAAAAADA/4qYT_eusiZ4/s400/DSC03820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237886161401059218" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-6557893566023046261?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/6557893566023046261/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=6557893566023046261' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/6557893566023046261'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/6557893566023046261'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2008/08/if-you-think-she-looks-excited-right.html' title='If you think she looks excited right now.....'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SLC1tlg-l5I/AAAAAAAAADA/4qYT_eusiZ4/s72-c/DSC03820.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-5129665494006451647</id><published>2008-08-10T23:09:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-08-10T23:11:56.389-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Forever......</title><content type='html'>I know it's been so long since I have posted anything on here!  We have had such a crazy few months though, I hope you forgive me!  Anyway, I will be posting a longer entry complete with pictures here soon, I just didn't want you to feel forgotten.  Biggest news is that we moved from Washington to Iowa a few weeks ago!  Our email and website will remain the same however, until we connect with that special someone who will help us add to our family.  I can't wait to tell you all the details of the last few months!  All my love,&lt;br /&gt;Samantha&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-5129665494006451647?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/5129665494006451647/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=5129665494006451647' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/5129665494006451647'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/5129665494006451647'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2008/08/forever.html' title='Forever......'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-6737557216772092439</id><published>2008-06-30T09:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-06-30T09:46:35.374-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How Are YOU?</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SGkN42g6f_I/AAAAAAAAAC4/tY7OdUlOwZM/s1600-h/corbanandmichaela2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217716913642831858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SGkN42g6f_I/AAAAAAAAAC4/tY7OdUlOwZM/s400/corbanandmichaela2.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Hi There! We have been a busy threesome these past few weeks! We have gone all over Washington State visiting family and friends, and stopping to play at some wonderful parks! We are going to be moving to Iowa next weekend, Jordan was offered a job at the University there adn will also be finishing up his master's degree. So the house is full of boxes and we are getting ready to go! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Amid all this life Chaos though, I have been thinking about you a lot. How are you? What are you doing? Are you well? Are you lonley? Do you need a friend? Are you having a good summer? All these things I want to ask you and know you and meet you! What is your name? What do you look like? I daydream about you sometimes but the face is blurry. Can you help me unblur my vision? Email or call us, so we can meet!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Please know that we are praying for you constantly, we miss you in our lives!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-6737557216772092439?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/6737557216772092439/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=6737557216772092439' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/6737557216772092439'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/6737557216772092439'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-are-you.html' title='How Are YOU?'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SGkN42g6f_I/AAAAAAAAAC4/tY7OdUlOwZM/s72-c/corbanandmichaela2.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-131690080199141242</id><published>2008-05-15T08:09:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-05-15T08:31:55.961-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Excited for a Brother or Sister!</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SCxUpVidVmI/AAAAAAAAACw/-VBvPKq4qO8/s1600-h/DSC02090.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200624738839123554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SCxUpVidVmI/AAAAAAAAACw/-VBvPKq4qO8/s400/DSC02090.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;We are live on Parent Profliles now!  We can't wait to meet our new little family member!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-131690080199141242?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/131690080199141242/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=131690080199141242' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/131690080199141242'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/131690080199141242'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2008/05/excited-for-brother-or-sister.html' title='Excited for a Brother or Sister!'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/SCxUpVidVmI/AAAAAAAAACw/-VBvPKq4qO8/s72-c/DSC02090.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-627465344344667223</id><published>2008-03-17T11:57:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-03-17T12:06:03.105-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Wonderful Woman!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="left"&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/R97AcIH9RpI/AAAAAAAAACg/g8iQyp9LBgA/s1600-h/100_1186.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178788210972378770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/R97AcIH9RpI/AAAAAAAAACg/g8iQyp9LBgA/s400/100_1186.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt;                                                  This is me with Michaela's Birthmother.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I know that I just posted an entry yesterday, but my hear is so full that I just have to share my feelings with you right now. I know that we have never met, but I want you to know that just because of what you are thinking right now, I love you. I love that you are able to see through your own pain and feelings to consider the child growing inside of you. You are a courageous woman and I admire you for your strength. You may notice on the left, there is a section called, "A Note From Michaela's Birthmother," Our beautiful friend, Michaela's birthmother, took the time to write a note to you, without us even asking her too! She is a remarkable woman and we as a family will always cherish her. I as a mother, will always be grateful of her sacrifice that has allowed me the joy of raising this beautiful spirit named Michaela. Because of her, I get to experience all the joys of motherhood and I want you to know that you will never be forgotten in our family. I love you and we love you. Below are a few pictures of Michaela and her Birthmother.&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178788348411332258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/R97AkIH9RqI/AAAAAAAAACo/UAxgSn7ZFQQ/s400/100_1454.JPG" border="0" /&gt;                              &lt;em&gt;Michaela and the wonderful woman who has shared her with us.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-627465344344667223?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/627465344344667223/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=627465344344667223' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/627465344344667223'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/627465344344667223'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2008/03/wonderful-woman.html' title='Wonderful Woman!'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/R97AcIH9RpI/AAAAAAAAACg/g8iQyp9LBgA/s72-c/100_1186.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-357267146524698864</id><published>2008-03-16T09:24:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-03-16T09:26:41.719-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Five Generations!</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/R91KDIH9RoI/AAAAAAAAACY/iHW7wXDUydM/s1600-h/Five+Generation.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178376564126860930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/R91KDIH9RoI/AAAAAAAAACY/iHW7wXDUydM/s400/Five+Generation.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;This Picture was taken last week when Michaela and I went to Utah to visit some of my side of the family. We went with my mom, brother and his girlfriend. It was a great trip ans we saw so many family members! I am so grateful that Michaela has not one, but three grandmothers just on one side!  They all love her so much and can't wait to meet our new family member!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-357267146524698864?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/357267146524698864/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=357267146524698864' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/357267146524698864'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/357267146524698864'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2008/03/five-generations.html' title='Five Generations!'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/R91KDIH9RoI/AAAAAAAAACY/iHW7wXDUydM/s72-c/Five+Generation.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-2493351683688538390</id><published>2008-02-27T09:10:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-02-27T17:53:43.690-08:00</updated><title type='text'>A few Letters From Our Families</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-size:85%;color:#663300;"&gt;Hello there, I know that you have read many letters from anxious adoptive couples, hopefully ours included! We thought you might also like to hear a little bit about us from some of our family members, family members you may someday meet. If you have any questions regarding any of the letters or would like to contact anyone please comment and they will gladly reply! Thanks for looking at our profile!&lt;br /&gt;-Samantha&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:78%;"&gt;I am writing this letter on behalf of Samantha and Jordan, in reference to their adoption of their second child. I am Samantha’s father and also a school counselor by profession. I have spent much time working with kids and parents and have gained a lot of experience in helping people work on issues that challenge their families.&lt;br /&gt;Samantha and Jordan have been married three years. They have strong moral and religious convictions. They have an eye on the future and organize their lives to provide a caring, loving family of the present with planning for security later in life. Jordan works for a shipping company and has moved up into management through dedication and hard work. Samantha is a stay-at-home Mom and she also works part time to supplement the family income. She has only accepted jobs that she can do with their daughter, Michaela, coming along, and then only a few hours per week. Samantha and Jordan work together on their goals and are willing to put the time and effort into making them become reality.&lt;br /&gt;They were blessed to adopt Michaela last year. She has been a joy to their lives as well as to Grandparents on both sides of the family. She is much loved and adored by several aunts, uncles, and cousins. I have watched as Samantha and Jordan develop as parents and strive to provide a good life and background for her future. The parent in me is proud of my daughter and her husband. The counselor in me feels secure that Michaela will be a child who has caring parents who will be with her to provide support and guidance throughout her life. That means a lot to me. There is no sacrifice that they would not make if it benefited their little girl. I am sure they will do the same for their next child as well.&lt;br /&gt;Samantha loves to do scrap booking. She makes incredible memory books and keeps us updated with pictures of her family. She reads to Michaela every day and teaches her all kinds of things to help her grow. Jordan likes to play guitar and he writes some of the “corniest” songs about his family members and friends. These kids really are in love and they work well together. They have a strong family. One of the things that impresses me with this young couple is their “reasonableness”. They think things out and talk about issues and compromise on a plan that fits both of them. I don’t really worry about how they will turn out because I have faith in their talents and good habits. Neither of them smokes or drinks and neither of them swears. They are really nice people who I would be happy to hang around with even if I was not related to them. I don’t know what else I can say except that a baby being placed with them would have a loving home, and an expectation of being raised in a household that would provide the tools for a happy future.&lt;br /&gt;Sincerely, Sam; Counselor, Father, and Grandfather&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:78%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#999999;"&gt;Dear Compassionate Friend,&lt;br /&gt;I say compassionate because of the choice you have made to place your child with a family. I know in this world that is a tough choice. One of my best friends in high school made the same choice you are making now, who was the best family to raise her daughter. You may not know if you are having a boy or a girl, but I can still tell you the best family, my sister Samantha and her husband Jordan. Their love for their daughter Michaela is incredible. She was adopted into their family and instantly became irreplaceable. We all love her so much. Her spunky little attitude and her insatiable love of learning make her a gem. She will be such a good big sister and I will tell you why, I had a little girl when Michaela was 8 months old, and Michaela took a shine to her right away. Most of the time with little kids the problem is jealousy, not with Miss Michaela, we have to keep an eye on her because she loves Reagan so much she just hugs and hugs and cuddles her little cousin.&lt;br /&gt;Samantha was born to be a mother, I know every profile you have read so far probably says the same thing, but I can offer evidence. Samantha was 6 when my mother was pregnant with our little brother Richie. Her favorite game at that time was to put on a pair of my mothers nylons and put her baby doll in the front and tell people that she had a baby in her tummy too! She started collecting things for her future family in High School. Now tell me a teenager that spends her waitress tips buying baby clothes for kids she is still dreaming about.&lt;br /&gt;Jordan has only been in my family for a few years so I don’t have any funny stories about him growing up, but I can tell you what a great father he is. When he gets home from work everyday Michaela lights up and squeals “HI DAD!” She can’t wait to play with her Daddy. He gets down on the floor with her and plays and plays.&lt;br /&gt;This family is so ready for another baby, your baby. Please consider their family to be the ones who get to love and raise your child. No one will love him or her more. Ultimately you need to make the choice of where you place your child, and I know you will do what you feel is best for your baby. But I want you to know if you choose Samantha, Jordan, and Michaela our whole family will love your child. They say it takes a village to raise a child and yours will have the village. Your child will get a whole community of Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and Cousins to love and welcome your child into our family. Let us love your baby like you do the kind of love that wants him or her to have the best life possible, a life in this family.&lt;br /&gt;Very Sincerely Samantha’s Sister&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dear Birthmother,&lt;br /&gt;I am Jordan's Mother, but more importantly I am Michaela's grandma. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a few of the observations I have made over the past year since Jordan and Samantha made me a grandma.&lt;br /&gt;The first thing I recall thinking is how seamless Samantha's transition into motherhood was. She is very diligent in keeping up with any information available to help in raising the happiest, healthiest child possible. In spite of having a very tidy home,&lt;br /&gt;she has this most wonderful "it's ok it'll wash" attitude. And all of this adds up to a very safe, and happy home in which to raise a family.&lt;br /&gt;As a parent it is really fun to watch your own children have children of thier own and to see what kind of parents they are. Jordan has been such a good daddy, in addition to being a good provider, he is very involved in the parenting process. He goes with&lt;br /&gt;Samantha and Michaela to well baby checkups. He reads to her and is currently showing her how to use a computer. Jordan is an extraordinary young man who has become an&lt;br /&gt;exceptional daddy!&lt;br /&gt;Thankyou for taking the time to let me brag about my family and goodluck to you as well.&lt;br /&gt;Your Friend, Marti, Jordan’s Mother&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:78%;color:#c0c0c0;"&gt;Dear Birth Mother,&lt;br /&gt;I am the grandmother of two little angel girls. One of those little beauties came to us from someone like you. We are so thankful. I can't imagine our lives without these babies or that there could have been a more perfect mom and dad for Michaela. Samantha and Jordan have a very special and unique family.&lt;br /&gt;Samantha and Jordan have set very high goals for themselves as parents as well as a happily married couple. They work very hard to make each other happy and to have family as their center focus. Jordan loves to pop in at lunchtime to kiss his wife and hug his baby girl and then back to the office where he works very hard to provide a very comfortable life style. Samantha is able to be a stay at home mom. She loves every minute of that time. She and Michaela are learning sign language, and they read, dance and attend story hour together.&lt;br /&gt;Samantha has spent many enjoyable hours documenting Michaela's life through pictures. She unselfishly shares these pictures with all of us and with Michaela's birth mother. Sharing Michaela with her birth mother was a decision made by Jordan and Samantha and the birth mother. I think by sharing her with her birth mom, it allows them all, including Michaela to have a healthy future, enabling all of them to learn and grow from eachother.&lt;br /&gt;Jordan and Samantha are an exceptional couple, very happy and upbeat people who enjoy life. I know they can't wait to have another child placed in their care. They are very loving and caring parents, and any little soul placed with them is sure to have a successful happy life.&lt;br /&gt;With the Greatest Love for You, Grandma Raylene &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-2493351683688538390?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/2493351683688538390/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=2493351683688538390' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/2493351683688538390'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/2493351683688538390'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2008/02/few-letters-from-our-families.html' title='A few Letters From Our Families'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053901267341706304.post-7043488759454885636</id><published>2007-11-08T12:38:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2007-11-08T12:51:08.487-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Here we go again!</title><content type='html'>&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/RzN0z4YtzbI/AAAAAAAAAAM/ljs4lsqwkek/s1600-h/MIchaela016.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130572835163327922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/RzN0z4YtzbI/AAAAAAAAAAM/ljs4lsqwkek/s320/MIchaela016.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hi friends! Our family has created this blog in order to keep you all up to date on this next adoption process. Hopefully, this will also help us reach out to that special woman who will help us build our family again! We are all excited to have another child in our home, it's so fun to daydream about having two children. I have been cleaning out Michaela's closet and putting all her small clothes away, thinking about how much fun it will be to get them back out again! OF course, if it's a boy.... I would HAVE to go shopping all over again! (That really doesn't sound too bad:)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5053901267341706304-7043488759454885636?l=hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/feeds/7043488759454885636/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5053901267341706304&amp;postID=7043488759454885636' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/7043488759454885636'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5053901267341706304/posts/default/7043488759454885636'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/2007/11/here-we-go-again.html' title='Here we go again!'/><author><name>Hopeful in Washington</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14213726017113747527</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bWg_2r-Cq8g/RzN0z4YtzbI/AAAAAAAAAAM/ljs4lsqwkek/s72-c/MIchaela016.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry></feed>
