As promised, the Fablehaven and hair pictures

Day 41 approved and waiting for our baby through the miracle of adoption.

The launch party for the new Fablehaven book was SO fun! It was mostly geared towards young teenagers but they also had some entertainment for us "older kids." (Also known as adults) They had a comedy group come in, and of course it was really exciting to hear Brandon Mull talk about his future projects. I'm already excited for the fifth, and final, book in the Fablehaven series and am intrigued about the new series he's planning. Anyhow, I got to meet him and he signed my books. Malone and I also went out to dinner. It was a pretty fun date, but we're hoping that next year we'll have a child to take with us! These kinds of things are what make really fun family outings.

I took a few photos, and as I promised in the previous post, here they are!

The new haircut. It's SO SHORT! I'm having a bit of a hard time getting used to it, but I like how easy it is to take care of!

Bet you didn't know I was a centaur!

Me and Brandon Mull. Seriously he looks like he's in pain, but I guess that's probably par for the course for someone who's been signing his name for HOURS.

Malone and I enjoying the show.

An adventure on a Tuesday

Day 35 approved and waiting for our baby through the miracle of adoption

How many of you out there have read Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series? Seriously, if you haven't read them you need to repent and then immediately check them out from your local library or buy them. The investment is totally worth it! Just to pique your interest, I'll give you a little info. on the books. The series is marketed primarily toward young adults and older children, but that doesn't mean adults won't love it as well! The story features siblings Kendra and Seth who visit their grandparents' estate one summer only to discover that it is a sanctuary for magical creatures. These books have something for everyone: adventure, suspense, mystery, and even (dare I say it?) romance.

Anyhow, tomorrow the fourth book in the series is coming out! I'm actually debating staying up and dragging hubs to Wal-Mart at midnight to buy it. I know, I'm totally lame. But what can I say? I'm a real book nerd. But if that made you think I was lame, just wait until you hear about our adventure we have planned for tomorrow. Tomorrow the Fablehaven people are throwing a big launch party where the author will do a book signing. Now, you might be asking yourselves, is she REALLY going to do that? Heck yes I am! And Malone is just as excited to accompany me! Be jealous! I'll be sure to take pictures for all of you out there who couldn't go and I'll try to get a decent shot of my new haircut for you guys. (Yep, that's right! I whacked off all my hair, weird right?)

Somebody Stop Me!

Day 31 approved and waiting for our baby through the miracle of adoption

Today I have been CRAVING a plain double cheeseburger from McDonald's. Why? I have absolutely NO idea. Seriously, they're always practically dripping in grease, every time you take a bite more grease magically appears, and the buns are always soggy with... you guessed it... grease. Logically, I know that's super disgusting. So why does my mouth water just thinking about it? I'm so American! However, as I'm working on trimming down my figure, that cheeseburger is definitely not an option. Dang it! Instead, I will try to satisfy my craving with a salad or something.

Oh, and since I know you're all wondering, NO I AM NOT PREGNANT! Seriously, just knowing that some of you wondered that makes me giggle a little. HELLLLOOOO!! I'm infertile, people! :)

I know I know

Day 29 approved and waiting for our baby through the miracle of adoption

So I've been really quiet for the past week. To tell you the truth, we just haven't had much going on. Hopefully things will pick back up here soon.

I have a thought for my friends and family though. I feel it's quite wise, so hopefully you will too. :) As Malone and I have been going through this adoption process, the most frequent question we get is, "are you going to have an open or closed adoption?" Our reply has always been the same, "We want to be as open as the birth family feels comfortable with." Of course, if our birth family wants a CLOSED adoption, we would respect that decision. But if it were our choice, we would want it to be open. I know some of you out there find that surprising, and perhaps you might even have some wary feelings when it comes to open adoption. I think that's probably because of the common misconceptions when it comes to open adoption, but that's another discussion. So, in order to prepare you all for the time when we intend to welcome the entire birth family into our family (hopefully that's not too far away!), I want to share our feelings with you about open adoption.

A few weeks ago I had somewhat of a breakdown. It was just one of those days when I felt so resentful of my infertility. A common element of my prayers for the past 3+ years has been, "WHY? Why do I have to have infertility? Why do I have to go through this trial when it seems like EVERYBODY around me is as fertile as can be? Is this a punishment?" Lately as I've been thinking about it, I've realized that infertility has not been a punishment to me, but rather a blessing. Without infertility, we would not be on this road to adoption. Without infertility, we would not be able to be a part of a birth mother's life and she would not have the opportunity to be a part of ours. I guess I've just recently been impressed at how RIGHT our choice to adopt is. Adoption is meant to be a part of who our children are. And through us, adoption is meant to be a part of all of your lives as well.

Ok, one last thought. The agency we are choosing to go through is LDS Family Services. Their "slogan" (or logo or whatever you want to call it...) is "Adoption... It's About Love." The other day I was thinking about the different sources of love that slogan is referring to. It's talking about the love of the birth family for the baby, the love of the adoptive family for the baby, and the love of God for the baby. That really impressed me. Adoption REALLY is all about love.

Snow Day!

Day 21 approved and waiting for our baby through the miracle of adoption


Yesterday we had quite the snowstorm in our neck of the woods. Both Malone and I still had to go to work, but afterwards we decided to take advantage of the snow. It was so fun! We felt like little kids again! After several trips down the hill, we were soaking and covered in snow, but we just couldn't stop laughing. Then we went home, dried off, and had a steaming cup of hot chocolate LOADED with marshmallows. It was a great day!

Help!

Day 20 approved and waiting for our baby through the miracle of adoption

As probably all of you know, I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In our church, those who live their lives in accordance with our standards have the opportunity to participate in ceremonies in our temples which we hold most sacred. Today I found out that on Sunday March 15th, the HBO show Big Love is showing an episode that explicitly exhibits these most sacred parts of my religion. I am extremely offended.

I found this article addressing this topic on the Newsroom Web site of our Church. I thought you all might find it interesting. Click on the link below to view:

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma

If you are like me and wish to voice your concern, follow the link below. It will take you to the HBO website where you can file a complaint. I feel that the more people that let them know how offensive this is, the more likely they are to hear.

http://www.hbo.com/apps/submitinfo/contactus/submit.do?title=GeneralInformation&questiontype=generalInformation&questiontype=general

If you write, here are two things you'll want to RESPECTFULLY say in your own words to HBO:

-I believe it is wrong for HBO to publicly air portions of sacred ceremonies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints without permission from the church and based on information given you by someone who has left the church and may harbor bad feelings toward the church and wish to do it harm.

AND THE BIG ONE THAT WILL ALWAYS GET THEIR ATTENTION:

- If you air such an episode, I will cancel my subscription to all HBO channels (if you have them), and will not purchase HBO DVDs or any other HBO entertainment products or packages ever again. Furthermore, I will encourage my friends and associates to do likewise.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO:

The FCC is the government agency that regulates all broadcast and cable television. File a complaint expressing your shock and dismay at HBO's treatment of the sacred ceremonies of any religion with such mockery and disregard, and that it is shoddy work hiring excommunicated members/enemies of church and giving them a public pulpit to hurt the church.

To File a complaint with the FCC go to:

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

Our Adoption Button

Day 14 approved and waiting for our baby through the miracle of adoption

Notice on the right side, I have created and added our adoption button. Click on it, and it will take you to our adoption blog. Here's the great part- you all can add it to your blogs too!

Here are the steps...

1) Right click on the button
2) Scroll down and click save picture as
3) Save it to your computer
4) Log in to your blog
5) Under layout select add a gadget
6) Scroll down to the picture option and select it
7) Upload the picture of our button and then in the box where you can add html, put:
maloneandbrittanyadopt.blogspot.com

TADA! You've added our adoption button! Unless, of course, my directions were too confusing in which case I apologize.

Wishin' and Hopin' and Thinkin' and Prayin'

Day 12 approved and waiting for our baby through the miracle of adoption

If you can tell me what song that is, you win!

I have been so touched today as many of our family and friends have been fasting for our birth mother. I don't know who she is yet, but I think about her all the time. I wonder if she knows how much she is already loved by us and by everyone we know? Even if she doesn't know it, I hope she feels it.

On another note, you may have noticed that I added a way to donate to our adoption through PayPal. Any little bit makes a big difference to Malone and I. But please, if you cannot afford it, do not donate money to us. We don't want to put a strain on anyone we love. There are plenty of other ways you can help. However, if you can afford it, know that you are GREATLY appreciated.

We are also going to be holding an adoption fundraising yard sale. We ask that if you live nearby, and you have things you want to get rid of, you donate them to us so that we can sell them. Heck, if you don't live near us and you're feeling really ambitious, you could hold a yard sale for us in your area and donate the proceeds. There are so many ways to help us! Aren't you excited? ;)