Bless Us All With Playful Years, With Noisy Games & Joyful Tears

Merry Christmas & God bless you!

Adopting Without Debt

Matthew & I have recieved our invitation to the adoption seminar and will be attending in February. We are so excited & also excited that we have time to enjoy Christmas, our one year anniversary & then gear up for adopting Baby O'Brien! Our main goal (other than becoming parents!) is to adopt our first child without accruing any debt & if you know anything about adoption...you know it's a timely & costly affair! So, we have gotten creative! We have become associates with Amazon which means if you follow this link to the Amazon website next time you go shopping

                                        

anytime between now and the time we bring Baby O'Brien home a percentage of your purchase will be put into our Adoption Savings Account!  This is one of the ways we are hoping to raise, save & earn money to make this happen!  Now, shop away!

Taking Our First Baby Step

Matthew & I have decided to begin pursuing adoption! As excited as we are & as early as we are in the process of adoption we decided it's time to share for a few reasons. The first reason that I personally really wanted to share is because the story that led us to this decision, in my opinon, is amazing. It is proof that we serve an awesome God. And secondly, we decided to share this decision in such early stages because we know what a journey this will be and we can use all the prayers & support possible! Not to mention, we are just plain ol' excited!




As a lot of people know, or maybe some don't know...I found out at as a teenager that I would not be able to have a child. Or, if I could have a child I wouldn't be able to carry it myself, it would require a surrogate. I never really got over the pain & heartache of that news. Then, I met Matthew & he knew early on in our relationship of that diagnosis. He decided he wanted me to be the mother of his children no matter how the family came to be & asked me to marry him (Whatta great guy he is!). We've really been enjoying our first year of marriage & as we began to discuss the idea of having a family we decided to pursue the idea of pregnancy. A few appointments with an infertility specialist & an ultrasound later, the news didn't seem good. In fact, it was disheartening. I wasn't sad that the prospect of having children the natural way didn't seem like a possibility for me...it was something more that I couldn't find words to describe. So I grieved & prayed that God would give me peace that would surpass all understanding...and He did! When that peace came & overwhelmed my heart, I knew & was ready to share with Matthew that we were meant to adopt our children. When I told him that God gave me peace & a fire under my heart for a baby who needed a mommy and daddy the most wonderful and sincere smile lit up Matt's face & I knew it was right the decision and the reason I was disheartened from the doctors was because it wasn't the path we were meant to take.

A few days later I had been praying & waiting to hear from God & I felt God place a stronger desire in my heart to begin the process of adoption. I again went to Matthew & told him of what God was speaking to me thru so many different avenues & he asked me to show him the logistics of us affording this child-to-be. That day, I sat at the computer & crunched numbers until my eyes hurt...& I realized we may need some more money! Children are apparently quite expensive!!! I sit down a little frustrated, I pick up my Bible & turn to the book of Luke where I left off the day before. I begin to read Luke 12:24 -30

Luke 12:24
"Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?

Luk 12:25
"And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Luk 12:26
"If you then are not able to do [the] least, why are you anxious for the rest?

Luk 12:27
"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Luk 12:28
"If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more [will He clothe] you, O [you] of little faith?

Luk 12:29
"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

Luk 12:30
"For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

...needless to say, I felt better, and stunned just as I am every time God chooses to show Himself so obviously to me! Then Matthew comes home from work, I share again all of this...and he says "The bonus I am getting? It's larger than I thought!" and then he says "The raise we didn't expect to happen?...It happened!" My jaw dropped and I could think of nothing to say but "God is good!"

So, yesterday, we mailed out our pre-application (a request for an invite) to the adoption ministry at Calvary Chapel Downey. If they accept our pre-application, we go to an all day seminar then begin the real application & hopefully then begin the process of the actual adoption! Eeeeep! We are praying that we will be pre-accepted & further more be accepted offically into the program. Then, we have a home study with a social worker to make sure we are suitable parents, fill out paper work, meet with attorneys, attend classes, and be matched with a birth mother who wishes to place her baby up for adoption. Then...we come home with our special little miracle. So, as you can see, this process is going to be a long one! But, the return on our investment will be eternal. Please pray that as we begin to plan our family all goes smoothly & that very soon we will be expanding our home by two (little) feet!

We'll Get There Fast So We Can Take It Slow...

Yep...That's right!  Matthew & I are going on a seven day cruise to the Mexican Riviera in exactly 100 days!

Itinerary:
Day 1: Leave port in Long Beach
Day 2: Day at Sea
Day 3 and 4: Cabo San Lucas
Day 5: Puerto Vallarta
Day 6 and 7: Days at Sea
Day 8: Arrive back in Long Beach

Exciting Cruise Business that's probably a whole lot of nothing but a whole lot to me:

 1. 95% of this cruise was paid entirely by recycling cans and turning in our spare change for the past 6 months. 

2. Matthew and I are departing on January 29th...which is our one year anniversary!  I like to call this our second honeymoon...Matt likes to roll his eyes when I say that and call it a vacation.  I guess either way, it doesn't really matter what it's called as long as we're taking it together!

3. We still have a few months to save up...which means excursions, excursions, excursions!  If there has been one thing that I cannot stop talking about, it has been swimming with the dolphins...so I recycled a little more, cashed in some more coins...& we now have our first excursion booked!  We are doing a Dolphin Encounter in Puerto Vallarta and I am beyond excited so much so that it's bordering ridiculous. 

This is the actual place we will be at when we swim with the dolphins

4. We do not need passports for this trip...we only need passport cards.  Easy!  Done! 

5. Now we wait...and then we celebrate!

iHeart

 So, I've been obsessed with Pinterest and I found a really awesome picture of somebody who made their loose pictures into a piece of wall art...well, needless to say, I was inspired!  I got together the stack of pictures hanging around the house and went to town on Sunday afternoon!  I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome and am more inspired!  It was such a great way to save money on decor, and it was fun.  I need more like this!

Should We Stay or Should We Go?

I am a blogging-slacker...which is no big deal because I heard a quote the other day in a movie: "Blogging is just graffiti with punctuation." I thought that was fairly true...as I read a blog just today all about a girl who needed to cut her nails. Needless to say, I won't be returning back to that blog for any updates. But anywho, I digress. I tend to ramble. Just ask Matt.

Around beginning of summer, Matthew & I began to toy around with the idea of relocating. With his line of work, we could go anywhere in the United States which is awesome. We thought seriously of Hawaii, and even looked into apartments and sought out help from a friend who is a newlywed out there on the beautiful island. We considered Colorado and Tennessee...and then we decided those options were just too far away! I still need another ear surgery to recover my hearing,I will have at least 6 follow up appointments...When we have kids, they need to be near their grandparents, and I definitely need to be near my mom! At that point, even though we could save a lot of money living outside of California, the cons definitely outweighted the pros.


Fast Forward to August and Matthew meets a new transfer from his work. While Matthew gets to know this man, he finds out he lived in Henderson, Nevada (a city over from Las Vegas). Great town, safe town, and only four hours away from Orange County! We looked into it...we prayed about it (and prayed and prayed!), and finally, my sister & I took a weekend trip to Henderson, Nevada and did some apartment hunting. All Saturday, we looked at apartments completely disappointed. That night I prayed saying "God, if this is where you want us...send me to the right place because this is not looking good!" On Sunday...we found it. We found TWO wonderful apartments with GREAT move in specials!

We've been praying, & each step of the way, God has been SO faithful to answer that it's always a humbling experience. No matter how many prayers I see answered, each answer is a humbling one. To serve a God that listens to me, loves me, and blesses me....WOW! How is that not a humbling experience!?

Anyway, Matthew has put the transfer in to go from John Wayne Airport to McCarren Int'l Airport in Las Vegas, Nv...and now we wait. We wait on God's timing.

How Can I Not Love My Life!?

Here are pictures to help along my week in review:




Matthew & I received a package in the mail of business cards from Jaime Davis Photography...and guess what!? We're the business card! She used a photo she took of us from our wedding! So cool to see! And please, need a photographer??? Let me give you a business card of one I highly recommend!!!



Surgery on my ear was rescheduled for two weeks before its original date! Here I am getting ready for the big show! Surgery was slightly more intense than the doctor anticipated but the infection is gone and I'm on the road to recovery!





Since surgery was rescheduled, my husband had to leave it up to my parents to take care of me, since he doesn't work somewhere that is very lenient with his schedule. I'm finally able to take care of myself...and apparently my Dad & parent's dog were exhausted! This is a picture my mom sent me of the two guys in her life enjoying Memorial Day.




...And since I am finally well enough, I decided to finally get started on our wedding photo album on Shutterfuly (LOVE SHUTTERFLY!)...but my little puppy needed some attention...so I stuck him up on the desk but this was just too cute not to take a picture of!!!

God's Plans. Not Mine.

I haven't been blogging much lately...Is it just me or is life just CRAZY lately!? Surgery was scheduled for June 7th, but has been reschedule for tomorrow morning! Eep! I know that this is in God's plan & even though I'm nervous I'm also glad they sprung this rescheduling on me. It gives me no time to grow anxious! I'm ready to just get it over with and end the pain and annoying hassle my ear has caused me! Thank God that He had this pleasant surprise in store! Not to mention, I'm gonna get to wear this awesome (and by awesome, I mean: awful!) headband for a few days to protect my ear...and yes, of course, what is a good blog, without a promise to blog pictures of me and my new "hair accessory?" But anyway, not to worry, for through all of my recovery, my very handsome husband is gonna take great care of me and I bet that this means he'll even buy me ice-cream!!!

Matthew and I will be married 4 months this weekend and going through all of this makes me realize how everyday truly is a new adventure. I'm glad we aren't getting married in June as we originally planned...God rescheduled that too! I hope that in everything, Matthew & I will always seek the Lord first and His plans. It seems to me they have a way of working out waaaaaaay better than any of my plans ever have! So thank You Lord for letting me have my plans and schedules...and thank You for Your perfect reschedulings!

School is Cool

So, I have realized that I am SO very close to graduating from community college with an AA degree...and there isn't much stopping me...so, I guess I'm gonna go back to school! Maybe I'll even be a dirtbag like my sister soon if I can go to CSULB! Time to get my school supplies ready...cuz' I'm goin' back to school!

Sweet Love

Nothing.More.Than.Feelings.

I have felt so many emotions in the past week & I am simply too exhausted to make this blog make sense...so I'm forced to list:

1.Excitement. On Friday afternoon I was blessed with the gift of a Stagecoach (country music festival) concert ticket. The generosity of my gifter and the excitement she had to do something nice for somebody else (meaning: me!) was beautiful. A lot of people give, but her love and sincerity was overwhelming and awesome! I had a wonderful weekend enjoying some great country music!

2. Awe. I was there when Carrie Underwood led 55,000 people in praise and worship to God. It was so wonderful to see somebody with so much influence use it well and glorify our God.

3. Generosity. This weekend was also the 'packing party' that I held at my house for the college group at my church. A few good friends showed up & we ate good food, had great conversation & put together bags upon bags of clothes to be donated to Project Hope School I was so excited to be able to give this small gift that I am taking to the school this week that my mind has been going a mile a minute trying to think of what our next project will be for this school!

4. Fear. While Matt was at work & I was at Stagecoach Mo ripped open a bag of trash and helped himself to some chicken...and the bone. This lovely little meal landed Mo-man at the Emergency Pet Clinic last night. After one night, two IVs, two medications, and one large medical bill later, Mo came home better than ever. But Matt and I were so afraid that Mo wasn't going to be okay & from what the doctor shared with us...they were afraid too. I felt the loss before it even happened and realized how much I love this little puppy & his sweetness.

5. Loss & Heartbreak. A friend gave me some BEAUTIFUL news...and then took it away. What a heartbreak and what loss and tragedy. But what a strong family to get through this with such grace & faith. What an amazing peace in their eyes and hearts.

I'm exhausted. I have felt so many wonderful emotions & so many emotions that are a little harder to handle. But, for every feeling felt...I couldn't be more grateful and realize how richly my life is blessed! In the end, it's a good feeling knowing that we have a choice to never be alone through it all. Knowing that we can choose Jesus is a little bit of heaven on earth.


(Our little Mo smiling after he came home from the doctor and showing off his shaved leg where they gave him his IVs)

I Blog About Blogs

Check out this website...it's a blog about our wedding! And would somebody PLEASE help me figure out how to work the stinkin' link button!? Gee, thanks!

blissfulphotographyoc.blogspot.com

Just a Quick Blog Thought

In a conversation I had today with two very beautiful friends, I was telling them how I know there are people out there waiting & watching for Matthew and I to fail. For us to 'fall out' of love, for us to split up...for us to not make it. We know that we are so very in love but there is something else that binds us together, or should I say that there is someone else? If it were up to our own strength we wouldn't make it...but it is not our own strength. It is the Lord. We give thanks to the Lord for keeping us together now and always...for giving us His love, peace & strength to keep going on. We know that we are going to make it because we know that we are not alone. Can I get an Amen??? =]

From Home Sweet Home to Homeless

Before Matthew and I met....years before actually, life was very different for me. Although God has given me the very best family ever, like many of you, sometimes life got a little hard. Even though our clothes were always clean and our tummies always full, we were never able to stay in once place very long. I have called families homes, families couches, hotels, and motels my home...

Turns out, Orange County is a very expensive place to live...and that is why it is home to one of America's largest populations of homeless children. Among so many statistics, Orange County is home to 35,000 homeless people, 70% of those people are families with children. On average, these families need to make a yearly income of $53,000 just to afford a typical 1 bedroom apartment here in the OC. My heart broke when I learned that most of these OC homeless families live right here in Anaheim...right across from the happiest place on earth: Disneyland.

Luckily, there is a place called Project Hope School for these kids. It is a school where the bus picks them up wherever their motel is for that night, or even wherever there car is parked and gets them to schools. It is home to students K-8, and has 3 teachers...not per grade...but for the entire school. This year-round school is a safe haven for the kids of harsh circumstances...it gives them hope. As Christians, I know we all have hope. And I hope...and I PRAY, that we can bless these children and their families with love and with the resources that we so quickly take for granite.

This week, as well as the first week of April, Matt & I will be collecting your used clothes. These clothes will go into the Project Hope School closet where families can go and "shop." Any and all clothes are welcome. Clothes for any age, male or female are welcome. Whatever Hope School may not need, will go into overflow for other ministries serving the homeless. Please help these children. Please bring these clothes to Relevant on Thursday nights at Calvary Chapel Refuge in Huntington Beach or just comment here on the blog or email me at ADominique85@yahoo.com and I can get the clothes from you at a time that works for you.

Wanna Know More?
Projecthopeschool.org/
www.facebook.com/projecthopeschool


This is where it all started. Alexandra Pelosi made an HBO documentary of these children called Motel Kids Of Orange County. This is the trailer & these are the kids:

Trailer

Home Sweetest Home

As some of you may know...Matthew and I moved out of our apartment on Goldenwest St which we shared with a roomate into our own little home on Edinger! We can actually see our church from our parking stall! It feels so wonderful to come home to my little family! Matthew and Mo are my most favorite guys in the world! So, thanks to a few good friends blessing us with their time and manual labor we moved in just a few hours on Friday night and I spent all of Saturday morning unpacking! It felt like Christmas all over again! We never used our engagement party presents, bridal shower or wedding presents either...it was all packed away until precisely this day! Here is the disaster our dining room looked like after unpacking everything:



Now, please keep in mind that 1)These pictures do not do our sweet little home any justice at all and 2)It is a work in progress as well. I see a few garage sells, thrift stores, and trips to Crate & Barrel in my future!!!

Our living room:


Our kitchen:


Our patio (which by the way I cannot wait to get started on!!!):



And thank you to EVERYBODY who blessed us with money, presents, your time and especially prayers...it was only because of these things our cupboards our stocked and our house is so homey. It really was overwhelming when we realized all the people we loved helped make our house a home.

A Week In Review (Brain Eating Bacteria VOL. 2)

Okay, so it has been about a week since I last posted, no? I feel like I could sit here and write a whole book...and maybe one day I will, but for now I realize that this is a blog so I will keep this as short & sweet as possible. My favorite word to describe this week has been "doozie" as in "It's A Doozie!" I have felt so many emotions: sad, pitiful, sore, pained, happy, hopeful, miraculous, depressed, so-so, joyful, silly, blaaah, and I have watched my husband and family feel quite the same.

Here is a picture of me when I had my picc line just put in and my 2nd IV about to be taken out



I am really happy in this picture because I just felt so brave with all those pokes and not a single tear to show for it! I credit all of my strength to the Lord, because we all know I'm definitely not that brave!

And, for those who get a little weak in the knees, this next picture may be a little up close & too personal:



(The green circle is a Medi-Patch. It keeps me from catching infections. The white thing is the catheter going into the arm. The bruising? Is awesome! Look up other pictures online...It could have been A LOT worse)



Anyway, the doctors visits of this past week didn't have such great news. Apparently I'm not getting any better so I have been sent to a tertiary doctor: a neurotologist. Basically, a doctor who deals with crazy intense ear problems. This could possibly and probably mean months of a Picc line and antibiotics and/or surgery.

Through all of this though, we have been very well taken care of. A friend, Melinda, made us a tasty casserole to help out with the challenge of daily living this week, and another friend Angie and her husband (ths pastor that married us), blessed us with some delicous soup, breakfast foods, and GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!

In other sweet news, Matthew and I sign a lease to our very own apartment tomorrow afternoon! Offical move in date, 3/11/11. Cannot wait to have our very own home!!! We do feel so very grown up I think. On our own, taking care of each other, truly learning to depend on our God and then eachother. If nothing else, this surely is a lesson in perseverance and of course, FAITH.

Brain Eating Bacteria!

I may have failed to mention the phone call that was left for me on our honeymoon. My ENT (ear specialist) without my knowing, sent my labwork to a doctor who could help me. Apparently my ear infection was no longer under his control. Yes, my ear infection had literally outsmarted my doctor. Instead of being fixed by the ear drops and antibiotics he had been prescribing me, it began to feed off of, and prosper because of them! The infection got smart!

This new doctor told me that if we didn't take action...well, like yesterday, my hearing and the right wall of my ear would be damaged permanently, as well move into my brain. Yes, my ear infection was getting smart enough to want my brain too!

Anyway, he suggested surgery (and a new ENT), but he also prescribed me two weeks of antibiotics, thru an IV that will be in me at all times. Yes, I am now the proud owner of a fanny pack, which holds my IV and this nifty little computer that controls and monitors this new antibiotic.


(Nifty little computer monitior. As seen thru the awesome window of my awesome fanny pack.)




I must say, I feel pretty horrible for my husband. 17 days into our marriage and I am now almost completely dependent on him. My IV is in my RIGHT hand by my wrist. I'm practically useless. He is so wonderful, and caring. And insist that I do nothing. I'm getting a little more acclamated to the IV today and am not quite as sore and uesless as yesterday! The worst part of this all though? I'm more sure I saw Matt's heart break while he could do nothing but watch me get poked and re-poked, and the pain of multiple sticks from trying to get the IV in correctly. He is so sweet.

But anyway, my brain eating infection is under control and next move? Hang the fanny pack from my waist, get a PICC line in on Tuesday at the hospital, and sit pretty for two weeks until I get better. Prayers? Yes, please!


(My I.V.'d wrist)

Rehearsals, Weddings, Honeymoons, LIFE!

Well, we did it! We rehearsed, we got married, and we went on our honeymoon! Time flew by and now whadda ya know...we are just back to normal life, and it's AMAZING!

This is a picture from our dress rehearsal



A lovely snapshot from the wedding ceremony



and from the SUPER AMAZING, CRAZY FUN, TOTALLY AWESOME honeymoon!



The wedding was perfect! So much fun and all the people we love the most! And the honeymoon was spectacular! We did end up going to Vegas and checked off everything from my list of Must-Do's! Well, except the Lion King play because I accidentally bought us our tickets for the same day as the wedding! Oops! But we made up for missing one show by getting from row tickets for the Jabawokeez AND the Blue Man Group! And now...two weeks later, we are back to reality. It's wonderful, and fun, and hectic! We just got a new apartment, so we can have our own place. We move into our place in March. It's great! Great location, really nice inside, clean, and puppy friendly! Mo will even have his very own patio to play in!

Matt and I did chores today. Found our new apartment, laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning. So fun! Everything is new, and exciting and awesome with my wonderful husband! Not to mention, he is incredibly handsome. I cannot wait for every new day so I can love him and have fun with him! I know it's corny, but it's the truth. Being married is amazing. I'm so excited to post all of our adventures on here! It'll be interesting to see where the Lord leads us!

Today I'm Getting Married

Mom & Dad,

I'm getting married today! But it's so surreal because I really do feel like it was just yesterday that I was at the high school football games down by the field in my cheer uniform yelling out orders. Last night while I lay in bed I thought to myself, trying to figure out when exactly I grew up? When did this happen? And I realize that I will spend the rest of my life growing up. To quote a good movie, it's true when I say "Childhood is what we spend the rest of our lives trying to overcome."

I want you to know what a good man my future husband is. Matthew is quiet, but funny. He is so funny! He is so kind and sweet, gentle and giving. He is so smart and such an incredibly hard worker. He will take care of me & I will take care of him. I am so excited and so ready to become Matthew's wife. Thinking about today, and walking down the aisle with you, Daddy, the first man I ever loved...the man that has taken care of me through thick and thin, for better or for worse, makes me overjoyed. The fact that it is you by my side, walking with me, to the man who will surely have big shoes to fill, but will without a doubt take care of me in every way, what an honor for me. And Mom, you are such a great example for everything a wife should be. I love how you still, after so many years, take care of Dad. And look at him with so much love in your eyes. And for being a mom, to two very trying little girls. I couldn't have picked a better Mother for me if God had let me do it myself. I love you two so very much.

I will miss my bed, and miss the dog. I will miss the fridge always being stocked with capri-suns, and coming home to plop down on the couch to watch Ellen with you Mom, and coming out of my bedroom on Sunday to see what all the football-commotion is about. Today, I am getting married and I love Matthew so much. There is no man out there more perfect for me. He is going to take care of me, just like you two have for 25 years. I love you, Mom & Dad.

Lovely Prayers Make For Lovely Days

i love to pray

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved

Such a sweet gift was in the mail for me today from a very sweet fiance I just so happen to be engaged to!!!



This great jacket has BRIDE scrolled across the backside with some rhinestones to make it stand out like the Barbie logo! Love it!!! And with only nineteen days between me and Matthew being husband and wife, I plan on wearing this jacket like crazy!!!! Cannot wait to be his bride forever!!!

To Do on Honeymoon!

With only 25 days until the wedding the thing I have found even MORE fun to plan is our little honeymoon!!! We decided to opt-out of a tropical paradise (We simply aren't tropical honeymoon type people!) and instead decided to go for a few days in Las Vegas, Nevada. Though neither of us drink or gamble we already have so much to see and do! Vegas is filled with SO many fun things the excitement is too much to handle!!!

We will be staying at the amazing New York, New York!



Our very first night there we have some AMAZING seats to see Disney's The Lion King, off-broadway musical, at Mandalay Bay!



This will be our inspiration to visit the Mirage Secret Garden animal habitat (black panthers, lions, bottle nosed dolphins & of course most awesome WHITE TIGERS!)


Next? A romantic gondola ride for two when we visit the Venetian...


And back to Mandalay Bay for a trip to the Shark Reef!


With so much to do we are still planning on spending time relaxing and of course trying out a buffett (or two!?). A must eat for us is Emeril's. And a must see for me? Ceasar's Palace shopping center!!! I am so blessed to be with a man who can not only provide for us a home but a wedding, AND a honeymoon! I thank God that He has given me my heart's desire. =)