Cleo Madison Dress Review

You all know I am a crazy busy mama of 4, but when I find something I love I need to share it.
I recieved this beautiful floral dress from cleomadison.com and oh my goodness it instantly became a favorite. I just recently stopped nursing my youngest son in March and felt a little awkward and uncomfortable in my clothes especially when picking out what to wear to church on Sunday's.  As soon as I took this dress out of the package and felt the soft material, I was in love.

Elizabeth Morgan the owner of this cute Cleo Madison botique is based out of Utah that carries a large selection of modest dresses, swimwear, skirts and tops. Just like me, she had a hard time finding modest stylish clothing choices that were also affordable. Elizabeth decided to do something about it and she created this awesome place for women to shop for modest clothes.

This dress was perfect to wear here on the east where it can still be chilly in April. Even though it has long sleeves it's not thick and bulky. The length is just right for Spring and so modest as well.
The pockets give it just the perfect touch.

I highly recommend this dress and this boutique to anyone looking for beautiful, good quality, affordable modest clothes. Thank you so much Cleo Madison for sharing this amazing dress with me! To shop on their Amazon easy and user friendly site, visit https://www.cleomadison.com/collections/modest-dresses

Playing catch-up

Let’s be honest, it's been far too long since I wrote. I have had the itch for a while but I just haven’t sat down between the chaos of being a newish mom of 4 now and the daily responsibilities of taking care of a home. **No excuse right**

The baby is sound asleep in my bed. Liam is actually still sleeping. The girls had a sleepover at my parents so the house is quiet and still. This is rare. Very rare. But, I will soak up every minute until I hear tiny 4 year old feet running down the hall.

Where do I even begin? What’s new you ask. Well my last post was in 2016 so there is so much change already. Let me do a quick update for you.

• Its 2017 (like you didn’t already know- sometimes I forget)
• We bought our first home in the Spring
• We had baby #4 (delivered at home- that deserves its own blog post)
• Nate got a new job closer to home
• The twins graduated from Kindergarten
• Liam turned 4 years old
• I turned the BIG 30 in July!

Ok so the list doesn’t seem as long as I thought but I could add so many details to every bullet point. Next Monday will be the first day of school here. I almost feel guilty for being so excited. Who am I kidding no I don’t. The kids and I do much better with daily routine. I feel like when I get them back in the late afternoon from school we connect and value each other a bit more.

If you know me, you know I love lists. I like making lists and physically checking them off. It makes me feel accomplished. Have had daily to-do lists, weekly lists, shopping lists, and meal lists. (the list goes on haha) I am sure this school year will be no different. Without my Google calendar and my lists I am lost. Ask anyone, don’t count on me to remember anything.

I have so many goals and things I want to accomplish this school year. Not just for the kids but for me as well. I just saw an awesome IG post about building our children up. She stated how she just started daily affirmations with her children. I have been thinking about this for a while and what better time to start a new tradition then a new school year. The twins will be heading into 1st grade! An actual elementary school with kids up to 5th grade. I am so nervous for them. They will be exposed to so much.I want to start their day on a good note. As I drive/walk them to school around the corner everyday I want to remind them of who they are. Who they were born to be. Who they can become. Words can be so powerful. That’s one of the reasons I love writing. They can be positive or negative. They can heal. They can inspire. Create change. So that is one of my goals. Here are a few affirmations I think we will focus on for each day. Want to start doing these together? What are some other affirmations you would you in your home?

I promise months won’t go by without me posting again. Another goal of mine is to really build my blog this year. Share more of my heart and myself with all of you. Until next time friends! Have a great Wednesday everyone.

October Blessings

And just like that, my sweet biological daughter is 8 years old today.
It's about 3 a.m. and I can't sleep. I find my thoughts are mostly of her. The day she was born. Our story. The love that surrounded us in the hospital. The precious memories. The heartache. Most of all, the love.

         
It's been 8 short years that I have been on my birth mother journey on this side of adoption. Before that time I was an adoptee with a closed adoption. I thought I mentally prepared myself pretty good prior to placement. I have always felt in my heart placing her was the right choice for us. But, the human side of me has struggled at times. I struggle because I have to watch her grow up from afar. I struggle for knowing how it could have been. I struggle missing the big and small moments. Yet, I have never regretted my decision. I have been blessed beyond measure ever since.
I was unable to make it to her sealing as an infant so I made a personal goal to be there for another big day in her life.  Her baptism day. When someone turns 8 they chose for themself if they want to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Which is next month in the beginning of November for her.
In the midst of my planning in the beginning of September I was looking up flights and I got a phone call from my birth daughters dad, Matt. He was wondering how my flight search was going and wondering what I was up to that night being a friday. I told him I had found a couple good ones and that we were just hanging out at my brothers house for a while. The next thing I know is the front door to their house opened and in came Matt and his family all the way from Utah. I was completely shocked and out of words. I couldn't even cry. It had been over a year that I had seen them all. It was an awesome two week surprise visit. I even got to have them stay at our house for a few days. I got to watch my biological daughter interact and play with my other children and spend time with my parents and siblings. It always feels so complete when they are all in town. I was on cloud nine.

My husband and I are raising 3 young children with one on the way and I am a stay at home mom. I have been saving some money here and there over the last few months for this trip out west. I wanted to take my two older girls with me but it is just too expensive so I just planned on traveling alone. Just as life would have it, end of September my husband's has car trouble and it is his transmission and starting to die. An expensive fix that we were not financially prepared for. After praying about what we needed to do the answer came to me that I needed to use the money that I had been saving all year to go towards the repair of his car instead of using to get out to Utah. I was devastated to be honest. Just because I knew it was the right answer it didn't make it any easier. My family's needs are more important than my wants and I knew it.
This past week I was feeling down about our situation, Talia's birthday was coming up and I knew I wasn't going to be able to be there. I decided to vent to a friend and a FB adoption group that I am a part of because I felt they would get my disappointment.  My sweet friend told me I should start like a go fund me account so people could donate if they like to help me get out to Utah for Talia's baptism.  I felt silly because I thought those things were for people who had serious needs like help to fund their medical bills or of set an unplanned funeral.  Not my mediocre desire to attend my biological daughters baptism.  She said something that will always stay with me. She said, let me do this for you. That I needed to allow others the opportunity to bless my life. So I gave in. In less than 3 hours after the account was up I had more than half of our goal raised. I was speechless.  At this time I didn't know a single person who donated to my cause. Complete strangers. Angels. Paying it forward.  I was completely humbled.  Then when I woke up the following morning to my surprise I was over my goal and I had two incredible women offer to pay for my plane tickets out of their pockets. I will be eternally thankful for my friend and all those who are making it possible to be there for her special day.
I immediately dropped to my knees and poured my heart out to the Lord thanking him for this opportunity to see his hand working so closely in my life.
   

   
 Sometimes I think we all need reminders that we are loved and cared for. Heavenly Father knew my heart and through the generous hearts of others made it possible for me to go on this trip. He is in every detail of our lives. He knows our hearts and wants us to be happy. He is just waiting for us to come to him and let him bless us. I can't wait to be able to pay it forward someday and be an instrument for the Lord to help bless another like I was.

Happy 8th birthday sweet Talia. I love you more than you will ever know. You have saved my life in countless ways. It has been such a joy watching you grow from that 7lb baby to a fun, smart, athletic, social girl. I hope this day will always bring you joy and sweet memories. I know it does for me. I have grown in so many ways because of you. You have taught me so many life lesson in 8 short years about unconditional love, sacrifice, the atonement of Jesus Christ, faith, and so much more. You were born to be great. You have Victory and Badell in you so there is no doubt you will do amazing things. Please know I am always just a phone call away. I can't wait to hear your voice tonight when I call and for you to tell me all about your special day.
Here is to many many more birthdays! <3

Sunshine After the Rain

**Trigger Warning*  Miscarriage/ Infant Loss
I do not write this post for sympathy. Writing is one of the many ways I heal. I share my struggles and the lessons I have learned in hopes to uplift someone else.

In September 2015 the tiny white stick held much more than two pink lines. It held hope, joy and excitement for the future of growing our family. Every time we feel our family is done growing we feel that that is not what the Lord wants for us. I was overjoyed. I would have been due this week.

Yet, shortly after I found out I was expecting it was not meant to be, not this time. I started bleeding and had to go to the ER where they confirmed I was having a miscarriage. All of my hopes and dreams of holding a precious new addition in 9 months were crushed. Even though I was not far along the hope of a baby that would never be was very hard to take in. I couldn't understand how I was able to give birth to 4 amazing healthy children, my first who I placed for adoption then I had a set of full term twins and even a 10 pounder.
Life went on as usual. I had so much to occupy my time and thoughts between raising my 3 children and preparing for our big family move. 

As this Spring approached my heart mended and the end of April brought new hope. I felt surely this time would be different and yet in the back of my mind I told myself not to get too excited. I dreamed of when we would tell our children, watch lovingly at the ultrasound images and learned the sex of our 4th baby. 

As I sat on the the table in the OB office 2 weeks ago waiting for the doctor I knew my worst fears came true. I didn't want it to be true but it was. The pregnancy didn't stick...again.  No answers. No concern. Just that I was young and healthy and that it is completely normal to experience a couple miscarriages. He would know for certain in three days after another blood test.
I am 1 and 4.
As I walked out of that office and saw so many mothers-to-be I couldn't help but feel jealous and sad for myself. So what did I do, I went and bought myself a whole cake. A "pity cake". I just wanted to eat my feelings.  

I felt like a walking zombie during that week, lost and empty. I couldn't eat. Couldn't sleep. I couldn't take enough baths to ease my pain. My sweet husband was beside himself on how to help me. He was just as excited as I was. On top of it all, it was the week of Mother's Day. I felt as though the Lord knew my righteous desire of having another baby and just dismissed it...again. Oh how very wrong I was.
 As with every struggle there is growth and lessons to be learned.

These are the lessons I learned:

I have a family who loves and cares for me. I have a Father in Heaven who knows my heart and loves me beyond my comprehension and he is always with us when we need him. I was reminded by my sweet sister that prayers are answered in a number of ways.
My broken heart was mended by the people in my life. My family and friends. My own children who saw the tears and sadness in my face showed me love and compassion.
My sweet two year old bless his heart, sat in my lap and placed his small hand on my cheek as I cried uncontrollably as I read the negative pregnancy test. 

I was reminded just how blessed I am with 3 healthy, active, beautiful children to nurture and raise right now, who are quite honestly my greatest joy.
I was reminded by my wise dad that Heavenly Father knew long before I did what was going to happen. That it is all in his timing. Not my time but in the Lord's. 

My dearest mom sat with me as I cried and and complained about my heartache. After she listened she did what she does best and we turned to the scriptures for comfort. Oh how I admire her strength.

Most of all I learned that there is always sunshine after the rain, if we just know where to look.

The Phone Call that Changed My Life

Seven months before I made a phone call that changed my life, I placed my daughter for adoption. Seven years ago this week, marks a huge milestone in my life that I thought would never happen. On May 6th 2009 my deepest dreams came true.

I am a birth mother. A title I never thought I would share with my own birth mother.

I was adopted when I was six months old to the most loving family I could ever ask for. When I was 21 and a junior in college I became pregnant. Open adoption was the best choice for my daughter.

I remember it like it was yesterday, it was May 6, 2009. I had an overwhelming feeling that night I should search for my birth mother. In the 80’s there was no option for open adoptions, so all the information I had on my birth parents were what my parents knew as well. Minor details with no real specifics. I had doctors notes, hospital records, and foster home letters all in my baby book that I had seen a thousand times. Yet, on this particular night I spotted two words I have never seen. A Name! Maybe her name! I couldn’t believe it. I was the only one home so I couldn’t ask anyone about it. I am not really sure what I was thinking. I probably wasn’t. I jumped on Google and then the white pages. I typed her name in and was blown away by 13 listings with the same name. I took a deep breath and started to dial the first number on the list. I had nothing to lose. No expectations. On the third ring I thought about chickening out and hanging up, but then he answered. A man with a kind, sweet, southern voice. No turning back now.

“Hello” said the man.

“Hi” I replied.

“What can I do for you?” he asked.

“Could you be related to a Debra Sexton?” I asked timidly.

“Yes, that is my daughters maiden name, how can I help you?” he said simply

In my mind I thought no big deal, it wasn’t her. I took a deep breath and blurted out,

“Well, I think she could be my birth mom”. I said quickly.

I froze and I held my breath,waiting for the negative answer I was sure that was about to follow.

“Well, she did place a baby for adoption a number of years ago. My wife isn’t home right now but she would have all the details. If you leave your name and birthday, I will have her call you back when she gets home from church.”

Before he hung up, he said one last thing and it has always stayed with me. He said “you know, so this means you are talking for your grandfather. I always knew you would find us.” With that and a promise to hear from his wife later he hung up.

Two of the longest hours later I received a call back.

I did it. I found her. I called my grandparents house. I grew up only 45 minutes away from where she grew up.

My grandmother informed me that she just got off the phone with my birth mom and wanted to know when I was available to meet her. 

There it was- no rejection. She actually wanted to see me. As an adoptee reuniting with biological family members there is always a chance that it won’t go the way you are hoping. But for me, that wasn’t the case. On May 9th 2009, which ironically happend to be Birthmother’s Day, I reunited with my birth mother, her amazing husband, my half brother and sister, and my biological grandparents.

A day that I hold very close to my heart. My prayers were answered. I know nothing happens by chance and it was all in the Lord's perfect timing that I found her when I did. I was prepared for that day. 

You see I completely feel that I needed to experience something to cause a change of heart for myself before I found her and I did by placing Talia for adoption. I was truly humbled by that experience and I gained such a deep love and understanding for my birth mom that I did not have before nor I think would I if I had not placed my daughter for adoption. I am eternally grateful for Debbie and her choice.

The Lord was in every detail from the beginning.