How To Lose 5 Pounds In 6 Days...

ADOPT A BABY.

Trip to Sugar Bowl

Lincoln's mom came down last night to help me out this weekend while Linc is working. We did TONS of organizing and got a lot done...it felt good! I have a lot to say about what has been going on. First of all, we decided on a name for our little girl...Kylee. We just tweaked her first name a little bit and are keeping her middle name. I also wanted to say a little bit about Kylee's birth mom. She is AMAZING. Because of her, I have witnessed a level of selflessness that I've never seen before. She is one of the most mature, gracious, loving people I have ever met. I wish you all could know her. You'd be better for it. Kylee's birth-grandma wanted to meet us, so today my mom, Linc's mom, Kylee and I met the birthmom and her mom at Sugar Bowl. The grandma is just as amazing as her daughter. The five of us laughed and cried and ate and talked and took pictures for 4 hours. The meeting couldn't have gone better. They kept thanking US for what we were doing for this little girl...shouldn't it have been the other way around? Incredible. On a funny note, here are Mom & I with our ice cream...we ordered the biggest thing on the menu and the people sitting next to us were laughing at us. It was delicious!

As we were walking to our car together we saw this sign hanging in the window of one of the shops and all stopped to look at it...

That about sums it up. I've never been happier.

Watching Our Dreams Come True!

Since Sunday we've been watching a huge dream of ours come to fruition...WE ARE ADOPTING A LITTLE GIRL! If everything goes according to plan, we should have her by Friday! It's a CRAZY experience going from not even planning on adopting right now to meeting our future daughter and filling out paperwork, hiring an attorney, being assigned a case worker, starting the process of becoming certified, babysitting this little girl so that we can get to know her better, making daily trips to Target to get baby supplies, getting no sleep, letting everyone know what is going on, planning baby showers, learning parenting skills and meeting with the birth parents! It's been such a huge learning experience already. Everything is falling into place. I'm not exaggerating when I say that things couldn't have gone more perfectly than they've gone so far. We feel VERY, VERY strongly that a big reason that this is happening is because of all the prayers that have been offered in our behalf. Thank you. Please keep them coming! This is truly our MIRACLE! More info to come...
P.S. Soon after we get the baby I'll be making our blog private so that I can start posting pictures of her. Please leave your email address if you want to be invited to view our blog!!! THANKS FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT YOU ALL SHOW TO US!!!

Getting Ready...

I wasn't feeling very well today & decided making posters for Family Feud wouldn't be a bad way to spend my time. I called up my mom & sister Megan and they agreed to do it with me. This is the poster I made...I'm not done with it yet. My mom came up with the words, "If the Allen family loses, I'll go to the John & O'Hurley." Get it? The host's name is John O'Hurley. I contributed the idea of the "o" in John being a toilet & writing the word "hurl" in big green letters. I can totally see myself thinking this is HILARIOUS during the taping, then coming home & wondering why in the world I would display something like this on tv! Oh well. On second thought, they probably won't even let me into the show with this poster. :) (And I wonder why Lincoln doesn't appreciate my sense of humor!)

Telling Our Story

Over a year ago I was meeting with my bishop and shared with him that Jackson's death was the most positive experience that Lincoln & I have ever had. I told Bishop that he would be so amazed if he even knew all of the little miracles that happened, or the service that was given to us during that time. He asked me to write those experiences down. Since then, I have tried to write them but am never happy with what I write. Experiences like that are so perfect that I don't want to taint them with my inadequacy in expressing myself. But I am going to attempt to. I've sat down a few times to write the whole story & feel overwhelmed, because I don't even know where to start. Because of that, I'll be posting several parts of the story on Jackson's blog...to have for myself & in case anyone wants to read them. The way I am telling it is simple & to-the-point...which is the best way I think.

MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE PICS!!!

I wanted to add more pictures of the wedding & realized I hadn't yet looked at Shawn & Ashley's wedding photographer's photos. Well, let me just say that she did an AMAZING job!!! I LOVE Julie Parker's work! I'm hoping I'm allowed to post these, since they have her name on them. Here's her website...check her out!

Aren't they a gorgeous couple?!

Love this one of all the boys! The guy on the right is Ashley's sister's husband...

3am

I walked into our room at 3:00 this morning (my insomnia made a comeback last night) and Linc decided to strike up a conversation with me...
Lincoln: "Were the dogs witnesses?"
Me: "What?"
Lincoln: "Are the dogs awake?"
Me: "Um, no." (Daisy was laying right beside him wide awake...)
Lincoln: (In a really frustrated voice) "Are the dogs awake?"
Me: "Yeah."
(Lincoln gives me a look like I am the most annoying, frustrating person EVER.)
Me: "I'm not sure what you are wanting me to say."
Lincoln: "ARE THE DOGS AWAKE?"
Me: "Yes."
(Lincoln rolls over...REALLY mad at me.)

Sometimes I just can't win. :) Yes...he was asleep!

Don't Worry...I'm Alive!

I realize I haven't been blogging multiple times a week like I usually do. Well, our laptop crashed & our naughty doggies chewed our USB cable to our other computer awhile back, so I have no way of uploading my pics until we get the laptop back. I had this pic on my phone though. Daisy & Duke turned a year old a few weeks ago... these three just make me happy!

(Picture taken in 2007) It has been amazing these last few weeks to feel like I have a husband! We've really enjoyed spending time together. It's been so nice not to feel lonely and to have Lincoln here at home. I'm sad that school starts tomorrow!

Overall, things have been going really well for us. I'm on a great sleep schedule and I'm able to keep my stomach problems to a minimum because of what I am eating. My endometriosis hasn't gotten any worse these past few months which is an absolute MIRACLE! I'm convinced that asking people to pray for me was definitely the right thing...thank you, thank you, thank you! We're still worried about me getting pregnant, but we are keeping our fingers crossed. This is honestly one of the EASIEST times we've ever had in our marriage...we almost don't know what to do with ourselves! I'm able to clean & cook & don't usually have to worry about hurting too much when I'm out in public. It is incredible. LIFE IS SO GOOD!

They're Coming Back To Win!!!

Remember my Family Feud post from earlier this year? In it I explained that my dad, 3 of his brothers, & his mom were on Family Feud back in 1983. Well, guess what? They are ON IT AGAIN!!! In two weeks I will be driving to Cali to watch the taping of the show. I'm not sure when their episode will air yet (or hopefully multiple episodes if they win!) but I will post the date when I find out! I love that my 76-year-old grandma is willing to be on a game show. I can't wait to see how they do. I know for sure that they will be HILARIOUS!!! Good luck guys!!!(They taped a promo where they say "We were on in '83 and we're coming back to win!" If it airs & someone sees it, tell me!)

Charity

I've been trying harder on Sunday mornings to better prepare myself to feel the Spirit at church. This morning I read today's Relief Society lesson, which is about charity. As I was reading, my thoughts turned to all of the heartfelt acts that were performed for us when we found out that Jackson had died. I have never felt so much love and support as I did during that time. I have a shoe box full of letters & cards that people sent us...I pulled the box out and read through them all this morning & am completely overcome with emotion. There are so many genuine, honest, caring, charitable people out there in the world, and Lincoln and I are blessed to be acquainted with many of them. My heart is full today as I prepare to go to church. I know that so many people want what is best for us and that they rejoice when we rejoice and mourn when we mourn. I'm so thankful.
Update: If anyone in my ward reads this & thinks I'm clueless...I was out of town last Sunday & the Elders Quorum's lesson schedule is a week behind. :)

Shawn & Ashley's Wedding

Well, Shawn & Ashley are officially husband & wife & I couldn't be more excited about it! They got married in the Salt Lake temple. It was my first time being inside of that temple...it is beautiful! Linc & I spent a whole week in Utah & Snowflake...so more pics of the trip will be coming soon! Here are Shawn & Ashley walking out of the temple...how cute are they?!

Melissa, Brad, Lincoln & I...

Close-up in front of the temple...you can totally tell I'd been crying. :)

The boys chatting between pictures. I love that they all get along so well.

Shawn with the bridesmaids...I loved the colors!

Ashley's mom put on a nice dinner at the Lion House after the wedding. The rolls were delish! Here I am with my new sister! I try not to be jealous of how incredibly gorgeous she is!

My mom & I with my grandma's sister & her husband...

This is my good friend Linda. She'll probably kill me for putting her picture on the Internet, but I couldn't resist! I used to work with her...we have so many fun memories together!

Catching up with my mom's cousin & her husband, my Uncle Bob & Bill (my grandpa's brothers) and Bill's wife Barbara...

Great weather, food, family & friends made for a special day!

Happy Bday Sis!!!

Happy 24th birthday to my little sister Melissa!!! I love Melissa SO much...we have always been really close. She is seriously the nicest person ever and is such a good example and friend. She is so talented and is always thinking about others. I hope that you have a GREAT day today Meliss! I love you! I am so lucky to have a sister like you!