Since Gabriel and I got married we've talked about adoption; 9 years and 3 biological children later we have finally begun the process! This will be my first post about our journey!
A little back ground info...
When we lived in Delaware (our previous station) adoption was a subject that we had started to seriously talk about. Soon after doing some research and learning about a really neat agency (that we were excited to possibly use) called Bethany Christian Services we found out my husband was going to deploy for 4.5 months. Well, at that point the idea of adopting anytime in the near future went out the door. Completing a homestudy, taking care of 2 young children and a house while my husband was gone was not feasible.
After returning home from deployment we became pregnant with baby number 3 (along with quite a few other squadron couples; deployment babies are the best:) With this pregnancy we knew it would be a while before adopting would fit into our lives....
We then made the cross country move from Delaware to Alaska for our new assignment! Since moving here a year and a half ago we have talked about adopting on and off. It seemed like for 2-3 months we would research, talk, pray and attend meetings about adoption; then life would get busy, my husband would leave for training or go fly missions, kids would get sick, and I'd be engrossed in starting my photography business that adoption would once again take the back burner. Then a spark would bring up the conversation again and we would spend a few more months talking and contemplating this life altering decision. With so many avenues for adoption, the hardest decision is deciding which is best for your family, and where to start! I believe that this was the biggest reason why we had such a hard time getting the ball rolling. We just didn't know where to start. Foreign? Domestic? Agency? Private? Foster? Newborn? So many possibilities with really one outcome...to give a child a home, a family, love, security and to show them the unconditional love of Jesus.
Here are some Bible verses about adoption:
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
~Psalms 68:5-6
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
~James 1:27
Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
~Isaiah 1:17
Defend the cause of orphans. I love that verse. If we won't fight for them, then who will? These innocent children didn't ask to be abandoned, abused or neglected; they are not unloveable or hopeless. Unfortunately they believe they are because of the situations they have been put through, because the people they were naturally supposed to rely on and trust let them down.
Since moving to Alaska it has really been on my heart that God has a specific child (or children) already picked for us and I believe we will be blessed with this child while living here. Now, we just have to do our part in obeying His will and get the ball rolling!
We have picked out a homestudy writer (someone who performs the homestudy, compiles all the paperwork and concludes whether or not we are suitable to adopt) and now the process begins! She has emailed us a lot of documents to start filling out and we will be going to Anchorage to be fingerprinted soon. Even though we are not technically fostering, because we want to adopt a legally free child out of foster care; we must also become foster care licensed. Once the homestudy is done we plan to submit it to all the Offices of Child Services in the state of Alaska...then, we wait. We have not ruled out infant adoption, but have decided to try this route first. With the infant adoption, we would need a homestudy done too, as that is still an option for us.
I know this is a calling for us. A special way we can make a difference in another person's life, forever. With my love for children, my husband's true compassion for others, and our love for Jesus, I know we can change the world; one child at a time!
Please pray for us during this time. We will need wisdom to prepare our own children, perseverance to get through the mountain of paperwork, assurance to push through the doubt and strength to make it through the wait. I look forward to keeping you all updated on our process, and am already excited for the day we can announce the newest member of our family to you!
I want to leave you with my new favorite song by Audio Adrenaline. Every child has a dream to belong and be loved....
Kings and Queens
Blessings,
~Susan
All posts related to our adoption journey will be under the adoption tag at the top of the page.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Southwest OK Newborn Photographer | Baby B Session
Saturday I was able to photograph a sweet 6 day old baby girl. She loved to be held and had the biggest brown eyes! Even though she was born at 8 lbs, she seemed so tiny to me, probably because my youngest is now two and a half and not a baby anymore!
Here are some of her best photos!
Nothing like a soft squishy sweet newborn to put you in a good mood on a Tuesday! ;)
~Susan
Susan Wetlesen Photography
Susan Wetlesen Photography-Facebook
Here are some of her best photos!
Nothing like a soft squishy sweet newborn to put you in a good mood on a Tuesday! ;)
~Susan
Susan Wetlesen Photography
Susan Wetlesen Photography-Facebook
Susan
Wetlesen Photography specializes in newborn,
birth, family and lifestyle photography
in Southwest Oklahoma and surrounding areas including but not limited
to Lawton, Wichita Falls and Altus.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Yesterday At Church
Yesterday was an emotional day at church, and let's admit it, sometimes it just is.
Looking over and seeing/hearing my sweet 7 year old daughter sing "How Great Is Our God" was definitely a happy moment for this parent. :)
Then the pastor spoke about some loses we have recently experienced in our church. He explained as a reminder to the congregation that through Jesus' death, our death is not the end of the road. His death replaced ours, He accomplished His death so that we wouldn't have to experience death to the fullest. Yes, we leave our physical bodies, which are not perfect anyway. We have pain, hardships, we get our feelings hurt, we struggle with thoughts of inadequacy/self doubt, we feel lonely, we suffer from loosing those closest to us; we have physical pain from childbirth, accidents, sicknesses, or just growing older. But, because of the death that Christ suffered for us, we don't have to be scared or sad about our deaths. We get to leave all of these pains and troubles behind....
After communion we sang the song "It Is Well." I leaned over and whispered to my husband, "I can hear my Dad singing this." Even though it's been 12 years, I can still hear his deep voice belting out his favorite songs at church. Then the tears came. Christ suffered his death for MY dad. He encountered the worst death possible so MY dad could spend eternity with Him. What an awesome God we serve. Even when it's not always easy to see "why"something as happened, we have to step back and remember God knows the bigger picture and the ultimate plan is authored by Him. He suffered and died for MY father, MY brother, MY brother-in-law, MY friend's husband, MY friend's mother, MY friend's father...who in your life has He died for? The answer is clear and the answer is true, Christ died for everyone...He died for me and for YOU!
~Susan
You liked that rhyming sentence at the end, didn't you? :)
Looking over and seeing/hearing my sweet 7 year old daughter sing "How Great Is Our God" was definitely a happy moment for this parent. :)
Then the pastor spoke about some loses we have recently experienced in our church. He explained as a reminder to the congregation that through Jesus' death, our death is not the end of the road. His death replaced ours, He accomplished His death so that we wouldn't have to experience death to the fullest. Yes, we leave our physical bodies, which are not perfect anyway. We have pain, hardships, we get our feelings hurt, we struggle with thoughts of inadequacy/self doubt, we feel lonely, we suffer from loosing those closest to us; we have physical pain from childbirth, accidents, sicknesses, or just growing older. But, because of the death that Christ suffered for us, we don't have to be scared or sad about our deaths. We get to leave all of these pains and troubles behind....
After communion we sang the song "It Is Well." I leaned over and whispered to my husband, "I can hear my Dad singing this." Even though it's been 12 years, I can still hear his deep voice belting out his favorite songs at church. Then the tears came. Christ suffered his death for MY dad. He encountered the worst death possible so MY dad could spend eternity with Him. What an awesome God we serve. Even when it's not always easy to see "why"something as happened, we have to step back and remember God knows the bigger picture and the ultimate plan is authored by Him. He suffered and died for MY father, MY brother, MY brother-in-law, MY friend's husband, MY friend's mother, MY friend's father...who in your life has He died for? The answer is clear and the answer is true, Christ died for everyone...He died for me and for YOU!
~Susan
You liked that rhyming sentence at the end, didn't you? :)
Monday, January 28, 2013
The Last Frontier
Alaska: The Last Frontier. The 49th State. The Mainland. The Great Land. Land of the Midnight Sun.
It has suddenly hit me that we have been here for half of our time on station! I finally feel like we actually LIVE in Alaska! When you move somewhere new, it always takes time to come to terms that you live there and you aren't just visiting. It seems like our move to Alaska has taken longer to feel like a reality then most moves. I remember last year we kept saying to each other "I just can't believe we LIVE in Alaska! This is just so crazy/cool!" And now that we are are predicted to move next year I suddenly find myself in a panic!
I can't believe we have been here for a year and a half already! Our first winter here was apparently of the "worst", with record breaking (in the last 50 years) snowfall of about 150 inches, but, we got through it! We came from a state that practically shut down if there was more then an inch of snow and you were stuck in your neighborhood for days waiting on plows to come to your cabin fever rescue. Here though, there is no such thing as a snow day. It can snow a foot over night and no need to worry about being stuck in your neighborhood for a week, people don't rush out and buy up all the milk/water/canned goods off the shelf because a snow storm is coming. Nope, they do quite the opposite. They get excited for the snow, they gear up, go out and rough it in the negative temps.
One thing I have realized about Alaskans is that they love life, and to the fullest. Sure, they are a bit different when it comes to the way they dress, hold a conversation, spend their money, protect their family and property and just their overall demeanor, but man, do they know how to have a good time! I'm not talking about getting dressed up, going out, getting drunk and partying. No, that's not Alaskans at all (you could go to the nicest, most expensive restaurant in town and wear jeans, no problem). It's camping, fishing, ATVing, snow machining, ice fishing, hunting, hiking, running, snow shoeing, skiing, dog sledding, flying and living off the land. I know people who never buy meat or fish. They shoot a moose and have meat for the whole year. They dip net once or twice and have a freezer packed full of salmon for the winter. They have chickens for eggs and grown their own garden, they live off the land! It truly is the Last Frontier! There are so many things people can (and are willing) to do here that you just can't in the lower 48. Owning an ATV or UTV or a snow machine is like owning another car. Carrying a gun is like carrying your wallet. It's essential and it's just what people do.
Living in Alaska has taught me a lot. People here know how to really enjoy and appreciate their home state. They don't waste time, or sunlight for that matter. In the summer the sun is out until after midnight, and so are the people. They pack as much as they can into the summer days because they know it only lasts a few months. In the winter they take advantage of the snow and all it has to offer. They don't sit at home and mope because of the dark and the cold. Yes, it is easy to get stuck in a rut over the winter, but if you want to survive the winter with minimal amount of depression and weight gain, you gotta get out there and have fun! Really, if you dress properly, you don't realize how cold it is!
There are just so many cool opportunities to do things here you just can't find in other states. Have you ever seen Santa and his real reindeer downtown during Christmas time? Have you ever had to forgo the fireworks on the 4th of July because it just doesn't get dark enough to do them? Have you ever had to break for a moose crossing the street in your neighborhood? Have you gone out ATVing until midnight because it was still light enough so, why not? Have you ever watched the Northern Lights from your bedroom window?
I'm in a panic because I want to make sure we push ourselves and enjoy this state to the fullest before we move. I don't want to look back and wish we would have done more. With realizing we have half our time left I am eager to take full advantage of this gorgeous state now, while we can. I've had this "aha" moment and it has left me excited and eager for this summer and even next winter to come!
Even though we were supposed to move here 4 years ago, got it taken from us and went to Dover instead, God had a plan. His timing is perfect. He knew Alaska was going to be a part of our life, even if we didn't know. Now that we are here, I don't want to waste another day!
Alright, time to bundle up the kid, hop on the snow machine and go shoot tonight's dinner. Ha, just kidding! But it is almost time to get the kids from school and enjoy those gorgeous mountains on the way!
~Susan
It has suddenly hit me that we have been here for half of our time on station! I finally feel like we actually LIVE in Alaska! When you move somewhere new, it always takes time to come to terms that you live there and you aren't just visiting. It seems like our move to Alaska has taken longer to feel like a reality then most moves. I remember last year we kept saying to each other "I just can't believe we LIVE in Alaska! This is just so crazy/cool!" And now that we are are predicted to move next year I suddenly find myself in a panic!
I can't believe we have been here for a year and a half already! Our first winter here was apparently of the "worst", with record breaking (in the last 50 years) snowfall of about 150 inches, but, we got through it! We came from a state that practically shut down if there was more then an inch of snow and you were stuck in your neighborhood for days waiting on plows to come to your cabin fever rescue. Here though, there is no such thing as a snow day. It can snow a foot over night and no need to worry about being stuck in your neighborhood for a week, people don't rush out and buy up all the milk/water/canned goods off the shelf because a snow storm is coming. Nope, they do quite the opposite. They get excited for the snow, they gear up, go out and rough it in the negative temps.
One thing I have realized about Alaskans is that they love life, and to the fullest. Sure, they are a bit different when it comes to the way they dress, hold a conversation, spend their money, protect their family and property and just their overall demeanor, but man, do they know how to have a good time! I'm not talking about getting dressed up, going out, getting drunk and partying. No, that's not Alaskans at all (you could go to the nicest, most expensive restaurant in town and wear jeans, no problem). It's camping, fishing, ATVing, snow machining, ice fishing, hunting, hiking, running, snow shoeing, skiing, dog sledding, flying and living off the land. I know people who never buy meat or fish. They shoot a moose and have meat for the whole year. They dip net once or twice and have a freezer packed full of salmon for the winter. They have chickens for eggs and grown their own garden, they live off the land! It truly is the Last Frontier! There are so many things people can (and are willing) to do here that you just can't in the lower 48. Owning an ATV or UTV or a snow machine is like owning another car. Carrying a gun is like carrying your wallet. It's essential and it's just what people do.
Living in Alaska has taught me a lot. People here know how to really enjoy and appreciate their home state. They don't waste time, or sunlight for that matter. In the summer the sun is out until after midnight, and so are the people. They pack as much as they can into the summer days because they know it only lasts a few months. In the winter they take advantage of the snow and all it has to offer. They don't sit at home and mope because of the dark and the cold. Yes, it is easy to get stuck in a rut over the winter, but if you want to survive the winter with minimal amount of depression and weight gain, you gotta get out there and have fun! Really, if you dress properly, you don't realize how cold it is!
There are just so many cool opportunities to do things here you just can't find in other states. Have you ever seen Santa and his real reindeer downtown during Christmas time? Have you ever had to forgo the fireworks on the 4th of July because it just doesn't get dark enough to do them? Have you ever had to break for a moose crossing the street in your neighborhood? Have you gone out ATVing until midnight because it was still light enough so, why not? Have you ever watched the Northern Lights from your bedroom window?
I'm in a panic because I want to make sure we push ourselves and enjoy this state to the fullest before we move. I don't want to look back and wish we would have done more. With realizing we have half our time left I am eager to take full advantage of this gorgeous state now, while we can. I've had this "aha" moment and it has left me excited and eager for this summer and even next winter to come!
Even though we were supposed to move here 4 years ago, got it taken from us and went to Dover instead, God had a plan. His timing is perfect. He knew Alaska was going to be a part of our life, even if we didn't know. Now that we are here, I don't want to waste another day!
Alright, time to bundle up the kid, hop on the snow machine and go shoot tonight's dinner. Ha, just kidding! But it is almost time to get the kids from school and enjoy those gorgeous mountains on the way!
~Susan
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Friend: A person who _____?
Friend:
n.
1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.
4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement
One of the neat things about being a military wife is all the many (different kind of) friends you make along your journey of moving here and there and everywhere across the globe. It's scary at first moving somewhere new. Most of the time you do it all on your own, without family and friends to hold your hand as your jump into a new town (or state or country!), a new schedule, new schools, new jobs, new church, new people and really just a whole new life. For the first few months you are unpacking boxes, organizing your house, figuring out schedules and where to go for this and that, learning the new street names and where the best place to get a cup of coffee is, because honestly, a good cup of coffee is a major priority if you want to keep your sanity. Then once shop is set up and a few months go by and you settle into your routine and you feel like you finally have a hold on this new life, you realize, you are in desperate need of a friend. And the whole cycle of making new friends starts all over again. Sure, you've done it once, or twice, or like me, 7 times, but it never gets any easier.
The thing about friends is that the word really is a broad spectrum as far as how close you are to someone and how well you really know them. You can have just met someone a week ago, ran into them twice and from there on out start referring to them as your friend. Or, you can have known someone your whole life, know all their secrets; the good, the bad, the ugly about them and call them a friend too. This is what I love about friends.
With all the moves we have hurdled over and successfully accomplished, I have found that God has brought to me a specific friend or a couple friends that met my very needs at that time. It can become really lonely as a military wife when your husband is gone and you still have all the duties of taking care of the kids, the house, the cars, etc, and then you are also picking up the slack and are responsible for all that he is when he is home. Life goes on when they are gone. It doesn't come to a complete halt. Diapers still need to be changed, the bills still need to be paid, the dishes still have to be done, the kids still have to get up for school and so on. This is where the importance of a friend comes in. One thing the military life has taught me is to put yourself out there and make friends! It's really hard and awkward at first, but we need all sorts of friends in this time of our life to meet our different needs. When it comes to needing help, or someone you can vent to; you may have one or two friends, or you may have twenty. Take a moment and think about these friends. What would life be like without them? How would you cope with certain situations? Who would you talk to, lean on or ask for help?
What's awesome about the military is having friends (literally) all over the world. Yes, I have many friends, some closer then others, some who know things about me that others don't, some who have been through certain situations with me that others might not even know about, some who would get that inside joke and some who wouldn't. But what's really cool about the word friend, is that because of such a broad definition of the word, I get to call a lot of people "friend". I'm so thankful for all my friends. They have all helped shape me into the person I am today. I have memories of each one that I get to cherish forever, or continue making memories with right now. I get to call each and every one of them a friend for a different reason.
Sure, being in the military is hard, it's emotional, it's stressful, it's painful, but all of these awesome people in my life I get to call a friend make it worth it! Friends are an amazing gift. I know I am very thankful for the people that God has brought into my life.
So, how would you describe a friend? Or, better yet, how would YOU like to be described AS a friend???
Goodnight,
Susan
Friday, January 18, 2013
Shredded Honey BBQ Pineapple Chicken Sandwiches (Crock Pot)
Thursday nights are gym nights, and because we don't get home until 6:45-7:00, I knew I wanted to do dinner in the Crock Pot. I didn't want to go to the store and buy ingredients to make a meal; I wanted to use what I had on hand. So, I was going to just throw some BBQ sauce over chicken and call it good, but then I saw this recipe and since I already had everything for it, I figured I'd try it! I halved the ingredients since we didn't need to make as much and it was the perfect amount with some leftovers for today (which I've already had, and it was so good!)
*below is the recipe already cut in half*
Shredded Honey BBQ Pineapple Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (slightly thawed and cut in half)
3/4 bottle Kraft Honey BBQ
1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
1/8 cup brown sugar
1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 (big) can pineapple tidbits (drained)
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Cheese slices for topping
In a bowl mix the BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Place chicken in slow cooker and cover with sauce mix. Cook on high for 4 hours or until chicken is cooked through and pulls apart easily. (It will look really saucy, but once the chicken is shredded and the pineapple is mixed in it will be the perfect amount) Shred chicken in the sauce and pour pineapples over and mix in. Cook on high for 30 more minutes while prepping rolls and cheese and sides.
Place mixture on rolls and top with cheese and watch it melt into yummy cheesy goodness!
Like I said, I made these for lunch again with the left overs, and today I used Pepper Jack cheese and also topped with dill pickles-SO good!
Hope you enjoy! And don't forget the napkins.
~Susan
*below is the recipe already cut in half*
Shredded Honey BBQ Pineapple Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (slightly thawed and cut in half)
3/4 bottle Kraft Honey BBQ
1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
1/8 cup brown sugar
1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 (big) can pineapple tidbits (drained)
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Cheese slices for topping
In a bowl mix the BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Place chicken in slow cooker and cover with sauce mix. Cook on high for 4 hours or until chicken is cooked through and pulls apart easily. (It will look really saucy, but once the chicken is shredded and the pineapple is mixed in it will be the perfect amount) Shred chicken in the sauce and pour pineapples over and mix in. Cook on high for 30 more minutes while prepping rolls and cheese and sides.
Place mixture on rolls and top with cheese and watch it melt into yummy cheesy goodness!
Like I said, I made these for lunch again with the left overs, and today I used Pepper Jack cheese and also topped with dill pickles-SO good!
Hope you enjoy! And don't forget the napkins.
~Susan
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Southwest OK Baby Photographer | Happy Birthday, Caleb!
Love this little guy! He is officially the first kid to get into his cake and not shed a tear! He didn't make too much of a mess, but he did love the icing! His birthday is a pretty big deal since he was born a premie and has been through quite a bit during his first year of life! But, he is a fighter and sure has come a long way! I can't believe I took his newborn pictures nearly a year ago! It's been neat to see him grow and over come a lot of obstacles and hurdles that go along with being a premie.
I just got a few templates for these blog boards and wanted to try one out! I thought sweet Caleb's one year cake photos would be the perfect ones to use!
Happy birthday, buddy!
Susan Wetlesen Photography
Susan Wetlesen Photography-Facebook
Susan
Wetlesen Photography specializes in newborn,
birth, family and lifestyle photography
in Southwest Oklahoma and surrounding areas including but not limited
to Lawton, Wichita Falls and Altus.
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