Centerville Branch
Apr 17, 2011
Chat Night
Chat night will be held this Wednesday, April 20 at 7:00 pm at the Reed's home. The address was sent out in an email, let us know if you did not receive it. The topic for this month is "what to do while you wait". We hope to see you there!
Apr 10, 2011
Peach's Adoption Story
I love this woman! I met her at our FSA play group a couple months ago and she is such an inspiration to me. Click here to see her blog. I asked her if she would write down her adoption story for us to share, and she agreed! Enjoy!
-Kira Centerville FSA Co-Chair
-Kira Centerville FSA Co-Chair
Hi. My name is Peach. When asked what I wanted to be when I grow up I always replied "a mommy". Okay, so sometimes I replied a teacher, but only because I could have more kids to mommy.
When I married my husband I was almost twenty-five years young. We discussed children and almost immediately wanted to try for a baby. However, I listened to others who said that we need time alone together before starting a family. We had known each other for only a year before marrying after all. So we waited until sometime around our first anniversary.
We struggled just a bit with infertility. Two years later our first born, Olivia, was born still at twenty-four weeks gestation. A parent should never have to bury their child. Thankfully the Lord gave us the gift of "meeting" her in the temple one day. She is my heart, and my soul, and the source of all my strength. That daughter of mine is a valiant and righteous spirit who I am most proud of.
Then we found out I had problems carrying a baby as well as conceiving. We began to feel, through divine inspiration, that there was an African-American baby girl in our future. We even knew what her name should be. We applied for adoption with LDSFS, but I also knew, through prayer, that it was the Lord's plan for me to carry a child. I just didn't know when. During a visit to the temple my husband and I had strong confirmation that we would bring a baby into this world. A week or so later I suffered a miscarriage.
We continued on with the adoption paperwork. We were approved the weekend we found out we were pregnant for a third time. Our file was put on hold while we waited to see if this pregnancy would produce a baby. With the help of modern medicine our son was born two months shy of two years from the day our daughter was born still. Miracle. Babies, pregnancy, birth are miracles. I was, and still am in awe. We still felt certain that the African-American baby girl still belonged in our family so we again put in papers to adopt on our son's first birthday. At first we listed with LDSFS again, but were worried that our African-American daughter would not be able to come through that agency. We prayed and felt confirmation that our baby was going to come from a different agency. Then adoption stories and suggestions on agencies came flooding in, and they all pointed to one particular agency. We knew that was the route our birthmother would take. So we switched agencies. It was a tough decision. We are not financially endowed. We would have to go into some serious debt. We would have to sacrifice for this child. We knew it, we accepted it, and of course we have never regretted it.
A couple months later a birthmother was given our profile. We did not feel bad about the possible placement, we just didn't feel good about it. Then it was discovered she was in contact with a few different agencies and placed her baby through an agency located states away from us. Not long after that our agency contacted us again. A birthmother was being shown our profile with two others. You know how it feels - pins and needles and jumping every time the phone rings. It finally did and I heard the excitement in the caseworker's voice. We had been chosen. Our baby was on her way. Our birthmother was having contractions and pains and was expected to deliver early. She was in and out of the hospital thinking for sure she was in labor. Finally, after enduring all this for weeks, she was in labor. She had a hard time. The baby had a hard time. It ended in an emergency c-section with a possibility of our birthmother needing a blood transfusion. We received a call that night and were on a plane the next morning.
Our baby was born in the state I was born and raised in, so my momma drove to the airport and picked us up. We got there even before the caseworker did. We went to a hotel and waited for another phone call. It came late that night. Our caseworker met our birthmother and her baby. Both were doing just fine. Our birthmother still wants a closed adoption. We can go see the baby now if we want. If we want?! We jumped in the car and headed out. Momma stayed with our sleeping son at the hotel while we were gone. I can not even begin to explain my emotions during that forty-five minute drive to the hospital. I was finally going to meet this little girl I knew belonged in our family and had been searching for for years. Then all of a sudden we were there and waiting for the elevator doors to open and jogging down the hall to the nurses station where we met our caseworker. She took us a few steps away to the nursery. We were shown into a small "family room" inside the nursery where there was a hand washing station, a couch, a side table and lamp, and a rocking chair. We waited literally on the edge of our seats for the nurse to bring in our baby. The door opened and I saw one of those plastic bassinets on wheels being pushed by the kindest looking woman I'd ever seen. I stood. I was almost afraid to look down at this somebody all wrapped up in pink. I looked into the nurse's eyes with tears welling up in my own. She smiled and gave an "it's okay, go ahead" gesture, and I looked down. My breath was taken from my chest. I knew this child. Our spirits knew each other. I stroked her hair and said, "Hello baby".
The rest was fairly simple. We stayed there a few days until our daughter was released, during which time I was at the hospital holding our new baby twelve hours a day. Then we drove to Momma's house, the house I grew up in, to wait for the ICPC to go though court for a couple weeks. We finalized six months later. We feel immensely blessed.
When I married my husband I was almost twenty-five years young. We discussed children and almost immediately wanted to try for a baby. However, I listened to others who said that we need time alone together before starting a family. We had known each other for only a year before marrying after all. So we waited until sometime around our first anniversary.
We struggled just a bit with infertility. Two years later our first born, Olivia, was born still at twenty-four weeks gestation. A parent should never have to bury their child. Thankfully the Lord gave us the gift of "meeting" her in the temple one day. She is my heart, and my soul, and the source of all my strength. That daughter of mine is a valiant and righteous spirit who I am most proud of.
Then we found out I had problems carrying a baby as well as conceiving. We began to feel, through divine inspiration, that there was an African-American baby girl in our future. We even knew what her name should be. We applied for adoption with LDSFS, but I also knew, through prayer, that it was the Lord's plan for me to carry a child. I just didn't know when. During a visit to the temple my husband and I had strong confirmation that we would bring a baby into this world. A week or so later I suffered a miscarriage.
We continued on with the adoption paperwork. We were approved the weekend we found out we were pregnant for a third time. Our file was put on hold while we waited to see if this pregnancy would produce a baby. With the help of modern medicine our son was born two months shy of two years from the day our daughter was born still. Miracle. Babies, pregnancy, birth are miracles. I was, and still am in awe. We still felt certain that the African-American baby girl still belonged in our family so we again put in papers to adopt on our son's first birthday. At first we listed with LDSFS again, but were worried that our African-American daughter would not be able to come through that agency. We prayed and felt confirmation that our baby was going to come from a different agency. Then adoption stories and suggestions on agencies came flooding in, and they all pointed to one particular agency. We knew that was the route our birthmother would take. So we switched agencies. It was a tough decision. We are not financially endowed. We would have to go into some serious debt. We would have to sacrifice for this child. We knew it, we accepted it, and of course we have never regretted it.
A couple months later a birthmother was given our profile. We did not feel bad about the possible placement, we just didn't feel good about it. Then it was discovered she was in contact with a few different agencies and placed her baby through an agency located states away from us. Not long after that our agency contacted us again. A birthmother was being shown our profile with two others. You know how it feels - pins and needles and jumping every time the phone rings. It finally did and I heard the excitement in the caseworker's voice. We had been chosen. Our baby was on her way. Our birthmother was having contractions and pains and was expected to deliver early. She was in and out of the hospital thinking for sure she was in labor. Finally, after enduring all this for weeks, she was in labor. She had a hard time. The baby had a hard time. It ended in an emergency c-section with a possibility of our birthmother needing a blood transfusion. We received a call that night and were on a plane the next morning.
Our baby was born in the state I was born and raised in, so my momma drove to the airport and picked us up. We got there even before the caseworker did. We went to a hotel and waited for another phone call. It came late that night. Our caseworker met our birthmother and her baby. Both were doing just fine. Our birthmother still wants a closed adoption. We can go see the baby now if we want. If we want?! We jumped in the car and headed out. Momma stayed with our sleeping son at the hotel while we were gone. I can not even begin to explain my emotions during that forty-five minute drive to the hospital. I was finally going to meet this little girl I knew belonged in our family and had been searching for for years. Then all of a sudden we were there and waiting for the elevator doors to open and jogging down the hall to the nurses station where we met our caseworker. She took us a few steps away to the nursery. We were shown into a small "family room" inside the nursery where there was a hand washing station, a couch, a side table and lamp, and a rocking chair. We waited literally on the edge of our seats for the nurse to bring in our baby. The door opened and I saw one of those plastic bassinets on wheels being pushed by the kindest looking woman I'd ever seen. I stood. I was almost afraid to look down at this somebody all wrapped up in pink. I looked into the nurse's eyes with tears welling up in my own. She smiled and gave an "it's okay, go ahead" gesture, and I looked down. My breath was taken from my chest. I knew this child. Our spirits knew each other. I stroked her hair and said, "Hello baby".
The rest was fairly simple. We stayed there a few days until our daughter was released, during which time I was at the hospital holding our new baby twelve hours a day. Then we drove to Momma's house, the house I grew up in, to wait for the ICPC to go though court for a couple weeks. We finalized six months later. We feel immensely blessed.
Apr 6, 2011
Faith and Infertility
Have you seen the article in this month's Ensign about faith and infertility? It is wonderful! Click here to read it!
Mar 27, 2011
Mar 26, 2011
Utah Infertility Awareness Event 2011
The Utah Infertility Awareness Event will be held on:
Saturday, April 30th
9:00 am - Noon
(Check in begins at 8:45 at the University of Utah)
Health Sciences Education Building, Room 1750
Click here for complete directions and parking info
This is a FREE event, however, seating is limited so registration is required. Registration begins April 1st and will be available through this website. Please check the utah infertility awareness blog regularly for more information as it becomes available.
Mar 17, 2011
Community Adoption Forum: Alternative Adoption Agencies
Please click on the image for a clearer picture:
Mar 11, 2011
Celebrating FSA with Michael McLean
Celebrating Adoption with Michael McLean
Presented by Families Supporting Adoption
Friday, May 6, 2011
7:00 pm
FREE EVENT
Bountiful Regional Center
835 North 400 East, North Salt Lake, Utah
Please come early to get your seats, they are on first come, first serve basis. No reserve seating allowed.
Feb 23, 2011
"Part of the Family"
There is a great article in the chilren's LDS magazine "Friend" this month. Go HERE to read it!
Feb 7, 2011
Play Group!
We are starting up an FSA play group! Our first play date will be Wednesday, February 23 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at an LDS church building. You should have received the address in an email from us.
Please come in on the South side of the building. We will not be leaving the church unlocked during the play group, so if you are late, please call Kira Mortenson at 801-529-3403 and she will come open the door for you. In order for us to use the gym, there are a few rules. Please do not bring any soda or juice that could make the floors sticky. Also, please do not bring any wheeled toys such as bikes, roller blades and scooters. Please bring toys for your children to play with and to share with the other kids. You are welcome to bring treats and snacks for your kids, but try to bring things that are not too messy to clean up as we are responsible to leave it as clean as when we came. Anyone is welcome to come to play group whether you have children or not.
Hope to see you there!
Please come in on the South side of the building. We will not be leaving the church unlocked during the play group, so if you are late, please call Kira Mortenson at 801-529-3403 and she will come open the door for you. In order for us to use the gym, there are a few rules. Please do not bring any soda or juice that could make the floors sticky. Also, please do not bring any wheeled toys such as bikes, roller blades and scooters. Please bring toys for your children to play with and to share with the other kids. You are welcome to bring treats and snacks for your kids, but try to bring things that are not too messy to clean up as we are responsible to leave it as clean as when we came. Anyone is welcome to come to play group whether you have children or not.
Hope to see you there!
No Board Meeting in February
We have cancelled the board meeting for February. Our next board meeting will be Thursday March 10 at 11:00 am at the Centerville agency.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Jan 31, 2011
Date Night
Come to Bajios in Centerville this Saturday, February 5th at 6:00 pm for an FSA couples date night! We will have a red balloon at our table. Hope to see you there! Email us at centervillefsa at gmail dot com if you have any questions.
Jan 12, 2011
Community Adoption Forum
Community Adoption Forum: State Foster Care / Adoption
Thursday, January 27, 2011
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Davis County Library, Centerville Branch
45 South 400 West, Centerville
Intro to State Foster Care / Adoption
Real-life stories
Q & A
Thursday, January 27, 2011
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Davis County Library, Centerville Branch
45 South 400 West, Centerville
Intro to State Foster Care / Adoption
Real-life stories
Q & A
Jan 5, 2011
Happy New Year!
We are excited for a great year for FSA! Here are some upcoming events:
January Board Meeting: January 13 at 11:00 at the Centerville Agency. Everyone is encouraged and welcomed to come!
January Chat Night: January 20 at 7:00 pm at the Reed's home. Mike Mortenson, who has a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and is finishing up his Master's Degree, will come talk to us about adoption and taxes. It will be a fun and informative night!
Date Night!: Saturday, January 29 at 6:00 pm at Bajio in Centerville. Come enjoy a night out with your spouse for dinner with other couples from FSA. We will have a green balloon at the table so you will know where to sit. This will be such a fun night to relax and get to know each other!
January Board Meeting: January 13 at 11:00 at the Centerville Agency. Everyone is encouraged and welcomed to come!
January Chat Night: January 20 at 7:00 pm at the Reed's home. Mike Mortenson, who has a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and is finishing up his Master's Degree, will come talk to us about adoption and taxes. It will be a fun and informative night!
Date Night!: Saturday, January 29 at 6:00 pm at Bajio in Centerville. Come enjoy a night out with your spouse for dinner with other couples from FSA. We will have a green balloon at the table so you will know where to sit. This will be such a fun night to relax and get to know each other!
Dec 2, 2010
December - A month off
As December is such a busy month, we will not be holding chat night or a board meeting. Enjoy the holidays!
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