Our Story

     Cody and I are so excited to share our news with all of you.  We are so grateful for all of the love and support that we have already been able to feel from those near and far! We know that this will not be an easy process, but we are so excited to begin this adventure. We know that as we trust in God and have faith in the future this will be an amazing experience! 

     For those who are just starting this journey with us, here is a little bit of our background...

     Cody and I met in 2012. I had just returned home from serving my mission  in Independence, Missouri. We both were in the wedding party for mutual friends. I was a bridesmaid and he was a groomsmen. We helped decorate their car and soon after he asked me for my number, and the rest is history. We dated for just a little over a year before Cody asked me to marry him on February 8, 2013. We were married on June 1, 2013 in the St. George, Utah Temple. 

     Even while we dated, we always talked about our love of children (Cody is the youngest of 6, and I am the oldest of four.)  We have lots of neices and nephews that  I also was preparing to finish school to be a teacher and LOVED being around all of my kiddos at school.  We both had always desired to have a family. However, we knew that adoption would most likely be the way for us to achieve this. 

     Since I was 15 I knew that it would not be possible for me to have children. I was diagnosed with Lymphoma(cancer) at the age of 14. Due to the side effects from the treatments I received, the doctors told me that I would not be able to have children. This was disheartening, as I had always wanted to have a family and be a mother.  I went through a bone marrow transplant,  total body radiation, and 8 years of maintainence dose chemotherapy. Although I have been through a temendously difficult trial, I have learned it is my faith and the support of family around me that would allow me to succeed and beat this. A dear friend gave me a motto that I still contintue to live by ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING! This same motto will be a part of our  thinking as Cody and I begin our adoption adventure. 

     Shortly after Cody and I were married I went to go visit an with my OBGYN to talk about the possibility of us doidng invitro. He said that I could possibly be a candidate. We went home and discussed the pro's and con's of doing this. After thinking, praying and talking some more, we felt like my body had already been through so much and that we would have to find an egg donor, put me through months of hormone injections, and still maybe not end up with a baby. We felt very strongly after going to the temple that adoption was how we were going to have a family. We know that this is process and we are ready for both ups and downs. It is something that we have embraced and we welcome it. As my dear aunt said, "We may not get morning sickness or ultrasounds, instead we have paperwork and home studies." 

      Adoption was something that had always been in the back of our minds, and the more that we talked about it and  the more we prayed, God seemed to put certain people and circumstances in our lives that have shown us that this was His plan all along.  There is a child out there for us and we are excited to begin the adventure. We know that it will not be easy, but as we trust in the Lord and contintue to have faith we will make it through!  

     We have felt so much support from family, friends, as well as the community. Our families are excited for us to begin this journey. Cody and I have been able to see the love and power of adoption within our own families. I have a cousin who has been blessed to adopt three amazing little boys! I also have an aunt and uncle who have also been blessed with 3 kids through adoption. I have been touched seeing these little miracles come into our family! I cannot wait to add more of those miracles, as Cody and I prepare for our own family to grow! The blessings of adoption have really touched our family and have given so much happiness to all involved.  We are planning for some future fundraising ideas, and we cannot wait to share them with all of you! If you have any ideas, we would LOVE to hear them! Thank you for taking time to read our story!