From One to Two

The countdown is on for the arrival of baby Will! (William/Wills) I am at 30 weeks and everything is going great, other then the SI Joint, (which I will be dealing with until he's born and probably a little there after) it's been a great pregnancy. 

I have such mixed feelings, (hello hormones!) Part of me is so ready for him to be here and for life to continue on, but at the same time this is my first pregnancy. After being told for years and being married almost 9 years that pregnancy wasn't in the cards for us I truly had put it to rest and mourned the physical biological reproduction of our family. After all, this may be my only pregnancy, I'm not doubting God and his miracles, for he created a miracle in me that took us by quite the surprise. (I still think it's crazy I'm even pregnant) But maybe this is the only pregnancy God has planned... I just don't know. That being said, I want to enjoy these next 10 weeks (despite any physical pains I may have) for God has given me this gift and I am forever humbled by it. But who knows, maybe the reproductive system is in high gear and we will have more biological and non-biological children in the future. The beauty of trusting God in ALL THINGS, I am not in control. 

We are so excited for him to be here and for our family to grow, then I pause to remember and reflect these are the final weeks of being a family of three and Maryellis being our one and only child. She after all made us parents and we have been beyond blessed with the four wonderful years and memories we have made with her. God knew we needed those years with her and I am forever grateful for them. I really want to enjoy these next several weeks with her, soaking up the moments we have together. I know time will go quickly and our family will never be the same. That's not to say we're THRILLED for the arrival of our son, it's just realizing there is change coming and big change at that. Another life will be born into this world and we are by Gods grace called to love, nurture and care for him. To raise him to love Jesus, he's entrusted into our lives and that blows me away. 

We have 70ish more days to go, we will be spending this time preparing for him, while soaking up family time in these long days of summer. We are excited to be a family of four, for Maryellis to be a big sister, that new memories and traditions will be created. I don't generally love change (type A) but I know this change is GOOD and it will help us to all grow, I pray we glorify God in this next season as the change approaches. 

Xoxo 

Emily 

Baby Imlach #2

I've been wanting to do a update for awhile now about our unexpected pregnancy but haven't taken the time to do so until now.

Lets go back to 2008 when Matthew and myself were married..... we had decided that if the Lord wanted us to have children he would allow it to happen in His timing. (so clearly no form of birth control) Throughout my entire puberty "becoming a woman" my cycles were never regular and seemed to come and go as they would please.  I would go weeks, months and even years without having them. When I did have them I was miserable for a few days it was hard for me to get out of bed. I have been diagnosed with PCOS as with that you don't ovulate, to my doctors understanding I had never ovulated...there are also a few other things I have been diagnosed with in previous years that would make things difficult for reproduction. (even with medical help) We figured that if we were going to get pregnant we would be ok if it happened in the beginning of our marriage not knowing how long it would take. As you know, well nothing ever happened. In fact my cycles eventually faded away and we entered the road (after one year of marriage) of infertility and starting some medical treatments. After a year of hitting dead ends and never having any success with treatments we decided it was time for us to be done. (For the record Matt was never big on doing anything super invasive on the medical side, he allowed me to get to a certain point until I had reached my breaking point. He felt as though the Lord would let it happen if he wanted it to happen and it wouldn't be through the medical world.) In winter of 2012 we started praying about Adoption and doing research of how we wanted to embark down that road. There are many options in the Adoption world; State, Foster, Private-infant, international, special needs, etc. Then choosing your agency or going through the DHS system... it can seem like a lot but through prayer and guidance our decisions all lined up and we were on a wide open road.  Adoption was something we always wanted to do, not knowing the timing of it but we wouldn't have changed our journey in any way. We brought home our daughter June of 2013 and from previous blog posts you can tell our lives have changed and our hearts are so full to be parents to this beautiful girl that made us parents.

Side note.... I had to go through a mourning process of my fertility. It took a long time and many different stages... but when you get to the point you are talking about the proper time of having a hysterectomy (my timeline is 40) you really put to rest the thought of having children. Which was heart wrenching but also a place I needed to get to- to really let go. My doctor is amazing and would never have given me one until I was ready or it seemed medically necessary. With my mothers history of breast cancer and just the overall effect of the hormones in my body...or lack there of, we decided our plan of action was to do yearly extra screening and testing to be sure that my body wasn't doing something it wasn't to be doing.

 Spring 2015 I was a mother to a almost 2 year old and life was fun and full of excitement. We were on the road of Adoption again hoping to add to our family....it seemed this time around was going longer then we had hoped but we knew that the Lord would provide. We are going through the same agency we used when we adopted Maryellis. This time we are doing the "Dual track" where you can adopt a infant but also be able to adopt a child in the system who is "adoptable".

 I usually have my annual appointments and screenings with my doctor in the Fall. Everything looked good and for the record at that point I had gone several years without a period....other then not having a period, I was good. Then one day out of no where I got a period.... I didn't know what to do. I wasn't prepared at all; physically, mentally or emotionally. I called my doctor and she was happy to hear this was happening... I was too, it made me feel "healthy". I did some tracking for a few months, things weren't by any means regular but my body was doing something. It gave me a little glean,  some hope... was this hope that I should have been leaning in to? I did.... and we in turn did some testing, showing my thyroid was low. I started Thyroid medication to regulate that and see what would happen. (this will be something I will take the rest of my life) In case you didn't know your thyroid plays a huge role in the functioning of your body and particularly in your reproduction system. Who would have thought? I asked my doctor if we could do a few things with Clomid (fertility drug) and just see what would happen. I started taking that medication mid summer and for those of you that have been on it, its awful... you start at 50mg, move up to 100mg then 150mg. You can only be on this medication for 6 months for certain effects it has on your body...then you have used up your time. I only made it to 100mg and 5 months of being on it...you feel TERRIBLE on it. From mood swings, bloating (hello gained some lbs) nausea, daily ovulation tests and hot flashes I was happy when we decided.... no this isn't for us. My doctor suggested we go see the fertility specialist in town, but we knew in our hearts we needed to be done. Allow my body to regulate and flush its system.... at this point I was thankful I was having some what "regular" cycles (but not regular at all) but still a monthly flushing of the system. My doctor still believed based on my cycles, body system and tests that I had never truly ovulated....so we would continue with the yearly in depth exams and plan for hysterectomy when my 40...sounds like fun right?!  Yet there I was again, mourning fertility in my body and moving forward with our lives to focus on adoption and our journey.

Throughout 2016 we had some movement in the adoption world, we had some interviews with birth parents but nothing seemed to really move forward... which was becoming hard on me. A friend reached out and reconnected us with a long ago family friend this fall. This family loves Jesus, loves their family of 4 biological children and loves all the foster children they see come in and out of their home. This family had a little girl who was 16 months and in the process to soon be "adoptable" through DHS. Since we had done our training through DHS and we able to adopt through them via our agency we figured we should step out and meet this little girl. We got respite approved and from November-January we spent time getting to know her through weekly hangouts of anywhere from 4-9 hours at a time. She was in a way becoming part of our family and we loved getting to know her and spend time with her. When it came time for adoption profiles to be applied to DHS in hopes of adopting her, our agency applied and in 2 weeks there were 80 families who had also hoped to adopt this little girl. (this is a lot!!!) We were sure we had a foot in the door with knowing the foster family and spending time with her. It came down to that the caseworker only chose 2 families and would not be doing a committee, we were crushed to find out we were not in the top two. The next day was my birthday and I hadn't had a cycle in 60 days.... my chest had been hurting for weeks and I chose to do a pregnancy test to confirm I wasn't pregnant... so if my chest still hurt in a week I would go and see my doctor. (I don't take that lightly since my mother passed away from a very invasive breast cancer) I was shocked to see that 4 tests later.... I indeed was POSITIVELY pregnant! I was shocked.... I called Matt at work and said "so ummm I think I'm pregnant?!?!" We just didn't believe it.... I've never had a positive ovulation test, let alone a positive pregnancy test!!! To be sure this was real I went in the next day for blood work and sure enough I was pregnant. We were overcome with shock, excitement and in awe of the Lord and HIS plans, His timing, HIS journey for our lives. We didn't "do" anything, this was a complete miracle from the Lord and He had opened my womb that had been shut for so many years before. I saw my doctor a few days later with my first ultrasound showing I was eight weeks along and would be due September 6th! This all made sense to me then... thinking about the last few weeks how emotional I had been, I had started feeling nauseous thinking I was getting sick, I was feeling so tired by 10 am and coffee had become repulsive. So we went from the feeling of "losing out" on the little girl through DHS to ok Lord this is what you had planned all along and we just had to be patient. The foster family continued to pursue with their caseworker that we be considered still in the adoption families, with a few weeks that went by, they ended up putting our family in with the other two families and choosing to do a panel. We chose to move forward with the little girl knowing that the Lord would direct us and He already knew what was going to happen, if he wanted us to have 3 children so quickly like that he would allow it to happen. We ended up not being chosen to parent the little girl, we had to go through the loss of her and remember the Lord had allowed that relationship to happen for a reason and we have to trust that. But also know that He was growing a miracle right before our eyes and in my body!

So here we are 17 1/2 weeks pregnant, everything is looking great, I am feeling good and my doctor and everyone around couldn't have been more surprised then we were! God is GOOD and Maryellis is so excited to be a big sister! Currently everything with Adoption is put on hold until baby Imlach is 6 months old, then we will update everything and be able to be on the list again. At that point I don't know whether we will do another infant adoption, or look to only adopt a child from the foster system....or even take a gander at the road of international adoption.... we will cross that road when we get there. Our hearts are full and we know that the Lord has big plans for our family, knowing we can and get to adopt again and knowing God has currently opened my womb.

Thank you for your continual support and prayers over our family...I will continue to keep you updated along our journey.

Much love,

Emily

The road of Adoption is a one less traveled and a legion of mountains at that. 

We've conquered the little mountains of paperwork, appointments, home studies, finance plans, paperwork, classes and did I mention paperwork? 😉 Now we have moved on to medium mountains, the ones where you are being looked at by birth parents and caseworkers to choose if you are who they want to parent their/a child. It's disheartening when there are long periods of time between having your book viewed and wondering what the outcome will be. 

We have had some big mountains that in the end when you get to the top in anticipation that you are going to be chosen to adopt this child and all of a sudden it's all pulled out from underneath you and you come crashing down the mountain. You have get up, allow the wounds and your heart to heal and press on the journey ahead. The comforts I find after this happens is remembering that God is fully in control of the growing of our family and the how I can have joy in the fact we have had a successful adoption in the past. 

I share this for those that have continued to pray for us that you can know things are happening, we go through valleys of exhausted waiting and sometimes the big mountains with hearts so full of hope. Press on with us on this journey and for the future children of the Imlach family. 

Thank you and much love to you

Emily 

I write this perspective as an adoptive mother who desires to have a welcoming and loving home to children. 

I hope this isn't seen as any disrespect to birth mothers and fathers out there. For what you are choosing for your child is in their best interest and the most sacrificial gift you could give. I thank you for choosing life and giving your child a chance at life. 

Labor Pains

Labor Pains 

We're currently in the phase in the Adoption process that they call "paper pregnant" meaning we've done all we can do and now we wait while potential birth parents choose to look through our profile book and hope they move forward with us to interview. As I've said in previous posts you will never know how long your "pregnancy" will last, it could be extremely long like a elephant or extremely quick like a opossum. Whichever the case they both come with Labor Pains.... And everyone labor is different. From long hours of laboring, to short and fast, physically- emotionally and mentally exhausting. Regardless the timing  it's hard work and can be extremely painful.... And we don't get epidurals. Labor pains can last several months to years, there are many ups and downs with Adoption, you have to do what you can do to keep on going, loving and focusing on your family as the Lord is preparing to grow you all. Adoption process is just as this...we're entering the Labor Pains as I call it. 

I check my email several times a day, every time I get a new email I'm anticipating it to be our case worker giving us a "profile" of a birth mother and father seeing if we want our book to be shown. Since mid May we've had our book shown several times, we are never the only ones to show our books there are several other families who are right where we are, hoping and praying to add to their families. It's easy to read through a profile and think "yes they sound so wonderful I hope they choose us!" But not too long after to know they've chosen another family or to parent themselves. Once you've been looked at by a birth parent and you've been asked to meet or so a interview it's such an amazing feeling, yet you have to protect your heart.... No matter how true or right it may seem, in the end they have to final decision and as we have experienced before no decision is final until paperwork is sighed. Which I fully understand--- it's just what makes is that much harder and giving it to God is all we can do. This is where it's hard, for me the planner-organizer- type A- girl loves to know what's ahead and be prepared. This is where the Lord is continuing to stretch me---with my faith in Him, after all he is building our family and thus far he's far exceeded my desires for our first born.

 I have to remember the lord will grow our family in His timing and he will allow us to draw closer to Him throughout our journey.

Thank you for continuing to support, encourage and pray for our family and future baby Imlach. 

Mother's Day

:::Mother’s Day:::

A day set aside to honor Mothers and those in our lives who reflect a mother.

I have gone through my own personal battles of infertility and the loss of my mother, making Mother’s Day to be a more dreaded day to come and go throughout the years. Prior to being a mother I would go church on that Sunday Mother’s Day and put a smile on my face, when my heart inside was broken and I hurt so deeply. I was broken to not have my mom to celebrate, broken that my body was unable to make me a mother when I wanted to be one so badly. I know I am not the only one who grieves on Mother’s Day, there are others who are faced with infertility, those who’ve lost babies---in ways I cannot personally relate, some with the loss of their own mothers and of course there are those who have placed their child through Adoption---giving so much of themselves to make a once hurting woman to be a M O T H E R.

As Mother’s Day comes around again each year, I reflect and see how the Lord continues to shape me. Yes, I am a mother, and I couldn’t be more happy and thankful, my lifelong desire has come true. I will always miss my mother and grieve her, I am thankful for the time I had with her and the wisdom I can take away from her role in my life. I cherish the many women the Lord has brought into my life, ones who all play their part in making sure I am staying grounded and continuing to learn and grow as a mother…. It takes a village. To all those mom’s who have been there for me, young and old, I thank you for being there to lead, guide and support me….and please continue to do so. Being a mom without your mom is incredibly hard, I miss her now more than ever.

I wouldn’t be the mom I am today without the selfless sacrifice from Maryellis’ birth parents, they gave us the best gift of making us a mother and a father, but they also gave our daughter the gift of choosing LIFE. To all birth moms and fathers who have chosen life and have placed their child through Adoption, thank you.You have helped start/grow a family and made dreams and desires come true that woudn’t have happened without you. We are so in love with our daughter and cannot imagine our lives without her in it.

As Mother’s Day is approaching, I will celebrate my mother, the mother’s in my life and the birth mother’s who’ve made me a mom.

T-Shirt Fundraiser

Please help us spread the word for our Adoption fundraiser!

We have 2 weeks to sell as many Tee-Shirts, Tank tops, Children & Toddler Tee-Shirts and baby onesies!

This is a great opportunity for our family to spread the word of our encouragement through the phrase "immeasurably more" from the verse " Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more then all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

We know that by Gods grace and perfect plans he brought us our first daughter and that its the desire of our hearts to continue to grow our family though Adoption. Our daughter has been such a gift to our family and she has blessed us more then what we ever could have hoped for. She is one of the first miracles God has chosen to be apart of our family. We cannot wait to see what is ahead for the Imlach Family, we know by God's grace it will be more then we could have ever dreamed of.

Immeasurably More has great meaning and depth that not only applies to our family but that God has perfect plans for everyone out there. We have to put our hope and trust in him and let the journey begin.

Thank you so much for praying and considering to grow the Kingdom of God,

The Imlach Family
http://teespring.com/stores/imlach-family-adoption

Adoption Round 2

As most of you know we have started down the road of doing another Adoption. We couldn't be more excited of what the Lord has ahead for our family.

We hoped we would have been able to do a Independent Adoption, but that just wasn't seeming to work out after over a year of not much movement or progress, and we really wanted the feeling of having the support from an Agency. That led us to calling and inquiring information from a few agencies and for our family it made most sense to go with Bethany Christian Services as we did the first time.

We filled out the "Preliminary Application" on November 5th and our Home Study was approved on December 31st! There is so much paperwork involved and our first time is took us about a year to get to the point where we are today! Pretty amazing how quickly its going this time, but that is one of the benefits with going through Bethany again.

To give an Idea of what a Home Study packet looks like:

-Background Check (Birth Certificates, Finger prints)
-Discipline Policy
-Privacy Practices
-Marriage History
-Questionnaire (30 pages)
-Family History Data
-Financial Worksheet
-Insurance Information
-Pet Safety & Vaccination Documents
-Physicals, including a TB and Drug test
-Adoptive Parent training log (10 hours each of Adoption training & written essays.)
-References: Pastor, 4 friends
-Adoption Release & Consent Form
-Statement of Understanding
-Openness Covenant

Still to do:
-Profile books 

Our case worker has been wonderful and we had the opportunity to work with her a little last time which made us feel very comfortable when we had our actual Home Study.

This time around we said we are doing the "Dual Track". This means that you can be on board to be placed with a baby through the agency, as well as be placed with a child through the Foster System that is ready to be Adopted. We are open to New Born- 2 years old, and gender does not matter.... if it was Maryellis' choice we would get one of each, and that is very well possible. On the Dual Track you can get a baby/child from both. How fun and crazy would that be?!

The cost for Adoption has gone up nearly $3,000 since the last time we Adopted (which I expected, everything has gone up in the last 3 years.) and that is a scary thing, but also very exciting to see how the Lord will provide for our family. I have the saying "Maryellis was worth every penny!" God is good and he always provides.

This is my latest update and I will share more along the way. Please be praying for our family and the baby or child out there that will be joining our family someday, that the Lord will provide for us financially in a way that glorifies him, and please pray for the hearts of the future Birth Mom and Birth Father, that they will feel at peace in their decision to place a child through the gift of Adoption.

A verse that has been shared with me as an encouragement and one that I will be clinging to throughout this process is: "Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Meet the Imlach Family

I decided it would be wise idea to share about my family, in hopes that someone will see our family Adoption post card and be interested in choosing to place their child into our family.... they might want to know a little more about us!

Matthew:
There is no perfect way to describe my husband to you, he is the love of my life, my best friend, and the one who I look up to. A verse that reminds me of him is: But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17  His heart is so kind, he cares for the Lord more then anything else and how to serve Him first. Matthew works harder more then anyone that I know, being sure to provide for him family, but always being willing to lend a helping hand to others.
He loves adventures, always wanting to experience new things and he is never afraid to try anything. When you are in conversation with him, you are given his full attention and genuine, thoughtful interaction. Matthew loves to learn, and create continually challenging himself. He is a man of many talents and strengths, one who is not afraid to humble himself.
Matthew is well respected at his place of work and in our community of friends. He is the one that people will call when they need help with something, building, moving, projects, advice, etc. he is always there to help.
Matthew enjoys building furniture and wood working, any sort of household project, tri-athalon training, softball, basketball, hiking, camping, fishing and gardening. He is very involved at our church, he helps in the children's class as well as the teachings in them.
Matthew is an amazing father to our daughter we adopted as a baby 2 years ago. His heart for our little girl is huge, the way he's bonded with Maryellis is absolutely beautiful. It blesses him daily when he is greeted with the biggest greeting from our daughter at the door. He is so gentle with her, but also helpful in encouraging her to be brave and learn.
Matthew is an incredible man of God and leader of our family, he is just perfect for us!

Maryellis:
This daughter of ours came into our life on June 21, 2013. She was the answer to our prayers and she has made us parents. As a two year old toddler she is very busy and on the go all of the time!
She loves to be outside, in any type of water playing and creating. She has developed quite the imagination and is quite the little mamma herself. She is an animal lover and our black lab and her have the best of times playing together. Maryellis is brave when encouraged to be, but she has to get comfortable in settings that are brand new. She has several little friends she spends time with throughout the week on playdates; swimming, park going, adventuring outdoors, crafting and  painting....she is not afraid to get dirty. Maryellis has enjoyed taking swimming lessons and dance class. Each day she learns more and more, she loves to read and sing songs we've learned together. She enjoys helping mamma in the kitchen, working in the garden and getting the eggs from our chickens. Whenever Matthew is working on a project of some sort, she is sure to get out her tool set to be sure she gets in on the action. I have really noticed her heart to serve others these last few months. She loves to take on the role of helping others and succeeds when shes given a task of most sorts.  Its been a joy to see her become the little girl that she is, she is so kind and loving, inquisitive on how her friends are doing, and has become our little prayer warrior wanting to be sure we pray often for certain friends.

Emily:
I guess I can save myself for last.
My role, a wife and mamma. I am beyond blessed to that I get to stay at home and raise our daughter and future children. This has always been a priority for our family and am grateful for the support of my husband that we can do this. I wouldn't trade my "job" for anything else in the world. I am daily challenged and reminded how I have to look to the Lord for my strength.
Other then being a mamma I really enjoy being active and fitness, I feel its important to model this for our daughter that she knows its important how we take care of ourselves. Running and swimming are my favorite to do. I enjoy walking our dog, going on hikes, working in the garden, spending time as a family & friends and of course cooking! I too as my husband serve in our church and have a wonderful time helping in the nursery as well as a few other volunteer opportunities. I am a early riser and an early to bed, I enjoy taking advantage of the mornings to have my quite time and be productive with tasks or household chores. I feel as though that gives me more time during the day to be with our daughter and do adventures together, she keeps me busy and we have lots of fun!
I love being a mom, serving and caring for our family, they are my priority and the ones whom I enjoy being with the most.

As a family we enjoy swimming, hiking, outdoor activities, bike rides, playing at the park after getting burgers from our favorite local restuarant, tennis, family dinners, walks, playing games, going to the lake, the beach, heading to the mountains, sporting events and floats down the river. We love our town and community, it's very family friendly and allows us to continually explore and do new things. We are thankful to have our families in town and a wonderful church/friend community around us. 

This is our family, we are a family of 3 hoping and praying to grow to a family of 4, 5, 6 or more! Please share our story and join us in prayer that the Lord directs us and guides us in the goal of an Independent Adoption.

Thank you and much love,

Imlach Family

Mothers

Mothers Day, its comes every year and every year I am always feeling full of emotions.

I know Mothers Day is one of joy for many, but its also a day of sorrow. I will be joyful in that I am a mother, I have been chosen to love and care for Maryellis, that she forever and always will be my daughter.

 But in moments to be honest it will also be hard, I'm sad that my mom is not here to celebrate, the women who brought me into this world and raised me, I don't get to honor her that day... But I will always remember her, cherishing the time we had together. My heart is tender for those who face infertility and the trials of conceiving, month after month of not getting pregnant---whether its a "sad face" on a ovulation test, or a miscarriage.... Mothers Day can be a hard and dark day, oh how I can relate. Then I think of our birth mother, she too is a mother, she gave us our daughter.... I imagine this cannot be an easy day for her at all. I pray for her, that she finds peace in the Lord and knows how much He loves her. As well that she knows how happy and full of joy we are as parents, what miracle Adoption is.

Being a mother is such a gift, I am thankful for the story the Lord has written for our family...and that we are only at the beginning. I became a Mother almost two years ago, the day Matthew and I were given the gift of our daughter, from two birth parents that loved her so much and they chose to place her in our arms for forever. What a selfless act of love they made that day, even months prior choosing to give her life.

I pray for those who are mothers, that you know how appreciated you are and your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. I pray for women facing infertility and the struggle of bearing children, cling to the Lord, let this be a time you can draw more near to Him, that he can direct your path as he grows your family. And I pray for all birth mothers out there, know how grateful we are of you and that we look up to you in so many ways. That we love you so much, and are continually blessed by the gift of life you've given us. To be Mothers.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her. Proverbs 31:28

A day in the life

I think often people want to know "what do you do all day?" So I think I'll take the time to share!

A typical day for me starts at 4:00 am...(?!?!?) Call me crazy, I know... but I must say I've always been a early riser, and being a mom has made me an even earlier one.
What do I do at that hour? Well I have my homemade paleo cereal, a cup of coffee and some bible time. Depending on the day I either head to the pool for a swim or I hit the road for a run and do some strength exercises. I try my best to get my fitness done before Maryellis is up & before Matt heads to work. 

Maryellis is up most days between 6:15am-7:00....we try to keep her in bed until 7:00, but some days she is ready to go! We start our day with a little time with dad before he heads out the door for work, then its breakfast time! (and mom's 2nd cup of coffee!) I try to provide a well balanced diet for all Maryellis' meals. Breakfast can consist from eggs & sausage, homemade pancakes/waffles, yogurt & blueberries and mixed fruit. Along with a big cup of hemp milk to wash it all down and shes one happy girl.
-This is also a time I can do some food prep & unload the dishwasher, or hand wash dishes. 

For the next hour or so we play with her toys, race in the kitchen, read some stories, work on flashcards, sing songs and enjoy one another company. Then the dog starts to get a little crazy herself and she is ready to get out for a walk! We take the dog every morning, (rain or shine) for a nice long walk. Maryellis seems to enjoy it most of the time, sometimes she tells me to run, or other times we stop and look for the ducks, geese and cows. Once we are home the dog is tuckered out and Maryellis is usually ready for a snack...perfect timing so mom can get herself "ready" for the day.

Depending on the day, depends on how "ready" I get. I am a blessed women who gets to stay home to raise our daughter. But if its a day that consists of running a few errands & being at home, I will remain in some sort of athletic wear for the day. We are in a stage where I am busy chasing a toddler, playing on the ground, outside, daily chores, etc. I see no sense in ruining my "nice" clothes.
-Every morning I start a load of laundry, some days 2 loads if its a "towels day". I try my best to have it switched into the dryer before we go anywhere. 

Late morning until lunch time is a different activity everyday!
Mondays we go to mom's group & Wednesdays we have "Mommy & Me" dance class.
The rest of the days can be filled with play dates, baking, running errands such as; Costco, Trader Joe's, Target. Most weeks we make a trip to the pool, art activities, park days, Bounce, playing outside (this is often!) Library, drawing, bike rides, hikes, visiting Great grandma, or just a simple day at home.

We have lunch anywhere from 11:30-12:00. I would say no every day we are at home to eat, but I always plan ahead and bring her lunch along with us. Again, another well balanced meal.
She likes quesadillas, chicken, meatballs, fish, beans, cheese and there is always sauteed mixed veggies, cucumbers & avocado. Her treat for after shes finished her main meal is a "squeezie", She has a fairly good palate and I'm thankful for the good eater she is. (for the most part)

After lunch we have more playtime, try to keep it more on the mellow side.
We read stories around 12:30-12:45 and she is usually down around 1:00.
This is where I currently get a 3 hour gap! (I know its only a season.)
During this time I take clients for hair appointments, fold the laundry, the daily sweeping of the house, (dog hair and toddler crumbs, oh-my!) make phone calls/paperwork/e-mails, work in the garden/yard, chicken care, dinner food prep, projects around the house and on a "lucky" day I take a little time to read, or take a short nap.

Nap time is over around 4:00 and I love when she wakes up because she is quite the cuddler at this time. We get cozy in the big chair, have a snack and some milk and talk. :) Depending on the day sometimes she will go outside to play other days she loves to watch a "ABC" video on the computer while I finish cooking dinner. Matt gets home most days anywhere from 5:00-6:00... she cannot wait for him to get home! Once I get the phone call of when hes on his way, were at the window waiting!
She is so so excited when daddy gets home, its the sweetest thing, she is the best greeter I know!  

We enjoy a dinner together as a family, not all dinners are pleasant, we are dining with a toddler. She usually eats what we do, but some nights her meals are altered a little bit.

After dinner I do the dishes and that gives Matt and Maryellis time to be together!
Depending on the night and time of year, it seems there can be something most nights.
From family dinners, friends dinners, community group, bible studies, Matt's basketball or softball games, meetings, church events, etc. We try to have 2-3 evenings at home, and either Friday or Saturday is "family night"...just the three of us we have it a no "chore/project" night, but one that we do something together.

Then we have the end of the day of our bedtime routine! Bath time, pajamas, brushing her hair...then her favorite milk & raisins bed time snack. Matt is in charge of brushing her teeth at night, its my saving grace, by 8:00 I'm tired and its the last thing I want to ever have to battle through. We read a bible story and some other books of her choice. Then its prayer and kisses and goodnight.

Matt and I have a solid hour to spend time together, before my head hits the pillow at 9:00pm.
If you ever try to reach me after 8:00....good luck, its rare that I will respond, I need that free time from the connection to the world.

We try to keep a well balanced life, seems a though it never really slows down. We are blessed with the family we have and try to do life in a way that is honoring to the Lord.

blessings to you!

Hero

Hero: A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.

Life is a miracle, one that only God creates, not all are planned, but only God can allow such a thing to take place. When a birth mother chooses to keep this life alive in her, rather then ending it, she is a hero in my book.

Adoption is such a beautiful gift a birth mother can give to her child, as well as to the family she is helping to build.

I often don't think birth parents are given enough praise for the sacrifice they have made. They could choose so easily to end the life in them through abortion, but they selflessly choose to give their child a chance. That they realize that they are not capable to care for them as they wish, but know another family can welcome that child with open arms and loving hearts, that is wisdom beyond their years.

I'm so thankful...that our daughters birth parents chose life and in that they chose us. Matthew and I have been so blessed and humbled that we get to be parents, that we've been entrusted this beautiful girl to love and raise as our own. She has brought us and others so much joy, its been wonderful to be a family.

In Oregon in 2013 there were 8,283 Abortions that took place. I am not here by any means to place judgement, but more to share the facts. Thousands of lives were lost that year, and there are thousands of families like my own whom wish to adopt again, this is how we will build our family. I wish Adoption wasn't so hard, but it is. But I get it. I couldn't imagine placing a child that I had carried for 9 months...but people do it, they make that selfless sacrifice to give life. I think we all have something to learn from a women who can do that.

To birth parents out there, I thank you, and I pray for you, that you would know the love of God and his peace would be upon you.

Please continue to share our story, the love we have to give and family we dream to make.

(http://public.health.oregon.gov/BirthDeathCertificates/VitalStatistics/abortion/Documents/abortion13.pdf)

Lets do this again!

Hey there friends and family!

After much discussion, prayer and time we feel its time again to add to our family! Adoption #2 here we go! We've done some research and have decided we'd like to attempt a Independent Adoption. Meaning that we are promoting ourselves and hoping too that family and friends can share our video and spread the word that we're looking to add another baby to our family. There are more details to it then that, but in the end it would be that we have a attorney who would make the adoption legal. This can be risky and possibly take some time, but we trust that the Lord will guide us through.

Here is our video, please share it and pass it on...we'd love for as many people to know as possible.
 Can you help us everyone?

We also ask you continue to pray over our family and the future baby God already has planned for us.

Thank you again for joining along this journey, can you believe it?!?!!  So exciting!

Blessings to you,

The Imlach family

Summer has come and gone!

 

Oh hello there!

Here I am four months since my last post…. I must admit this blog is for me to share about my family and our life together, we’ve just been having too much fun this summer and I haven’t wanted to sit down and write. In saying that, I’m shocked it’s September, how time flies, thankful we get to enjoy our extended summer we have here in the PNW.

This summer consisted of several weddings, lots of time outdoors playing and exploring, swimming, river rock throwing, berry picking, animal visiting at various farms, going to the park, play dates, sprinklers, bubble blowing & chalk drawing. Lots of Matthew’s softball games, gardening, hiking, walks with our dog, barbeques with friends and family, a trip to the zoo and beach! We had a visit with some of Maryellis’ birth family up in Portland, she got to meet her half sister. It was a really wonderful time for us to all be together and get to know one another more. I would say that we all left that day with peace in our hearts, thankful for the time we got to visit and become more comfortable. Other then that we stayed in town a lot this summer, we were very occupied with lots of house projects, and I have still had several appointments pertaining to the healing of my body. I wouldn’t have changed this summer for anything, learning to take advantage of all the many things our town offers.

Maryellis is now 15 months old and very busy, continually keeping me on my toes.

Its hard for me to really pinpoint her personality---happy, easy going but not afraid to say “no”, she isn’t really shy- but takes in her surrounding before really letting her guard down. I enjoy seeing her as she learns more and more each day, she is quite the little explorer. She is no longer a baby, becoming more and more of a little girl. I love to watch her when she discovers something new, or accomplishes a task all by herself, she lights up! She loves to dance and the water, planning on singing up for swimming lessons soon and dance in the near future. Sign language has been a wonderful way for us to communicate, not to mention it has been helping with her verbal communication skills.

I have just been reflecting lately about how the Lord has grown our family, through Adoption. In my dark days of infertility I remember the scriptures that would come to mind,

 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

“For everyone who asks receivers; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Praying and meditating over these scriptures, even arguing with God “You know the desires of my heart, to be a mother, why isn’t it happening?”

Well I have to remember that God’s plans and his way is better then mine. He knew the heartache and breaking that I needed to go through. How blessed I am that he took me on that journey, he has given me the desire of my heart, our daughter- he knew that from the day she was conceived that she would be our little girl. I cannot imagine that my plans would have ever compared to what God has already done. I am so thankful that we got to choose her, yet how her birth parents choose us, they gave us the gift we’ve always dreamed of.

God will give us the desires of our hearts, we have to be willing to ask, pray, and give it up to Him, trusting that he will---and likely it won’t go the path we thought it would.

Our family grows and expands through Adoption, just has he adopted us, we too will adopt and love as He first loved us. 

Blessings. 

A year to remember

This year has been one that has blown me away by the love God has for his children. We were all adopted into his family, he first loved us, chose us as sons and daughters. How privileged we are to share with Maryellis these next few years that "we chose her".

I cannot believe our baby girl is going to be 1! (May 30th) I will always remember when we got the call she had been born, and we rushed ourselves North waiting to meet our girl. Holding her in my arms for the first time I will always remember how warm, soft, and wonderful she smelt. 

You all know how the following three weeks went, when we thought we had lost our girl forever. When we thought she would only be a memory, one we would pray over forever. God is faithful, through those next few weeks he led her back to us. 

Matt and I have learned so much this year, overall it's been amazing, but we did have our moments that continued to stretch us and the friendly reminder we are here for Gods purpose, to let Him use us. 

Maryellis is a gift, a precious one at that. I'm honored & humbled to be her mother, to daily get to spend time with her. I knew Motherhood would be a wonderful thing, but I didn't know how much my heart would grow until I was one. 

We have one year down and prayerfully many more to go! I've heard this next year is a lot of fun, yet one that will be more busy and the tantrums will begin. Oh lord have favor on us and grant us wisdom through it! 

Matt and I have been blessed by a incredible amount of support and prayers, thank you all for joining our family in the adoption process, loving us and most of all, loving our daughter. 

Many have asked what's our plan next with children, well as The Lord leads, we will follow. We pray for more children, looking to see how the doors may open.

Here we go, I cannot believe I'm a mother to a 1 year old! 

Blessings, 

Emily 

Mother's Day

It's been awhile since I've posted and  I will share on the accident another time. For now I want to talk about Mother's Day. 

Growing up Mother's Day was always special to me. My mom did so much for us children growing up that we made sure on this one day we could treat her like a queen. From breakfast in bed to my sister and I picking out her outfit & helping her get ready (which I'm sure she loved, ha!) We would do anything and everything to make her day wonderful, hoping she would know how truly grateful we were. Our mom was a simple women, who always put her children first. 

Then there was that day when we would loose our mom and have several Mother's Day come and go that felt so empty. It became a day more of sadness to me more then anything. As the years went on I was surrounded by many women who had a mothering relationship with me. It would never be the same, but I would choose to celebrate them & be grateful for the years with my mom. 

Then came not only the Mother's Day of mourning the loss of my mom, but the fact I couldn't bear children. I disliked Mother's Day even more. It's a holiday that brought so much grief and heartache for me. To grasp a bit of happiness I would try to focus on the memories with my mom, but all in all it was a day that came with much sadness. 

This year is my first year as a mamma. I'm humbled by the gift The Lord has given us in bringing our daughter into our lives. Maryellis has made me a mom. I've felt overwhelmed with emotion these last few weeks, the joy I have when I look at our sweet baby girl. God is good, he is faithful, he's answered my prayer in a way I never dreamed of, His plans are perfect. 

For me Mother's Day will always been a day with many emotions, one of remembering my mother, one of putting to rest my fertility and lastly the joy of celebrating our daughter. 

He gives the barren women a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise The Lord! 

Psalm 113:9 

Happy Mother's Day!