The Year in Review - 2010!!

WOW...really!?!?! 2010 is already coming to an end...it seems like just yesterday it was honestly the year 2000. Life just seems to continue to move on and at a very fast & steady pace. 2010 has been filled with many high points & yet a few low points...but through everything we have grown closer to our families, closer to each other & closer to God - what more could you ask for!?!? Here is the year in review...

January...Headed to Genetic Specialist in Seattle to find out 100% whether we would be able to conceive on our own...found out God had other plans!! The very next day after heading to Seattle we met with Bethany Christian Services in Bellingham to find out more information about Domestic Infant Adoption. Two days later we celebrated Dad Mulder's 50th Birthday. Two days after that Kari's Great Grandpa passed away and we celebrated his life a few days later. The day after Great-Grandpa passed away we filled out our prelminary adoption application and never looked back.

February...Full of anticipation as we started out adoption paperwork and told our families that we are unable to conceive and felt God calling us to adopt.

March...We celebrated our 3rd wedding Anniversary on March 2nd and then continued filling out adoption paperwork and preparing for our Adoption Garage/Bake Sale Fundraiser.

April...We both celebrated our 24th Birthday's (we are only 5 days apart). We also had our Adoption Garage/Bake sale which was a huge success thanks to all the help of my mom, sister and numerous other donations of friends & family. This was the month that God completely cemented our decision to adopt.

May...Brandon's sister, Kayla & husband Kevin announce they are expecting sometime around January 3rd...we are over joyed for them!!! We had our Adoption Home Study completed in May and knew all we had left to do was training scheduled for June.

June...Brandon's sister, April graduates from High School!! We head to Seattle for our Adoption Training knowing this was the last piece of the puzzle to getting on the "waiting" list. We then were asked to go to Hawaii with Brandon's family to celebrate April's Graduation.

July...Returned from Hawaii on July 1st then went right into the 4th & our annual Silver Lake Camping Trip. At this point we were patiently waiting to be approved for the waiting list.

August...Enjoy the annual fair at our local fairgrounds and continued to patiently wait to get our final approval. On August 28th we received the letter that said we are officially APPROVED for the Domestic Infant Adoption "waiting" list with Bethany Christian Services. The very next day we finished our adoption grant applications and mailed out 5 total applications.

September...We had 6 birthmothers looking at our profile book in this month. We did not figure that we would have to many "looks" so to speak in only 4 weeks.

October...We had another birthmother look at our profile book but then heard that she chose someone else. Being a discouraged when all 7 chose someone else we knew God has a perfect plan already laid out for our family. Around October 20th we e-mailed Rebecca from Bethany to see if there were any new updates and she stated that they sent our profile book to a birthmother in Idaho who is working with the Bellingham office. As soon as we heard this we prayed to God asking if this was the right birthmother he chose for our family he would give us peace....that is exactly what he did. Without even knowing anything about this birthmother we felt 100% confident that this was the "right" family for us. We heard a few days later that we were her top family and waited to see if she would be travelling to Bellingham or we would be travelling to Idaho to meet her.

November...We find out more information about the Birthmother and cannot believe how good of a situation it is. We also find out she is having a BOY!!! On November 12th we travel to Idaho to then meet the Birthmother and her family on November 14th. The meeting goes AWESOME...better than we ever could have imagined. Sitting at the lunch table with her and her family after we went to church they proceed to tell us as far as we are concerned this is final. We then go back to their house with them where they show us more family pictures, the blanket they are making for the little boy to send home with us and all their creative artwork. We are overcome with emotions as we head home and call all our family members on the long 10 hour drive home.

December...It's completely official!!! We will be welcoming home Westyn Craig Mulder around March 10th. We celebrate Christmas where Westyn is completely spoiled by all his family members. On December 30th we celebrate Mom Wemp's 50th Birthday at Bob's Burger in Brew with a suprise party. The Washington Huskies win their first bowl game in a decade!!! And last but not least Brandon's sister, Kayla & Husband Kevin welcome Aubrey Joy into the world on December 30th at 12:20 AM...we are finally an uncle & aunt. Then first thing this morning (New Year's Eve) we find out that our really good friends welcomed their little girl, Jade Lauren into the world at 7:59 AM!! Finally part is both the newest additions are cousins too!!

All in all this year has been amazing...we cannot believe all the support, love & encouragement we have been shown and how one little boy can change our lives forever without even being here. We have learned that life is considered a MIRACLE and should never be taken for granted. We have grown closer to each other & God and cannot wait for how little Westyn will change our lives. As we are now in the 10 week count down we have a lot of exciting this happening and anticipate the arrival of this "special" little boy that God has chosen for our family. Please always remember that when you think it couldn't be any worse that God already has it worked out for you. We have learned to lean on him for everything and never doubt what he has in store for you.

We pray that everyone have a safe, healthy & life changing NEW YEAR and please remember to never take life for granted!!!