Rooted in Trefoil to Rooted in Sand

I've been soaking my mind in parenting magazines since we started to consider adoption. I always come across an article that discusses unsolicited advice from people with children. Now, I always like to hear everyone's perspective on having kids. It allows me to understand your struggles day to day. I've heard the "just you wait" "you'll be exhausted" "times may be rough" etc. etc. I completely agree when people tell me that these are things that I MAY come across or experience. The key word, MAY. We have to remind ourselves that not everyone's experience is the same, even with adopted children. We all experience stress, heartache, joy differently. What one person may see as a hard time, might be a positive experience for someone else. I also, was reading a blog by an adopted individual from India. She was discussing her name and how at first her American parents wanted to change it to an English and/or biblical name. I lo

First and foremost, I want to give all the glory to God for the insane blessing he has bestowed upon me and my family. Last week, I was offered a case coordinator position at Carle Foundation Hospital & Carle Physician's Group. It's a salaried position and I'll be moving into a management-bound position. That will set me up, should I ever bounce around Carle to be able to apply for higher positions. I don't know if I will do a lot of that as the position I've obtained is so good that people typically retire out of it. I am so excited to get out of office administration and do something that is more challenging. There's definitely administrative aspects to the position, but I get to dive into healthcare and that's something I genuinely enjoy. I'm still overwhelmed with excitement, and knowing that I'll be 1 of 6 case coordinators in Carle -which has like 7,000 employees - and the team members I already know and am familiar with. This is going to

Hey Friends!!! Trying my hardest post more than once a month, and I've been failing left and right on this. So perhaps we try this again. I cannot believe that September is almost over. This month has flown by. We actually went to Tulsa for my first trip there at the beginning of the month. Drove down and spent time with family on Tyler's side. I think I love Tulsa and I could totally move there. Yeah.  When we got back it took us a while to get back into the groove of work. We've been so busy that our 3rd wedding anniversary crept up on us. I'm so blessed to have a husband who puts me first but also has a good heart and positive energy. He's such an amazing husband. So as we inch closer and closer to OCTOBER(what!?!?!?!), we'll begin our online training for our adoption. We actually have fantastic news and that is we will  be starting our home study visits with ICM at the beginning of November and finish up by January/February. I know it seems

So sorry friends, we haven't updated in awhile. Let's do a quick recap.... July - We've been quite the homebodies in effort to save money. Most evenings we are watching movies, playing with the girls, and doing chores. I had a wedding to coordinate and it was a swelter of a day. While it was fun and beautiful, it was hot and humid. The bride remained gorgeous throughout it tho. Home study Update: In effort to give us a bit more time to save, we've pushed our home study to begin Jan 2018. What some people don't quite understand is that there are things that need to be in place by the start of our home study OR before the last visit. Tyler and I need to finish getting our pre-home study paperwork completed, this includes his autobiography, our guardianship paperwork, a fire escape ladder for the upstairs, three fire extinguishers - one for every level of the house, carbon monoxide detectors throughout the house- this might include an upgrade to the alarms in the h

Ok, so I can totally respect people asking questions about the process of adoption, like where do all those funds go and how do you know you're donating to the right organization or couple when you assist with adoption? All great questions and thoughts and each are totally valid. The reason I bring this up is because I had someone question us PUBLICLY on Facebook (post since deleted) and not in a very kind way. Here's how you know people are adopting for real and not for scam.......you KNOW your friends. Most of you know or have known my medical struggle and our want to be parents. We would NEVER take from others to spend that which we raise on non-adoption related things. For someone to suggest that in a rude manner is so bizarre to me. I don't mind having the conversation in private.  If you don't know you can send funds you receive to your agencies for them to hold -similar to putting funds in an escrow account. Same as when you apply for a grant, you don'

Sometimes you need a shirt to get you through!!! These shirts go to a great cause.....they assist with the ever-growing cost of our adoption to bring Baby Schmidt home to us. I need to sell 5 by Jul 5th in order for them to print! Get yours now, and beat the summer heat!!! https://www.bonfire.com/adoption-is-the-option/

FINALLY!!!!!! We have collected donations from amazing people throughout Champaign and Savoy!!!! Our garage has been full with items from kitchenware, to kid items, to books, to I don't know what is in that box; and we're about to unload all of it this weekend!!!! Hello Garage Sale Weekend!!! If you're in the area, drive on through!! To get to Prairie Fields: Get on Neil St and follow it til it becomes Dunlap. At the intersection of Dunlap and Old Church Road, turn left and go over the tracks. PF will be the first subdivision on the left hand side of the road. Houses will be marked with posters, signs, balloons, etc.

As most of you know, we were hosting a fundraiser/raffle through Lola's Brush. Well this past Saturday we had to cancel because we simply did not sell enough tickets to our event. So, I decided that instead of rallying for another date right away, I'd go get a pedicure and use that gift card I had received from my mother-in law. It was sooo needed. I was feeling relaxed and calm about everything. I was a tad sad about having to cancel the party, but the leg massage took all that away. While I was sitting back relaxing, Mandy from Lola's Brush called me and texted me so quickly that I barely had a chance to pick up the phone. She had received an inquiry from WCIA News Channel 3 about our party and that even though it was cancelled they wanted to report our story. While we discussed this, I mentioned let's get a new date for our party in case they want to proceed with an interview. That way we can launch the new day and use this as serious publicity. When I got off the

On May 10th 2017, Tyler and I officially became "paper pregnant"!!!! Too bad it's not guaranteed to be 9 months long. So what actually occurs at this point!?!!??! We welcome our social worker into our home for 3 to 4 visits that include an overview of the house, and interviews of myself and Tyler together and separately. The paper portion is a collection of items that we must gather slowly and during specified times throughout the process. We'll have to gather information about our finances, employment, background checks, and much more. There will be conversations about our readiness and reasons about wanting to adopt, potentially a walk-through of our neighborhood, outline of our social life, parenting experiences, and daily life routines. The home study has been called the "most invasive" or "lengthy" portion of the adoption process. It is hard to let a complete  stranger into your home to essentially judge you in a good way. After all, pr

I cannot speak for other's experiences, heart, or choices. Tyler and I sat down last night to go through an extensive list of disabilities that were correctable and some that were not. It was pretty rough to realize that potentially any future matches may or may not have issues that would need extensive care. It's a little scary too. We are open to common issues because we need to be. Those include, malnourishment during pregnancy, no information about birth parents, unknown/estimated age, prematurity 32-36 weeks, low birth weight 3.5-5.5lbs, Mongolian spots, crossed eyes, TB inactive/active, developmental delay - mild, experienced neglect, experienced multiple placements/caregivers, albinism, and ineffective vaccinations. Some items that we have a choice of considering that we will consider are indiscriminate attachments/affections, withdrawn, experienced physical abuse, difficulty understanding cause and effect, needs therapy, hyperactivity - mild, learning disability - m

Well, it's 6:45pm on Thursday and I'm feeling mighty accomplished! Just applied for our homestudy through Illini Christian Ministries. Such great people!!! When I was on my search for a Hague Accredited homestudy agency, ICM kept popping up. I read pretty much everything on their website and started correspondence with Dayna, who's their Adoption Specialist. She truly eased my fears, answered all my questions, and provided tons of support - and we weren't even her clients yet!!! So ICM and the Schmidts are going head first into this adoption together, and I couldn't be more excited!!! One step closer to Baby Schmidt!!!! Thankfully, ICM has a 6 month waiting list for home studies...so we probably won't begin ours until Nov/Dec of this year. If we're lucky, we'll get a tax season behind us to assist with the costs. Tyler and I have a lot of paperwork upon us though. Fingerprinting, adoption education, getting certified copies of things.....just a lot a

Lately, I find myself referring to our somewhere out there child as my little nugget, or peanut, or beti(daughter). Normally this is not out loud but in our home. I'm so looking forward to you being here with us. God knows where you are and perhaps you haven't been born yet. He will bring you to us and us to you. I know this is true. I've been going through names for our sweet one and I love Aditi(means boundless), Neha(means loving), Aashna, and Avani(means earth). I also find myself wondering what you'll call me....maybe Am'ma - which according to me research is Mother in Tamil. I really hope I can teach you to call specific people like grandma, Nani-ji. Just know that every one else will probably be Auntie or Uncle. I'm certain that you'll just call your father, dad or daddy. My goal for you little one, is to have all the possibilities in the world while keeping your heritage in the forefront. I want you to be Indian-American and coming from a first gen

MOTHER'S DAY PAINT PARTY!!!! Paint and adoption fundraiser $5 for 6 raffle tix $10 for 12 raffle tix Paint with your friends or your children! Win some cool gifts in the process!!   PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE!!!!      

As most of you know, adoption is expensive. It is mostly this way, due to the scrutiny of the countries on who is adopting. Its a lot of time and paperwork. We could do this all on our own, but that would take 5 to 6 years just to save and we just don't have that kind of time. We're still hoping we will win the PowerBall. ;-) I was reading one of my favorite bloggers, and she was explaining that it's important to give friends and family the opportunity to be a part of the process in a meaningful way. Too often Tyler and I allow our pride to get in our way and exclude others because we insist on "doing it all by ourselves". Truth is, unless you have $45k sitting in your bank account, you can not do it alone. We have to open up and allow ourselves to be vulnerable. Every blessing that is given, multiplies the love of God to others. Just as you are willing to spread God’s love to others, be more accepting of his love through those that wish to bless you. "

Tyler & I have known we wanted a family. Adoption in my mind was never a "back up plan" option. It always has been first and foremost. Struggling with infertility was just unexpected. Tyler wanted a bio kid, and I don't blame him for that want - it's completely natural. Who knows, we may still have one. For now tho, God had other plans for us. The only reason that stands out for us to adopt is because there are so many children out there that need a loving home, an open community, and endless opportunity.  That's it. Not because we're struggling with infertility, not because we think it's brave, none of the other reasons people come up with who see adoption differently. Just simply, that there are many children who need a loving home, family, and community. Luckily, I have been so blessed to grow up in a community of fellow adoptees and we happen to go to a church that is full of blended families. It truly is a safe haven for us to welcome our chil

Lately, I've been working on collecting paperwork to apply to the Indian govt. for OCI in lieu of PIO and renunciation. Basically the PIO/OCI is a visa that can be used for travel and it states that I'm of Indian heritage which would allow us to adopt a "healthy" baby that is younger than a year old. Let's note that Tyler and I are open to any child up to the age of five who may or may not have minor/correctable needs....this visa tho IF approved will just give us a wider net. While I was home I was able to find my Indian passport, and was just so cool to see in person. I've made several scans of it, but like my current passport it too has to leave my possession for processing by the Indian Embassy. It's so hard to let go of two major important pieces of information...one that is a part of my beginning, my adoption story, my history, and the other that is current. I know that the embassy is familiar with handling important documents, but still I have an

Week before last, my family lost our sweet little Jase to a terrible accident. It has been an unreal experience in my life and deeply saddens me to my core. It is unimaginable to think what is going on in our hearts, and minds. I'm keeping this short b/c I am now processing what happened and why we all got so little time with him. Truthfully, my world has been rocked and it is hard. With all my heart, I truly believe that when I so longed for a baby, the world shared you, Jase Patrick with me. There you were as your mommy, auntie, and I argued over putting together your crib and sorting out all the diapers you'd go through, the toys you'd play with, and the fun clothes you would wear. I mean who honestly thought a crib was so dang difficult to get together, but there we all were fussing over what piece went where and literally putting it all together to find we put pieces on backwards. Christmas rolled around and I knew that I had to get you something that you, mommy,

Why is adoption expensive? I as k myself that all the time. Initially starting the proces s, I figured Tyler and I would be able to afford this as we go. We even decided to be pro active and get into hobbies tha t could h elp us bring in more mone y asi de from our 40 hour a week pay .  The more I looked at the agency fee s spreadsheet, the more I internally questioned myself that could we do actually afford to do this. So seriou sly, why is adoption do expensive?? Adoption is not for the parents, the number one reason is for the betterment of the child. The US and other countries over the years have tighten the requirements on adoption due to some going through the process to "buy" children for tra ffic king . Almost all of the expenses are for the paperwork to be proce ssed, translated , and assuring t hat each form meet s the strict requirement s. The child's safety is the most important thing in the entire process.  Each country is different in co

WOW!!! Seriously! Last night, we finally made the decision to share our adventure on Facebook. The amount of positive support and love we received in what felt like a matter of minutes was so overwhelming. I can't tell you how blessed I am to receive such a response as I did last night. We are very excited about this journey. I honestly don't even know where to begin. Having spent two months of research and pretty much 30 years of being off and on curious about adoption, we finally get to become parents too! Some of you may have a lot of questions or just a little. . . I'll do my best to answer them in my blog posts. By all means, please email questions or comment on the posts too. I don't think this journey will warrant a daily post because the whole adoption process is drawn out over 24 months at max, but sometimes it can be less than that. ::fingers crossed:: So I'll just fill you in what we've been doing the past two months as we go into March. THE T

I truly hate going out around town to shop for items. Since online shopping started I've been right at home, clicking away on my keyboard. I recommend Wayfair.com for all my gals who love a good steal/deal. Stay tuned to next week when our living room will be 75% finished in furnishing. Last thing we have to do is get a new couch - going the sectional route. I want our living room to be entertainment central. I love entertaining in our home.We just got our coffee table and it's absolutely gorgeous! Just the right type of rustic. So pretty. This weekend is filled with catching up on some serious cleaning. I'm so behind and Spring is right around the corner, along with the big 3-0! Any suggestions on what I should do for that? Give me your thoughts. In politics, twitter is a buzz daily. I'm so sick of social media and all the arguments. I've stayed away from Facebook, except to share my Instagram posts. I don't care to discuss politics with anyone b/c it

**SPOILER ALERT** (Hopefully I do not give too much away) "In India, over 80,000 children go missing each year and there are over 11 million children living on the streets." After watching Lion, I literally cannot imagine living on the streets of India. Being lost for over 25years. If you have not seen Lion, I highly suggest it. A movie that touches on the feeling of not just actually being lost, but missing that part of you. I don't remember anything about India. I'm as American as I can possibly be, but some are not as lucky. As the movie portrays the real-life journey of Saroo(Sheru) Brierley and him being lost, adopted, lost, and finally searching for his old life; you can't help but feel every bit of sadness and uncertainty as the movie moves along. Its themes are universal. Everyone has a home, and everyone feels connected to it, no matter how far they travel. I too have felt that lost feeling from time to time in my life. The 'what ifs'. I&

How do I look my husband in the eye, and tell him “it’s ok if you want to deploy?”? Of course, I support my husband in all his endeavors, but lets back up 6yrs before I knew him. I watched a lot of my classmates enter into the military upon graduation. You could say my freshman year of high school was quite impactful in many of my friends decisions. 9/11 happened. It changed everything for us. The way we got out of bed every morning, weary of another attack. I knew older classmates that changed their college bound plans, to make the ultimate sacrifice. I’ve been blessed to be able to see them return to their families, and live out their future. Fast forward to meeting Tyler A. Schmidt and falling head over heels so fast, jumping straight into a long distance relationship for 10months, and then packing everything up to move in and start a life. I knew Tyler had previously deployed and while we were long distance, he was finishing up his service term……but I guess, you never really a

Well tomorrow is inauguration day for our 45th president and I stand with so many people who have concerns and doubts of this incoming administration; but are hopeful for the best and those are my thoughts on the incoming administration. Let's be real, we're replacing an eloquent man with a crass, women-objectifying man that speaks before he thinks and tweets too much. Cest la' vie for four years. I hope we don't run our country into the ground. MOVING ON.....

Welcome back to a new beginning!! Tyler and I arrived home on Sunday around 10:30p. Not too shabby after a turbulent flight. I ended up falling asleep on the way home (figures). Let me just say 'thank you' to everyone I saw, spent time with, etc. It was so wonderful to see each of you! The hospitality that was shown towards Tyler and I was unbelievable. Maryland is truly home for me and it's always wonderful coming home. We had a whirlwind of a trip and you can see it all over my Instagram page...but I'll just post a smattering of photos here too. Enjoy. Headed home to MD.....Giant ornaments at Indy Airport