Brian, Janelle, and Lauren's Adoption Blog

Who are we?

We're Brian, Janelle and Lauren. We love to laugh, play games, play tag, and eat cookies. We love adoption and couldn't love Lauren's birth family any more. We hope that you will get to know us through this blog but if you don't, shoot us an email and we'll be sure to answer you back.

The Beginning

Every day at work there was a group of friends our age that got together to have juice shots. That’s where we start our story. We became good friends and would spend our lunch times talking. One day we realized that we both had Mickey Mouse antenna balls on our cars. We jokingly decided that we were meant to be together. So naturally, we started to plan the rings and the wedding. After we had everything all planned out Brian sealed the deal by giving Janelle a huge diamond "ring pop" (it was even the good flavor). Our friendship was beginning to build so Janelle thought that she should ask Brian to play wally-ball with her and her friends. He had other plans though. So she asked him to hang out “as friends” a few more times. He still said “no”. Sad, huh.

Finally, Brian had enough courage to ask Janelle out (kind of). Brian had invited “the juice group” over to watch a movie. Janelle was the only one that came. We watched The Three Amigos. The next night we washed our beloved cars and watched another movie. Brian had so much fun that he decided to ask Janelle on a REAL date. We went four wheeling up Provo canyon. It was a fun filled day with a picnic in the mountains and lots of dirt. We didn’t want the night to end so we went our separate ways to get cleaned up then got back together for dinner and a movie. From this weekend we were inseparable every night until we got married on December 14, 2001 in Oakland, California.

All about Brian, as told by Janelle

Brian is a lot like my Dad. He is a handyman and if he can’t fix something then it is not fixable! He was taught at a young age the importance of hard work. To me, he can do anything. I respect that he honors and holds the priesthood dear to him. He exercises his priesthood often to bless me, Lauren, and others to feel better physically and emotionally.

Brian is also a kind, caring, loving man, and father. There was a time when I was sick and the only place that I could get comfortable at night was on the couch. In our first five years of marriage, Brian and I had never slept under the same roof apart. So he slept on the floor next to the couch for 3 days in order to be close to me and hold my hand as I slept. He also supports me in my girly hobbies. When I decided to learn how to quilt Brian was right there next to me telling me how to cut the pieces out and sew them together. He learned this from watching and helping his Mom. He doesn’t like me to tell people this because he doesn’t want to have to turn in his “man card”, but I think it’s sweet.

Brian is the cutest dad ever! My favorite thing to do is to call him at work so he can talk to Lauren and me. He loves hearing little Lauren in the background and loves it when she “talks” back to him. He doesn’t miss out on much because we call him a few too many times a day. It’s a good thing he can get all of his work done in between calls. He’s the rough and tumble type of dad. He loves to have daddy/daughter dates with Lauren and is anxious to have them with the rest of our kids. He strives to be the kind of dad his dad was to him.

The Inside Scoop on Janelle, Dished out by Brian

When Janelle and I were dating, marriage was the furthest thing from my mind. At a ward outing we discussed the characteristics and qualities of our “ideal” companion. Janelle had everything I was looking for. She was sweet, she was fun and energetic, she was Christ-like, she had a spirit that radiated from her and made me want to be a better person. She has always been able to make everyone feel like they are her best friend. To this day she still has all the same qualities and more. Life has always thrown challenges her way, and she still smiles through them and comes out on top.

One of the things I truly enjoy about Janelle is that she will take on a challenge and learn to excel at it. This past Christmas she decided she was going to hand-make all of the gifts we gave to our family. It wasn’t easy at first, but she was able to finish all of them and received rave reviews over the PJ bottoms, magnet boards, hooded towels, personalized books, tree ornaments, and terracotta pot snowmen.

Janelle is such a fun person to be around. She is also a wonderful Mom. There is never a dull moment with her around. Janelle always has a song to sing, nursery rhyme, or a game to play with Lauren. It is so entertaining to see the interaction of my two sweethearts. They love to sing, dance, and play together.

Lauren's Life in Pause Mode

Lauren is a VERY active little girl!! She is always on the go. We wish we had half of her energy. She came to our family through an open adoption in November of 2007. From the first day we saw her we immediately fell in love. She has the biggest brown eyes that look up to us that can get her anything she wants. She loves to be read to. She has about 75 books and we read all of those over and over and over every week. We pretty much have most of them memorized. She also loves to dance. Anytime she hears music she shakes her little bum a million miles a minute. She has better rhythm than both of us put together.

She loves to be outside jumping on the jump-o-lene and going down the slide all by herself. She would be out there all day if we would let her. She also loves it when she has other people to play with. Her cousins are her best friends. She especially loves baby Madeline. She loves helping her aunt take care of her and she gives hundreds of hugs and kisses.

Our Thoughts on Open Adoptions

From the time that we first started talking about kids we decided that we wanted to adopt. After 2 years of not being able to get pregnant we didn't even consider anything else. We knew that adoption was the way to complete our family. We were so excited for the journey.
In 2006, Janelle's little sister found out that she was pregnant. After SO MANY tears and prayers Kellie decided to place her baby with LDS family services. It was a journey that we will never forget.

Through Kellie's adoption we realized that we wanted an open adoption. There really wasn't another option to us. We knew we wanted to know where our children came from and we wanted them to know as well.
We couldn't ask for a better situation with Lauren's birth families. We love them so much. They have become like extended family to us. We see Lauren's birth mother, birth father and birth grandparents often. We keep in close contact and update them weekly through our personal blog.

Meeting Lauren's Birth mom, Brittany, for the first time.

Placement day in the hospital.

Lauren and her birth father.

Lauren and her birth mom.

Birthparent Letter

Dear Birthparents,

We are so excited you’re reading our letter and appreciate the time you’re taking to learn more about us. We pray for you daily that you will have the strength and support as you decide what is best for you and your baby.

We do not know everything you are feeling at this time first-hand, but we watched Janelle’s sister, as a birth mom, place her baby with a loving family through LDS Family Services in 2006. Then, in November of 2007, we got a call that our little Lauren Marie had been born. Her adoption was truly one of the most spiritual experiences we have ever been through. From these experiences we feel the desire to share once more in the blessing and opportunity of adoption. We are humbled to share this with you.

Lauren is the happiest little girl. She loves, loves, loves music. We are always singing to her as she shakes her little bum around the room. She also loves to be read to. We read about 10 books to her each day. She continually brings them to us and then reaches up so she can sit on our lap. We pretty much have all of her books memorized (maybe it’s time for some new books). We love to tell her about her adoption story and about all the people who love her. She loves babies and especially her new little cousin. We think she will be a great big sister.

We are so blessed to have an amazing relationship with Lauren’s birth parents and her birth grandparents. It has been wonderful to share with them the events in Lauren’s life through emails, our blog, texting, phone calls, and many get-togethers. We look forward to having the same type of relationship with you.

We love to laugh and play games. We have the most fun outdoors. We enjoy going on walks, going camping, 4-wheeling, or just playing in the snow. We enjoy rooting on our favorite sports teams and love to attend a Jazz game or a BYU football game at every opportunity.

We are blessed to have both of our families close by and enjoy spending Sunday afternoons with all the entertaining nieces and nephews. It’s a weekly occurrence.

We want you to know whatever decisions you make for you and your baby will be the right one. We know Heavenly Father will help you with your choice whatever it might be. We know this because we have seen His hand in many of the decisions we have made in our lives. We look forward to getting to know you so we can tell your child what wonderful people you are. We know who you are will play a big role in who your child becomes. There will never be a doubt in your child’s mind about how much you love them and how much they will always mean to you. We will continue to pray for you and your baby.

Love,
Brian and Janelle