National Adoption Month Post #3 Fun at Boondocks!!

Last Saturday we participated in an adoption celebration hosted by the Utah Adoption Council. This is our second year attending, and the kids LOVE it!! It was held at Boondock's Fun Center. Wendy's Inc. donated the drinks, donuts, and Wendy's chili. Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's, of the Dave Thomas Adoption Foundation--that's the connection. Remember Wednesday's Child? Much of the focus of these annual celebrations is to find families to adopt older children still living with foster families, but who are available to adopt because their parents rights have been terminated. So sad. So many older kids who need permanent families. Perhaps one day we will do something like that. But for now we feel like we don't want to bring older children into our home until our own children have grown up. I have so much respect for those families who adopt older children and make a place for them in their hearts and homes.

It is fun for Logan and Ellie to know all the kids at the celebration are adopted. But the best part is that they were able to spend the time playing with their own cousins who are also adopted. The darling little girl is two-year-old Aleena. She is the adopted daughter of my little sister, Naomi. Their cousin, Nate, was also with us. He is the adopted son of my Sister Kim. He did NOT want his picture taken. I did sneak one of him in a group shot of the mini golfing.

Logan and Ellie just love their little cousin Aleena and she asks for them all the time. The other day Ellie told me that all babies are cute, but that Aleena is the cutest little baby she has ever seen!! We agree!! Her birthmother is beautiful, that's where Aleena gets her looks. (We love you, Shaleena!!) And Naomi is about the most easy-going, involved mom on the planet, that's where Aleena's little personality is allowed to blossom. Naomi and her husband Nate are now hoping to adopt a younger sibling for Aleena. We can't wait!!

When my nephew Nate was adopted over a decade ago, it was a private adoption, through an attorney, not an agency. So they have not always had the contact we do with the adoption world. We were so excited that Nate and his Dad came out to Boondocks last week. Who would have guessed years ago that three of us sisters would be adoptive moms??!!

At Boondocks the kids enjoyed the climbing play area, the arcade games with the hundreds of tickets they won for prizes, mini golf, etc. Thanks Utah Adoption Council !!! And thanks to LDSFS Adoption agency for the invitation.