Yardsale, Giveaway, and New Clinic!

What a great week this has been!

Last Friday, Brian and I had a Skype consultation with a clinic in Arizona. I am so ready to get started! I had talked to this doctor on the phone for as while about a month ago. I was really excited about working with him and even more now! Even with the distance, it will be more cost affective to go to Arizona, then the clinic we had decided before. Plus, we both enjoyed talking to him, and their success rates are great!

I have to get written approval from my gastro doctor. I have appt with him on Friday so will do that then. Next, Skype appt with IVF coordinator from Arizona. Finally, we HAVE to find a lawyer!

The giveaway is over! Thank you sooo much to Alyson for planning, executing, and promoting this fundraiser! $1100 was donated! We are sooo grateful! And so excited for Nicki, Cary, and Heather winning some awesome prizes! Thank you to the WONDERFUL women who donated items and gift certificates to make this happen! I hope everyone was able to see these shops and the awesome work that these women do.

Thank you Caryn! She planned a yardsale for this last weekend. She got donations from so many people! I can not believe all that was donated. Again... so grateful for everyone's help! We made $460 over the weekend from the yardsale! How awesome is that!? We are going to do another one in a few weeks.

Again, thank you everyone for your prayers, support and donations!
~Brian and Ali

Mother's Day

My mom and I

With Mother's Day coming up, I want more than ever to be a mom.
From the time I was very young, my answer to the "What do you want to be when you grow up?" question was always "mom".  My mom is so amazing. I just want to be able to be the kind of mom that she was. Of course there was a short period of time when I was a teenager that I don't know what was going on with her because she "didn't love me, and was trying to make my life miserable" Lol. So, when we have a child, I am never going to "make them do chores" "Make them do their homework". Ahaha! :-) Thankfully, my mom was strong enough to "make my life miserable" (If you know me you wouldn't think I was a drama queen, but I think every girl is with their mom at some point.) so that I could become a woman that I can be proud of.

My favorite teacher!

I am so grateful for the life that my parents gave us. My mom home schooled all 3 of us until I was in 7th grade. I remember some amazing projects that we were able to do! We were very involved in the home school groups in the area. I even was in a drama group! (pretty sure that was one of the things my mom made me do to make my life miserable) :-) I actually really enjoyed it, and learned a lot.

We traveled for about 7 months when I was 7/8 yrs old. More amazing things we were able to experience through this. My mom and I learned to make rag dolls, and we made those and would sell them at flea markets. Every stop that we made on our trip, my mom taught us everything there was to learn at the location. I am still amazed and admiring of the patience that she had. When we moved to Idaho, looking back, I know it had to have been so difficult. Now, having moved to a whole new place, it was difficult for me 5 years ago. But she had 3 kids, very small living quarters, and completely opposite climate. It makes me so grateful for the military community Brian and I have.

Me at 5 months. In this picture my mom was younger than I am

I could go on and on of everything I have ever admired about my mom, but it is just too much! The one thing I know that I can do to show how much I appreciate and admire her is to become a mom, and raise our child/children with as much love and trust in God as she has. Take all that she has taught me over the years, and become the best person that I can be.