He flew to Utah a couple weeks after that. We were just hitting it off so well. One night as we were talking he opened up. I knew that he had had cancer and had been through so much a few years earlier. We had talked about that, but this night he went into much more depth--especially the side effects of all the treatments that he had undergone. He told me how he would probably never be able to have biological children and he asked how I felt about adoption. This kind of shocked me, but I cared about Ryan and wanted to pursue this relationship. I wasn't going to end things because of this news. And adoption had always appealed to me.
We continued our long distance relationship. In June, after about 6 weeks of going back and forth, I made the decision to move to Washington to be closer to him. Timing of the blind date was perfect so that I could make this decision. I had recently graduated from BYU and was working at two part time jobs that I could easily leave. In July I moved to Washington. I found a job and in August Ryan proposed.
We were married in October. From the first date to our wedding was not quite 6 months. I swore I would never do that, oh well, he was the right one, at the right time, in the right place.
We went on a cruise for our honeymoon. It was awesome! 
After being married for about 6 months, we both individually decided that it was time to add to our family of two. We knew that we would need to see the fertility specialist and do in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in order to have a baby. As we went through the IVF treatments, we had all the faith in the world that it was going to happen. The doctor told us that there was not a very good chance, but we had faith. Unfortunately it didn’t work. We were completely heartbroken.
Ryan and I filled out all the paperwork and did all the necessary things to get approved for adoption. After we were approved we told everyone that we knew that we were trying to adopt and asked them to help spread the news. A little over a year after we had been approved we got an email from my aunt who lives in another state. She told me that she knew someone that was pregnant and not married and was considering placing her son for adoption. My aunt had shared with her our blog and information. Our sweet Julie read it and felt like we were to be the parents of her little boy. She emailed a couple of days and we read the sweetest words: “I've read your blog and it really touched me. Ever since I found out I was pregnant I never felt much like it was supposed to be mine. Please let me know if you can consider adopting my son. I know you will be a great choice.” We immediately felt so peaceful. We started emailing back and forth and building a relationship with her. We visited her a few weeks later and she immediately felt like family. About 3 months after she contacted us for the first time, she called us to let us know that the baby was going to be born that day. We jumped on the next flight and made it to the hospital a few hours after our sweet baby Lucas was born.
I have 9 cousins who were adopted and one of my cousins has 2 daughters who were adopted. My family loves adoption. It has been such a blessing to all of us.
I asked one of my cousins, Leslie, to help out by answering some questions about her adoption. She is a super cute 17-year-old. She was adopted from Guatemala when she was a baby. I remember she was the most beautiful baby. She was so happy and loved to laugh. And she still does. She recently won Miss Idaho Days. She is an amazing dancer.
Ok well first of all i think it's amazing that you're doing this!
How do you feel about being adopted?
I was so young that it didn't really have an effect on me because when they were still getting used to me i was too little to remember it. So i've never felt like i didn't belong or i wasn't loved. I love the fact that I'm adopted and different. I'm proud of who I am!
When did you first come to know that you were adopted?
Ummmm I don't really know. I've always known I was adopted so it's just always been normal there was never a shock
Did you ask questions about your adoption?
I always ask questions about being adopted. My parents can't always answer them but I know that I'll find out my answers someday.
How would your parents explain to you about your adoption?
They would always tell me how my birthmom loved me so much that she placed me with a family who could take care of me and love me. It's never been a bad thing that I've been adopted, it's always been positive.
Is there anything you wish your parents had done differently?
All kids have problems with their parents so of course there are things I wish they'd do different but nothing about my adoption. I just wish they'd take me back to go see what it's like. But i also with they would have kept for the the culture with me. I don't know that much about it and I wish I did.
Is there anything else that you would like to say about adoption?
Just love your child as much as any kid. Some times you have to love adopted kids more but Ithink if you get them where there younger it's easier. I'd say shoot for before walking and talking stage so you can raise them how you want them to be raised the older you get the harder it is. I wish you the best of luck! Send me a picture when you have your baby! I want updates on all of the adoption! Love ya, Leslie
Thanks Leslie! Love ya too.
