Blessings Not Burdens

Hi there and welcome to Love Doesn't Count Chromosomes! A blog that is sure to bring a smile to your face and warm fuzzies to your heart! Liam and Sara will be your hosts. You can read a little more about them on the side panel of this blog. As for me, the author, producer, and editor of this  blog let me introduce myself. My name is Jodi. I am a 40 year old wife, mother of 5, daughter, sister, friend, and much more. I live in a beautiful valley, surrounded by mountains. I love to sing, bake, hike, travel, spend time with family and friends, and I love Jesus! My husband and children are my reason for breathing! And although two of my children are not of my flesh they have captured my heart. I am so grateful to be a mother and I am grateful my heart is capable to love with no boundaries. I am grateful for my faith and knowledge that families are forever!

We are an ordinary family hoping to do extraordinary things for others as we walk hand in hand on our journey to forever! Special Needs Adoption is one way we knew we could help! After we had our first 3 children, we knew our family wasn't complete. Our hearts were pricked and we knew that we should, could, and would adopt. Little did we know how much adoption would change our lives! We became foster parents in 2009 and Liam was our first and only placement a year later in 2010. We were able to foster him as an infant (from 27 days old) and he became part of our family in April of 2012. That same year, same day of his adoption in fact, we chose to adopt Sara. On October 10, 2012 we brought Sara home at the age of 10 months. She had resided in an orphanage, 6000 miles away and was given up at birth because she was born with Down syndrome. Liam (age 5) and Sara (age 4) bring so much joy and happiness into our home and we can't imagine life without them. Saying this doesn't mean that it has been easy. Oh believe me it has been tough at times, like super frustrating, faith testing tough. But love always prevails, we are always humbled, and we soon remember why we are on this journey. We are here to help and bless the lives of others. We are here to help others understand the plan of happiness. We are here to help them become who our Heavenly Father knows they are and can be. We are here to love and be loved! Families allow us to be a part of something grand, where we learn and grow, experience joy and sorrow, and can just be! I am grateful that my children have a place to call home and love being their mom. It truly is the greatest yet hardest job ever but I sure am glad I applied!! Family is one of life's greatest blessings and I thank my lucky stars that mine include such lovely people!

My hope for this blog is to brighten your days by sharing stories, thoughts, pictures, and things that make you go hmmm. I also hope to raise awareness for those who are living with disabilities, and help others realize that Liam and Sara are not burdens but great blessings. And although this blog will highlight their happenings and such, I will share tidbits about our other children (Cole age 14, Beck age 9, Kate age 7) and family too! I will share our faith, hope and love as we travel down this path less traveled. It's guaranteed to be scenic but will also have bumps and boulders along the way. But it is a path that is perfectly designed, wonderfully made, and beautifully meant to be just like them.You will soon discover like we did that love doesn't count chromosomes!!