Introductions...

Yep, that's us.... Don't we look like a happy bunch?

Hello everyone--we're so happy to announce that we've decided to start the process of welcoming another member, little five-year-old Alex. Although we did make the final decision, we haven't been alone in the long discernment process that brought us to this point. Friends, family, co-workers, spiritual counselors, and the wonderful community at Reece's Rainbow have nudged, prodded, tugged, guided, held our hands, and generally accompanied us along the way. Above all, we have truly felt God's presence in this process.

A little bit about ourselves, for those who don't know us. Susan teaches theology at Saint Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota; she has an alter ego online, the Ironic Catholic, a moderately wildly some-people-other-than-her-mom-read-it popular Catholic humor blog. (Which recently won the Cannonball Awards in the category of Most HiFreakinLarious Blog. Plus, an archbishop at the Vatican said that it made him laugh.) She did her graduate work at Vanderbilt University. Jerry (me) is a stay-at-home dad who is also a writer, editor, and erstwhile website developer. My last "real" job was as a development editor at Saint Mary's Press, where I specialized in Catholic high school theology textbooks. These days, I'm trying to revive my writing career, when I'm not busy helping out with our church's family faith formation program.

We have four children, who go by pseudonyms online to protect their privacy (we don't want future romantic interests Googling their names and finding pictures and stories from their childhood!). Bear is 11 and interested in video games, cooking, and building things from scratch. He also plays the violin. Mouse is nine and a HUGE reader...she's into princesses and fairies and horses. She is also quite the artist and writer. Jaybird is six, a real firecracker who is enthusiastic about almost everything; this summer, she learned to swim, bike without training wheels, and lost her first tooth. Mudpuppy is two, but long since two in spirit. He is known to every grocery store clerk in these here parts by name, on account of his wonderful and ever-present smile.

We live in Winona, the "Miami of Minnesota," the "historic island city" located on the banks of the Mississippi River. This is a great community to raise children in, and we're connected with many circles of friends. Our neighborhood has a block party every year; we have a wonderful school system, including an Early Childhood Family Education program; our church, St. Mary's Parish, is lively and engaged; and we have been blessed to be part of the Winona Catholic Worker community, which provides food, shelter, and friendship to those in need here in Winona. We're surrounded by natural beauty--in the bluffs, the river, a huge city park right nearby, and five state parks and wildlife areas within an hour's drive.

Hmm...what else? Oh...did I mention that we're Catholic? If not, I just wanted to put that out there.

We have a family blog called Gracewatch (like Baywatch, except with swim diapers instead of Speedos). You can learn more about our family there -- with the caveat that it is intended primarily as a way to keep our family and friends up on our news, so expect some inside baseball as well as a certain candor on matters of faith and politics. This blog -- Adopting Alex -- is where we'll provide adoption news for friends, family, and the wonderful community at Reece's Rainbow. We're especially excited to finally be connecting with Alex's support community that has been working on his behalf for so long. A special shout out to Joanna and Amber -- you guys did make a difference. You're an inspiration.

As everyone who is familiar with these adoptions knows, we're only at the beginning -- we've got a long ways to go, and nothing is for certain at this point. We're hoping that this blog, along with the Adoption and Awareness for Alex Facebook page, can be a hub for much-needed ongoing support.

Most of all, please continue to pray for Alex -- that he will be protected, mentally and physically, where he is right now, and that the adoption process will go smoothly and quickly.

--Jerry

...And this is Susan here.  I think we're going to sign our posts, although you will likely be able to tell quickly...we have very different styles of sharing communication (Jerry has the elegantly worded information posts, and I tend to have the passionate theological ones)!  We are so blessed and excited!  But there is a lot to tell you about Alex, his situation, and what this involves.  God has been so good to us, and we are honored that he is leading us down this path.  We'll share more later.

Peace, Susan