15 Seconds of Fame

For those of you who didn't see it from the link on Facebook or catch it on tv, here is our little 15 seconds of fame!

I didn't get to tell the story of how they asked us so I thought I would blog that here. I got an email from the president of the board of directors of the Adoption Exchange asking if we would be interested in sharing our story. I had gotten to know many of the people from the Exchange from when we first became foster parents. Their website is where I first saw TJ's picture and Profile. (Joe still carries that first picture we saw of him in his wallet to help him to remember to be safe at work.) I conctacted them and they gave our information to his caseworker Kent. TJ had not been a foster home as long as some of the others, but he had been in more homes and in the longest of any of the kids under the age of 8. So when he found his forever family it was not just our miracle but one that so many shared with us from DCFS employees, Adoption Exchange employees, and the FABULOUS workers from the group home he lived in. We still occasionally contact the Exchange for information on support groups for different special needs and general adoption advice for when we adopt again. So after all of this Joe and I decided we should focus on and share the miracle we have everyday which is TJ.

A woman named Kathy and her husband who was the camera man/photographer came to our home on a saturday (which just happened to be one of the ones with nice weather!) and filmed interviews and us playing as a family. It was so fun to have them in our home because TJ got to learn how people who are "on" the TV get there. I don't think he really understood that just like we use our movie camera to tape at home that they "make" them the same for TV. He thought that people were watching him right that moment so we had to explain the difference between just "taped" and "Live" and that we were NOT doing live and there were not hundreds of people watching their tvs at that moment and when he did see it on tv the camera would not be here to embarass him. Once he understood that he was all game to play with the camera watching us. In fact I think he was sad once they left. He wants to know when they will be back and we will be on again. LOL I told him once we had more kids and mommy looks like a "TV actress" mommy.

We really enjoyed doing this and hope to be able to share our story with anyone who wants to hear it or has any questions about our journey. So if you know anyone who does have questions about adoption or foster care let me know!

Little tidbits I learned from the experience...

1. I cleaned the house for 2 days for NO reason. I mean CLEANED, I scrubbed everything and was obsessed. It was all in vain, they basically moved stuff around in my living room and made a mini set that you could only see a 6x6 foot area behind us that looked nice. That was ALL that was seen of my house.

2. Cleaning the backyard up (especially the doggy poop) was NOT in vain. We were outside 90% of the time.

3. I will never I MEAN NEVER do TV, unless it is the biggest looser, again till I finish loosing weight. Which I am working on and have lost some but not nearly close to enough!

4. Joe is totally hotter on TV than off. hehehe Isn't he cute?!

5. Last but not least...the grass always does look greener. Even when you are the one on the TV. We look so "perfect" in the clip, but it is not so everyday! We have many close to perfect moments but life in general is hardwork! So let that be my lesson I share with everyone! Anyone can be "cut" "edited" and "made" to "LOOK" perfect. We all should spend more time thanking God for our own trials, than wishing for others blessings.

So here it is: