Welcome to our blog!

Hello. Thank you for reading a little bit about our family!

Russ and I (Laurel) are both from Southern California and met the summer after we both graduated H.S. We started hanging out right away, and before we knew it Russ left to serve a mission for our church and I left the state to go to college. A few years later, I returned to California to teach P.E. and met up with Russ who had returned home. We have been married for 10 years and have been best friends ever since!

Russ and I love the outdoors. We love camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding, swimming- basically being outside!

Two years later we were thrilled to find out we were expecting our first baby. Our Hannah was born in December of 2002 and passed right away. We were completely devastated, and still miss her.

A few months later, we were surprised to see that we were expecting again. Jackson was born in November of 2003 and we were ecstatic that he was alive. He was rushed to the NICU moments after he was born, and there slipped into a coma and was flown to another hospital where he stayed for the next month and a half. I stayed in a hotel at this time so I could be with him every day, and Russ would drive down after work and on weekends so we could be together. Thru many miracles, our Jackson survived and is a wonderful, bright, active 7 year old boy.

Cannon came along 2 1/2 years later and once again, we were super excited. Early in the pregnancy it was discovered that my body could not handle the stress of being pregnant, and I was found in the hospital twice and then with 5-7 doctor appointments a week for the last half of the pregnancy. It was at this time, our doctor told us that having any more children was completely out of the question for us.

Russ and I have always wanted a large family, and we feel that adoption is such a huge blessing. We are so excited, anxious and completely humbled by the love of birth families. The sacrifice is so great for your baby, our hearts will forever be full of pure gratitude.

RUSS

Russ is the most amazing fun, hardworking, devoted, involved husband & daddy. He is the life of the party and so fun to be around. Russ works hard to support his family and makes sure to have fun at the same time. He went back to school to get his Masters in Business and will be finished next spring... YEA! He LOVES mountain biking, road biking, hiking, paint balling, hunting, volleyball, surfing, golfing, pretty much every fun thing- he wants to do... and mostly being with his wife & boys. He is a very involved dad and coaches their sports teams and tries to accompany them on school field trips and other adventures.

LAUREL

Laurel is my best friend. She is kind, understanding, and selfless. Her eternal smile and always-positive outlook are what have helped nurture our family and build our home. Her goals and desires in life have been centered on being a loving and supportive wife and mother. She sets a tone of love and acceptance in our home that is immediately felt when friends and family visit. Our boys have made her their princess and have total faith in her ability to make a costume out of towels and sheets or build a fort out of couch cushions and the kitchen table. When we were first married Laurel taught PE at an elementary school and has carried on this love of exercise with Jack and Cannon. From sword fights, soccer matches and baseball in the living room on a cold day to sleeping outside on the trampoline, Laurel loves to have fun. She has the ability to include everyone and make friends instantly. These are qualities that I love about her. Through our trials we have grown closer and I have been able to witness and feel of her Christ-like love. She is an amazing woman.

JACKSON

Jackson is a 7 year old great boy. He is a little comedian and enjoys being a joker. He likes playing with his friends, video games, soccer and especially baseball. Jackson is a great big brother, and really takes care & protects his little brother. He really wants his dad to teach him to surf right now and is anxious to "surf a tube". Jack wants to play the drums and is really hoping to get a set soon. He loves to swim and is excited to join the swim team this summer, and then get baptized in November.

CANNON

Cannon is 5 and as sweet as can be. He has a tender heart and loves others. Cannon loves to be outside and loves animals. He loves to ride his bike, jump on the trampoline, dig in the dirt, and play with our dog, Rocha. Cannon is super-duper excited to start kindergarten and ride on the school bus.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our little family. I can't imagine the feelings that you are experiencing. Please know that our hearts are filled with love respect for you and your family. We have been blessed to expierence adoption within both sides of our families and have seen what a beautiful and sacred thing it can be. Russ and I both are filled with great appreciation, love, sensitivity and admiration for you, the birth parents, and your ability to be so selfless at such a difficult time. This baby would always know about what an amazing family he or she came from.

Please contact us if you would like to get to know us better. Our love and heartfelt thoughts are with you.

Russ and Laurel Bartholet

(970) 402-8831

laurdacooj@hotmail.com

russbartholet@gmail.com