Jarrett Sidanelv ᏏᏓᏁᎸ

We cannot thank you all enough for your continued prayers throughout our adoption journey ❤️

A year ago, we sent in the first bit of paperwork for our adoption before we started our classes and recommended readings. Each day is one day closer to meeting an expectant momma who has been looking for a couple like us. And each day is one day closer to meeting our child and his or her birth family

Please feel free to share pieces of this journey we're on with others. Sharing our story may help us connect with expectant parents. We’re grateful for your prayers!

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A peek into our home

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A bit about Clif:

I, unlike Addie, am a little bit more on the shy side, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't love to meet you. Adoption is something that has been a part of my life for a long time. Two of my cousins were adopted and a dear friend and his wife have also adopted.

I am 34 years old and I am a construction estimator. I know it sounds like a boring job, but it can get pretty wild when we are compiling our bids. I really enjoy construction and working with numbers. I have been working for the same company since I graduated high school. I work with a great group of guys and my father-in-law is actually my boss. After I graduated high school, I was able to further my education in this field and received a bachelor's degree in construction management from a state university near my hometown.

I grew up on our family's farm and it's one of my favorite palces to spend time with my family. I come from a pretty small family with only having one sister, but she is one of my best friends. We all love to get together for we**ie roasts and fishing at the farm. Most of my family lives within 40 minutes of where we live now, so it makes it a lot easier to get together.

I love to spend time outside. Hunting and fishing have been a big part of my life and it allows me to spend quality time with my family. And like Addie mentioned, we love to take our dog Rocky on walks and hikes.

And of course, there is Addie. She is my soul mate and there is no one else I would want to do life with. We always have a great time no matter where we are and no matter what we are doing. We love to vacation together, serve together and go on coffee dates. I look forward to the many more years we will have together and look forward to being a parent with her.

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A bit about Addie:

I'm very relational, so again, I wish I could talk with you face to face. I believe that we serve a God who has created each and every person on purpose and for a purpose, so much of how I live each day reflects that truth. With the Lord's help, I try to live a life that shows His goodness and love to others. And much of that plays out with what I do, especially with my job.

I'm 29 years old and I currently work as a director of a Christ-centered non-profit organization that specifically works with youth. I've worked here since 2016 and I love what I get to do. Before this job opened up for me, I was working at a church in their children's ministry department for 3 years while I was finishing my Children's Ministry degree from a Christian college. I loved this job as well, but knew I was meant to be sharing the good news of Jesus with some students and their families who might not otherwise come through the doors of our church building. I keep learning that saying "yes" to God and His plan is the best. God's idea of better is always better than mine.

Aside from my job, I am so grateful for the family that God has given me. I grew up in a Christian home and have strong, loving, and encouraging parents. While I didn't have any siblings, our house was never really empty. From having foreign exchange students to some of my friends coming to live with us, our house had an open door policy and was always welcoming. We live 30 minutes away from my parents, so they are deeply a part of our lives and still have family game nights and meals together frequently.

I also must include our favorite furry member of our family: Rocky, our 4 year old lab mix rescue dog who is the absolute sweetest pup you'd ever meet. He has been a part of our family since 2018 and we cannot imagine our lives without him. We love to take him to the park down the street for walks and on hikes. He also enjoys going to work with me to see the kiddos, and they all love him to pieces.

Some of my favorite things include: spending time with my best friend Clif, hanging out with our precious Rocky, joking around, writing, home design and woodworking with Clif, road trips, fishing, hiking, antiquing, teaching dance classes, and taking on any other adventures this world has to offer.

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ᎣᏣᎵᎮᎵᎦ (Otsaliheliga = “we are grateful!”)

I (Addie) am Cherokee. My grandmother grew up in Cherokee North Carolina on a reservation before moving to Oklahoma. A couple of my cousins also work for the Cherokee Nation, so our heritage is a big part of our family's story.

Growing up, my grandmother would teach my cousins and I how to write the syllabary letters and make jewelry with corn beads. She'd also tell us stories about growing up in North Carolina and we have visited that area to learn more.

Even though I may not remember how to write the syllabary letters, I am grateful for my heritage and Clif and I are looking forward to continuing to grow and learn and teach our children about their heritage and cultural backgrounds, no matter where they come from. We know God is calling us to weave our children's cultures into our family's story as well.

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We printed these cards and sent them out to friends and family this past summer to announce that we had started the adoption process. Know that you and your family are being covered with prayers and support. We are in your corner, cheering you on no matter what.

We believe, wholeheartedly, that we serve a big God who does big things, and He writes the best stories. If it's God's plan to bring our families' stories together, we cannot wait to meet you and come alongside of you as we get to see, side by side, what God does through the weaving together of different families, backgrounds, and stories. After all, we are all created to be a part of His family

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Osiyo (Cherokee greeting used for "hello") expectant parents!

We are Clif and Addie. In an ideal world, we would be able to meet you face to face over a cup of coffee or ice cream. But we're grateful for the ability to connect through social media for now.

Even though we may not know you, we do know that you are strong. You are loving. You are selfless. Considering this type of decision takes courage and deep love. Know that we have deep respect for you, and you have been in our daily prayers since we began this journey. You have our encouragement and support, no matter what you decide. We are in your corner.

The most important part of who we are is we are followers of Jesus. He has completely changed us and is the One who continues to shape and mold us to become who He has called us to be. Thankfully, the Lord is patient with us as we continue to learn more of what it means to love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and to love others like He has called us to love.

We met several years ago at our home church and instantly became close friends after being placed in the same Bible study small group (God definitely had His hand in that arrangement).
Quickly after we started dating, we both opened up about our deep God-given desire to adopt. Both of us, without any nudging from one another, felt the Lord leading us to have Him
write adoption into our family story. And as we continued to learn more about each other, we knew God was bringing our stories together. God writes the best stories.

After dating for about a year, we were married on November 18th, 2017. And every day since that day has gotten better as we have grown in our love for the Lord and for each other, and as we've continued to serve Him and the people around us, side by side.

In January of 2021, we started the paperwork process to adopt. We had been diligently praying and knew it was time to take this first step. Since then, we have taken several steps together following the Lord as He continues to lead us in this process. On February 14th, 2022 our home study was finalized and since Addie is a member of the Cherokee nation, we have been working with Cherokee Indian Child Welfare and are an ICWA approved family.

We know that no adoption is ever seamless, and that a day is coming when we will know, without a doubt, that all the prayers, countless days of waiting, the tears and the uncertainties will be so worth it.

We are grateful that God has has adopted us as His sons and daughters, and we are grateful that He is writing adoption into our family's story.

Grace and peace,
Addie and Clif

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