Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year!!!

We wish everyone a happy and blessed 2010! We end 2009 being 4th in line for our baby girl on the "unofficial" list- there could be "mystery" families- but God knows! We can't help but super excited about starting this new year! Jillian- we are coming for you and we love you already!!! We can't wait to see you and to hold you!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Year End







Only a few more days of 2009 to go.... I can't say I am sad to see it go- it was great, but I am so looking forward to 2010!!! I am trying to stay busy anticipating the new year and all that it will bring! We tried to play in the snow on Christmas Day- but it was only deep enough where it blew and drifted! We went Ice Skating- the kid's first time- Harrison only made it one time around with Dad and Isabelle and I had a ball! Then Isabelle decided to end the year with a new "do"- I love it! We are all ready to start fresh- Can't wait for January- although the lack of sunshine gets me down sometimes in the winter, I always claimed I have Seasonal Affective Disorder- there is bound to be some movement on "the list"- so we will see where that places us! We are going to move some furniture around and get Jillian's room ready! So to all who are reading this, Happy Year End to you! Can't wait to see what the NEW year will bring! Oh, yeah- we are definetly going somewhere warm next Christmas! Craig is working it into the budget starting in January! Cheers!!!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Time 2009







Such a busy time of year- A visit to Santa, Craig and the kids decorating the annual gingerbread house and Isabelle dancing in The Nutcracker with her Dance Class- This year was her 6th year to be in it- makes me so proud! I really do love this time of year- and to think it started with the birth of a little baby in a dirty stable! It's all about Love! We have a lot of fun in our family with some of the secular traditions, like the Elf on the Shelf and such- it's been fun to see where he will end up next! (Watching the behavior of everyone in the house, and reporting back to Santa at night)- but we will never stop focusing on the birth of Jesus, our Savior- who God sent for all of us to save us from our sins! So as we go about our cookie making and ham eating- we think about what God did for us- We could never have Easter without Christmas! So he gave us the ULTIMATE Gift! And for that we are so blessed! Thank you, GOD!!!! And to all who are reading this, Merry Christmas! And a Happy 2010! It's going to be a GREAT Year! We can't wait!!!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

awesome art!


I Love www.pitterpatterart.com Check them out! Laura Kelley is so creative! She makes me wish I could sew! She has an awesome give away right now- I am hooked on her Africa shirts! It's so much fun to pick your own fabric out and send a little email and then you get an awesome original design in the mail a few days later! All to support adoption, too!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Number 5!!!

There was another referral today, this time for a baby girl- moving us up on the girl "unofficial list" to 5th in line! 9th in line overall! So exciting- that just means more families getting to go get their kiddo's and it makes more room for more babies!!! Praising God for all of the blessings!

Monday, December 7, 2009

TOP TEN!!!

So we are finally in the "TOP TEN" on the list of people waiting for a referral with our agency, America World, through the Ethiopia program- This list is an "UNOFFICIAL" list- kept by our yahoo group, so there could be some "mystery" families out there- There are 5 families ahead of us waiting for a girl on the list- once again, there could be families out there that we don't know about- Regardless, it is a great feeling to be in the top ten!
There was another referral today and the month is young! Praying for more referrals, girl referrals and for those families waiting to pass court!

Friday, December 4, 2009

passing time

This is such a busy time of year! I love it! There are lights to be hung-
and lots of other things to keep us busy- but I can't help but spend many moments throughout every day thinking of a girl far away- hoping and praying that she is not cold or hungry or alone- or being traumatized in any way- I just really don't like waiting- I am ready a for our referral NOW! This week I have been following Tom Davis and his mission team in Ethiopia and he has posted lots of great pictures on his blog- (love his books) and the images he has posted are breathtaking- they are of all of these beautiful people- orphans in Ethiopia- who don't have anyone but each other- I just can't believe more people don't "get it"- that bothers me! Even people in my own family- think adoption or orphan care is for "someone else". We can all do SOMETHING!
If that wasn't enough, something came in the mail.... I found this doll in a JCPenney magazine- its a soft doll with a pink dress and a little soft brown face with a little pink smile- so we ordered two- one to send to our baby when we DO get a referral and one to keep here- my friend, Stacy told me I should sleep with it so it smells like me- well my kids won't let me have a turn- so I guess it will just smell like all of us! ha! I am so glad they want to take part!
On top of that- I heard this song by Third Day called Merry Christmas- you should look it up on itunes if you haven't heard it- it WILL make you cry. So it is hard for me this year- I am blessed, but I long to hold a little brown baby girl that may be born right now in a far away land- I know God has his arms wrapped around her though and will keep her safe until we can come get her. Here are the things that make me smile right now- and I am so blessed to be their wife and Mom! Enjoy the season with the people you love---