Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas break! It was so great to spend time with our families and celebrate the birth of Jesus. I love Christmas time! Christmas to me is such a reminder of the gift Jesus gave us by coming to earth as a baby in order to give us the gift of salvation. I feel like I worship so much more deeply during Christmas because of the overflow of my love and gratitude for God sending Jesus to offer mankind salvation. Don't hear me wrong, I am grateful throughout the entire year for the gift God gave us, but Christmas is just a reminder to take time and really focus on God's gift to us, His son Jesus.   

Matt and I traveled to Arkansas to spend time with our families and then we went to Oklahoma to spend time with Jacque's extended family. The end of our Christmas break became eventful when most of us came down with stomach virus. The stomach virus worked it's way around the family and I think there were only three that were spared. Even though we passed around a stomach virus, I would not trade the time we got to spend with our families! 

Here is a picture of all the kids in their Christmas eve pajamas! They are so cute!

December Number

We got our new number!! Our number for December is 37! Honestly, I was shocked! I didn't think we would be in the thirties. It feels good to be in the thirties though.

We are so excited about adding our new little one to our family, and with each month, we are getting a little bit closer. I will keep this post short because we are in one of the busiest times of the year. I am drowning in papers and finals and M has a lot going on in campus ministry. We are ready for a break!

We hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season filled with lots of blessings! Please keep praying for us as we wait for the child God has for us. We have moments of joy ,but we always remember in the back of our minds that someone from our family is not with us this Christmas. We are excited and blessed to be surrounded by family and friends, but our hearts are torn because our we are wondering about our child.

New November Number!!

Well, today is November 1st! I love the beginnings of new months. I can't really explain why but I always have. Now, that we are in the adoption process I really love the start of new months because we get our new number on the first of every month. So, since it's a new month, we have a new number. Our November number is .............

Please keep praying for us while we are waiting for the child that God has picked out for us. Sometimes, we tend to get a little impatient. We are happy with our new number, but keep praying for us as we wait.

5 Favorite things

I've done a post like this before, but it has been a long time so I thought I would do another one and talk about 5 more of my favorite things. These are in no particular order and they will cover a wide range of categories from health and beauty to household. All of these things are not must haves to live, but they are just a few things that make me feel at home and comfortable.

My first favorite thing is... French Quarter Candles

I have liked these candles for a long time, but I don't think I had ever written about them. These candles smell amazing. They last for a long time and they have have a wide range scents that smell really fresh. I usually keep a couple at the house, and when I burn them all out I usually feel a little sad. These are soy candles, so they burn really clean. You should check them out, if you haven't before.

Favorite thing #2 is ....... Clinique Makeup Remover- Take the Day Off

When I was younger, I never washed off my makeup before going to bed. Now, I can't sleep if I have makeup on. No one warned me that everything changes after you turn 30! I like wearing makeup, but I really love going to bed with a clean face. This cleanser takes off everything without irritating my eyes. Sometimes my eyes get irritated when I use some cleansers, so I really like that this cleanser gently takes all my eye makeup off.

Favorite thing #3 is ........ Gap Yoga Pants

These are the most comfortable pants! I wear these around the house and to the gym.  I like the length and weight of these pants. They are not heavy, so they keep me cool but with the security of pants. Sometimes I just want to wear pants. Do ya'll ever feel like that?

Favorite thing #4 is ...... Target Boyfriend Pocket Tees

Along with my yoga pants, I usually wear a mossimo boyfriend tee. For a long time I was very loyal to Old Navy t-shirts, but one day my sister introduced me to these t-shirts from target and I have never looked back! They come in a wide range of colors and are really light and comfortable. They look great with jeans, shorts, capris, skirts, etc. I have a whole closet full and they get worn all the time!

Favorite thing #5 is..... Naked 2 Eyeshadow palette

This eyeshadow is amazing! I love all the colors that come with it and it lasts all day. I've had my palette for a while now, and it is still going strong. It is so fun to see all the different color combinations that I can make based on the way that I'm feeling that day. You can get the Naked 2 palette at any Sephora or Ulta store. Go pick one up, you won't regret it!

September Number

It's a new month, which means we have a new number. Our new number is......

We are excited to be in the forties! Our agency placed six children in forever families this month! That is awesome! Be praying for these families as they are waiting to to get court dates, they will soon be traveling to meet their children, bringing them home, and making big transitions. 

Be praying for us as we wait our turn. Waiting is not easy, but we know there is a reason why. God is sovereign and He is in control.  

Time to Update

I am way behind on updating you on what has been going on with us and with the adoption. My apologies! Since our dossier has made it to Ethiopia we have been put on a wait list to be matched with a child. At the beginning of every month we will get an update with a new number of where we are on the list. Currently we are number ......

We have had lots of questions about the wait list, so here is my best and quickest explanation of how the wait list works. Everyone from our agency that is adopting through Ethiopia is on the same wait list. So, we are on the same list as people who are waiting for an 8 year old or waiting for a 6 year old girl, etc. When a child becomes available for adoption the agency starts with the number 1 and works their way up the list. When the agency finds a family that meets the criteria of the child then the family is matched with that child. We have been approved for an infant 0-2 years old, no gender specified.

So, the smaller our number the better because we will be closer to being matched with a child. I know it is already half way through the month and I'm just now updating you, I will try to be better in the future months. I'm afraid that in the next couple months we may not have too much to update other than the number because at this point the only thing that we can do is wait and pray. Please keep praying for us as we wait. Waiting is not easy, but we know it is what we have to do in order to be matched with the child that God has already picked out for us. 

3 things I look forward to doing after I graduate

I thought it might be time for a more fun or random blog, rather than always talking about adoption stuff. Since it is summer time and I have a little bit more free time, I feel like I am getting a little taste of what my life may look like after I graduate with my masters degree. In the last couple weeks I've been thinking about things that I would like to do after I graduate.
So here are some ideas that I have....

- Being a mother.
Depending on when we are able to go pick up the baby, I will hopefully graduate and be able to stay home and focus on raising a baby and being a wife. Matt is a huge help around the house, but I enjoy being able to cook dinner and do things around the house that need to be done. Matt has really stepped up and takes care of a lot of the household chores and he is so understanding when I haven't started dinner because I am working on school stuff.

- Read for fun.
I don't get to read anything for fun because I am so consumed with reading for school and assignments.

- Learn to sew.
I do not know how to sew, so I'm thinking about the possibility of learning to use a sewing machine. I would like to be able to make curtains, or halloween costumes, and even hem pants. I don't know how to do any of it and I would like to at least have a basic understanding of how to sew.

I know that adding a baby to our family is going to be a huge adjustment for our family, but these are just a few ideas that I've had the last few weeks. So depending on when we are able to travel and get the baby that would be my first priority before these other things. Lord willing, one day I will finish my degree and hopefully get to do a few things that I want to do.