A New Year, A Fresh Start

It's been a while since I've written a post on here and for multiple reasons.  (1) just haven't had the time, and (2) there isn't much to update. 

We had a wonderful Christmas.  I so enjoyed the time we got to spend with our family.  And we have an awesome family.  I always get so depressed after Christmas because I know it will be another year before we get to experience those kind of special feelings again.  Christmas is just such a magical time of year...thinking about the birth of our Savior and what it was like back then, what it was like for Mary, and the impact his birth made on our world.  Along with that comes the comfort of being with all of our loved ones and knowing that even though we exchange gifts that those really aren't important and that all of us really do just enjoy the time together.  Getting to reminisce and here all the funny stories from Aunt Valerie, or stories about my brother and sister, or the ridiculous things my dad has done and still does :)  And who could forget the delicious food?!??!!  Eating all that food and not caring about how many calories your consuming or it's nutrition value...just enjoying trying all the different foods that so many loved ones took the time to make.  It is just a magical and truly a gift from the Lord.

And all this goodness and happiness somehow still leaves a whole in my heart.  I'm sure it comes as no surprise that Christmas and New Years is the hardest time for Doug and I.  I want to be sharing all these incredible memories with my child(ren).  I want to be making Christmas memories with my little girl or baby boy. 

But, now it's a new year...a new beginning...a new start.  We will continue on with the waiting process, praying and hoping that this is the year we are blessed with gift from God.  We have made the decision to continue on with the process with Bethany for one more year and as we continue to wait we will be praying and trying to discern His word and His will for us.  If God calls us to pursue another avenue, then we need to obey so we will see what this new year holds. 

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and I hope that 2013 brings many blessings to each of you!

P.S. If you are needing a good book recommendation try "Discerning the Voice of God" by Priscilla Shirer.  Very good book to learn how to hear God's voice and to be reminded that even though we don't have the fortune of having our Savior here on earth with us, we still have the Holy Spirit who can live within us and help us to really know God and experience His love. 

Homestudy Update Complete and a Few Other Thoughts

I'm a little behind but we completed our homestudy update a few weeks ago!  I know everyone seems to think we've been waiting FOREVER to be matched, but for us, this past year has flown by it seems. 

I realize that our lives will change soon enough, so I am trying to treasure the moments and continue to make memories with Doug.  I am so looking forward to becoming a mother some day, but I never want to lose sight of the most important relationship that God has given me here on this earth.  Mine and Doug's relationship continues to grow and improve and we owe all of that to our heavenly Father.  The way that He has worked in our lives over the past two years, especially just within the last 6 months, has been amazing to watch.  I grow more and more in love with Doug each day and watching him grow into a stronger Christian is just more evident of God's plan.  I can't wait to see what a wonderful father he will become.  And I can't wait to share God's amazing love and grace with our precious child.

Ok, I may have gotten a little more mushy than I should have for this post ;-) I just love sharing all that the Lord is doing in my life.  Please continue to pray for us as we patiently and sometimes not so patiently wait for our child.  And please pray for our birthmother.  I know there is a birthmother out there that needs us or will need us soon and I just pray that we find each other.  I pray that God give her the strength and wisdom to make whatever decision is best for her and the baby.

I hope everyone has a great week!  So glad fall is finally here!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I just wanted to say thank you soooo much for those that are using our link to shop on Amazon.  I don't know who all has bought (it just shows what was bought, now who the buyer is) but we really appreciate it.  You are helping us more than you know!

Just a reminder, if you click on the Amazon link on this page, you can shop on Amazon just like you normally would, but a portion of the proceeds goes into our adoption fund!

Save the Adoption Tax Credit!

Save the Adoption Tax Credit.  Not for us, but for other families going through the adoption process!

http://adoptiontaxcredit.org/advocate/

Yard Sale

We're planning a yard sale in October.  Hopefully this will continue to help us raise money for adoption costs.  If anyone wants to donate, just let us know.  I'll give more details closer to the date!  Hope everyone has a great week!

Shop Amazon?  Use the link on the right hand side of this page to shop Amazon as well as help us save for our adoption.  I would save it to your "Favorites" that way you don't have to type in the link every time.  Thanks again for your help!!

Worth the Wait

I forgot to post about this last week, but we went to our first Bethany support group meeting last Tues.  It was really good and we enjoyed it.  It was for those going through the domestic adoption process so it was nice to have others to relate to.  Everyone was super nice too and seemed to be going through lots of the same things we had or are going though. 

I know this is going to sound weird, but I'm really enjoying the waiting.  This is the most growing I've done in my Christian life - EVER!  I am truly enjoying all the lessons He is teaching me each day.  I want to learn more!  I want to keep learning and growing so that I can be more prepared for our child.  But not just for our child, but for everyone I come into contact with.  I want to be able to witness to others and share the amazing things God can show you and His amazing love. 

BUT as much as I'm enjoying the wait, I'm still longing to meet our child.  I can't wait to hold them in my arms and to watch Doug make his silly faces trying to get them to smile.  I know that God wants the desires of our hearts to be fulfilled if those desires will glorify Him or help bring others to have faith in Christ.  And that's what we want so I know that someday, I'll get to decorate a baby's room, read bedtime stories to my toddler, take my child to their first school dance, and watch my teenager graduate from high school and off to college.  But until that day, I'll enjoy my beautiful nieces and all the other wonderful children we have in our lives and try to be examples for them. 

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:4