Thinking of you both...

Reflecting on our two weeks...games, outings, lots of food, more games, gifts, teasing, chatting, more games, puzzles, more chatting...thanks for the wonderful memories for each of us! You guys are golden!!!

"It's the most wonderful season of all..."

Some photos of holiday highlights...Esther loves our relaxing pace, opening gifts Christmas day, Alpaca Rob playing Gabriel in our annual Christmas day drama, and lots of jammy, snuggle relaxing time. It doesn't get much better does it? Emmanuel...God with us...Joy to the World for He has come! A time to remember He is the Gift and the gifts He presents us with in our life...our family, our health, our blessings of friends...ahhh He is good! A Merry Christmas to you all and a New Year with inspiration of what He has to come!!!

Little girls and Christmas...

Aren't little girls Christmas clothes fun? We have been blessed with several friends who bless us with clothes for our girls. I am so thankful for friends and little girls and all the excitement they generate at Christmas. I wonder what it will be like next year adding a little boy to the mix? We have had such fun reading our advent story...Ruthie has especially enjoyed this year's story as it is about a little girl. I hope you all are enjoying your traditions you share with your family this time of year. Anyone want to share one of yours?

Introducing Matthias... we are logged in!

It is with great joy that I introduce Matthias to you. His name means "gift of God". We were given this name last spring when we started this journey. We will call our new son, Matt. We have our Log in Date...11-25! This means our paperwork has been officially accepted and logged into the system. We hope to travel in late spring to early summer. We were allowed to send a care package to Matt a few weeks back and just received these wonderful photos from New Day after our package arrived. New Day is the organization that cares for Matt and many others sweet little blessings who need extra care and a family to call their own. In the photos are Matt's foster mom and foster brother. We thank the Lord for Matthias, New Day and their wonderful care, for the prayers of many who have covered us on this journey thus far, and for God's guidance and blessings.

Do you ever feel like you're being watched?

A few weeks back I hosted an owl workshop at my school. I was astounded with the unique features the owl has been given. Did you know a Snowy Owl has such amazing hearing that he can pin point a mouse buried two feet in the snow and scoop him up with his perfectly designed talons? The more I learn about God's creatures...the more I am awed by their specific design for the purposes they were created for. It should not surprise any of us that He designed each of us for a uniquely created purpose as well. While there may be scientists out there that would argue for a creature's ability to evolve into something more complicated over years and years...I would argue that it is God's artistic design and ordered nature that has created features on our earth that science, even now, has not the ability to unravel. Do you ever feel like you are being watched? As we approach this day of Thanksgiving...I am ever so thankful that I am being watched...day in and day out...by a Creator who loves me...who sent his Son for me...and who created me for a unique purpose that He continues to prepare me to fulfill. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Birthday Girl turns 8!

Happy Birthday Ru! We had a fun celebration with family and some girly friends. We took the girls to a kid favorite...not parent...Chuck E Cheese. The girls surprised me by combining all their tickets so they could each have an equal amount at the end...very sweet. Our little 8 year old loved her presents and had a great afternoon with her buddies. Here's lookin' at you kid!

God's Timing and Connections...

In God's perfect timing...we have made contact with New Day, the organization who provides sponsorship for our son, his foster family, his previous surgeries, and preschool. They are an amazing organization that blesses many, many children through several formula outreach programs, foster families, a healing home, preschool, needed surgeries, and a wonderful staff whose heart is to bring healing to each child and ultimately see them placed in a forever family. Please take a moment to view their wonderful website...I'm sure it will moisten your eyes when you see all they are doing to bless "the least of these". The link is http://www.newdaycreations.com I have also included some blog links on the side bar done by folks at New Day.