encouraging songs: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

This made song has been speaking to me lately.  The music and lyrics are so powerful and evoke a lot of emotion within me.  Our adoption journey has been a journey in trust and faith, and this just reminds me to keep asking God to bring us deeper in faith with Him, no matter where He leads us.  I encourage you to take a few minutes and listen.

new year's resolution

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but after being unable to stick to a devotional plan and continually hearing about a bunch of free Kindle books, I decided that this year, I want to do three things:

1) get a million times better at doing my daily devotions
2) read more for fun
3) use my Kindle more

1 - Unfortunately, I consistently fail at the spiritual discipline of reading my Bible.  I start, I stop, I try something else, I get behind.  So I really want to work a daily time into my schedule that I will stick to.

2 - I love to read.  It's always been my #1 hobby (nerd alert).  Each year it seems that I read less and less.  Feeling like I'm putting my English degree to shame, I want to read more overall and more for fun.  I have so many book lists to use (Rory Gilmore reading list, my senior seminar lifelong reading list, every single book by my favorite authors, lit anthologies from college).  I gotta get going!

3 - A year or so ago, I was blessed with a Kindle from my awesome coworker who had upgraded to a newer one.  While I have used it, I have not used it to its full potential.  I would hear about free e-books and save the info to download them, but then I'd never get around to it and the free window would close.  This happened again a week ago with a book my pastor recommended that sounded really interesting, and so I vowed to dust off my Kindle and get to work!  No more missing free books that I want to read.  And in helping with goal #1, I quickly downloaded all the free e-books by Beth Moore before I lost the chance.

What about you guys?  Any late decisions on making a resolution?

Any tips on staying consistent with your devotions?  Please share! :)

polar vortex

We survived the Polar Vortex!  I was even able to keep my Raynaud's under control.
This picture was taken in the parking lot at work one morning.  Too bad my car couldn't show the wind chill!

7th puzzle update!

After our whirlwind these past few months, we haven't updated on our puzzle fundraiser progress since October.  Since our adoption was disrupted, we are back at fundraising for our next match, so that hopefully we are a bit more prepared!  Even though we unfortunately did lose money from our match deposit due to the failed match, we can 100% assure everyone that it was NOT ONE PENNY of what has been raised so far through all of your support.  Our agency was kind enough to return our full placement check (which was paid when we signed all the paperwork the day she was born) due to the circumstances.  We vow to continue to protect your donations as much as possible to use only for our finalized adoption.  And so, we thank you for your past support and ask that you continue to pray for ongoing support!

Once our puzzle is finished, we plan to glue it together, frame it in a double sided frame, and place it in the nursery so that Little L can see both the jungle picture and the names of those who helped bring him or her home. 

We have 104 puzzle pieces left!  We are two-thirds there!

Each piece is $10, your name is placed on the back of the piece, and all donations go directly toward our adoption.  Will you consider helping us reach our goal of finishing our puzzle?  This is the only fundraiser that we have done, and even though the total raised will equal a mere fraction of our costs, it is very important to us to have a completed puzzle for Little L. 

300 total pieces x $10 each = $3,000
Approximate total of entire adoption process = $30,000

Please continue to pray as we wait for more profiling opportunities.  We are anxious and ready, trying to rest in God's timing.  Thank you all for holding us up throughout this journey.  Your love, thoughts, prayers, hugs, conversations, baby gifts, and support have kept us going!  We love and appreciate you all!

Special thanks to:
Doug & Patty

Zack

2013 reflections

As I sit here, thinking back on this year, what a ride it has been.  Exciting, nerve-wracking, full of changes, heartbreaking, and wonderful.  A few highlights:

January

: bought and moved into our first house

February

: adopted our cherished dog, Mendon

March
: our second niece Aubrey was born

: started our adoption process

April

: celebrated 2 years of marriage with a weekend trip planned by Col to Saratoga Springs

: our roommates/good friends from college's baby Jeremiah was born

May

: Col's 26th birthday

: open house and adoption announcement

June
: paperwork and classes done, ready for home study visits with social worker

: first home study visit

July

: second home study visit
: became a waiting family for our adoption

: offered promotion at work

: Lake Placid Leathersich family vacation

August
: paid off all student loans

: our good friends Katie and Aaron got married 

: annual college friends weekend at Katie's camp

: bridesmaid dress shopping for Rach's wedding

: mom and dad moved back to Batavia

September

: met a bunch of awesome new people at our new community group for church

October

: community group and work baby showers

November
: family baby shower

: began promotion offered in July

: spent time with Deanna home from Nashville

December

: my 27th birthday

: birthday surprise day trip to Skaneateles planned by Col

: Christmas with Zack home

Overall it's been a great year, even though it contained some of the toughest months of our lives.  I am so thankful for all that we experienced in 2013 and the many big moments we were able to enjoy.  Tonight, we will celebrate quietly at home in good company (and of course with good food!).  Here's to 2014, a year full of hope as we continue our adoption journey and whatever else life brings our way!

cherished gifts

We had a very good Christmas this year.  The week of Christmas was full of family, friends, food, time off, and relaxation.  My current sadness dissipated as we enjoyed time with my brother who we see once a year at Christmas, extended and immediate relatives, each other, and at church.  I had time to reflect on Jesus' birth and the joy of the season.  I thoroughly enjoyed every celebration we had and our quiet Christmas morning together.  

We received a completely unexpected gift from my in-laws that we are so excited about: a propane patio heater for our deck!  I am SO excited to have get-togethers outside again and enjoy warmth in the cool spring and fall evenings.

A special gift we received from my parents was my childhood rocking chair, re-upholstered and re-finished by my mom.  She said she was so glad she had time to finish it because it was the best gift, and I agree!  I can't wait for Little L to use it someday :)

My brother has always been the most thoughtful gifter I know.  He outdid himself this year, giving us the sweetest gifts for Little L, because he wasn't around for our showers.  My most cherished one is this growth chart that he made himself.  I'm so impressed and blown away!  It includes pins to affix the tags on the length of burlap.  Another thing I can't wait to use for all the future Little L's!

No matter the journey, we are blessed.  I am so thankful for our families and friends the Lord has given us, and for sending His Son, so that we can celebrate the Christmas season.  I hope your Christmas was just as special!

winter walk

Merry Christmas!

Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, 

and you are to give him the name Jesus, 

because he will save his people from their sins."