Christmas Memories and Miracles

I am home for Christmas for the first time in two years. I feel very nostalgic for the years I have had. Some memories...

9 - The age I first played a flute, the action that changed and shaped the rest of my life

11 years, 364 days - I got my ears pierced, I had waited my whole life and felt just awesome

14 - Worst birthday of my life, I learned EXACTLY what kind of friend I never wanted to be

16- The age when I truly understood the meaning of "heaven" and "forever"

18 - I graduated high school, moved two hours from home, and started college

19 - I fulfilled my lifelong dream of working at Lakeview, met Mark, and lost Brandon Sage

20 - Mark and I got engaged

21 - I graduated from UofL

22 - Mark and I got married and bought our first house

23 - We learned we were expecting

24 - I became a Mama

Sometimes the best times are just measured in days...

80 - The number of days old our miracle is

Last Christmas we were miserable. We had given up on trying and had just made the decision to actively begin the adoption process the following month. We knew the wait may be many years while waiting for a placement and we worried about how many more days, weeks, months, years, Christmases we would have without a little one. But at our very lowest, our very weakest, God reminded us that HE is the author and perfecter of life and that His Will will be done.

Dear God,
Thank you for the past 80 days and for our beautiful Christmas Blessing. We love you! Amen.

Reason for the Season

Saturday the third was our church's Breakfast with Jesus and Santa. As one of the families with a little baby we were asked to play Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.

We had gotten dressed and were sitting in the little stable when a little girl who had just nocholantly seen Santa pointed and screamed "BABY JESUS!!!" It was like the kids who scream at Justin Beiber she just kept saying, "Baby Jesus! Mom, that's him! Baby Jesus!"

Such complete and utter joy. It was wonderful to see someone who not only gets the "it" of the season but who PASSIONATELY LOVES the real reason for the season!

Merry Christmastime Friends!