Christmas 2014

I love Christmas! And this year, we really did keep it simpler, and it was SO nice. Less gifts, more time together, fewer events and less stress. Christmas is, after all, about Jesus, not us. Here's a glimpse of our season in pictures. 

Christmas PJs!

Singing at The Cherub School Christmas program. 

Repurposing the flower girl dress from the fall with a red Christmas ribbon. She later sang with the 3-5 year olds at church. Her brother also participated  on his 3rd birthday (12/21) though he proceeded to rub his eyes to avoid looking at anyone during both services. Oh well! She, however, sang great!

Meeting our sweet Goddaughter Sadie Rae Senters, born on December 23rd! What a journey her parents have been on with their family, and we are so excited for them as they welcome their very healthy sweet little girl!

Christmas with the Burrell's, which included a dance party to fun Christmas songs. Kids can make you do the silliest things!

The kids love their Mimi!

Christmas Eve at Nonnie and Granddad's. We started off with one of our favorite things - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at church. 

Those are some cute kids!

Sporting their new Frozen tee shirts!

And it's a Bitty Baby! Her current name is TigerLily. (thank you Peter Pan)

Christmas Day - the cows still have to be fed, so the kids joined Daddy on the tractor. What a sweet day celebrating our Savior. With the warm weather, a few visits to neighbors' houses and spaghetti dinner with the Senters who just arrived home from the hospital with Sadie, we felt very blessed. 

Christmas books with Grandma during our visit to Northern Virginia. 

Snuggle time with Grandma!

Best wrapped present of Christmas! Good job Uncle Kam!

TigerLily and Mary-Michael in matching outfits. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Cousin fun with cute little Eddie. 

Eddie and Uncle Geoff.

A visit from my dear friend, Faith. Mary-Michael convinced both of us to dress up, so we had to resort to some old bridesmaid dresses. Recognize this, Mrs. Christian Simmers!!?

I-600 Mailed In

It's hard to believe we've made it this far. There have been days when it's felt like bringing our girl home was a very distant dream, and now, we are one step closer. Praise God that he is bigger then any challenges we are facing and can do more than all we can imagine or ask. Please pray for favor with USCIS as they review this packet of paperwork and determine if they need more evidence before approving and telling us to go. And please pray for swiftness as we know most government agencies are not known for that. Thanks y'all!

Happy 3rd Birthday Frazier!

Dearest Frazier,

What a joy you are to have as a son! Despite the fact that you are a true little boy now, you will always be my baby. You have a zest for life and people that is contagious. And there is no doubt you are a boy through and through with your love for all things that move, dig, can be taken apart, knocked down into a zillion pieces and resemble any sort of weapon (you must have been born with this warrior-like spirit!). 

Yet, you are so tender-hearted and thoughtful under all those swinging swords and warrior faces. This past week you told random people in the store "Merry Christmas!" as they walked by. You are not one to hold back hugs and kisses from anyone. You ask people how they are doing without being prompted, you check on your sister when she's crying, you just care for people!

You still sleep with a paci and night-night, which we haven't even attempted to take away because I didn't want to do that and potty train at the same time. Well, potty training is taking much longer than I thought, so looks like you're the lucky one and will have that paci for a while longer. Seriously though, you don't care if you have "stuff" in your pants and will continue to play til I make you stop. Ugh. You'll get it eventually!

You are a good eater with spaghetti being a favorite and pizza being much lower on the list. You eat raw veggies, fruit and would like to start every meal with yogurt! I am so thankful for your openness!

You were meant to live on a farm - you join Daddy on the tractor any chance you can, you often help carry firewood, you are an expert in mud puddle jumping and sandbox creations, and you would live outside if allowed. You also try to wear your batman rain boots anywhere we go! 

You look up to your Daddy so much, and I am blessed that he is such an amazing role model. We love you, son, and we love your heart. God has great big plans for you, and we can't wait to see them unfold.

Momma and Daddy

Blessings for Leila - Two Surprise Showers

Surprise! Boy, did God bless me with great friends. Two weeks ago, Geoff and I were headed to take the kids to Aunt Lem's house (Emily) so that we could go on a day date to the VCU vs. UVA basketball game we were invited to attend with some other friends. While driving into the driveway I started to see cars - my mom's, my mother-in-law's, April's...What was going on?! It's not my birthday nor my anniversary. What are we celebrating?! 

Well, you can see they blessed my socks off from the pictures below. Many tears were cried (not just by me, though I contributed quite a few), and I experienced a taste of that unconditional lavish love Christ has for us. What a picture of love for our family and this sweet girl who doesn't even know how many people have been praying for her and love her already. My dear friend, Brandi, who is such a cheerleader and encourager for me orchestrated a wonderful event with the help of some other friends and family. It was a sweet picture of friends from years ago and friends I've only known a little while, church friends, college friends, girls dinner friends, family and all those in between. Leila - you have so many people that love you, and you now have so many beautiful clothes, girly things like dolls and nail polish and stuff for your hair that this momma is going to learn how to use!

I think my favorite part was just remembering how we are all connected as each person shared how we met and a memory or fun thing about our relationship. I loved it! And I now have a scrapbook with pages made by each person that is ready for pictures of Leila's arrival, her first Easter, her dedication, her first trip to the zoo, first trip to Starbucks and Busch Gardens, etc. It's beautiful! God is so good to us, and isn't it His way to bless us when we least expect it or deserve it. Wow.

AND THEN, to top it all off...my amazing women's ministry team that I have served with for the last 6+ years treated me with another shower that was so sweet. I walked in to a beautiful bike and helmet just for Leila, which of course led to more tears. And a beautiful cake with our family tree, and then they blessed me with beautiful blessings and words of prayer they had written for our family. Pass the tissues, please! These women have championed me and my faith and family, and I know I wouldn't be who I am without them.

It was such a blessed weekend. "I thank my God every time I remember you." (Phil. 1:3)

Good News!

We received notice today that our lawyer received the legal documents we've been waiting for that states we are Leila's legal parents in Niger! Thank you Lord, and thank you prayer warriors. Y'all are amazing! This sweet daughter of ours is getting closer to coming home. Joy joy joy!

Next steps:

Wait for these documents to be translated into English and file I-600 with the US government and wait for the go ahead to go get her!

Our Niger friends are also working simultaneously to establish their official Nigerien nationality. 

What an amazing Christmas gift!

Pictures to come from my 2 surprise adoption showers. Wow, we are blessed.