Happy New Year

The year is coming to an end. It's been quite an amazing year around here. I've been meditating on a new verse, Psalms 30:10-12 "Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me. O Lord, be my help. You have turned my wailing into dancing, you have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy that my heart may rejoice before you and be not silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." The Lord has done this in our lives. We have had some very dark moments this year, but our pain has turned to joy, our sadness to rejoicing. I am eternally grateful to Him and owe Him all the praise, and more.

While we were in China in March, we had the opportunity to visit the Philip Hayden Foundation and meet some of the children living there. I learned today that the young lady pictured in the pink hoodie passed away this month. It breaks my heart that there are so many children in such desperate need of families. I want to bring them all home!

Christmas has come to an end. It's hard to believe last Christmas we were anxiously waiting to receive our final approval to adopt K. And now we are celebrating Christ's birth with him. We are truly blessed to have two wonderful children who bring us such joy and laughter each day. They have made our world so much fuller and I cannot imagine life without them.

We are having a fun, busy Christmas around here. I never did get them to sit still for a Christmas photo. Maybe on Christmas Day they will sit still for a picture. Okay, maybe not.


K had a school Christmas program that was a lot of fun. His class sang "Christmas don't be late". Each class did a song and the older kids did two songs. It was very fun to see all the children sing.

We loaded up for our annual trip to Bellingrath Gardens on Sunday. Phil proposed to me there and we really love it. It is so beautiful with all the different lights. I can't imagine their light bill!

The Christmas season has begun. Thus far we've decorated our tree, made cookies and had the Children's Choir Christmas program. J was an angel and I don't think there has ever been a more excited angel. She was thrilled about wearing a white dress and wings. K wasn't quite ready for a program. The kids did a really great job.

Bonus points if you can name the character on J's dress.