A Lot of Joy

I hope your family had as much joy and laughter as we have had this Christmas. 

It was simple and wonderful!

-1 Home

Friday night we headed to the airport to watch a the orphan census be ONE LESS!!!  I met Mary over 3 years ago when we started our adoption journey to Taiwan.  Little did we know that we lived in the same town and were seeking to adopt at the same time.  Mary and her husband began their 2nd adoption journey to adopt an older child from Taiwan.  Through the course of their wait it became apparent that it was going to be a great challenge finding an older child in Taiwan.  God had plans for them and their path moved to China.  Their journey began 3 years ago and Desi, is now home with her forever family.  Three years ago there was a little girl in an orphanage in China waiting for her family.  Wow, God has big plans.  Amazing how you think you are going to do one thing and then he guides you somewhere totally different. 

Waiting for Desi's plan

 Finally all together

 I think she is smiling at her audience.

 Olivia, Logan, Carson, and Leia were holding up signs that read

"One Less"  "Welcome Home Desi'  "-1"

Olivia spent the afternoon decorating them herself.

Jenna was sooo ready to see her Mama.

2 weeks was way too long for her : (

You are HOME sweet Desi!

 This was the best kind of Friday night...how mean how often to you get to watch amazing things like this.  Makes me cry just remembering it!!!!!  Welcome home Desi, and we can't wait for some play dates in the future!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

December is just one huge birthday bash at our house.  We have 8 people (5 just in my house alone) in our immediate family that celebrate birthdays beginning December 7th through January 9th.  Some years we have parties for the kids individually, sometime we couple them.  Well, this year we decided to have one big bash with the traditional cake, ice cream, party hats, and lots of family...and then on everyone's actual birthday we would just do something special at home. 

My baby girl turned 2 today.  Her actual birthday is December 11.  She was born in Taiwan and we are 13 hours behind them, so we celebrated today.  Birthdays around our house always start with our traditional homemade donuts...fixed just how each person likes them.  No birthday cake today (we will be doing that all on David's birthday)....but no one seemed disappointed in the banana splits that were served up.  She opened her gift sent from Aunt Lisa and she loved it (a grocery cart that will hold 2 babies).  We went  very simple this year and gave her a cabbage patch doll.  She was one happy little girl with her very own baby doll, grocery cart, and groceries.  She couldn't stop smiling; smiles that made my heart melt.

Like so many days I think of Xio Chi, Leia's birthmother, but today my heart aches for her.  I ache that she doesn't know what a beautiful and sweet baby Leia is.  I pray that she feels a peace as time has passed.  I know nothing of her current life situation but pray that she is protected, loved, and one day will understand God's word and the love that only He can give her.  Leia is one of the most precious things in our life, she is one of four precious beings.  I pray that one day she can look back and say she received the best birthday gift of all, LOVE.  Her birthmother loved her so much that she made a selfless decision to choose us as her family!  We love you so much Leia.  Happy Birthday!

Define Necessity

We are privileged, we are blessed, we are selfish, and we are spoiled.  I have heard so many people say this season, "I want my child to have this...Don't you think you need to buy more for them...I am going broke buying Christmas."  All of these things said are a choice.  You have a choice.  You can go broke, max out your credit cards, give your children things that they do not NEED and that you WANT them to have, or you can choose to show your child what it truly is to give.  There is no better way than by example. I am not saying it is a bad thing to buy people gifts; I love giving people gifts.  But do we really need to spend an insane amount of money on tons of things we don't need while there are humans wasting away because they have no food, while orphans sit in an orphanage with no shoes on their feet and no water.  Is it really necessary for us to HAVE all these THINGS???  No, but is a necessity to KNOW and OBEY the Gospel.  I challenge you to use this season as an opportunity to tell others about Jesus, not just his birth but of his death and sacrifice he gave for you and me.  He is the reason for the season, so tell everyone you know the whole story of Jesus, not just his birth.  Show the greatest gift of all.

Christmas In the Stars

 Ever wander about the Star of Bethlehem? What was it? Where did it go? Can we find it? Lets answer these questions together! Come listen to a presentation centered on looking to the skies to read the story of Jesus. Invite all of your friends and family to come listen to an amazing journey in the skies. It begins with the conception of Christ and ends with his death upon the cross.

I am so excited about this.  I hope if you live close, or not, that you will come and join us in listening to this amazing story.  Tell everyone you know and make this a night to remember with your family.  Merry Christmas to all!!