Overflowing Blessings

It is so hard to believe that I am sitting here typing on New Year's Day, 2013!
 I blinked and the last month passed me by.
We feel an overwhelming abundance of blessings in our lives as we reflect back on the last month and the year 2012. Let's be honest though, we did not "get" everything we had hoped for in 2012, but God gave us what we needed.
 Surrender would be a one word descriptor for the year I just had. Surrender to the Lord's will and plan for my/our life regardless of what I wanted or even expected. A total reliance on my Sovereign God to work all things for my good and His Glory.
Trust is the Word (or should I say action) as we roll in 2013. We are entering in a year of unknowns. Another year without our son's referral. Uncertainty in Derek's job(that would be an understatement). But we are choosing TRUST. Thank you for your prayers, support, calls, notes, tears, and talks as we waited on the Lord.
We received our last 2012 wait list number on New Year's Eve and held for the second month in a row at.....

Derek and I could not feel more blessed.

Our family enjoyed many Christmas traditions, along with a few new ones and was doubly blessed to have a visit from both sets of Grandparents! Derek's folks arrived on December 18, just before the week's big snow storm and stayed with us until December 27. My parents flew in on December 27 and left New Year's Eve morning. The one day overlap was a very special time for us, especially for Adah and Layla. They were so excited to have their grandparents all at once! Our days were filled with fun and laughter. However, we always find it difficult to go so long without seeing them and then have them "move in" with us, to not seeing them again, but we love the time we have together.

Here are our December highlights through pictures......

LOTS OF PICTURES!

The 3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Party was altered just a bit this year.  The previous year's costume winner is the next year's host, so Ben and Megan made this year a dress as your favorite Christmas character.  Lots of laughs as usual.  Congrats to John and Amy, as they will be hosting next year!

The last two years of waiting, we have designed and made an ornament in memory of our adoption from Africa.  This year's ornament....

Look back at last year's....

Adah loves to sing in the church's kids choir!



I was able to volunteer in Layla's classroom making gingerbread houses.  So much fun!

What an honor it was to have both sets of parents come and visit us over the Holidays. 
We are so blessed by their love for our family!
Thank you, Grandma and PapPap for a wonderful visit!

  

We had one night of overlap between Derek's parents leaving and my parents arriving.  We enjoyed a huge feast around the table and movies and playing afterward.

We love our Grandma and Grandpa!

This is Adah's first year of piano lessons and she played so wonderfully at her very first recital.  She played two songs and then Bryce accompanied her on Away in a Manger.  Good job, Adah.

We were able to make doughnuts twice this year.  Once with the M. Crew and once with the
V. Crew.  I don't know why Karen and I can't seem to ever take pictures while we are together, so  we need to get better at that!  :)  It was super fun both times!

It's always special when Todd and Julie come in for a visit.  We are so blessed to have such growing families lovin' Jesus.  Always a rich time spent and NEVER long enough!

Grandpa and Grandma bought the girl's ice skates for Christmas and it was a must to see them get out on the ice.  So we ventured out at 7:00 p.m. on a very cold winter's night!

New Year's Eve was a blast all around!  We spent the day together as a family.  We met the Mac family for some bowling and then ice skating before we headed to their house for a party.  Let's just say Tim and Sue brought the fun.  Karaoke and Dance Revolution!  Enough said!

Happy New Year 2013!  May you TRUST in the Lord more each and every day!

The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all he has made.  The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Psalm 145:18-19