I haven’t blogged in quite a while so I’m going to catch up right now all in one post…BAM.
We started off December with happy thoughts of wedding dresses and flower girls after the news that our daughter, Amie, was engaged to be married. YES…so excited for her.
Then, I started feeling a little anxious as the end of 2012 drew closer. Last year was an amazing year. So much happened in our lives, so much growth, and I just didn’t want it to end. Previous years (and years) seemed to be filled with too much struggle and unpleasant life experiences and for once I felt whole, confident, happy, and excited…all at the same time. I just didn’t want it to end. But ya know what? It hasn’t. God is good and the New Year came and everything is still moving forward. Yay!
Our Christmas was probably the best holiday season I can ever remember. We made a decision as a family (all 9 of us) that we didn’t want to exchange gifts with each other. Our kids really embraced the idea of giving to others instead of ourselves. So, on Christmas morning, during the time when we would normally be opening presents, we each got online and gave to others through World Vision.
Joey and I were able to give directly to the little boy in Swaziland that we have sponsored for the last 5 years. Everyone else chose to give chickens or goats or even a fish pond to families on the other side of the world…real life sustaining gifts. It was awesome day and filled us with joy.
After I got over my ridiculous fear of starting a new year, instead of making resolutions I decided to start fresh with “My One Word” for the year:
Grace
“It’s our response of exotic love and unusual grace to all people that sets us apart and makes us holy”
(isn’t that great? I wish I could remember where I found that.)
So, I’m collecting little quotes and phrases and verses pertaining to Grace. I’ll post them occasionally.
My little grandson, Judah, turned 1 year old on Jan 4th. What a blessing he is to our family…and just the cutest little guy in all of Tennessee, don’t you think?
But my BIGGER news is that we got to visit Beaux in Haiti again. It was a quick trip but oh, what a good visit we had. Man, I love that little guy. We arrived in Port Au Prince on Friday the 18th and went straight to the orphanage. We spent about 3 hours there, then left (with Beaux) to go to the guest house. We did not leave again until Monday morning when it was time to go home. We played, and colored, and took walks and were served delicious Haitian food. A really great time was had by all. Another couple (who only live about 4 hours away from us) was at the guest house along with us and our boys played together. And we ate together. And we talked and learned about their growing family. And it was all quite special. On the way to the airport we stopped and did a little business in the courts. I still don’t understand what we did, but I say any court we can go to about to our adoption is okay by me and as soon as I figure out what we did I’ll let you know.
Joey had decided we could go visit Beaux every 4 months (because of his OCD tendencies we had to have that discussion and that’s what he came up with…he’s got to be on a schedule!). But after this visit with our little guy Joey thinks he wants to go back in 2 months. 🙂 That man has become soft in his old age. And he loves that little guy so much too. It just breaks his heart to be away from him for so long. So it looks like we’ll be going back during the first week in April.
Did I mention how much we love that little guy? 🙂
A Place Deep In My Heart 