Significant

I was just reading Suzanne's blog at Joining the Journey and I had to share this. She says it so well...

We have ONE chance at this life. ONE.

ONE.

Are you going to stay in your comfortable little place and make sure that you and every one else around you is happy and comfortable? We have the rest of our lives to be comfortable...in heaven...FOR ETERNITY. I wanna go outta her all wrinkled, tired, and ragged...LOOKIN like I have lived life to the fullest. At this ONE chance...a very SHORT chance (called life on earth)....DO SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT to bring God and God alone glory.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! I just read this verse and feel so blessed that God sought after me. And I love this verse when thinking about adoption. Enjoy your day!

They will be called the Holy People,

the Redeemed of the Lord;

and you will be called Sought After,

the City No Longer Deserted.
Isaiah 62:12

Bad timing

Well, we got that call I was talking about- right in the middle of the busiest time of our year- parents visiting, Olivia in the Nutcracker, getting ready to travel. Anyway, got a call at 10:30pm for a 1 year old girl. One is my favorite age. To be specific I like about 15 months and on. Thankfully Travis was our voice of reason- but I didn't agree. :) But don't worry- I prayed God would change his heart- and I knew he would if that precious girl was supposed to be with us. Turns out it didn't matter what we thought- court date too far away so we couldn't be okayed for travel. So, we are back to waiting for that call. :)
Olivia was amazing in the Nutcracker. I coudn't have been any prouder if she were on Broadway. I wanted to stand up yell- that girl belongs to us! Seriously- she knew exactly what to do in 3 big parts and looked amazing doing it. Like she's done it all her life. It brought tears to my eyes. I am so thankful she got to do something that has been her "dream." She loved every minute of it- even the 5 hour practice on Friday night! So, so proud of her.

Botanical Gardens

We are loving this fall like weather! It took us a while to get it, but we have missed the cooler weather. The other morning we decided to go visit the botanical gardens and they were amazing. We actually had to layer to stay warm enough. Olivia doesn't have a light coat that fits (mom to the rescue- she ordered her a really soft one from the Gap and is bringing it with her this weekend!), so she is having to wear her vest all of the time. Thankfully here that is pretty much all she needs.


Japanese Gardens

 

Is is against the rules to climb a tree at the botanical gardens?



If we were sending out Christmas cards this would be the picture I would use!

The girls had so much fun running all around the Japanese Gardens and the Texas part. It was so great because we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. We will definitely be going back. We've lived here almost a year now and this is one of my favorite things we've done!

Olivia is in the Nutcracker soon. I can't wait to see her. She has practiced so much and their costumes and things are amazing!! Hopefully Annika will find it entertaining enough to last the whole time.

We are still waiting for "The Call," but I feel like God has helped us to fully enjoy the time while our little family is still the same. I know things are going to be knocked totally out of the little nitch we are in now. It's a nice little nitch, so I don't mind enjoying it. But there is a part of me that is anxious to be doing what God has for us. I have learned so much about his heart lately and I am so grateful. I have learned about a lot of neat organizations that are helping orphans all over the world. Sometimes it is too much to carry and learn about. For example, how children are taken from their families and then sold as slaves, prostitutes, beaten, etc. My mind and heart can hardly go there. But there are people trying to make a difference in the lives of these people all over the world. One really neat organization I've learned about is Sweet Sleep. They have a blog that will really open your eyes and also make your heart smile. They give beds, mosquito nets, bedding, and a bible to children and it is amazing to read about their journeys! 

This is the first time in several years that I have truly looked forward to Thanksgiving and the holidays. Last year we were in the process of moving here and the three years before we were in OH. Those were really hard and sad times. But it feels so good to be on the other side, so I am praising God that we are here. That he took us down the path to get here and that we are finally here- in a better place (for us- we're from the South!). But not just location- life in general. I am truly thankful!