We always do Christmas a little early

Just a quick update in a very busy time of the year. We are currently off the list for foster care just until Jan. Because we are traveling out of state, it makes it difficult to get court approval this time of year. It is killing me to be off of it, but there is no need to waste the case workers time with "I so wish we could take her!" It makes me anxious for January! Otherwise, I am not anxious for this time of year to pass at all. I love spending this time with family and friends. We are so amazingly blessed to have so many that love us and so many to love. We had a nice visit with my dad and step-mom here. It was their first time to visit and it was great!

Here is Annika getting ready to open her gifts on "Christmas" morning!



My super creative husband made me this big hot chocolate mug! It had two big bags of dried marshmallows- my FAVORITE!!, a pretty scarf wrapped around the top to look like hot cocoa and down in the bottom was a gift certificate for "Coco" Chanel- so it was the cocoa part. I am actually not a big fan of their perfume, but I love their makeup. When I was in high school I did some modeling for a store that paid me in Chanel makeup. I got hooked, but it has been at least 12 years since I bought anything from them. It will be a special treat to go pick some things out!



Every year I want to limit the presents for the girls- especially since they also get gifts from Travis' parents and my two sets of parents. But I always see a lot of things I want to get them. And even after they open them all I still feel like it wasn't enough. I think I'd feel like that even if I had given them a million presents. But this year Travis made the girls a bakery display case. I was so glad he did- not only because it is AWESOME, but also because it is such a meaningful gift. He worked hard on it. And the girls did too- that is what makes it so neat. We all put something into it- they didn't know it was for them, but they were so excited on "Christmas" morning to find out it was for them. They have enjoyed it so much already. I am thankful that Travis can build this kind of stuff. I was just thinking he could build them some shelves or something and he planned this whole thing. It has two drawers on the back on the bottom with knobs we picked out at Anthropologie. {they have the cutest knobs EVER!}



For several years I sort of struggled with how to balance Christmas while still honoring Jesus. A couple of years ago in bible study we were talking about this. We came to the conclusion that we should celebrate Jesus everyday (spending time with him, giving, etc). Making ONE time a year to celebrate him is really just ridiculous. He has given us so much and saved us from so much just focusing on him once is simply not enough. This has given me freedom (in my mind) to enjoy this time of year and continue to enjoy him everyday and celebrate him everyday. And be thankful for him everyday. Otherwise, for me, I don't think there is a real way to balance our fun Christmas traditions while celebrating him {without having some sort of guilt}.

Hope you all have a wonderful time with family and can really enjoy this time of year- and celebrate the birth of our savior today and everyday!

My Little Cowgirl

Today Annika danced at the TCU basketball game. She was so cute and knew every step! She was a doll! She smiled the whole time and told me tonight she wants to do it again! Maybe we can show up to next week's game and see what happens! My mom flew into see her and got it all on tape on her new, fancy HD recorder. It is amazing- it totally beat my Nikon camera and she was a lot higher than me in the stands! I guess I know what to wish for now. :)

Annika dancing at the TCU basketball game

After the game we headed to the car and found this fun, new water fountain. The girls played for at least 30 minutes and had the best time! It was so fun to watch them- but hard to keep them out of it!

melts my heart

As you can see, I wasn't successful at keeping them out of it- so I decided to join the fun.

brrr!

Quick...

Olivia as a Party Girl

Olivia with her friend in the Nutcracker. She was amazing. Have I mentioned that? I promised she would not be doing this next year, but how can I keep someone so perfect for the Nutcracker away from it? {She was also an angel and bonbon}

Annika in AR

We traveled 20 hours for Thankgiving. It was a lot, but it was great! I am so thankful we have family to visit and that we can get there by car because we live close enough!

Bonfire

We went to the little town I started out in to my uncles' farm. We ended the night with a weenie roast and making smores with cousins. The girls {and I} thought it was so fun! Looking forward to Christmas because it should also include a heating of delicious marshmallows to quickly be stuffed in the mouth. Right?

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!