Christmas Celebration

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them at the inn." Luke 2:7

I can't hardly believe that Christmas has come and gone already! I worked 1/2 day on Christmas Eve and John worked all day. Once I got home from work, me, Sharon, Susie and the little ones visited mom's grave. I know it must sound morbid to those who have not lost some one who is near and dear to their hearts but remembering and honoring our loved ones is a part of anything that we do. We, then, went to Susie's for snacks and on to Lorene's with our gifts. I was enjoying using my new digital camera and am including some pictures from Christmas Eve at Lorene's house. We all loaded up and went to a house in Ruckersville that has LOTS of lights, manger scenes, etc. and they also allow families to park and walk through. Santa was on the scene giving away candy canes. Nicholas allowed me to take a picture of him with Santa but Shane would not.

On Christmas morning, we held true to tradition and my siblings, along with John's parents, came to our house with their children for the "grand opening" of all the gifts. Unfortunately, my new digital camera died and would not work so I didn't get pictures of all of the children opening their gifts. John recorded it as he always does so we have the video of it. Everyone came back for lunch at 1:00 p.m. and Mandy was kind enough to bring her camera so I am including a picture from lunch.

John Anthony sent me several pictures of his Christmas so I am including one of him. I am also including one that he took of Boise in the snow. He and Melissa had a white Christmas! All in all it was a great day. There was a void with my mother not being with us and of course we always miss not having John & Melissa with us. Our prayer is that next year that we will have all 4 of our children and our grandchild with us for Christmas!

I checked my e-mail Christmas night and we received another blessing as Karen had e-mailed me pictures of Abigail opening her Christmas gifts that we sent her. She looks happy and we are so thankful that she in a place where she is well taken care of and can celebrate Christmas.

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Back Home From California and Jeremy Home from College

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for,behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10

Jeremy came home for the Winter break on Tuesday night, December 9th. He took the attached picture of the two of us around 10:00 p.m. That is some of the reason that I look as rough as I do in the picture! We stayed up until midnight talking - just the two of us - and I so much enjoy the time with him. I left for Anaheim, California on Friday, December 12th. It was a long trip and I did not feel well for most of it as I ended up with a stomach virus. It was 4 LONG nights and I was so thrilled to be back the following Tuesday night.

It has been a very busy time since returning home! We were at church on Wednesday night, at Susie's for a birthday dinner party for Sharon on Thursday night (happy 43rd birthday Sharon!) and at a dinner play that Mandy was in on Friday night and at our church Christmas party on Saturday night. I am exhausted! It is Sunday afternoon and I am spending a few minutes blogging between church services. I am including several pictures from the play. Mandy is a natural introvert but put her on stage and she takes on the character she is playing with grace and ease! She played Lavonia - a want-to-be hairdresser. The play and dinner were nice and relaxing. Jeremy stayed home and babysat the children so Andy, Sharon, Susie and John and I could attend.

It appears that Abigail is having fun decorating Christmas trees, going shopping, celebrating December birthdays, etc. We are so glad to know that she is having a great time and is well taken care of. We sent her a Christmas package so the next post will probably have pictures of her opening up her Christmas gifts.

We received our Chinese Visa's via Federal Express on December 18th. We received a priority mail package from our adoption agency on December 20th and the note attached from Ky said that she had receive LOA for a family with a LID of 09/25/08 and she hopes that ours will be coming soon! Our LID was 10/21/08...... The package was a "Travel to China" information packet and it is exciting to start thinking about traveling to China and actually bringing her home. It still seems like a dream most days and we are so eager for it to be a reality.

Shane came home from church today and wanted to put on his "Chinese clothes". The outfit is in in the picture was purchased by us in 2006 when we traveled to bring him home. The pants are too short and the hat barely fits but he insisted on wearing it so I took a couple of pictures.

I talked with John Anthony this week and all is well with them. Melissa is feeling good and not having much morning sickness. That is great to hear. I so wish we could have them home for Christmas. I worked church nursery today and as I was holding a baby boy and rocking him, I thought of my son-to-be grandchild. My prayer is that I will have lots of opportunities to hold and rock him or her. I also thought of the millions of children that literally have no one to hold them close this Christmas and it breaks my heart. My prayers is that each and every child will feel the comfort of God's love this Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!!! May God bless you and your families!

BIG News from John Anthony & Melissa!

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." Psalms 127: 3- 5

Wednesday, December 3rd I arrived home around 6:00 p.m., as usual, and busily ran around preparing to leave for church by 6:30 p.m. so we could be there at 7:00 p.m. Around 6:25 p.m. the phone rang and I could see from my caller ID that it was John Anthony. He was calling to give us some surprising news. Melissa is pregnant! I about fell in the floor! It was not news that I was expecting. I am going to be a grandmother!! My heart is filled with joy for them as children are such a blessing from God. I did have to remind John Anthony of the Johnson & Johnson commercial "a baby changes everything" because it truly does! He and Melissa have been very responsible adults and have been married for over 4 years so they have had time to enjoy each other and to get to travel and do many things.

The only regret that I have about the situation is that unless they move back to the East Coast, I won't get to spend much time with my grand baby. I LOVE BABIES so it will be hard for me not to see him or her as often I would like. You just never know how the Lord may work things and all we can do is continue to pray and hope.

All is quiet on the adoption front, as to be expected. I sent of the paperwork for our Chinese Visas and we should have them back by December 19th. I am still praying that we will receive LOA sometime in December but it is more likely to come in January or even in February.

I leave for California on Friday and will be home on Tuesday. I dread being away from Shane for so long. I am including pictures of John Anthony and Melissa since this post is all about them and one of Abigail decorating the Christmas tree at New Day.

Happy Birthday to Jeremy and Andy!

"For with God nothing shall be impossible" Luke 1:37

We celebrated Jeremy's 21st birthday and Andy's 43rd on Saturday, November 29th. Everyone gathered at my house for a dinner of lasagna, salad and other goodies. We had a good time and I think they both enjoyed their "party". Roy, Carol and their children were not able to join us for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday as they were at Carol's mothers house so it was nice to spend time with them. With Susie's 4 children, Roy's 2, Sharon's 2 little ones and Shane, there was a houseful of kids. The more the merrier! I can't wait until Abigail is here and in the mix with the rest of them. I received my monthly update for her and her nanny reports that she is smart and quite the chatterbox. I will have two chatterboxes as Shane talks constantly.

John Anthony sent me pictures of he and Melissa at the Seahawks/Redskin game that they went to in Seattle so I am including one of their pictures as well as some from the birthday party. I am mailing off our Visa applications tomorrow so we will have them prior to receiving our LOA. Several families that I have networked with are traveling in the coming weeks to bring their precious children home and while I am very excited for them, it makes me long even more to be traveling to bring my little one home. My next trip will be next Friday, December 12th as I am traveling to California for work. I will be gone for 4 nights and I just can't imagine being away from Shane for that long. I have started preparing him for the fact that I will be gone for several nights. I think with the holidays and everything else that is going on that December will fly by for us and it will be January before we know and we will be even closer to bringing Abigail home.

Jeremy will be home from college for the Christmas break next Wednesday, December 10th and I am glad that I will see him for a day or two before my trip. I have to run and finish up the Visa applications and will post again soon!