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!