Reflections of 2011

Last night I drifted off to sleep while thinking about the end of last December. Last year I was anxiously counting down the days until January 1st so we could get the EP's (exit permit from Korea) rolling so Ella could come home.

I dreamed last night that I got an email saying we had an expedited EP and we were ready to leave. Ella was home with us in the dream which means it was for a different child. Needless to say I woke up with an anxiety attack. Whew! I can't imagine adding another family memeber. I can't keep up with the 4 (including Nat) that I have! You should have seen Nat's face when I told him about the dream. Lets just say he looked a little pale.

There are a lot more families this year in those same shoes. I pray for them because I know what the stress can do to you. I am still having dreams about it. CRAZY!

But the wait was so worth it! This New Year's Eve will be spent with this most precious baby girl!

This year has been one crazy emotional roller coaster ride with the tornado at my parents,  Ella coming home, and the loss of Nat's dad.  Nat's grandmother has also taken a turn for the worse. I am hoping 2012 will go a little more uneventful. I am learning that uneventful is a really good thing.

Even with the ups and downs there has been a lot to be thankful for. Of coarse Ella was the true highlight for our whole family. Thank all of you for walking with us through the adoption journey. Mostly thanks for your prayers and support. Ella keeps amazing us more everyday. God truly blessed us beyond measure!

I will never forget the phone call from my brother telling me about the tornado. SO SCARY! Thankful that God protected my parents and gave them friends and neighbors to help with the clean up. It took four months!

Another big praise is Nat's cousins Robbie and Emily. They are brother and sister and Robbie needed a kidney transplant. Emily was a perfect match and she gave him one of her kidneys. Such a blessing!!! It amazes me more every time I think about it.

 I also cannot forget our wonderful friends who have supported us through all the ups and downs this year. We are so blessed with amazing friendships here in BG. I don't know what I would do without them. I cannot imagine living anywhere else.

I am sure you have noticed that I have given my blog a little facelift. I decided it was time for a change. I originally started this blog so family and friends could follow our adoption journey.

I have debated over and over again about making this blog private. It is kinda creepy not knowing who drops in to read. After much deliberation I have decided to keep plugging along. I know how much I have enjoyed reading others blogs and my hopes would be that our story might be an encouragement to someone else. Also, it is such a great way to keep the memories flowing for my kiddos. I hope they appreciate it one day. It can be quite time consuming.

So now it is a blog about our little family doing life together.

"We might not have it all together.....But together we have it all."

So cheers from us to you and your families for a wonderful 2012! My wish is that God blesses all of you beyond belief.