Goodbye 2014!

New Year's Eve we always go out to eat with Lollie and Papa at a fancy restaurant.  The girls were super excited to don their silks and even wanted to bring their accessories.

The fan made it to the restaurant but the parasol got "forgotten" in the car.  Didn't want anyone to lose an eye.  Kinda puts a damper on the New Year's festivities.  Just like losing your diamond bracelet will do, ahem (thankfully they found it at the restaurant and I was able to turn around and retrieve it!!!).

 Goodbye 2014!  Here comes 2015!!

And that's a wrap!

For all its preparations, anticipation and planning, Christmas has come and gone.  Sigh.  It was a good  great one.  Raise your hands and give a "whoop" worthy!

Highlights?  Definitely seeing Uncle and Aunt C over the heads of other parishioners at the Christmas Eve service.  I had to do a double take...they weren't suppose to get in until laaaate that night but managed to leave early and make it in time for the service!  Whoa!!

 

Having this little one home with us.  Such wonder and excitement--and blessings beyond words.

And of course, getting to visit with family, both far and near.  Another year--another group picture.

Multiple generations--grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Feeling so blessed and content.  God is good.

Merry Christmas 2014!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."--Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Home Tour

If you were to drive up to our house, this is the view you'd see, depending from which direction you were coming.

Welcome!  Come on in!
                                     
The living room with a slight change to the mantle with the glittered bottle brush trees and sparkly houses.  Aunt C and I made the pillow last year (here) and the re-purposed silver wreath with the directions here.

The dining room--

The flurry of snowflakes that the Noodle and I made (plus our barren looking backyard)

 The sun room with the Believe banner from last year and our Jesse Tree.

 A little tree in our bedroom with photos of the girls through the years.

 A vintage ceramic Christmas tree made by my grandma years ago in our mudroom.

To see last Christmas go here:  2013

Look who's 8 years old!

How, how, how has it happened?!  Our little Noodle has gone and turned 8 on us!!

We had Lollie and Papa over for dinner on Saturday night (Grandma and Grandpa were both missed, but not their sick germs!) and then a small party with friends on Sunday.

The theme?  Unicorns/rainbows.  The girls painted unicorn t-shirts, played rainbow BINGO, ate some rainbow cake and played a few other party-related games.

I made this cake and I think it tasted pretty good, but now I've gone and gotten what the other 3 had, so I'm not a good judge.  As I've said in the past, my cake decorating skills are mediocre at best, but at least the pom-poms are festive, right?! The 8 year olds didn't seem to mind, ha!

You are turning into such a big girl.  You are inquisitive and a great problem solver.  Daddy and I love to watch you when you get in "the zone" and your imagination soars.  You are a thinker and can be such a big help! Mei Mei so looks up to you and you're continuing to learn what it means to be a big sister.  We are proud of how are growing up and becoming the person God created you to be.

Happy birthday big girl!!  We love you to the China moon and back!!

This time, a year ago...

This time a year ago we were hanging up Mei Mei's stocking, wrapping up a few presents for her and praying all the while, because we knew she wouldn't be home with us Christmas morning . She was still in China, totally clueless about who we were or how her life would be changing in just a few short weeks.  The Lord knew though, and he kept her safe in his hands until we could get to her.  

This time a year ago, I kept listening to the song Merry Christmas by Third Day.  Each time I would hear it, I would cry because it so captured my feelings. 

 

This year when I hear it, I still cry because the last verse is so spot on!  Nothing like a good cry, every once in a while, right?!

It is amazing what happens in one years time.  An orphan finds her forever family and a family meets the daughter/sister that God had preordained.  The miracle of a adoption continues and I'm blown away by it each and every time.  God is so good.  His timing is always perfect, even though it is usually too slow for me--ha!

So this Christmas, I say a prayer for all those families who are still waiting to hold their precious children.  I pray for the little ones in distant lands and those right down the block who are desperate to feel the loving arms of a Mama and a Daddy and to know that they will never, ever be alone again--especially at Christmas.