Merry Christmas!

Yes, I know it should say Happy New Year, but I'm about a week behind.  I wanted to post a few pictures from Christmas and then I'll move to our New Year's celebration.

We were blessed to have my parents come up and spend Christmas with us!  We loved having them here and had a great time with them.  We went to our church's service on Christmas Eve. 

Eliana was delighted with the candle.  It made me a little nervous.  lol

A photo after church and before our meal and opening of the traditional Christmas Eve gift - pajamas. 

Here are some photos of Christmas day.

The excitement of a new pocketknife!

A new science kit with "lab experiments".  Isaiah loved it and wanted to do one right away.  (We did.)

My Mom and Dad with scrapbook pages that I made for them.

One of the new games we received is fun for all.

Eliana's gift was a doll stroller and crib.  She loved it. 

We received several new Wii games this year and everyone is having fun playing them!

We had a mostly relaxing day spent with people we love.  We are thankful for the gifts, but more thankful for the most precious gift of our Saviour!  Hoping your Christmas was filled with love, laughter and the presence of the One who gave the greatest gift of all.

With love,

Leslie

A few December photos

We are working on getting ready for New Year's Eve here.  Well, soon I'll be working.  For now, I'm at the computer and the kids are playing Wii.  We love New Years.  It's a fun celebration and we've done it enough years now that it is a tradition that the kids all look forward to doing.  If you are looking for an idea to add some fun to your day/night, I highly recommend these bags to countdown to the New Year.  Here is what we've done in year's past.

2008

2007

I'll post what we are doing tonight later as I have kids that read my blog and I want it to be a surprise!

Here are a few photos of some of our December activities.  We picked out a tree locally this year.  It came from just down the road from my parents house in the mountains.  We didn't get a tree up there because we didn't have a way to fasten it to our new/large van. 



Yeah, this is North Carolina - cool sleigh and no snow!  (At least not where we live!)  LOL



It was fun decorating.  I had considered doing it while Eliana was asleep, but am so glad that I didn't.  She LOVED putting ornaments on the tree.  She literally raced back to get a new one so she could hang it up.  Can you tell that she is going quickly?



Eliana was helped by Rebecca in placing some of the ornaments.



Each of the children received new ornaments this year.  Something that reflected something significant or special about them or their lives. 



*Christopher got one with a recliner and a large screen tv with a football game on it reflecting both his love of watching sports and his championship year playing football. 

*Rebecca's had Dorothy from Wizard of Oz as she played this role wonderfully in a play this summer. 

*Joshua's ornament is superman as I thought it reflected his bravery and courage in facing Juvenile Diabetes. 

*Isaiah's is a snowman cooking as he has developed an enjoyment of cooking and experimenting in the kitchen.

*Daniel's ornament is a candy covered snowman reflecting his sweet spirit and love of candy.

*Eliana's is two bears snuggling up reading as she enjoys both - though not always for long.

We had a few times of excitment.  Once while we were out for the evening at a diabetes clinic and the older kids were home with the three youngest, they went out to get a package.  While the door was open - a bird flew in!!!    Christopher managed to get him back outside thankfully!



We also had a very brief snow.  Not enough to do much of anything with, but the kids liked being out in it while it fell.  Rebecca and I drove through more snow than we had here when we went to a friend's house for a cookie swap in the northern section of town.  Amazing the difference and we live in the same city!



Rebecca added fun to our days in several ways.  (Have I mentioned what a great big sister she is?!!!)  She put lights up in the bedrooms. 



And made cookies several times.  She even included the little ones in cooking if they wanted to help.  One day she baked with Eliana and one of her friends!  She is so sweet to include them!



I just thought this was a cute photo and wanted to share it.  It's Eliana and Christopher doing a "fist bump".  He is so good with her and has fun hanging with her. 



Off to get busy now and get things ready for the rest of the day.  I'm hoping that the New Year brings happiness, health and many blessings to us all! 



Happy New Year!

Blessings

Leslie

Some pictures from Eliana's Birthday!

I'm hoping to catch up with this month before it ends.  One of the sweetest days of the month is celebrating Eliana's birthday.  I had no idea 3 years ago all that I was in store for.  I had no idea the incredible blessing that she would be to our family.  I had no idea of the pain, heartache and trials that I would walk through with her either.  I've learned how weak I am - and that my strength truly comes from God alone. 

I remember a friend saying after Eliana was born that I would have a story to tell.  I also remember thinking that I didn't want a story to tell.  I just wanted things to be "normal".  I'm so glad that God knew better.  I'm so very thankful that He placed Eliana in our family.  God has used Eliana to open my eyes and my heart in ways that I hadn't dreamed of before.  She has changed me in so many ways.  I'm so very glad to be her Mommy!

Eliana's first gift of the day was from her big sister - a shirt from Signing Time!  She loves it. 



We went to therapy that day.  Eliana had a blast in the ball pit. 



Check out her hair!



It was fun to have a big brother there too!



For supper, we fixed one of her favorites - homemade mac and cheese.  I made a huge container of it and we all devoured it!



Of course there were cards



and gifts.  She had fun with this toy that pops up balls.  Can you see the delight in her face?



And of course there was cake.



She loved having us sing Happy Birthday to her as well. 



I can't believe Eliana is 3 years old!  It just doesn't seem possible!  Happy Birthday sweetheart! 

We love you!

Mommy

Christmas Tea

I thought I'd play a little catch-up on my blog.  We did do some fun things this month, though perhaps not as many as I would have liked.  My heart just wasn't into things as much this year.  It can be hard to grieve and also celebrate. 

I appreciate the prayers, notes and encouragment that I've received.  Thank you.  This has been hard for my heart.  I try to stay busy as it helps keep my mind off of things.  I am also trying to be thankful.  I'm thankful that a family has come forward for Tonya.  I continue to pray for her daily as well as for the family that has commited to her.  I'm also continuing to pray for the many other children waiting for a family and still praying that perhaps one day this will be our path.  I'm not "over it" and honestly, this leaves a hole in my heart.  I know that time will heal and also know that part of my heart will always be with this precious little girl that I've loved through prayers. 

Please join me in praying for these children.  There are 147 million orphans around the world.  This breaks my heart.  I'm praying and giving and waiting to see if there is more that I could be doing.  Is there more that you could be doing?

I wanted to share one of the fun times we had early this month.  Rebecca and I were given a gift after we did the program with the Duke Athletes - a tea for 8.  It was enough for our whole family!  Or if some of them didn't want to go, we could ask friends to join us.  We ended up going with the a mix of the options - half family and half friends.  It was a lot of fun!

We went to the Washington Duke Inn - a very nice local place.  It was beautifully decorated and we went on a Friday afternoon.  We met friends and then went into the lovely dining area.  We each chose a drink.  Most chose a tea, but they also had other options for those who wanted something different.  Hot chocolate was an option for several of the children.  Doesn't it look delicious?



Pink lemonade was also a choice.



We sat and talked as we waited to see what would happen next.  We'd never been to this hotel for tea and I've never been out for tea so I didn't really know what to expect.  It was nice to spend time with friends in a relaxed and lovely setting.  Here I am with two of my handsome boys.





When the waiter brought out the food, it was incredible!  There were 3 layers of delightful offerings and enough for everyone to have one of each item.



The top tier included a cucumber sandwich, a pimento cheese sandwich, a devilled egg and a turkey sandwich with a cheese and dill spread.  The waiter described each item to us in a very tasty way - but I can't remember the details.  They were as yummy as they look!



Next, chicken salad in a little shell, a truffle, smoked cheese and a type of pudding.  (Now this is all to the best of my memory and I could be wrong!). 



The last tier - cheesecake, coconut cake, lemon meringue pie, shortbread cookie and a dark chocolate truffle with edible gold.



We talked about which level we liked the best and we all had different responses.  They were all yummy, but we each had our own favorite.  Afterwards, we had a group photo made in the lobby.



We also said our good-byes in one of the sitting areas off of the lobby.  The children enjoyed this carousel which was playing Christmas carols. 



Thank you friends for spending the afternoon with us and making sweet memories of this time together.

Blessings
Leslie

Happy Birthday Eliana

I'm not up for writing much, but couldn't let this day slip by without writing a little something.  My life is forever changed because of knowing you Eliana.  You have opened my eyes, broadened my dreams and given more laughter and joy than I thought possible.  There is more love in the world because of you!  I'm so thankful that you are my daughter!

Your wonderful big sister made this slideshow of and for you.  She posted it on her blog and I wanted to share it here too.  Didn't she do an awesome job? 

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Thank you to all of you who have been and are praying for us.  It is much needed and appreciated.  Thank you also for your notes and words of encouragment and understanding. 

Blessings

Leslie

He said No

I can't tell you how long I've dreamed of a different title to a post - "He said YES!".  I've hoped, waited and prayed for this for over a year. 

Last fall, while looking at the Reece's Rainbow site, Rebecca and I were looking for a little girl to sponsor.  One that didn't have much, if any, money in her grant fund and one that needed support and prayers.  We chose Tonya.



I loved the picture of this spunky-looking little girl.  She was already past 3 years of age and could be sent to an institution to live when she turned 4.  I really believed she needed someone to commit to her by Christmas.  I began praying for her daily, faithfully. 

I should mention that I've been interested in adopting for awhile and especially since we were blessed with Eliana.  Even a year ago, I dreamed of adopting a little girl with Down syndrome.  I must confess though that I probably wouldn't have picked Tonya because I though I'd like someone younger than Eliana.  It's funny what prayer will do to your heart though.  The more I prayed for Tonya, the more I began to fall in love with her.  I know it must sound silly to some of you reading and I can't explain it.  She feels like a daughter of my heart. 

Last Christmas I so hoped that my gift might be a "yes" to adopting Tonya.  As time passed, I continued to hope, and dream and pray.  My prayers began in just wanting a family for her, but as time passed, I also greatly wanted the family to be ours.  I can just imagine her here playing with Eliana, sharing toys, crawling up into my lap and just being loved.

Fast forward to this Christmas.  There is a family adopting from the orphange in which Tonya lives.  They took new photos of her.



This created a great interest in Tonya and much money has been donated to her grant fund.  I knew in my heart that her huge grant would cause someone to come forward.  I still hoped and prayed it might be us. 

Roger has also been praying about this decision for a long while too.  This week-end, we really committed to pray.  We were both praying and asking for a sign from God to let us know what we should do.  I was honestly scared that there would be no sign.  I was frustrated that I'd been praying for over a year and He had done nothing!  I was afraid of what would happen to my heart if nothing happened. 

Over the week-end, we prayed and talked like we haven't done in a long time.  It was much needed for our marriage and sweet as well.  It was something that happened because of a little girl in a far away country that we have never seen.  She was able to do for us something that all of the trials and tribulations we have faced with our children could never do - draw us closer to each other and to God. 

On Sunday night, Roger thought we should adopt her.  Almost immediatly I became sick and stayed that way through the night and much of the following morning.  I felt better by afternoon after talking with a precious friend.  We knew we needed to decide quickly if we wanted the decision to be ours.  We decided to say yes!  I was elated!

I emailed to tell of our decision and we began to talk details.  We knew that Roger's age was a few months past the limit of the country's requirements.  We'd been told that was something that could be worked around.  Then I was asked if I had income and told that was also a requirement.  I was devastated.  Crushed.  Of course, my answer was no, no income.  I'm a stay at home mom.  Was there anything that could be done?  I was told that they would ask the officials in country and get back to us.  Another night of many prayers. 

I was confused (and in some ways still am).  I didn't sleep much and just spent a lot of the night praying.  I was also sick again.  I begged God that if this was not to be the path for us (adoption) that He would close the door.  It seemed an easy thing to me.  He could not allow us to have a loophole and we would know what His will was in the matter.  It seemed clear. 

Again today, many prayers.  Many.  Early this evening, we heard back.  They could work around the requirement!  Hope!  Is this the sign we had been asking for?  I knew that a no would mean that the adoption could never happen.  Was this the yes?

Time for more prayer.  Asking God for peace, clarity and wisdom.  Also asking for Him to give us the same heart.  This has been my prayer for so very long.  Years.  During all of this time of praying, I also came to realize that I had to give my desire for Tonya to God.  She is His.  He loves her more than I can even fathom. 

As we prayed we talked about things from all angles.  I know all of the many reasons that we shouldn't adopt. 

*We don't have the money - though the large grant would help so much!

*My/our plate is full with the many medical/special needs we are already dealing with.

*It would be hard for some of our family and friends and thus hard for us without their support.

As I prayed though, I was lead to a verse in 2 Timothy, where it states that God does not have a spirit of timidity, but one of love and power.  I thought of our fears and wondered if this was truly God cautioning us.

This is a huge decision.  A life-altering one.  We both wanted to do His will.  We both wanted to follow where He was leading.  We both wanted peace and to have the same heart.  I wish I could say that these prayers were all answered. 

As we prayed, I came to think that the door was opened due to the answer we got when it looked so very closed.  I know that God would bless us for stepping out in faith to follow.  I knew this would test our faith and would teach us much.  I was ready to commit.

When I turned and looked at Roger, I knew he was not feeling the same way.  He just said "I'm sorry." 

We told the children and Rebecca was also deeply saddened.  She has been praying for this little girl a lot too.  She has a heart much like mine. 

I would be lying if I said everything was fine.  I'm crushed and heartbroken.  For a brief time, we said yes and she was going to be our daughter.  I have hoped for this time for so long.  Something to be excited about, to look forward to. 

I'm thankful that there appears to be another family ready to adopt her.  I've prayed for this for a long time.  I'm not sure what God is going to do in our lives now.  My heart is feeling battered once again.  I feel crushed.  I'm thankful for the things He has taught me through this beautiful little girl.  My heart will never be the same for having prayed for and loved her. 

God bless you precious Tonya!  I know He loves you so much more than I do and that He has a plan for your life.  I'm thankful to have been a part of it.

With love

Leslie