Two lonely presents....

And two lonely presents left under the tree.....

Next year...

Our Christmas photos...2008...Next year you will be in them, Olivia!

Not the Christmas Photo I planned.

We got our annual family Christmas pictures done today. I had held off, before my failed court date, hoping Olivia Mame would be in them. But she was not....however we still had fun and it documents our last Christmas as a family of four!

And next Christmas....she will be here.

Well I don’t know if you remember me or not
I’m one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me – I was standing off alone
I didn’t come and talk to you, ‘cause that’s never worked before
And you’ll prob’ly never see this letter anyway
But just in case there’s something you can do to help me out
I’ll ask you one more time

All I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose
Shoulders to ride on if I win
There’s so much I could ask for
But there’s just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Well I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it’s really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I’m really trying hard not to be bad
But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Well, maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I’ve heard
Sounds like the greatest gift on earth would be a mom

All I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose
Shoulders to ride on if I win
There’s so much I could ask for
But there’s just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas

Is someone who’ll be there
To sing me “Happy Birthday”
For the next 100 years
And it’s OK if they’re not perfect
Well, even if they’re a little broken, that’s alright
‘Cause so am I

Well, I guess I should go
It’s almost time for bed
And maybe next time I write you
I’ll be at home

‘Cause all I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I’ll never be alone
Someone whose love will never end
Of all that I could ask for
Well, there’s just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Just a family

That’s all I really need
© Steven Curtis Chapman

As I wait...

As I am waiting for my court date, and with all the stuff I have to do to "make Christmas", I am doing anything but "waiting". :) I realize how truly smart and well-thought out God is. This very week, would have been the week I would have traveled to Ethiopia if we had passed court in November.

How hard it would have been and chaotic. I would have missed the Christmas program at church, and Mary's play tomorrow night, I would NOT have had the Christmas gifts done, I would be feeling frantic, my children at home would be missing me the week before Christmas...and then trying to help sweet Olivia transition into her new life the week of Christmas would have been confusing and too much for her.

Isn't God smart? Thank you Lord, that your wisdom saw the months after Christmas as a much better time in so many ways!

We are blessed...and dear sweet Olivia Mame will be with us soon...what a Valentine.

I need Africa...

Thank you Denise, for showing this to me via your blog.

When will she be mine???

We have a new court date of January 9th! Which, if we pass, means I would be traveling either Feb 2 or Feb 9th, coming home on Valentines Day.

I had hoped the adoption would be official in December, but God is in charge of timing and knows what is best.

I am glad to officially have a new court date......

Christmastime and You're not home...

Worth the Watch....The Toughest Call

ABC news aired a program on Nov 28th that is well worth the watch.

http://abcnews.go.com/2020

Look under recentlyon 20/20 and find Nov 28th. Or the title which is the toughest call.

It is truly a balanced and eductational story. I look at my own experience and realize how niave and clueless I was. Wanting a little Pollyanna family and pink-bowed and frills girl.

I realize in the past two and 1/2 years with Mary Beth, how God has matured me. How my motivation at first to adopt was truly about ME! What I wanted, what I needed...sorry to say, that was the truth.

And now, He is shifting that...has shifted it, though I still always have far to go....

To what this child needs, what all my children need. Yes, it would have been easier to have just my two boys and leave it at that. Even now, it would be easier to have my three kids and stop here, but....

Our family is not done. :) And not only is it a hope and work in me, that God is doing through adoption, but a hope and love for my dear daughters, and a hope and work of love in my sons.

Children are individuals, with needs, sorrows, joys, quirks... God has a plan for each and everyone of them, and if I can remember to lift my head from the day to day responsibilities in life..from execution of details, to the content, the thread, textured element in those details of nuturing a life to see how special they are, how loved, how planned for and thought about (by not just me, but God) and how full of hope and chance for life and impact they have....to nuture their soul and body and spirit, to help them find God and find the person they are meant to be.....

and in that journey, truly find myself as well.

That is why...

In this episode, they tell about this woman in montana that helps with children with RAD or other severe issues in adoption. She is a blessing and an angel, in my mind. I would love to do what she does in a future season.... http://www.ranchforkids.org/

http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/publish/consumer/home/shows/adoption.html