Big Snow!

For Chesapeake, this is an historic snow!! We had about 8 inches at last check, but the snow was still falling about 5 pm! When olivia woke up I told her there was a surprise outside---when she saw it she made the sign for cold and just grinned.

After breakfast, Olivia and I began layering on the clothing for our outdoor adventure. Tom wasn't feeling well at all today so it was just Olivia and I out in the snow for about an hour and a half. She "helped " shovel the driveway and slid down the front steps. I think the only reason she wanted to go in was the wind blowing stingy sleet on her face. Finally she had enough of the cold...me too! Here are a few pics plus some of Dutch and Gus romping in the snow!

"As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11

Adoption?

Came across this from another blog and thought it so very perfect! When others ask us why we adopted when our nest was almost empty with the finish line in sight? This is the answer...........Why wouldn't I? Although the process is arduous at best and we are unsure where the money will come from and the fears must be squashed over and over by my tiny measure of faith, God may not be finished with us yet!....

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Two Months is Too Long...

We've just celebrated Olivia's 6 month mark being home with us. The time has certainly flown by and much has happened. She healed very well from her surgery and the soft diet didn't seem too hard for her, thankfully. Thanksgiving was very memorable! Time at Granddaddy and Nomi's house in SC---Tyler, aunts, uncles, nephew, niece, Nana--so wonderful! Little did we know that in two weeks my father would be home with the Lord. Those memories are all the more precious. I very much wanted Olivia's grandfather to have more time with her. Yet it is amazing that in the two nice visits she had with him, he made such a lasting impression on her. She just last week carried his photograph around --kissing it over and over.

You know the Third Day song "I Wish You Merry Christmas"? Well, I so looked forward to this Christmas with Olivia finally home! It was wonderful but also difficult for all of us with Granddaddy gone. How do folks do it without the hope of life everlasting and full of glory?! First Christmas with Olivia, first Christmas without my dad. Bittersweet!

We were honored to have my mom with us for the holidays. I have seen a strength in my mom that I only wish I had---she is humble, trusting, and so brave. Christmas Eve would have been my parents 59th anniversary! What a legacy!

The new year came on strong. Olivia has speech therapy every Wednesday in our home---courtesy of Chesapeake County and we are so happy. Stephanie is great with Olivia, and Olivia looks forward to her visits.

I'll finish with a huge thank you to the Lord for all of His rich blessings!