PlayTime!

Kylie enjoys the church nursery SO much.  This past Sunday, when she left my classroom (I teach young 3s) with Steve, to go to hers, she said, "Bye!  Bye!" and Steve said she walked right into her classroom and started playing.

Her teachers are truly fabulous and I am SO thankful for the men and women (yes, men...Kylie loves her men, just like Jenna did) who sacrifice their time each week to teach her and make her feel safe.

Luckily, a few weeks ago, my friend Elizabeth, joined the teaching crew in that room, because her sweet Congo boy, Moses, was being introduced to church nursery (if you remember, Elizabeth and I first met while I was loving on her older girls in the nursery).

I got the following videos while teaching my 3s a couple Sundays ago...tell you what...these kiddos know how to have fun!!!

A few weeks ago, my friend Jill and I went to hang out at Elizabeth's house and it was a little like we were running a daycare.  3 adults, a tween and 5 or 6 little kids!  In January, Kylie will join Moses and Wylie in a local Christian daycare.  I told Elizabeth, those poor teachers have no idea what they are in for!!!

And you know, I can't show a video like this without bragging on my wonderful church.  How many churches can boast at least 3 nationalities in one toddler class?  Not many.  Not to mention, I'm ultra excited about a new China friend coming to join out church in the next few months...some friends of ours just got their referral and I absolutely cannot WAIT to meet him!!

Kylie's First Thanksgiving

I would have to say that Kylie's first Thanksgiving was a resounding success.  I cooked a mini-Thanksgiving lunch for us.  By "mini", I mean, I didn't cook enough food for 15 people.  Our menu consisted of a small ham, turkey (because Steve prefers ham, but I thought turkey had to be included since it was Kylie's first ever Thanksgiving), macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, cornbread, dressing, hashbrown casserole and fruit salad.

Interestingly, our good friend and neighbor, Ping, is Chinese and her sister is here visiting her all the way from China.  We have grown very close to Ping for obvious reasons and she attends LifeGroup with us on Sunday evenings.  Ping had to work Thanksgiving Day, but her sister was at home with Ping's son, Aaron.  We invited them over to join us, and they came!  Ping's sister's name is something similar to Ping, but I'll butcher it if I try to type it, but suffice it to say, lunch was interesting because she doesn't speak or understand English.  Aaron is in Chinese school, but he doesn't speak enough to help.  Thank God for Google Translate!!!

Kylie thought it was good.  :)

After lunch, we took some time to rest and then headed down to Deanne's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  It was extra special for us there because Deanne was so close to our adoption, so celebrating Kylie's first Thanksgiving at her house was pretty neat.

And even though she's new to the scene, Kylie always enjoys hanging out with her aunts, uncles and cousins.  It was another yummy meal and the company was wonderful too.  I can't wait for Christmas!

Speaking of, we are nearly all decorated for Christmas here.  We usually start the day after Thanksgiving because we never know what our weekends between now and the holidays are going to look like.  Typically, by the time Thanksgiving gets here, I'm nowhere near ready for Christmas.  I'm not in the mood and not "feelin' it".

This year, I am SO ready!  I'm excited for Kylie.  Not many people get to celebrate the first Christmas of their child at an age that they can actually ENJOY it.  Jenna was only 6 months old her first Christmas and then 18 months old her second so she really didn't get it either year.  Kylie will be just a month shy of being 2 years old at her first Christmas.  I'm not sure she'll understand about unwrapping gifts, but I bet she'll catch on pretty quickly...she sure does enjoy the tree...more on that tomorrow...

Something Else to Be Thankful For

I couldn't let this day get past without sharing something that happened recently for which I'm thankful...

As you know, Kylie had cleft palate repair surgery back at the end of August.  In January, when I was choosing my medical benefit options at work, I knew we would have vastly increased medical expenses this year and so I chose accordingly.  We knew we would owe at least $2500 out of pocket (that would exceed our FSA contributions).

Sure enough, when the hospital bill came, our amount owed, after insurance, was about $2300.  I put off calling the hospital to make payment arrangements because I just hated that we even had to do it.  But it was expected, so about a month ago, I prepared to make the phone call (talk about humbling...).

My friend, Jennifer, had mentioned to me prior that her children's hospital (in another state) had financial aid that you could apply for and I should ask about that.  Lo and behold, as I'm dialing the number, I notice a line on the bill that says, "To make payment arrangements or request financial aid, call..."  REQUEST FINANCIAL AID??? 

So, I get the gentleman on the line and tell him I want to make payment arrangements.  He takes my first payment and I inquire about financial aid.  He says all he can tell me is that there's a form and he will request it be sent to me.  He verified my address, I thanked him for his time and with $200 less in my account, I disconnected.

That was the last I thought about it until late last week when I realized I'd never gotten those blasted forms in the mail.  I even picked up the phone to call them back and request it again, but got sidetracked and then figured I'd just wait until the first of December when I called to make my next installment payment.

Yesterday afternoon when I got home from work, the first thing I did (as always) was go for the mail.  In the stack, was an envelope from the hospital.  I was excited because I automatically assumed it was the financial aid paperwork I'd requested weeks ago.  Instead, it was a letter.  And it read....

"We have received and processed your request for financial assistance with your medical bills.  We are happy to let you know that you qualify for 100% assistance...For the account listed above, your balance has been adjusted to zero."

ZERO.

I owe nothing.

I had no words.  I never got that paperwork in the mail and I certainly never filled it out.  How do you explain that?  It's like a $2000 Christmas present!

And I couldn't help but think how it parallels the greatest gift mankind has ever received...

I had a huge debt I couldn't pay.

I needed financial aid.  Something that would help me pay the debt.  But there was nothing that I could do to repay.

And without my asking...without my even knowing it was done, Christ paid that debt for me on the cross.  Just like somehow, some way, my bill at the hospital was PAID. IN. FULL.

I am just as unworthy of the blessing many years ago on the cross as I am today of this blessing.  And I'm equally amazed at the goodness and provision of God.

I deserved to pay that bill.  I incurred the charges.  The money should have come from my account to put me in right standing with the hospital. 

Instead, someone else paid what I owed.  And now...I am debt free.  My account is zero.

And so, on this day of ultimate Thanksgiving...I give thanks again for the ways that he has blessed me.  I am the most undeserving of all.

Happy Thanksgiving.

An Open Letter to....YOU

So, this is not at all like me...usually I'm super quick on the thank you notes.  But this time, life has just gotten in the way.  It's not a good excuse, but it's the truth.

We had so many people love on us in a variety of ways while we were in the hospital with Kylie's palate surgery...

Several members of our Life Group brought us dinner when we were home.

We had a bunch of visitors.

We got flowers and gifts.

We received texts, facebook encouragement and blog comments.

There were prayers...

And special nurses who rearranged their schedules to take care of us.

I wanted to send everyone thank you notes because you made one of the hardest things a parent goes through, tolerable.

Unfortunately, it's been 2 months and I now know I'm never going to get around to those notes.

So today's post is for YOU.  It's a public THANK YOU to those of you who:

Brought dinner.
Visited.
Texted.
Sent gifts.
Cared for us.
Prayed.

You KNOW who you are.  And so do we. 

And we thank you.

Home Sweet Home

We.  Are.  Home.

The doctor came in before 8am this morning and confirmed we would be going home today.  Steve went ahead and came up to the hospital, but it was nearly 2 hours before all the paperwork was done. 

Kylie fussed all the way home and was very timid once inside the house.  I gave here about 15 minutes of sitting with me and then the cats came down and she started to get more animated.  By the time I had finished unpacking and getting some laundry going, she was running around like normal.  She is a little more cranky than usual but that is likely due to residual pain.  She is now on Tylenol OTC and we have Tylenol with codeine for bedtime.  Bedtime should be interesting.  She pretty much napped in our arms this whole week and at night, she slept with us on the bed.

She ate immediately when we got home.  She's on an all liquid diet from now until next Monday when we go back to the doctor.  So her choices are currently jello, yogurt, ice cream, milkshakes, pudding etc.  If you have any other ideas of stuff like that she can have, let me know.  She can't yet have soft foods like mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese.  Hopefully by next Monday we can graduate to soft foods though.

Last night was OK.  She went to bed about 8:30 and slept soundly until about 1am.  Then it took her some time to settle down into sleep again and at 2am they were in there for antibiotics, pain meds and vitals.  And she was off and on awake the rest of the morning.  I'm attempting to stay awake until bedtime.  We haven't figured out what we will do about that.  It's Steve's night "on" but since I have to go to work Tuesday, I might as well take tonight too so he'll be good and rested for Monday night.

Thanks for all the prayers.  They have certainly been felt and appreciated.  We continue to covet your prayers that this is 100% successful, that her pain remains easy to control and that her sleep patterns return to normal as soon as possible.

I Just Don't Understand...

Please read all the way through this blog.  I apologize for its length, but it's important you get the whole story...

So many times when I sit down to blog, I write a blog entry and set it to post at a date in the future.  This keeps my ideas flowing and gives me the ability to have something posting as often as possible.  But today's post is written in real time.  I have these feelings that are so intense right now and wanted to get them all down before time diminishes their intensity.

Lately, I have felt numb regarding our adoption trip.  I know I should feel excited, but I have just felt...nothing.  I've been in planning mode and I have attributed my lack of excitement to that.  Later, I hope I'll be thankful seeing that I'm already packed and don't feel rushed to get stuff done.  We'll see. 

The last few days have been almost sad for me though.  I keep thinking about leaving Steve, missing weeks of church and even missing work.  Because our floor at work will be remodeled while I'm out, I had the task of packing up my office before I leave, which I mostly did on Friday.  It felt like I was leaving and not coming back.  Everything I do now feels like "the last time".  Last time to eat dinner with my sister and niece as a family of 3, last Saturday as a family of 3, last church service as a family of 3.  Don't get me wrong...we have longed for, prayer for and waited for Kylie.  We can't wait to have her.  But this overwhelming sadness has come upon me and I think Jenna is feeling it too.  She's complaining about weird ailments (my stomach hurts, my ear feels funny etc.)

But let me just share with you how God is working...if you read this post, you'll know, this adoption is not completely paid for.  When we come back, we'll owe close to $10,000 on a credit card which we have used exclusively to pay the travel expenses of this trip.  I have a $4500 reimbursement coming from my company which is for adoption (yes, it is VERY awesome), and we'll have about $500 in our savings that can round that up to $5000.  $5000 is left for us to pay.

Last Sunday, a woman in our church came up to me and handed me a card.  Inside it was a $200 check.  The same Sunday, a sweet friend who is like a mentor to me wrote me out a $50 check.  Within a few minutes of that, I delivered two t-shirt to someone who handed me $40 in cash.  In the span of 1 hour, nearly $300.  This past week, I've had 3 people tell me they are putting money in the mail.  I have no idea how much they are giving, but of these three, they are all total strangers to me.  People who friends have pointed to my blog and felt that God was telling them to help.  TOTAL STRANGERS.

Then on Friday, a good friend, with whom I used to work emailed me to wish me well on my trip.  She said she had something to give me for the trip and when could we meet.  We met in he Petsmart on Saturday where she handed me a card.  She told me that she had been praying for me throughout this journey asking God all the while how she could help.  She had not gotten a clear answer until she read the post I linked above.  That's when she knew it.  She gave me $400 cash for the van trip to Hong Kong.  $400.  Did you notice in that post that I never mentioned any other dollar amount?  Why would I have even chosen to tell you all that the van ride would cost $400???  There are about 50 other costs involved with the international travel.  Why?  Because God needed to confirm for her what she was to do.  And yes, I cried in the middle of Petsmart.  And I cried in the middle of the Dollar Tree while I was trying to tell Steve.  And I'm crying now as I write about this HUGE blessing.  When I get on that van to begin the long journey home, I'll be thinking about this friend.  And I'll be praying God is blessing her in that VERY moment for helping us.

But that's not even close to all...this morning as I was dropping Jenna off for Sunday school, another dear friend (and adoptive mommy) handed me a check.  I knew better than to open it inside, so I waited until I got to my car.  Another $200.  And I cried all the way home...to where I sit now.  Crying.  And lest you misunderstand and think I just have "rich" friends, nothing could be further from the truth.  These friends, sometimes strangers, are just like us.  They work, provide for their families and love God.  They ask Him how to help, and then they obey.  And I can't wait to pay them back by paying it forward to others.

That's what I would have said. 

But thankfully, that's not what He said.

He says, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!" (Malachi 3:10)

"For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

And I say, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24b)

I don't understand why He loves me the way He does.  I just know that He does.  I'm so far short from what He wants me to be.  But praise Him, He is NOT. DONE. WITH. ME. YET.

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves

We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way

And oh, how He loves us
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us so
how he loves

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how he loves
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
(David Crowder Band, "How He Loves")

The Best Friends I've Never Met

I have multiple posts on here about gifts sent to me from friends I have gotten to know through adoption boards such as Rumor Queen (hi friends!!!).  Many of the comments on my blog come from people I have never met in real life.  But these friends are the best and most generous people I could ever hope to find!

A month or so ago, I mentioned on my blog and on the adoption boards about how Kylie was sporting a Mohawk (most likely shaved for her lip surgery) and how we were going to need LOTS of bows and hair accessories so folks will know she's a girl!  That's when a friend who I have just seen on the RQ boards, emailed me.  Her daughter (also from China) models hair accessories and has a HUGE surplus.  And she wanted to know if I might like some?

Um.

YES.  PLEASE.

A few days ago, look what arrived...

I know, right?  I'm not even kidding you.  There are bows in every size and color, headbands, hats, clips etc.  Jenna has even grabbed a few to wear!  They are AWESOME!  Now, I'm praying Kylie has enough hair to put them in and if so, she will leave them in!

Thanks Amy!  So exciting!

A Farewell...

I have waited a while to post this.  Mostly because it was an emotional subject for me, so I wanted to wait until I could work through the emotion of it.  While I am still sad, I feel like I am on the other side of it (which is funny because by the time I finished writing this, I was crying again!).

Remember this girl?

That is my friend Katelyn.  You can find her over on her blog, On Repeat.  I met Katelyn about 3 years ago when she started in my department fresh out of college.  I'd like to say we were immediate friends, but that's not the way the story goes.  I was also entering a new position at work and we were both focused on finding our way around our new jobs.

But somewhere along the way, we hit it off.  A lunch here and a text there and before I knew it, we were eating lunch together nearly every day.  I've said to her before how it amazes me how we became friends because let's be honest, what does a young, single (but spoken for), non-mom college graduate have in common with a not-so-young, married, mom-with-kids?  Yeah, I'm not sure either.  But the friendship which has developed over the past 3 years proves that opposites definitely attract.

About a month ago, Katelyn stepped into my office and actually made me GUESS the news she had to tell me.  The news that she was leaving the company, packing her bags and moving across the country to Denver, CO.  I am pretty sure she thought I was going to lose my mind and I think she was closer to being right than she realized.  Lucky for her, the shock created an entirely different response.  Normally, I would have been the voice of reason in the situation (which came later, for those of you who worried I lost my edge!), but all I could summon up that day was support. 

Katelyn and I have always called each other "WBFF", work best friends forever.  And for a week or so after the news, I would think, "Oh well, life goes on."  Or so I thought.  But then I found myself crying at night when I'd think about life at work without my "WBFF".  Finally, one day, standing at the copier I realized somewhere along the way, Katelyn had become more than my tongue-in-cheek WBFF.  She was my FRIEND.  My in-real-life FRIEND. 

And she was leaving.

Looking back, I wondered how it was this deep friendship happened without me realizing it.  But in thinking about it, it was there all along.  Katelyn was the first person I told about us adopting.  She came to Jenna's baptism all the way across town early on a Sunday morning.  She attended church with me when we were at the main campus of our church.  She has attended a number of funerals and visitations since she's known me. Katelyn knows just about as much about special needs adoption in China as I do.  She was the first person (besides Steve) I told when we got our LOA. 

She is more than just a work best friend. 

She is a true friend to me. 

One of the closest I have.

And now she's leaving to pursue a dream which just happens to be clear across the country.  I won't have her to eat lunch with anymore.  When I receive travel approval, she won't be here for me to tell.  When I step off that airplane, in Nashville, with Kylie as a new family of 4...she won't be there.

Don't misunderstand, I am supportive of this leap of faith she is taking.  But in a purely selfish way, I sure wish she'd stay.  There's so much more life for us to "do" together. 

But she's leaving. 

Tomorrow is her last day at work and then she is off to Denver.  And I'll be here.  I'm pretty sure I've said to her all that I need to say.  But just in case she needs to hear it again and because I KNOW there is no way I will be able to say it on Friday...

My friend, Katelyn-

My, how I'm going to miss you!  I don't think I text anyone more than you and I know my Instant Messenger will never be the same!  I wish you all the best in Denver and I hope your dreams come true wherever you end up!   

I can't believe you are really going and I just can't imagine work without you here.  You are truly one of my best friends so let's not call this "goodbye"... just "see you later".

If there is one thing you need to know is that my life is better because you were a part of it. 

Good luck friend!  You will forever be in my prayers.

Friends Always,

Sandra

Thanksgiving 2011

Every Thanksgiving, I go back and forth on whether I want to cook for just the 3 of us knowing we'll be eating at Deanne's at some point.  This year, I decided not to cook since I knew I would regardless next year since it will be Kylie's first Thanksgiving with us.  But a week ago, I changed my mind.  But I decided not to do a full on lunch since we'd be eating just a few hours later.

Wednesday night, Jenna spent the night with some friends and I went ahead and made the pecan pies.

This is my mom's recipe.  That's her handwriting.  I love having all her recipes.  Many of them I don't use, but just seeing her handwriting makes me feel like she is teaching me.

Yum!  I love pecan pie.  It was delish!  I also made my mom's fruit salad recipe which is very easy and both Jenna and Steve like it.  It was the Taylor special request, which makes me feel good!

And then here is the full mini-spread...

This consisted of ham, cornbread, cornbread dressing, fruit salad, sweet potato casserole and macaroni and cheese.  And of course pecan pie for dessert and I tried a new dessert called Penuche.  My boss suggested it.  It's more like a butterscotch fudge.  Oh, so rich, but yummy.  I think Jenna was pleased with the selection.

Even Fred got a little Thanksgiving lunch of his own (the ham bone).  :)

We had dinner with the Taylors and while I took my camera, somehow I didn't get any pictures!  I love spending time with them.  I don't remember life without them now.  It makes me really look forward to Christmas with them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I didn't participate in the daily "what I'm thankful for" on Facebook or blog. So, given what today is, I thought I'd list what I'm thankful for throught this year (this is obviously not an exclusive or all inclusive list):

1.  A God who PURSUES me. 
2.  A husband who loves me unconditionally despite my many flaws.
3.  The financial blessings God has given us.  From 99 weeks of unemployment, to cars that haven't needed to be replaced while we are on one income, to anonymous gift cards for groceries and gas that show up just when you need them.
4.  A job, coworkers and bosses who I really do love, respect and enjoy spending all day with.
5.  Family who love me and want to be part of my life.  And the life of my husband and child.
6.  New friends I've met through this wonderful journey of adoption (shout out to my RQ friends!)
7.  Friends who have been there to hold me up when I needed it.  Many of them have gone above and beyond listening to me complain, worry and vent.
8.  Lifeline Children's Services.
9.  My little 10 year old miracle child.  She is the light of my life.
10.  My sweet baby girl who is a world away waiting on me. 

I hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving and take time to remember all the good gifts and blessings God has given you this year.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Thanksgiving Lunch

Yesterday we had Thanksgiving lunch with Jenna at her school.  I have to admit, for cafeteria food, the lunch was good and got me prepared for the upcoming week.

I wish I'd gotten a picture of the dessert because what is Thanksgiving without pumpkin or pecan pie!?

Jenna also loves the fact that we come and eat with her.  Except after a few minutes, the novelty wears off and she runs around with her friends.  However, there will be a day soon where she won't want us there, so we are taking advantage when we can!



Finally, before we left, we walked her to her classroom.  The neatest art was hanging outside the door.  I thought hers was the best there.  I could see us framing this and hanging it in her room it's got such bright colors!

How Do I Say Thanks?

This is a question I've thought about since Thursday.  If you've read my posts since then, you'll know there has been a lot of blessings in our family this week.

I was on my way to work Friday morning, trying to get there early so I could get caught up on things that needed to be done.  I figured I would use the commute to just thank God for everything that had transpired in the last 24-48 hours. 

But I couldn't do it.

I will try and explain why, but first, let me give you a quick snapshot... Steve got an interview (out of the blue), we learned we had gotten a new LID without any trouble, we got a referral, there is no way-outside a miracle-we should have gotten Kylie when we did, she's perfectly healthy except her cleft, Steve GOT a job...and this was JUST in 24 hours.  Not to mention how many times the Lord has provided financially for us over the past 2 years.  Over and over and over again.  I could fill an entire BOOK with the times He has provided for all our needs and sometimes even our wants.

And when I took time to stop and really say thanks, I just couldn't do it.  Because "thanks" just didn't cut it.  To say we were overwhelmed at the blessings is an understatement.  I quoted in an earlier post Malachi 3:10 and that's how I felt.  I felt like God had literally thrown open the heavens and just poured out the best blessings ever on us.  And simply saying thanks just wasn't enough.

So I did what I do when I really want to communicate with God.  I popped in my worship CD.  This is a CD Rachel made for those of us who went to Louisville's Deeper Still conference.  There's nothing special about it.  They are songs I have on my own iPod.  But they are all the girls' favorites.  And put together, they are just what I needed.

I cranked the music up loud and just worshipped my heart out.  I raised my hands (ok just one at time since I was driving!) and I wept over God's grace in my life.  It was a holy time there in my van.  When I couldn't put my gratefulness into words, the music helped me express myself.

In answer to the original question, "how do I say thanks?"  I can't.  I can only worship.  And give Him the glory for everything...even for 2 years of unemployment, the pain of thinking we wouldn't have Kylie for another 18 months, the loss of several family members I loved dearly...ALL of it.

2nd Day of Christmas-Grandparents Day

Today, Jenna's school celebrated Grandparents Day.  It's kind of a combination Grandparents Day celebration and Christmas Program.  Poor Jenna, she's down 2 grandparents since this time last year.  Thank God for Pacockey (Steve's dad) and Nana (Bertie, my step-mom).  Nana made a special effort to attend this year.  Not sure if Pacockey was there...sometimes he comes in late and we don't see him.  Jenna might not realize it now, but as she gets older, the fact that her grandparents came to her programs will mean so much to her.

So, about grandparents...mine were already gone by the time I was born, so I've never had the experience of grandparents.  Most of you have and you are so lucky.  I'm thrilled that my Dad found Bertie (for a multitude of reasons) and that she became a grandmother to Jenna that I thought she might not ever have.  (For those of you that may not know or remember, I lost my mom in 1992 to cancer...long before JG was born).

Anyway, I love Nana and Pacockey and in this holiday season, I'm thankful for them.  Not just for what they are to me in my life, but for what they mean to my daughter.

Merry Christmas Nana and Pacockey!

1st Day of Christmas-Steve

My 1st Day of Christmas post today is about my sweet husband, Steve.  To say I am fortunate to have found someone like Steve is an understatement.  I was very young when I met him.  For those that really know us, know that I was proably like THREE when we met for the really first time.  He went to school with my much older brother so we probably knew of each other from way back when.

But I was still fairly young when I met Steve.  I was 20...actually 19 because Steve came to my 20th birthday dinner.  I had been through some pretty awful times and my dad didn't really have much advice to give in the boy department.  Except, DON'T.  :)  Daddy would have been fine if I'd stayed at home with him for the rest of my life and his.  God had other plans.

I actually was semi-dating someone else at the time Steve and I met and so was Steve.  We were just friends because I'd gotten to know his daughter, Micah.  Actually, I was smitten with Micah. Micah used to say, "I wish you were my step-mom."   Ahhhhh....be careful what you wish for.  Anyway, there was a point in time where I'd stopped dating this other guy and Steve had broken up with his girlfriend.  I remember telling him, "God has someone special in mind for both of us".  And I'm sure if I had listened hard enough, I would have heard God laugh.  Oh, how my God has a special sense of humor.

Anyway, we started dating when I was 20 and he was 35.  We got engaged on my 21st birthday and married just shy of my 22nd.  13 1/2 years later and we have weathered some pretty tough times.  The last couple years have been harder than we could have ever imagined.  But I could not have done it without him by my side.

And now, as we celebrate our 15th Christmas together, I'm thankful that God put this man and his children into my life.  I know I didn't deserve him (still don't).  But I'm glad that God gives us what He knows we need, not what we deserve.

I love you Steve.  Here's to another 15 Christmases!

12 Days of Christmas

I know I have been very remiss in blogging and I hate that.  I want to do better, but somehow time just slips away from me and I get behind.  Trust me, it's not that I don't have stuff to blog about, because most certainly I do!

So, today, since there are only 12 more days until Christmas, I thought I'd do a "12 Days of Christmas" blog.  I know this is mostly a Thanksgiving type idea, because most days will be things I'm thankful for.  But I believe Thanksgiving is just the beginning of the season of thankfulness.

You'll want to check back every day because you never know when YOU might show up in one of my posts!  Tune in tomorrow for the 1st Day of Christmas!