Starting a New Year and Still Waiting....

We are on day 120 since our preapproval and day 139 since our Letter of Intent. This is a bit longer than we anticipated. We hope to hear something surely this month if not next week. After we are given the stamp of approval then we wait on our Travel Approval. Essentially, it takes about 6-8 weeks for travel once the Letter of Acceptance arrives. We try not to count but I sit at home today bored so I count.

Christmas Joys

With Cousins - Lili and Maggie

Looking for Santa....

Just in case Santa was not aware!

Dear Santa, I have been a good girl. Leah

Me too! Natalie

Carrots for the reindeer and cookies for Santa.

Experiencing Christmas with our four and five year old gives us such great joy. They are always in such awe of the lights, tree, Santa, the manger, and of course the presents. What is different about this year is that they both truly are beginning to understand the importance of Christ's birth. The questions they have about that day are so genuine and innocent.....Why is Jesus in the food bin? How are the donkeys and cows going to eat? Why are the "fairies" on top of the stable? These questions are springboards into some good dialogues.

Christmas Eve was spent at my parent's house. It is a tradition (started by my Grandpa) to eat Mulligan stew (secret recipe) on Christmas Eve and what a treat it is. We not only love it for it scrumptious taste but it also keeps my grandparent's memory alive.

On Christmas morning, my parents share the morning watching our girls unwrap their gifts from Santa and enjoy breakfast with us. Leah was not her usual lively self and did not seem excited that it was Christmas morning. The culprit...her belly ached. She didn't even want to open gifts....argh! After about an hour, her sickness was confirmed by a trip to the bathroom. So now she is sleeping and she is going to stay home with me today as her daddy and sister set off for more Christmas parties.

Julianne is in the #1 Picture of 2008!

Julianne is already famous.....making the #1 photo of the year for Love Without Boundaries Organization. Julianne is the third child in the crib...quite a beauty! Love Without Boundaries is a large charity organization that gathers necessary supplies for the orphanages in China. To see if for yourself... http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/topten08/content/1_large.cfm