Merry Christmas to All

Who needs Santa Claus when you have a stuffed cat?*

*The most beloved of Valley Bible Church Christmas decorations. For the record, my 3 year-old was an innocent accomplice in the program night shenanigans.

Housebound - Day 5

Or is it 6? I've lost track of time. We're running low on food and I haven't had coffee in a week. Tough times, people, tough times.

So, we've got a foot or more of snow here. I'm always impressed at how immobilizing it is in this region to have snow on the ground. Of course, it would help if our snow chains weren't at my in-laws'.

The first two days were too bitterly cold to actually enjoy being outside -- and both boys had bad coughs -- but we did manage to make it out the last couple days. Yesterday we attempted tubing at the neighborhood park, but it was very windy. Hubby and our eldest had a good time, though. Today is simply beautiful; its sunny and the snow is actually soft enough to play in. That being the case, its time to post some pictures:

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

"It was really the best Christmas present ever -- even better than hearing about our baby girl. I would gladly postpone our referral in exchange for that moment. I really would."

I wrote that yesterday in response to my son's Christmas program. Little did I know -- or maybe I did know deep down -- that we weren't likely to get our referral before Christmas, that it really would be postponed.

We found out today that there is little chance of a referral before early January. I spent a significant amount of time grieving the loss of that hope this afternoon before I remembered what I had written yesterday. So ironic. Now, as I'm consciously choosing to move on and rejoice in the blessings of what I do have this Christmas, I realize that I really did mean what I said. The countless mountains that God has moved in the life of my son are a testament to what God can and will do in the coming year, and that reminder Sunday night was necessary to get me through the news of today.

Speaking of irony, consider what I wrote this time last year. And if that wasn't enough, there is this. I am simply awed by where God has brought us in just one year and humbled to think of what the next year might bring...starting in early January.

In the Meantime

Another reason why our daughter needs to come home soon:

I mentioned to our 3 1/2 year-old the other day that I hoped he starts using the potty soon because I don't want to have to buy two packages of diapers each month once his sister comes home. So now he has been announcing with each diaper change, "I'll start using the potty when Baby Jo (our temporary name for her) comes." Too bad I can't get that in writing! Before that he would always say that he will only try the potty on Sundays. He never followed through on that one.

Last week when he couldn't find one of his stuffed animals I told him to go check the large box in the play room -- where the vast majority of the stuffed animals have lived since we moved...three years ago -- he returned shortly thereafter and announced, "It wasn't there. Or at least it didn't appear to be."

And the "beard" was not planned.

All I Really Want for Christmas

Sunday night was the children's Christmas program at our church. The kids had been preparing for it for months. Our boys, well, not so much. The eldest felt strongly about being with the other kids when they rehearsed, but it was really up in the air whether or not he would actually participate. The wonderful gal coordinating the whole thing works very well with him, knows his quirks and moods, etc. She would mention to us on occasion that he was really singing out on the songs and knew the words. We were pleasantly surprised, but cautious in our expectations. When the final rehearsal came, he burst into tears and refused to join in, but I think this was mostly due to the schedule change -- it occurred during the usual Sunday School hour -- than anything else. The afternoon before the performance he wavered back and forth between vowing to do nothing but watch, and insisting that he wanted to be onstage with the other children. (He had been given the job as Row Leader, the one to lead his row on and off the stage, and thus felt a great amount of responsibility to be there.)

We had no idea what to expect, but I don't think we really expected what happened. I simply cannot put into words how amazing it was to see our child bellowing out the words to one of my very favorite songs. Hubby and I both cried. It was really the best Christmas present ever -- even better than hearing about our baby girl. I would gladly postpone our referral in exchange for that moment. I really would.

(Sorry the video isn't very good. You can actually barely see him -- just his head above the heads of the audience, with the little girl's red dress behind it. I don't think it helped that hubby and I were emotional wrecks. And we didn't have the best of seats. But if you listen closely, you can hear him above the other voices. If anyone out there has better footage, please let me know.)

See Site for Details

There is some really exciting, really scary news over at our adoption site!

Its Christmas Time

Zoo Lights

Every year one of our local zoos decorates its grounds with lights for Christmas time. Then they charge you $7 a person to go see them. <--- this is a jab at my dear hubby, who took me 8 years ago, a time when I thought they were "lame". But, in my opinion, the zoo has either improved its offering quite a bit, or maybe I just appreciate things a little differently now. In ay case, we went with my parents and had a very nice time. The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves, of course. Its not every day one gets to run around a zoo in the dark.