89 Christmases

That's how many Grandpa Keeler has under his belt. Andy and I had the privilege of driving to upstate NY this past Wednesday to spend a few days with this special fella.  Between the two of us, he's our only surviving grandparent. It does my heart good to be around a "grandpa" again, as I miss mine. And what a grandpa he is! There are many impressive things I could tell you about him, but the one that I find the coolest is that he's been delivering Meals on Wheels every week for over 20 years....to the elderly.Yep. Quite a guy.

In other news, our paperwork made it to China sometime late last week! A list of children to be adopted was released last Tuesday and we just missed it. I take comfort knowing our daughter wasn't on that list or else we would have been logged in in time. We should be LID in the next week or so, plenty of time for the January list. We're kinda hoping this next month flies by!

It goes without saying that Andy and I thought about "her" a lot this Christmas. It was difficult at times, wishing she could be here with us and wondering what her day was like. But it was fun to think about next year and open a few gifts for her! Grandma Lynch and Nana have good taste :) Her closet is starting to fill up with adorable, girlie things! Here are just a few:

And I can't fail to mention what a blessing it was to be in church on this Christmas morning. Again, I am blown away at God's way of confirming this adoption to us. The sermon was on, of all things, adoption. I couldn't believe it. A sermon about adoption on Christmas morning? Not what I would have guessed but exactly what I needed. I hope to write a post soon on all HE has been up to in our lives. It's quite exciting and I still can't wrap my mind around it. I guess that's how I know it's all Him. Glory be to God!

something's missing

As a Christmas gift to Andy's parents, we had family photos done the day after Thanksgiving. Our neighborhood has an old white barn that makes a great place for photo shoots. It seems like every weekend, someone is out there with a camera! Well, it was our turn and they turned out great! Only thing is.....something is missing :)

Can you guess what it is?

D!T!C!

That's right. Oh long-awaited day. Glorious day!

I had to get this post in before tomorrow since today is the day our Dossier was sent To China!!!!!! It's been an amazing 24 hours for several reasons. I could write a whole post on God's faithfulness. And I will once I figure out the words to say. He has pretty much wrapped me in His arms today and affirmed this path we're on. For now, it's off to sleep and I have a feeling there will be sweet dreams.

Little one,
As you're going about your morning right now, we are thinking about you, praying for you, loving you and missing you. We can't wait to tell you all the ways God has worked so that we can be a forever family. You are a precious gift.
Love always,
māma and bàba

blessings of adoption

Adoption has already brought Andy and me so many blessings. One of the biggest so far has been the friendships we've made over the common bond of pursuing a child born of the heart, not of the womb.

Our dear, sweet friends, Frank and Sharon Dees are now mommy and daddy! Will Franklin entered this world on November 30, becoming their son officially one week later.

We could not be happier for two sweet people and one handsome little fella. What a Christmas this will be for our friends. We love you, Dees family! Can't wait to meet your little bundle of joy! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

*Update on our adoption: Our paperwork is back with Small World. They are giving it one final review and have told us it should be in China in about a week! Eeeeeeeeek!!!!!! I can hardly stand it!

you know it's Christmas at our house when...

Here's hoping to news this week that our paperwork made it out of DC and will be headed to China faster than Santa can say....