Thankful

Thanksgiving took on a whole new meaning this year. Perhaps it's because this may be our last Thanksgiving as a family of 2. Perhaps it's because the blessing of becoming parents is closer than ever before. Perhaps it's because of the immense amount of God's grace that has sustained us this past year. I think it's all of these things...and for these things, I am grateful. I am also grateful for the peace God has granted us on this road to parenthood. I am grateful for our marriage and how our journey to Baby E has strengthened our love for one another more than we could ever imagine. And most of all, I am grateful for the gift of family, for it is truly that...a gift.

Jeff's family came to visit us this Thanksgiving, and we celebrated twice in one week with two very different meals! In honor of Baby E, we had dinner Wednesday night at a local Ethiopian restaurant, before our traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thursday. Baby E's Grandma, Pop, and Uncle Trent enjoyed the many wonderful tastes of Ethiopian cuisine~including Injera, Yedoro watt, and Minchetabish. (More info to come on the fantastic flavors of Ethiopia, as well as the fun way it is eaten! You can get a glimpse of it here :-)


Of course we topped it off with the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. It is so very yummy...even Grandma (who dislikes all coffee) tried it!

And while we are on the topic of thanking, I'd like to thank Grandma Nix for Baby E's cute new burp cloth that she made. Who says you can't receive monogrammed gifts before you have an official name?!

Glad We Chose Gladney

November is National Adoption Month, so in the spirit of celebrating adoption I'd like to spotlight our agency, Gladney, and how wonderful they have been. We were initially drawn to our agency for their strong traditions and dedication to the adoption cause, both domestically and internationally. Gladney is truly a pioneer and has been working for over 120 years to support children, adoptive families, and birth parents. Their heritage is very interesting, which you can read more about here. In addition to their rich history, we were also drawn to their supportive nature, which has not only been evident in the beginning stages of the adoption process but will continue long after we bring Baby E home. We have joined our local Gladney Family Association (GFA) and are looking forward to growing even closer to our Gladney family. We recently attended a GFA event in Raleigh where we met several wonderful Gladney families and also had conversations with Gladney's President, Frank Garrott, who flew in from Texas. It was very encouraging to hear first-hand information about the future of Gladney, specifically their vision of continuing humanitarian aid all around the world for years to come.

With Gladney's President, October 2009

In support of our agency and National Adoption Month, please remember Gladney if you happen to purchase items next weekend at Barnes & Noble. Present this flyer or mention the code 1007 6420, and proceeds from the sale will be donated to Gladney. Happy shopping!

Defend the Cause of the Fatherless: Orphan Sunday 2009

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

If you are home this Sunday afternoon from 4-6pm (central time) and have access to a computer, I encourage you to tune in (via webcast) to what promises to be an amazing event. LIVE from Nashville! will feature special music by Stephen Curtis Chapman and the Children of the World Choir, as well as special guest speakers Jim Daly and Dennis Rainey, among others. The hope is to reach the nation with God's call to care for orphans. The event is sponsored by the Cry of the Orphan Awareness Campaign, which enables organizations from around the world to join forces and make a difference in the fight against a problem that is too big for any one person or organization to solve. Click here to find out more about the event and campaign.

Sweet Home Alabama

It was good for my soul to go home a few weeks ago. Living eight hours away from family and close friends means I only get to visit with them a few times per year...which makes each visit that much sweeter!
2009 means that my close group of friends (including myself in a couple of weeks!) turns the big 3-0! Brooke (aka Babbs) was the first to enter this new decade. It was so wonderful to have lunch with her and celebrate her special day. Equally as wonderful was meeting her precious son, Sawyer, who recently celebrated his first birthday! Brooke is such an incredible mama who inspires me in so many ways. I can't wait for Baby E to meet Sawyer!


Nancy was next to bite the dust, and we celebrated her 30th birthday with a wonderful dinner. We also celebrated motherhood, as Nancy is expecting her first baby in April. By our calculations (and intuition!), we think our babies will be very close in age. What an amazing gift to experience this journey into motherhood with my best friend! I'm really looking forward to Baby T and Baby E growing up together!

Another great addition to my weekend at home was having dinner with a friend I haven't seen in maybe seven years! Although we've been in touch through various forms of communication over the years, we couldn't really remember the last time we actually saw one another--but we think it may have been my wedding day! Kelly Sprayberry Akers is such a dear friend to me and I loved reconnecting with her. While we grew up in the same town, we were not in the same grade so we only attended the same school for two years during high school and two years during college. However, I have such great memories with her outside of school--particularly from church and piano lessons/recitals. As adoptive parents themselves, Kelly and her husband, Ryan, have a HUGE heart for adoption and speak beautifully of the reflection it can be of Christ's love and adoption of us, His children. Kelly has been such an encouragement and inspiration to me throughout this process, and I look forward to growing even closer throughout the years.

(Imagine a picture of me and Kelly here....I did take my camera to dinner, but we were so engrossed in conversation that I forgot about taking the pic!)

And nothing tops spending quality time with my family. Whether it's playing games with Marlee and Maggie, listening to Granddaddy Joe's stories, or the sweet moment of the family blessing when we all come together around the table...I am so grateful for each and every moment I spend with my parents, my grandparents, my brother and sister-in-law, and my precious nieces. Baby E is in for a blessing!


And a fall weekend in Alabama would not be complete without a football game at Bryant Denny stadium! Jeff and I had a great day in Tuscaloosa visiting our alma mater, tailgaiting on the Quad, and witnessing another Crimson Tide victory! Baby E, get ready to say "Roll Tide!"


***As of today we've been on the wait list for our referral for 2 months already! Where does the time go?! I don't know, but that just means in 5 or 6 months, we will see our baby for the first time (via pictures)!***