We've finally mastered our video camera!!

Grandma is still here. She has folded about 7 loads of laundry and done a few dishes, in between cleaning, she still finds time to be a Mouseketeer. Finally, we've figured out how to post videos....check out a Christmas morning video!

Baby Name Revealed and Merry Christmas!

drumroll please.... **!

J means "God is gracious" and is our way of honoring DH's Auntie Janet. Grace because we have been captured by God's good grace to us...and we always dreamed of having a little girl we'd call "Gracie". A is to honor both of our mothers (both middle names A) and our dear aunt/uncle/cousins/bro-in-law (long story...) with the last name L. BTW: the name A means something like "grace in the valley" which i think is rather appropriate since my favorite Bible passage is Psalm 23. DH loves to say that her name means "grace upon grace upon grace"...which to him is the summary of the gospel. So, no longer does our daughter, whose face remains mysterious to us, have to be called "our new baby girl". We can call her by name. Let the monogramming begin! Merry Christmas to you all!

Remembering Christmas-Past

Welcome to our house...just wanted to show you snapshots of our Christmas memories. We appreciate receiving all of your cards, and your children are so beautiful! It puts a smile on my face to remember all of the places we have been, and the friends and family we love so dearly. It made me so happy to receive pictures from members of my AWAA family, some with kiddos already home forever from Ethiopia (a glace at our Christmas future!). As I glance at the ornaments and family pictures of our Christmas's, I can't wait for next Christmas to see girlie ornaments on the kids' tree and a new family picture!

Yummy Christmas Cookies

My mom is here. I am keeping her busy with the obligatory laundry folding & cookie baking. The chocolate chip cookies for DH did not turn out well, but the boys had a blast making the sugar cookies! And for those interested, we plan to announce the baby name we have chosen on Christmas day!

Christmas Miracle--SNOW in Louisiana!!!

We've been up since 5.30am this morning, when DH discovered it was snowing and woke everyone up! We've played in the snow, made 1/2 a snowman, taken pictures (sorry no digital-no batteries), drank hot chocolate, eaten candy canes in front of the fireplace and watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas". The boys were yelling across the fence to the neighbor's boys "Its a Christmas Miracle!!"

My little man...and Proverbs 31

Here's how a homework-time conversation played-out at our house last night...T was moaning about how being a little brother is hard. JP argues that being a big brother is much harder, because of its additional responsibilities. I think to myself, what terrible chores do these boys do? Are they fetching water from the well? Are they cleaning out piggy stalls? (No.) I remind JP that being a big brother has it's priviledges as well...first to drive a car, go to college, have a girlfriend... He replies, "MOM, God had already blessed me with that!" "Oh, yes, "L"! She is a blessing!", i say, trying not to laugh... then he says, "Yes! A woman who loves the Lord is HARD to find!" True, true...especially for a first-grader. And then i think...does this mean i should start losing weight to fit into my mother-of-the groom dress? UH-OH!

7 Month Anniversary of DTE

7 months ago, our package of documents left DC to Ethiopia. When the man at FedEx asked if we wanted to insure the package, and how much it was worth, i said, "Well about 6 months and $10,000. you better not lose it!". DH apologized and tried to explain to the bewildered fellow about the adoption, and that his dear wife is the one who has "lost it". This period of waiting has made me a little crazy, a little pensive, and very hungry for treats. I have been contemplating what the day of our referral will be like, what meeting her will be like, and what i should say to her when i meet our little girl for the first time. how do you explain the kind of love that we already have for her? it reminds me of jeremiah 31.3: "i have loved you with an everlasting love". it is as if a strong wind, flowing over the continent, over the ocean that divides us, has whispered into our ear, into our heart her name, the sound of her breathing, her cry, the smell of her hair, the feel of her eyelashes against our cheek while she sleeps. "i have loved you with an everlasting love." one day we will see her, and the pain of waiting will be over. but for today, we are still waiting and hoping that that day will come quickly. (at least we have the sounds of little boys pretending to burp to distract us.)