Thoughts of a New Year

My dear bloggy friends,

I typed this out and it was supposed to automatically post on the First.

I guess I need a little more practice.

I enjoy sharing our stories and enjoy your comments

I feel "not so terribly alone" on our journey

knowing you are reading

and thinking of us.

maybe even saying a prayer or two.

2011 has held such grief, and pain for me.

Not the loss of a loved one in real-life

But the loss of a son-in-law

and the "happily ever afters" I held in my heart

for my daughter,

the future grandchildren.

To watch my darling daughter not only loose her house-

but the home she created.

For her to not get a teaching job

after all the struggles to complete her degree

while working and supporting a husband and his ailing family members the past four years.

No job and no real home to "go home to".

Her finances falling apart as a result - no job= no money.

Her wedding rings stolen.......

I could choose to focus on all of this......

But

2011 has held so many many beautiful moments.......

and I choose to focus on them instead my friend.

I am focusing on the "God-in-it-all".

We cannot change some things,

but we can change our perspective.

When things feel so out of control,

I can take control!

Focus.

Wont you please join me this new year in daily,

counting the gifts,

seeing the creator in the creation?

None of us knows what this next year will hold for us

or the ones we hold dear.

But God does,

none of the mess was a surprise to him.

Through our adoption of sweet Lil G I held onto so many verses.

I learned so much about faith.

not religion,

but faith......

I love this one in Jeremiah:

I'll show up an take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." Gods Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you" Gods Decree- "bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.

Then I love this in Romans 5:

We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Its all grace isnt it.....

Under His wings,

Anna

Holiday Cheer anyone??

As busy as we have been this month,

Its likely that I will fall off the face of the earth in a day or two.

My husband has off work starting tomorrow.

So I was wanting to say a proper farewell until next year.

That way if I am able to link up tomorrow to "whats in your studio"

it will be icing on the cake- an unexpected blessing.

If not, no tragedy.

the tree has been decorated........

presents are wrapped and under the tree.

We can sit back and savor it.....
each moment is a gift.

Dont forget to dance a little......

spend time with friends..... old and new.

Under His wings,

Anna

Elves at work

Yeah this is the best picture we could get.

Have I mentioned she is opinionated?

Have I mentioned she doesnt like having her picture taken?

Yeah, welcome to my world.

here Lil G is dying laughing because I gave her a penny to throw in the fountain.

This is after I handed it to her and she immediately crammed it in her mouth.

I cant begin to let my mind wander as to where it had been.....

(she was watching a grandpa hand some littles change to throw in- I had to let her try.)

I was thinking maybe she was making a wish about her little friends at Para Sus Ninos-

Meeting their new families. (see her shirt. I know you want one... contact this family.

the purchase of this shirt will help TWO of her room mates come home with new families!

Its a win-win situation. I know you want one.......I cant wait until her brother unwraps his and I can get photos of them.......)

she sees other people sitting on the edge and thinks

it looks like a good idea

This was the best part of the shopping trip on Monday.

I never found gloves small enough to fit her hands. A six year old with hands the size of a 3 year old. We shopped four hours and only found mittens- that will not work when your form of communication is sign language. It would be like putting duct tape on your mouth. Anyhow, I remembered my sister loves Lands End and LL Bean. I found them in ten minutes flat, on sale and will arrive before Christmas, free shipping and handling with a hat to match. Will someone remind me next year? I may do all my shopping that way. This elf does not like to shop- THE END. My sister..... she has the gift of shopping. Me, not so much. Give me a hank of yarn and let me sit in the quiet and knit a gift. Or give me some paints and paper or wood......tucked away in my little quiet home on my quiet little road, (not really but it sounded good!)
for son's bathroom........
Something I made for son's apartment

. husband helped me fix them, the wood warped. I put hangers on the back.

Hanging over the couch. He is so happy.

Im also working on coasters made with scrabble tiles.

Some hand knits...... Keeping busy.

Loving the Advent season.

Under His wings,

Anna

December update

Yeah , I know..... you were starting to wonder if

I fell off the face of the earth.

When my life gets too full I start crossing things off my list

it seems like the blog just kept getting crossed off each day.

If you are a blogger, you will understand.

what takes you a few minutes to read

can sometimes take a few hours for me to put together

by the time Ive uploaded pics,typed out what I wanted to say,

deleted it all, Typed it out again, spell checked.You get the drift.

Ive been catching a few extra minutes every couple of days to read my favorite bloggers

sometimes leaving a comment.Sometimes not.

This month has held some emotional days.

There have been several families traveling to Ecuador this month

it has brought up so many memories and feelings.

Lil G has been doing awesome "firsts".

I saw a friend at a restaurant the other day that had never met Lil G.

Lil G decided she wanted to show off, she singed "nice to meet you." HOLY COW!

If youve adopted you know what it feels like to see photos of your little one.

I cried like ten times the day I saw this picture for the first time.

Lil G is only a few months old here.

Seeing her at this age doesnt compute.

My brain has a hard time processing that this is my daughter.

Lets just say this chaos and pandemonium set her off.

This is only the right side of the room.

Double it. That is the reason for some outside play time! Im learning.

She lost one of her contacts Friday night at the Church musical watching big brother play his bass guitar, so glasses it will be until sometime in January or February- her appointment is the 6th of Jan and they have to be special made. (insert huge frown here)

brother is the blue blur on the left.

I guess my hand isnt still enough for photos without a flash.

The season wouldnt be complete without watching the nutcracker

yes, she sat still and watched the. entire. thing. Well I have to take that back,

she did sign dance and get down to twirl around some. A.DOR.A.BLE! It was NY city ballet.

She also sat through the Polar Express- twice now........

We have come a looooong way baby.

Yesterday we met with the Orphanage Director

AND the lady that put Lil Gs baby book together, Bonus!

Of course Lil G HAD to be in a "mood". Ugh.

She has a list of circumstances that can/will throw her "off".

No telling which one or combination it was......

Papa did a great job at wrangling her.

yeah, you read right. A baby book.

I didnt even look at it really until about 3:30 in the afternoon.

I looked at two pages before I set it aside.

Of course I sobbed like a baby.

My parents were in town all weekend for my grandfathers birthday/ Christmas

so we dropped by and my mother and I were able to

laugh and enjoy it together.

They had saved the outfit the nurses at the hospital bought to send her to the orphanage in

a photo with nurses that had red rimmed eyes.

They had taken care of her, a 4.5 lb baby girl for a week.

We also have a set of contacts in a box, and four pair of outgrown glasses.

Her first pr are so tiny, and heavy.

lots of pictures. Four and a half years......

They have some beautiful pics of us together the day we met her.

Im so relieved. Ours werent all that great.

I am going to be spending some time on Google translate reading the pages the tias wrote for us. Each one of her Tias wrote a goodbye letter/prayer.
I cannot wait to see what they had to say.

This is more than I could ever have hoped for.

I thanked the orphanage Director for making sure such care was taken

the attention to details.

Lil G cannot communicate much,

there are many things We are having to learn on this journey

I told Melinda that God has been faithful to shower us with grace upon grace.

This is icing on the cake.

I pray this finds you and yours

enjoying family and friends

making beautiful memories.

Under His wings,

Anna

Christmas

Many years ago our family took a huge leap of faith,

packed up and moved to a "foriegn land".

Lower Alabama.......

Things really fell apart

and we ended up on the receiving end.

We made a promise that when we were back on our feet things wouldnt change.

We would continue to remember the real reason .......

Christmas

giving......

our hands would stay open

receiving to give

(who needs one more "thing"?)

Focusing on Memories,

relationships......

Our trip to Ecuador hammered that deeper into my soul

the being- thankful- for- every-thing.

Seeing Lil Gs room mates that were being left behind

begging to go home with G's Mami and Papi

I WILL NEVER FORGET THOSE TEARS

I am changed.

forever.

The Christ -child- in- me compelling me to do it His way

(my church friends learning about Gs first home.)

good bye hugs.......

There are two families headed to Ecuador soon.

(the third family is meeting their daughter today)

The children cannot be forgotten.

If you still want to do for someone and havent yet,

wont you consider this option?

Even if you cant help financially or physically purchase anything,

lift a prayer or two for this family and this family

these children?

If you want to see a present God gave me today-

a video on Youtube with G on 4:22

some of the other little ones I know and love are on there too!

And this one!

these are the needs listed on Kim's blog:

**Baby wash/Baby lotion. These things have a high tariff and are really expensive in Ecuador.

*Shirts for children ages 10-16

*Underwear for 16 yr old girl

*Thermal socks for 16 year old girl

*Sweatshirts/jackets for children ages 10-16

**Crib Sheets

*Twin size bed sheets

**Plastic bibs

*Sweaters for boys and girls sizes 3-6

**tights for babies and toddlers

(There is a greater need for items with two stars)

If, while you are out and about doing your Christmas shopping, you would like to pick up any of these items, please do. I am sure they will help make Christmas a little more special at the orphanage.

For my friends locally,

Let me know if you would like to send a few things

I would be glad to include them in my package.

Im also wondering about sending a check instead of the soaps given the weight

it would add to the shipping price considerably.

Under His wings,

Anna

A huge surprise and blessing!

Guess where I was....... Do you recognize this face?
horrible quality photo, Im so sorry...... but

could that be Beth Moore?
in Pensacola???????
cute as a button!

Thousands of women Singing Amazing grace

after quite a few of the ladies had already

started to head home........

I love how passionate this dear woman is about Gods Word.

This was not a "pep rally"

or anything of the sort.

A great time learning and studying.

I wasnt going to go.......

I guess God had other ideas.

The message was just, well, there arent words.

I am really numb.

Please pray for my dear friend that gave me her tickets,

Melissa is her name.

They thought she had been bitten by something

but I think the Drs have now decided

she has one of those super-bug infections on her stomach.

She is very very sick.