Out With the Old

It's the last day of 2013 . . . can you believe it? It's kind of hard to wrap my head around the fact that 2013 is ending. It went by so incredibly fast. So much changed . . . new house, new job (at least for me), new school (for Andrew), and yet, some things, like the adoption status, haven't really changed.

I'm not a big believer in resolutions, but I think it's important to have some goals going into the new year. My biggest goal is to get refocused on being healthy and taking care of myself and my family. It seems like all of that goes out the window when the holidays roll around. But I think we may all be on sugar overload at this point, and I need to get back on track with consistent workouts.

At the beginning of 2013 I felt like there were two words that God meant to define my year, grace and relax. They're both things with which I struggle, but I have seen some improvement. I'm learning to give myself and others grace, and while I'm not always successful, I'm also learning to relax. Sometimes my Type A personality gets the best of me, but I'm going to continue to work (or maybe I should say let God work) in those areas.

If there is one word on which I think God wants me to focus in 2014 it is fearless. I've always been open about the fact that I struggle with fear and worry probably a lot more than the average person. I'm also very aware that when I'm filled with worry and anxiety and fear, I'm failing to put my faith and trust in God. So with His help and guidance I want to overcome the monster that is fear in my life. It might take a lot more than a year (or even two), but it's a start.

Whatever 2014 holds for you and yours, I pray that you look to God for all you need. May His blessings and love be abundant in your lives and the lives of those you love.

Numbers 6:24-26

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
²⁶ The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

I will be taking a blogging break in the month of January (and I'll also be cutting back on internet use in general) as I like to take this month to focus on what's ahead in the new year. Talk to you in February my friends.

 

 

Celebrations Galore

December has been an absolutely crazy month. It's hard to believe that in just a couple of days 2013 will be behind us.

The past month has been filled with family, fun, food, trips, celebrations, programs . . . and very little time to breathe. Which is why my Christmas stuff is all still up. I just haven't worked up the energy to take it all down, and I want to enjoy it just a couple more days.

I took about 300 pictures over the past three weeks but for the sake of your sanity I'll spare you and not post all of them on here. I'll try and keep it to a minimum.

Andrew's school did two performances of the same Christmas program. One was on a Thursday evening, and the second was for the school during chapel on the day school got out for Christmas. Both were entertaining, but the second performance had a bit more "comedic" value.

 

The many faces of Andrew . . . 

 

 

The kindergarten and first grade classes also put on a nativity play on the day school got out. Andrew was a shepherd and quite a cute one if I do say so.

 

 

Christmas Eve . . .

My mom's cat and my sister's dog. They're buddies.

 

 

New Christmas jammies . . . only they're not technically "Christmas" jammies . . .



I got some great gifts for Christmas. The trip to Key West was the main gift from my parents, but my mom did get my sister and I each a really cute Vera Bradley bag.

 

 

And the gift of the year . . . Kindle Paperwhite. I'm so excited to have this since I hate reading on my iPad.

Santa came and left quite a few goodies on Christmas Eve.

 

Christmas Day . . . 

 

Hanging out and being lazy at Mimi and Opa's.

 

Picture time at Mimi and Papa-Doo's.

Oh look my big head is almost completely blocking Cari's face . . . nice . . . you'd think in the age of digital cameras these things wouldn't happen.

At this point they were over it. They wanted to open gifts and play.

 

And that's another Christmas come and gone. It's hard to believe that it was Andrew's seventh Christmas. I'm looking forward to 2014 and all the exciting things it holds for our family.

 

Now if someone would be so kind as to come take down all this Christmas stuff . . . 

 

 

 

To Everything There is a Season . . .

On Christmas Eve afternoon, I was taking a hot shower after a pretty dismal run. I was lamenting the fact that it is winter. I don't enjoy winter runs. They're not great, even when it's not really that cold which it wasn't on Christmas Eve. There's just something missing from winter runs. The smells of things growing. The way a nice breeze will cool you off instead of give you chills. Those of you that know me, know I don't exactly love winter (even the somewhat mild, short winters we have here in Texas). I'm not a fan of short, dreary days and sunlight that doesn't carry the warmth or brightness of the late spring and early summer. I don't like dead, brown, dying plants and trees. Once Christmas is over, I'm ready for spring. Afternoon thunderstorms, warm sunshine, wildflowers . . . all of it points to life, and in spring, I feel more alive than any other time of the year.

Whilst lamenting, the fact that it is winter, I also started lamenting the fact that we are still waiting on an adoption referral, and there are those that have been waiting even longer than we have. Fear started to creep in, and I started to have just a touch of doubt. Maybe we had heard God wrong? I was trying to recall what influenced the decision to adopt from Bulgaria. Was it emotional? Were we caught up in the moment and novelty of it all? It's been a long time. People are starting to talk to us and look at us like we're crazy for waiting this long.

In the midst of all of this whining, because let's face it, that's what I was doing, I heard God speak to my heart. How do I know it was God and not me? Well for one, it interrupted my flow of thoughts. I was quite enjoying my pity party, and it suddenly came to an abrupt stop. Second, I once heard someone say that when trying to figure out if you're hearing from God or creating your own thoughts if it sounds and seems much smarter and wiser than you then it's probably God. Laughable? Yes. True? Even more. Third, I just know. I don't know how to explain it, but there's something about the Holy Spirit whispering to your heart that can't be mistaken for anyone or anything else.

So what did God say? "You can't have spring without winter, Courtney. You can't have life without death. Seasons aren't just a natural occurrence. They are a necessary and essential part of life." That was far more profound than anything I was thinking at that moment.

Suddenly a lot of things became clear. This waiting period in our adoption is most definitely a winter season. And a lot of things have had to die within us (within me) as we wait. Impatience . . . insistence on having my way . . . trying to do God's work for Him instead of waiting on Him . . . my need for perfection . . . all of that has been dying a slow death over this winter period of our lives, but out of this very long winter will come new life within our family. It's just not time for spring yet, but it will be . . . maybe not for a while, but we're closer to the end of winter than the beginning at this point.

God also kindly brought it to my attention that there is beauty in winter. It's not the same beauty that spring holds. It's a beauty all it's own, and if I'm constantly longing for spring, I'll miss the beauty that is right in front of me. If I'm constantly wishing for a referral, I'll forget to cherish the amazing family I have today.

And when it's all said and done isn't that the message of Christ? He came to earth as a babe. He gave His life as a man, and so many thought that all was lost when He died on the cross that day. Never had the future seemed so dark. Yet, out of death came life. Out of the darkest winter season of them all came the most beautiful resurrection of them all. But without death it wasn't possible. There is beauty in the cross just as there is beauty in the resurrection. Each a little different. Both of life changing, earth shattering importance.

"To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

He Came . . .

Luke 2

New King James Version (NKJV)

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,^[a] who was with child. ⁶ So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

He came for shepherds . . .

⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold,^[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”^[c]

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely^[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

He came for kings . . .

Matthew 2
New King James Version (NKJV)

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’^[b]”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

He came for thieves . . .

Luke 23:39-43

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁹ Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ,^[a] save Yourself and us.”

⁴⁰ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said to Jesus, “Lord,^[b] remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

He came for you, and He came for me . . .

Romans 10:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

In the midst of the food, presents, family, and excitement remember that He came. He came because He loves you. He came to set you free.

Isaiah 61:1-3

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Good News of Salvation

61 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
² To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
³ To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

  

Mary Did You Know?

Luke 2:19

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

I sometimes wonder what went through Mary's heart as she held her baby boy in her arms. What did she know? How much did she understand? She must've had some inkling. After all, it's not everyday you are visited by the angel Gabriel who then tells you that the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and you will conceive a baby who shall save the world. But then at the same time she must've looked down at her baby boy, Jesus, King of the World, and to her he was just her baby boy. Her beautiful, perfect child . . . the child that she wanted nothing more than to protect and love and shelter from the harsh world.

Can you even imagine? Angels are visiting you in person, your husband in dreams. Shepherds are rushing to the stable (fancy word for barn) where you just gave birth and kneeling before your newborn son. Kings take a journey of almost two years to present your child with extravagant gifts. You flee to Egypt because another king wants your child dead . . . Yes, I can believe that Mary did quite a lot of pondering. The confusion and fascination, the fear and awe Mary must have felt through all of this.

Mary did you know?

Did you know that you held the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in your arms? Did you know that you rocked true perfection, God, come to earth in human form to sleep each night? When you sang songs to your baby boy you sang praises to the Most High God?

Mary did you know? 

Christmas Time Again . . .

Once again, I'm posting this video in honor of our daughter who is somewhere in an orphanage. To say we are so ready to hold her in our arms is an understatement. To say it gets harder each year is a vast understatement. We pray for her daily, sometimes hourly. We pray God's protection and love over her, and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God does hold her in His arms.

He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Psalm 91:4

Key West . . . Our Last Day

This time last week we were in Key West. It was sunny. It was warm. It is neither sunny nor warm here. I'm starting to think it will never be warm again . . . sigh . . . dramatic much?

Anyway, on Saturday we walked . . . a lot. We walked the length of the island and back and then some.

The Disney Magic was docked and screaming children and grouchy parents were disembarking for their last day before their cruise ended. It was all very "magical".

We visited the Butterfly Sanctuary where we saw butterflies, flamingoes, turtles, and the tiniest, cutest quail in the world. Those suckers definitely wouldn't have made good eating. You'd have to eat about 10 of them to even make a small meal. That was an extremely politically incorrect statement I just made. Don't worry I didn't say it to the women at the butterfly sanctuary. They would've passed out.

We walked to the Atlantic side of the island, and saw the Southernmost point in the mainland United States. The tip of Texas is pretty far south but not quite as far south as the big cement buoy, and "not quite" doesn't count. Oh well, I guess Texas can't be the best at everything (just almost everything). Also, I have no clue who those people are. I didn't want to wait in line to take a picture so I snapped one from a distance in between other people's turns. I could've cropped them out, but that would've required effort which I'm just not willing to put forth on this Friday morning.

 

We also visited the Truman Whitehouse which was great, but there were signs saying no photography, and our little tour guide seemed like a stickler for rules . . . so sorry, no pictures.

 

Saturday night we ate Cuban food . . . ummm, yum . . . and key lime pie because you can't visit Key West without eating key lime pie. Again no pictures. I got kind of lazy on the picture taking near the end of our trip. After we ate, we did a little more shopping, and then headed to bed pretty early.

 

Sunday morning it all came to an end, and we returned to the coldest "not quite winter" that Texas has had in years.  Like I said before we had a blast, but I missed Andrew like crazy (don't worry I missed Patrick too). It's the longest I've been away from Andrew, and I was really glad to see him. He was glad to see me too. He told me so. His exact words were, "I'm glad you're home because my hamper is full, full, full, and Dad can't cook." Now if that's not love . . .

 

To see a recap of the first part of our trip click here.