Ready. Set. Go.
We left you here with the addition of Miller to our slew of nieces and nephews. Aw.
We painted our house, but I won't post pictures of that because there are creeps out there who may happen upon this blog. That was a big deal! And It made a huge difference! (Okay, now I'm just rubbing it in.) But that was a huge blessing.
Also, our pastor went on a sabbatical, and Casey had many opportunities throughout the summer to preach. Our church has been an amazing blessing to us and a source of support and joy. We're so grateful for ministry opportunities, and a church family to share our lives with. You can catch Casey's sermons from the church webpage.
The summer was marked with getting all our home study paperwork done, household projects, and of course, our boy's birthday.
Also, around Haddon's birthday, we love to have people over for the Fourth of July. People who live around us spend a ridiculous amount of money on illegal fireworks, much to our enjoyment. So we like to share in the fun, and have people over to sit up on the hill with us, and look at all the brightness that surrounds us. By far, one of the coolest things I've put together were these fruit kabobs:
In August we joined Casey's side of the family for vacation in central Oregon. There's not much to tell. We rode bikes, played board games, went to a fish hatchery, that sort of thing. It's always nice to be around people you love.
Also, in August we welcomed Haile (pronounced "high-lay"), and Beti ("beh-tee") into our family all the way form Ethiopia. My sister and her husband started the adoption process as we did. They saw them on a waiting children website, and knew that they belonged with their family. We're so glad that they are with us, and although there are a lot of adjustments, God has been incredibly gracious towards our whole family as they have grafted in. We love adding to our niece/nephew count!
We rounded out the summer with different activities like going to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, a Volcanoes game, and the like.
Then the kids started at a new school in September (their school that we had transferred them into was closed by the school district). Norah began second grade, and Haddon started kindergarten. We're so glad that we waited to start him in school. He needed that additional year of pre-school, and being old for his grade is much more preferable to being the youngest!
I have a "first day of school" picture for Norah, but sadly, not for Haddon. We were invited to go to the Pastors and Wives Retreat. So, we had planned on going late up to that to be able to see H off for his first day (kindergarteners start a week later than other students), but then we discovered lice on his first day of school! So, both Norah and Haddon had to be treated (we buzzed his hair too), and he was able to start the next day- when we were out of town! Boo!
Oh well. Life is more than getting a first day of school shot. Right?
The end of September marks my sister's birthday. For months I had been planning a special gift for her that would be unique. I had this idea to make her a nest pendant out of wire and glass pearls. I had seen these on Etsy and Pinterest as a way for mother's to have jewelry that represented their children. I didn't see anything that had as many as 8 eggs though. Well, I made it with 5 cream and 3 brown to represent her different colored children. The response from people was overwhelming, so I decided to start making them to raise funds for our adoption.
So, A Nest by Design was started. I scrambled to make a website, get an e-mail address, and set up PayPal so that I could meet the instant demand! What a blessing!
I'll write more about this later, but for now, you can visit the website and see what we've accomplished. (You can also like A Nest by Design on Facebook too!) I would not have been able to do any of it without the help of my friend Michelle. Her help and support have been more valuable to me than I even have words to describe.
So with the start of the school year there was routine again, and events like the Jog-a-thon, and a big craft bazaar (which I sold nests at).
We visited a local pumpkin patch, and dressed up for Halloween. Nothing too crazy, but it was cool to see Norah be able to wear my old poodle skirt, and I made Haddon's bat costume by myself!
Thanksgiving was nice this year because we (well, the kids and I) got to spend it with both sides. Casey is still working graves so, sometimes things are difficult to schedule and participate in.
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| Miller! My how you've grown! |
We were able to go to a Beavers basketball game, and that was fun.
We had a very nice Christmas season, and ended the year nicely. We had our yearly Hanukkah night, and this was the first year that I made challah bread. Every year we tend to sort through what things we like to make and what recipes turn out well. Casey blogged about it, so you can check it out.
I got an early present this year just a few days before Christmas. Casey took the kids out and picked out a kitten! So Obie has a friend- which he absolutely hated at first. So we had to have Ezekiel in the back room for about a week so that Obadiah could get used to his scent. We're having a lot of fun with these kitties.
Christmas was a little different this year. On Christmas Eve, instead of being with my family in the evening, we celebrated in the morning. My mother made a LOT of breakfast foods for us to gorge ourselves on, and then we opened presents and such. I made the dinner/lunch, which resulted in far too much food. It was a blessing to see Haile and Beti have their first American Christmas.
We went to church on Christmas Eve, and our family lit the last candle of advent. We were super proud of Norah as she read from Isaiah in front of the whole church. It wasn't an easy passage to read for a 7-year-old, but she did awesome! I wish we had pictures or a video of it, but we totally spaced on it.
In the morning, we had out own time together as a family, and then headed over to Casey's parents'. There we had a brunch and opened presents. It's always a very casual time, and we enjoy spending time with family on Christmas.
Whew! We've almost made it!
Our goal was to have our home study completed by the end of the year, and we missed the mark by only a few weeks (again, I'll write more about that in an adoption post), but we're so glad that it's done and that we're beginning the new year waiting. We have a lot of hope, as maybe all people do at the start of a new year, but this year is particularly poised to bring changes.
Casey is working on being ordained, and that should be finished by the end of March. We just ordered photo books as our family profile books that will be shown to birthmothers. We could get chosen or matched at any time once those are published and in the hands of our agency. As you look at those Christmas pictures, they may be the last ones in which we're a family of four. Then again, they may not be, but we have hope that they are.
The last thing I'll share to bring you up to speed is that Downton Abbey season 3 premiered in the beginning of January, and since I have discovered that I have many friends who share in my love for the period drama, I hosted a premiere night viewing party. It was so much fun to have friends over and laugh at the same jokes, and enjoy a good, entertaining and clean program together. Here we are "Doing the Downton."
If you made it through to the very end, thank you. You rank among those that stuck with Harry to the end. If you didn't, that's okay. This was long, but I consider it a personal fete to have written such a lengthy, yet concise, blog post. Considering it has been nearly a year, it's good to get it all out. Now on to more regular posts! (Well, after a sizable adoption update.)
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