Santa Baby...

Rachel got to see Santa last Saturday! Her Nonnie and Poppie took her to the mall for a special outing and after going to Build-A-Bear...where she created a "Happy Feet" Penguin with a pink and black Hello Kitty dress on, she went to meet Santa.

I have made a point to not ask her about what she wants for Christmas. I figure we'll get to that time soon enough where she'll be giving me a list. We try to focus on teaching her to give, rather than to receive. However, other people have been asking her what she wanted Santa to bring her. The first thing she came up with was an IPad. Well, we quickly informed her that Santa would not be bringing her this because it was too expensive and she was too little to have an IPad. The next thing she came up with when asked was a cheerleading costume. So, I think that's a little more doable.

However, when she got up on Santa's lap and he asked her what she wanted, she told him she wanted a BABY SISTER!! That was all she asked for...

When Josh's dad told us that was what she asked for, I immediately started to cry. She's been praying and asking for a baby sister for at least a year now. Not every day, but pretty often. And it's hard to answer her questions as to why her friends have sisters and brothers and she doesn't. It's hard to help her understand why God doesn't answer her prayers as quickly as we would like.
Although it's hard to really explain the details of this to a 4 year old, I encourage her to continue praying with us and that one day God will hopefully give her a baby sibling and that we're letting him decide if it will be a brother or sister. We've told her things like, God answered our prayers when he let you grow in Mommy's tummy, and we've told her that this time a baby won't grow in my tummy. We've talked with her about adoption and what that means. But, it's still hard because we struggle with it too.

I do wonder what she was thinking. Like, is Santa like God? Maybe if I ask him he'll help God out? Or, God isn't coming through...maybe Santa can?

Anyway, needless to say...I told her that Santa would probably not be bringing her a baby sister for Christmas, but who knows...maybe by next Christmas she'll have a baby sister?

Regardless of the fact that Rachel won't get a baby sister for Christmas, it's important to remember that God did send us a baby....Jesus! And what a gift that was!

Wishing you all a joyous Christmas!
Anna, Josh & Rachel


P.S. I wanted to add this link for folks to check out...just some advice on supporting adoptive families that I found to be beneficial. This is from the blog of Tracie Loux, the consultant we are working with.

http://thespiritofadoption.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/support-love-serve-and-celebrate/

Little by Little...

I'm not too good at updates, but here's a little bit of what's been going on with regards to our adoption and where we are headed.

During the month of November we sent out letters to family and friends asking for prayers and financial support.

Here's a link to our fundraising letter: Green Adoption Letter

We have received several donations so far and have reached our first goal...which was to be able to send in our application and fee to Christian Adoption Consultants by November 30, 2012. During the month of November they were offering a discount in honor of November being National Adoption Month. SO, if you know me, you know I'm all about getting discounts, using coupons---saving money! So, we mailed this in and were able to save $390.

We are now officially clients of CAC and have received an extensive packet of information to start looking through from Tracie Loux, who is our consultant.

Our main focus will continue to be finding ways to save money and fundraise. We've got a long way to go before we can actually get to the point of presenting our profile and waiting for a match.

We've also added a link to Just Love Coffee Roasters. If you click on this, you can go and buy coffee or other items and a portion of your purchase will be given to us to support our adoption. We've ordered coffee from them, in support of another family we know, and it is great coffee!

Thanks again for your support and prayers! We have been humbled and are grateful for the donations we have received so far and are daily leaning on the Lord to provide.

Let's Get This Blog Started...

I've never done a blog before, so I was a little intimidated about starting one. In fact, I've been putting it off. But, in the little timeline running in my head and on my to-do list, it's got to happen...and now would be a good time!

Over the past few years as blogging has taken off, I see the benefit in having one for various purposes and for such a time as this. So, what is our purpose you might ask at this point in time? Well, Josh and I are stepping out into a new and unknown adventure of adoption. So, the purpose of this blog will be to update our family and friends along the way.

I've spent time looking at other blogs, especially from other families who have adopted, and I always learn something and receive a blessing in hearing the stories of others who have walked this path. It's exciting, but it's also a little scary because of all the unknowns. However, we are trusting in God's plan for our family and pray you'll join us on this journey! We hope that our story will be a blessing to you! Thank you for your love and support!

Josh, Anna & Rachel