Life Unexpected

There have been so many times this past month that I have wanted to write, blog, and attempt to put into words what I have been feeling this Advent Season.  Every morning at 6am I have woken up, poured a cup of coffee, and have lit one small candle in the darkness.  It has been my attempt to silence all the noise and chaos that can come with the season and to bask in the wonder of this God who has literally come to be with us.  Several weeks ago, I felt like God was impressing on me to "see things from his perspective."  I had read the passage in Colossians 3:1-2 that says, "So if you're serious about living this new Resurrection life with Christ, act like it.  Pursue the things over which Christ presides.  Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you.  Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ-that's where the action is.  SEE THINGS FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE. There have been some incredible moments

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Biruk's second birthday.  I am amazed at how fast the first year and half with him has gone.  I feel like it was just yesterday that we were on a plane, flying home from Ethiopia, embarking on a whole new chapter of our lives.  Time flies...especially when you have a two year old.  To be honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect as we entered into this new stage of raising a toddler.  I figured that life would look a little different now that we had a child that could walk and talk, but I had no idea how much I would actually learn from one.  I have quickly learned that a our toddler can run faster than Nate and I combined, and his energy level blows mine out of the water even after I have consumed an entire pot of coffee.  I have learned that toddlers not only have the ability to repeat everything you say, but will in fact repeat everything you say (I learned that the hard way as I hit my head on the refrigerator door and yelled, "D