Life Unexpected

Today is a monumental day. We have offically been a waiting family for one full year. Last year at this very time we were celebrating finalizing our Dossier and sumbitting it to our agency. We met my parents for lunch and celebrated...and then we waited...and waited...and waited...and yes, we are still waiting. While we haven't had the privilege of celebrating getting a referral yet, we felt like we deserved to celebrate making it through an offical year of waiting without emotionally falling too much apart (you all that are in the adoption process know exactly what we mean!). Nate decided we should go skiing (we have a season night pass) and then out to dinner, and then he even talked me into Starbucks (which isn't very hard). When we got to the ski slopes, we took a few runs, and then decided to venture over to one of the black trails. Two years ago, Nate had fallen on that trail and slid rather fast on his butt, with his skis in the air. I was just about to yell to hi...

Well, we have been back from Christmas Vacation and a Mission Trip to Honduras and we have still heard NOTHING. It seems like every week we have several people ask how the adoption process is and if we have heard anything yet. Our response..."Nope! We are still waiting." These days I find myself longing for a new answer. At the same time, I realize and keep reminding myself daily, God's plan is far greater and far better than anything Nate and I could ever imagine. With all this waiting, I imagine it to be a pretty outstanding plan! I had the opportunity to sing with our worship team this past Sunday and we sang a song that really spoke to me, called "Made Me Glad," by Hillsong. Here are the lyrics... I will bless the Lord forever And I will trust Him at all times He has delivered me from all fear And he has set my feet upon a rock And I will not be moved And I'll say of the Lord.... You are my shield My strength My portion Deliverer My shelter Strong...

It's been only 7 days and I miss Honduras like crazy. Last Saturday morning, at 2am, we returned from an amazing missions trip to Honduras. This was my fifth time in the past two years going to Honduras. I can't seem to get enough of it! if I could describe it...well it is just indescribable. Honduras does something to my heart. Before I left, I was really struggling to find joy over the Christmas season. I think with the disappointment of not getting a "Christmas Miracle Referral," I just didn't have a lot in me to give. I even second guessed my decision to go on the trip. But the second we landed at the airport in San Pedro Sula, I took one deep breath of Honduran air and I was reminded just how full my heart gets on Honduran soil. We were greeted at the airport by one of our favorite missionaries, Mr. Bob (don't worry Amy and Tom...if you are reading...you are the other favorite missionaries!), who is this missionary who has a contagious passion a...

Saturday night, Christmas Eve, my family and I traveled to New Jersey for our traditional Czech Dinner with our extended family. The night was full of traditions including sauerkraut soup, mushroom soup, specialty breads and cookies, and of course the golden pig (that's where coins rain from the ceiling...you figure that one out). After our celebration we hopped back in the car and traveled back to my parents' house in Maryland, to spend the night and wake up Christmas morning together. For some reason I woke up really early. I think it was because I was singing a solo at my parents' church Christmas morning and was getting nervous! I jumped in the shower and when I got out heard my niece Sadie crying. I went in her room, picked her up, and got to sit by the tree watching the lights for like a half hour. She was mesmerized by those lights and our singing Christmas tree. My sister told me that allowing her to sleep and taking care of Sadie was the best Christmas presen...

I have decided that kids have some kind of instinct inside of them that tells them exactly what they need to say to make you smile. Last week, I called my mom and was bawling on the phone. I guess the reality had set in that we may not get a call with our referral, and that just made me sad. She had been riding in the car with my niece Emma, who is 5, and when she got off the phone, she told Emma, "Auntie Ang is sad. She is sad because she hasn't gotten to bring home her babies yet." Emma, who is a thinker and I believe a really smart kid, just pondered those words and said nothing. Later on that day, she came up to my mom and handed her a card she had made. She said, "Grammy, this is for Auntie Ang. It needs to go in an envelope for her. It's because she didn't get to see the birth of her babies." Wow! I was blown away by the kindness of a 5 year old. The past few days God has allowed me to have "moments" with my nieces. Emma, who ...

It's hard to even know where to start on this post. I probably should have blogged each day of this vacation. Nonetheless, I will attempt to paint the picture of all that has taken place over this Christmas vacation (it may just come in several postings!)... For starters, let me just get it out there, we did NOT receive a Christmas Miracle like we had been praying for. While I wish I had some profound understanding of that, I don't, and at times, this past week, the disappointment of a Christmas Miracle not fulfilled has been hard to swallow. At the same time, I know that God is in control. I also know that his plans are perfect, and that we are growing in this wait process. I can honestly say from the bottom of my heart I want HIS plan to prevail in HIS time, and I wouldn't trade that for the world. That being said, spending time with my family this Christmas break was exactly what my soul needed during this difficult wait time. I have been encouraged, learned some...

As promised, here are some pictures from our fundraiser last weekend. These are some of the awesome students that helped us all night. My new Ethiopian friend, Aster...cooking the most amazing food! This is our table of t-shirts and bracelets we were selling and our set-up in the ministry center. Our speaker, Jeromy praying for us... My mom on the run with her spaghetti... My Dad and his new Ethiopian friend, Mel