Good bye 2007....Hello 2008

There is only a little under an hour left in my 2007 year....some of you have already rung in the New Year, while others are even further behind. It's funny how with each year, the year seems to go by that much faster. Seems like we just said HAPPY NEW YEAR to 2007.....and here we are doing the same to 2008.

2007 has been a truly unique year for me and Michael. It was the year that we felt God calling us to adopt, even though we had come to terms with our infertility in a previous year. The journey to adopt has not been an easy one, but we have experienced the peace and joy of the Lord, unlike any other time in our lives. We started our adoption journey in January of this year, and honestly, we had hoped to celebrate Christmas with our kiddos at home this year. However, we have be reminded, many MANY times, that our plans are not always God's plans....and His timing, not our timing. But as we celebrated Christmas with the rest of our family, we took joy in knowing that this time next year, we will have our children home with us. So, we relished the quiet time Christmas morning ~ when it was just me and Michael. We enjoyed sleeping in until 11am (indeed!) and looked back over the past year, and just shared how God has blessed us so much in this year. We then welcomed the rest of the Crews family (those who were in town) in the afternoon and relished the excitement (and yes, there was PLENTY of it) and joy that Gabriela, Isabela & Maya brought to our home....making us look forward with excitement, when our little ones will share in the same exuberance next Christmas.

Michael & I have been blessed in our marriage, growing closer to each other and in our relationship with the Lord as we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary in November. We are so thankful in how God continues to reveal Himself to us in new ways each day. We are thankful for our family ~ those in town and those far away ~ who have walked with us on our journey, encouraging us, loving us and praying for us along the way. We are thankful for our friends ~ whose support, encouragement, references, prayers, shared meals, late night conversations, crying sessions and laughing fits have carried us through the ups and downs of this year. We are thankful for our employers, who have worked with us in our schedules and have been supportive of our adoption process. We are thankful for our caseworker, Robyn, who has been a true advocate for us as parents. Thank you, Lord, for all that you've done this past year, and thank you even now, for what you are already doing for us in 2008!

We are thankful for 2007 and even more thankful for 2008. May we all learn from our mistakes, accept forgiveness, mend relationships, reach out to more people, share our hearts and lives with those around us, be true to ourselves, love others and not be afraid to love ourselves!

Happy New Year to you all.

Christmas Eve

On this eve of Christmas, I pray this finds you anticipating Christmas with great joy and hope, knowing that our light and momentary troubles cannot compare with the great celebration awaiting us. This is the time of year where we should all make time for traditions, and marvel at the Christ child’s majesty. When I count my blessings, I count you. May you find much love this Christmas and in the coming New Year!

Encouragement

This morning I was reminded once again, of how blessed I am with the friends that the Lord has brought into my life. What an encouragement so many of you have been to both me and Michael, as we continue on our adoption journey.

Life is a steep climb, and it is always encouraging to have those ahead of us "call back" and cheerfully summon us to higher ground. We all climb together, so we should help one another! The mountain climbing of life is serious, but glorious, business; it takes strength and steadiness to reach the summit. And as our view becomes better as we gain altitude, and as we discover things of importance, we should "call back" our encouragement to others.

I read this today and wanted to share it with you:

If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back -
It will cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;
And if, perhaps, Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low,
Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.

Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;
Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn;
That, when the heavens thunder and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up and held you where the lofty air was still.

O friend, call back, and tell me for I cannot see your face;
They say it glows with triumph, and your feet sprint in the race;
But there are mists between us and my spirit eyes are dim,
And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.

But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,
And if you'll say He saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky -
If you have gone a little way ahead, O friend, call back -
It will cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.

I know that the Lord takes us on our journeys with a purpose in mind. May we always remember to keep moving forward encouraged by those who have traveled the road before us, and to be a witness to those who are behind.

From Our House to Yours.....

Merry Christmas from The Thompsons!