Goodbye 2008...Hello 2009

2008 has been a wonderful, challenging, happy, sad, joyful, exciting, trying, tearful, disappointing, fulfilling ( I could go on and on and list every emotion...I'm sure we've experienced it) year for Michael & me. We celebrated 5 years of marriage and the most amazing gift of all…our daughter, Maggie Joy, joined our family in July. Many of you have followed our adoption journey over the past 2 years and have prayed with us as we experienced great highs and lows along the way. We are so thankful for your love, prayers and friendship!

We went from being a couple to being parents of an 18 month old in the matter of minutes! It has been a whirlwind of emotions and risks. Emotions...they are difficult, wonderful, challenging, hard, sweet and full. Risk...something you have to be willing to take, to be able to live and love at all. Maggie ~ worth all the emotions...worth all of the risks!

We are still in the process of adopting Maggie. We covet your prayers as we continue to travel this journey God has put us on. We know that God is in control and His timing is perfect. It is evident to us as we look back and see how God put things into place. You see, we answered the call to adopt on January 26, 2007….the very same day Maggie Joy was born! Only God! Our next court date is next Tuesday, January 6th at 9:30am. This will be the pre-trial to the trial in March for termination of parental rights (TPR).

Michael & I are so thankful in how God continues to reveal Himself to us in new ways each day. We are thankful for our family 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, prayers, late night conversations, crying sessions and laughing fits have carried us through the ups and downs of this year. We are thankful for our beautiful daughter, Maggie Joy, who has taught us more about love, acceptance and patience in 5 short months, than we’ve ever known before. Most of all, thankful to the Lord for all that He’s done this past year, and thank Him even now, for what He has planned for us in 2009!

May the Lord bless you and your family in the new year. Here's to family, friends, hopes, blessings and miracles! We are praying all these things for all of you, too!