Friday, December 23, 2011

life and pictures and stuff

 Hello, long lost friends. I suppose I should be thankful that most of my time the past few days has not been spent in front of a computer screen...instead, I've been actually interacting with real live people!!!! and that's something to be thankful for. But I do miss blog-land. (Note: just because my face has not been stuck in front of my computer screen does not imply that it hasn't been stuck in front of a lot of other screens, including but not limited to: my phone screen, camera screen, iPad screen, and a movie theater screen. I've been diversifying my screens, you see...)

My sister- and brother-in-law are in town for Christmas, which means the famous Baby Timmy is in town! This means most of my free time has been spent securing my spot as Most Favorite Aunt. Here's part of my game plan:





...But don't tell any of the other aunts (all 1 of them). I have some pretty sweet moves and can usually always get Timmy to smile. One thing he really likes?? Having his picture taken!

Therefore Amy and I have taken it upon ourselves to reenact every single Famous Photo Idea we've ever seen on Pinterest. I consider it to be a 'famous' idea if basically everyone I know has repinned it, including people who don't even have or know any children. You may recognize these pictures as the Really Cute One with the Baby Boy wearing Nothing But Daddy's Tie. They turned out REALLY well, but I will not be posting the 'full shot' unless Amy gives me express permission to, seeing as it's her child and he's naked and all. But this shows you how cute he is, anyway!

Basically I should have a career as a baby photographer, don't you think?? Timmy thinks so.


Matt and I also tried our hand at posing with random Christmas decor. It was great, except for I couldn't stop laughing.
And in other notable family news, I finally got my Christmas present from last year...long story, but I've basically been hanging onto an IOU for 363 days...but I shall wait no longer, for today I got it!

A painting of my one and only beloved daughter:

Isn't it amazing???! It looks EXACTLY like her. I am SO happy with it and it makes me almost excited to take down the Christmas decorations because I'll get to find a place to put it!

In other news...hmmm...let's just see here...

Oh yeah, maybe I'll just throw it out there that yesterday we went to another city for a very exciting meeting with two individuals (we'll call them...MD and JD...and the initials represent their degrees/professions) regarding arranging a private adoption.

Huh? What? Yeah, I know, me too. I guess when God decides He wants to do something, things can start to move fast. Like when people you've never heard of find out about you and your situation and feel so strongly that they are supposed to help you that they take 2 hours of their time to meet with you 3 days before Christmas (for no pay)...yeah, that actually just happened. To us.

So fa la la la la...our hearts are happy. We don't have a baby this Christmas, but we are so full of hope and joy that we just may explode. It's a really good feeling...to know that God hasn't forgotten you. To know that there is hope. To know that you will be parents, even if it's not by the method you'd originally imagined. To know that miracles come in many ways...and to think that maybe finally your dreams might come true.

A very merry Christmas to you...

17 comments:

  1. What? Wow! Ok we seriously need to catch up post-Christmas!!

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  2. Eek! So excited for you- that's an amazing picture of Lola!! And I guess the adoption thing is pretty cool, too. :)

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  3. Adoption!! What great news to get around Christmas! I am so excited you might finally be getting your miracle.

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  4. I have no idea what a private adoption entails, but I'm looking forward to hearing all about it and hopefully watching your family grow!! Merry Christmas.

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  5. oh erika... this makes me SO happy! A very merry christmas indeed! :)

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  6. Oh, what wonderful news! And what joy that meeting must have added to your Christmas this year! :) Merry Christmas!!

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  7. My gut was right! Praying for continued peace and joy as you start this adoption journey!

    And that Lola painting is sooo great! I'd hang onto an IOU for that long if that was the outcome too!!

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  8. SQUEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many prayers from this adoptive mama to you!

    I'm praying that it happens FASTER for you than it did for us! (And you know THAT would really be a recordbreaker!)

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  9. Ahhh! This is such great news!!! Can't wait to hear more details, and also thankful that it helped to fill you up with so much hope and joy in time for Christmas :)

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  10. Hannah's Story:
    "And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
    (1 Samuel 1:6-8)

    Yet one thing I love about the image we have of Hannah in the Bible is of her honesty and of her pouring out her pain and heartbreak to God. Rather than become bitter and turn from God she reaches out to him at her time of need and calls on him to answer her prayer.

    "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
    (1 Samuel 1:10-11.

    And God answers her prayer. And this answer is Samuel, who becomes a famous priest of God.

    God will answer your prayer! It might not be in your time but it will be in God's time!!!!

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  11. Wow! What a great story and testimony this will be! God is so faithful. Always.

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  12. Yay!! I'm so happy things are coming together for you guys! What a fabulous Christmas indeed!

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  13. Erika, your nephew is precious! And I love the painting of Lola. What wonderful news about your private adoption! Please continue keeping us updated so we can know how to pray for y'all.

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  14. Wow. AMAZING. I can't wait to see where this takes you - we are waiting for our own little one through adoption at the moment! I'll be back!

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  15. So, I just got a little teary eyed reading this post...I've become such a softy as I get closer to the big 30! Erika, that's so EXCITING!! --Lacie

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  16. I am sooo sooo excited for y'all!!!! :o)

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