January 2nd will always be special.

On this day, in 2008, our lives changed forever. It was a Wednesday night, before church. Steve and I were eating dinner together in the fellowship hall downstairs when his phone rang. It was our family coordinator from America World Adoption. She told us that we had a referral for a little 15 month old girl. After our initial shock and then tears of joy, we ran up to my office to open the email. We were given three pictures, one of her at around 4 months and two recent photos. I remember feeling connected to this little one, but remaining guarded as we had no real idea of her health issues. It was so hard not to tell the world (especially all our friends at church that night), but we had to keep things quiet until we consulted with our adoption specialists. I do remember Steve and I calling our family and I did pull a few coworkers in to see the picture of my possible daughter.

Today my heart and mind has been flooded with flashbacks of the people, places and circumstances that God orchestrated as He was weaving us into a family. It is too much for me to wrap my mind around. I can only stand in awe of His greatness and remain humbly thankful at His goodness.

Natalie is a complete joy (yes, even though she is two---I'm a new mom, humor me!). Steve and I are amazed at how she is constantly babbling (wanting to talk like us so badly), climbing like a monkey (even out of her crib), and making friends wherever she goes. One of her favorite things to do is to dance with us in a little circle. She totally cracks up! Then she likes to push Steve's neck and mine together so we can kiss each other and then kiss her. Too sweet. At night we say our prayers together and then she proceeds to shut her eyes tightly and babble out her own prayer, ending with an 'amen'. Brings tears to my eyes every time!

2008 was our miracle year and we anticipate what God has in store for us in 2009.
May we all trust Him more, love each other deeply and live to please our beautiful Jesus.
Blessings,
Karen