Sunday, February 17, 2013
We had a good rest of the week and a great weekend so far. Jeremy and I went back to eating three meals a day, but I have been following my WW plan and I am feeling really good. This morning was my weight in day and I was nervous about seeing what is said because I was certain I put every pound back on since I started eating again and I added one cup of coffee to my life again :) . I was pleased to see that I had lost another pound since Wednesday with a total of 9 pounds since last Friday! This is just the encouragement that I need to get healthy. I have still been juicing once a day and I think that has helped.
Yesterday was Emma's Gotcha Day and it is hard to believe that it has been five years since she came into our lives. I could not help but reflect on all the people who prayed for Emma to come home. I will never forget getting off of the plane in Nashville and our parents and Samuel were waiting for us at the gate. It was a blessing that the airport let them come to meet us past security. We walked out to get our baggage and the airport was filled with some many of our friends and family rejoicing over our family. For Emma's Gotcha day we took the train into the city to eat at Chick-Fil-A. We had not been since we moved here, so she was excited to get a train ride and Chick-Fil-A in the same day. We are thankful for Emma and blessed that she is a part of our family.
I hate to mention this every time this year, but from February 12-March 3 I have a rough time. When we suffer a lose it seems that the weeks and days leading up to the anniversary of that lose are the hardest. We mourn the loss. We question the fairness of the loss. We think about all the "what ifs". We try to wrap our mind around the "why this even happened?". On February 12, 2004 I sat in my oncologists office and hope was gone. There would be no more praying for a miracle. My childhood dream (maybe my only real childhood dream) was crushed. My worst fear since a young teenager was unfolding right before my eyes. From February 12th until March 3rd of that year I tried to prepare myself for a devastating loss. Each year I still have to process many feelings and thoughts about my loss. It is always a battle for me these few weeks, but in God's infinite GRACE and MERCY right in the middle of my pain He gave me a glimpse into the plan He we unfolding. February 12, 2008 we boarded a plane to Korea to get our daughter. I am thankful that no matter what pain we are going through God is good. Even in the darkest night we can still see His light reflecting in our circumstances. The pain is still real even after all the time has gone by. Tears are still shed and my heart still aches, but I love the idea that God turned the ashes of my broken dream into a more beautiful plan that I could have ever imagined.
Well, we have a packed weeks ahead of us. Tuesday night our family is going to a Loyola/Valparaiso basketball game. Jeremy went to high school with a lady whose husband is one of the coaches for Valpo so she got all of us tickets to the game Tuesday night. They are also adopted parents of a little boy, so I am looking forward to meeting her and hearing their adoption story. Wednesday morning our friend/former youth group gal is coming in for a visit. Thursday night my parents are coming to Chicago so we are having supper with them. Saturday we will be passing our cards about our church in our neighborhood and inviting people to join us starting March 3rd for Bible study. We would appreciate your prayers as we pass out these cards on Saturday. Pray that these cards will fall into the hands of those who are ready to hear about Christ's redemption.
Well, here is a picture of Sam and Emma on the train ride yesterday :)
[caption id="attachment_3342" align="alignnone" width="480"]
My new lunch bag! I cannot believe all the cute owl stuff they have out these days :)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3341" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Emma's 100 Day Project! I might have to frame this :)[/caption]
Yesterday was Emma's Gotcha Day and it is hard to believe that it has been five years since she came into our lives. I could not help but reflect on all the people who prayed for Emma to come home. I will never forget getting off of the plane in Nashville and our parents and Samuel were waiting for us at the gate. It was a blessing that the airport let them come to meet us past security. We walked out to get our baggage and the airport was filled with some many of our friends and family rejoicing over our family. For Emma's Gotcha day we took the train into the city to eat at Chick-Fil-A. We had not been since we moved here, so she was excited to get a train ride and Chick-Fil-A in the same day. We are thankful for Emma and blessed that she is a part of our family.
I hate to mention this every time this year, but from February 12-March 3 I have a rough time. When we suffer a lose it seems that the weeks and days leading up to the anniversary of that lose are the hardest. We mourn the loss. We question the fairness of the loss. We think about all the "what ifs". We try to wrap our mind around the "why this even happened?". On February 12, 2004 I sat in my oncologists office and hope was gone. There would be no more praying for a miracle. My childhood dream (maybe my only real childhood dream) was crushed. My worst fear since a young teenager was unfolding right before my eyes. From February 12th until March 3rd of that year I tried to prepare myself for a devastating loss. Each year I still have to process many feelings and thoughts about my loss. It is always a battle for me these few weeks, but in God's infinite GRACE and MERCY right in the middle of my pain He gave me a glimpse into the plan He we unfolding. February 12, 2008 we boarded a plane to Korea to get our daughter. I am thankful that no matter what pain we are going through God is good. Even in the darkest night we can still see His light reflecting in our circumstances. The pain is still real even after all the time has gone by. Tears are still shed and my heart still aches, but I love the idea that God turned the ashes of my broken dream into a more beautiful plan that I could have ever imagined.
Well, we have a packed weeks ahead of us. Tuesday night our family is going to a Loyola/Valparaiso basketball game. Jeremy went to high school with a lady whose husband is one of the coaches for Valpo so she got all of us tickets to the game Tuesday night. They are also adopted parents of a little boy, so I am looking forward to meeting her and hearing their adoption story. Wednesday morning our friend/former youth group gal is coming in for a visit. Thursday night my parents are coming to Chicago so we are having supper with them. Saturday we will be passing our cards about our church in our neighborhood and inviting people to join us starting March 3rd for Bible study. We would appreciate your prayers as we pass out these cards on Saturday. Pray that these cards will fall into the hands of those who are ready to hear about Christ's redemption.
Well, here is a picture of Sam and Emma on the train ride yesterday :)
[caption id="attachment_3342" align="alignnone" width="480"]
My new lunch bag! I cannot believe all the cute owl stuff they have out these days :)[/caption][caption id="attachment_3341" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Emma's 100 Day Project! I might have to frame this :)[/caption]
I know what you mean Kim about the loss of a loved one..... December is my hardest month......My Dad died December 27th 1985 and my husband December 31st.....Some years are ok but then other years are really bad....Hugs
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