2009 has been great and 2010 will be even better!

Happy New Year's Eve! Raleigh and I have enjoyed the holiday season and are looking forward to 2010. Today we have been watching movies and reflecting on 2009.

God has been so faithful in 2009 and has taught me so much this year.

One thing I have learned this year is that if you pray for God to break your heart for the things that break his, he will. Not only will he work in your spirit so that your priorities are aligned with his, he will also move you to action.

Also, God continues to show us that when he calls us to action, he will provide. Raleigh and I were on our adoption agency's waiting list in October 2008. However, we knew that we were about 15th on the list and our agency would only be allowed to submit about 7 home studies to Korea in 2009. We did not expect to "make" the 2009 quota, but in February 2009 we were informed that we did make the quota and would be able to begin the paperwork for our adoption. Raleigh and I were overjoyed. God provided the finances for the first step of our adoption through the first time homebuyer tax credit and our home study was approved July 30, 2009.

God has always been faithful, but it is so easy for me to quickly forget that God is in control. There are days when I try to work out all of the details in my mind and that is never a good place to be, because we are not in control. With our adoption, as with most adoptions, the timeline is not predictable. Our agency is currently predicting a 12-14 month wait from home study approval to referral. If this holds true, we could expect a referral between July and October of 2010. However, we are staying very flexible because we know that the timing could change at any time. Raleigh and I pray everyday for God to give us peace and wisdom as we plan for the upcoming year(s) and all that he has in store for us. We are so blessed to be following God through life, and especially on this journey to our first child.

God has also been teaching me that traditions are not holy, God is holy. I grew up in the south where traditions run deep. I was born in Tennessee and grew up in Brentwood, a suburb of Nashville. I went to college in Birmingham, AL and now live in a suburb of Atlanta, GA. If you have known me for any length of time, you know that traditions are really important to me. There is something comforting about traditions and some of my favorite family memories revolve around traditions. But, I have also learned that it is ok for traditions to change. Just as life circumstances change, so do traditions. If I am totally honest, I used to be fearful of change. (One time when I was in college my mom changed the type of laundry detergent she used and I thought that life was completely changing…yes, I know that was quite neurotic of me, but I'm just being honest.) God has brought me a long way from there. I am now much less fearful of change. I do still love traditions, but I am no longer bound by them. I hope Raleigh and I are able to teach our child that family traditions are really special, but you should never be a slave to them. When fulfilling a tradition becomes a chore, maybe it is time to think about a change.

God continues to teach me that marriage is about sacrificial love. Watching my parents love and serve each other in all seasons of life has taught me so much about how to love Raleigh unconditionally.

I could go on and on about all that God is teaching me, but I will save some for another time.

A Few Pictures from Christmas in Nashville

We had a fun time in Nashville celebrating with my family. We opened gifts and ate yummy food! Then my parents surprised us with a limo ride to Opryland to look at the lights. After Opryland we rode around town looking at lights! Thanks mom and dad for a perfect Christmas! Thanks for the pics Angie!

Merry Christmas!

Raleigh and I are really enjoying the holiday season! We had fun picking out our Christmas tree at Berry Patch Farms! Raleigh and my dad were in charge of the lights! The smell of gingerbread in the oven makes it feel like Christmas is just around the corner!