The Christmas Season

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I trust that everyone enjoyed Christmas with family but most importantly celebrating Jesus' birthday. We had a wonderful time on Christmas Eve and Christmas day with family. We did miss my parents who are in Oregon visiting my brother and sister-in-law. We celebrated an early Christmas with my parents and grandparents a couple weeks ago, which was also Karsten's birthday. Karsten is 7 now and growing up too fast!! He had a fun day going to Chef Wang's and opening up a LOT of presents. Today is my brother's birthday so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALAN!! I can't believe he's 35...and that we're ten years apart =). Okay...that's not true but he is 35.

Karsten had a lot of fun opening presents yesterday. We surprised him with a Wii. We had bought him one a month ago and then a couple weeks later Brad called me from work and said that he won a Wii. We gave all the praise to God for providing that, so we returned the Wii we purchased. God has given Karsten such a thankful heart. We had hid the Wii and he thought he was done opening presents. Karsten was so grateful for his other gifts and never mentioned about not getting a Wii, just thankful for the presents he received. Below is a picture of Karsten opening his Wii.

I had my moment missing Kyler but rejoice knowing that he was with Jesus celebrating His birthday. And then we think about Kylie and long to have her with us. I have another praise to share. Some of the adoption expenses have been increasing and one of them is the orphanage donation fee that's increasing from $3,000 to $5,000 (we just found out last week). Brad and I never told anyone about it. We just believed God would provide somehow...He always does. And God did miraculously provide what we needed this past week. I get teared up thinking about it. Glory to God!

I hope everyone has a blessed 2009. Please pray with us and for us, believing that we will get to bring Kylie home in 2009.

Happy Birthday, Karsten. We love you and are so blessed to be your Mommy and Daddy!

Dec. 13: Karsten's new guitar

Delicious sugar cookies!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!

Pressing On

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We enjoyed some time with Brad's family on Thanksgiving day and then went to my parents' house in Chattanooga for a couple nights. Friday evening we went downtown to the Christmas lighting boat parade where we enjoyed having hot chocolate down by the river, and then enjoyed the other festivities they had going on. Here are some pictures from that night.

And here is Karsten with his great-grandparents--

I want to be transparent for just a little bit. Here lately I've been having a hard time missing my son Kyler. I know that while here on earth I am always going to miss him. I have said before that time does not heal, only God does. It is evident that until I am with my Husband Redeemer there is going to be sadness and sorrow here on earth. I am ever so grateful that God says in His Word that sorrow and sadness will flee away (Isaiah 35:10). This time of the year is especially difficult for people who have lost loved ones. There are many in this world broken and hopeless. The loss of a child is something you never get over. Recently, I was talking with my neighbor and found out that her 2 day old son went to live with Jesus 43 years ago. As she was telling me tears formed in her eyes. She is still grieving, yet with hope for she knows that one sweet day she will be reunited with her son.

I will admit that I have been focusing on my pain rather than the ultimate goal--the assurance of eternity in heaven where there will be everlasting joy and no more pain. As 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, I need to fix my eyes on what in unseen which is eternal because the things that we can see are temporary. I pray that the resurrection power of Christ will strengthen those around the world who are suffering.

I thank God for His many blessings over my life. He is so gracious to me. The pain and suffering that Christ endured for me is unspeakable. He alone is worthy of my praise and I bow down to Him. God is so patient with me and I am so thankful for the wonderful husband He gave me, for Karsten and what a kind and loving son he is, for little baby and Kyler and how God continues to use them to teach me to cherish each day, and for Kylie who has been growing in my heart for 4 years now--I love Kylie as much as I do Karsten and Kyler. How I pray that we will have her soon. I am also so thankful for my mom and dad and seeing them grow in the sweetness of the Lord. I've said it before and I'll say it again...I am so thankful that this world is not my home and that God is preparing a home for me in heaven! This life is only an introduction to our eternity.