2013 Blessings

 As we reflect on 2013 we have so many emotions.  

It has by far been one of the most incredible 

yet most difficult years our lives. 

We often remind ourselves that we have walked on to the battle field and we are fighting God's fight for his children.  

The enemy does not like this so he is fight back.

We have definitely felt that this year.  

But we know who wins this battle.  

God has taken our family to a whole new understanding of Him. 

So we will press on... with the good fight...Trusting God!

Through all of this though, 
God has given us so many incredible friends 

to support, encourage, and bless us!  

He has also added two precious little ones to our family!

He has taught us to rely solely on him 
and to not place our hope in anything but Him. 

We have seen how he is not only working in our lives 

but the lives or our friends and family. 

He has given us true Joy!

He is teaching us who He is and continues to grow our faith.  

For all of this we would not trade a moment 

of the pain and struggles we have been through.  

We praise the Lord for this year! 

As we look back at 2013 and all of the blessing 

God has given our family we are overwhelmed by his goodness!

. 

February

God laid on our hearts that now was the time to adopt. 

He then provided an incredible adoptive family 

to mentor us and help us begin this process.

He did this through Brixton’s best friend Mayna.

These two hit it off on the first day of school 

and were inseparable the rest of the year. 

We are so thankful for the Watson’s! 

They are treasured friends!

It don’t think this family will ever really know how thankful 

we are for them for and how they helped us as began this process.

March

 God had lead us to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

 and we had planned to adopt a little girl.

Mike decided that we was going to run a 

½ marathon as a fundraiser for our adoption.

Say what?!?!?!  After years of trying to get him to run with me?

He began training for his 13.1!!

So many of our friends and family supported us 

by donating and buying T-Shirts!

We spent lots of time at the post office!

April 

We celebrated Brixton's 6th birthday with family and friends!

Mike took his Oral Boards for ENT with fellow residents from KU!

May was busy!!

We celebrated Lochlan's 5th birthday

 We took a road trip to Myrtle beach!  Thanks to my parents!

And many of our family ran the Cleveland 1/2 Marathon with us

 to help raise money for our adoption!

Including Mike's brother who ran along with him...

I will not show you the whole picture but I have two words... PINK SPEEDOS!

 

Lochlan Graduated Preschool!

 

 and Mike and I celebrated 10 years of marriage!!

June

Brixton graduated from Kindergarten and 

we sent in some important paperwork for our adoption.

We also met our friends the Olivers this month!  

We can not tell you the blessing this family has been to us. 

(pics later)

July

We went to cedar point 

and Brixton road his first real roller coaster.

My friend Aimee and I got Tattoo's!

I finished my other foot!

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

Oh how this verse reminds me everyday 

of where I need to look for direction.

and

God showed us a new dream of not one but two children!

We accepted our referral 

for Kinsman and Miralette!

August

We got to meet my best friend from college Erin and her 3 girls for a fun weekend together at Hershey Park!  My mom came too!

Brixton started 1st grade and 

Lochlan started Kindergarten and also found a best friend!

September

We visited an apple orchard.  Nana and Papa came to visit.

 Mike painted our tree!

 October

I ran with friends from church in the color run and 

we got to send our first package to Kinsman and Miralette.

Oh and we also got snow?!?!? In October?!?!?!

We became friends with the Kuske's!!  

We became immediate friends and words cannot 

express how thankful we are for them!

(This pic was taken later but I did not have a different one)

November

We went to a medical missions conference in Louisville and

 then to our 10 year college reunion at 

Olivet Nazarene University!

We celebrated Thanksgiving at our house with my parents 

and our friends the Oliver's and Ackley's!

Yet another wonderful family God has brought into our lives!

We finished off November in MI for a awesome spaghetti dinner benefit to raise money for Kinsman and Miralette.  So many of our friend and family came to support us!  We are so thankful!

December

We had a new friend from Chile come stay with us!  

Gabi immediately became part of our family! 

 We Celebrated Christmas in Michigan with family!

and we rang in the new year with 

my parents, The Oliver's, The Kuske's, The Riherd's, 

and The Ramond family. 

Yet some more very special friends 

God has placed in our lives this year!

As we reflect on this year we are beyond blessed by the people (family and friends) God has brought into our lives and the way they have loved on us and supported us!