We Got Mail!

Fun mail is the best...especially when it is a surprise. Just before Christmas, we got a small package in the mail from Christian World Adoption, our adoption agency. American staff members periodically visit Ethiopia to see the Ethiopian side of the adoption process. When they go, they bring home Ethiopian objects to share with families who are going through the process. Our package of treasures included three beautiful items and a prayerful note that reminds us that this long journey is well worth it. I fell in love with each item immediately and really do hold them dear.

A painting on paper that is made of thin bark

A wooden bracelet with beading

A beautiful piece of finished cloth

Time With the Fam!

We've been so lucky that the last week has been filled with family time. We spent time with both sides of the family and enjoyed every minute of our visits together! On Christmas Day, we hosted my parents, Brian's Mom, Wayne, and Brian's sister. A couple of pictures from Christmas Day...

Liz, Kathy, and Brian's Mom

Kathy and Mom

Brian, Kathy, and the Davis Parents

Liz, Mom Mitchell, and Wayne

Just a couple of days later, Brian's dad, Michele, and Tyler came over to visit. We all really enjoyed seeing each other, but it seems that Tyler, Mattie, and Oliver loved chasing each other around the house and in the yard the most.

We Just Can't Wait

With all of the fun and anticipation of this season, the words, "I just can't wait till next year with our little one" have filled our home on many occasions. I grew up making Christmas cookies with my sister every year, but don't always get the chance to make them now that I'm older. In a loving gift of time, Brian suggested that we make Christmas cookies together this year, and he was quite the baker in the kitchen.

Rolling out the dough and cutting the cookies

Instead of the traditional sugar-type Christmas cookies, we made peanut butter dough. They turned out beautiful and really tasty. Thank goodness we only made half a batch!

Some of the finished product!

Needless to say, Brian and I are both looking forward to baking Christmas cookies with our little one next Christmas!

A Busy December

The past month has been incredibly busy for us...spending time with our loved ones. It has been wonderful, but hasn't left us with much time to keep the blog updated. Our next couple of posts will try to sum up some of the special memories we've made this season...

Ready to go to our Christmas Eve Service

A Growing Family

There is one grandchild so far on the Davis side of the family. In the last weeks, though, there has been lots of big news. Of course we are expecting Baby Mitchell to arrive by the end of summer next year. We are also anxiously awaiting the arrival of the newest Klish, a little girl from China sometime in the late spring or early summer and we are anticipating the arrival of Baby Loring at the beginning of June. That's right...Marie's family is adopting as well, and Julie is pregnant! Three new little ones will arrive within a month or so of each other! As you can imagine, the whole family is thrilled, but Mama Davis is in Grandma heaven. Please pray with us for the safe arrival of these three little ones. What amazing blessings!

Adoption Buddies

Going through the process of adoption has definitely shown us how small the world is. We have met many people, both in person and in cyberville, who have been touched by adoption.

Recently, my good friend Tara introduced me to a family who adopted two boys from Ethiopia through our adoption agency. We spent an evening at an adorable place called The Well, drinking tea and coffee and munching on sweets. I sat enthralled, listening to the story of this family's adoption, from paperwork to travel to living together at home! I am so thankful to hear about another family's journey, and Brian and I are so encouraged to see a family that isn't just surviving, but thriving after being woven together through adoption. Needless to say, after that meeting, I've started a list of practical tips that this family has shared with us, and we're excited to add to it. There is nothing like the wisdom that comes with experience.

Months ago, Brian and I were thrilled when we heard from a fellow church member that another couple in the congregation was adopting a child from Ethiopia, and they were in a similar stage of the process. Well, it has taken too long, but this weekend we finally met them for breakfast. They have a referral of a precious baby boy, and they are waiting for their court date and the time to travel to bring him home forever. I can't stop thinking about how lucky we are to have another family to relate too and learn with during the journeys of growing our families. Not only that, but how awesome is it that our little ones will be able to grow up together?!

We're so thankful and so excited about these new friends. We can't describe them in any other way but blessings straight from God.

A Little Practice

Even though our little trick-or-treater isn't in our arms yet, we found some Halloween supplies around the house and decided that we would make our front door a little more fun for the little ones in our neighborhood. We finished up as it was getting dark, and here is the final product:

We can't wait until we get to enjoy Halloween with Baby Mitchell!