Christmas, Snow & I-171H

We spent part of our Christmas break in New Mexico and it was beautiful!  The snow made everything feel clean and pure as if everything were right in the world.  (The snow was deep enough that we didn't have to see the yucky, muddy slushy snow--just the sparkling white stuff.)  One afternoon when we were all sitting in the snow preparing to take a group picture, nine deer came down the path near our cars and cabins and walked toward us.  It was a great few minutes admiring the gentle animals.

Our little cabin was perched on the side of a hill and offered a gorgeous view from the front porch.  Snow skiing was great, but the sledding was a little painful on the egos.  A few of us ended up with bruises in all sorts of places!

We returned home last night to find our USCIS Form I-171H in the mailbox!  Hooray!  I quickly got it notarized and sent off to Kate at KBS Dossiers today.  Hopefully we are officially on the waiting list in the next few days.

Hoping each of you had a wonderful Christmas.  Happy New Year!

Two Bits of Info to Share

I read a recent post by Tom Davis and thought I would share it.  You can read it here or here:

What do you get an orphan for Christmas?

In the U.S., we ask the question, "What do you get for the person who has everything?"  Let's turn that around... "What do you get the child who has nothing?"

At first, you might think of basic necessities like food or clothing.  Perhaps you'd even think about toys or a bike.

Over the past decade of working with children who have less than nothing, I can tell you this:  What an orphan wants for Christmas is for another human being to express the lavish, extravagant, and unconditional love of Jesus to them.  They want--like all children do--to know that they are special and chosen and loved.

Would you like to give this gift?

I have seen thousands of orphans lives transformed through relationships built with their U.S. sponsor.  When you give yourself to a child, it is something unique and personal.  It does not need to be shared with others.  And it is cherished above all other gifts I have seen.

I've also watched thousands of sponsors transformed into the hands and feet of Jesus--through prayer, letter writing, short-term missions, and orphan advocacy.

It's more than sponsorship.  It's how you give the gift of yourself and your family's love to a child who longs to know what it feels like to be loved.

If you would like to start this process with me and Children's HopeChest.  Go to this link for more information and to sign-up online.

It will be the best Christmas present you give this year.

Also, we were so excited to learn that our friends, the Bottomlys, wrote a book that will be published in March.  How cool is that?!  The title of their book is "From Ashes to Africa."  More information on the book here.  Amy's blog about their adoption of Silas offered tons of information and insight when we were in the decision making process.  Can't wait to get a copy of the book!

Welcome Eli!

After months and months of waiting, the Winters passed court!  Tons of us in the adoption blog world were refreshing our computers every so often until the good news was posted yesterday.  Introducing Eli....