365 Day Challenge

Before the new year I stumbled upon this blog.  I don't know how it happened, probably Pinterest?  But either way, I became interested in her post about her 365 challenge.  I really wanted to do it and thought it could really help my photography grow this next year, and then the New Year was just really busy so I didn't get around to it right away and thought I "missed my chance."  For some reason I didn't take it off my "to do list" and one day I was checking things off that I still needed to do and took another look at the challenge.  After checking out some pictures I thought, why not just do it?  It's not a huge deal that I missed a couple weeks.

So I dove in and started it.  And I'm having a lot of fun :)  So far Jake hasn't been too annoyed that I am busting out my camera every day (and let's be honest, most pictures involve him!) and I love the way it is really challenging me to get create and think outside the box with my photography.  Here are some of my favorite shots/ ones that didn't make the cut on instagram so far :)

Hope you all are having a great Monday!

Adoption Update- a look at our puzzle :)

So I thought I would show a quick picture of our puzzle and update you all on how the adoption process is going!  Really, right now there is a lot of paperwork to fill out.  Lots and lots of paperwork.  So that's what we've been doing and it's not super exciting to write a blog post about :)

However, through our Adoption You Caring site and a recent Jamberry Fundraiser (that is still going on through the end of January!) we have had an overwhelming amount of support come in!  Honestly, we are just blown away by the generosity of all of our friends, family, and even friends of friends and family that haven't even met us and have donated toward our adoption!  We bought a 60 piece puzzle thinking there is no way we would have more than 60 supporters and we are already half way through the puzzle so we may need to double up on puzzle pieces soon!  We can't thank all of you enough not only for your financial support, but for your words of encouragement and prayers.  They mean the world to us. 

As another update, we had our first home study visit on Saturday.  We were both nervous and not sure what to expect, but our social worker was very sweet.  She asked a lot of questions and we showed her around our home, but she was also very helpful in walking us through what to expect in the next few months and even helpful tips on preparing our family now for another sibling.  We are very thankful for her and looking forward to meeting next month.  Currently, we have a LOT of training videos left to watch so we started that last weekend and hope to do a couple each week to finish them by mid February.  If we finish those and our paperwork we could potentially be done with our home study process after our next visit with our social worker!  The sooner the better :)

As a prayer request, if you could all be praying for the orphanages that Lifeline Child is working with that would be wonderful.  Right now they have kids ready to be adopted but they are just waiting on the paperwork.  If any of you are familiar with the adoption world, you may have heard that Ethiopia is slowing down on the number of referrals due to the processes slowing down.  For the most part, this is actually a good thing.  They are making sure the process is ethical.  But obviously, we would love to see more referrals come through in the near future from these new orphanages that they are working with in Addis Ababa so families hoping to adopt can get connected with their kids sooner :)  

We will definitely keep you all updated as we have more news to share!  Thank you again for your support :)

Jake at Two and a Half

Oh how we love you, little man.  I cannot believe you are getting so. stinkin'. big.  And I say it every time, but I seriously love every new stage we get to spend with you :)  Yes, being a two year old comes with its obvious independence and occasional (or quite often) no's, but with that also comes a big imagination, a desire to learn and grow more and more, and the cutest little "Jake, help!" voice always behind me wanting to do whatever I am doing.  

I think some of my favorite moments have been when I get to see glimpses of your little compassionate heart.  Like a couple weeks ago when I wanted to take a nap downstairs because I had a headache (don't worry, dad was home - it was a Saturday :), you immediately ran upstairs to grab your lamb, blanket, and bear (your "friends" that you sleep with) so I could snuggle with them :)  And when I had to get my blood drawn the other day, after the nurse put a band aid on my arm you ran over and kissed it to make it feel better.

And yes, also with this stage comes its quarks as well.  You are very particular about little things (which reminds me of two people I know!).  If you are singing twinkle twinkle little star I have come to learn that I am not allowed to join in with you.  You like the solo performances, and I'm ok with that.  And yes, you still sometimes just prefer dad to me.  And you'll say that you miss him during the day.  And that's ok, because I miss dad a lot during the day, too.  And lastly, I am learning that you really are a big boy, especially when you repeatedly say "I got it!" when pulling up your "undies" and pants even if they are twisted and look incredibly uncomfortable.  I will try my hardest not to fix them.  

So although every time I write one of these I inwardly, and let's be honest- sometimes outwardly, shed a little tear because you're not my teeny tiny baby anymore and you seem to grow up way quicker than I want you to, I can't wait to see what God has in store for you and us next.  We love you so much and it is truly a privilege to be your momma :)

Songs during a season of Waiting

A couple years ago my heart went out to a fellow Miami alum who lost two of our daughters within hours of being born.  She showed so much courage as she shared her story across social media and walked with God through all the pain, and something that truly touched me was how she made a playlist for each of her daughters.  It got me thinking about how there are particular songs that have really encouraged me through our season of waiting and infertility and I wanted to share them with you in hopes that they will do the same :)

"I want to cultivate a deep sense of 

gratitude

groundedness

enough

even while I'm longing for something more

I'm practicing believing that God 

knows more than I know, 

sees what I can't, 

that He's weaving a future I can't even imagine.

{from where I sit this morning}"

:: Shauna Niequist, Bread and Wine ::

A recap of 2014

I know I'm late on the popular "New Years" post, but we have had kind of a crazy start to 2015 so you'll have to bear with us :)  God has taught Dan and I SO much in 2014.  Seriously, way more than any other year of our marriage.  Dan and I got away for our first overnight from Jake {seriously- this should have been done years ago, but better late than never, right?} and we were talking about our hopes and dreams for 2015.  It was so refreshing to think about the things that could be in store for us.  We know all the good times and difficult times in 2014 have prepared us for what's to come and for that we are so grateful.

2014 was a year of learning for us, and that we did.  Learning how to handle hectic work schedules, learning how to raise a toddler (I feel every year will be learning with kids!), learning how to trust God when we can't see exactly what He's doing, and learning how to take steps of faith in a direction that seems bigger than anything we can accomplish on our own.  I don't have any set plans for 2015.  I think 2014 showed me exactly what Proverbs 16 says: "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."  So I'm holding everything pretty loosely for 2015.  I'm expectant for God to show up, but I'm not sure exactly what that looks like and I'm trying not to plan it all out (which is hard for the inner- event planner in me :)  So here's to a new chapter in our book.  We can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for us. 

Our first overnight- back to where Dan proposed 7 years ago :)

Jake turned TWO!

We started the process to adopt a child from Ethiopia!

Went to our first "Spedie Fest" in Binghamton

Re decorated our second floor bathroom 

Visited Boston for the first time

Visited Colorado for the first time

Jake was a baseball player for Halloween :)  (and a farmer...)

Visited Cooperstown for the first time

Visited our friend Steph in DC!

Jake had his first "tubing" experience at our friend's Luke and Brittany's house!

Visited Ithaca for the first time!

Finished Jake's playroom

Got to visit our new friend Grant, in Chicago (Andy and Becca's baby :) )

Started a photography class!

My brother and his wife had a little baby, Eli :) 

Dan's brother got married to Sam :)

And to top it off we had a great Christmas with both sides of our family!