Insert clever Christmas blog title here...

I spent the last three days baking - and my brain is fried....or maybe I should say baked! I truly enjoy baking each year, but it's a lot of work! Instead of buying lots of gifts for our friend and family, we give goody plates. This year I made 11 different kinds of treats for our plates. I'll post the recipes on my cooking blog next week. :)

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments on facebook and here on our blog regarding our adoption! We are truly excited that we get to be parents to that adorable little girl! :) We've learned a little more about Emilie, and will take some time after the holidays to blog more about our process and our sweet girl - hopefully by then we will have committed to our second girl as well. Next week, we are tackling the stack of paperwork we have still to do for our homestudy!

A HUGE thank you also to those who have already donated to either our homestudy fund or our Family Support Page. You'll notice both of those buttons off to the right on our blog. We truly appreciate your support. If you happened by my blog last night you might have seen an "ugly" comment left in the comments - there is a very uncreative/unoriginal person who likes to troll the blogs of people either adopting from Reece's Rainbow or advocating for the kids on Reece's Rainbow. We don't take their comments personal in anyway, but on the off chance any of you saw the comment (I deleted it fairly quickly) - I just wanted to briefly address it. (This will be the one and only time I acknowledge this "person" on my blog) I am not "buying my child" - we are paying a ransom for a child who doesn't have the freedom and love of a family. We unfortunately don't have $30,000+ sitting in a bank account - but that doesn't mean we can't afford this. I know very few people that have that kind of money just sitting around. I wish we did - that would make this so much easier, but instead we're trusting God that the funds will come - and so far He has been taking care of us almost exactly to the penny of what we've needed!

All that being said, I have made a slight change to the commenting on my blog - all comments now need to be approved by me before they'll post. Just a heads up, in case you're wondering where your comment is!! :)

Brandon and I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas! Be safe, have fun and enjoy!!!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." Luke 2: 10 - 14