a year ago...

...we were at the jail in sioux county getting fingerprinted as part of the beginning stages in our adoption process. We also had our first meeting with our agency a year ago. My closest friends know that I sweat A LOT at WEIRD times. (Now the whole world knows!) It makes me sweat just thinking about last year and how nervous/anxious/excited we were to take the beginning steps in the process. (And to think about where God has led us in this year.)

It truly is amazing to look back and reflect on the path God hand picked for us. (....lots more thinking and reflecting....so much going through my mind I can't type it all!) but WOW!

With this blog we are so vulnerable. I feel everyone knows what is going on in our life and can watch baby Jacob grow. Don't get me wrong, I like the blog and enjoy writing on it (it's really for my own sake of writing things down and then being able to reference it later and to share with Jacob as he grows older) Another thing is that I write about what's going on - sometimes concerns with Jacob. I really appreciate how no one has sent messages saying we should try 'such and such' with his stomach virus.

I know the Lord placed important people in our lives during our journey. When I needed someone to 'relate' to He put someone there. (It truly is hard to relate to someone when they haven't been through what you are going through. Even if a person as known someone close to suffer similar circumstances, it still isn't the same.) Anyway, I wonder how God is going to use us and our story to help others. I hope I can be the person that others were to me during those really tough times, when someone just needs someone to understand and agree and not judge their feelings. Feelings are not bad, but how we act because of them can be sinful. (That's really difficult to deal with - I know there were times I acted sinful because of my feelings) But truly I wonder where God will lead us from this point on.

I love to use songs as my inspiration - the song "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath is my inspiration for 2009. Here's the chorus:

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones who are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

So using this I wonder how God will give me His eyes or His arms to reach out to those who are struggling with infertility or pursuing adoption or wondering where God is leading them.

So a year from now...what will I be reflecting on for the coming year? What will 2009 bring? May God bless your family in this new year.

N, MB, J

Happy 4 month day Jacob!

Poor baby Jacob! If only I could report that it was a good day. Jacob of course had his 4 month appt today at the dr office. We were prepared - tylenol had been given in prep for the shots that he would receive. We went with questions/concerns and came away with some good information.

Some of you know the past couple days haven't been the best. Jacob has not been himself - we've blamed it on teething. He does seem to have teeth moving - but ya never know when those pearly whites will actually cut through. His very stinky diapers have been pushed off onto each other (or our neighbor - she did volunteer!)

Jacob seems to have the stomach flu - which is going around. I guess it's good that I don't teach this week. So between teething symptoms, a rosy bottom, achy tummy, and shots today is not a typical Jacob day. Thankfully it's only come out the bottom end - however - it means we are going through way more diapers than normal!

I was able to capture a few snapshots while he was somewhat happy. You know I like to take pictures, and of course I had to get his 4 month shot!

And if you weren't sure what color his eyes are...they are BLUE!

Hopefully he will make a turn around and get feeling better. Until then, we'll keep snuggling and rocking him and giving him LOTS of love!

Merry Christmas

Here are a few moments from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We're much too tired to post about the day, but wanted to share some 'kodak' moments. (captions are above the pictures)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve - Jacob tolerated picture taking

Jacob singing along to either Away in a Manger or We Wish You a Merry Christmas
(Christmas Eve)

He is highly unimpressed.
Maybe opening presents next year will be more fun.

We tried to have Jacob help open his presents.

He helped a little bit!

He looks like he is a cowboy in this picture!

Looking a little bashful as if he didn't just do anything cute!

Merry Christmas, we had a fantastic day!

Merry Christmas

how wonderful

So the poopy clothes from daycare can wait to be washed, the mail can wait to be read, bottles can wait to be washed, I had a wonderful day. The best is picking up Jacob from daycare and having his face light up when he sees me and hears my voice. Then the playing that we get to do once arriving at home - typically after an errand or two needs to be run. How wonderful. So instead of doing the things mentioned above, I'm going to tell you about my wonderful day and reflections on it...

How wonderful is Christmas?! Today at school we had our 'all-school chapel' (for those who don't know what that means, basically our entire school k-8 gathers together to learn about something - our theme throughout the whole year is character traits - this month - generosity) Sharing what you have with a happy spirit. That applies in our lives in so many ways. Today I was overtaken by the generosity of my students - my tree has gifts under it now! (already opened ones from my students) I have an A+ teacher ornament hanging on my tree, a candy jar full of mints that says "teaching is a work of heart (except its actually the heart shape, not the word), hand creams & body washes in fantastic scents, and goodies galore. I don't know why I thought I needed to bake sugar cookies - nostalgia from my childhood perhaps? (Well, they do taste phenomenal! I'm set to gain a few pounds over Christmas break - I also never eat as good of lunch at home as I do at school - thanks Kristie!)

This is also the time of year I begin thinking I'm going to become a diabetic. Too much sugar - whoa! Not enough sugar - watch out!

I tried to control my students intake of sugar today - goodies galore for them too - so parents, I really did try! Hence the amount of goodies (hopefully) in their backpacks when they arrived home after school - if there weren't any - they gobbled it all up before walking through the front door and you better watch out tonight!

Ok, so another area where I reflect on generosity...Jacob. His first mom, who gave birth to him, who suffered the pain of labor and childbirth - chose a plan for her son different than most who labor those pains. (without going into too much detail and protecting her) We are the recipients of her generosity. We pray that we may be the family that she dreamed of for her son. Then, the generosity that so many of you have shown to us in our adoption journey. We really have been showered on with prayer, love, gifts, kindness, willing babysitters (some paid, some not paid). We are truly amazed at how much love people have for Jacob. So many of you have joined us in prayer in bringing him home. We are so grateful. This Christmas really is so different from many others we have had. For several years now we have longed for this moment, faith has really brought us to the place that we are. The trials and tribulations we were going through for several years and now, this! Is it much more than we hoped and imagined?! I dunno - we do dream big - but really, it's fantastic!

We have several friends and family members that this is one of those 'painful' years. It is our prayer that you may persevere through it because God's goodness is in it. So, whether your tree has many gifts under it already or not many (like ours), God gave you His son so that You may live in eternity with Him. That really is the greatest gift of all.

That really makes me look at myself and wonder how I am being generous to others...do I make an impact, am I making an effort? Will my son years down the road think about his mom being generous or being self-fish? Will my students remember me as a happy, outgoing, excited teacher or a grouchy one? What kind of legacy will you leave? Nichole Nordeman sings a song "Legacy" here are a few of the lyrics:

I want to leave a legacy How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough To make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering A child of mercy and grace whoblessed your name unapologetically And leave that kind of legacy (http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/nichole-nordeman/legacy.html)

So hopefully this all made sense. I kind of pieced together some thoughts. I often will write, and what is there, is there, I don't erase or go back and add. Today was a go back and add day, it all makes sense in my little brain, I hope you followed alright.

What kind of legacy are you set to leave?
MB, N, J

Blizzard

UGH! The snow and wind sure doesn't brighten my day. Watching the snow come flying off the roof from the 9 1/2 inches of snow we received Friday morning doesn't give me the warm fuzzies either. I did however enjoy a cup of hot chocolate this morning and that helps some. (And think back 24 hours ago school was canceled and I stayed in my pajamas til 2:00 pm! That also helps a little bit)

What do you do when it's so terrible cold, windy, and snowy outside? Today I plan to bake sugar cookies and stuff my Christmas cards (and hopefully get in the mail).

Thankfully, Nate only works through the lunch hour and will be home in the early afternoon. We were suppose to have a night out with our Bible study tonight - we were even getting a babysitter for Jacob. It seems as if we'll be spending our day inside, which is unfornate. Especially because we have become an aunt and uncle on Nate's side of the family. Jacob has a new baby girl cousin! We are very excited to meet her and sad that it probably won't be today or tomorrow.

I suppose I better get out of my pj's and get going on my activities. Sorry I don't have any pictures to post, they're on the camera, but I haven't transferred them over yet. Yesterday, Jacob was laying on his mat watching the lights go (and wishing for the music to work), his rattle was laying next to him, I went into the kitchen to make french toast for Nate who was working so hard shoveling the snow. The next thing I hear is the rattle shaking. Jacob had picked up the rattle and was playing with it. (The rattle was in a weird place too, up by his shoulder, not an easy reach) It's so neat to watch these milestones take place. Enjoy each moment you are given and treasure it forever!

Warm fuzzies to you
MB

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

So don't have your volume on, I sound ridiculous!

Jacob rolled over for the first time today at 7pm! It was very exciting. He has been close for a few days and we always had the camera 'ready' in case! Tonight of course I didn't have the camera on standby so I caught roll over number two (and 3, 4, 5 & 6!), which was just as fun and surprising as the first one! UnfortuNATEly, Nate was not home to see it, but he saw the video as soon as he arrived. I'm sure we'll try to have Jacob roll over again tonight before he officially goes to bed. (He is currently napping). Well, I'm off to play volleyball, gotta do something to stay warm, right?!

Well, this thing didn't get published while I was at volleyball. Videos + Blogger + Me = not working. UGH! So frustrating.

Please pray for Nate tonight, he is SiCk. I came home to a shivering husband in bed with piles of blankets. I made him take his temperature (that is my addiction when I am sick - I think I take my temp every 15 minutes!) It was 2 degrees below normal. I hope he starts feeling better soon! I also pray that Jacob doesn't get it. Jacob fought through when I was sick and didn't get it after I cared for him and breathed all over him. Tonight Nate was with Jacob for about 2 hours - so I hope that wasn't long enough for Jacob to catch it. Pray that he continues to be a healthy boy.

It seems as if the winter weather will be upon us again tomorrow. This is sure to make for a white Christmas, which will be beautiful. Be safe wherever you are and be smart! Don't drive when you shouldn't be. I love staying home on days/nights like that!

I'll try to work on that video one more time. PTL! Some how, some reason, it worked. I did nothing different than the previous times, but at least you can see him now!

Finally, our internet is back!

So we haven't been neglecting our blog, we have just had a lack of a strong, consistent internet connection. We were finally able to get the people to our house and something was wrong with some wires on the pole the is in the middle of our driveway. (I'm so descriptive aren't I?! The only people who care are the 'techy' people who know the terminology that I don't!) Go figure! At least it wasn't our fault! We were a bit concerned our modem was dying on us. Thankfully all is well and working.
Jacob is so cute in all of his various hats. He has to wear one whenever we got out and he doesn't mind at all! (Especially all the oooo's and aaaaa's he receives from various people we run into as we are out 'n about.)

Saturday evening we exposed Jacob to his first Christmas concert. I want him to be exposed to many things so he can choose what he will like/not like. He did extremely well and the people sitting behind us enjoyed watching him. Nate's sister sang in her last concert at Northwestern. We took complete advantage of it being a Christmas concert and dressed Jacob up for the occasion!

We also took the opportunity being in Orange City to go out to eat. We enjoyed a fantastic meal at Blue Mountain Smokehouse Grille. Somehow Jacob got BBQ sauce on his sleeve....hopefully the washer gets it out!

Within the last 2 weeks Jacob has really been laughing. Before we always said it's like he is laughing, but he's not holding back any more. He is ticklish in a few areas. We captured a video of this a week ago. I'll try to post it, but struggled the last time - it's very time consuming to upload. (try one and two and three has failed...come again another day, maybe it'll work)

I guess the great debate comes to who is going to write our Christmas letter. Does this count?! Christmas is 2 weeks away! That freaks me out a bit, but at least we don't have to join in the holiday lines at stores as we purchased our Christmas present already. So this whole letter thing...we have received numerous cards, letters, and pictures from people - all so nicely put together, and not too long (that's important!) How do we capture this year on a sheet of paper?! Last year at this time we were considering adoption but very few people knew about this venture and we hadn't even contacted the agency. Now we have the most fantastic baby boy ever. He's truly a joy and we love watching him, helping him develop, reading to him, giving him baths (which could be the most favorite part of his every other day routine), and basically just loving on him. Jacob declares... he is NOT writing the Christmas letter! I guess we better rock, paper, scissors it.

I have spent a long time trying to upload that video. It seems to be a problem on bloggers end, I don't feel like calling the tech support and having them explain how to fix it, so for now, I'm posting and going to finish my work for the evening.