Happy Anniversary!!

Five years ago on Sunday, December 21, 2003, Joseph and I said "I do." It's been quite a life since then and we've been thrilled to go through all the ups, downs, changes, disappointments, and adventures together. Thinking of our memories together has given me a lot to be thankful for this Christmas, so I thought I'd share some with you and encourage you to do the same for your family.

Favorites of the last 5 years

• The way Joseph smiled for the first time during our wedding ceremony (while we were going down the isle).
• Exploring Isla Mujeres on a moped, and nearly crashing into the zoo entrance when I tried to drive
• Finding a new room in Salamander Cave
• Driving around a neon green mini-bus in the Scottish Highlands with my crazy mother, two childhood friends, my more crazy cousin, and my most adventuresome husband.
• Just happening upon a 'hostel' in the middle of nowhere Scotland and then happening to find out that the highest waterfall in Great Britain was only a 3 hour hike away and taking off to it.
• Reading Jane Eyre together
• Looking at Saturn's rings from the Clear Creek Trail
• Hearing the Chieftains
• Watching fireworks from a boat on Lake George
• Kayaking on Lake George
• Canoeing on lake Griffy when our AC went out
• You wearing my hiking boots when I was getting blisters
• Reading Pascal's Provincial Letters in our tent while the rain fell outside
• Watching Nashville, TN fireworks from the top of a large column in a brick yard on the river
• The night the bed fell on top of Joseph at 1 a.m.
• Getting stuck in North Little Rock, AR when the Broad Reach van broke down; sending Krammy back to Nashville on the Greyhound, and beating him back
• Driving to Norman, OK with the Bobites after an psychotic ice storm
• Breaking into both of our apartments the week of moving in
• The treacherous and insane voyage to Iona
• Seeing Scotland in snow
• Staying up talking until 3 a.m.
• Watching The Incredibles - and then watching it again
• Hearing Joseph talk about his first (and probably last) experience delivering a calf
• Late nights by my parents' fireplace
• Jumping off a 15 foot cliff into a river at a Mexican amusement park
• Having our dorm room printer suddenly start printing out "I Love You"
• Gloriously failing on our Mammoth Cave vacation
• Sail boating on Lake Michigan
• Hearing accordion music playing from a tree in Bryan Park
• Contra dancing with the hippies at Harmony School
• Exploring gravel roads in the Hoosier National Forest
• Reading Lord of the Rings out loud
• Skidding behind our car in Maxwell Terrace's parking lot
• Playing our recorders together
• Shishkabobing a bird on our antena
• Sleeping in on Mondays where you were in school
• Staying in our pj's all day, looking at Grandma Staveness' Norway slides
• Eating a walnut husk together
• The hike outside of Ouray, Colorado
• Happening upon the Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye
• Eating Creme Brule and staying int he Lincoln Suite at the Grand Hotel
• Spending 5 days with just you in the Sipsey Wilderness
• Working back to back at the old church office
• Sitting in JJ's in Nashville
• Seeing you run down your parent's steps firing a nerf machine gun and wearing a flying pig hat
• Feeling the generation gap at a Manard Ferguson concert
• Watching a thunderstorm come in from the top of the Grand Hotel

Longer Wait

As of a few weeks ago, it seems that we will not be receiving a referral in 2008. While this is disappointing, an extra month or two of sanctification won't hurt.

When tempted to give up faith that this adoption will ever be complete, or that Joseph and I will ever have a baby in our family, I've been reminded of the expectation for salvation in Christ. We long for a sinful, poopy, (but cute) baby to come in to our lives and actually believe that this baby will give us joy. How much more should we long for Christ, who is perfect, who humbled himself to become a human baby, took on the shame and guilt of our sins, and through whom we can have fellowship with God the Father? How much more must all the faithful from Abraham to Joseph and Mary, have longed for the birth of Christ? So, once again, I'm so very thankful to God for sanctifying me and for knowing what is best for me.

This morning I re-read a poem that has put words to my heart for the last four years. It seems to become more true each time I read it. It's one from my favorite old friend, Elizabeth Prentiss.

The Gift

I asked of Thee a gift, Jesus, my Lord,
And my expectant eyes looked up, to see
That blessing speedily from Thy dear Hand
Come down to me.

I waited, but it came not; asked again,
And thought to see it come in angel-guise,
And when it lingered, found no words to tell
My sad surprise.

Dear Savior, have I asked amiss, I cried,
What was there lacking in my earnest prayer
Did it seek heaven upon too weak a faith
To enter there?

Full long I pondered, hoping that the gift
For which I earnestly my Lord besought,
Would, if attained, fill my whole soul with love,
And holy thought.

But as He still denied it, did not choose
To give it me, I cast and threw my will
Down at His feet, and bid it there to lie,
Patient and still.

Should not the Hand so bountiful to me,
Reserve the right to choose for me my good,
Should I not glory in His ways, if they
Were understood?

Thus musing, to my closet yet once more
I stole, if only lovingly to say,
Do what Thou wilt, dear Lord, for Thy "sweet will,"
Is mine, alway.

When lo, within that closet, waiting me,
I found the risen Christ, and oh what grace,
What love, what beauty and what tenderness,
Shone in His face!

And thus He spake, "That was but seeming good,
Thy childish ignorance so boldly craved,
Withholding it My love protected thee,
From danger saved.

But I have come instead; yes, here am I,
Thy longed-for Savior; lean upon by breast,
Thy disappointment shall give place to joy,
To peace and rest!"

Ah Lord! Too sacred was that wondrous hour!
The veil that hides it let no mortal lift;
Great was the grace I sought, but oh how small
Beside Thy gift!