A New Year

2016, a brand new year! There is something so refreshing to me about starting a new year. I look back on all that happened in 2015 and can't help but feel the excitement for all that 2016 will hold. I just feel that it's going to be a good year!

2015 was a year of settling into my new life here in Oklahoma, and I feel that 2016 is going to be a year of moving forward. What that actually means, I am not sure, that is just what I have felt on my heart as this year began.

You may have noticed that my blog has received a facelift. I haven't decided what I want the focus of this blog to be. It has had many different themes over the years. It start out documenting my sister's adoption story. Then it turned into a blog documenting my life of living overseas. It was then a blog about waiting on God's timing and finally a blog about transitioning to life halfway across the country.

But now that life has somewhat settled down here, what is the focus to be? Adoption? Life in Oklahoma? Home decor and DIY projects (something that I have come to love as I've made my apartment a home)? Honestly, I haven't decided and so for the moment it's going to continue to be a mixture of all the above.

Starting out this year, God has done the impossible. He has done something that I had not even asked Him for and I am still processing that He has done this! It brings me to tears just thinking about it and I hope that I'll be able to share that story sometime soon. But in the meantime, please know how very true this verse is:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the Lord.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Happy New Year, sweet friends! I pray that this a year that the Lord reveals Himself to you like never before.

2015

What a year 2015 has been. As I sit here reflecting on all that has happened this past year, I can't help but stand amazed in all that God has done. I started the year in a new city where I knew no one and I am ending it with an evening spent with friends. He is faithful.

January was spent settling into my new home, city, job, and life in Tulsa. It was also the month when I joined the "glasses and contact club." And what a joy it has been to be in that club (note the sarcasm). January as also the month where I traded in my New York drivers license (tear).

February highlight was a visit from my mom, dad, and Kiah! And my first experience of snow in Tulsa. Let's just say my family was beyond thrilled to be able to experience a Tulsa snow. :) 

March brought many fun memories with friends and my 29th birthday! It was also the month of concerts and conferences including Winter Jam to see Skillet, Jeremy Camp, For King and Country, and many other great Christian artists, a Kari Jobe concert, and a women's conference!

April was the start of tornado season. All I have to say about that are 3 words. "Not a fan." But with that also was the arrival of spring and the flowers began to bloom. I also went to a great 2 day event at Church to "find your life purpose" as well as an adoption conference which was very informative.

May was a month of making memories with friends and having my aunt come visit for a weekend! I had so much fun spending the weekend with her and showing her around Tulsa.

In June, I traveled to Korea for two weeks to co-lead our Korea Family Birthland Tour. It was so much fun returning to Asia but this time to a country I had never been to before! I had the opportunity to visit with many of the kiddos who are matched with our families and take pictures and videos for the adoptive families waiting anxiously for the approval to travel and bring their sweet kids home. As much as I loved traveling and seeing a new country, I was more than ready to return home by the end of my two weeks overseas.

In July, just four days after I returned to the US (I arrived home on the 4tho f July), Kiah arrived in Tulsa for a week! She helped with our China Heritage Camp and it was so fun having her here just hanging out. After a week of having her visit me in Tulsa, we flew to NY together where I spent a week and half with my family. The other highlight of July was July 8th when my niece, Quinlan Grace, entered the world! I was able to meet her when she was about a week old which was such a blessing. As usual, my trips to NY go way too fast and it very quickly it was time to return to Oklahoma.

August was a month of catching up. Between traveling to Korea for two weeks, having Kiah visit for a week and then flying to NY for almost two weeks, it was a whirlwind few months. August was a great time to just relax, get back on a normal schedule again, and catch up with friends (all of us had such different schedules this summer and we barely saw one another!). We also went to see one of my favorite speakers, Steven Furtick who is the pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C. What an awesome night of worship and teaching.

September brought a fun women's night of worship with friends, journaling, beginning several new Bible studies, and enjoying the last few days of summer but the pool.

October was all kinds of fun! The Tulsa State Fair took place in early October where one of the bands featured was For King and Country! My women's small group took a trip to the pumpkin patch and the end of the month was filled with memories of carving pumpkins and a Halloween party.

The first week of November I flew to Orlando, FL, to spend a a few days with my precious Kate (AKA: Charlotte) and her family! Many of you will remember her from my time in China. It was so good to see her again and to see how loved she is in her forever family. God writes the best stories! November finished out with a weekend trip with friends to Branson, MO, and Thanksgiving with friends.

December, my favorite month. I tried to make the most of it this year since last year since I really missed out last year having just moved to Tulsa. Ugly sweater party, special Christmas activities, and a trip home to be with my family for Christmas. It doesn't get much better than that.

Wow, what a year 2015 was! It makes me tired just looking back on all that took place and all that the Lord has done. I am always ready for the start of a new year but I am especially excited for 2016. Not sure exactly why, but I feel as though it's going to be a big year and I can't wait to see what plans God has in store.

Happy New Year, sweet friends! Thank you for you love, encouragement, and friendship. I am so thankful that the Lord put each and every one of you in my life.

2014, What a Year

I know I am a little behind in posting this but as they say: "better late than never," right?

2014. Wow, what a year it was. Half of the year I lived in China, the rest of the year I lived mostly in NY except for the last month which was spent in my new home of Oklahoma. Who would have ever thought that I would move to Oklahoma. God sure has a sense of humor, that is for sure. And He never ceases to amaze me in all that He does and How He works. I will write more about my time in Oklahoma later and how my adjust is going but for this post I want to focus on 2014 and all the exciting things that happened.

Here we go... 2014:

January

The year started out with Thad and I visiting Beijing for a few days. 

We then flew down south where I introduced him to all my sweet kiddos.

Another highlight of the month? I found out my Sweetheart was matched with a forever family!

February

This sweet girl technically arrived in January but her sweet personality really came out in February!

March

Laura arrived in China!

April

This sweet boy left to join his forever family!

Laura and I flew to Beijing for a few days of exploring.

May

My Sweetheart joined her forever family! 

Even though it's exciting, goodbye's are never easy...

June

This cutie left us to join her forever family!

July

My Mom and Kiah arrived in China!

This was the month I said goodbye to all my friends in the country I called home for the last few years.

And goodbye to all these wonderful ladies I had the honor of serving with.

The long trip home.

August

August was a tough month. Not only was I back in the US, not sure what was my next step in life and adjusting to life back here but we received word that this sweet boy passed away after surgery in China. My heart was broke into a million pieces and I was yearning to be with my foster home family during this very difficult time.

I went to a music festival, Kingdom Bound, with my family!

I spent lots of time with my sister.

And nephews. 

And we moved Tage to college!

September

September was a lot of family time. I loved going to multiple ball games with them!

I also enjoyed the season that I missed the most while I was in China, fall.

October

My aunt and cousin came to visit for the weekend and they helped to break the grape stomping world record!

November

The end of October, I accepted a job with Dillon International adoption agency in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The packing began... 

Thanksgiving was such a special time to be home with my family!

December

December brought the big move to Tulsa. Thankfully I was able to fly home for the week of Christmas!

Wow, what a year! I have decided that even though 2014 was a fun and exciting year, it was also exhausting. I'm okay with it if 2015 doesn't bring quite so many changes. 

Here's to a new year and new adventures!