We've Moved!

We got a new URL for our blog that takes out our last name. We are now at http://www.bigadventuresblog.blogspot.com/. Come and visit! Also, if you have us linked you may want to change the URL since we won't keep this blog forever. This is our last post on here - good bye.

Great News!

I just got an email from our adoption counselor letting us know that our profile is now up on the website, itsaboutlove.com. You can see our profile if you want by going to https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/23737905/ourMessage.jsf. Some day I will learn how to make a button to put on my side bar to have a direct link to it, but that has not happened yet. Anyway, we are excited! We have been trying to have kids for a long time, finally felt right about adoption a few months ago and have been working since then to get our profile up. We hope our birth mom will find us soon!

Three Times the Charm

Well, it snowed again, that makes three times before January! I think this is a bit excessive. I am thinking all this snow is a result of global cooling - what do you think?

The weather here continues to be crazy and unpredictable. The snow came on Tuesday. Wednesday it was quite nice, I think it got at least to 60, maybe more, and sunny (I think it was forecasted to be overcast and colder than it was). Yesterday, Thursday, was drizzly, overcast, windy, and really cold (again, not according to the forecast). Today is sunny again, but I haven't been outside yet to see how warm it is.

On a side note - yesterday we went to the Armed Forces Bowl game. This was our second time to go. Anyway, we got there early for some pre-game stuff. They had tanks, rope courses, and some other military equipment around. In that same area they had these tablets with the Ten Commandments, which made me happy. I'm glad to know we are still a nation under God, despite the opposition.

While it was super cold, we still enjoyed the game. Our friend (and former bishop) works for one of the corporate sponsors and got us great seats - right on the 50 yard line. Also, our friends the Neeleys came with us so that was fun. And I had my huge winter coat that I got as a freshman at BYU, which kept the entire upper half of my body completely warm. And to top it off, Air Force pretty much ran away with it - so happy that another Mountain West team has won their bowl game!

Oh - Happy New Year everyone!

My First White Christmas

Well, I just had my first white Christmas ever. I hve never been someone dreaming of a white Christmas - I prefer it when the weatehr is in the 60s and sunny and you can spend a lot of time outside. But, since it was cold anyway, I really did like the snow. Ryan and I went out in the morning, had a snowball fight, made snow angels, and a snow man. Making the snow man was just as easy as they make it look in the movies, make a ball and then roll it around in the snow until it gets to the desired size. It was a lot of fun, I fully enjoyed my first white Christmas.

Confused

Anyone who has lived in Texas knows that the weather here is kind of crazy, rather unpredictable. This year has been especially crazy, and I think it has confused my plants a bit. We had a a freezing day I think in October, I know it snowed in either October or November (I can't remember any more). Since I have lived here (6 1/2 years) it has snowed once a year - usually around February. Well, not only did it snow early, but it has gotten warm and then cold and then warm and then cold, several times. All of this has been too much for my daffodils, they started coming up in October.

On December 23 it got to 75 degrees!

My daffodils on the 23rd.

What I wore on my feet on the 23rd.

But less any of you should be envious of our warm temperatures, on December 24 it got down to below freezing - and we got a blizzard - at least to us in Texas it was a blizzard. We got covered in snow and the roads all iced over so people were slipping every where. It was crazy! I am not sure what will happen with my daffodils - I hope they make it!

The snow just starting in my back yard.

We had to leave Burleson to go to Grapevine so we could be there to do Christmas Eve stuff with Ryan's family before the snow really started sticking much - so we never got to see our yard covered in snow - but this was the result of the storm in Ryan's parent's backyard.

Eagles

My oldest sister, Missy, will turn 40 on Christmas Eve. Tonight my family celebrated her birthday by having a dinner, opening presents, and then putting all the kids to bed and the adults played games. I didn’t get to be there, which was sad, but such is life. Well, in order to commemorate her 40 incredible years my mom, my sisters, and her husband have been working on a project for her since Thanksgiving. I guess for my sister Emily’s baby shower Missy made her a bag with several “merit badges” on it. She said that as a mother you rarely get recognized for your efforts or achievement. For example, your son can get a badge for practically anything, like threading a needle, but you are the one who sews the badge on for him, and yet you don’t get anything for that, or the countless other things you do. So my mom thought Missy could use some recognition for some her accomplishments – our goal was to come up with and make 40 badges. Along with the badges we compiled a notebook of what she has done to earn each badge. For example, one of the badges was Scriptorian - For extensive personal study, wide knowledge of scriptural themes and passages, ability to apply principles learned to life’s challenges, special ability to apply gospel principles to raising children and other interpersonal relationships, and using knowledge to bless the lives of others by teaching and counseling. We ended up overshooting our goal a bit and made more than 40, but that is okay. Although I didn’t get to be there with them my family did a video chat with us so I could watch her open it and go through them and the notebook – I love some things about technology. Anyway, she liked it which made the hours of putting it together worth it. So, the reason I write this is because even though I am not a mom yet, I realize that it can be discouraging sometimes. I did teach seminary and know that despite all your efforts and sacrifices, kids rarely express let alone feel gratitude, which can be a challenge. So if you are feeling discouraged or like your efforts and sacrifices are not noticed, or like you haven't achieved much or that no one notices your achievements, let me know and I will point out what I love and admire in you, so you can know that there are people that think you deserve an "eagle".

A Nice Day - Including a First

Yesterday I went with my friend and her 7 kids to see “Polar Express” at the Omni, and then to Mc Donald’s for her kids to play. It was fun to spend time with their family. I am impressed with the obedience of her kids and how willing they are to accept disappointment and change and just go with the flow. I hope I can cultivate the same characteristics in my children. And then last night my visiting teachers (who are some of my good friends) and another friend came and caroled to me. This was a first for me and I really enjoyed it. They also brought me some yummy treats – so nice.

Sara Poyfair, Shadi Smith (my VT), and Leanne Bell (my other VT)