Adversity

One of our favorite restaurants in downtown Marietta is Taqueria Tsunami. It has a huge variety of really fun tacos. Our kids love it as well. At the end of the meal, they bring you fortune cookies. We always have a good time with how silly they are. We usually never get serious ones so it is funny.
On our last visit there, my fortune read: 
 Adversity willingly undergone is the greatest virtue.

 Touche, little fortune cookie, touche.

Tim and I laugh about our crazy journey a lot because out of all the hardship and suffering we have had that was out of our control, we have now entered a place where we go down chosen roads that are very difficult. We steer our life towards it.

We may be sick people.
Ha!

We have more plans for 2014 that would be considered difficult and a path of adversity. I have learned that you don't owe anyone an explanation for it. To each his own.
Anyway, a verse I love and am praying for 2014 is John 16:33.
In this world you WILL have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

We are promised trouble, but we are given help. And more importantly, we are given HOPE.

In light of our adoption, that is where we find ourselves. With help. And with hope.

Things are going well and we are having more good days than bad. It is truly amazing to watch a life literally be transformed. We have a lot of appointments set up for January for our little fella and we are continually optimistic that we have put him on a road to healing. It has really been perfect timing with adopting him in the middle of the holidays. With school being off, Tim not working a crazy amount, and so many festive things to do.... our family has really settled in and had a great time together. On the same note, January is bringing in some normalcy. Christmas can be a little overwhelming and for our little guys first one, all of the crazy needs to settle. Someone gave us some great advice to take videos of him, as well of photos, to literally see the difference in him months from now. I can already see them and its so cool.
He is becoming so responsive. So aware. And his happiness is crazy. He makes us laugh so much and we have nicknamed him "Skippy" because he is SO happy to go out and run errands he normally skips every place we go.
It took David and Mackenzie a long time to figure out why in the world he was bursting with excitement to go to the grocery store.

Blessings to everyone in the new year! I want to challenge you, as continually doing with my own family, to not make plans and decisions based on what will make your life easy. Don't let adversity slow you down or change your mind in moving forward.

We have found almost every time walking straight into it has brought some of our greatest moments. And if anything else, has made life a whole lot more fun :)

Cheers to 2014!!