So many emotions!

The holidays are always a sentimental time of year for me. It seems we've always had something or someone to celebrate/long for. Aaron and I's first Christmas together was special because it was our 1st Christmas married. Our second, we were waiting for Grayson to come home. We had pictures of him and were anticipating visiting him in January. That was a very bittersweet holiday. Our 3rd Christmas was our first one with Grayson home! Another emotional year:) Our 4th Christmas we were on the waiting list for a baby boy from Ethiopia. We were getting very anxious to see his face for the first time. It was a wonderful holiday; yet, once again, a little bittersweet.

It's fun to look back at my blog posts from this time last year (click on the month along the left-hand side). We were so ready to see our little boys' face for the first time. We were leaning on God more than we ever had before. I knew at the time it would be a time for growth in our relationship with each other and with God, but I just wanted that "teaching moment" to be over so we could have our referral already! Once again I'm humbled by God's perfect plan. We so badly wanted to see our son; however, our son had not yet been relinquished. He was spending precious moments with his brother and cousins. Precious moments that God did not intend to be for us, but for his first family.

We are now just too few days away from our 5th Christmas. And, though I don't feel our family is anywhere near complete, we are all together. Our first Christmas as a family of four. And, as we're getting ready to celebrate our first Christmas together, I can't help but think of Kebede and his family, spending their first Christmas without their beloved mother, father, and baby brother. So while I'm so grateful that God has given us this holiday to spend together, Abram's birth family will never be far from my mind.

Thank you, Lord, for this precious child you have entrusted in our care.

And, here are the holiday pictures:)