A New Year

I've tried the blogging thing before and never really felt like I had much to say. However, with the changes coming into our lives and our amazing friends and family who have showed so much concern and compassion, I felt like maybe I should try it again. So, here is the blog- a place where I will try to keep everyone updated on what is happening with the adoption, a possible new home, my sister's adventure, parenting, and our jobs. I can't guarantee that it will be supremely interesting, but we have had so many people committed to praying for us that I wanted to have an outlet for them to know how their prayers are being answered. So, here it is!

Today is 1/1/11, which I think is pretty cool. What I think is even cooler is that I am doing absolutely nothing. I took down the Christmas decor and cleaned the house yesterday, so I plan on staying under my soft fuzzy blanket most of the day. However, this lack of plans has given me time to reflect on 2010 and dream about 2011.

This past year has been eventful for the Moore family:

Jason graduated with his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership (to be a principal) in May.  He applied for several jobs, but is currently still teaching and waiting for the right opportunity. God knows where he's supposed to be.

In June, I accepted a new job as a school counselor in a different district. This decision was not easy for me and I was very conflicted over leaving the district that I had grown up in and that I love so much. However, I felt like God was leading me to this and giving me an opportunity to use the passions and skills that He has been developing in me my whole life. I am glad I followed His calling because this job has taught me so much about myself and about who I am called to be.

In July, my sister left for an eleven-month mission trip around the world, which means she will be gone until the end of May/first of June- no coming home. I am so proud of her for following this calling and I know that she is learning so much about herself and about our Heavenly Father. Her mission trip led to one of the biggest decisions of our lives. Here's the story for those of you who don't know it. For those of you who do, sorry for the repeat. She spent her second month (August) of her trip at an orphanage called HIS Home for Children in Haiti. During one of our Skype conversations, she mentioned to me that there is a little boy there that she wanted Jason and I to adopt. Micah and I both laughed, but that comment stayed in my heart. I thought about it and prayed about it and then mentioned it to my husband, fully expecting him to tell me that I was crazy. However, his response was quite the opposite as he agreed to prayerfully consider it. Together, we prayed about it and discussed it and felt like God was calling us to it. We found out around the same time that God had planted it in my parents' heart to do the same, just with a 9 year old little girl in the orphanage. We decided on it separately and were delighted at the way the Lord works. So, we are currently in the process of adopting from Haiti. The time frame is unknown to us (patience is not mine or Jason's biggest virtue- so that's hard), but we know that it is known to God. My hope and prayer is that Jasmine and Sammy will be here by this summer and I will have two new family members- a son and a sister. I really have no idea what to expect. Sammy will probably be almost 3 by the time he gets here. He's only 6 weeks younger than Cade, so I'll basically have twins. I've had several people feel the need to tell me adoption horror stories they've heard. Let me say that I know that this will be a challenge. However, let me also say that God will not leave us nor forsake us and where He guides, He provides. Jason and I feel very strongly that this is where God wants our family. This is not what we ever expected our family to be, as we were actually in the process of trying for another baby when we decided to adopt (were is the operative word, I don't feel like God is calling us to have 3 year old twins and a newborn). I've seen firsthand through this process that our plans and God's plans are sometimes very different, but that surrender to Him is the only option. I plan on being challenged, but more than that I plan on being blessed through having Jasmine and Sammy. God has blessed our family so much with a wonderful support system as well as material things, and I just want to share that with someone who needs it, and if anyone does, its those orphans.

In the midst of all of that, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in September. Fortunately, they caught it very early and were able to treat it. Though it was only in one breast, she elected to have a double mastectomy and through that surgery, they were able to get it all. She is now cancer free and not doing any radiation or chemo therapy. I knew before this that my mother was a strong woman, but you wouldn't even believe how strong. She faced this head-on with a faith that was unwavering. She has used this experience to minister to other women and to set an example of how to lean on God through adversity. I was also amazed through this experience at how much support our family has. I will never know the number of prayers that were sent up for my mom and our family, but I know that there was an outpouring of love. This was just another example of how blessed our family is. For all of you that prayed and supported us, thank you!

Cade turned two in September. The twos have been an adventure. He really has always been a pretty easy kid- and the twos are no different, with the exceptions of the temper tantrums and the ups and downs of potty training. However, we are very blessed- he is happy, healthy, and sweet. He's funny, too! You never know what he's going to say. I love being a mommy.

Jason's sister got married in October. I now have a new brother-in-law (I guess that's what he is to me). We wish Rachel and Kirill all the best in their marriage!

December brought the hankering for a new house. With Sammy coming and this space growing smaller and smaller, we are ready for something bigger. We've prayerfully considered it and worked hard to get ours ready to sell. It is now on the market- for sale by owner! Add that to another thing that we're waiting on God's timing for. He's always been perfect and this will be no different!

One last thing that seems small compared to all of these big events of 2010, but I donated my hair to Locks of Love! This is really a big accomplishment for me, as I am the one who gets constant hankerings to cut my hair off. I just wake up some mornings and think I want a new haircut, then I go and get it cut that day. So for me to grow my hair for two and a half years without cutting it short was a big, big deal. Now its short again and I love it. I'm sure I will donate again in the future!

Well, I hope you were prepared to read a novella because that was a lengthy recap of this year for us. Next year hopefully brings our new child, a principal's job for Jason, and a new home. As I wrote this, I cried (which is no big surprise for those of you who know me well) and I laughed. 2010 was quite a year, but more than anything, it just brings hope for 2011 and countless examples of the Lord's faithfulness that we know will never end.