One year ago today...

...I waited anxiously while George went to the embassy again, in hopes of finally hearing "approved!"

He was approved, and we waited for two more weeks to have visa in hand and man on the way.

This time last year, I could feel change coming, but had no idea what it would like. I didn't really think too much about 2010, just that it wouldn't be as sad and hard as 2009. I was right about that at least. There was still a lot of hard, but different hard. I'm not sure if transition is ever easy. It has been surprising just how long it takes to settle in, for the constant changes to slow a little; for us be a little more in control of the chaos instead of the chaos controlling us.

I have had far fewer sleepless nights; I've mostly cried because I'm just so darn happy or empathetic to someone else's struggle or pain...not because I am the sad one. I laughed and smiled a lot more this year. I let things roll of my back and tried to just enjoy the moments. I wake up every morning to the man of my dreams with a smile on my face and thanksgiving to God that we made it! Okay, I do that nearly every morning....but the mornings after that man snored all night and kept me up?.....it takes a few minutes to get to that happy place!

2010 has been great! Lots of ups, some downs, but all around wonderful! I had no idea this time last year how great things would be. God gave us better than we could have imagined!

As for 2011? This time around, we do have hopes and plans and dreams....

Seriously?!?!

Last month I hurt my knee. I toughed it out for a while, but after it wasn't getting better (and a chit chat with my SIL who's an OT) I finally went to the Dr. It's not too serious or anything. Ice it...blah, blah, blah.....do special exercises...blah, blah, blah.....wear a support sleeve...blah, blah...no high heels.

Wait....NO. HEELS!?!

I just about fell of the table when I heard that!! NO HEELS for a month!! What does he expect me to put on my feet?! Seriously?!?

Sigh....

P.S. Thank you Jesus for awesome health insurance.

Gingerbread house & Christmas fun!

I've been bad about blogging lately...we've just been enjoying our Christmastime together too much to take a blogging break. :)

We made a gingerbread house this week. George enjoyed it more than I thought he would and was very meticulous in his decorations. It was fun and I think may be a new tradition.

We are just so, so happy to be together. I could go on and on about all that mushy stuff! When we think back about what our lives were this time last year, we are just in awe of what has happened in the last year. We are very thankful to be together! We are REALLY looking forward to our celebrations this week! Merry Christmas everyone!!

Charlie and LaFawnda

This is a very delayed post! A couple weeks ago, G and I got our first Christmas tree together and decorated our apartment for our first Christmas together! We were very excited! So I guess George was so excited that he closed his eyes...whoops! That amazing Michael Kors beauty you see on my arm?? A pre-Christmas gift from my love. What a sweety! George was legitimately excited for the lights.... ...and ornaments! These are his first ornaments! Once the tree was fully decorated, George decided we got a Charlie this year. I like it. Of course, our Ghana nativity has a prominent place....although not a very good pic. We are really enjoying this Christmas season and hope you are too!

Love hurts...

This has been a very difficult week for my family. Hard, sad things have happened.

The wonderful thing about being a close knit family is that we've got each other's backs. The terrible part is that we feel each other's pain. This has been a very painful week. We are looking to God and hoping in Him through these times. We know our God is faithful, even when things don't make sense to us. If you think of it, pray for my family. Pray for peace, pray for hope, pray for comfort and strength.