Hail and Blessed be....

Hail and blessed be the 

hour and moment

in which the Son of God was born

of the most pure blessed Virgin Mary

 at midnight, in Bethlehem, 

in piercing cold.

In that hour, vouchsafe, oh my God,

to hear my prayer, and grant my desires,

through the merits of our Lord, 

Jesus Christ, and of his blessed Mother, Amen.

Beginning on the 30th of November, our family prays this novena every day, at least 15 times a day. Sounds crazy, sounds repetitious? Oh, my, it is the most comforting and wonderful prayer to help to prepare for Christmas. I began praying this when I was introduced to it about 6 years ago and I have loved it ever since. I think about the words, and really picture the moment Christ was born...in piercing cold. Those words cut deep inside of me, and I think of the infant lying in a manger with only the warmth of the animals and his parents' love to keep him warm. I think of how in our culture too often we leave the infant Jesus in the cold, and wonder how many would find room, do find room, for him. This novena prayer brings to mind every day the realization that we are there at that moment as well, since God transcends time. Our prayers we pray are there at the "hour and moment" that Christ was born, and God, in His joy at the birth of his son, will hear those prayers we pray. And I feel such comfort in the fact that we were chosen to be a part of the family that Jesus was born into, chosen to be adopted. Of course, my thoughts also go to the child who is left every day, in China, and around the world...the orphan.

  I started writing this post Christmas day and one thing or another kept me from posting it. Maybe it is the fact that everyone is home, sleeping in, chilling out, making cookies, eating all day! Our house is full as Mick is home from college in Vermont, and Sarah is home from college in Maryland. Inevitably there is an extra friend a day, at least, over, or they are running out to see other friends. We have had two or three movie nights with all of us home, snuggled on couches, making me realize we will need another chair or couch when Maeleigh comes home. Those are the moments Matt and I treasure more than anything...having the kids all home under our roof, knowing they are happy to be there, knowing that the time is short for these moments, and appreciating each and every one of them.

We had a wonderful Christmas starting with Christmas Eve with all of my family, and my parents who are 80 and 83 and truthfully have more spunk and energy than any of us. Between us and my three sisters we have 13 kids, ranging in age from 27 to 6, with one son-in-law. The 'kids' do a Pollyanna each year now, eliminating lots of crazy shopping and making for lots of fun and laughs. It has become a tradition that I know they will continue for years to come.

Matt and I celebrated our 29th Christmas, 28 as a married couple. I can honestly say that we are more in love today than we were that first Christmas in 1982. I say more because we have been through so much, we have been so blessed, and we so appreciate each other with every year. It is such a wonderful gift from God that we have each other and we love our lives.So, "We ain't got a barrel of money..." (anyone remember that song?) but we sure are living our lives 'side by side'.

We received a wonderful Christmas gift the day after Christmas of new pictures of Maeleigh. We are waiting for Travel Approval, which should come any day now...The wait is long...but ti will happen, most likely some time in February for travel which means I will be traveling with Sophie, and without Matt.

We have been so blessed by the generosity of our friends, many of whom ordered bracelets or donated to our adoption fund. You are all in our prayers and we are so grateful for your help. Someday, when our adoptions are through :) my dream is to start a foundation to help other families make it through the process of adoption. But, that is for another day...

Have a wonderful day, hopefully before the New Year we will have news about our travel!!!

We are still making bracelets, so check them out. We have had such wonderful compliments about them. You can order them right here by clicking on the Bracelets button, or send me an email and let me know waht you want, the size and colors! Thanks so much for your support!