Wow!

What a year this has been - We are very, very thankful for so many blessings.  May God grant us His unchanging mercy and grace in the days to come as we round out 2010.  I love this time of year. 

Book Review: I Lift Up My Soul - Charles Stanley

A few weeks ago - I posted about my new discovery - Book Sneeze.  You can sign up and agree to blog about Book Reviews in exchange for free books.  I LOVE 2 READ so I couldn't pass this one up.  My first book was I Lift Up My Soul by Charles F. Stanley and I was expecting his great words of wisdom to flow forth off the pages like springs of gushing waters. Instead, day after day of reading the short devotionals - I was left dry and thirsty. Yes, he uses Scripture. Yes, his points are relevant. Yes, his words are true. However, the devotionals are very short, simple points that left me wanting more. I felt more like someone handing me sugary candy when what I really needed was soul-nourishing protein. To be fair - I think this book would be a good start for a young Christain who is wanting to get started with a daily Bible reading - but I doubt that it would satisfy the soul of a seasoned Bible reader or someone who is truly wanting to study the Scriptures. I am sorry that I couldn't say more on the positive side - but I don't feel like this book even holds a candle to other devotional books on the market.  So - there's my 2 cents.  Can't wait to see which book I get next.  Want to try Book Sneeze for yourself - there's a link on the Right Side bar of this blog.....

December 4 - We made the list!

Just a minute ago - I checked my email to find a new Facebook post linked to me.  I opened it to find a sweet family who lives near us telling a bit about their Christmas traditions of Advent.  As they are in the throws of an international adoption adding another blessing to their brood of 4 - they are replacing traditional Advent goodies in their Advent calendar with names of families to pray for each day of December who have recently adopted, are currently adopting, or who are waiting for a child.  Great idea - loved it so I kept reading.  The mom went on to tell a bit about their idea and then posted a list of which families they will be praying for on specific days.  I felt a catch in my throat as I saw our name on Dec 4.  Wow!  We made the list.  Of all the lists I am humbled to have my name upon - this is it.  We are listed right there with some of the most amazing people in the adoption world!!  And I mean that with every breath of my being.  I am truly amazed to think that on December 4, 2010 - this sweet family will be lifting our family, Lori, and this adoption up to the heavens interceding for us at the Throne of the Almighty.  Whew - that's almost too much to comprehend.  All I can say is thank you - Dear Sweet Underwood Family!  May you be blessed this Christmas season. 

A Fun Day

Do you ever just have one of those days?  Well today - the kids and I went to the Operation Christmas Child collection center for our area and filled about 50 shoeboxes headed for India.  The people there were amazingly gracious and so helpful - it was a joy to get to participate.  We all agreed this was super fun and something we'll look forward to for next year. 

And, here's Annie - modeling her Pilgrim costume for our Thanksgiving Play on Friday.

New Picture of Lori

Our newest picture - She is so adorable.

Hats Off

We joyfully mailed 44 cute little hats to China yesterday for Madison's Hat Project!  Jay said we could have wired the money to them and they could have bought 44 hats cheaper than what it cost for postage to Beijing -  oh well - it was the fun of the project that counts!  Thanks for all your help. 

2 Today

I have *surprisingly* had 2 people in the same day ask me about my blog and tell me they read it.  It is so great to know that someone actually reads our blog!  How exciting.  Sorry to my 2 readers that I haven't written anything lately - I guess I didn't have much to share.  Everything with the adoption is going smoothly and we are waiting for official traveling/immigration papers.  We should get Lori sometime in January.

As for life at the Lancaster house, we've been busy selling sheets.  Thanks to friends and family helping spread the word - almost 200 sets of sheets have been sold so far.  Yay!!

That's about it - go have some hot choco or Chai and enjoy this beautiful Fall weather!