Our international adoption has completely consumed our life for the past six months; in a good way of course, but it’s been consuming nonetheless.

We’re at a transition point.  It’s just a matter of waiting now.  No more forms to fill out, fingerprints to give, or hoops to jump through.  It’s time to get back to life and reality.  There are so many things that have fallen by the wayside over the past six months because I just haven’t had it in me.  Things that I enjoy and things that are good, but I was simply too drained.  I’m feeling better and better each and every day.  I’m making huge headway inside the four walls of our home.  I’m purging, organizing, sprucing things up, and all around enjoying the entrance of spring!

We’re getting back to our sweet, simple life and it’s really nice.  As a result, I’m saying a final farewell to Facebook.  I’ve had quite a bittersweet relationship with Facebook, but in the end I am far too undisciplined and intrigued by other people’s lives to stay away.  I’m ashamed to say, I waste valuable hours of my life each week simply browsing through my news feed.  Truth be told, I don’t know that God ever intended us to have constant, at-your-fingertips access to everyone’s lives all.the.time.  It’s too much to carry.  There are far too many things in front of our eyes via social media and other news outlets that cause us to be discontent, angry, jealous, and heart-broken.  What if, instead, we spent those hours getting to know our neighbors better; building real relationships? How about reading to my children more, ironing hubby’s clothes more often, or having dinner on the table when he gets home–daily?  Those are some of my goals.  When my friends come to mind, I’m going to pick up the phone and call them rather than check on their Facebook page.  When my children are all over their recent illnesses, we’re going to invite our new neighbors over to grill out.  It’s time to get back to reality–back to real life.

I’m also vowing to post more often.  I enjoy writing and often times, my blog is the best way to keep track of our year and look back on where we were and where we’ve come from.  More pictures, more stories, more family, more relationships.

Here’s what we’ve been up to lately:

Canning chicken stock, which seriously came in handy as we’ve dealt with sinus infections, pneumonia, ear infections, and bronchitis over the past two weeks!

A little backyard quiet time with a little man and his guitar–up in the trees, I might add.

Enjoying our meals outdoors:

Hanging our clothes out in the spring breeze.

And enjoying the bounty of our sweet chickens as they have begun laying regularly again now that we have more daylight hours and beautifully warm weather.

I look forward to continuing life and chronicling it right here on our little blog.  Thank you for all of the prayers, support, and encouragement over the past six months!  What a ride it’s been!  Whether we bring our sweet girls home in three months or seven months, we’ll wait with peace and patience and we pray that we don’t miss a single moment or blessing that God has for us in the waiting.

In Christ,

~audrey