December.

December was a very busy but fun month for Steve and I. Steve had two full weeks off of school, which meant lots and lots of US time. We. loved. every. minute. of. it! We played multiple games together, worked on our adoption paperwork, saw MI4, cuddled, and did multiple holiday things with family and friends.

Instead of doing individual posts for all the different festivities we did, I'm just going to sum it all up onto one big post. PLUS, I have more adoption paperwork that I need to get my hands on:)

Ford Family Christmas Party-This year we played lots of MINUTE TO WIN IT games! It was a really fun party!

Thanksgiving Point Holiday Lights-Steve and I went one evening, just the two of us to see the lights together. I loved that we could be in our car and stay WARM while we looked at the lights:) After the lights, we ended up going into one of the shops and had hot cocoa and watched the reindeer.

Christmas Concert and Temple Square Lights with the Anderson Family-First dad, mom and Steve and I all met up at Robintino's and had pizza for dinner. Then we met up with everyone (minus Kody, Jade, Cars and Kolt) at temple square.

We watched a Christmas concert that my cousin Jody was in and then we walked around and enjoyed the lights.

Annual Christmas Play with the Fords-This Year, a Christmas Carol at Hale Family Theatre.

I made an apron for my sister in law Shannon for Christmas :) It was SO fun to bust out the sewing machine!

Christmas Eve-Anderson's: This year we spent Christmas Eve with my family! We had a really nice dinner and then played games all night! We had a lot of fun!:)

Christmas Day-We celebrated with both families and we LOVED that Christmas fell on a Sunday this year. It made the day even more special being able to really celebrate Christ's birth, taking the sacrament and singing Christmas hymns. We really wish that Christmas could fall on Sunday every year.

A fun and busy December for sure! We LOVED Christmas!

The last few weeks...

First off Steve's birthday fell on the Thanksgiving break. Since we were at the cabin we spent the day with the Ford family. Steve and I went on a long walk, played ping pong and worked on Adoption paperwork.:) He also went shot gun shooting with his dad, brother and Grandpa.

I'm so super grateful for Steve and that he's my man forever!

I didn't even take any pictures but one during Thanksgiving break. At least it's a good one of Grandma Ford beating everyone at ping-pong! haha! We love you Grandma!

Sophie's always coming to snuggle with Steve as he's busy studying for Pharmacy school! Did I mention what Steve's been doing since Thanksgiving break ended? He's STUDYING. Seriously. That's his life right now. Thanks for working so hard babe, means the world to me:)

I started my new job!!! Well it's still within the same company, but I'm now working in the Claims department and I'm super excited. I started last Monday and so far it's going great. Once training is over it has flexible hours and maybe down the road I can work from home. We feel so blessed that I found a new job since my entire department is being laid off in February.

Still loving spending time with my Beehives! I love these girls.

Lots of Birthday celebrations!

Kjersti had her birthday also in Nov. My cute daddy-o bought Kjersti a clown cake

Kris, Kolten and Jade all have their birthdays in December so my mom and dad made a big dinner for everyone. So grateful for all my family!

Peace.

Thanksgiving week wasn't the greatest for Steve and I. It should have been one of the most happiest weeks we could of had. We were able to spend an ENTIRE week together-no work, no homework, and spending time with the Ford family at the cabin. Yet we had a cloud hang over us. We felt a huge emotion of sadness, anger and "picked on me" feeling.

Steve and I have been really excited to share the news to everyone that we were adopting, and really dug into the adoption paperwork. All of our families have been so supportive to us, and I've never felt so much love from everyone. But, it was almost a "grieving" period that we had to go through. That we may not have a little one that has Steve's charming blue eyes, and my blonde hair, our physical features. I won't get the opportunity to see my belly grow. Get to wear maternity clothes and exclaim to everyone that "I'm Pregnant!"

This week has been different. My heart has been full this week. Full of so much gratitude and peace. I've never felt so much love from my Savior either. I know he has been wrapping his loving arms around me, and letting me know that he has a bigger and better plan for us.

Steve and I have the desire to raise children-our children. Is it really that important that our baby has our physical features? That I wasn't pregnant with the little one?

I know that we will love our baby no matter how we get our baby. Our baby must be very special. So special that they are getting to bless two different lives. The birthparent who has the miracle of getting to carry him/her for 9 months and then getting to bless ours for the eternities. God has a plan, a far better one that I can comprehend and I feel blessed that he has given Steve and I the opportunity to find our baby/babies through adoption. It's been such a humbling experience so far and I'm grateful for this. I couldn't be happier.

Good Things to Come

This week has been a very humbling experience for Steve and I.

We told all of our family members and friends that we started the adoption process. I can't even describe in words how grateful we are for so many supportive people in our lives. Seriously. It's been a huge weight lifted from our shoulders just knowing that Steve and I have so many people who love us, care about us and want to help us.

We've also received so much support from other adoptive couples, that we haven't even met and it's a good feeling to know we aren't alone in the process.

Even though in life we can feel down and discouraged, this video put a good perspective on things-That Good Things are to Come. It's all in the Lords time. I'm grateful that Steve and I blessed to be able to go through this process. It's brought us even closer together as well as closer to our Savior.

Adoption.

Steve and I are excited to announce that we have started the adoption process!! With lot's of prayers, we feel strongly this is how we are going to get our baby. So please start spreading the word for us!:)

Thankful Thursday.

Since it is the month of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be a good idea to write all the things I'm Thankful for every Thursday.

-Since it's Midgey's Birthday-I'm grateful she was born today

-I'm very grateful that Steve was able to get into pharmacy school and that we didn't have to move!

-I'm grateful that I have an amazing husband who supports me in everything that I do

-Grateful for amazing family

-Grateful for awesome friends

-I'm grateful for God's plan and not my own. I always try to plan out my life, but he always has a bigger and better one

-I'm grateful for the amazing young women that surround me almost every day

-I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon

-I'm grateful I have a job!

Halloween.

Halloween weekend was fun!

We went to a costume party on SaTuRdAy and I saw a bunch of old friends from high school. It was really fun to see everyone! Bryce and Jamie know how to throw a fun party!

(Pics by Bryce and Jamie)

Pumpkin Bowling

Donuts on a String

SuNdAy, my mom and dad had their annual Halloween dinner-Homemade Chili in pumpkin bowls! It was really good! It was of course fun talking with all my fam too:) I love have Grandma brought a mask!

MoNdAy, I went to work and there were Halloween activities all day-Watched Hocus Pocus, Halloween crossword puzzles and word searches, Kids came to our desk to Trick-Or-Treat and I dressed up!:)

Then we went over to Colleen and Richard's house and had Colleen's homemade Chili and then just hung out, ate too much candy and of course, passed out candy!

ooh and then when we went home and Steve and I cuddled on the couch and talked. Loved it.

IT was a fun filled weekend! I LOVE HOLIDAYS!!!!