525,600 minutes

Today is a really special day for me....A year ago today we drove down to meet 2 children to see if they would fit into our family! Weeks before we met them we prayed about it and read 2 HUGE files about how hard their life had been so far! We were REALLY nervous, especially since they lived in another county....how we went forward (how much to visit, when to place in our home) all depended on if they responded to us...I have Never been so scared in my whole life!


I think I prayed the whole way down there...... As you can probably guess everything went GREAT- better than great! They clicked with us instantly and the social workers were so comfortable with us that they let us take them on an outing the FIRST time we met them.... We were guided on what to say and what to do!

(December 2010)

On the way home I felt such a relief!!! All this pain, torture and struggle we had gone through for years was finally over...we had found our children and the rest was just cake!

(December 2011)

Andrew and Mallory have grown SO much in the last year (I know I post that on here a ton, but it's true) They are amazing kids and I love teaching them and watching them grow!

TRUE

That is all....

Quotes for my life!

I love Finding Quotes That speak to me......that Someone else came up with that sounds like what is inside my head!

Going through Infertility and the whole process of adoption has changed my perspective on life. I have always been a "This is the plan" kind of person....I have learned that life DOES NOT turn out the way I planned- but it's wonderful!

I feel so Lucky that Heavenly Father was watching over me!

I am so Grateful for my Children....Especially during this special season I cannot imagine my life without them!

Christmas Cookies!

We are SO HAPPY that Malachi has a job!! And we wanted to send some Christmas cheer to his office....I made sugar cookies all day and for FHE tonight we decorated them so Malachi can take them to his meeting tomorrow morning!

(the funniest part about this picture is that in the lower right-hand corner someone is getting a little lick of frosting off of Andrews fingers)They made BEAUTIFUL cookies! All of Malachi's Co-workers are going to be amazed at how cute all of our cookies at!!I love decorating Christmas cookies! We did 50 tonight (enough for all the boys) and we will have to do a few more for my Visiting teachers and Santa.....although.... Malachi said Santa doesn't like sugar cookies...He said Santa likes White Chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies....hhmmmm....What kinda of cookies does your Santa like???

Then (Of course) we had a little taste before bed!

Just a December Weekend!

Friday night we went to the Festival of Nativities over in the Tacoma stake...It was AMAZING! They had the whole church building decorated with white Christmas lights and had probably a thousands Nativities depicting the birth of Christ.... There were Nativities that were hand made and some that were obviously VERY expensive. There were Nativities depicting a Native American Version, a Chinese Version, a Lego Version- Basically everything you could think of- it was a great way to start off the Christmas season!

They also had a dress up room, so we all dressed up and took a family photo in a GIANT Nativity set! (I'll post that picture when I get it!)

Saturday Morning I had to go to church so Malachi and Grandpa Swift took Andrew and Mallory to Lowes to do a "building thing"....This month they are doing a Christmas train. This weekend they did the caboose, next week is the Cole car and then the Engine on the 17th!

Two Cute kids ready for church on Sunday!!

NEXT WEEK we are going to bless them in sacrament. Anyone who would like to come is completely invited. We have sacrament at 1 o'clock!

Ready for Christmas?

25 days till Christmas!!! I love this time of year!! I love the decorations, music, food, clothes, but NOT the stress...Some people call me crazy but I start my Christmas preparations after Halloween. It's not that I don't LOVE Thanksgiving (I do) but there is just not enough time to soak in all the Christmas time Joy in only 31 days! So My Christmas Decorations have been up for 3 weeks, the lights are on our house, we have been listening to Christmas music, reading Christmas books, and Watching Christmas movies (ELF!!!)

I have Almost all my Christmas presents bought, wrapped and under the tree! I have a few last minute Christmas "candy" things to buy and I have one Run to the post-office so send off a few presents...but besides that everything is done!

I went to the grocery store yesterday (last day of the month, it was SO quiet) and got all the Food stuff I need for the season. Stuff for punch, chex mix, Breakfast Christmas morning.... Now I won't have to fight the crowds for that last can of french fried onions!!

Now we are ready to have 25 days of Christmas CHEER....We already went to the "bridge lighting Ceremony" and the old Cannery. I am planning out our calender so we can fit in looking at lights, decorating cookies, going to see Santa, playing in snow, parade of Nativities, Christmas parties, Making gingerbread houses, Night in Bethlehem, singing carols and spending time with family!!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We spent this Thanksgiving at the Swift house... We are so Thankful that so much of our family could be here together, but we really missed those that are far away! Andrew and Mallory had so much fun playing will all the cousins...

While all the Adults were being CRAZY in the kitchen we snuck off and made these BEAUTIFUL centerpieces for the table...They are Turkeys, Can't you tell?

Then it was time to eat...Mallory loved the "Chicken"! Happy Thanksgiving!