Photo Contest

There is a photo contest that I found and the 8 finalists get to fly to NYC to have a photo shoot and then people will vote on those 8 on-line and the winner gets to be on Good Morning America and on the cover of the magazine I found it in.

So....here are a few pictures. Pick your favorite. I would like to try to get a picture of her smiling with her pigtails (or Afro puffs as those on the East side of town (where we got to church) affectionately call them). I prefer to send a photo with her hair up since I do it that way now but I guess that is not absolutely necessary.

Anyway, vote please (numbers under picture):

1

2

3

4


5

6


7

8

Circus!

We went to the circus Saturday with Grani and Papa, it was my (Christy's) birthday present. I don't have many pictures because I was holding Hannah most of the time. My Dad probably has more than I do and will hopefully post them soon.

Hannah LOVED the circus! She had her hand out reaching for the people and animal the whole time (unless she was clapping or dancing). She did sleep through the second half but I'm sure it is from all the dancing during the first half!


Dancing on Mommy's Lap

Do you like my hair?



Sorry Mom, I can't look at the camera, I might miss something!

Who needs toys?

Sophie's Birthday

Isn't she sweet!

Hannah Loved playing in the balls! Sophie didn't care for it though.

The birthday girls! We all share the same birthday.

Missy let Hannah have a piece of cake, she mainly just played in it!

Dining with the Stars

On my birthday we were eating dinner at Carabas (very good resturant - you should try it - chicken or sirlion marsala is the best), anyway, Hannah kept waving at the people beside us. They were waving back and we had a short conversation with them. Then when they left Hannah waved bye and they told us to have a good night and they would stop bothering us now.

Right after they left a waiter came up to us and said, "do you know who that was?" We said no and he told us it was Montgomery Gentry. We still didn't know who it was so he proceeded to tell us that he was a big country music person. Upon further investigation Montgomery and Gentry are two last names and we think we met Gentry.

Daniel and I decided he probably liked it that we didn't recognize him and we just had a normal coversation with him and his wife or girlfriend or whoever it was with him - just as we would anyone Hannah waved at. Which, she LOVES to wave at people, especially in resturants. She wants everyone to pay attention to her!

2006 Year in Review

Last night as we were driving to a New Year Party, Great is Thy Faithfulness, came on in the car. I couldn't help but think back on this amazing year that God has given us. In 2005 we never expected the blessings God would bestow on us in 2006. The journey here was rough but God brought us through (let that be an encouragement to those on their rough part of the journey).

Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we could ever ask or think, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. Eph. 3:20-21 (Christy paraphrase)

Morning by Morning I wake up to find the power and comfort of God's hand in mine

Season by Season I watch Him amazed in awe of the mystery of His perfect ways

All I have need of His hand will provide

He's always been faithful to me

I can't remember a trial or a pain He did not recycle to bring me gain

I can't imagine one single regret in serving God only and trusting His plan

All I have need of His hand will provide

He's always been faithful to me

Great is thy faithfulness O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with thee

Thou changest not they compassions they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be!

This is my anthem, this is my song

The theme of the stories I've heard for so long

GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL, HE WILL BE AGAIN

HIS LOVING COMPASSION IT KNOWS NO END

ALL I HAVE NEED OF HIS HAND WILL PROVIDE

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL TO ME.

2006

January 24: Completion of Adoption Orientation

February 1: Homestudy completed we were told we should have a match by summer

February 13: Call came in from the agency about an African American baby girl due February 25. We said yes we would like to be matched with her

February 16: Agency called said it is a no go.....later that night we got another call saying the baby had been born and despite what we heard earlier in the day we needed to get to the hospital! That day we met HANNAH!

February 19: We came home from the hospital and heard the sad news that Daniel's grandmother had passed away

March 17: Birthparent rights terminated - whew - we can breathe again!

April 27: ADOPTION DAY!

Feb. - June: Daniel searches for jobs in Louisville so I can stay home with Hannah

end of June: Daniel applies at Lifeway - just in time for them to be hiring Customer Service reps
(coincidence?...I don't think so)

July 13: We pack up and move to Nashville and live in Daniel's grandparents old house

July 15: Daniel starts at Lifeway.

July/Aug: Daniel sends resume to Edgefield Baptist Church - Christy begins house hunting on the internet

Sept: Move in with Daniel's parents

Oct: Buy a House!

Nov: Move into house! Daniel offered Student minister position and starts at Edgefield

Dec: WOW DIDN'T THAT YEAR FLY BY!

It has been quite a year of changes and quite a roller coaster of emotions. We have a new baby, new house, new job, but we had to leave behind the wonderful friends and church family we had grown to love in our 4 years in Louisville. But now we are on a new adventure and we know this is where God led us and this is where we shall stay until he leads again! God is faithful he always has been and always will be we just have to trust that His plan is the best for us!

We want to give God all the glory and praise for the great year He gave us in 2006! We pray that 2007 will be another great year for us and for all of you!

oops...I forgot to mention the additions to our (extended) family in my year in review...

Sophia Katherine - Jan. 11

Catherine Ashley - July 5

Elam James - Aug. 11

Hooray that brings the count to 3 nephews and 5 nieces!