So what have we been up to!? I know - it has been a month since the last post so I figured it was time for me to jump in and take over the editing process again.  So - to pick up from the last post.  Christmas Day was another day of family and celebration but this time at Michael's family.  More food and lots more presents - specifically focusing on a few select members of the family!!!  And yes - Savannah and the puppies cleaned up!  I really began to wonder how Santa fit all those presents in one sleigh!  But all in all, that is what Christmas is for!  Especially when you are that age.  For me, this was the best Christmas.  Savannah understood the season and the whole Santa process so to be able to make the cookies and pick them out for Santa, follow his progress across the world on NORAD and then finally wake up the next morning and see the smile on her face.  It just made the day very special for me and one I don't think I soon will forget.

Next on our list of things to do was celebrate the New Year.  We decided that this year, Savannah was old enough to attend the Raleigh's First Night.  The neat thing is that they actually celebrate two New New Years! The first one occurs at 7pm and is for the kids. The next celebration is the typical midnight celebration. And, being that Raleigh is the "City of Oaks" our celebration involves the dropping of a large bronze acorn. I personally call it "the big nut" but hey - it's the city who chooses right! And Savannah had a blast. Of course, she also managed to bust into one of the displays - and yes - it was a NASCAR display for Junior Johnson. So after taking that "close" look at the car, we got to see the Raleigh Mounted Police Officers who graciously allowed Savannah to pet their horses and then got to see the Bagpipe troup warming up! All topped with walking in the parade to the city square to watch the Acorn fall! And that closed our 2007 out in style! And what a year it was!!





So now we start 2008. We have already started off the year with visiting our friend Chloe and Chloe's mom. The occasion was to celebrate Chloe turning 3! Unfortunately, I could not attend the party as I was on a business trip in Dallas, TX. Amazing to believe - especially when I look at her referral photo that is still posted on our kitchen refrigerator. No more are the babies we used to talk about but rather little girls with huge personalities! It is hard to believe we have come so far in two short years! And even more amazing is how these little girls just seem to pick up so fast after not seeing each other for months. There is just a common bond between them that I don't think can be explained. I think you have to see it to understand it.



And, as many of you know, we hoped to be adopting our second little one from Vietnam. But, it appears that these plans may not happen! Apparently, the US and Vietnam governments are not as close to ratifying the adoption agreement as was originally thought and based on those timelines, the adoptions would stop prior to us traveling to bring our little one home. It is really sad but the ones who truly lose out as they so desperately need a home and family to love them. So, please keep us in your thoughts as we re-evaluate our situation and what our next steps will be. I always say, all things happen for a reason. You meet the people you are supposed to met when you are supposed to met them. I guess not is not the time to meet our son. Perhaps this will become clear in the next couple of weeks but until then, we are in limbo.

So - as I close out the last blog of 2007 and the first blog of 2008, I want to pass along our wishes to all our friends and family here and aboard. I guess the best way to sum up what I hope for you all is from the Rascal Flatts song "My Wish". The lyrics are posted below and sum up "my wish" for you all in 2008.



Happy New Year!

Ann Marie (hey I will be Platinum on American soon). Michael (am I on Birthday duty again?) and Savannah (yeah Chocolate from Belgium!!!)



My Wish
by Rascal Flatts

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small, You
never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

This is my wish
i hope you know somebody who loves you
may all you dreams stay big