Merry Christmas!
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus, whose birth and incarnation we celebrate!
Looking back at 2014
This past year has given us many wonderful memories!
In March, Adam had the opportunity to travel out west with his brother, David, and (now) sister-in-law Hilary, spending the week taking photographs at some of his favorite national parks, including Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, and Canylonlands, as well as visiting beautiful sites in the Navajo Nation like Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon. Many of the photos are at his photography site, www.liveincontrast.com.
In May, our whole family traveled down to Florida with Allison's parents for a Walt Disney World vacation. This was the first visit for everyone except Adam, and we had a blast, including more than our share of "Disney magic." We participated in the unofficial opening of one of their new roller coasters (The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train), and also ended up visiting the Magic Kingdom for their once-a-year 24 hour extravaganza.
The whole family at Disney World
Over the summer, our family spent a couple of weeks camping with Adam's parents on our way to Arizona for David's wedding. After the wedding, we enjoyed several days at the Grand Canyon including a train ride, some hiking, and a sunrise at what we dubbed "Hoskinson Point" along the South Rim, before spending our 8th wedding anniversary in Moab, UT.
Sunrise from "Hoskinson Point" at the Grand Canyon
By the end of the summer, Adam only had three vacations days left for the remainder of the year. As he likes to say, "They were all used well."
In the fall, Sam began kindergarten at Westlake Christian Academy, where he had been attending preschool for the last two years. Each week he brings us new stories of his friends in class, his "popcorn" vocabulary words, and his new Bible memory verses. He also has a reading challenge each month where he can earn a free Pizza Hut pizza, and we have begun reading chapter books with him such as Henry Huggins (Cleary), Captain Underpants (Pilkey), and Peter Pan (Barrie).
First day of kindergarten at Westlake Christian Academy
Sam as Peter Pan for Halloween
Looking forward to 2015
On November 1, we officially began the process of adoption. The last few months have only just scratched the surface of this journey, as we tackle stacks of paperwork, fundraising, additional parenting classes, and preparing our home for a larger family.
As we've written on our blog, this isn't a new idea for us, but we are finally in a position to move forward. Sam prays faithfully each night to adopt a baby brother or sister. We have also been encouraged by the support and generosity of our family and friends, even in these initial stages. If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to receive our updates, and if you are able, please make a donation to our adoption fund. As 2015 begins, we are still about $31,000 shy of our goal.
Thank You!
Finally, we offer a warm thank you for your friendship in the last year and the joy it brings us.
Peace to you and your family in the new year!
With Love,
Adam, Allison, and Sam
