Happy Thanksgiving!!

I am sulking today. 

My family is back in New York and we are in North Carolina. 

All I have is the pictures that I was able to snap.

 Dawson really seemed to take to Uncle Roger. I loved watching Roger with his nephew. It makes me really excited for the future.

Jaxon loved Reid! He told his Mom on the way home that he wants all of us to live in one big house. 

It's amazing how quickly I fell in love with Dawson. 

 Of course, this little boy is my everything. He wore my Green Bay packers shirt to show his support. I cannot get enough of him.

My brother-in-laws and husband. I love their energy and their love for each other. Each Rose boy is so different but yet so much alike. I loved watching them interact this past week. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Jeanne and I  at the park. I am so glad that she made the trip down with Dave. It was Dawson's first big trip out and I am sure she would have rather stayed snuggled at home but they drove all the way down to be with us.

I am blessed beyond blessed. I hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as mine!! 

Thankful

In my devotions today I read from the words of Paul. Have you ever noticed how thankful he is? It puts me to shame. It is November and this is the "month" of Thankfulness. I should have joined my friends and posted daily on my face book wall but I did not. So I am going to do it here instead. 30 days in November, 30 reasons to be thankful...

I am thankful for...

1- My relationship with Christ this year. It has grown in ways I did not know it could grow. He has opened my eyes to things beyond my wildest imagination.

2- My new church. They are preaching the Word of God. They are convicting me and helping to change me. It's been awhile since I have really felt convicted on Sundays.

3- Moving to North Carolina. Moving has ripped Roger and I out of our comfort zones. We depend on each other because that is all we have most days...

4- My sweet friends, John and Shannon. Conversations with them are refreshing. I love when we have each other over for dinner and get lost in conversation. I love laughing with them about funny marital problems we each have. They are more of a blessing than they know.

5- My husband. He has been my rock. He comforts me when I cry over a burnt meal, missing my mommy, or when I cry just because. He has shown compassion and love to me while I work through so many things.

6- My mom. She is the best. In one weekend she totally changed the look of our apartment. I am thankful that she sacrificed her finances to come see me a few weeks back. She always knows when I need her most.

7- My brother Caleb's random texts. He always puts a smile on my face.

8- Afternoon Facebook chats with my brother Nathan in Afghanistan. He is always so upbeat even though he is miles from home or family. He puts me to shame.

9- Nathan's safety while he fights for our country.

10- Sunday skype dates with Roger's family. I really look forward to hearing about everyone's week. I love seeing my brother-in-laws on the computer.

11- My job at MTS. I was supposed to be there 6 days and have been there for months and am hopeful that they will make me a permanent position.

12- Dave and Jeanne. Their adoption story has brought me to tears many times. I was there when they decided to adopt, I watched Jeanne struggle through so many things. They have taught me so much through this story. I cannot wait to have them in my house.

13- Jaxon's package of school paperwork. He wanted me to know what he was doing in school so he sent me his papers. I love that he thinks of me. He has the most tender heart.

14- Orphans and adoption; every story changes me and makes me more like Christ.

15- Jim and Tiffany for letting me walk in their adoption story. I cannot believe how one family's decision to adopt has completely changed my world.

16- My all better blanket. Yes, it is silly but I cannot help it.

17- Saturday morning waffles with my husband. It's a tradition that will stick.

18- The opportunity to cook my first Thanksgiving meal with a household bursting with family.

19- A clean apartment. I cannot even begin to tell you how much joy I take in a clean home.

20- Glory. She has forever changed Roger and I. Her letters are so thoughtful. I melt every time I see her signature because I know how much she cares for us.

21- Late night talks with Roger. We have the best time just lying in bed and talking. Sometimes it's about our childhoods or maybe about our futures. We normally end up laughing the hours away but  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

22- My health. God has kept me healthy and this is a huge blessing as I do not have health insurance right now. He always takes care of me.

23- Brand new candles lit in my apartment. There is just something wonderful about a new smell.

24- Chris Tomlin Pandora. The songs that play through that are never the same but they always touch my heart and sometimes I have to fight back tears.

25- A house full of photographs. I cannot imagine not having photos every where in my house. They help me remember so many precious moments.

26- A warm bubble bath after a long day. There is simply nothing better and if I wasn't blogging right now that is where I would be. It's really the simple things in life isn't it?

27- Lowes Grocery Store. They put together bags of groceries that you can purchase for the needy. They are committed to helping the poor and make it easy for others to help.

28- Friday drive home from work. If you work an 8-5 job you know that this is a great feeling.

29- Football. It is something that Roger and I do together. We look forward to the Packer's playing. We talk about it and it is a tradition to have football food when they play. 5 years ago, I never would have agreed to marry a guy who loves sports but I cannot imagine my world any other way.

30- This challenge of writing 30 things. I need to be more thankful. I need to tell people how thankful I am for them. I need to show that I have a thankful heard and this little challenge has done that. I am blessed. I could not ask for anything else in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Never time to write...

I have been meaning to blog for weeks now.

 I want to share all about our church and how I really feel God there. I want you to know that I have never been to a church that is so real and authentic in it's teaching while still being biblical. I want you to feel my love for the gospel and how the more I study adoption, I feel closer to God. And as much as I want you to know these things, I never write.

I just spent the entire weekend with my mom. It was amazing. I miss her so much and cherish these moments with her. She completely changed my living room and bedroom with purchases of an entertainment center and bedding. We spent hours talking and sipping the best Ethiopian coffee. We shared church together and then a few tears when she left today.

I am busy at work and it's a good busy. God has blessed me. Earlier this week, I shared with the HR person that if for some reason the head AR position ever became available again that I would be willing to take it. I really wasn't sure what was going to happen but I knew the lady that they just hired was not catching on quick enough so it was a possibility. Well the other day, I was called into my boss's office and he asked me if I would like to take the position because they were letting the other girl go. Of course I accepted. The position came with a nice raise through my temp agency. Yup, you read right, still a temp. The controller for the accounting department is out on medical leave and no one wants to officially offer me the position until she gets back in December. I understand why they would like to wait until then. However, in the mean time, they want to learn as much as possible so when she gets back she would almost have to hire me. Pray that I will be able to learn as much as possible and that they will want to hire me come December 10th. I would love to have this job officially. I would love the stability. I know that God will provide and I continue to trust Him.

My house will be full in just a few weeks as my Father-in-laws, brothers, and cousins will be filling every corner of our house for Thanksgiving. I cannot wait to have everyone here. I really can't wait.

That's my update for now. I would write more but my dear husband is starving and I need to cook dinner. Until next time...

Dear Dawson-

Dear Dawson, 

Welcome to the world! I am so excited that you are finally apart of this family. 

I cannot wait to see what your life will look like. Your parents have been on a journey for you. They weren't always sure that they would have more than one child but I knew they would. And trust me, now that you are in their arms they know that you belong there and have always belonged there. Your parents have fought hard for you. You should know how much you are loved. 

Jaxon and You

Jaxon, your older brother, he needs you. He needs you to push him around a little. He needs a few good arguments with you. He needs to go into his room and mess up his cars, they will be in order by color so just move the black to the red and that will be enough. Jaxon needs you just as much as you need him.

Pictures stolen from your Mom!

Although I have seen many pictures of you, I cannot wait to love on you in person. You have the chubbiest checks and they are begging this aunt to kiss on them. You won't know me the way that your brother does but that will not change how much I love and adore you. I will always cheer you on even though we are miles apart. I will be your favorite aunt :) In less than a month I will love on you. I am devastated that I am missing this first month but am so thankful for the time we will have together.

I love you more than you know,

Aunt Bethany 

Oh D-Wade, I apologize for your parents now. They are a tad crazy but they mean well, really they do :)

He Gets Me

Have I mentioned that I love being married? I really do. I love my husband, Roger. He gets me, I mean really gets me. 

The other day, I purchased some incense and had it burning when he turned to me and said, "This brings up some childhood memory doesn't it? Your mom used to light these and it makes you think of home, right?" Yup! He is so right. My mom used to have some burning in her room and the smell reminds me of being at home. He knew that without me telling him that. He knows when I am missing home. 

He can tell what kind of mood I am in just by what I eat. He actually said that I should stop menu planning and just decide on my way home from work what we should have because I change my mind so many times. I tend to menu plan for a week then rearrange it every night... I am just not in the mood for whatever I have planned :) 

Roger knows that when I have an awful headache, I will want to lie in bed with my blankie (oh yes blankie not blanket!) and have my backed rubbed. He knows that eventually when my headache goes away that I will want to put on my pj's and one of his oversized shirts and just cuddle. He lets me be whiney and needy when I am not feeling well and takes care of me perfectly. 

He doesn't question my craziness. He knows that I will only light my candles when the house is clean, that I hate to sweep, and that I have a water-to-ice ratio in my drinks. He may not understand why I do these things but he lets me do them. He lets me be me. 

Isn't that great? I wish that everyone could find what I found. I am truly blessed to be married to Roger.  People tell me that eventually this newly wed stage will end but I hope it doesn't. 

I really hope it doesn't...

Making the Gospel Real

I want to share something with you that Roger and I have been doing since we got married.

I think it stemmed out of the Compassion Child that we sponsor. Her name is Glory and she started to open our eyes to many things. (And for the record, we plan on sponsoring her as long as possible, 20 years?)

We wanted to make a difference, do something that would really help people.

Roger and I decided that out of EVERY paycheck, we would purchase something that would help someone else.

Now you're confused right?

It's really simple actually.

We would do a little research and find an organization or family that needed help and then either purchase something that would go towards them or donate directly to them. We also committed to praying that week for the "thing" we were helping. At first, we purchased adoption T-shirts from several families who were adopting children from all over the world. The proceeds went directly to their fundraising, which is great! Then we started to buy things like coffee, bracelets, and hats. We also do Operation Christmas Child and support many of our troops overseas. Honestly, it was so easy to find things to purchase or organizations to donate to.

Sometimes we spend upwards to $50 on an item and sometimes it is just $5.00. It really depends on what we find. People have criticized me for not helping people right here in the US. It's not true though. We have supported a few families who have adopted from the US. And adoption isn't the only thing that we can help with. We have donated money to food banks, homeless centers, or even dropped off our clothes where we knew it would go to charity. The need to help is EVERYWHERE!

I have heard so many people say things like "adoption shirts are too expensive" " only half of the money goes to that organization" " I need to save to be able to buy it"among other things. And honestly, I used to say those things as well. EXECPT that I have eaten out at least once this month and if I can do that then I can support something. If you say, well great, we never eat out then I say...There is something in your life that can be cut back, trust me. If Roger and I can do it on minimum wage then you can do it as well.

I am not trying to be harsh. (Maybe a tad harsh?) I just think that there are so many people who say they want to do something and then don't. Talk is cheap. I am also not trying to pat ourselves on the back. We are NOT perfect. We do NOT have it figured out. We are simply trying to raise awareness of those in need for ourselves. The gospel commands us to take care of the poor and needy and this is how I know how to do it best. Maybe it looks different for you. I don't know. I just know that you are called to do something. Figure out your something and DO IT! (And then please share!!!)

Sorry if my post ruined your mood...

Wait am I sorry? :)

Routined Robot

Last Sunday our pastor said something that has brought on several conversations in this household. He was talking about the day-to-day lifestyle. We get up, we go to work, come home, watch TV, go to bed, and then get up go to work, come home, Watch TV, go to bed and repeat... I think you get the idea. What in our day-to-day is making a difference? We do the same thing every day. It seems at the end of the day there is nothing to really be proud of. We've done no good work for other or further God's kingdom.

Well that was me this week. I worked a typical 8-5 job in a company's accounting department. I was like a robot, I did the same thing every day. Woke up, did my hair and make-up, got dressed, made tea, went to work, came home cleaned up, made dinner, watched TV, and went to bed. Only to repeat this day after day. I did nothing of importance. It was a routine and I stuck to it.

During the middle of my week, I remember saying to Roger, "this is the kind of job that would make me move to Africa to be a missionary..." He laughed and completely agreed because he had been doing the same thing this week. He was stuck in a routine. I am not saying that Roger and I are moving to Africa to be missionaries (I'm not going to lie and say that we haven't talked about it either...) We are just trying to figure out as a new couple what we need to do to bring eternal joy in our lives. We want to break this mold and really live for something. We need to live out a purpose.

I think if you really think about your life whether you are a Christian or not you will come to a point where you think, "What am I living for?" "Is what I am doing really going to matter?" "Is there something more than this?" That's what I am trying to figure out. I think it's going to be a long journey though...