a very merry christmas to you!

our holiday home.

i know i haven't been very good about blogging lately. 

and i know that most of you guys have given up on my lazy bones, and moved on, you know, to other blogs where people actually BLOG. 

what a concept! 

anyways…i did it. 

i blogged. 

but not here. 

way too expected! haha. 

i blogged over at heather's amazing blog as a part of her holiday home made lovely series. 

i shared a little bit of our home all ready for christmas. 

if y'all are so inclined, hop on over and check it out. 

 here's a little sneaky peeky for those that need tempting!

(hey, look, i'm in the microwave!)

  

see ya there! 

kiss kiss!

halloween 2013.

i love halloween.
i especially love dark, stormy, windy, creepy halloweens.
and that's just what we got this year.

ben was a football player, anna was a ninja, and josh was phil from duck dynasty.
it was our most laid back and low key halloween ever--a blessing in itself but also a sign that my kiddos are getting older.
sniff sniff.

 

we hit the streets early, a little after five o'clock, ben running ahead of everyone and laughing the whole way.
he was truly happy, sincerely and utterly full of happiness, and his happiness had us all laughing.
the big kids were full of excitement, josh even asking, "why would ANYONE be too old to trick or treat?  it's free candy!"

i'm at home, watching the news, nibbling mini dark chocolate milky ways, and awaiting their return.
oh i know, when they all get home, wet costumes will be thrown about, candy dumped on the living room floor, and the kiddos chatting a million miles a minute.
i can't wait.

2013.

many of you have asked us about how the russian ban against u.s. adoptions will affect us.
truth is no one knows just yet.
we have no idea if registered families will be allowed to complete their adoptions, if russia will make an exception and allow special needs children to be adopted, how God will show his mercy on these innocent children being treated as pawns in a game of politics.

the only thing we do know is that we are not giving up.
we love this boy, and we want nothing more than to care for him and to give him the attention he needs and deserves.
we ask that you please continue praying for the children, for the lawmakers' hearts, for the families fighting so hard for the children that were born in their hearts.
we will keep you updated as we learn more.
i promise.

in the meantime, the new year is upon us.
(2013--how did that happen, really??)
and we are ready for some new beginnings.
i hoped on over to my friend hannah's blog this morning and read the most beautiful passage.
i read it over and over again, eyes full of tears, heart full of hope for davis and for our new life to which He leads us.
happy new year my friends.
i love you all.

"in our own lives, it is the discovery of god in life and the certainty that he plans for us 
that gives us a true, deep sense of movement, and lets us always feel 
the power and delight of unknown coming things.

it is good to come to a future which you do not know. 
it is good if god brings you to the borders of some promised land. 
do not shrink from any experience merely because of its novelty. 
do not draw back from any way just because you have never traveled there before. 
oh, my friend, go into it today without fear!

only, go into it with god, the god who has always been with you. 
remember what he has already done for you, 
and the new life to which he leads you shall open its best riches to you. 
for he who most humbly accepts what god already has given him and taught him 
is surest of the best and deepest blessings which god has yet to give."

phillips brooks

merry Christmas!

we're home safe and sound.
a piece of our hearts remains overseas but Christmas is upon us.

today i baked cookies, wrapped presents, filled our pantry with lots of good food and visited with a friend.
i also sat down at my kitchen table and had a good cry.
this year i've been given the gift of perspective.
i'm anxious and eager for the coming of the new year and all that it has to bring.

wishing you peace, love and HOPE this holiday season and in 2013.
merry Christmas from the jupin family!

nutcrackers.

i was wandering around hobby lobby a couple months ago and came across these nutcrackers.
they were 50% off so i threw them in my basket.
honestly, i totally forgot i even bought them until this past weekend while i was searching in the craft room for something else.
i never found what i was looking for, but the little kids seemed so happy to have something fun to do.
i covered the table with newspaper and gathered every paint brush in the house.
ben did so well and he painted most of the front by himself.
i did paint his a little bit, just to finish it, but used the same colors he chose.
anna wanted hers to have a smiley face and some pink and purple.
josh came in much later, after we had finished, and was happy to see there was one waiting for him.
his had a sword even--bonus points for mom.

getting christmasy.

our tree is up and some decorating has been done.
packages are arriving on our doorstep almost every day (can i get an amen for online shopping?).
i worked on our christmas card this weekend and it's almost done.
almost.
i keep thinking maybe i should wait until after our trip to order them.
i think our littlest son may need his picture on our cards too.

my mind is so full with adoption jitters and my heart is so anxious it feels like it's going to burst.

i'm trying to remain calm, trying to keep things fairly normal for the kiddos, and trying to enjoy these next few weeks before our hearts are turned completely upside down.

our home is slowly filling up with the goodness of all that is Christmas, slowly but surely.
until we're all good and done, let's get lost in some beautiful pictures together...a beautiful distraction if nothing.

all photos from here.

ahhhhhh.
that's nice.
off to brew another cup of coffee and to find my fuzzy slippers.

for unto us.

anna has scarlet fever. (seriously)
i have a nasty cold.
our house is wrecked with a capital W.
there is laundry sitting in our washer that's been there for three days.
i can only imagine how good that smells. 
ben is eating goldfish crackers for breakfast this morning,

i'm not gonna lie, it's been a bummer of a weekend, filled with trips to the doctor, piles of tissues and lots and lots of boring tv shows.

BUT...

there is a silver lining. (isn't there always?)

my dear friend chrissie grace sent me an email friday to tell me something that's been on her heart.
she had an idea, a way she could contribute to the financial burden of our adoption.
and then she sent me the most beautiful pictures:

and man, did the tears start flowing!
awesome, right?

y'all, i am humbled and excited to share these with you.
my friend chrissie grace will be selling these beautiful CHRISTmas trees for two weeks only.
and she will graciously be donating 25% of the profits to our adoption fund!

in chrissie's own words,

"This piece is very special to me.

I really feel like God gave it to me to help Amy and her family bring Davis home.

Amy, I cannot wait to see the gifts it brings.  

I pray Davis feels all the love and positive energy out there, just for him :)

I feel so blessed to be a part of this.  

It feels like what Christmas is really all about."

please click HERE to visit chrissie grace's etsy shop and check out all the details.

i am feeling so blessed and full of hope this fine sunday morning.

chrissie, i just love your heart so much.  

your continued support, encouragement, and devotion to our family, and to davis, overwhelms me.

xoxo.  

 

halloween 2012.

it's always a mad rush when halloween falls on a school night.
homework, a bite to eat, getting the costumes on, finding the trick or treat bags, a big bowl for candy...
and then WHOOOOSH...
we're out the door, cameras everywhere and off they go, smiling and happy.

when everyone comes home, there is candy all over the living room floor.
piles are made, favorites here and yucky stuff there.
charlie brown and linus and the great pumpkin are on in the background.
the kitchen's a mess with empty pizza boxes and half-finished cups everywhere.
costumes are turned inside out and thrown on the floor.

we made it through another halloween, another october.
tomorrow welcomes november, a month full of thanks and gratitude...and turkey!