Bird's Nest

God is pulling on my heart.  And revealing to me that I'm not done parenting yet.  God is pulling on all of our hearts at the Hill house...it is becoming clear that the best laid plans can change and that a big savings account is great - but it's not the prize that I am seeking.  I want to hear God say "Well done, good and faithful servant."

A couple weeks ago I realized that my two sweet babies will be graduating from high school in just a couple of short years.  And then I will be 40.  That's still young.  It really is y'all!!!!!  :)  And then what will I do? 

For years I've said I wanted to adopt.  But I did nothing.  The timing was bad, we didn't have everything perfect, we had our own kids to think of.  Excuses, excuses, excuses.  And another holiday season is upon us and I'm starting to hear that Stephen Curtis Chapman song "All I Really Want For Christmas" yet again, I cry every time I hear it.  How many more years will I cry through that song - without doing anything?  *sigh* 

We met with a financial planner and she said to me, "I can tell you are very family oriented.  It's really nice.  I can see you adopting a bunch of babies." 

A Facebook friend adopted a baby from Ethiopia.  I cried happy tears.

We started to open up the conversation with our two girls - and saw their excitement and listened to their ideas and hopes, and also their comfort zones and fears.

I had been looking at adoption sites online.  I know I want a sibling group.  I really want three boys. 

On Saturday we went to Murray's office Christmas Party.  There was a gift exchange and I got a gift that wasn't even really for me.  But it truly was.  It was a necklace with a pendant shaped like a nest.  With three blue eggs in it.  Wow.  Really God, did you make that just for me?

Life as we know it...

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone.  We were sooooo laid back this year, in fact we opted not to make the ham and fixins and have waffles instead.  It was a fantastic dinner and we laughed HARD!  We also stopped by Walmart at 8:00 pm for some Black Friday deals.  Got a few things but mostly had fun running into people we know. 

Recent developments in our house have been:

1.  Darian got her license!!  Oh my gosh, it's so great to have her run errands.  She and her sister have also been hanging out more - cruising our little town and visiting friends.  I love it.  L. O. V. E. love it.  We also bought her a car.  We weren't going to - but we realized Jordyn is not far behind in the license department so we decided it was a good time to buy a car and they can share it next year when they're both driving.

2.  The new car is a Subaru.  I had always sworn I would never get a Subaru.  We always associated them with tree-hugger, crunchy granola types.  But when we decided to car shop - it was by far the best choice.  She has a small coupe that is AWD which is great because we live in Wyoming where it snows.

3.  It hasn't really snowed though.  We had one big snow day.  It was 50 degrees on Thanksgiving.  It's been wild not having tons of snow.  I am a little confused by this weather but grateful because I hate ice and snow.

4.  My photography side business has been great.  I did 6 seniors this year, a couple of families and an engagement.  I have another family tomorrow.   I love having a creative outlet that also pays me a little money as well.  :)

5.  I was actually super busy this month with photography jobs and made enough money to buy myself a NEW COMPUTER!!!  My old one is ok (I'm on it now) but when it came to photo editing it was NOT cutting the mustard.  I was spending so much time sitting and waiting for my computer to respond.  It was just eating up all of my time.  So the new computer is plugged in and I will be using it soon, it was an early Christmas present to myself.  I also bought some moccasins which I love.  LOL!  So all my Christmas presents came early and I'm ok with that.

That's the update for now.  Facebook gets the daily scoop, but I like putting stuff here too....  :)

Hugs - Tish

Well, it's hard to believe we have been in Wyoming almost FOUR YEARS now!  Time really does fly.  I can't believe how much I still love it - how much I enjoy learning and sharing my home with others.  Being here is a GOD thing because:

• I would NEVER in a million years have chosen this place for my home
• I can NEVER in a million years see myself leaving this place

2012 has been a great year though.  And we are in the middle of a very busy but great summer! 

Here are some highlights from the first half of 2012!

• Darian's Co-Ed Cheer Team took the State Title!  It was pretty much amazing, we beat out some tough competition and it was a fabulous night - I screamed my head off.  So glad I got to be there!
• Jordyn got a solo in Choir on the same night!  Since I couldn't be in two places at once I had my honey video it for me - she was precious.  I keep telling her I love her voice, and I think this is her year to really let go and sing!!!
• April brought the birthday madness!!! 
• Three birthdays - all awesome!  Darian had her Sweet Sixteen and it was amazing:  Limo, Dress Up Lunch at Rodizio, Photo Scavenger Hunt all over Fort Collins/Loveland, and Slumber Party!  It was pretty much amazing.  Murray turned 42...he enjoyed a low key Birthday Celebration at home, per his request we enjoyed "Steak and Cake"!  Perfect!  And then Jordyn turned 15 and much to my surprise she requested a "Non-Themed Party".  I really didn't like that.  But hey, it's her birthday!  So she had a slumber party with lots of movies and junk food - and it was great!
• Darian went to her first prom!  A Senior boy asked her to go and we had a great time giggling and planning - her dress was amazing and she had a wonderful time! 
• Jordyn went to her 9th Grade Invite Dance and she looked adorable!!!  We got her a fresh new haircut and dyed her hair an amazing shade of violet!  She went with friends and they laughed and danced the night away!  So fun!
• Murray bought me a new backyard lawn!!!  It was/is amazing!  We spent the last 3 years hating our yard and avoiding it like the plague.  Now we can't stay away from it!  We are loving it!
• Shortly after we hosted a Rehearsal Dinner for our friends Shane and Lindsey - it was a fun party!
• Shane and Lindsey got married!!!!  We were so happy to see our two "kids" get married!  It was a beautiful ceremony and reception - and Murray and I pulled off the best car decorating ever - we added Cheesy Mac to the car and then proceeded to SHRINK WRAP it!  lol!!  It was hillarious and we laughed a TON! 
• Me and the girls went to Georgia and oh my gosh, it was HOT!  The girls went clothes shopping with their Grandma and we went to the incredible Georgia Aquarium and The World of Coca Cola - it was really fun!  The Aquarium was amazing - we got to see the Dolphin Show, pet sting rays and little sharks...it was a great time!

That's all I got for now....and I'm ready for more!!!!  :)

Dear Sad and Neglected Blog,

I am sorry...I'm a bad blog writer.  Seriously - I love writing and talking about myself (tee-hee) but somehow Facebook gets all my time. 

Love...Me