12 days of Christmas by the Petrosky Kids

One of our projects this month has been to change the 12 days of Christmas song.  So, here is the condensed version.  Enjoy!

On the twelfth day of Christmas

My family gave to me,

Twelve reasons to celebrate Christ’s birth,

Eleven plus holiday greetings,

Ten presents under the tree,

  

Nine merry carols,

Eight snowmen standing,

Seven elves a workin’,

Six members of our family,

FIVE Christmas stockings,

Four anxious children,

Three Santa Claus movies,

Two Christmas pillows,

And a 9 foot Christmas tree.

Reason’s to celebrate Christ’s birth:

1.      Because Jesus was born in a manger.

2.      Because he died on the cross for us.

3.      Because he rose again.

4.      Because he wants to save us from the devil.

5.      Because he wants us to go to heaven.

6.      Because he loves us.

7.      Because we love him.

8.      Because Jesus listens to our prayers.

9.      Because Jesus answers our prayers.

10.  Because God gave us his ONLY son that came to Earth.

11.  Because we are sinners.

12.  Because he keeps us safe.

Thankful

In light of the darkness that has come upon us this Christmas season, I realize more today than last Thursday of how lucky I am.  How lucky I am to have a Savior sent to our little dot called Earth.  This babe born in a manger was brought to give me hope, give me light, and give me salvation I'll never deserve.  No amount of human darkness can cover HIS light and I'm thankful that he lives in me.

This Christmas looks and feels different for us this year and it has been great so far.  We've decided to cut back as much as possible on Christmas gifts so that we can use as much of our funds as possible towards bringing Jordy home.  While I LOVE shopping and giving to the people in our lives that we love and appreciate so much, I have to admit that slowing down this year has been a breath of fresh air.  We completed our Christmas shopping the weekend of black Friday and purchased only for the little people in our lives, and it seems like this simple act of cutting back has freed up a whole month for us to spend doing other fun things. 

My husband and I were able to attend for the second year, our Parkview Emergency Physicians yearly party.  We had fun eating, learning to gamble someone else's money, and dancing with co-workers and spouses.  A BIG thank you to our friends (aka family at this point), Tim, Karoline, Emily Davis for giving mom and dad a date night. 

Because we are cutting back, I decided not to buy wrapping paper this year but instead, I decided to use free newspaper end rolls to wrap gifts.  While our kiddos were still with the Davis family (they got to spend the night), mom wrapped up gifts.  When they came home, they got free reign to color the gifts under the tree.  It was a big hit!

 

We've used the rest of our weekend playing games, watching movies, going to church, watching football, and being HOME.  It feels great!!!!

 

I'm going to dedicate more time to football now . . . GO PACK beat the bears!!! ;)

I-800A

Most of you won't even begin to know or care but we're ready.  We are so ready to mail out our I-800A.  Basically, this is an application to the US Immigration office asking if they see it fit for us to adopt a child abroad and bring them to the US.  We need this application to be approved in order to get a finger printing appointment and in order to submit the I-800 form.  Doesn't sound much different does it?  In order to submit this application, we have to have several pieces:

- Money . . . check
- Birth Certificate copies . . . check
- Marriage Certificate copy . . . check
- Letter to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) . . . check
- Home Study . . . anxiously awaiting!!!!!!!!!!

We have completed all our Home Study visits and so we are waiting for this to be put into writing.  Once everyone is satisfied with our life story on paper, they give us certified copies which we will promptly place in the mail.  I'm praying.  I'm hoping we can do this before the end of the month.  What a good way to start off the Christmas season by getting our I-800A paperwork in the mail.  Merry Christmas to us and most importantly, Merry Christmas Jordy.  We are coming, don't know when, but we are coming!!

For those that haven't watched our little man "walking" on his knees pre-surgery, this is a picture of the way he crosses his legs before getting to his knees and walking.