Thankful List for February 2014

Thankful List for February:
-hearts for Aida in the mail 
-The Whitfield's got THE BIG applicaiton #2 done!
-The Golden's getting to meet their Miles!
-News we didn't want and a God who stands with us in our darkest moments and who understands and can handle all of our emotions.
-"But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me." 2Timothy 4:17
-"Paul knew that which didn't look like anything good might yield good, all in the hand of a good God." Ann Voskamp
-Melissa showing up at our doorstep with her presence, a coke, and presents the morning after we found out (she knows me well).

-cards, texts, phone calls, emails, facebook messages, blog comments
-Meegan's Edible Arrangement
-Kristin's zuchinni bread
-Melissa and Kelli texting me constantly to check on me
-"You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but You will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.  You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again." Psalm 71:20-21 (know it to be true for us but mostly resting in and believing it to be true for Aida).
-getting last pictures of Aida (the ones Tuck specifically wanted- ones of her holding the gifts we sent her)
-friends who have asked questions and given me/us the space/time to talk about whats going on
-"Morning feels so far away, questions keeping me awake.  Will you sing, sing Your night song?  All these lies that are owning me, all this fear makes it hard to breathe. Will You be, be my night song?  The Truth that sings into my darkness, the melody of Love that leads me on, the Voice that comforts all of my sadness, oh even when the suffering is long... be my night song." -Ellie Holcomb, Night Song
-The Grubens are now a family of five!
-knowing Aida is prayed for by lots of people
-Tucker's prayers for Aida "Please let her have food in her belly and the people who are taking care of her have food in their belly too.  Let someone at the orphanage be really  nice to her.  Please give Aida extra courage.  And a lot, a lot of strength."

And a few ramdom things that have nothing to do with adoption:
-Katie and Andy getting engaged!!!
-snow days
-watching the Olympics Opening Cermonies with the kids
-how much Tuck loved the Olympics
-making Valentines
-beautiful weather
-dancing kids
-lunch with Vicki
-lunch with Krista
-Tuck's 100 days of school hat
-Frozen Sing-a-Long with kids
-feeding ducks with Krista and Jaxon

-family walks
-milkshakes and smoothies from the new blender
-the Frozen obsession that has taken over our house
-great check up at the cardiologist for Libby, celebratory lunch at Cheesecake Factory
-our Friday nights spent with International students
-13 Midwestern students committing to serve on mission over the next 9 months
-shops downtown
-Ben surprising me with the Ellie Holcomb cd
-Ben buying me a really unique aqua vase (?) from 922 Indie
-Ben making pancakes
-Ben taking care of me (and the kids and meals) when I was sick
-Ben (just super thankful for him)
-Grandma not being alone when she got sick
-lunch with the Mackey's yesterday  (and how gracefully they are walking a tough journey).  We sure miss them.
-Tuck and Libby who make us smile and laugh everyday. 

"Grace grows best in the winter." -C.H. Spurgeon