Nostalgia

Dear Blog (and blog readers),
I just came by to reminisce. I miss you.

I was reading a friend's blog and thought why not pop over and take a look - just for old time's sake. It was good while it lasted - right?

Can you believe it has been two months since I last came to you with my thoughts and reflections?

Life has been getting in the way. Our days are so full that it is 9:24 at night and I have only found time to eat once today (it was a long time ago). I have, however, managed to consume frightening quantities of coffee...which is why I am even able to stop for a minute and think about this record of our experiences.

I promise to write again...there are still so many things that I want to say about our life and experiences in Kazakhstan and as new parents. I promise it won't be two months between this and the next post. In the meantime, just know that I am catching my breath, working hard and fully enjoying our son and our little family of three.

I have a million pictures and videos and little thoughts that I would like to share, but we'll take it one step at a time.

With Affection,
S

Cause for Celebration

This past weekend we headed to the sea to rest and to celebrate. Despite a crazy week of D traveling and me staying home with Asher, we decided to leave behind our to-do lists, our laptops, and our hectic schedule for the roar of the sea and the feel of cool sand between our toes.

By mid-week, we began feeling like Ishmael from Moby Dick. In the opening of the novel, he writes, "Whenever I find myself feeling grim about the mouth, whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul...then I account it high time to get to the sea as soon as I can...while Cato throws himself on the sword; I quietly take to the sea..." When we walked into our hotel room and looked right out to the ocean, we both inhaled and with that one breath felt all anxieties and stress slip right out of our minds...now if we could just bottle the scent, record the sound, and paint the scene...or move to the beach. :)

Believe it or not, this trip to the seaside was one of the first times we have ever gone away for the weekend, and definitely our first family mini-vacation! In addition to feeling a bit of heaviness and exhaustion from the last several months, we had reason to celebrate! Among the many things we are thankful for, we were celebrating God's provision for us in the form of full-time teaching position. What a rare and wonderful opportunity D and I have to work from home, doing two things we love: raising our son and teaching students! (and reducing our adoption expenses!). :)

This past weekend, we also celebrated our three month anniversary as a family. It was November 9 that a judge in Semey legally declared us Asher's parents. Three months - can you believe it? When I think about the changes we have witnessed in Asher and in ourselves, I find it hard to believe that it has just been that sliver of time. I suppose that three weeks in a foreign country, four weeks with different guests staying with us, one week's worth of family birthdays and holidays, and nearly two weeks of traveling for work have contributed to our sense that time is fleeting and our lives a whirlwind!

And so this past weekend, like Ishmael, we left the comforts of home for the lure of the sea...to rest, to just be together, and to celebrate all that is going on in our abundant (albeit often crazy) lives...and it was wonderful. :)

The view from our hotel room
Watching the waves roll in
Getting our toes wet
Snacking on the sand

Birthday Boy

Today we celebrate our son's birth! One year ago today, he made his appearance in the world as a 6.5 pound healthy baby boy. One year ago today, on the other side of the world, we were fervently praying for the baby that would forever become a part of our family.

On this day, we feel a special and profound gratitude for the gift of his life. From the moment that he was born in our hearts, Asher has brought us hope and joy. He truly lives up to his name - for he is indeed our happy blessing.

Here are some pictures from the day:

Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Go KU! My daddy picked out my clothes today because KU plays tonight against Missouri. He says that I am going to be a true fan - even if it requires brainwashing.
I like this frosting stuff!
Presents, boxes, bows, balloons, and frosting! Could this day get any better?
More! More! I can't say it, but I sure can sign it!
What a fun party I had! Mama, Daddy, Grammy, Poppy, and my cousin Brandon celebrated with me today. I also got lots of phone calls from all the people I love.

Asher's birthday is the fifth family birthday that we have celebrated in the last month and a half so we skipped the cake and had banana splits instead. Since Asher had already enjoyed plenty of frosting, his "You Are Special Today" plate was filled with bananas and strawberries...and some whipped cream on top!

As we clean up for the evening and put away the balloons and streamers, we contemplate his first 12 months of life, and we wonder what was happening, one year ago today, in a delivery room of Maternity Hospital #3 in Semey, Kazakhstan. We think about the woman who gave birth to Asher and feel overwhelming gratitude that she chose life for him. We rejoice that even before Asher was conceived, God knew the plans that he had for his life...plans that included a mama and daddy that are just wild about him, plans that cover him with grace and mercy and boundless love.

Psalm 139
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

Happy Birthday Asher Blaine Bolat Wyss, our most precious thought of God!