The most wonderful time of the year

You'd never from these precious pictures what a day we had trying to get Ava to pose and smile for the camera!  Shesh! Anyway, the holidays are upon us and we are already enjoying them in a whole new way.  Seeing all the wonder and magic through a child's eyes is really something special.  But most special of all is remembering and focusing on what Christmas is ALL about!  Every year the Christmas story amazing me. Every year I am emotional thinking that the King of all Kings came as a humble, innocent child into a sinful world that would ultimately betray him and sentence him to death   He was born with one purpose.  To save us through dieing for our sins and then conquering death by raising three days later!  So, while it's so fantastic to remember the sweet baby Jesus who was born in a manger, also remember what he was born to do and the price he paid for you, for your me, and for every person who ever lived.  Pretty darn cool.  
So, purpose...it's a good time to think on what God's purpose is for your life as 2010 is wrapping up and a new year is about to begin.  This year we have discovered a lot about God's purpose. God called us to adopt which I was EXCITED about but this is kind of how my conversation with him went..." I would like to adopt an infant girl.  This is my first child and I would love to experience those early months with her. Also, I don't really want to deal with the baggage that comes with adopting an older child.  Also, I plan to adopt a child without any kind of medical problem or health issue. I definitely want healthy!  What mother doesn't?"  Ok, so that clearly wasn't God's purpose for this family!  Although he did give me a girl :-)  But as all of you who know us already know, we wouldn't have it any other way.  Now, don't think that I think I have figured out God's exact plan for my life...that's not really how it works.  It's a constant process and it's always evolving but one thing that doesn't change is that he wants our life to glory him.  And sometimes that looks different then we expect it will.
When I pray for Ava I pray that God would use her to do great things for Him.  I pray that he would use her exactly how he made her to inspire and touch others in the name of Jesus.  And I pray that he would use every hardship that she's had in her past and will have in her future for His purpose.   
So, I hope that this Christmas season we can all think about the great purpose that Jesus had in this world and ask him what his plans for us might be.

Thankful and...a short trip down memory lane

Today we had a Thanksgiving feast at Ava's preschool.  It was great fun!  I couldn't help but think of how horribly hard it was for us this time last year.  I was certain that Ava would be home with us for Thanksgiving and, not only was she not home, but we hadn't seen her in 4 months and had no clue when we would see her again.  Even writing that makes me a little sick to my stomach.  It was so painful.  We truly have a ton to be thankful for this year.  I wanted to share a few pictures from our trip in contrast to today.  Again showing how much we have to be thankful for and how far God has brought our Ava this year.

 CRAZY!  Ava on the left was 3 1/2 years old!!  Can you believe that??  She couldn't take a step on her own. Now, she not only doesn't needs a hand to hold onto but she, most of  the time refuses ANY help at all :-) Wow God, wow.

 

Don't think this one needs any explanation :-) 

It's so fun seeing experience REAL life.  Playing outside, interacting with the world around her.

Ok, so she's always been incredibly gorgeous!  But doesn't her sweet face look so much older and more mature?  What an angel!

We really have so much to thank God for!  Here are some other things I am so grateful for in my life and wanted to share with you:
 1) Jesus who gave his life so we might have life eternally.  Really, is there anything you can think of to be more thankful for? 
2) My husband who is simply the greatest.  Supportive husband and loving father to our girl.
3) My Ava.  Light of my life.  A joy and inspiration to me and so many others.
4) My family. My Mom, Dad, and Sister are my strength and are always there to love me.
5) My in-laws who are the best I could ever ask for.  So sweet and understanding 
6) My bestest friends who have stood the test of time, have seen me at my worst, and just keep giving, loving, and encouraging.
7) My new friends through therapy and through FB.  I love the amazing Kaz adoptive family community that I have found.  They encourage and inspire constantly.  My friends from therapy are a great resource and support as well. 
8) My health and the good health of my family.
9) My home. We live in a beautiful part of the world with so many opportunities for Ava.
10) Ava's therapists and teachers who I couldn't say enough about. They are up when she is up and down when she is down. It really is more than a job for them and we are blessed by their dedication everyday. 

 Happy Thanksgiving!

This and That

It's been a busy few weeks for us.  Here is a little mixture of everything going.on...

The "lucky fin"(Ava's brace) has been an adjustment for all of us.  She is doing amazingly well with it. Never complains and never asks for it off.  GREAT NEWS.  I on the other hand have had to adjust.  It just looks so uncomfortable and I never feel like I"m putting it on right.  Of course James does it perfectly everytime and it takes me serveral minutes and I still get it wrong.  Practice practice practice.  Today will be her first day wearing it to preschool.  I think she can expect lots of kidos asking her what happened to her leg.  Knowing her it wont bother a bit and she'll be excited to show it off. And here it is...

.Therapy is stilll going very well.  Ava's therapists are ANGELS.  I just adore them.  With the new lucky fin in our life we will be uping her therapy from twice to three times weekly.  I am excited for this b/c I think she needs it!  There are so many things to work on :-)  

Something I'm dealing with as a Mom of sweet little Ava is, Where do we fit?  I really want to form relationships with other parents of children with Special needs, with other adoptive parents, and with typical children and families from school, church, etc.  This desire of mine to expose Ava to other children like her and children different from her was pretty stressful for me for many months.  I didn't really feel like we fit in any group.  BUT, i have come to a good place now of realzing that we fit everywhere!  We are blessed to have so many unique children and families in our life.  We can certainly learn from them and I hope they can learn from us.  Ava's social schedule is pretty darn jam packed.  Here's a picture of her a birthday party! 

I am so thankful for the strong network of Kazakhstan adoptive families that i have been connected with through Facebook.  It is wonderful to see babies continuing to join families and to live the whole adoption expereince again through them.  I know, we've only been home 7 months...but I miss it sometimes.  Not the stress but the journey. Here are some sweet angels who have recently come home from Kaz

 

So there's a little this and that from the Letterneau house :-) 

Happy Adoption Sunday

November is Adoption Awareness month and this last Sunday was Adoption Sunday.
Here are some verses that I love about adoption...

You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
Psalms 10:14,17-18

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.
Psalms 68:5-6

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Proverbs 31:8-9

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.
Matthew 18:5

We love our little miracle and we love adoption! 

Trick or Treat

Just had to post a few pictures of little Ava's first Trick or Treating experience.  She loved going house to house and even said thank you to everyone when asked by her mommy or daddy.  SAID Thank You! Side note...her speech is really really happening!  We are so excited although we know it's still a long road ahead.
Some pics of our little fairy girl...

  Sweetest little thing

Our furry child also got in on the fun.

We met up with our friends the Smrekars and went around their neighborhood.  We all felt very safe with a real great white shark to protect us :-)

It was a great night for all and Mommy and Daddy are still enjoying the benefits of all of Ava's hard work :-)

Some other fun festive events...
Dance Class

 We decided to change it up a bit and dress as a princess for dance class on Saturday.

 How cute!

 Can you believe that every last girl was a princesses or fairy.

Love those ballerina arms

Birthday Party...
We got to go to a fun 1 year old, Halloween themed birthday party!

 Birthday Boy

Well, now we look forward to Thanksgiving, and then...Christmas!  Everything is so much more fun with kids!