It just doesn't get any cuter than this.

'nuff said

So adorable.

There are just no words that adequately express my heart. For now, I can only say that he is here, he is precious, and I love him.

Positively Munchable!

Last night we were blessed to welcome our sweet grandson home. After many, many hours of travel, Ayeresam and his parents arrived in Portland from Ethiopia. And the cameras flashed without stop.
Welcome, sweetie pie!
We love you.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Sunday, January 24, 2010, is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and will mark the 37th anniversary of Roe v Wade. This day is a time to celebrate the intrinsic vaue of all human life, from conception to natural death. Emphasis is given to a broad range of life issues, including abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, health care, child abuse, and eldercare. One of my favorite authors, Randy Alcorn, has written a moving piece in his blog about this issue. It was especially encouraging for me to learn that the young people of our country, under age 35, are more pro-life than any other generation.

Please join me in praying that, after 37 years and 50 million deaths, our country might finally reject the atrocity of abortion, and stand up for life.

At last...

Today Jake and Beka boarded a plane bound for Ethiopia where they will meet their sweet little son, and finally bring him home. This is a journey that actually started about two years ago, and the Lord has faithfully guided the process from the beginning. It is amazing to contemplate all the time and effort that has gone into the adoption process, yet Jake and Beka, as any parent knows, were willing to go to any length, to do absolutely anything for their son.
His nursery is beautifully prepared, his clothes and diapers are all organized, his little toys lovingly displayed. Many gifts have been given, and many prayers have been prayed.
So now we wait. Wait for our opportunity to personally look into those beautiful brown eyes. To touch his soft skin. To show him just how much we love him.
Ayeresam Jacob Dorr. Our first grandson.
You are already so loved.
Can't wait to show you just how much.
Grandma and Grandpa

Wouldn't you know...

Murphy's law states that "If anything can go wrong, it will." A corollary would be "And it will go wrong at the worst possible time." In the past, we have faced major plumbing issues on Thanksgiving Day, and this year it was a hopelessly-broken dishwasher at Christmas. The part needed to fix it is almost $300, so we decided to cut our losses and order a new one to replace this twelve-year-old model. (We also have some damaged flooring as a result of the leaks - PHOOEY.) With a houseful of family here for the holiday, we needed to run the dishwasher several times a day, so Mark rigged up a pan underneath it to catch the many leaks, as well as several strategically-placed bowls, and we ran it to our hearts' content, emptying bowls as necessary. The new dishwasher is due to arrive next week.
Mom, Hannah, Mark, and I check out the situation. We all look concerned, but in truth only Mark knew what he was looking at.
Mom came from Santa Barbara for Hannah's college graduation the previous Saturday, and stayed through Christmas. It was so wonderful to have her here. She got in some quality "Goliath time."
Also some special time with Sarah.
Six of us girls went to tea at Philomath's very own tea room. It has become a Christmas tradition for us, and it didn't disappoint. Above, Mom, Nikki, and Sarah.
Beka, Hannah, and me.
Before David and Nikki headed back to Colorado, Nikki's mom hosted a baby shower for them. Hannah, Sarah, Beka, and I joined Dave and Nikki at her parents' home for the event. It was very fun, and they received many nice gifts for their wee little girl.

Yeah, we recycle...

Last year we splurged on a living Christmas tree. We were doing some major landscaping in our back yard, and we wanted a tree we could plant there after using it for our Christmas tree. And that's precisely what happened - we paid big money for a lovely Nordeman Fir, used it for Christmas, then planted it afterward. Fast forward to Christmas 2009. We debated cutting a tree versus purchasing another live tree. And then we looked out the window at our back yard and started thinking - could we? dare we? - use last year's tree again? Hmmm. And our conclusion? We could! We dared! And we did. Mark dug it out of the ground, hauled it inside, and we re-used that tree again. And it worked just fine. It's now been happily replanted in the back yard. And I'm already wondering about next Christmas. Might we get three years out of one Christmas tree?
Stay tuned.