Bye-Bye 2010

As I begin to type this blog, I keep reading this scripture:
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6

Wow, that sums up our year!

The Benefield household has seen some major changes in 2010.  Some have been wonderful, and some have been tragic.  As this year closes, I realize how blessed we are and know that some day we will understand the reasoning for the bumps in the road we call life.

Here's a recap :)

November 2009

17th - We have a son!

January 2010

We received new photos of John McRae on January 11th!  We went for our FBI fingerprinting, and Homeland Security fingerprinting, met with our wonderful social worker at Catholic Charities, had our septic tank inspected, attended our Pre-Adopt class where we met the Daniel and O'Mara families. :)  We received two medical reports for John McRae in January! 

Daniel, Grandma Johnson and I went to North Carolina to see Emma and her boys.  We had a lovely time, and even got to spend some time with Jeremiah's sweet family, too.

Daddy didn't go, and Daniel didn't make the picture...but this is Grandma and I leaving out for NC!

 What a busy month January was!

February 2010

Daniel joined the 29 club!

Daniel's FBI fingerprints were approved, but mine were not.  I had to resubmit clearer prints...  We received 2 medical reports for John McRae this month.

March 2010

Happy FIRST birthday John McRae!

April 2010

Stacy's FBI fingerprints were FINALLY approved and our home study was sent to Holt!  What a relief!!!

We attended a PBR event in NOLA Easter weekend.  We had a blast, and made memories that will last a life time. :)

May 2010

We received our acceptance email from Holt on the 4th, and received our legals on the 13th!  This was a very exciting month because our EP was submitted, too, on the 27th!

Stacy had a birthday, and it was a great one spent with friends.  Amy brought me a delicious ice cream cake, too!

My sweet husband took me to the beach for my birthday!  It was a fabulous weekend, and we had a lot of fun.  We both love the beach, and our whole trip consisted of "next year, John McRae will be here with us playing in the sand!"

June 2010

Our I-600 was approved on the 25th and WE GOT EP APPROVAL ON THE 28TH! 

July 2010

Emma helped me put together nursery furniture.  

We had Grandma Johnson a birthday party and it was a lot of fun!

July was a tough month, and I thank all of my friends and family for pulling me through it!  A special thanks to Emma, Tracy, Amy and Allyson.  You four kept me from going completely insane during the last part of our wait for Travel Call!

August 2010

I started writing in this blog a little more in August.  For my MIL's birthday, we took a day trip to the beach.  We had a lot of fun walking the beautiful beach, shopping in Foley and eating at my favorite place - Doc's!

August was a busy month, to say the least.  We thought we might get our Travel Call last week in July, or first week in August, but we didn't...  The month of August was spent staying busy and preparing for John McRae's arrival home on August 26th!

August was full of blessings, my mom's tests came back that she was one year CANCER FREE.  Praise the Lord!!!

September 2010 - October 2010

is a blur.

Stacy spent about 9 weeks as a SAHM, learning the ropes of being a mom.  I wouldn't trade these two months for ANYTHING, but I do wish I could remember more about them.  So much, so fast...  I do remember the best part of all, though.  Hearing my baby boy call me "Mama"...wow.  I need to go back and read my blogs, so that I can take it all in and process it all.  So, here's my tip for all of you waiting on your babies to come home...WRITE IT DOWN! :)

During these two months, I lost three precious loved ones.  My Grandpa, our cat - Trina and my sweet Tuff. 

 I sure miss this precious face meeting me at the door everyday.  Ok, now I'm wiping tears. =*(

We had our first post placement visit with our social worker.

October 2010

John McRae started daycare at the end of October and I went back to work full time. 

November 2010

November was a quiet month, but we did enjoy Thanksgiving and John McRae met more family.

December 2010

December has been a very busy month.  We've seen lots of family, and enjoyed the holiday season more than we can ever remember.  It was kind of odd to actually have the Christmas spirit again.  We've not taken down our Christmas tree, and I'm not sure that I'm ready for the holiday to be over with!  We went to Roanoke, AL to see my FIL's family and John McRae rode well and put on a show for his new family.  We were so proud of how well he did on the 5 hour drive, sleeping and eating in a strange place and meeting new people!  We saw most all of our family over the holidays, and that made the holiday so special.  We love our families and are so grateful for them. 

And we will be bringing in the New Year at my favorite place this year.  Fireworks, shopping, Christmas lights, and seafood!

What a wonderful way to end a wonderful year! 

Now that I've tried to think back and remember the highlights of 2010, I more than ever see the importance of blogging!  I know I've left out lots of very important things.  So, if you remember something remind me of it! :)

Here's my resolution list!
1.) Let God have complete control and use me to do His work.

2.) Make sure my family and friends know how much they mean to me and do nice things for them every chance I get.

3.) Make healthy choices

4.) Blog More

Happy New Year!
The Benefields

All I want for Christmas,

is for every one to be healthy!  Seems like we've been passing a sore throat, mucus, etc. around our house for the past couple months.  It's like a never ending cycle.  Lord, please bless us with healthy bodies and a Merry Christmas!

Over the weekend, we went with my in-laws to Daniel's Granny's house in Roanoke, AL.  We were quite nervous about this trip, because John McRae isn't real fond of riding long distances.  He was wonderful, though.  It's about a 4.5 hour drive both ways, and he managed much better than the rest of us!  No whining on his part at all.  We were all so proud of him.  Being the little comedian he is, he provided lots of entertainment.  He's so funny, and so darn cute!  We did watch Barney Goes to the Farm about 3498456468796 times....

Last night, we had Christmas with the Linn family.  I enjoy spending as much time with them as I can, but it makes me miss them so much when they are back in NC and we are in MS.  The boys had fun opening their gifts, and playing.  The adults enjoyed gift opening, but I think we could all agree that watching the kiddos was the best part!

Tonight, we will enjoy more Johnson family time, but sadly, several will be absent due to sickness and the loss of a loved one.  We will miss those who aren't there, but will definitely be thinking of them and praying for them. 

John McRae has done so well since joining our family, and even at first when people told me that the change in him would be unreal within four months, I thought...he can't get any better.  He's perfect.  I see all of his wonderful personality.  He loves us already, and he knows we are Mommy & Daddy...  Well, I can tell a huge difference since Thanksgiving.  He was a bit stand-off-ish (is that a word?!?) around a large number of people Thanksgiving, but it seems that since then, he is more secure and is just enjoying being loved by all of his new family and friends!

I do think I need to give our wonderful daycare credit for some of that progress, though.  John McRae has the best teacher, and the rest of the staff is wonderful, too.  =)

I think I'll go eat some Christmas cookies now to see if it will make my head unstop. ;)

Merry Christmas! 

He Is Mine

A sweet adoption poem, acknowledging that our children are entrusted to us by God.

By Valerie Kay Gwin, from Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul

I tiptoed into your room one night.

I watched you sleeping there.

Your tiny body looked so snug

Wrapped in peaceful slumber's care.

I thought of how you came to be

The child we'd longed to know.

I wondered at the sight of you:

"How could she let you go?"

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I

Felt the pain she must have known.

For I will have to let you go

Some day when you are grown.

A mother I might never meet

Had given me her son.

Yet, surely as you've filled my heart,

A piece of hers you'd won.

"How could she let you go?"

The question kept returning.

And in the depths of my own heart.

A question kept on burning.

"How can I ever let you go

When years have come and gone?"

I stood there by your crib until

The nighttime turned to dawn.

And as the sun peeked through the shades,

The voice of God broke through.

"I trusted her to give him life

And now I'm trusting to you.

"To show him what is right and wrong,

to love him and to be

The one who teaches him the way

To come back home to me.

"He wasn't hers to give, you know.

And he's not yours to own.

I've placed him in your life to love

But he is mine … on loan."

Today is John McRae's Christmas party at school.  I'd love to see him and his friends enjoying snacks, opening presents and having fun!  He was so cute in his Christmas shirt this morning.   D & I love that boy so much that we can't even put it into words!  We are so blessed by having John McRae as our son!

Lots of fun stuff coming in the next two weeks, and I'm so excited about it!  I can't wait to see family, friends and enjoy delicious food!  We are especially excited because this is our first Christmas as a family of three, and we know that it is going to be extra, extra special!

Merry Christmas everyone :)

Thanks Leah for making us this Korean flag ornament.  It is so special to our family. =)







First Christmas Home - Ornament

Our ornament came today!

John McRae loves animals, especially cows!

So, this one was perfect for us.

I love it. =)

Dieting during the holidays

STINKS!

So for all of my fellow dieters, I will put a little humor into it.

Let's help each other stay motivated when it is too cold to exercise and it is much easier to snuggle up with a good movie, a package of Oreos and a big glass of milk!

I want my New Year's resolution to be something meaningful,

 not to lose 10 lbs!

Holiday Diet

The following diet is designed to help you cope with the stress, paranoia, depression and delusion that builds during the holidays...
Breakfast:
1/2 grapefruit


1 slice whole wheat toast


8 oz. skim milk


Lunch:
4 oz. lean broiled chicken breast


1 cup steamed spinach


1 cup herb tea


1 Oreo cookie


Mid-Afternoon snack:
The rest of Oreos in the package


2 pints Rocky Road ice cream, nuts, cherries and whipped cream


1 jar hot fudge sauce


Dinner:
2 loaves garlic bread


4 cans or 1 large pitcher Coke


1 large sausage, mushroom and cheese pizza


3 Snickers bars


Late Evening News:


Entire frozen Sara Lee cheesecake (eaten directly from freezer)


RULES FOR THIS DIET:


If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.


If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are cancelled out by the diet soda.


When you eat with someone else, calories don't count if you do not eat more than they do.


Food used for medicinal purposes NEVER count, such as hot chocolate, brandy, toast and Sara Lee Cheesecake.


If you fatten up everyone else around you then you look thinner.


Movie related foods do not have additional calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel. Examples: Milk Duds, buttered popcorn, Junior Mints, Red Hots, Tootsie Rolls.


Cookie pieces contain no calories. The process of breaking causes calorie leakage.


Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of preparing something.


Foods that have the same color have the same number of calories. Examples are: spinach and pistachio ice cream; mushrooms and mashed potatoes.


Chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted for any other food color.


Anything consumed while standing has no calories. This due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.


Anything consumed from someone else's plate has no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to his/her plate. (We ALL know how calories like to cling!)




Now, I'm going to go look on Weight Watchers to see what I can eat tonight at D's Christmas party...

*Merry Christmas!*

Stacy

December, already?!?

Wow!  I can't believe that it is already December.  It seems like once the first day of December rolls around, the year is over.  We all become so busy that the month flies by in a blur.  It's only the 7th and we have something to do every weekend until the end of the year, and some week nights as well. 

So, I'm going to put my big girl panties on and deal with it...and try to enjoy it!

D & I went shopping for JMc's Christmas gifts on Saturday and it was a very successful trip.  Although, the stores are already picked through.  I'm glad to have that behind us with our calendar filling up for the month so quickly.  I already have the gifts wrapped, too! =)  D & I do not plan to exchange gifts this year, and could care less if we get any material gifts this Christmas.  We got the best gift of all on August 26th, 2010!

D shopped sick on Saturday, and then was very sick on Sunday.  John McRae was sickly as well.  Thank God they are both feeling better!

I'm especially happy that I'll get to see the Linn's this month!  I'm so ready!  We miss them so much.  We will start Christmas early with my dad's side of the family, and I can't wait to have everyone together.  Daniel and I were blessed with wonderful folks whome we love very much!  Good food and good company, always!  My mom and Grandma will come Christmas day and stay the night.  We'll also see all of D's family on Christmas. 
 I'm hoping for Christmas Eve with my dad, too!

I'm also very happy for several of my adoption friends who've received good news in the past couple weeks!  Some will bring their babies home just in time for Christmas!  What a wonderful gift. =)Lots of exciting things have happened lately.  John McRae has more and more personallity every day!  He is a little comedian and loves to dance and play.  We enjoy him so much.  He's such a blessing.  He's been such a good boy, that Mama and Daddy bought him some new wheels to ride in!  I'll miss my Cadillac, but we all ride much more comfortably in this mommy mobile.  He's such a little prince, we must treat him as so!

I'm also very excited for my dear friend, Allyson, and her family who welcomed Miss Harley into the world last week.  I've still not met her, but I surely can't wait!  She is the prettiest little thang!

It's cold in MS this morning.  Snow is a possibility around 10AM.  I'm not holding my breath, but I would love a white Christmas this year!  We've seen so many miracles this year, so I think there might be a chance...

My boy wasn't digging the cold this morning, or the getting out of bed.  This is not his happy face!

Here is a photo of JMc's photo with Santa in his fabulous Mud Pie frame.

Here is our Christmas tree.  Note, it does not have any ornaments with any value or meaning.  It's not worth the risk of JMc breaking them! ;)

Merry CHRISTmas

And I sure have been missing this sweet baby everyday.  It seems like I miss him more and more each day. =*(

Sorry for ending such an upbeat post on such a sad note, but I'm reminded of my best friend, Tuff, everyday.  It still cuts deap and I cry for him everyday...just like right now.

To make up for it, I'll leave you with this picture that is sure to make you smile. :)