and we give thanks.

They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:7

Today we are celebrating! We have so much to be thankful for this year. I will admit, this year has taken the proverbial cake when it comes to personal trials. Having my daughters has been my greatest joy and at times my greatest sacrifice. I am learning how to live and breath and do life all over again. It is a new life. A new way of doing things. A new way of loving.

2010 began for me unlike any other. I found myself basking in the freedom of Christ in a way that I had not experienced. He was my living water and I could not get enough to drink. The climb to the mountaintop was long and painstaking and Christ so gently shed light into so many hidden dark places in my life that needed healing only He could give. I found myself in an almost euphoric state. But alas, we cannot live on the mountaintop and now in the closing of 2010 I am finding myself back in the familiar territory- the valley of the foot of the Cross. Desperately seeking Him, desiring to be His servant, and so needing His healing touch. It truly never ends, this process of holy sanctification. I am forever His and He is mine. Oh how my heart rejoices in such a simple and yet mind-blowing, radical truth. 


I know you must be thinking this was supposed to be about celebration and thankfulness and at 2am, I have to tell you amidst my own personal pain and struggles this year has brought I am triumphantly celebrating the Lord's goodness! He has blessed us with two amazingly unique and special little girls. 

What a fascinatingly long 9 month journey God took me on as He began preparing my heart to care for two little sweet babes.

Celebrating 2 amazing little treasures being knitted together

When I look in their eyes it is as if I am gazing into the heart of Christ and get a special glimpse of the awe and wonder that awaits us in Heaven. It is magical.

Amelia Grayce

Stella Natalia

Alan was granted a medical visa to be there for the birth of the girls. That alone is an amazing testament of His power to meet our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Read that story here.

A proud papi

Adding to our family, May 25, 2010

We are so very blessed

We have been working for months now to get Alan's permanent residency to the states and Nov. 18 we got it! Another huge answer to prayers. Our family can now travel back and forth freely to the US without worry. 

We stayed at this little hotel across the street from the US Embassy. Our girls stayed in Santiago with Alan's parents. It was a wonderfully refreshing time for Alan and I to reconnect and of course, to sleep!

Even amidst our house being broken into, God was so faithful to protect me and the girls. God has used what was meant to harm and destroy us to bring us closer to Him. Our faith has deepened. The love between Alan and I has been deepened (something uniquely fierce and primal happens when someone you love is in potential danger) 


If I could put a theme to 2010 it would be faithfulness. He is so good and faithful.
When we doubt, He is faithful.
When we fear, He is still faithful.
When we are unfaithful, He is faithful yet.


He has been so faithful to me through a very difficult season, I confess, in my soul I do love these times of clinging to Him as if my very life depended on it. We are climbing that mountain together and will one day be back on top- only to look right back down into the valley where He will once again lead me... Oh how I love my sweet Jesus.


For this, I am so thankful on Thanksgiving. For this, we will celebrate. 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1