Traditions

Rob and I just had a wonderful Christmas! We went out to California to spend a week with his family mid-December and then spent Christmas Day with my family in Northern Ohio. Since my family's Christmas traditions are so important to me I thought I would share them with you. Rob and I plan on sharing these fun traditions with our family someday also and that includes a part of you.

Rob and his family have a very casual Christmas with AMAZING food! His mom is a wonderful cook and every Christmas Eve she makes a wonderful California classic... Clam Chowder with plenty of wonderful accessories. On Christmas morning in the Hall home you wake up to the smell of carmelly sweet monkey bread. It is so wonderful and addicting. My mother in law also make all kinds of sweet treats my favorite is her home made carmels! So much love in the Hall home. They are the most accepting people I have ever met. They laugh hard and LOUD!

My family is getting BIG! With 6 siblings and now spouses there were 14 people in my parents house this year for Christmas. On Christmas Eve we all get dressed up and have a special dinner comprised of all kinds of fattening and scrumptious finger foods. We then have a siblings gift exchange and share something we were grateful for that year. Christmas morning we wait at the top of the stairs till my dad gets the camera ready! I mean we STILL do this and my oldest brother is 28! I keep reminding my mom we aren't 5 anymore but my parents get a kick out of it. We open stockings and presents and then eat my moms traditional breakfast casserole.

I think traditions are very important. My family's traditions have brought me so much joy over the years and I hope to establish great traditions with my family someday. I hope someday you might share your family traditions with me so that I might teach this baby about you in a fun way by celebrating those.

Thinking of You

Dear Birthmother,

For some reason I got really excited about adoption tonight. I just am feeling positive and encouraged. You may not even see this post... but today I thought of you. Yesterday Rob and I attended a Family Supporting Adoption event. It was really fun to see all of these cute families brought together by adoption. Many of them have great relationship with their children's birthmothers. I don't know if you will want a relationship with us but if you do, we are willing. Sorry this post is short just wanted to let you know I thought about you today

Dear Birthmother,

Every month I will write a letter to you. I have been thinking of you a lot lately. Wondering who you are, what you like to do, hoping we will be good friends someday. I recently went to a women's conference where Micheal McLean was the musical presenter. I love his song "From Gods Arms, To My Arms, To Yours", I bought you a book/cd and had it signed by him. I hope you like it as much as I do. The book sits on my bedroom dresser and reminds me of you. Even though I don't know who you are yet, I pray for you.