Happy Christmas...

At this time every year, we sit back and reflect upon the previous year.

It seems that this has been a busy one for both of us....

• In December 2006, Jenn's father moved to Rockford with us.
• In January, Jenn started a new job with the Deluxe Johnson Group.
• In February, we were still thinking we would receive our referral in 2007.
• In April, we celebrated our one year anniversary of our LID.
• In April, our kitchen remodeling was finally completed.
• In May, the Rockford Register Star sold to GateHouse Media.
• In June, we put the house on the market and Kevin saw Gwen Stefani in concert.
• In June, we celebrated being out of review and realized we would not get our referral this year.
• In June, Jenn celebrated her 37th birthday.
• In June, Kevin started a new job in Lansing, MI
• In July, Kevin went to BolognaFest in Yale, MI and truly became a Michigander.
• July and August were a blur.
• In September, Jenn's father went into the hospital and we realized then that he needed more care than we could provide.
• In September we received the only offer on our Rockford property in a rapidly declining housing market. WOO HOO
• In October, Jenn's dad made his permanent residence in a nursing home in Chicago.
• In October, we celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary... apart.
• In October, the movers packed up our house.
• In November, we closed on the Rockford property and on our new home in DeWitt, MI.
• In November, we went to the MSU vs. UM football game. Our first sporting event as Michiganders.
• In December, we went to the MSU vs. NC State basketball game. Our second sporting event as Michiganders. NOTE: Kevin has been to more sports games this year than in the previous 10 years.
• In December, Kevin celebrated his 36th birthday.

December is nearly gone and we're exhausted! It has been a roller-coaster of a ride this past year and that was just with Jennifer. No, seriously, it has been a hard year and one we are glad is nearly gone.

Today, on this Christmas Eve, we realize it's our 20 month anniversary of our LID. We both feel blessed; however, it is hard to go through these holidays without our child. We know there will be a happy ending, but getting to that point is not always clear, easy, or fun. It is hard to even guess when our referral will come to us. Some think it will be in the fall; some think it will be next winter; and, yet, some think it will be in the spring of 2009. We're, obviously, hoping for 2008. Our goal was to travel before the Olympics (8/8/08) and now, we will travel after.

The next steps for us in the adoption process is to meet with a local agency in Michigan. We have decided to partner with Adoption Advocates of, get this, Rockford, MI. They will be our post-placement agency; however, Lifelink will remain our placing agency. We have already made contact and will get the ball rolling after the holidays.

We are in love with our new home, here in Michigan. Here is a link to view the pictures. Mom, Larry, call me when you can't figure it out.

Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and safe New Year.

Love,
Kevin & Jennifer