Christmas

This year we had many Christmas celebrations and spread Christmas over a whole week.  We made so many great memories, it is hard to narrow it down.  Here are some of the highlights...

Christmas with the Harts - December 22nd

Our big boy all ready for the first Christmas celebration

Family Christmas Eve - December 23rd - This year we wanted to start a Christmas tradition with just our immediate family in addition to the whole family celebrations.  We decided to turn Christmas Eve into our Christmas Day.  On our Christmas Eve we allowed Liam to open one present before bed.  It was the baby crocodile he had been wanting.

While Liam slept soundly with his baby crocodile, we put all the presents out under the tree.

Family Christmas - December 24th - When Liam woke up, we let him open his stocking and then his presents.  We took breaks to eat breakfast and lunch (cinnamon bread for breakfast, oriental salad and pasta with bolognese sauce for lunch - Dave and Liam favorites).  Liam likes to open a gift, play with it for a while, and then open another.  Christmas lasted quite a while this way, but it was so much fun to see him enjoy all the things we bought him.  Some of Liam's favorites were the Saturn 5 Rocket from his stocking and his big Jake and the Neverland Pirate Ship.

Daisy was not impressed - it was way too early for her!

Pirate Liam

Watch out Pirate Liam, there's a crocodile outside your ship!

We attended the family carol service at church, one we had never been to before having Liam.  It was a good service for families with small children.  Someday, we would like to be able to attend the candlelight service again, but will have to wait until the children are older.

We finished the night with dinner at the Guesthouse with Grandma & Grandpa Herman, the Koehlingers, and Lockards.  Then, we loaded up the car and headed to Michigan for Christmas.

Christmas with the Kusches - December 25th - Liam was so excited, he woke up at 4:30am.  We tried to get him to go back to sleep, but it was unsuccessful.  So, at 6am we decided to let him start playing with some of the presents that were left out, unwrapped.  After everyone arrived, we opened our presents.  We all took a nap!

Liam LOVES his new Jake and the Neverland Pirate toys.  It was a pirate Christmas.

Who needs toys, when you can play in a box?

Liam had fun playing with his cousin Verona.

Grandpa Kusch took Liam to play in the snow.

Christmas with the Hermans - December 28th & 29th - On Friday we celebrated with ALL the Hermans (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.).  There were a lot of us gathered.  On Saturday, we celebrated with Dave's parents, sisters, and their families.  There are 21 of us now (10 adults and 11 kids).  Liam loved playing with his cousins.  He warmed right up to them and they had a great time.

Family tradition - caroling with Grandma Herman

the cousins lined up - waiting patiently to open presents

Liam with his buddy Gabe

Liam, Lucy and Adelynn

Liam helping Uncle Jon and Andrew with their new project

We finally got to meet our niece Lucy in person - what a cutie!  Meeting Lucy makes us anxious to meet our little lady.

the siblings (Dave, Laura, Julie, and Debbie)

Patience

When we started our current adoption, we knew it would be a roller coaster ride and we have reminded ourselves often to trust God's timing and plan.  Things have been going so smoothly.  Other than some minor things here and there, everything has gone according to plan.  We have been blessed!  God showed us through Liam's adoption that He had everything planned perfectly and we know He will do the same with our daughter's adoption.

We were shocked last week when we got a phone call from our social worker saying we may be matched with our daughter on December 17th.  The call came sooner than we thought it would.  After waiting up until midnight on the 17th, we learned that the CCCWA did not put the children online like they should have and would do so on the 19th.  So, we waited up again last night.  The CCCWA did not put very many children online and none of the little girls were a match for us.  We went from disappointed to hopeful to disappointed again.  It has been an emotional week.  Although we are disappointed, we still firmly believe that there is a reason we were not matched with a child last night.  According to our timeline, it could take 1-9 months to be matched with a child.  Our social worker reminded us that the average wait time for a referral is 2-5 months.  Some couples review multiple children before accepting one.  We would have a very hard time saying no to any child.  We are praying that the Holy Spirit guide the selection process, so our first referral, whenever it arrives, is the right referral.  Maybe, God was sparing us from making a difficult decision and saying no.  Disappointment seems easier to deal with than the idea of not being able to offer a home to a child after seeing their picture.  Whatever the case, we still have hope and are looking forward to the day when we can see our daughter's face.  We know for certain that we have a little girl waiting for us and we will go get her when the time is right.

I found this picture and think it suits where we are in the adoption process.  We are definitely expecting! 

Christmas Letter 2012

December 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for JOY at what your hands have done.  How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts! Psalm 92:4-5

            We pray that God has blessed your family as He has ours, and has given you joy.  Joy seems the best word to describe 2012.  As we look back over the year we are amazed at how quickly it as gone by.  We have made many great memories as a family of three and we are making preparations to become a family of four. 

            We started the year with a toddler and have ended the year with a preschooler.  Liam has grown in so many ways this year.  His active imagination, creativity, and intelligence bring us many adventures.  Liam is gaining independence and he loves to learn and explore new things.  He has a tender heart, and is also determined.  We adore being his parents.  We can’t imagine life without his contagious laugh and spirited personality. 

            Tiffany spent January and February helping choreograph Beauty and the Beast at Concordia High School.  Liam spent that time flirting with the high school girls who watched him and making himself at home in the theater.

            In March we began the adoption process for our daughter.  We feel called to adopt a girl with a special need (minor/correctable health concern) from China.  God opened doors and closed others, which lead us down this adoption path.  The process has gone smoothly so far.  We hope to receive our daughter’s picture and medical information by the end of December.  We know that God will give us the daughter we are meant to have.  If things continue to go smoothly, we will travel to China in late spring/early summer. 

            In April, after celebrating Liam’s second birthday, we took a family vacation to Disney World with Tiffany’s family.  We had a fantastic time!  Tiffany had written to Disney Guest Communications ahead of time explaining that we were in Disney when we got the news of Liam’s birth.  They arranged a special meet & greet with Mickey and Minnie at the Magic Kingdom before the park opened.  Liam was so excited to meet his pals.  Liam loved the rides and parades.  It was definitely a magical trip and one we will remember forever.

            In June, Tiffany finished her Masters in Special Education and graduated from IPFW with a 4.0 GPA.

            Our summer was filled with lots of pool time, both in the small inflatable pool in the back yard and at Grandma and Grandpa Kusch’s pool.  We took countless trips to the zoo and enjoyed being outside as much as possible.

            We also took a family vacation to Maryland to visit Dave’s sister, Julie, and her family.  We took a couple day trips to Washington D.C., spent two days at the beach in Ocean City, Maryland, played at the park, and enjoyed spending time with family.  We stopped in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on the way home.  Liam was an excellent traveler.

            In the fall Tiffany started another school year teaching with Lutheran Special Education Ministries at Suburban Bethlehem and Ascension Lutheran.  She added an extra day a week to her schedule and now teaches three days a week.  She loves being able to work with students one-on-one and in small groups.

            We took some small weekend trips this fall.  We took Liam to the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis and spent a day hiking at Chain O Lakes State Park.  One of fall’s highlights was a weekend trip to West Lafayette to Purdue University.  Dave ran his first 5K on campus.  We enjoyed staying in a hotel, swimming, and walking around campus.  It’s so much fun to have a son who loves to explore new things and finds excitement in everything.

            Dave continues to work with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and enjoys what he does.  He touches so many lives, not just by helping people plan for the future, but by genuinely caring for all his clients and viewing his profession as a ministry. 

            We look forward to all the ways that God will use our family in 2013 and anticipate the new adventures He sends our way.

            We wish you a very merry Christmas and happy New Year. 

With Love,

David, Tiffany & Liam Herman

Adoption Update - LID

We have reached another milestone in our adoption process.  We have received our LID (Log-in date).  Now, we can anticipate getting a referral (picture and medical information).  We can also follow the timeline a little more closely.  We have officially been on the list with our placement agency for 36 weeks and 1 day.  We are moving right on schedule - Thanks and praise to God!  Here is the letter we received this week....

Dear David & Tiffany:

 

The CCCWA has informed us of your log-in date. Your log-in date (often abbreviated as LID) is 11/26/2012 and reflects the date CCCWA logged your dossier into its database. CCCWA uses this date to track your dossier through its system.  As you progress through the stages of your adoption in the many months ahead of you, please remember your LID.  We include a tracking chart of DTC dates and LIDs on our China news webpage as well.

 

Congratulations to reach this phase and have a great day!

Santa

We are not going to to the whole Santa thing with our children.  This was an area of debate for us for some time.  Dave grew up believing in Santa and had fun doing so.  As he often mentions to me - it didn't hurt him at all.  I did not grow up believing in Santa.  My parents wanted to include Santa in Christmas at first, but my older brother wouldn't fall for it.  We knew our gifts came from our parents as a response of their love for us and in gratitude for the blessings Christ had given them.  We had years of plenty and years with few presents, but we always knew we were loved.  Other traditions, like decorating, baking, spending time with family, caroling at the nursing home, and preparing the Christmas program at church were the traditions I remember most. 
Dave and I finally agreed not to include Santa in our family Christmas plans.  We think each family can make their own decision and do not think un-fondly of those who decide to add this tradition.  It can be a fun addition to Christmas plans.  Like Dave mentions, many families have done the Santa thing.  We decided to keep Christ's birth the at the forefront of our Christmas.  I believe Saint Nicholas was a great role model.  What most people don't know is that he didn't want people to know he was giving to others.  He did his giving in secret.  The Santa that has developed in our culture is one who seeks glory and fame.  I don't want our children focusing on a mortal man that will disappoint them and can not bring them the gift that matters.  I am not comfortable teaching our children about works righteousness either.  I want my children to be well behaved, but not because they will earn anything in return.  Our faith teaches us that our acts of service are in response to our love for God, not in an effort to earn redemption.  We are sinners and can not earn favor with God apart from Christ.  Only Christ's death on the cross can earn a place for us in heaven.  Aside from Easter, Christmas is the most important day of the year, and it should get all the attention it deserves.  What a miracle it was to have Christ with us!  It gives meaning to everything else.  
Liam recognizes Santa.  It's hard to miss him this time of year.  As he asks questions about the fables of Santa, we will be sure to tell him the truth of Saint Nicholas and point him back to the true meaning of Christmas.  I don't think our family traditions and preparations will suffer from the lack of Santa in our home.

Getting Ready for Christmas

We are anticipating Christmas and making preparations.  Liam is so excited about Christmas this year.  He loves Christmas trees and decorations.  Every time he looks at our tree in the living room he says, "Aw, it's perfect."  Amazing and perfect are his two favorite words right now.  Liam has his own tree in his room.  He picked out the red ornaments at the store and helped decorate the tree.  He is very proud.

We have some family traditions.  Every night after dinner we do our advent devotions.  Liam is in charge of putting an ornament on our advent tree banner.  Each ornament goes with the devotion for the evening.  He also puts a character on the nativity banner.  He blows out the candles on the advent wreath.  We keep explaining to him that he will have to share these responsibilities with his sister next Christmas.

I do almost all my Christmas baking with my mom and sister-in-law, Anna.  However, this year I decided that Liam was old enough to help with sugar cookies.  He loves to help me bake, so I knew he would do great.  He was such a big helper!  I think the cookies turned out really well. We cut out and baked the cookies in the morning, took a break for lunch and to play in the snow, and then decorated them in the afternoon.

Today, we had our first snowfall of the season.  It was a light dusting, but Liam has been anxious to try out his new snow gear.  We had fun playing in the little bit of snow that was in our yard.  Daisy was not amused with the weather.

I love witnessing the awe of Christmas through the eyes of a two year old.  Everything is so magical for him.  My favorite part is hearing Liam say, "On Christmas we have a birthday party for Jesus."  My prayer is that we always keep that the center of our Christmas season.

Goodbye Facebook

The Hermans are going to step away from Facebook for a while.  The other day we were talking about ways to strengthen our marriage.  Don't be alarmed.  Our marriage is not in jeopardy and we are not worried about it failing.  However, we want to be sure we are investing completely in our marriage, especially since the dynamic will be changing soon as we add a little girl to the picture.  Someone told us that a strong marriage is the best thing to bring with us to China.  Our lives have been busy!  Dave and I pour a great deal of energy into work and Liam.  Lately, we have been giving each other whatever is left.  The other night, after putting Liam to bed, we decided to play a board game.  We used to do that all the time as newlyweds.  We couldn't afford cable and didn't have internet, so we often played card or board games.  It was so much fun to sit and talk and just be together.  Most nights, we turn on the TV, use the IPad or laptop, and zone out.  Technology consumes way too much of our lives.  In an effort to feel connected with all those around us, we have become disconnected with each other.  I would rather check on the status of Dave's day before going to bed than the status of others.  We will most likely be back on Facebook sometime in the near future.  We want to keep our friends and family updated on what's going on with us, especially when we make our trip to China.  We are by no means anti-Facebook people.  For now, this blog will be our method of communication.  Our hope is that this time un-plugged will give us the strength we need for the next couple months.  I guess you could compare it to a runner getting ready for a race.  You can't just wake up one morning and decide to run a marathon.  You have to prepare.  In the same way, we are preparing our marriage for the changes ahead.  We have to be a strong team.  So, goodbye for now Facebook.  We will miss you, but know it's for the best.  

Happy Gotcha Day Liam!

Two years ago today we went to the courthouse and legally made Liam our son.  We were blessed with no legal complications with his adoption and for that we are so thankful.  We celebrate this special day every year.  Today we will celebrate with a special meal, cupcakes, and a few presents.  This year is the first year that Liam realizes today is a special day.  Our prayer is that Liam will always know how very much we love him and how much joy he has added to our lives.  He was meant to be our son all along.  Happy Gotcha Day Liam!

November 19th, 2010

Happy DTC Day!

Today is a milestone in the adoption of our daughter!  I think the best way to explain the stage we're in is through the e-mail we received today...

Dear David and Tiffany,

 

I am delighted to tell you that I sent your dossier to China today!  Hooray!  Now all the activity is over, and we sit back and wait.  Your PA is complete, and we will get back to you if we have any questions about it.

 

Today’s date is your DTC (dossier to China) date.  The dossier will be logged into the CCCWA system in about a week.  The date this is done will be your log-in date, or LID, but we might not be informed what that date is until a month or so later.

 

Your dossier will be translated into Chinese, and then the reviewed by CCCWA personnel.  If they have any questions, they will let us know at that time.  While this doesn’t happen often, it is our experience that most questions can be answered with a minimum of new documentation. 

 

Once we have your LID, we will start trying to match you with one of the children whose file is entered into the on-line system.  Because CHSFS is closed Thursday and Friday of next week, it may not be possible to try to match you in November.  As a practical matter, you will probably be able to be matched at the end of December.  In the week or so before that, our matching staff will contact you to discuss your medical checklist, gender preference, etc.

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with further questions, and congratulations on  passing this milestone!

Dear Children

Dear Liam & Lilly,
There are politicians that believe your life was not worth living.  They think you are not a human being, but a choice.  I am sorry that you will encounter that evil in your lifetime.  You, my dear ones, where chosen by your birth parents to be our most precious gift and we are so thankful they were brave and compassionate and thought of only one choice - who will love and raise this child?
Lilly, there are politicians who are also trying to make our journey to you even harder by getting rid of the adoption tax credit.  We will persevere through this challenge and pray that God will open their eyes to the importance this tax credit plays for so many parents trying to bring home their children to their forever families.
Children, there are politicians that want to saddle you with debt that you will not be able to repay.  You have not earned this burden and I am sorry that the mistakes of previous generations will be your mess to clean up.  I know that the stress of debt and the consequences that will result will bring you heart ache and stress.  I wish things were different for you.
There are those who do not value parochial education and will do their best to close those schools.  Be encouraged, that we will make every sacrifice possible to allow you to learn in an environment with Christ at the center.  Our prayer is that this will give you the foundation you need to make a difference.
Although life seems like a challenge and the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness seems like an empty dream at times, you can rest in the comfort that God will never leave you (Romans 8:38-39).  Nothing happens without first passing through His hands.  There are people who intend to do evil, but God can change all things for the good (Genesis 50:20).  Your hope does not rest in the government, but in the one who governs the universe.  He is mightier than any man, political party, or agenda.  Your father and I love you very much and we hope you know that as a family, we will always strive to serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).
Love,
Your Mother 

Romans 8:38-39

New International Version (NIV)

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future,^(A) nor any powers,^(B) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God^(C) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(D)

Genesis 50:20
New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ You intended to harm me,^(A) but God intended^(B) it for good^(C) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.^(D)

Joshua 24:15
New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,^(A) in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,^(B) we will serve theLord.”^(C)

Astronaut Liam

Liam is getting very good at counting backwards!  He loves rockets and everything to do with space at the moment.  This clip was taken at Science Central.  Dave had a Thrivent event there, so Liam got to play around for a little bit.  The exhibit he was at was not a space themed exhibit, but Liam turns everything into a rocket these days.

Reformation Reflection

Reformation Sunday is one of my favorite services of the year.  This year's service did not disappoint.  Not only was I installed into my Special Education position today, but the music was wonderful.  I love the hymns we sing with the descant of the trumpet.  I also love that our church emphasizes that the purpose of reformation was to direct the people of Martin Luther's time back to Christ.  Christ is the only one who can save us from our sin.  We are thankful that God used Martin Luther to deliver His message, but Reformation is not a day to celebrate one man.  We can however, acknowledge and appreciate that the Holy Spirit was at work within Luther and that his message was the gospel.  We are saved by GRACE through FAITH.  
I absolutely love the words to A Mighty Fortress.  It is hard for me to sing the last verse.  I get choked up every time.  When everything gets stripped away from us, we still have God's grace and that is all that we need.  Someone asked me recently how I could keep my faith in light of the trials I've been through.  I answered that it's when we are knocking on the door of heaven, asking for answers, that God meets us.  How else could we get through challenges in life without the peace of God's grace?  Life is very hard and sometimes almost unbearable.  The devil is real and is at work (especially among Christians).  He attacks us where we are vulnerable.  BUT, nothing happens to us without passing through our Father's hands first.  How encouraging that one little word (the name of Christ) can fell him - the victory has already been won!

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God"
by Dr. Martin Luther, 1483-1546

1. A mighty Fortress is our God,
A trusty Shield and Weapon;
He helps us free from every need
That hath us now o'ertaken.
The old evil Foe
Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On Earth is not his equal.

2. With might of ours can naught be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One,
Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this?
Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabaoth Lord,
And there's none other God;
He holds the field forever.

3. Though devils all the world should fill,
All eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill,
They shall not overpower us.
This world's prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none,
He's judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.

4. The Word they still shall let remain
Nor any thanks have for it;
He's by our side upon the plain
With His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,
Goods, fame, child and wife,
Let these all be gone,
They yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth.

Joy!

This bundle of energy makes me smile.  I just wanted to share a dose of cuteness.  Liam gives us so much joy.

Pumpkin Patch

Liam on the tricycle coarse

king of the hay bails

waiting patiently on the wagon to go to the pumpkin patch

Mom and Liam on the wagon

Liam was so excited to see so many pumpkins - he took off

Liam had to pick up each pumpkin before deciding if it was the right one

Wow, so many to choose from!

beautiful day at the pumpkin patch - there were even hot air balloons

What better place to eat a donut than in a tire.

Liam loved pretending to drive the tractor.  Dave got to ride on one of these with his Grandpa when he was Liam's age.

Liam loved the goats and even gave some of them kisses.