A Year in Review

    Over the last few days as we have been working on Christmas cards and getting prepared for the baby coming, I've realized how many changes we've gone through this year.  Normally, change is a hard, difficult thing, but I think both Sarah and I would agree that the changes of this year have been challenging but well worth the effort.
     The first main change started before 2010 had even began.  Last year, we had been going to a large church in the area, but we weren't feeling connected to anyone.  So on the Christmas Eve service we tried a church a friend of Sarah had recommended.  We stopped by Harpeth Community Church and really felt a warmth from the people as well as some great Scripture based teaching. Little did we know this would be the start of a busy year.
     After that service we quickly decided this was where we wanted to be.  We jumped in with both feet and did the very first membership class offered and got into a book study group right away in January.  From there it was getting involved in the Men's and Women's ministries, serving on the worship and production teams, and volunteering in the children's Sunday School. It has been a place that has challenged and grown us both, as well as, helping us to meet some of new best friends!
    In March we took our dream vacation and got to spend a week at Disney World in Florida.  This was something we'd been planning and waiting on for almost 8 months, so it was like Christmas Day when we finally got to head out.  We stayed at the All-star Music Resort on the Disney Property and got to experience the "Extra Magic Hours" that let resort guests stay in the park until 3am some nights! We completed a personal challenge to see and do everything on the map in the Magic Kingdom park over the course of our week.  Sarah has since made an amazing scrapbook of our adventures that week which she will proudly show any who are interested.  In the end, it was just a great time to be together and have fun as a couple in one of our favorite places.
    Another change that has been in process, was Culinary School for me (Kevin).  I started taking classes in Fall of 2009 and completed my first year of the two year program in May.  I have had classes in general cooking skills, sauce making, meat cookery, and beginning baking.  On top of that I have studied nutrition, sanitation, and inventory/purchasing.  Due to being laid off of work (I will discuss next) I took the Fall of 2010 off of school, but plan on taking more classes in 2011.  I'm sure you're asking yourself what I plan to do with these new skills.  The short answer is, I'm not sure!  I've been working on my dessert skills and would like to eventually have a part-time dessert/cake business.  Who knows, if I come into a lot of money I would love to open a restaurant.
     So the next event in 2010 came in May when I was laid off from my job of three years as the whole department was let go.  It had strictly been a business decision and so I didn't have any big sense of failure, just worry about finding something new.  During what turned out to be my two months of unemployment, I was encouraged by friends at church, found a place to volunteer, and generally saw God providing for all our financial needs.  The job that I eventually got was also a God thing.  Out of the blue a manager from my old company called me and asked if I would be interested in applying back with the company for a promotion in another department.  With only slight hesitation, I went for it.  After completing the interview process I was offered the job.  As I said, this was a promotion with better pay, more freedom and a great team to work with.  I am constantly feeling blessed by this new opportunity and have enjoyed the last 5 months in my new position.
      Sarah also went through some changes.  After 2 years teaching and coaching in another county and driving almost 45 minutes each way to work, she found an opening at the school about 5 minutes from our house.  This has been a huge blessing for her.  The team she works with in the Special Education department is top-notch and they constantly challenge and support each other to be the best everyday.  In addition, Sarah was an assistant volleyball coach this Fall.  As she has previously written, this was a new adventure for her, but one she has greatly enjoyed.
     Lastly, but definitely not least, we have been working through the adoption process this Fall with the intention of our baby being born the end of December/beginning of January.  Even though this is a domestic adoption it has been a stressful and worrisome few months.  We continue to feel strongly that God has opened this door wide for us, but have to continually seek His peace as we wait on details and timing of things.  
      This year has been one long, exciting adventure for us as a couple and God willing we will end the year with one more Honett in the clan! We hope this gives you a brief update of our life in the last 365 days.

anxious

I have been worrying about our adoption today.  Our communication with our birth mother has been on and off - mostly due to the fact that we do not have direct access to our birth mother yet.  We have to go through a chain of communication.  It's been about a week since we've heard anything, and I am trying to be patient.

I know that God is working in our best interests, and I know that He has already gone before us in this whole situation.  Still, I am worrying.  With so much still "up in the air" about this adoption, it is easy to become discouraged.  I am fighting that!

Kevin's facebook status was a good reminder for me today...  He posted Matthew 6:34 - "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Psalm 139:23 - "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts."

Most of all, I need to remember Philippians 4:6 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Hope these words will encourage you in your situation, as they have encouraged me in our adoption.  I will keep praying for our birth mother and for our baby.  I will keep asking God to go before us in every step of this process.  I will not be anxious.