Defining Hope: December 31, 2012 -- HAPPY CHICKEN NEW YEAR!

Today had a little bit of crazy all day long!! Today the kids laid 50 chickens to rest.........in the freezer! It was quite the experience. Now, in all honesty - I only went out there to take a few pics because I knew my stomach couldn't handle it!!! The older kids in the orphanage have to help. They all have certain jobs they do. One person catches the chicken - Ted or Anna have the "Ax" honors -- there is a feather plucking group -- a gutting group -- and a cleaning group. Guess what we had for supper tonight? (1 guess only). :)

I have to say this made me sad because the first week we arrived here we loved taking Grayson to look at their chickens. They were just born the week we arrived back in November. I remember someone telling me not to worry because we would surely be home by the time the "chicken day" came and then I wouldn't have to see it :) Along that same line - one of the older boys in the orphanage asked Ted last night how long we planned on staying cause we have been here so long!? Ted told him we would like the same answers!!

We also got to skype with Kelsey during the Elite Senior cheer competition at Opryland! That was really fun to wake up to that! I am very proud of all the Elite girls and coaches and the hard work they put in this weekend at Opryland! And thanks to all who have asked about us, prayed for us, kept me updated throughout the weekend, and wore their Taiwan shirts this weekend!! I hope you all had a blast and I loved getting the fb photos! Great Job Elite!!!

It was really cold here today!! It was suppose to be bath day for the babies, but was way to cold for it so they will have to wait another day. :( We keep the babies nice and warm though by dressing them in layers and keeping a dehumidifier in their room.

So today is our New Year's Eve!!! So we will celebrate the New Year here in Taiwan :)........I guess. The kids were off of school today and also get off tomorrow. It's funny because they didn't get off school for Christmas, but they get off 2 days for the New Year??? Anyway, they are all staying up till midnight. Last I checked they were playing games together and eating popcorn while watching movies. They seemed to be having a lot of fun :)

Please continue to pray for our paperwork to be found and the judge to be able to sign it this week. The government offices will not be open until Wednesday and we most likely will not hear anything until Friday when Ted calls. Heard a great sermon that my Aunt Lin sent me. The point was " Just because God is silent does not mean he is absent." It was a great sermon by the Kingsway Christian Church pastor and I would highly recommend listening to it online. It was the December 23 sermon. I cannot even describe how many emails, fb messages, cards, and words of encouragement we have received this week. In 1 way I feel like I should be freaking out, but I know we have so many friends, family, and even strangers praying for us. God has given me a peace this week that I cannot explain. So thank you all so much for standing in the gap. I truly do not know how people go through life without having a true faith in God. We would be in such a hopeless state at this point. Please continue to bathe us in prayer this week!