Cora's "Gotcha Day"

Ella has thought a lot about being a big sister. Here is Ella's message to Cora on her "Gotcha Day" 12/9/2011.

Introducing Cora Kalyn

This has been an amazing process.Our family has seen God's provision in so many ways through this journey. Many of our friends have come alongside us and helped us get to this day. I am honestly speechless. We are so in love. Without further ado...

Cora Kalyn Emhoff
born 11/9/11 and welcomed home 12/9/11

We Exceeded Our Goal

Wow! Thank all of you who sponsored puzzle pieces! We are so humbled by the incredible response to our fundraising efforts. Thank you for everyone who emailed, wrote kind notes, donated and prayed for us. We raised a total of $6535 toward the cost of our adoption! What an amazing group of friends and family we have. We couldn't be more amazed by the generosity people have show to our family. Thank you more than we can express. We are making plans to assist other adoptive families financially in the future. Stay tuned for more information on that in the coming months!

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory." Ephesians 3:20-21

When Joy Is Hard to Find

So after spending a month writing and thinking about gratitude and working to live out of a more grateful heart, you would think I would be ready to think about Joy.

Think again.

While I have absolutely no reason to be irritable or discontent, I have found over the last several days that my mood has soured and I am incredibly "un-joyful". I'm frustrated that Little E seems to have forgotten how to obey. I'm frustrated by things that are out of my control at work. I am irritated that clutter seems to invade my house when I am already feeling maxed out.

However, it seems that the biggest threat to Joy in my life is my preoccupation with myself. I am most often joyless when I am focused on what will make my life easier or pleasurable.

John Ortberg says, "True joy, as it turns out, comes only to those who have devoted their lives to something greater than personal happiness." He goes on to say, "If we don't rejoice today, we will not rejoice at all. If we wait until conditions are perfect, we will still be waiting when we die." That is me to a T.
For so long I have told myself (consciously and unconsciously) that when my house is updated, when I have an advanced degree, when our adoption is finalized, when I have a prestigious job, when we have more money or when I finally become the person I want to be, then and only then, I will be happy and be joyful. Perhaps I don't say those things but all too often my actions reflect these whispers of my heart.

So I'm starting to think Joy is a choice. And a tough one that seems to take some practice. One that frankly, I haven't felt like making lately. So here's to practice!

Today, despite how I feel, I'm choosing Joy. I'm going to start by eating the 5 remaining Thin Mint cookies in my cupboard and conquering my to-do list for work. I am ignoring (for the moment) the state of clutter in my house and the clothes that need to get to the dry cleaners. I will pick up Little E from pre-school today with a smile on my face and genuinely appreciate her constant chatter in the car. Things aren't perfect (and really they never will be) so today I'm choosing Joy.