A Year of Gifts

Well, I had meant to write this post a week ago for the New Year, but in light of our week, it never got sent out.  New Year's Eve our little family spent the night doing what we do every year.  We watched old home videos.  We call it, "The Gregoire Year in Review."  :)

2011 (in no particular order).  So, so much to be thankful for.

#10  Spending the week in Duck, North Carolina for a family reunion with Charles' whole family this summer....8 adults and 16 grandkids all under one roof.  So fun!  Here is Gran and Papa with 16 of their now, 18 grandchildren.

 "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, are sons born in one's youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. "

~Psalm 127:3-5

#9 Spending many a weekend with my parents, Cessa and Pop as they are affectionately called by my children, down at their house on the Chesapeake Bay.  Fishing, crabbing, boating, kayaking, swimming, biking - a child's paradise. :)



#8  Getting to spend one more year with my grandparents.  Truly an unexpected blessing.


#7 Starting a homeschool group in our area.  A first for me, but it has proven to be such a blessing.  The friendships alone, both for myself and my children, have been invaluable.

#6 Our family keeps growing!!!  My kids (as of a week ago) literally have 21 cousins.....and counting.  Our newest gifts this year are:  Nevaeh Noel (ok, she is technically a 2010 baby, but she squeaked in at the very end!), Kensley Mae, Sadie Rose, Zoya Praise and, just last week, Micah William.


"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
~Psalm 139:13-14

#5 We have been blessed with a WONDERFUL church and have been going there for almost 12 years, since before Charles and I got married.  When we moved further away, we continued to make the trek thirty minutes every Sunday because the people had become like family.  But after 9 years, we began to feel that God was placing it on our hearts to worship with a local body of believers.  Our church had already planted several church plants throughout the tri-state region, but strangely, we felt compelled to pray specifically that our associate pastor and his family would feel the call to move up our way and plant a church in OUR town.  For six months, we, and a couple friends of ours started to pray diligently about this.  One Monday morning back in June, I got a text from my husband.  "Call me as soon as you can."  So I called.  And wouldn't you know!?!!  He had just received a phonecall from, none other than our associate pastor.  He and his family were feeling called to plant a church where WE lived!  Glory to God!  Tomorrow will actually be our last Sunday with our current church.  Mixed emotions.  Excitement to see how God is moving and where His plans will take us, yet sad to say goodbye.  Sad that Charles won't be there.  Thankful that he gets to be in California.



#4  Posted a picture of our pickle jar last year when we first began our adoption journey.  At the time we were unsure how God would provide for our adoption, but we were willing to trust in Him.  Today, we have raised OVER $20,000 in only 8 short months!!!  2/3rd's of the way to our goal and holding fast at #86 on the waiting list. :)





#3  Christmas morning 2011
Spending Christmas with Charles' brother, Dan, and his wife Rebecca, and their 7 kids!!  6 adults and 11 kids all crammed into our little townhouse for a week.  SO.  MUCH.  FUN.

#2  My sweet family
My adoring husband, Charles, and our four littles.....beautiful and sweet Kaya (8), passionate and crazy Joseph (6), sensitive and funny Jackson (4) and feisty and independent Sophia (2).  We are truly blessed!

#1  Thankful that as we enter through the door of 2012, we do so celebrating so much LIFE. 

Old lives.  New lives.  Restored lives.

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have LIFE,

and have it to the full."

~John 10:10

Kirsten