Its the day before I take down my Christmas Tree and this usually makes me a little sad. A few mornings I've awakened early to sit in silence and stare at the lit up tree and marvel at this past year. The tree had wrapped gifts under it just a few days ago and Zoe was about to embark on a new Christmas experience. She had never unwrapped a gift with her name on it before. Last year I recall being apart of purchasing a goat for her orphanage to eat a decent meal, brought to them by my friend Melissa who lived there (and was Zoe's guardian angel until we could bring her home.) Zoe has experienced so much in just 8 months and has taken it all in stride. Even just in the last 30 days she has been on a snowmobile, visited Santa, made snow angels and snowmen, skated - and did amazing I might add. She has discovered that candy canes are 'too hot' and that when the 'Forbes' family get together its very loud. She received the first gift she asked for which was a piggy bank and has been a social butterfly at many parties and gatherings. One of my most special memories has been watching her experience our church Christmas service. There was music and dancing (which caused her to hold her hands to her ears in protest) but when the candlelight part started, things calmed down and she needed two hands to hold her very own candle. I lost it. I cried like a baby and couldn't take my eyes off her. She has her beautiful red and silver American Girl dress on. Yes, she is an American girl. She is sitting on a friend's lap and is so comfortable. Not sure what she is taking in. Not sure if she understands what all this represents. My tears are full of joy. I sit in church and the last 8 months blur through my mind. I picture when we first met. I picture her waking up next to me for the first time in Ethiopia. I picture her eating pizza and hamburgers for the first time and speaking english as she repeated after me. She can sing her alphabet, remember people's names, can write her own name and dress herself. She's potty trained and healthy and she's safe with us! All this flashes through my mind in church. The very place where I felt God nudge me to get on board to sign up to adopt. He had Zoe picked out just for us before she was born. God has a journey planned out for you and me. Like a marathon, it's long, sometimes difficult but mostly exhilarating. Christmas for me in 2013 was exhilarating. I want to leave you with a quote from a very profound book - ya, because I read profound books.
Dr. Seuss - Oh, The Places You'll Go
Oh the places you'll go,
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So....get on your way!
The Clodes have climbed a mountain in 2013. I am excited about ringing in 2014 and I may write about a few things going on. Zoe is my new favorite topic. I'll leave you with some good advice she left Scott with one day before he left the house. She kissed him goodbye and yelled out the door; 'Bye Daddy, have a good day and don't pee your pants'. Happy New Year!
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