Dear family and friends,
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Incredible. “The Son of God. . . divested himself of heavenly wealth and became an impoverished child so the fragile flesh of humanity could be taken up into God’s embrace” (Miroslav Volf). What lengths God went to to ransom His children—in the incarnation of Christ and in His substitutionary life and death. What joy to realize God’s adoption of us making us heirs with the risen Christ Himself!
Last year we told you of God’s leading us to adopt a child, and He indeed added to our family this year! February 3rd we learned of the five-day-old baby girl who would become our daughter. We excitedly gathered (more) paperwork, signatures, fingerprints, baby clothes and diapers and hurried to Alabama to meet our sweet Hannah Elisabeth (her middle name is after her mommy—Julia Elisabeth—and after her great, great-grandmother Mary Elizabeth Cole who persevered in faith through much adversity). The foster family placed Hannah in our arms February 7th and we stayed in Alabama (with Nathan’s Grandmother Lane who made her home ours) the next week waiting for interstate paperwork approvals. Finally, we brought our two little girls home and re-entered “normal” life with our precious new gift and a lot less sleep.
Abigail devoted herself to her long-awaited sister with much love and affection. The biggest challenge we had was keeping our grown-up three year old from picking up her infant sister whenever we turned our backs. She was really very gentle and careful, but three is not old enough to carry Baby up the stairs! By three months old, Hannah loved Abigail back and showered her with smiles and coos and the first real laugh. We were grateful to finalize Hannah’s adoption back in Alabama on May 11 (with several grandparents present) and soon afterwards to receive the new birth certificate for Hannah Elisabeth Garner—officially and permanently our daughter!
Last week Abigail turned four and was delighted to receive several “dress-up” outfits. She loves to pretend—especially that she’s a mommy or a bride. She has learned most of her letters and can write her name and Hannah’s. Hannah is ten months old and trying hard to keep up with big sister. She’s petite, strong and loves to pull up on things, clap, play peek-a-boo, bounce and jabber. We’re blessed with two exuberant, affectionate, and very funny little girls.
Nathan completed four more graduate classes this year and has just the MBA capstone class remaining for the spring semester. We’ll be celebrating his achievements, God’s grace, and more time together come May 2010!
Many of our activities and responsibilities have continued: Nathan’s begun his eighth year working at the airport. Julia keeps friends’ children part-time at home. We still teach the second grade Sunday school class and are involved in a Shepherding Group at Heritage Bible Church. And we travel—mostly to visit our families who live in four other states. Happily, Tom and Lydia and their eighteen-month-old daughters are back in the state after a job-related move to California.
Early fall we listed our townhouse for sale, hoping to buy a “real house” while interest rates were low. Two months later, we received a contract for the condo and scrambled to find our next home. After some disappointing searching, the Lord led to us the house we were hoping for—a roomy brick ranch in a quiet neighborhood. Of course, the repairs and updates it needs were what put it in our price range—and will keep us busy for several years if the Lord keeps us in town (Did Julia say she never wanted to buy a fixer upper?). We moved in three weeks ago and are excited to have another bedroom (for guests and future children), more living/entertaining space, and a back yard! Please e-mail if you want our new address (juliapgarner@gmail.com).
We hope to update the blog again soon. . .
May your celebration of Christmas be filled with the joy of redemption in Christ!
With love,
Nathan, Julia, Abigail & Hannah Garner
Christmas (or after Christmas) baking. The girls loved helping!
Pretty as a picture? Some frames from Grandma J (made by Granddad) provided comic relief from endless unpacking.
Finally, three clean tired girls in pajamas! Just wish we had Havilah's sister's Rose and Autumn (and daddy!) with us too!
Auntie Lai Lai and Hannah - see the snow drift against the window?
Our three little girls in front of the hotel Christmas tree. Who said anything about looking at the camera?
18 month old Havilah
Finally ready to brave the roads - though no flights yet, so we took Lai south with us to try another airport!
Ladies from the Nazarene church (which hosts Special Link - our original adoption agency) knitted caps for the "Special Link babies" born in 2009. Hannah loves hers and enjoyed our little photo shoot. She pulled the hat off and kept trying to put in back on herself.
Our new backyard looks like fun - just need some warmer weather and less rain so Mommy will take me out!
"Hey, Mommy - I'm just getting a little snack!"
These girls do love each other! Hannah can clap by herself, but it's more fun with Sissy's hands too!"
Quick Hannah update: She loves to clap and to play peek-a-boo (actually gets at least one of her hands over her eyes fairly often now - too cute!). She pulls up on everything (the computer desk right now - trying to reach the keyboard to help me type =) and just learned to walk behind the push walker. She enjoys dropping things so she can say "uh-oh" and recently learned to say "Mama" (after two months saying Da-da).
Our pick:
Grown up Abigail - Three, almost four:
Hannah loving life - almost ten months:
Abigail and Daddy (The blue eyes):
Hannah and Mommy (The brown eyes):
One highlight for Hannah (other than all the attention of grandparents and aunts and uncles!) was taking her first "big tub" bath. She squealed and splashed and splashed and shrieked. Every now and then she paused to consider the water running down her face, but soon returned to splashing.
At her six month check-up, Hannah weighed 14 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 24 ½ inches long. She’s tiny, but the doctor pronounced her strong and healthy. . . and commented on her enthusiasm and her evident love for her big sister. This month’s physical milestones include getting her toes into her mouth, cutting a third tooth, and sitting alone for few minutes at a time. Hannah finally decided she likes solid food since trying sweet potatoes and her tummy seems rounder (and, by the way, that umbilical hernia she had at birth, is nearly gone now). Our baby talks, sings, laughs (even while eating her peas at lunch today) and squeals lots . . . I think we’ll have another chatterbox. ☺ 
Love that grin! Hannah felt very big sitting in the rocking chair.
Hannah still LOVES to be on her feet! This was also her first time to wear blue jeans. (Thanks, Aunt Lydia!)
We had a table full of little ones that evening (call it a six month birthday celebration!?). Since we're not experienced at keeping three children under one in addition to a two year old and a three year old, we opted for carry out pizza (along with all the baby food)! ☺
Watch out! Hannah can be rather fierce. She's got a mean growl for a fourteen pound baby! Of course, laughter (hers and ours) usually follows the growl and so she does it again.
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