Here comes Santa Claus.....

Well, we had the bright idea of seeing if Eliana would love to sit on Santa's lap....she was terrified!! The Santa was really sweet....he actually adopted 2 kiddos 40 years ago. For a minute she forgot where she was and smiled at us, but the second she turned around and saw him again....freak out!


Can't you see the fear in her eyes?! She smiled when we showed her the picture of her and Santa later on in the night.


Chris really got into Black Friday....he actually was spending his b-day money at REI. He has been wanting a cool sleeping bag for a while. He got plenty of stares while he "tried on" the sleeping bag. This one was the winner. He actually slept in it last night in our bed. Sometimes I forget that he is 30 and not 13!

This week has been so much fun....lots of food....the game Apples to Apples....and mom helped us put up Christmas decorations today. Eliana is mesmerized by the lights!! We could care less about the presents....I just love the holidays. Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving week....

Love y'all,
Lindsey

So thankful....

There is so much going on in the Wheeler house. Even though we feel attacked from all sides right now, Chris and I can't help but feel INCREDIBLY grateful for our precious Eliana. I wish I could even begin to describe how much we love her....her spirit....her laugh....her talking non-stop....her humor....her sensitivity....her loving heart....her sassy self. She was made to be in our family. There are moments we look at her....and are amazed at how this sweet child became apart of our family. God is SO GOOD!! We are so thankful. We are also so thankful to all of you that have walked with us, supported us, cried with us, rejoiced with us, prayed for us, and encouraged us at exactly the moments we needed it the most!! I wish I could meet each one of you and give you a big hug. We couldn't have done this without y'all. Thank you just isn't enough. Please keep praying....for our hearts, for the transitions, and for the big things being thrown our way right now. We love you all so much.

Love,
Lindsey

CHRIS IS 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will post later....just wanted you all to know that the best man in the world is the big 3-0 today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you so much hubby.
Lindsey

Pure love

It's been one of those weeks....and it's only Tuesday!!

I can't go into a lot of detail....but I have really had a hard week!! Satan is trying to really get me down emotionally, physically and mentally. Please just pray for me. Of course, my husband is a CHAMPION!! Yesterday, he surprised me and came home early, brought roses, a magazine, took Eliana, and made me go to bed!! HE IS SO GOOD TO ME. I feel the weight of a lot of things on me right now....and am really praying for wisdom and discernment. And, I am so tired. I can't shake it.....so completely exhausted. I still feel like I haven't gotten caught up from living in Guatemala. On top of all of this, I am going to be missing my dear friend Melissa Scott's wedding this weekend. We couldn't swing it financially and it is killing me. I love you Melissa...and will be praying for you and Scott this entire weekend!!!

Thanks for letting me be real.
Love y'all,
Lindsey

P.S. The highlight of my week: Erika and Chris (our dear friends) are getting married!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!! Below is a picture of them with Eliana!!

Another year at the Shaohannah's Hope fundraiser.....

AND AGAIN, I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!! Chris and I look forward to this night all year. It is a night of worship, community and stories of lives changed forever. I know to take a box of tissue with me because it is intense. Chris looked at me during part of the night and said, "I am going to get under the table and just cry." It is emotional....and this year was even more so because Eliana is home. Last year, we sat at one of the tables watching families share stories of bringing their children into their forever home.....and we were just beginning the process with little Eliana. We didn't even know if the Guatemalan gov't was going to allow us to even complete her adoption. We also were in the midst of grieving the loss of little Xio. This year, we were one of the families.....we were in the back of the Shaohannah's Hope booklet of families that were given a grant. THANK YOU LORD!! There are SO MANY children that need homes.....so many kids that need HOPE!! I am in awe of what this ministry is doing. They are allowing families to adopt that don't have the financial means to complete an adoption. Chris and I will forever be their biggest fans (at least we think so)!!

The night was a little more somber because of little Maria Sue Chapman's death....but her momma Mary Beth shared her heart for her little girl. It was beyond beautiful. The tribute showed how BIG this little girl's five years on earth was....and that God had a powerful story to tell through her life. The ministry is in the process of building "Maria's Big House of Hope" in China for special need orphans. Steven sang in a way I have NEVER seen.....there was such a depth and passion in his voice. Chuck Colson began to share with the crowd about "the fellowhip of the suffering"....how serious Christians will go through serious pain in their life on earth. It is NOT our home. We are not here on this earth to be happy....but to be holy....to be set apart.

Chris and I want to be different. We want to "Show Hope" to every person...we would LOVE to have the opportunity to bring another orphan into our home. We will ALWAYS be involved in this mission. We both needed this night.....it helps to bring perspective. We have struggled for the past month about our debt and how in the world will we pay it off.....when orphans are being left to die all around the world. How selfish we are.....so know that we are about to go for it. We have no idea what God is calling us to....but we are ready and willing.

Check out Shaohannah's Hope at:

Shaohannah's Hope

We love you all so much!! We are so proud of the lives you are walking. It is not an easy journey....but SO WORTH IT!!

Love,
Lindsey

She keeps us on our toes!!

She loves to feed herself now.....unfortunately, she liked to put the mashed potatoes everywhere except for her mouth!! She thought is was hilarious!!


This look is priceless.....it is like she is saying, "I didn't do this."


Eliana loves, loves, loves to be chased by Dada!! It has become a nightly ritual. She runs at top speed around the house screaming!!


This is her favorite "hiding" place (beside the fridge). If she becomes extremely quiet, we know where she is.


I couldn't resist this picture of her in her tights and boots....Chris said she looks like a football player. She had green beans stuck to every part of her....and Polly LOVED it.

Our little Eliana continuously surprises us with her HUMOR!! Seriously, her facial expressions are beyond priceless. Chris and I will admit that we are pretty dramatic people....but she beats us both already!!!

Love y'all,
Lindsey

P.S. Was I just the only one in the world screaming at the top of my lungs at the ending of the Biggest Loser??!!! I WAS SO EXCITED that Vicky did not get her way. She is so mean to everyone. :-)

I'm in love with............GROSGRAIN!!!!

Okay, for those of you that know me....know that I LOVE clothes. I love unique, funky, cool clothes that you just don't find anywhere. Today, I found the greatest new store for Eliana. The owner of Grosgrain decided to start creating outfits for her daughters and it turned into an actual business. She is already sold out of so many things and the store just opened on Thursday.

CHECK IT OUT:

GROSGRAIN


Warning: You will want to buy every single item for your daughter....I DO!!!! Wouldn't Eliana look adorable in the little skirts?!!!

Way to go Kathleen!!

Love y'all,
Lindsey

I love her heart.....

It makes me melt!! I was reading her a book a little bit ago before bed and she gave me the biggest bear hug (patting me on the back at the same time)....and then proceeded to fall sound asleep in my arms. I don't know why it got me...but it did. I just wept holding her tonight. I thanked the Lord for bringing her to Chris and me....wow, I am so humbled by this gift.

I love my sweet girl.

Lindsey

Eliana loves Polly!!!

This makes me smile. Eliana LOVES to give hugs and kisses to Polly!! She also loves Kay-Kay's cat Daisy. Polly wasn't sure what to think of her at first....but she loves that Eliana throws all of her food to her. They are definitely friends now.

Love y'all,
Lindsey

Halloween, Highschool Reunion, and Baby Showers.......

Love ya'll,
Lindsey