2011 - A Year of Change

I don't like change very much, but I've learned that change isn't negative - it means new, it means growth. 2011 has, unintentionally, been a year of changes for the Pensyls. All "unplanned" in a sense, but wonderful.

We switched which side of the garage we park our cars. It's phenomenal - I can just back out and turn around under the basketball hoop and then pull out of the driveway front first!

We switched which side of the bed we sleep on. I really love this. I've slept so much better. I think it's because I don't have the door or the alarm clock on my side of the bed anymore and the subconcious pressure to be on guard isn't there anymore.

Marc wants to switch both of these things back. We're in negotiations.

In July we began the process of adoption - we're excited about this and hope that at some point in the next two years we'll have a little boy or girl increase the Pensyls to a total head count of 3!

In September Marc accepted a new job with Habitat Forever. He is loving the work he is doing and the crew of guys he is working with. The new job has meant some changes for our family, Marc is feeling fulfilled and we're excited for new beginnings! Also, Tucker and Lily have gotten to sleep on the bed while Marc's been traveling so they're really liking the new job! :)

I accepted a full time job with Calvary which I'll begin January 13. We're excited about this career change for variety of reasons - the biggest being that I feel like I am really following a passion, a desire that God placed on my heart several years ago (2006ish). Again, the new job brings a lot of changes for our family, but we know God will continue to lead us if we lean into him for our heart's desires and trust in His plan for our family.

If anything, 2011 may have forever changed my thoughts on change. I'm not afraid of change as I was for years - change means good, wonderful, new. The changes of 2011 were perhaps just a segue into amazing developments in 2012 - we're holding on for the ride!

The Top 5 Pensyl Points Blog Posts of 2011

In order of popularity (most reads) the top five Pensyl Points blog posts in 2011 were (click on the title of each if you want to reread):

1. More Pillow Talk
2. Pillow Talk
3. We Have (Another) Nephew!
4. And Onward They Go
5. Lily Through The Years

Clearly demonstrating what goofballs we are and that we really (really) love our family, our church, and our dogs!

Childhood Dreams

The entire world knows what happened in our community - and unfortunately happens around the world - earlier this year. Unless you have lived in the State College area for an extended period of time or especially if you are a Penn State graduate then you will never fully understand the turmoil of emotions these events have brought to the people in our community. It's more than the surface stuff that the news stations reported to you. It's so much deeper, the pain, the repercussions.

Joe Conrad and Ronnie Byron - both Penn State students and part of the worship team at Calvary (Ronnie  is an HSM alum!) - wrote and produced this song called "Childhood Dreams". Please give it a listen, I've included the lyrics here:

"Innocent community. So naive.

Standing firm in your beliefs, and your perfect dreams.

Then one day it fell apart and sent you flying through the darkness.

You were broken-hearted.

Heroes falling from our skies amidst the cloud of hurt and lies.

You can hear their cries

Though the world may fall apart

keep these simple truths inside your heart.

Cause when your childhood dreams seem to crumble at your feet,

fall back on your beliefs and be free.

There will be monsters in this world and they will get what they deserve.

Just remember they do not decide your worth.

When your trust is gone and you feel betrayed, and you've lost your way.

When others fail to see you through, we will grieve with you.

Mistakes are made of skin and bone just know that you are not alone.

We can overcome.

A light is coming through the dark to let you know the healing starts.

We will sing it out.

Though the fall from grace is hard on us

you better believe that we will find the strength to rise again

Cause when your childhood dreams seem to crumble at your feet,

fall back on your beliefs and be free.

There will be monsters in this world and they will get what they deserve.

Just remember they do not decide your worth.

Can you feel the hope that's rising,

voices calling through the lies and

people join together as one not to rest until our works done

In you lies the strength to rise and

we will never leave your side for

love has come to show us the way. Hope can be found in a new day.

Cause when your childhood dreams seem to crumble at your feet,

fall back on your beliefs and be free.

There will be monsters in this world and they will get what they deserve.

Just remember they do not decide your worth."

Please don't judge us, our community, or our school because you don't understand - you never will - and that's ok. Instead please pray for us; for grace to be shown to us and that we show grace to the members of our community that need it, pray for healing of the victims as they fight to find their new normal, and that light continues to be shed on the horrible issue that is child abuse, because it will never, ever be ok.

Random Thoughts

1. When you go to the eye doctor why do they make you take out your contacts and then lead you all over the building to various offices? I'm down for four senses guys, please hold my hand.
2. I've been kissed under the mistletoe exactly one time this Christmas season. It was by Tucker.
3. Marc starting growing a goatee in April. He told me he was going to keep it until he was 55. He shaved it off tonight. You could have knocked me over with a feather. He's so stinkin' handsome.
4. I'm pretty sure the dogs had more presents under the tree than Marc or I did.
5. I secretly love the fact that I have two 29 year old tattooed ex-military/war veterans on my couch right now playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii.

Christmas

We have been having a wonderful Christmas season! Our friend Bart came up for an unexpected visit on December 23! On Christmas Eve we made Grammy Rose's gnocchi's and we to church (I loooooove Christmas Eve services) where Marc played in the worship band.

 The Pensyl Christmas tree!

 Tucker opening up one of his presents

 Lily opening one of her presents!

 A Willow Tree figurine of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus!

Then we drove to Abington, PA to see the Powers/Lee families

 Miss Abigail opening up a present

 David playing with his life size Elmo puzzle

 Abs helping Marc opening up his present. It was the biggest under the tree and she nearly exploded waiting for us to get there so she could help him open it!

 A Ukulele! (Abigail seemed less than impressed after all the build up, but Marc was happy!)

 David - a cutie pants to the extreme!

 Abigail helping me to unwrap her present for us - it was a homemade salt dough ornament that she decorated herself!

Last year Abigail seemed mildly overwhelmed at opening presents - this year she was ok with opening EVERYONE'S gifts!

The two goofballs!

Abigail's mouth is open because she is bellowing "CHHHEEEEEEEEESSSSSEEEEEE". She loves having her picture taken.

When we were leaving the next morning she said "I love you" to Uncle Marc. My heart melted a little.

Then we drove over to Princeton, NJ to see Uncle Frank, Aunt Maureen, Frankie, Charlie, Aunt Linda, Brian, Terri, Kirk, Nicole, Jason, and last, but certainly not least - the one and only Grammy Rose. We had SUCH a good time with them and we Skyped Marci, Nate, and Drayke! It was nice to all be together! It'll never cease to amaze me how much Marc looks like his mom's side of the family! Every time I'm with them I notice a new feature or something that comes from that side of the family! 

Grammy needed a tissue so Marc brought her two and she goes "Did you get me two tissues?" Marc says "Yes, one for now and in case you need one later" then walks out of  the room and Grammy goes, "What a cutie. I love that guy." Yes Grammy, me too! :)

Today Marc, Bart, and I went shopping Jalin's Christmas gifts (we don't celebrate Christmas at the orphanage until March)

Er...I shopped and Marc and Bart did this: 

But I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world...

Adoption Update

We figured we owed you a post in the way of adoption news. It's a slooooooow moving process, but here's what's been happening:

We gathered all the clearances and reference forms (thank YOU to those of you who wrote them for us)
We had our physicals - I'm "neurologically intact" and Marc was deemed "boringly normal". We'll take that!
We had our psych evaluations - they said we were fit to be parents. *whew*
Our home study is written and is waiting to be approved by the case worker in the WI office
Our I800-A is filled out and ready to mail...but we need the approved home study before I can send it in
The dossier is all put together...except for the I800-A approval (are you noticing a domino effect of activity here?)

This week I'm confirming that everything we need to send to US CIS (Child and Immigration Services) is ready to be mailed. We need two more things notarized (a big shout out to Clayton Hetrick for helping us out!). In January, once we have the approved home study, I am going to begin applying for grants!

We need to have the US CIS/I800-A approval so we can get the dossier shipped over to the Philippines by February 4. I'm an absolute ball of nerves because the ball is in someone else's court and there is nothing I can do, yet there is a deadline I'm being held to! Because these lessons are (sadly?) so familiar to me I suspect his is God teaching me that He is in charge of this adoption and to trust in him, to give up control. Sometimes I wish God would stop trying to teach me this lesson. Sometimes I wish I'd just get it already!

So, much to be happening in the next six weeks in the Pensyl Adoption -stay tuned! If you could pray for our son or daughter, their family, their caretakers, their country, we'd appreciate it greatly. We count our blessings this time of year and this year we have a huge blessing to be thankful for and praying for, but this blessing has burdens attached to it - a heart broken mother and/or father, a heart broken child perhaps - let's pray for healing and hope for those involved in our adoption in the Philippines. Thank you!

A Few Pictures

 Bart came to visit us for Thanksgiving!

 Bart and Tucker acting goofy in the kitchen

 Mr. McGoo

 Dad cutting up the Thanksgiving turkey!

 The family eating Thanksgiving dinner together. Look carefully at the far end of  the table. Perfect!

 Abigail made everyone name tags so we knew where to sit

My two husbands 

 Uncle Jon and Aunt Heather brought their gifts for Abigail and David

 The fun thing about your brother taking a nap is that you get to open up his presents too

 I like this picture because I'm so into what Erin is saying. She's so intriguing.

 Marc and I on Thanksgiving (this was the third attempt, Marc kept making weird faces)

 David

 Abadabadoo

Marc heading out on a bike ride - we took this shot as a picture for our dossier

Christmas Thoughts

 This isn't actually the tree we selected, but it was big and unwrapped so we used it for our photos!

 We had to take pictures to include in the dossier...

 We got a free pine cone with our tree!

 Mr. Muscles hefting the carefully selected Pensyl family Christmas tree onto the roof of the car

 We spent quite a bit of time securing the tree to the roof for the 1.3 mile ride home. Quite a bit of time...

 Goofball

The tree is up and wonderful - a much better experience than last year! We love getting our trees from Way Fruit Farm - they're the perfect tree every year!

I love Christmas time, Christmas lights, Christmas cookies, Christmas music, Christmas pups who sit under the tree (waiting for what I'm not quite sure). I love the candle light service at church as Christmas! The music, the quiet, the warmth, the flickering light - mmmm it's all so magical and wonderful! Marc is playing this year at the 7pm service so I'm super excited to see him up on stage strumming away (is that what you do with a bass? Strum?)

You know one of my favorite parts of the Christmas story? Luke 1:38 when Mary says to the angel who tells her that she will become pregnant and give birth to the Son of God, "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled."

I love how Mary, presented with perhaps the most shocking news of her life, pushes "herself" aside and embraces the honor of being a servant of God and trusts fully in what she has been told even though she is aware her life will be thrown into a turmoil (unmarried, pregnant, etc). It makes me do a self check - do I throw myself at the opportunity to be a servant of God every chance I get? Do I do it trusting fully in God?

Merry Christmas to each of you - we hope it's a blessed season for you and those you love!