There really are no words....

to adequately reflect on the year that is rapidly coming to a close. I will try my best to take a stab at it. I think that it is an important thing to do both to document what 2006 has meant to our family and to take stock of our lives and move forward into the coming year.

If you take a look back at most years you will be able to see what the high points and low points were and of course all of those routine days that do not seem to make an impact at all. I think the funny thing about those routine days are that they really are the meat and potatoes of your life. Of course we had huge highs:

Seeing our daughters face on referral day.

Finding out that the timing was so perfect that our son could accompany us to China.

That same son's college graduation two days before leaving for China.

The day that we finally received the gift of our second child.

The day that we officially became a family of four

and the amazing trip to the country of our daughter's birth.



The Lows:



Witnissing Katie Starr's terrible grief in China and beyond.

The terrible economy that has left my real estate business in very sad shape.

The terrible stress that we all endured due to the above two mentioned lows.

Allowing the stress to manifest in illness.

Losing our dog Buddy to Kidney failure a week before leaving for China.



The Routine Days:


Katie Starr progressing day by day in subtle ways at first and then in big giant leaps in her true attachment to us.

Learning all about the newest member of our family on a daily basis.

Seeing Justin daily with his little sister (who could literally be his daughter) He is wonderful with her and shows great devotion to her.

Being the parents of an adult child and a toddler at the same time is awesome and challanging - have to keep reminding myself daily not to treat Justin like a baby...LOL

Hanging tough with my father and trying to find new ways to keep our 32 year old family business thriving during the toughest fourteen months of our history.

Meeting and spending time with family and friends as much as possible. We had great opportunities this year to really get to enjoy lots of fun times.

Seeing the real happiness that Katie brings to her grandparents and extended family. It is amazing and we are so blessed

and finally the day in and day out friendships that have come from our adoption journey via our FCC Group and the internet. We have met people that we know will be in our lives for many years to come. Add this to the wonderful friendships that we were already blessed with and we have quite a full life indeed.


The routine days by far are absolutely what our life has truly been about this year. Of course the highs and lows were dramatic and make for unbelievably vivid memories but it is in the routine days that will allow us to take stock and see how blessed we truly are and gauge how far we have come. I am crying tears of joy as I write this because I truly feel that it was such an amazing year and even as amazing as it was we have the opportunity to love, grow and learn even more in 2007.


From our family to yours; we wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2007. We cannot wait to find out what is in store for us and for you!


Peace,

Lori, Marc, Justin and Katie Starr