2018: A Year of Valleys and Mountaintops

2018 was definitely one for the books. There were so many highs and lows and my faith has never been shaken or strengthened more. It's funny how when I look back on different years, a particular word or words come to mind. This year will always be the year of the baby. Our precious girl.

In January I was featured in the Wall Street Journal because of my very controversial bookshelf. It's humorous to me how something so simple but precious to me in our home has become my most liked photo on social media but has also made some book-lovers show disdain for my decor choices. Apparently displaying your books non other than the very traditional way is the only right way. I still get a kick out of people's very strong but petty opinions.

Introducing our daughter...

Colette (Coco) Arya Briggs 

We have our little girl. God is so kind to give her to us. Looking back, we clearly see why God had us walk down the path we did, to be scammed out of our adoption savings, to cry more tears than I have ever cried, and to go through more heartbreak than we have ever experienced. It was all for this little bundle.

A Family Worth Fighting For

As many of you may know by now, we heard the heartbreaking news last week that our adoption match was a scam. I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the email informing us of the FBI investigation, telling us to reach out to some lawyers that we had never spoken with, to receive more information. We had to find the hard facts out for ourselves and determine if this birth mom we had spoken with on the phone was a figment of our imagination.

My Top Ten Alfred Hitchcock Films

I grew up on Alfred Hitchcock. I remember there were many Sunday nights as a teenager when my parents, sister, and myself would stop at the local Hollywood Video and find another Hitchcock film to take home and enjoy with our pizza.

Every October, Josh and I will usually watch several classic thriller films in anticipation of Halloween so I thought it would be fitting to share my top ten Hitchcock favorites with you all.

Since the old days, I've collected several from Hitchcock's collection. There are some films of his that I really enjoy but didn't include on this list...and then there are others I didn't enjoy so much (looking at you Rope).

The Little Baby Rocker

On the morning that we were to transfer our two little embabies (our two embryos from our IVF cycle) we received the phone call that broke the news to us that they didn't make it. Over the past week following my egg retrieval, we had grown quite attached to those two little ones. We heard the words that "they are little warriors" and "they look great" and how the Dr. felt confident that at least one would take. We began dreaming of what it would look like to have twins. It's so hard to prepare your hearts and go into every situation with little or zero expectations.

A Few September Favorites

First of all, I have to apologize for not being the most faithful blogger lately. With the whole adoption thing going on and just life, things have been pretty hectic around here but I want to get back on it and I thought what better way than to write a favorites post!

There have been a few things that I've enjoyed lately, have caught my eye, and just brought a little more magic to ordinary life! I thought I would share those with you. I sometimes discover the best things through others sharing their joy for them so here it goes...

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 

Zebra Blinds // Window Shades for your home