A blessing in BO

Bo is all legs so when he sleeps he sometimes looks like a pretzel!

Bo and Nater are BEST buddies! They wrestle A LOT!

(Nate likes to wear his helmet for extra protection!)

Enjoying the snow!

Bo tore up my shower loofa and I found it all over the bedroom AND him.

I sit here amazed and think over the last few months. After Maverick passed I was so sure that I didn't want another dog. I was such a freak about my dogs and I was afraid of allowing another dog into my heart. I just didn't want to get attached again. However, I am soo glad that I took that chance. I am so glad we found Bo George. He has been such a great addition to our family and I am constantly in awe of how much we have all grown to love him. He is not only cute but has a really great personality. He is sweet with a side of mischievous and spunk. Just like Nate. I am always in awe at how God works things out. How he provides things that we didn't even know that we are in need of. I know it is 'just a dog' to some, but he is more than that to me. He is proof that when we cannot even see past our own hurts, God has a grander plan. Bo has eased the pain of losing Maverick and we are very blessed to have him in our lives!

You know you're a mom when...

· Wal-Mart is your favorite store to shop at

· You can do 18 things at once

· You bribe your child with candy to get a good family picture

· You want to end everyday with a margarita

· Your last family vacation was to Chuck E. Cheese

· Every birthday party you attend involves a clown and juice boxes

· Your 2-door sports car becomes a 4 door mini-van

· You start thinking that showers are overrated

· Your children dress more stylish than you

· You count down the minutes until nap time

· You hire a babysitter just to watch your favorite show

· Your memory lasts for 10 seconds

· You sport the mom ponytail on a regular basis

· The last book you read had less than 10 words on a page

· The irony of “I will never do that when I have children” is laughable

· Germs are friends

· Your child’s consequence depends on your mood

· Date night is on the couch

· you eat in 20 seconds

· you cut up your husband’s meat in pieces

· you wear slippers to go shopping

· you get excited for school to start back up

Christmas Letter 2010

The One with the ADOPTION!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…”

Isaiah 9:6

We started off the year with an unexpected surprise. If you remember from my last Christmas letter, Nate had come to live with us and he was calling us “Honey” and “Uncle Germy”. Well, out of the blue in February he started calling us “Mommy” and “Daddy”. We thought it was just a phase so we didn’t push it but it soon became apparent that he had chosen those names for us. So, we went with it! And, it was as if he just ‘knew’ because the very next month we received the call that we would be able to adopt him! We spent the next several months in piles of paperwork but it was all worth it because on July 9 we stood in front of a judge and became legal parents to Nate. We actually made it into one celebratory weekend as Nate turned three years old the very next day! It was such a wonderful yet emotional weekend.

Unfortunately, right after our incredible month, the next couple of months were a little rough. My Grandpa Tayloe passed unexpectedly in August and then my ‘baby boy’ Maverick passed at our home in September after a long bout with cancer. It was a hard loss for our family but we were grateful to be with him in the end.

After Maverick passed I told pretty much everyone that I was not ready to have another dog around (especially not a puppy). But, the quietness of living in a dog-less house made me miss Maverick even more and I found myself on Craigslist (out of curiosity) one Friday afternoon. And, on Sunday evening, we had taken in…yes, a 5-month-old puppy! His name is Bo George and he is a white lab mix. He has been SUCH an awesome dog and has been so much fun. It is amazing at how much him and Nate are so much alike too! Their energy levels are a perfect match as well as their sweet personalities. He has been a great addition to our family.

Nate started preschool in October and loves it! I cannot begin to express how much of a personality this little boy has. He is so funny and so smart. His laugh lights up the room and we have been immensely blessed to have him as our son! And, he is also quite the flirt so all I can say is…lock up your daughters! J

Jeremy is currently still practicing in Olathe as a Chiropractor and continues to enjoy his career. Nate frequently makes the comment that Daddy is at work “helping people”. We are still attending Life Church and have met an amazing group of people to do ‘life’ with! I have taken on the role of Cubbies Director for Awana at church, which has been a lot of work but really fun! I have also been blessed to be living my ‘work’ dream…teaching aerobics, staying busy with my own business (FRANNIE’S, www.franniesonline.com), and being a mom!

Who knows what the next year will hold but I have learned that when God is the one holding us, life is nothing short of one amazing adventure. God bless each of you during this Christmas season and in 2011!

Love,

Jeremy, Stephanie, Nate and Bo Dulin