Our Decade in Review

Our Decade in Review... 2001--After 30+ hours of labor, we welcomed into the world, Meredith London Bass, on June 21. And she arrived on the first day of summer, my absolute most favorite season! 2002--I started working at North Arundel Hospital in Glen Burnie, MD, which is now Baltimore-Washington Medical Center. I was employed there until we moved to AL in 2005. I first worked on a telemetry floor, and then moved to ICU/CCU. 2003--Matthew and I attended an "I Still Do" one-day marriage conference, hosted by Family Life Today, in Washington, DC. It was there we heard SCC and Mary Beth Chapman talk about their first two adoptions, and the rest is history!!! ** We submitted our first application to America World Adoption Agency in November. My family mourned the loss of my beloved maternal grandmother, Lois Marie Stephens Hollis, in May. She passed away following a short battle with brain cancer. "Yooooouuuu hoooooo!" My family also mourned the loss of my paternal grandfather, David Graham, in June. He and my grandmother took my cousin, Kelly, and me on an Alaskan cruise in 1986..I will always remember that. 2004--In February, I had a heart procedure, ablation, for PSVT (pre-sinus ventricular tachycardia), after a heart monitor finally captured and dangerously high heart rate. I am thankful to have survived that episode and ultimately chose to have the procedure instead of having to take Cardizem for the rest of my life, to manage my heart rate. My family mourned the loss of my maternal grandfather, Richard Whittington Hollis, in August. He was well-known in our community, and especially in the medical community, as his nickname was "One Shot".....because he was the best anesthesiologist in town. Matthew, Meredith and I, along with Matthew's parents traveled to China in December to bring our sweet JingJing home. Our "Forever Family Day" for her is Dec. 27th. Our family has never been the same and I thank Jesus for her every day. 2005--Shortly after returning home from China, God opened the door for us to move to Decatur, AL, where Matthew is still serving on staff at Parkview Baptist Church. We LOVE our church family!!! 2006--I began my employment with Decatur City Schools, teaching math at Brookhaven Middle School. God taught me alot there, and the main thing is, I AM NOT a middle school teacher!!! We mourned the loss of Matthew's maternal grandmother, Lela Terrill, in June. She was always so gracious and kind to me...well-remembered in her community and family of faith at First Baptist, Danville. 2007--I had surgery in November, after resigning my position at Brookhaven following much prayer and heartache....and regarding the surgery, things have never been better!!!! 2008--We took the girls on their first Disney World trip in September. We cannot wait to go back!! 2009--We helped launch "Hearts of Compassion" orphan care ministry at Parkview Baptist Church on National Orphan Sunday, November 8th. **We submitted our second application for adoption with America World. 2010--We traveled to China in September to bring DanNi home. We have seen God do some pretty amazing things during the adoption process, and are excited to see what He has in store for our family in 2011!!! Stephanie Bass Psalm 139 http://bassfamilyadoptionjourney.blogspot.com/