I'm Going to Elaborate . . .

I had a peripety.

First of all, let me say that it has been our prayer that we bring Avery home this year.

We have been waiting, officially according to China, since 12-11-06 to be matched with a baby girl from China. That is a long time, but we needed that length of time to have Carlie and to get to where we are now - so all is good, but enough of the waiting! Now that Carlie is over a year old we can officially accept a referral, if only China were on our schedule. So, according to the "predictions" made by websites that do that sort of thing with the China referral dates, if China started speeding up their process and referring even more children a month, then it could still be 2011 before we have our daughter, if that! So, Lyndal and I have been waiting to decide what to do - should we switch countries? should we stick it out and wait? should we switch agencies (we love Dillon)? should we go through the special needs program? We wanted God to guide us - open doors, close doors, make paths very clear . . .

Then the peripety came:
I read this blog post: http://gatheringpeeps.typepad.com/gathering_peeps/2009/02/page/2/ from a fellow Dillon mom who has adopted three children from China (has two biological children as well). It basically says that satan doesn't want families to be together, he hates us, he hates "the least of these." AND, China is not a predominately Christian country by any stretch - so you can imagine what hand satan has there! This is what lit a fire under my hiney to move this process along through any power WE (and, of course, God) could. Our agency did not have access to the main SN database, but were expecting approval for it anytime. So, we decided to fill out the SN checklist (a daunting and emotional task) so we could be ready when Dillon had access (IF they got approved). We said we'd give it two months and then we'd decide whether or not to switch agencies (we've since found out that we can't switch agencies, so that door was closed). The special needs checklist was almost completed and we get this email saying Dillon has been granted access to the special needs database, DOOR OPENED!

I turned in our checklist TODAY!

Now, how long do we have to wait before Dillon finds us a match? Not sure on that one, but it is a heck of a lot shorter than 2011. We are DEFINITELY closer to bringing Avery home THIS year!

We are now praying for God to guide the hands of the Dillon social workers who are finding these precious children parents!

What is Going On?

Hey girls!

Boy!  Do I need something to study!  How about you guys?  Well, we are in luck because our next study "The Patriarchs" by our beautiful Beth starts NEXT Tuesday (the one after Spring Break) at 6:30 at Janet P.'s house.  FEEL FREE TO INVITE A FRIEND OR TWO OR THREE!  I haven't spoken to our fearless leader, but the books are usually $15 - $20, so be prepared for that when you come next Tuesday.  Food will be on us (I'll do desserts - but I can't make cake balls, sorry:()! So, are you excited yet?  I sure am!  I need something to sink my teeth into!

Here's the DL (Down Low, for those not in the know):

Who - You and as many friends as you can round up

When - Tuesday March 24 at 6:30 pm

What to Bring - $15 to $20 to cover the cost of the book, your Bible, a smile, a limerick

Food - Provided by Janet and Lori

Where - Janet P.'s house (if you can't remember how to get there, email someone:)

Why - To DIVE into the Word of God, to fellowship with wonderful chicas, to GLORIFY HIM

See you there!

Love you!

Lori

Coming Soon to a Home Theater For US!

Just a reminder that we will be watching "Esther" Friday March 6. AND if you want to stay after Esther we will be watching "Napoleon Dynamite." OK, that last part is a lie, we are not watching ND! But, hey, come dressed really comfy - your favorite loungewear, slippers, pajamas, sweats, etc. We are just gonna have a little bit of a "bunkin party" as my Arkansas roommate called sleepovers.

Hey JANET! What are we doing for food? Is it pizza? Do you want us to bring desserts or salads or anything? Please tell me none of you gave up chocolate for Lent!

Bless YOU!
Lori

P.S. I saw Amy R. and she looks fabulous! We are talking FAB-U-LUSSS! (Not that she wasn't a hot momma before!)

MORE Recipes!

Italian meatloaf

1. 1pound ground beef
2. 1pound Italian sausage
3. 1cup Italian style bread crumbs
4. 1cup parmigiano reggiano cheese
5. 3 fresh roma tomatoes chopped
6. half yellow onion chopped
7. 2 cloves crushed garlic
8. 2 tsp. basil
9. 1 tsp. oregano
10. 1.tsp. salt
11. 1 tsp. pepper]
12. 3 eggs
*mix all ingredients in a large bowl and put into cake pan
cook at 350 for about 55 minutes or it depends on the oven
use a meat thermometer to check thats how I do it because
it is easy to dry this out. Your temp is safe at 165 degrees
Top with your favorite marinara sauce!


Papas con chile
1. five good size new potatoes(skin on)
2. one bell pepper
3. half an onion
4. two Tbsp. cilantro (fresh)
5. two tsp. chili powder
6. two tsp. cumin
7. half a cup of milk
8. four slices of American cheese
*combine all ingredients into microwave safe casserole
cook for fifteen to twenty minutes
your microwave may differ with the temp so stir every
six minutes. Mash with a hand masher so still chunky.
Potatoes should be soft. Salt and pepper to taste.

Almost Time for Goodbye

This has been wonderful. I have learned so much the past few weeks. For me personally I keep hearing the word "HOPE," as our family waits and waits for Avery to come home (over 2 years now), that is one word I NEED to hear. There's a paragraph on page 13 that I highlighted way back when we first started: "Has a negative event or a near-eternal wait recently made you lose hope about something important to you? Do you have any natural reasons to think that whatever your "once upon a time" might have been, it can never be now?" My answer to both of those questions is 'yes,' unfortunately. But on the next page there's the hope part! Go and read from page 13 (after the 'crown question') to the 2nd to the last paragraph before Day 2 which ends "the ending to each story is happy, but before that happy ending is realized, much grief occurs." Again, personally, this adoption process has been full of grief, but oh so full of HOPE because how our faith in our God has grown. He knows my name . . .

Psalm 18:24 (The Message)

^20-24 God made my life complete
when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I got my act together,
he gave me a fresh start.
Now I'm alert to God's ways;
I don't take God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works;
I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together,
and I'm watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life
when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

This was found on the wall of a Nazi concentration camp:

I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.

I believe in love, even when I do not feel it.

I believe in God, even when He is silent. (Author Unknown)

We each have a story to tell, we are all God's people - princesses, chosen, knit together in our mother's womb, He knows our beginning and our end. We are so very much better off because of HIM and with HIM. "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

Esther Famous Recipes

Ultimate Spinach Dip

brought by Lori McMurphy :)

½ stick butter

1 10 oz. pkg frozen chopped spinach

6 oz. jar marinated artichokes (drained & cut up)

3-4 chopped green onions

2 8 oz. ream cheese packages

2 T. Mayonnaise or ¼ cup whipping cream

1 tsp each salt, pepper, garlic powder (or 1 clove garlic or both :)

1 cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In large skillet on stove, melt butter and add green onions and garlic (if using). Cook until onion is soft. Stir in spinach and artichokes. Add cream cheese, Mayo (or cream), salt & pepper. Stir until cream cheese has melted and ingredients are well blended into a smooth mixture. Pour into an 8x8 glass pan and top with parmesan cheese. Cook for 15 min. or until cheese is melt and top is golden brown. Serve with tortilla chips.

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OKLAHOMA COWBOY CAVIAR

Salad

1 can white shoepeg corn, drained (11 oz)

1 can black-eyed peas, drained (15 oz)

2 small avocados, chopped

2 Roma tomatoes, chopped

2/3 cup chopped cilantro

2/3 cup chopped green onions

Dressing

In a small bowl mix together with a wire whisk:

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup garlic red wine vinegar

¼ tsp fresh crushed garlic

1/8 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cumin

Mix all ingredients and toss with dressing.

Best if it sets a few hours before serving.

Serve cold with tortilla chips.

Paula Reno

Feb 2009

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Hot Chicken Salad

submitted by Janet Carmichael

1 cup cooked chicken, diced 1 1/2 c. celery,chopped fine

1/4 cup pimento, chopped 1/4 c. lemon juice

1 c. toasted almonds, sliced 10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup, undilluted

1/8 t. salt (optional) 1/4 c. onion, grated

4-5 eggs, hard-boild, chopped 1 c. green pepper, chopped

2, c. cheddar cheese, grated 1 c. mayo (can be fat-free)

crushed potato chips

Combine all ingreadients in a 5 quart shallow casserole dish except chips and cheese. Mix well. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Place potato chips on top and bake another 10 minutes.

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Potato Sausage Soup

submitted by Janet Carmichael

1 lb. Ground sausage 1 yellow onion

3 - 14 oz. cans of chicken broth 4 cups frozen, shredded hash browns

10 3/4 oz. can cream of celery soup 10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup

12 oz. can evaporated milk 1 jar of mushrooms

Garnish: cheddar cheese

Brown sausage and onion in big pan over medium heat, stirring until the sausage crumbles and is no longer pink and the onion is translucent; drain and return to pan. Add chicken broth and has browns and mushrooms; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat; simmer for 30 minutes. In a separate saucepan, heat soups until they are blended and creamy; add milk and set aside. After sausage mixture is done simmering, add soup mixture; stir often until thoroughly blended and heated through. Sprinkle each serving with cheese. Makes 6-8 servings.

Really yummy and easy on a cold winters evening!!! Terrific with a pan of cornbread and nothing more!!

Hey Girls!

Gosh it has been a really long time since I blogged!  I miss it a lot!  Life has been a bit crazy around here, busy, and crazy!  Tonight's lesson was really good and it's hard to believe we only have one more week of Esther then the big movie night.  I'm not ready to say good bye to her and Mord yet or even King Headache, but look forward to what God has in store for us next.  Each study not only keeps me in the Word (and all over it, too), but lets me get closer to Him and you guys!  My cup runneth over!  On most Tuesdays I come home and dive right back in to the next week's lesson.  My husband said to me last week, "Didn't you just come from Esther?  And you are hitting it again?  Wow!  Must be good!"  Das right it's good!  Like a good TV show I don't want to be cancelled so I think, if I just watch it more and more maybe they won't cancel it!  

This is just a short little note to let you know that I haven't forgotten about our blog, that I WILL get busy on it and post more.  But, I would like some feedback from ya'll.  What do YOU want to see on here more?  I like pictures, I'm a visual learner and pictures help, so I try to always post a picture or video when it's appropriate.  I am going to work on getting some recipes on here this week, and post some about the lessons we have.  But what else do you want to see?  Any thoughts?  I'm open to suggestions?  Is there anything that I do post that you don't like?  I can take it - the criticism, I just want this to be entertaining, informational, and somewhat inspirational for all of us.

I'm starting to ramble.  Better get to bed.

Love ya'll,

Lori