Thank you Heather

KISSES IN THE WIND (The Waiting Child's Lullabye)
I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.

--- © Pamela Durkota, written for Josh

Baby turns four

Our baby girl turns four years old this week and I can't hardly believe it.

Isn't it sad how the second (& I'm sure the subsequent children) aren't interested in staying babies and grow up WAY too fast?

I'm fairly certain that she'll be talking about boys and wanting to borrow the car keys soon (heaven help us!) Heck, she already walks in high heels better than I do (no, really, I'm not kidding).

For now, I'm thrilled she is becoming interested in Disney Princesses, but confident that once the new older Dora premiers next month, she'll want to grow up too fast.

In the meantime, we may need more shelves in her room.

Here's hoping we don't celebrate many more events without Alby and Jimmy. What in the world will they think of celebrations like this? Two parties, two cakes, balloons, gifts, grandparents and friends - Wow!

How blessed are we?! Thank you God for this child and for her brother and for their wonderful, loving Daddy. Who could ask for more? Well, except for two of the cutest little brown boys you'd ever want to bring home from Haiti :)



Bye, bye, bye

I have been anxiously awaiting this post:

the home study has been submitted!!!!!

Woo Hoo!! :)

Homage to Food

If you read my previous post, it will come as no surprise to you when I say that I love food. I don't just like to put food into my mouth, I like to read about it, look at photos of food, watch others make food and browse stores with kitchen gadgets. The funny thing is that I don't cook much. I like to, don't get me wrong, but I don't do it.

I just spent fifteen minutes reading the August Cooking Light and I'm practically giddy! Take this recipe, for instance: Ancho Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Slaw and Avocado Cream. Are you kidding me?! That just sounds delightful. Pair those with a blackberry margarita and I'm in heaven. Who comes up with this stuff?

And the Food Network - who's brilliant idea was that? Don't get me wrong, I like House Hunters and its international companion, but put it in the same time slot as Cupcake Wars or Iron Chef America, and there is no choice to be made.

I have a true respect for people who mix flavors and ingredients and end up with a masterpiece rather than a gelatinous glob of inedible goo. In anesthesia school I joked that I would become a caterer should I flunk out . . . truth is, my brain functions a bit more on the scientific side than the creative one.

This time of year creates a gorgeous pallet at the farmers' market and produce stand alike. The hues of tomatoes alone create one heck of a bouquet. Heirloom tomatoes, for instance, are so beautiful I could cry (sniff).

I know, to each his own. I find beauty in avocados (a perfect gift from God, thank you). And when you add in lime juice, tomato and cilantro: whoa baby!

And while we're on the subject, consider nectarines, cherries and plums. My goodness!

My grandfather would disagree, but I'm also a huge fan of the cucumber. Talk about versatile! Have you sipped ice water infused with cucumber? Enjoyed an herbed cucumber sandwich at a summer tea or shower? And pickles . . . well, that's a topic of its own!

Colors, textures, aromas, flavors - what's not to love?! (Thank you google for the eye candy.) I am so glad I am a human being.

Baby Weight

So, I recently realized that I currently weigh what I did after delivering Grant and Addie. Hmmm.

That's so wrong.

I realize I am not twenty-something anymore, but I've also recently come to the conclusion that being closer to forty (*cough*) than thirty means that I can't eat salads and cereal for a couple of weeks and drop five or ten pounds. That big noisy thing with the rotary belt - yeah, the treadmill - doesn't cause the pounds to fall off just being in the house . . . dang it.  "Aging gracefully" is for people in their sixties and seventies, but cankles in one's forties is just bad news.

I love sushi and merlot, but I'm a fan of cupcakes too.  That's a problem :)

I recently read in another blog the suggestion that adoptive parents should focus on a project while waiting for their adoption stork.  We've got a bedroom to prepare, a house to sell, funds to raise (enter plug for our adoption gift registry and the fabulous coaching from Kelly Ellison:

www.gotchagiftregistry.com )



but perhaps a diet isn't such a bad idea. (I apologize for the four letter word.)  I have long said that I want to be an example for my children, and packing on the pounds while I multi-task my way through this journey is not what I had in mind.

Nothing like a public proclamation of intentions to jump-start one's behavior modification.  Eek.

On the bright side, a few pounds less than this and my Wild Olive Tees will be fittin' fine! (Oops, there I go again:

www.wildolivetees.com )

It's so unfair that I'm trying to put weight onto my six year old . . . couldn't I just donate a few pounds?!

Thank God the kids have Eric's metabolism and not mine.  They have no idea what a blessing that is.





Beignets

Recipe #1: Beignets

Here is my first attempt at Haitian cooking (although, one could argue the origin of beignets is a bit French, a bit Creole, a bit . . . )

Anyway, they were as much fun to make as they were to taste! Grant was disappointed they didn't taste like donuts or a funnel cake, but I can imagine many variations in our future. While I have missed my gas range since moving to this new house, I was happy not to have it during this adventure.

The recipe calls for overripe bananas, but diced apple (or chunky applesauce) or nectarine would be great too.  Mmm, or pear . . . These "sweet fritters" certainly lived up to their name.

"Hey Eric, where's the burn ointment?"

Soooo excited

Thank you Amazon.com for my new books! I am so very excited to have actual recipes to make the tasty dishes I have enjoyed (and the boys are used to eating) in Haiti. No one tell Jon - I wonder what a printed recipe for "spaghetti soup" is worth to him?! Hee hee

This Haitian folk tale was recommended by many lovers of the country and parents of adopted children.

And this one just looked good!

Looking forward to diving in :)

Getting Closer!

We are just one reference and one doctor's note away from being able to turn in our home study!!

On June 27th, the US State Department stated that an international committee was meeting with the new leadership of Haiti to work towards bringing the country into the Hague Convention. What great news for the orphans of Haiti!

Eeek!!! We need to hurry and get our paperwork completed and into the Haitian pipeline to avoid more paperwork, delays, and much, much more cost to bring our boys home.

We almost had an offer on the house this week (I know, that's kind of like being "almost pregnant"), but they weren't serious and couldn't come anywhere close to our new, improved (& much lower) asking price. I know there is a plan in place here, and I'm trying to remain faithful in believing God's hand is in control . . . but being patient is just not in my nature.

I tell myself that once our paperwork is complete and out of the US approval process, I'll be less stressed because it will be 100% out of my control . . .
do you know me?! Exactly. Again, not in my nature to be relaxed about such things.

On the fourth, we sat with friends on the dock and watched fireworks - one adult per one child = maximum safety. I had to smile thinking of Jimmy and Alby experiencing boats and fishing and feeding the ducks and fireworks over the lake :) Oh, and smores

 

Is there anything as tasty and ooey gooey as smores in Haiti? Not in my experience, but then again, I'm no expert in the field.

Man, I can't wait to bring those little guys home! (Tee hee)

www.gotchagiftregistry.com



Independence Day

Today, we celebrate our freedom. Thank you to those who got us here and thank you to those who have kept us free. Bless you!