Cooking...

One of my passions. I get this from my mom who, while I was little (and still even today as an empty-nester) loved to cook and experiment with foods, spices, and herbs. You name it she has probably tried it. She always made everything (well not everything) from scratch. Ya know the Sandra Lee(food network, Semi-homemade) way.

I wanted to go to culinary school in my early twenties, but everywhere I looked to go was not where I lived (remember I was married and settled at 21) and/or cost WAY to much money. So, it became a fleeting thought. I have daydreamed about it off and on for several years, but after watching shows like Chef Ramsey's, (are you kidding me) I realize I am not cut out to be in a restaurant kitchen. But catering has crossed my mind.

Anyway, for now I get to experiment with my family.

My sister came into town two weeks ago to do some taste testing with her chef for her wedding and my mom and I got to go with. Blair made all the things she wants on her(my sister) menu and they all broadened my food palette. The whole experience has given me the itch to be cooking for others again. I got a new cookbook right afterwards and I have been going to town not shying away from the unknowns of food but embracing them.

However for now and with a grateful heart, I will continue to be a mother and wife and play a supporting role in ministry with my husband. This too is a passion and it is where God has us. So, I will just have to use some of you in the RDU area as my guinea pigs to be able to use another creative side...cooking.

Great pictures random thoughts

Aren't these just the cutest kids you have ever seen. They are getting so big. Isaac will be two in October and Micah starts Kindergarten in two weeks. As most of you I have two children with completely different personalities. Micah is my quiet, shy, never pitch a fit in public child, where Isaac on the other hand is my loud, never met a stranger, pitch a fit in public child. They both bring great joy into my life and quiet a bit a frustration as well.

Isaac is doing great for all those wondering about his adjustment. He of course had a very rough start but flipped a switch about a month in and became my little sparkle of laughter and joy, oh and screaming. Side note; my social worker came two months ago for or 3 month follow-up and got to see his screaming in action...her suggestion, "You need to get you some ear plugs, he is going to stress you out if you don't. And then it will be bad for all of you." Never did get those but have been working very hard on an inside voice. It has not gotten through yet, but we are working on it.

We have gone through a lot of change in the last few months which has added stress to life in general but we are getting through. Most of you know, but for those who don't Trevor began a new job as college pastor at our church right after we got home (from Ethiopia in March), then we moved to Durham almost two months ago and now Trevor is beginning another full load of classes today. Needless to say we have a jammed packed schedule, but we are learning to take it a day at a time. God gives the grace and sufficiency to get through each day, why would we even dare take on tomorrow or the next. But we all find ourselves looking toward the next day, month and trying to take it all on that very day. I do it when I look to a busy week and find myself feeling very anxious. Why do we do it? Because we want to control our lives is what it boils down to. Shame on us!

I have been checking out my old blogging friends over the weeks and months I have been gone. Alexanders I cannot wait to you get home with little Abe. Lori, what a beautiful room for you sweet girl. And the blog Union, what a huge success. I would have loved to have been there.
As I have been reading through blogs especially you who have small children and am finding that you don't blog as often either so I am going to give this thing another try as long as I get over my guilt of not blogging every other day or everyday. It may be just once a month but I am going to try. I have missed it.

Signing Off

I hate to be the bearer of bad news (and to some this will not be), but I am not blogging any longer.  The short and skinny of it is, that we no longer have a house computer, so I can't unless I do it a night on Trevor's laptop (like now).   However, by the time the kids are in bed the last thing I really want to do is process my day and write it down.

I plan to keep it up(the blog) and check in now and again, and fill you in on any changes, but just not regularly.

The relationships I have made during our adoption process are and continue to be such an encouragement to me and my walk with Jesus.  I look forward to stopping by your blogs and seeing your life and what God is doing with and through you.  Much Love to you all!

Signing Off!!!

Baby Announcements

I just completed my first baby announcement order. It was such a joy to be creative and see the final product. I thank my sweet friend Jill who trusted me with this special opportunity to show off her beautiful children. I know many of you out there are having by birth or adoption those precious new additions and I would love to help you show them off.
Check out Just For You By Keva. Enjoy!

turning 30...

wow 30 years old. When I used to look ahead to thirty I saw myself; in my hometown; living in the house my husband and I bought at 23; growing our family; ministering to college students and my husband still the director of the sports ministry he ran and loving it. Little did I know that God would call my husband and our family to start over essentially. We moved to NC two years ago for him to pursue his Masters degree, where we moved into seminary housing, all 800 sq ft. of it and he began school all over again.

BUT, the year leading up to 30 has brought many new and exciting things. We have been apart of a church family and home that has a PASSION for preaching the gospel and planting churches in order to do so and reach as many people as possible. Trevor has been able to work next to our gifted teaching pastor and begin working with college students again as the college pastor at our church. And last but not least we brought home our second son.

So while I don't live in my beloved hometown anymore or own my own home God has blessed us with a church home, the continued growth of family and the opportunity to work with the greatest age demographic ever. We are growing to love and call NC home. We hope that God will allow us to stay in the area and minister to college students and young families in RDU for a long time to come.

Thank you to my husband who is away for the week for his precious and thoughtful gift and for Anna who brought it to me, my two friends who have brought chocolate chip cookies and all the phone calls. I feel loved and remembered as I enter this new decade.

Kudos...

To a very clever website

Free Rice

Check this out. 

You can feed children and test your vocabulary.

I was able to get to 1300 grains before I stopped,

 but I will go back and do it again. 

This makes me smile...

Isaac playing with the marble maze and cracking up at himself.  

He had us all in stitches.  

Enjoy!