surprises

Who knew a little tray of cinnamon rolls would bring tears to my eyes? 

So, we go to dinner Wednesday nights at our church before Bible study.  It's wonderful to have dinner ready for us so we can eat and then get to study on time, plus it's an extra excuse to hang out with friends mid-week.  Personally, the best thing about dinner is the homemade rolls, and I've been sure to make it known how much I enjoy them.  I have never been brave enough to try baking with yeast ever since a mishap many, many years ago.  So a couple weeks ago, some of the servers sent me home with a huge bag of leftover rolls.  We got to talking and I mentioned I must like them so much because they remind me of the bread in my mom's cinnamon rolls.  She only makes them for Christmas, so they are extra special and each bite is savored.  I get happy just thinking about them!  They said I must be excited to get them in a month, and I told them we won't be going home for Christmas because we are spending money on our adoption this year.  Chuck, one of the roll makers, tells me to bring him the recipe and he'd try to make them.  He called me thirty minutes ago and said he would stop by with cinnamon rolls!  They hardly made it in the door before I gobbled one up.  They tasted almost exactly like the original!  I think I may freeze enough for us to enjoy on Christmas morning. 

I don't tell you this story to make you feel sorry for us.  I want you to feel quite the opposite!  Yes, it is sad to think of yet another Christmas away from our families, because we haven't been home since our first year of marriage in 2002.  Any so-called sacrifice seems trivial when I think it would keep us from getting our child home sooner.   I know when we go pick him or her up, I won't be thinking about not being home for Christmas this year.  We'll just hope to be home with that child next year!

Another great surprise has been who the Lord has moved to donate to our yard sale.  I have been humbled by the outpouring of support to our family!  We have some awesome stuff (that I want for myself!) to sell in January, so anyone local please come check it out.  I will let you know when we set a date.  ...and if you have anything to donate, let me know and I will arrange pick-up.

The last thing to add to this post is I talked to J at our adoption agency, and she asked if we were still interested in a specific child whom I will call P for now.  I told her we definitely are and asked how soon we could view her medical files.  She has a condition requiring periodic doctor visits which I will share about once or if she is assigned to us.  J said the volunteer at the orphanage would take P to a doctor and send us the report.  We will be able to decide for sure once we see the report and once our homestudy is completed.  Our final homestudy is Friday and then takes a few weeks for our social worker to write up her report. 

Next post, Peanut's on-stage debut.  Blessings, angela