My worker boy.

I've been at it again.  Sewing.  One day many years from now, I would love to have a room completely devoted to sewing.  I would need a few things before that is possible that aren't likely for a good while:  an extra bedroom, some home office furniture and a lot more free time!  


Buddy put in an order for a Handy Manny tool belt, so I've been filling up those fleeting free moments during my days making this for him.

You can make one for your little worker too.  Go here.  Blessings, angela

Sweet P's home.

The most difficult part of hearing we likely won't be able to make the estimated February or March travel dates to pick up Sweet P is knowing she won't be right here in our home for a few more weeks of her life.  Instead, she will be a few weeks longer of life in the orphanage.  

Two days after we got that news, I got an email from Meagan, a girl I met back in high school while visiting my friends Kristie and Amy at their new home in Kansas.  Following me?  ...because it gets more intertwined...  Fast-forward to college when I went off to Texas and my lifelong friend Carrie went to college in Oklahoma.  Meagan did too.  Carrie and Meagan become the best of friends and when Carrie got married, both Meagan and I were bridesmaids! 

Carrie and me

 

Can't find one from the wedding with Carrie in it, but Meagan is the second girl and I'm right next to her.

Meagan just returned from four years in Zambia working at an orphanage.  The Lord impressed upon her to share her experiences and thoughts about Sweet P and life in an orphanage.  I wish I could adequately put into words how encouraging it was to read.  I want to share an excerpt here:

God is really putting it on my heart to comfort you and reassure you of how loved she is right where she is. I say this in no way to minimize the feelings you have because I can’t imagine how hard it must be. But I assure you, having been the one on the other end, that it broke our hearts every time one of “our” babies left us. Our whole lives, and the lives of those that work in orphanages, center around the children and they become our children and we love them with every ounce of our beings. I obviously have no clue what your daughter’s orphanage is like, and I could be way off base, but I just want you to take comfort in the fact that though she is far away from you, someone is holding her tight, loving her, and dreading the day she’ll be leaving them. I know God is using whatever hands are there to cradle her and comfort her and develop her until she can be with your family finally. 

Meagan was completely on target with what she said.  The reason I know this is, the day after she wrote I asked on our adoption yahoo group if anyone had pictures of the orphanage to share.  I didn't ask for details, just pictures.  What I received back was another beautiful gift from the Lord.  A girl named Jen wrote to say she had pictures from their trip in 2007.  They have a gorgeous little girl who was 5 years old when they brought her home.  Only the Lord could  have compelled her to respond to my request for pictures with this specific info:

The kids are incredibly loved at (orphanage). Our daughter was there since birth. It's very clean and has lots of play areas. We were given a photo album with pics of her since she was a baby! Then as we were leaving a volunteer who knew our daughter since birth made up a beautiful photo album for us! It is so wonderful for our daughter to have.  They also have very good medical care for the kids!

 It was amazing to hear of the love from the workers at the orphanage -- exactly as Meagan had assumed.  I was especially thankful for her final statement about medical care since that is a huge concern for Sweet P.  Jen sent these pictures of the orphanage where Sweet P lives right now: 

Some of these children were on the waiting children DVD and are still waiting for families... I vividly remember their sweet faces.

This picture is the most difficult for me to look at because of all the little beds in a row.  On one hand, they have lots of friends around all the time, but on the other, it's so institutional.  Don't miss the row of identical bears up on the cabinets.  

Aah!  I can't wait to get that little girl home so I can love on her.  Buddy says he is going to give her lots of hugs and Peanut can't wait to have a bunkmate!  I also can't wait to get her home so we can begin this process all over again.  The need is so great.

Maybe you've felt compelled to adopt?  There are children waiting for a forever family worldwide.  You don't have to be a perfect family, just willing.

Blessings, angela

The Beginning Reader's Bible.

Each night before bed, my two littles climb up onto the guest bed with K for a Bible story.  We've made our way through a few children's Bibles time and again so reading through The Beginning Reader's Bible was a welcome adventure.  As in any children's Bible, it is a selection of stories that will speak to the heart of your child.  It is larger than I expected and the pages are nice and sturdy for not-so-gentle page turning.  You can guess who might be guilty.  :)  This is also the first Bible for kids we have received that has a bookmark to keep our place.  Love that.  

The illustrations are beautiful and the people are depicted as Middle Eastern -- a thing that bothers me in most Bibles.  Why must we Americanize Him?  Ugh.  So, The Beginning Reader's Bible scored high in my opinion on that.  

Another favorite about this Bible are the boxes on many pages.  Some have memory verses:

Some have prayers:

Some have activities that will help put the Word into action:

If you are looking for a true beginner Bible for a child still learning to sound out small words, this one will be too much.  The text of each story does come from the International Children's Bible translation, so I'd recommend it to a child who is already a true "reader".  Hopefully you'll be reading right along to help with words and to help make life application with your child.  

In the back there is a list of the Ten Commandments, selected Proverbs, the 12 apostles, the 12 tribes of Israel, songs and more.  There is also a chart if you want to record the dates you read the stories and a chart to record when you memorized the Scriptures.  I'm a list person so I liked these additions!  

The main thing I felt missing are all the foreshadowing and prophecies about Jesus... The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones is still my absolute favorite children's Bible.  Each story from the Old Testament points toward the coming of Christ ... how incredibly the Father purposed each event in the OT for the arrival of our Savior in the New Testament.   

I'd give it four stars.  Blessings, angela  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

storytime.

My non-reader wanted to "read" me a story, and I am so glad it's captured on video.  There's nothing quite like 3-year-old storytelling.  He must be one of those advanced types since he seems to be interpreting Japanese.  :)

Plain Wisdom.

Raise your hand if your eyebrow goes up at the mention of the Amish?  I don't know why but their life intrigues me, but it really does.  So much so that I may pack up the car and drive right up to Lancaster, Pennsylvania the moment I finish this post.  


I can't say I'm jumping at the opportunity to adopt all their ways, but they sure do have a lot to teach me about life.  I was excited to read Plain Wisdom and get an inside peek into Amish life.  Check it out when it hits shelves March 15. 


Cindy Woodsmall is an Englisher friend of a Plain (another term for Amish) woman Miriam Flaud.  They take turns with each chapter telling stories that give insight into the Amish way of life.  The cover depicts perfectly how I felt as I turned each page...  like I was listening in over the shoulders of two friends talking.  I didn't feel like I shouldn't be listening as I often do in restaurants when I can't help but hear over my shoulder; I felt invited to eavesdrop and learn from their tales.  


One story that I've been pondering over repeatedly since I finished the book is about how the Amish are so purposeful in planning their day.  They move with the sun,  getting laundry out early in the morning so it can be brought in before dark.  Once the sun goes down, any remaining work is done by candlelight, so laundry cannot be saved until then.  In my technological and rushed world outside Amish country, I can do anything at just about any time of day because I have electricity.  The down side is, I could be up at 3:00am typing this (although my friends know I'm in bed well before then every night!) and my day could be unending.  The Amish understand the gift of a day, the gift of each sunrise that gives light to their work, and I would bet they enjoy rest all the more.  


I was encouraged to enjoy the simple things in life and be a more diligent worker at the tasks I do have each day.  I love the life I have been given but am thankful for the "plain" reminder of simplicity and it's beauty.  


Blessings, angela


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

BIG news!

Saturday could not have been a more wonderful day!  K and I finished up a really encouraging time at our church's Love and Respect marriage conference.  If you haven't read the book version, your marriage will thank you.  Find it here.  I'm looking forward to many more years married to my amazing man, but I still have much to learn.

So, then on the drive home, the phone rings.  Surprise of all surprises, it's our adoption agency which is crazy because it's Saturday.  Not your usual working day.  But I'm not complaining.  I'm celebrating!  Every time I get a call from them, it's a good thing because I never get calls from them... much less on a Saturday.  Praise the Lord!  

Sweet P's long-awaited birth certificate and the formal letter saying we're approved to adopt her are at the agency!  WAHOO!  Our I-800 form will be filed on Valentine's Day and should be wired to Sweet P's end within a month.  

We should find out this week whether we can make it in time for the late March adoption board meeting in country.  If not we have to wait until early April.

...and I didn't think the day could get even better, but then I got a 2+ hour nap.  End of story.  Blessings, angela     

heart day.

Image courtesy of aussiegall

Ever since I was a little girl, I remember Valentine's Day being a big deal.  Not just because of all the hearts and candy but because it's my Mommy's birthday!  Happy birthday, Mom! 

(This was taken over Christmas but it may as well be in Oklahoma with the blizzard that attacked them the last couple weeks!)

I've been enjoying some really cold days here by trying out new recipes and sewing tutorials.  Here's a sampling:

Peanut Butter and Jam Cookies

Heart Hot Packs

I made mine about 12" across so it fits nicely over your lower back or on your shoulders.  The sweet friend who got this one has been having pain from her pregnancy and I thought she could use a pretty hot pack!

The little tab on the side is for her to grab it from the microwave without burning her fingers if it's a little too hot.  

All wrapped up and ready to deliver.

Cranberry Scones

My Mommy's Famous Sugar Cookies

If you want a laugh, read last year's adventures of sugar cookie baking.

My Valentine and Me

My little Sweethearts

...and Buddy's "worker face" just because I have no idea what he means but it sure catches me as funny.  I'm keeping him around for good as an emergency anti-depressant.  

 

The happiest of Valentine's Day to you!  May you revel in the everlasting love of the Lord today!  (Jeremiah 31:3)  Blessings, angela

nesting.

Many days I wish I had good news to share, but we're still awaiting the birth certificate and letter.  We received word today that they will likely come within the next week.  Once they do we can purchase plane tickets!  ...so you can imagine who anxious we are to get them.  Based on that info, we were told we will probably travel in April instead of March as told before.  I'm more than a little sad about that news.  


In the meantime, it's officially nesting season.  I have been washing little girl clothes and freezing meals for K's mom (who will stay with Peanut and Buddy).  I remember this time with my first two, and in a small way I wanted them to stay safe inside my belly because I wasn't sure I was completely ready for a new baby.  This time I am not sure I'm ready but I sure don't want her staying an extra day in the orphanage.


There's a temptation to be a little fearful about what is to come.  I could "what if" the entire trip over to get her for days and it still wouldn't do me any good.  There is just no way of knowing whether she will be happy to go with us or if she will scream and cry as she realizes she is being taken from the only place she can remember living.  I've prayed over our meeting again and again and am trusting the Lord to show us how best to comfort and calm her if she is scared.  


A friend passed on a blog of a family who has adopted three children from different places.  Each has a different story about how they attached to the family, and the mom who writes has excellent insight into the topic of attachment for adopted children.  You can read the post here.  From the reading I have done already about bringing Sweet P into our family, I know things must be done differently.  We used the Babywise method of scheduling and teaching self-discipline for Peanut and Buddy.  It worked beautifully and they were really easy babies.  However, many of my tried-and-true ways with them will just not work if we hope to create the same kind of attachment with our beloved Sweet P.  I'm okay with that.  I want to do whatever it takes to show her she is ours and we are always going to care for her.  We are likely going to make some parenting changes as we seek to show Sweet P that her caretaker won't change from shift to shift... Daddy and Mommy are here for good and (like it or not!) so are these other two kiddos!  


I'm so grateful to be a mom again.  Blessings, angela