Shopping In Delhi-

This is a totally unrelated post to what I've been blog/journaling lately. I have some friends from my small group headed to India in a few weeks. They asked if there's anything they can pick up for me, and other than my little girl, no, not much. :)

I put together this list in an email- and thought it might be something that the Dillon moms might want to know for their time in Delhi. So- here are my favorite shopping spots in Delhi. :)

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Santushti- The place I mentioned last night that I loved to shop for jewelry and such, that Steve accurately described as a 'utica' type of environment (a really nice, upper end type of area, although fully Indian :)) is called Santushti. Goldie Hawn was shopping there when I was there last... :) Kinda funny, me dressed in my Indian missionary garb shopping in the same area as a movie star. It's a big grassy/treed area with meandering sidewalks and little shops spotted around. *Fixed Price, Credit or cash.

Dilli Haat- Great outdoor area with handmade items and booths with items from different areas all over India is called Dilli Haat. Both Santushti and Dilli Haat have a very cheap 'admission cost' (it's probably like 10 Rs?) to enter the general shopping area. Both places also have restaurants as well. They will sometimes have music or productions happening in an amphitheater area there too. There is a market across the street from Dilli Haat called the INA market where I bought a lot of my home goods (more utilitarian shopping than tourist shopping)*Bargain down the prices. Cash only.

Khan Market- a small shopping area/district with bookshops, and other stores. *Fixed Price (generally- some stores might bargain with you). There is a pharmacy here, and several really good restaurants in this area (but I can't remember their names!) Credit or cash.

Fab India- several locations around Delhi (and India). It's my favorite store in India, hands down. They have men's and women's clothing, household decor, gifts, LOTS of textiles- and overall, just great quality items, and I think all of them are handmade. There are smaller Fab India stores in Khan Market, Connaught Place, and other areas- but the best/biggest ones are in GK1, N Block (Greater Kailash, N block). They have a website if you want to check it out in advance- but know that the prices will be cheaper in India in person than the website prices. they also have a Fab India that is exclusively fabric if you want to sew your own bedding with Indian fabrics... I don't remember which location in Delhi it was though. www.fabindia.com *Fixed Price, credit or cash.

GK1- Greater Kailash (suburb area of Delhi)- there's a shopping area in the M block and the N block. *Fixed Price shops, credit or cash.

Connaught Place- large shopping/metropolitan area in the heart of Delhi (has lots of US franchise restaurants around). It's a really big 2 loop circle with stores on the inner circle and outer circle. These are the higher end pretty expensive shops for the most part. *Fixed Price Shops, Credit or cash.

Janpath Market- (Tibetan market area specifically)- Crowded outdoor stalls with lots of people everywhere. Handicrafts and such. *Bargain your heart out! Cash only:)

Central Cottage Industries Emporium- on corner of Janpath/Tolstoy. This is a government run fixed price store. The main location is the one at Janpath/Tolstoy, and having been to the satellite locations- I recommend only going to the main store. This place is indoors (a great place to shop if the weather is bad). It is a GIANT store (think a 5 story Macy's), everything is fixed price- and they have EVERYthing from all over India in here (handicrafts, art, furniture, fabric, rugs, clothing, toys, books, jewelry, etc.). It's a good place to go if you don't want to do the outdoor market/crowded/bargaining scene. This is where I went when I wanted to buy children's clothes, toys and books. They have a really great selection of children's items. *Fixed Price- they'll take credit cards here.

Ok- it looks like all I did in India was shop! :) We went to Delhi every few months and it was our major shopping outlet- since we lived in such a small town with little amenities... :) From all of you Dillon moms who have already travelled- I'd love your input on your favorite spots as well.

How I'm going to get there:

Alright. Based on my post from last night (during my time at Casa Sonata), I'm seeking out how to get back to the woman I'm called to be. I feel a bit strange doing this in front of the cyber world- but I need to be held acccountable... I've wished a number of times over the last 6 months that I could struggle through these issues face to face with my colorado springs friends- but I'm seeing now that God had to pluck me out of that comfortable place in order for me to deal with things that had settled and taken root that were not of Him; first of which was complacency.

I realized after a chat with a friend yesterday afternoon that I'm sounding like a broken record! I keep rehashing the same 'boo hoo' tales that need to be set aside and forgotten. I've learned over these last 6 months how empty and directionless I can find myself by turning  inward for help/answers... yes, God's spirit is in me, and there were some nuggets to be found that kept me alive- but it's a little bit like 'feasting' on those stale cheerios that I find tucked in the couch cushions instead of getting a fresh meal that not only nourishes but is satisfying (but that requires WORK!).

2 Peter 1: 3-10
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Listening to a message "The Holy Spirit's Power and our effort" by Francis Chan.

I find that I've been praying for an easy way out, not for a closer walk with the Lord, not for stronger character, not for steadfastness in Him. In all my heartfelt, tear-filled prayers for my son's healing (among other things)- I'm essentially searching for an easy way out for him and for our family. Instead of praying that God would use this diffuculty to mold us all into who He wants us to be and for us to be better witnesses to His faithfulness through living life with an incurable disease.

Opposition to the Rebuilding: more journal/blogging to help me process...

Thank God (and my hubby) for a little R and R this weekend. I'm sequestering myself at my mom's while she's in FL- and I'm staying quiet (mostly). :)

I'm trying to take this weekend to turn off my cranial conversation with God and open my heart/spiritual ears to what He's been trying to say to me. I think in my attempt to 'listen' to His answers to my hundreds of questions/ponderings, I've completely missed the 'wide and long and high and deep' of his love (Eph 3:18). I'm praying that He'll turn my darkness into light (2 Sam 22:29)- and He's so faithful. He's already revealing Himself to me.

My questions are mostly about this season in my life where I feel like things have been progressing 'two steps forward, one step back.' I'm making progress- but there is constantly a repair or something to be struggled through in order to progress in my journey. What I envision, is the Lord, like a father, stroking my head while I lay weary across his lap. He's telling me that the struggle isn't the problem. The struggle IS THE JOURNEY. I'm weary because I'm not prepared for the struggle. Here I've been preparing for the destination while the journey kicks my butt- and I get frustrated.

I've lived such a cushy life up until recently, that now when I experience difficulty or struggle, I think there's a problem and I attempt to fix it in order to keep things smooth. The Lord is very gently trying to teach me that the issue is my resistance to having to struggle.

At some point in my walk, I internalized a teaching that I was supposed to 'follow the peace' because God is a God of peace... But upon further reflection, God is a God of strength and frequently a God of battle! Just because there is turbulence in my life, doesn't mean that God is not there... And just because things are smooth, doesn't mean God is in it... The only way to gain strength is by resisting things that are also strong (difficult). The only way to gain muscle is to work against another force- usually one bigger/stronger than you...

(man this is going to be a long post.)

In my Bible searching today I read about Nehemiah rebuilding the wall. In Nehemiah ch 4, the subheading is "Opposition to the Rebuilding." OH MY! This should be the sub-heading to my life right now! How totally appropriate!!!

Neh 4:14 'After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

Nehemiah was speaking about the people continuing to re-build the wall because the enemy was headed their way. They were weary and they were being mocked while they worked. He was encouraging them to struggle through the difficulty of the labor involved in physically fighting to protect their families and their lives.

A verse that follows is Neh 4:17b:
Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other.

What an image. They were NOT dreamily building a wall, imagining what it would be like to someday have it complete. They were battling while they built.

This sounds like the ultimate multi-tasking challenge. I have to battle for my family and my God- while I rebuild the brokenness within myself and those around me. The battle and the repair are not the problem. My unwillingness to take them on; that's the problem.

Two very special 6's today:

As of today, I have two very special 6's to announce. :) My oldest little man turned 6 today, and we got an email that we're #6 on the waiting list for our little princess! Yee Haw! :)

Headed into Thanksgiving with a definite heart of Thanksgiving! God is so faithful to paint a beautiful picture out of our lives. Sometimes it is just not the picture we thought it would be, and its not painted in our expected timeframe... :)

I've finally come out of my season of moping, or self-centered depression, or whatever you want to call it. I had about 6 months of glass is half-full thinking. Thankfully the Lord has helped me see my way out of the pit, and I now see the amazing things that make my life full, instead of just focusing on what I perceive as missing.

When I challenged myself to do a real, in-depth look at what I was struggling with that was keeping me down, I found a TON of useful stuff that God used to knock me upside the head. The main thing I found was that when I studied 'being content' or 'contentedness'- I found that some translations of scripture use the word 'agreement' in the place of 'content with'. I thought that was very interesting- and upon prayer and reflection, I realized that I was not in agreement with what God had been doing in my life, and I started to resent it and struggle with it selfishly.

I end up looking at Job losing almost everything and Paul while he was in prison. If they can be content, why can't I see my way out of my suburban, middle class, fully-fed, fully-clothed PIT? (Whatever, Sarah... Sometimes I can be such a schmuck!)

So, in repentance and rest I have re-found my salvation. (READ: Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.) Yes, that's right friends. I would have NONE of it. Instead of repentance and rest, I chose selfishness and busyness. Not wise.

But, I'm back. The mud is out of my eyes and heart and I'm pressing on. Hang in there friends, whether it's an actual hard season, or just a bout of selfish pouting. God can and will walk you through to the other side.

Tonight's wonderful Indian Dinner (if I do say so myself)!

Ok- I set out to make an actual recipe for dinner, and it was amazing!

Here are the recipes if you're interested: It took 40 minutes or so to make. It's based on a recipe from a cookbook called "Indian" put out by Parragon Publishing (yes, 2 r's). My kids both loved it. Start the rice first, and let it cook while you prepare the shrimp.


Lemon-laced Basmati Rice (I just had american long grain):
I put 2 cups of rinsed rice in the rice cooker with the water called for on the package. Then on top of it, I put 1 tsp salt (or to taste), 1/2 cup cashews, and a generous squirt of lemon juice.
Then, in a saute pan:
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cumin
After these have sauteed together for a minute or two, pour the hot, fragrant oil into the rice cooker (or pot) and stir it up. Close the lid and cook per directions on rice package.


Goan Shrimp Curry with Hard Boiled Eggs
*And don't say eww eggs... just try it!
*Also, for a vegetarian option, try it with baby bella mushrooms instead of shrimp.
4 Tbsp Olive Oil or butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 tsp minced ginger (or 1 tsp ginger powder)
2 tsp minced garlic (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp chili powder (or according to how spicy you want it, less or more)
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp water
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup coconut milk
1 tsp salt, or to taste
4 hard boiled eggs
1 lb peeled, deveined raw shrimp
Juice of 1 lime
3 Tbsp chopped cilantro leaves

Instructions:
Start a pot with water and boil 4 eggs.

1. Get a large stock-pot and put in 4 Tbsp Olive oil or butter and 1 large onion finely chopped. Soften the onion for 2 minutes or so over medium heat then add the garlic and ginger and cook for a minute or so. While this is cooking, get a small bowl and combine the coriander, cumin, turmeric, chili powder and pepper. Add 2 Tbsp water to the spices to make a paste. Reduce heat to medium/low and add the paste to the onion mixture. Reduce heat to low and cook for 3 minutes.

2. Add half of the can of tomatoes, cook for 2 minutes, add the other half. Then add 1 cup coconut milk and bring to a slow simmer for 6-8 minutes stirring frequently.

3. Shell the eggs while that is cooking, and using a sharp knife, slice 3 slits in each egg lengthwise but don't cut all the way through (this will keep it together for those that may not want to eat the egg, and for presentation).

4. Add the eggs and the raw shrimp, increasing the heat to medium or a little higher and cook for 6-8 minutes.

5. Stir in the lime juice and half of the cilantro. Remove from heat and transfer to serving dish. Garnish with remaining cilantro and serve over the cashew rice. AMAZING.

unwavering faith

I started thinking about the sermon that was preached at our church on Sunday and thought I'd process while I type- and send it into cyberspace for contemplation. It was on Abraham and Sarah- and on the hope that we could be like Abraham where we would become unwaivering in our devotion to God. When the speaker started in on this point, he reminded us that earlier in Abraham's history and walk with God, he brazenly bargained with God on something... when God was going to destroy Sodom. Instead of Abraham saying 'Yes, Lord,' or just standing by while God did His thing, Abraham bargained with God over and over (Genesis 18- and honestly it sounds to me like Abraham was on the Price is Right... REALLY pushing it with God.)

22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city?...

26 The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."
...
...
...
...

32 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?"
He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."

33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

But yet later, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son- Abraham didn't argue, didn't plead, he got his son and some firewood and headed for the mountain...

WHAT?

As you read further in the story, you see that Abraham says to his servants as he's about to head up the mountain with Isaac 'WE will worship and then WE will come back to you (ch 22).' I see that you could look at this as if Abraham is not wanting to point out to others that he's going to go sacrifice his son- OR you could see it through his eyes of faith- that 2 will go up and 2 will come down... that GOD WILL PROVIDE...

So, I internalize this story a bit and think about this adoption we're in the midst of... Why should I doubt that God is going to provide not only the finances to get us through the 'process of adoption' but also the heart, love, home, and ability to parent all of our children to His glory... of course He will.

My prayer is that I'm able to remain in this place of hope and faith with God- and not go back to bargaining and questioning Him. :)

Safetytats.com

OK- so I stumbled on this link through a friend's blog today- and as the mother of a diabetic kid that will sometimes go to day camp or be cared for in a public setting... I love the idea: www.safetytats.com

They make all kinds of personal'ized/able' tattoos for kids... for everything from when you send your kids trick or treating- to alerting nursery workers of food allergies! Awesome.

And, for the sake of complete randomness to my postings... Did any of the rest of you know that Benjamin Franklin wrote a paper on farting? An essay on flatulence. Somehow my teachers skipped past that in history class...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fart_Proudly

What a total God thing!

When we moved here we spent a good chunk of our adoption savings account on a beater car for Steve to drive to work (since he had a company truck with his job in Colorado)... so we got here, got settled in the house, bought a car, and felt like we were nearly back to $0! So, we set out a few months ago to have a garage sale to fund raise for our adoption expenses. (We've spent just over $12,000 so far, and have an estimated $12,000-$15,000 to go.)

Out of the kindness of some friends' hearts, they donated everything from furniture, clothing, toys, to a Christmas tree! We even received an amazing quantity of items through a friend of a friend who just moved overseas to serve as missionaries in Morocco! GOD bless you, AWM missionaries who donated all of the stuff you didn't move with you!!!

We craigslisted, we advertised in the paper, and we prayed feverishly for God to bless this effort and to bring people in! I was just amazed. All of our furniture was gone in the first 15 minutes. Some people bargained, but some people gave more than the asking price and told us to keep the change! We also had friends write checks for more than their purchase price! The forcast said rain all weekend- but it didn't start to sprinkle until 6 minutes before our pre-set closing time!


All in all, I was flabbergasted. God came through in such a beautiful and amazing way! I will confess that I would love for the process to be one where someone comes up and writes us a check for $15K... but God hasn't chosen to do that for us- so we'll scrimp and save, and be AMAZED at his faithfulness in strange ways (i.e. bringing hundreds of people out to our house to buy junk off of our driveway!). :)

So, in total we raised more than $1600! One of my FB friends commented, "Who has a $1600 garage sale???" To which I want to say- apparantly that's God's kind of garage sale... :) So, THANKS again to all of you who donated items, shopped and prayed!

I ended my weekend in a great way as well! Steve told me that he had heard Kari Jobe was going to be at Victory for a worship service on Sunday night- so I headed over there, worshipped my guts out and cried my eyes out. Great ending to a great weekend!

Wheels are finally in motion!

It feels SOOOOO good to have wheels rolling on the adoption again. I joked the other day that we'll meet our daughter sometime right after we take our current 5 year old off to college... (lets just say it is moving MUCH slower than I expected)!

We passed the one year anniversary of the start of our adoption journey- and although it did make me sad, I was glad to know that we're actually DOING something on the adoption front again.

So, today I finished up the i800A application and checked with Dillon to see when our homestudy update would reach our greedy little hands... :) I'm getting the envelope ready and the check written so that I can stick it in with our other paperwork and swoop down to the post office and get it sent to the powers that be!

We're also amassing a large quantity of stuff (some nicer than the rest...) for our adoption fundraising garage sale that we hope to have on the 11th and 12th. Pray for lots more donations of valuable stuff, and for good, sunny weather. :)

ahhh... I'll update the sidebar when we actually get the I800A mailed.... :) until then I'll pace around the house- or do dishes. :)

Don't know what to call this...

OK. Haven't blogged in a while.

I experienced a moment yesterday that was one of those almost ethereal moments that stands out of space and time:

I'm in line for communion at church yesterday (a church I attended in College, and this was my first Sunday to go there in 10 years...). I hear the pastor say that there are two bowls next to the bread; one is white grape juice and one is wine. So, my immediate thoughts are like this: Wow, wine, huh... Can they do that, legally? In all my years as a Christian, it seems odd that I've NEVER had a communion with actual wine. It has always been grape juice... In the bible it was wine...

So, I approach the table to take communion and hesitate. I don't really like red wine. But, then again I've NEVER had communion with REAL wine before, just like in the Bible... So I dip my bread into the wine.

It's bitter.
I started to cry.
Jesus' blood is bitter.

It was a bitter, bitter thing for him to have to die on the cross for all of my sin. (I'm crying again as I type this.)

What a bitter, horrible thing, for God to have to give his ONLY son, in death so that He could be closer to ME! Oh my sorrowful heart. I had such an intense time in communion, like I've not had, probably since I came to Christ the first time. Just having that taste in my mouth, took me to an image of the upper room where Jesus, knowing he's going to die, serves the disciples bread and wine.

Very interesting experience, crying my eyes out during communion. Thank you God that your Spirit is still moving in that church, and that I'm still sensitive enough to feel it.

Dealing with Change...

Well, we're officially settled in our new house. Still much to do to make it 'homey' and organized, but we're technically in... :) We've been here 3 weeks today.

Yesterday the air conditioner broke. Thankfully it's supposed to cool down this week to the mid-90's (note sarcasm here). AC dudes can come Tuesday. Steve's parents are driving RIGHT NOW to come and stay with us for a few days. Life is always such an adventure with me. If you want bland- DO not be friends with me... :)

So, last night, we decided as a family that it was healthy for us to experience life as the rest of the world does. We'll do a few days with no air conditioning. And in the meantime, we'll pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who deal with ceaseless heat and bugs.

Steve found a website this week where you can plug in your annual income, and it shows you where you are compared to the rest of the world. We're in the top 1%! That's crazy considering that we've been pinching pennies for years, and don't live an extravagent lifestyle by American standards. WE ARE SO SPOILED!

So, yes, it was 88 in the house last night as we went to sleep. BUT, we each went to sleep in a safe house, in a safe community, with screens on the windows, no malaria carrying mosquitos, and fans above our beds. As we slept, our tummies were still full from dinner, and we knew that there would be breakfast available for us in the morning.

Trying to keep a global worldview when I'm surrounded in opulence is difficult at times. So, I think I'm actually grateful for this experience. I am praying that it doesn't end in having to get a new AC or something else that is expensive- but I realize that God WILL provide if that is the case.

On another note. I'm an excited and nervous mommy today...

My 5 year old who has type 1 Diabetes is at a day camp with other diabetic kids this week! I'm soooo jazzed. They will do sports, crafts, songs, etc... AND they'll also have diabetes management education, AND get to bond with other kids with diabetes. So valuable, in so many ways for my little man.

It's also good practice for me, seeing as how I'll be leaving him with a kindergarten class daily in just few months... :)

God bless all of you random blog readers out there. May you be blessed with good health, hearts that clearly hear God's voice, and passion to embrace your day!

The girl effect...

Ok- been forever since I've blogged. Let's just say life got a bit crazy on me... since I've posted, we've halfway moved halfway across the country.:) more on that later... (and yes, i meant to put halfway on there twice...)

I saw this and cried. Wowzers! I have no idea about the actual validity of the charity, but the concept is something I definitely agree with. I've been challenged by reading "Three cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson...

Check it out:
The Girl Effect

Click on 'Agree' to start the video...

Oklahoma here we come!

Woo hoo! We have a contract on our house to sell, and now we have a contract on a house to buy in Jenks, OK! We're excited.

Here are some pictures:

HOME STUDY FINALLY DONE!

Well, months of waiting- and FINALLY the homestudy is ready for us to sign. Literally on the day we find out our fate regarding where we'll move... which means that after this REALLY LONG WAIT- that we will have to re-do or update the home study... :(

Steve has an interview today in Fort Worth at 1:00. I don't know how fast this company is to make decisions- but we have to make our decision and tell the Norfolk company TOMORROW! So- ahh.

I'm praying that the Fort Worth Company wants Steve badly enough to offer him the job in the next 24 hours. That way we'll have both offers on the table at the same time, and can make an informed decision.

Thank God for praying friends and family. I am a basket of nerves unless I'm fully ensconced in HIS presence.

Overkill

Yet again, I find my heart heard and understood through music... my life stresses and worries, my fears, my love of a good song- are met through "Overkill" by Benjamin Gate today. I urge you to listen to it if you're not familiar with Benjamin Gate. They definitely rock- so turn your speakers up if you want an 'experience' of it.

I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications
Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know will be alright
Perhaps it's just imagination

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away

I can't get get to sleep
It only beings exasperation
It's time to walk the streets
Smell the desperation
At least there's pretty lights
And though there's little variation
It nullifies the night
From overkill

I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications
Especially at night
I worry over situations
That I know will be alright
It's just overkill

"I love my family"

"I love my family." That's how my two year old ended the evening tonight after I sang to him in bed... made my heart swell with pride and love... :)

We had a family prayer time tonight after dinner that was amazing, awesome, and should happen MUCH more often than it does... :) We prayed about our family's future, since we're feeling unsure of the local structural engineering industry/job security right now. It was so wonderful. We explained to the boys what we wanted to pray about, and how we want God to have His way with the future of our family.

We prayed, everyone took turns. My two year old would chime in between some of our prayers and just pray for each of us by name then say "Amen." :) My 5 year old prayed some really beautiful prayers. He always amazes me with his sensitivity to the spirit of God.

Then after we finished I said I wanted to go get my bible so that we could pray through or search for some scripture having to do with our family's future. I went to get my bible, and both boys then said "Me too" and went to get theirs. We all came back to the couch and I reminded them about how God will lead us to scripture when we need direction, guidance and hope. The story that my 5 year old opened to first was the story of Ruth and Naomi.

Beautiful.

The scripture I memorized for the response to Steve's proposal when he asked me to marry him was from this story. Let's see if I can quote it more than 10 years later... "Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord do so unto me, and more also if anything but death separates you and me."

I love that he found this story, of all stories in the Bible at this time... This story is about a family with an uncertain future. Where will provision come from? Where will they go? What will they do? And in this account, they proclaim the faithfulness of God by declaring their dedication to one another. They stay together- and by the direction and leading of God given to Naomi, carried out by their obedience even when they didn't understand, they are redeemed and live under Boaz's protection and provision.

So, Father God. I recognize that this scripture that you gave to my son who hears and knows your voice, is indeed from you, for us, in this moment. We're fearful. We don't know what the future holds in regards to your provision and earthly security. But we trust you implicitly to lead us, provide for us, and speak to us as to what to do and when to do it. Help us to follow your leading even when we don't understand it.

Stinking awesome idea

Another stinking awesome link... this one isn't spiritual though. :)

My friend made a dress for her little girl out of a men's shirt. I totally LOVE the idea- so I'm passing on the link!

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=170402.0

What is the Recession For?

This is an article that my hubby alerted me to... A good gift of perspective in the times we're going through right now as a nation. It's a manuscript from a sermon given by John Piper.

Mommy wants a time out.

Expectations. Isn't that the crux of so many life issues? aghhhh...

I have a lot of unmet expectations lately. I'm trying to stay thankful, and hopeful, but I'm going to take a minute and whine online about it and then get back to my hopefulness...

So, for weeks, the inlaws have been planning to keep our boys overnight, to give us a Valentine's date night that includes sleeping in, and to give the boys experience sleeping over there before our adoption goes through and we're gone for 10 days. We've been prepping the boys, talking about how fun it will be, how not to feel homesick, etc... And Wednesday night Steve comes down with some serious crud. He's in bed all day Thursday, and most of the day so far today.

So much for a romantic, fun-filled, doesn't matter: what time we eat, get home, how spicy the food is, how late the movie ends, sleep past when i normally have to get breakfast and an insulin shot in my 5 year old kind of relaxing date. Instead, I'm sterilizing the house, and maybe getting a chic flic at the library to watch alone while my hubby sleeps... and packing for the vacation we're leaving for on Wednesday... all the while praying that NO ONE else in the house gets this bug, so that we can go on a healthy vacation...

My other whine is that we're STILL waiting to get a copy of our home study. It's been six and a half weeks since we finished our meetings and we still don't have a copy of it or news that it's being edited/reviewed, etc... I'm kindof upset about it, not just for the fact that the last thing we heard was "as soon as I get it typed up"- but also that we paid thousands of dollars to them almost 5 months ago! It took until December to get the meetings done, and now it's FEBRUARY!!!

I'm tired. I should be resting instead of griping on the internet... oh well. I'm going to go clean the bathroom now. :)

Making a Blanket. Update! Thanks for the suggestions!

Hi blogstalkers and friends,
I am making a blanket for a friend who is about to have a baby. I love making quilts like this. It's full of fun textures and colors... lightweight brown corderoy, pink furry stuff, pink fleece with fringe cut in it, plain cotton with paisley pattern, white silkey soft stuff...
So, here are some pics of the final product. Thanks to everyone who helped me determine what color/fabric to put on the back. I'm definitely not a perfectionist- (I can't stand to use patterns either) but maybe that's why I like the 'art' of sewing things for friends... It doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to be from the heart. ;)
Thanks for the help and encouragement, friends!

I'm a nincompoop (I think it's probably appropriate that I can't even spell it)

Well, I have had a few conversations with the Lord over the last week or so about the state of things. What I keep coming back to, over and over, is that HE IS IN CHARGE. "What man, by worrying, has ever added a day to his life?"
And, to top off my pretty intense conversations with God lately about the stability of Steve's job, the adoption process, and my expectations, was a conversation with another mom at preschool yesterday.
They started their adoption process for a little girl from China... in 2005! They still don't have their little girl.

I am officially a whiney nincompoop.

Here I am, looking at my process, that I've only been in for 6 months, and I'm whining. They've had to RE-DO their home study for a 3rd time recently, just to keep it up to date... And they don't have a referral yet...
Lord, I pray for Jeana's family. I pray that you bless them with the long-saught-after beautiful little girl they've been waiting on. Fill their hearts with your peace while they continue to wait. I pray for an abundance of hope and expectation to build within them that you are taking care of ALL of their needs and wants by your grace. Bless them with abundance and the provision necessary to complete this process...

Perspective. Thank you father God. You teach me the way I need to be taught, not the way I want to be taught.

Beginning my search

Ok- so I have honestly NO idea when we'll bring our daughter home at this point. But I'm going to go ahead and begin my search for what to do with her bedroom. I was on overstock.com and saw this awesome Asian crib bedding set- but it definitely is Chinese silk, not Indian fabric.

Upi graciously agreed to bring back some pastel colored sarees back from India for me to attempt to sew something for her bedroom. So, I'm looking online for ideas/complimentary items. I probably won't start decorating for quite a while but I want to at least start my 'nesting' on the computer, if not by actually painting or sewing something. :)

So, I'm putting out an APB for ideas/suggestions. I'd love to do her room with a girly/indian theme... any ideas you send my way are welcome. :)

Because I forgot to post it over Christmas...

I found a little note today that I had scribbled on December 22nd... I meant to post it somewhere so that I could 'memorialize' the quotes. So here it is, from snuggle time with my 5 year old just before bedtime:

"Mom, I don't think I like dinosaurs and lizards anymore. I like Speedracer and God."

And, another bedtime tradition, in order to bring on the good dreams... is for me to ask him what he's going to dream about. That night he said:

"Tonight I'm going to dream that I'm a wise man giving a present to Jesus. It's a box with a T-rex on it, full of toys for baby Jesus to play with."

Kids are awesome.

Many lessons in patience...

Well, my ability to walk in patience with the adoption process ebbs and flows... I'm not doing well today on that. I'm so ready to take another step, move forward in some way, mail something, fingerprint something, just DO something. I can't decide if I should be calling someone to see if things could be sped up- or just sit and wait for a phone call, email, or letter to make my next move.

It's such a fine balance between attempting to push things through and speed up the process, and waiting and letting it go at its own pace. I love how God uses our natural circumstances to keep us where he wants us. If God wanted me to drive all over the state to take documents to different places, he probably would have freed up my schedule and provided someone to run my house/family for me... hmm... ;) So, I wait. Not patiently, but at least I'm waiting.

It reminds me of a devotion I taught in college once... I did a word study on the word wait, as in "wait on the Lord..." The different definitions really caused me to pause. One was to do with someone actively waiting on tables at a restaurant... I was challenged to take that into consideration as a possible definition on how to respond to the Lord. I can sit, and stagnate, tapping my foot... OR- I can be actively waiting, serving those around me, and consider myself useful.

Now, I know there are definite advantages to both types of waiting- especially since there is a SURE call for peace and tranquility as we rest in His presence... but I am going to go with the proactive, filling the needs of others type of waiting right now. I need to take care of my family, get the laundry done, clean up those goldfish crackers that have been under the kitchen table for 3 days, and 'wait' on the Lord. Might as well make myself useful and make myself into a blessing for others, instead of just waiting for MY blessing to come.