god's glory



"Every one that is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yea, whom I have made."

great grub 23

We eat Mexican food at my house at least once (probably more like twice) a week. My absolute favorite thing to eat dip-wise is guacamole. However, I hate chopping veggies. It is so tedious! So I came up with this...

Easy Guacamole

Ingredients:
- 2 avocados, diced
- 1-2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup salsa
- salt
- garlic powder
- cumin

Directions:
Dump all the ingredients into a bowl. Add your desired amount of salt, garlic powder, and cumin. I use very very little cumin as it is pretty potent. Combine with a potato masher until desired consistency. I like mine a little lumpy! (If you don't have a potato masher a fork will do.) Easy-peasy! Eat with tortilla chips, carrot sticks, oh the list goes on.

Enjoy!

it is well

We sang this song at our wedding and I never knew the story behind it until Sunday when we watched it at church. Pay attention to this amazing "modern-day" Job story.

long long road

Today I felt a lot of mixed emotions. On one hand, we finished our 14 hours of training, woooohoooo! On the other, we have a whole other list of steps to complete...it is so overwhelming. I get tired just thinking about it. I have to focus on all the good fun things to come instead of worrying about rushing through this process. But that word is so right: process.

Last time I shared with you our list of things to do. Here is an update on that:

- Application
- SLED authorizations
- Fingerprints
- Discipline Agreement Form
- Financial Agreement Form
- Family History Form
- W-2's and pay stubs
- 14 hours of training
- Disaster Preparedness Plan
- Autobiography (from both of us)
- Medical Report
- Child Factors Checklist
- Openness Checklist
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage License
- Social Security Cards
- Driver's License
- Pictures of home/family
- References
- Fire Inspection
- DHEC Inspection

Feels like a small dent, but progress is progress! I have finished my autobiography too, but Eric is working on his.

Here is what we learned about the actual process after our paperwork is turned in:

- Paperwork turned in
- Selection committee chooses us for a child(ren)
- DSS calls us with the general information, we decide if we want to pursue at that point
- Meet at DSS for the specific information on our child(ren)
- Take home the specific document to review and make our final decision
- If we say yes, visits with the child occur until the child is considered "attached" enough to stay with us
- The legal process begins
- We basically sue DSS for the rights to the child(ren) with their help
- Finalization occurs when the gavel comes down and they are officially and legally ours!!!

I am so ready for finalization, but I am determined not to run ahead of God and his will for not only our lives, but the lives of our future children.

Keep the prayers coming. We found out today as well that we were not given a packet of very pertinent information about the Fire and DHEC Inspections. We will be getting it this week but I hate feeling like I am behind.

More updates to come!

april/may meals for a month

Here is my update on our meals for this month...it took a little longer to put together than usual. I think it is because I am transitioning from winter soups to summer salads.

Dinners

-Cheesy chicken and rice with broccoli (x2)
-Baked ziti with spinach
-Turkey burgers, onion rings, asparagus
-Burritos (x2)
-Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas
-Frozen pizza (x2)
-Mexican lentil casserole
-Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast
-Shrimp scampi
-Biscuits and gravy (x2)
-Butternut squash risotto (frozen from last month)
-Smoked gouda mac and cheese (frozen from last month)
-Greek crock pot chicken
-Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
-Hot dogs and beans
-Chili beans and biscuits
-Fried eggs, sausage, grits
-Salmon, rice, asparagus
-Tuna melts, veggie

Breakfast/Lunches
- Cinnamon rolls
- Fried eggs
- Honey Oatmeal muffins
- Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
- Yogurt with honey and granola
- Hot dogs
- Tuna with crackers
- Leftovers
- Smoothies
- Salads

Pretty sure that will get us through this month!

thy word


"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105

april/may 200 challenge


I have been a little slack this month. I didn't go grocery shopping until today...3 days after I was supposed to (Remember I am doing the 15th-15th of each month). We ate out way more than usual. We spent a week at our dear friends (the Henry's) for a week to take care of Ms. Alice and Kimber while they were out of town. Our schedule just seemed to work against us. We had a LOT of meals from last month that didn't get made, but the up side is we didn't have to buy a whole lot in the way of groceries this month!

So I did my usual Aldi run today and got lots of fresh fruits and veggies and I only spent $54.98 It was super busy on Sunday afternoon so it took me an hour to get what seemed like not a whole lot. Then on to Wal-Mart. Well, actually I forgot my cooler to put my cold/frozen stuff in so I had to truck it back home, unload, and then on to Wal-Mart! I had to get a few pricier items such as olive oil, so my total there was $82.16. That brings my total to $137.14 so far. I usually go back in two weeks and pick up more fresh produce, milk, etc.

Can I just say that I am loving this challenge. Oh and I will update later with the meal menu for this month!

step 2

We have already completed step 1 in our foster/adoption process, which was the pre-application. Today was step 2. The first half of 14 hours worth of training that we have to complete before moving on in our journey. We spent 7 hours today learning the ins and outs of this program. Some we knew, some was completely foreign.

We got to meet a lot of other couples on the same path as us, which was encouraging. They come from all walks of life. Some were already adoptive parents, some had biological kids and felt called to the adoption front, some we much older, and one couple was a lot like us.

We still have a long way to go. One step at a time though. Next week is another 7 hour course and then our 14 hours of training will be complete (for now). We have a lot more steps though. Here is what we still have to go through before we can meet our kids:

- Application
- SLED authorizations
- Fingerprints
- Discipline Agreement Form
- Financial Agreement Form
- Family History Form
- W-2's and pay stubs
- 14 hours of training
- Disaster Preparedness Plan
- Autobiography (from both of us)
- Medical Report
- Child Factors Checklist
- Openness Checklist
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage License
- Social Security Cards
- Driver's License
- Pictures of home/family
- References
- Fire Inspection
- DHEC Inspection

So you can see we have a long way to go, but a lot of it is just paperwork. We actually received most of it today, so we will be diligently working on as much of it as possible. We really need to pray over some things before we start filling them out willy-nilly (like the Child Factors Checklist).

Eric and I can't tell you enough how much we appreciate your prayers and support during this time in our lives.

Stay tuned for more updates!

garden update


Eric and I and his parents buckled down last weekend and got our whole garden planted. Eric's dad came over with his power tiller and while he tilled we added in some black cow (organic) to nourish our soil.

We also have a new puppy, as I have mentioned before, who likes to eat things. So we had to fence it in. We used chicken wire that is 3' tall and wrapped it around wooden stakes. We secured it with zip ties and a staple gun.

Then we got busy planting our two types of tomatoes (we aren't sure if they are going to make it just yet, more on that later.) sweet banana peppers, squash, zucchini, and spinach. The squash, zucchini, and spinach are all directly sowed. We also have jalapeno to plant but they aren't big enough to put in the ground.

Here is how we are looking now!


inexpensive etsy 12

So sorry I haven't updated on our garden yet! We are having computer/photo issues but as soon as it is up and running again I will update. (We did plant it!) So I thought since I can't give them the real thing, at least I can give them a garden-related inexpensive etsy post! So here are a few of the things I am coveting when it comes to planting lately...



These silver spoon garden markers from daisychestnut are THE cutest things I have ever seen. I need them. All of them. Even the beets one, although I don't plant or eat beets. Super cute!







I also love this terracotta starfish planter from danceswithclay. It reminds me of the beach, which is so my favorite vacation spot!







And last but not least, possibly the coolest plant I have ever seen in my life comes from milkweekchicago. It is called a Night Blooming Cereus and it is awesome. I doubt the picture even does it justice. Plus it would look super cute in my terracotta starfish pot...I'm just saying.

great grub 22

I have a feeling this post is really going to gross some people out, sorry in advance! This is yet another childhood recipe my frugal mom made up and I have used on nights where cooking and clean up need to be fast. No, this isn't a healthy recipe and pretty uncharacteristic for great grub, but Eric and I really like it! You can weigh in only if you try it first!

Hot Dog and Bean Casserole
(sorry no picture)

Ingredients:
- 1/2 package chicken hot dogs (I don't eat beef or pork hot dogs so you can use whatever you want)
- 1 can biscuits or crescent rolls
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2-3 cans vegetarian baked beans (or whatever you like)
- ketchup
- mustard
- barbecue sauce

Directions:
Preheat oven according to biscuits/crescent rolls temperature.
Pour the beans, onion, and barbecue sauce into a pot and heat until warm. Pour bean mixture into a small baking dish. Swirl desired amounts of ketchup and mustard over the beans. Cut hot dogs into 1/2 inch rounds and layer over the beans. Cover the hot dogs with cheese. Layer the biscuits or crescent rolls over the cheese. Bake according to the directions on the biscuits/crescent rolls.

Enjoy!

count your blessings

Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.


Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.


When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.


So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

www.cyberhymnal.org

a new journey

I have been holding out on you. Eric and I have made some pretty big decisions in the last few weeks. This is the first time I will be sharing, publicly, about the biggest struggle we have gone through in our married life.

Children.

We don't have any and we have been married for almost 4 years. And it isn't because we don't want them. We do. More than anything in the entire world we want little ones running around. We have done a lot in preparation for starting a family.

We bought a 3 bedroom house.
I quit my full time job.
We prayed and prayed.

Right now God isn't necessarily telling us no to biological children, but he isn't saying yes either. He is, however, saying yes to us having children. (More on that later.) The road we are on is long and it is painful, but it is also full of blessings and lessons that I don't think we would have received or learned without it. We are so thankful for the work that God has done, is doing, and will continue to do in both of us. I have never felt closer to him, or my husband. I am not saying there is no more pain, because there is.

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
Luke 22:42

Now for the fun part! Remember when I said God is saying yes to us having children? That is because some (or all) of the children in our future are not going to look like us. They won't have my eyes or Eric's hair. They may not smile like my husband or laugh like me, but they will be loved just as much as any blood related child.

I don't know who they are, where they are or when they will come to us. But I do know one thing:

I love them already.

Please pray for us as we start a new journey, adoption.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."
Proverbs 16:9

new creation



"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
2" Corinthians 5:17

gardening

I am super excited to be starting our 2nd annual vegetable garden! I will update often on our progress this year. We learned a lot last year about what to do and what not to do. Our goal is to stay as organic as possible. My sweet husband got me The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food. I am obsessed with it! It has over 201 ideas for controlling pests and disease organically! It is 481 pages of complete garden know-how. No, I have not read the whole thing!

I will get us started by listing the plants my dear husband has started from seed at work. (Maybe I should mention he works for a plant and seed company?) Later on I will include a garden plan on where/how we will lay out the plants in our little 10'x15' garden! We have:
- 3 indeterminate tomatoes
- 2 determinate tomatoes
- zucchini
- squash
- sweet banana pepper
- jalepeno

We may also have:
- red/green bell pepper

Our herbs survived the winter quite nicely (except for the basil possibly, still waiting for that one!) Our parsley was attacked by our new puppy, but is now flourishing! I love that my backyard is starting to smell like my grandmother's will all the mint that is growing! Here is a few shots of our herbs.













































So as you can see we have parsley, mint, rosemary, chives and big blank garden just waiting to be filled up! I'll keep you posted on our progress!

he is risen


"He is not here; he has risen!"
Luke 24:6a

update: march/april 200 challenge


Here is my half-way there update! I have not gone back to the store for anything yet and I think I can make it the rest of the month this way, which is really exciting. Here is what we have eaten so far...

Dinners
-Cheesy chicken and rice with broccoli (one to go!)
-Shepherds pie
-Baked ziti with spinach
-Salmon, onion rings, asparagus
-Burritos
-Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas
-Frozen pizza
-Mexican lasagna
-Mexican lentil casserole
-Chicken pesto
-Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast
-Shrimp scampi
-Popcorn shrimp, faux tatoes
-Biscuits and gravy (x2)
-Butternut squash risotto
-Smoked gouda mac and cheese
-Greek crock pot chicken
-Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
-Scallops and pasta
-Hot dogs and beans
-Chili beans and biscuits
-Turkey burgers
-Fried eggs, sausage, grits

Lots of yummy meals to go and only 12 more days til shopping!