Our spring lettuce is so yummy! The kids are even eating salads more now. And apparently, I love cheese.
Hope your weekend is full of spring goodness!
My Hungry, Longing Soul and My Remedy
Monday, April 19, 2010
I still use my reminders set up around my house, like this verse taped to the shower door:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil. 4:6
It's usually the part about not being anxious that resonates with me, but today it is the thanksgiving part.
I'm clinging to the Psalm : "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:8-9
Sometimes its so easy to be thankful, when BIG blessings appear.
Yet oftentimes, I have to be more deliberate in my gratitude.
I wonder if David intentionally wrote Psalm 107 in the order he did. First he suggested (or pleaded) giving thanks for God's goodness, then he gave the promises: He satisfies and fills the soul with goodness.
Sometimes we have to act before we feel.
How would my life be different, my days more steady, my heart more light, if I gave thanks first while my soul still felt hunger. Then would the feeling of goodness follow? Would it come quickly? Would it be obvious?
This may seem like an odd post after the obvious blessing of last week. But I still need the reminder. Honestly, I felt relief from our referral wait for about 24 hours. After that, I have been consumed with anxiety for all that can go wrong with our case, delaying our baby's homecoming.
But I cannot live the next few months paralyzed with fear. And I believe gratitude can only help. So today I am thankful for:
thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil. 4:6
It's usually the part about not being anxious that resonates with me, but today it is the thanksgiving part.
I'm clinging to the Psalm : "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:8-9
Sometimes its so easy to be thankful, when BIG blessings appear.
Yet oftentimes, I have to be more deliberate in my gratitude.
I wonder if David intentionally wrote Psalm 107 in the order he did. First he suggested (or pleaded) giving thanks for God's goodness, then he gave the promises: He satisfies and fills the soul with goodness.
Sometimes we have to act before we feel.
How would my life be different, my days more steady, my heart more light, if I gave thanks first while my soul still felt hunger. Then would the feeling of goodness follow? Would it come quickly? Would it be obvious?
This may seem like an odd post after the obvious blessing of last week. But I still need the reminder. Honestly, I felt relief from our referral wait for about 24 hours. After that, I have been consumed with anxiety for all that can go wrong with our case, delaying our baby's homecoming.
But I cannot live the next few months paralyzed with fear. And I believe gratitude can only help. So today I am thankful for:
- The rain and sun and my growing plants
- Sorette's face, and the three pictures we have of her
- Baby's hugs, Boo's kisses and Belle's dancing
- Holding Mr. Smarty's hand in church
- A friend's reminder that we know Who controls the rain
- My mom's good friends who bring food and distraction when I can't
- Friends quick to celebrate while waiting for their own reason to celebrate
- Busy weeks to remind me to savor the evenings in
- New neighbors who share their bulbs
- Mid-morning coffee with cinnamon bread
Details...
Friday, April 16, 2010
Yesterday was the 16 month anniversary of our Dossier being in Ethiopia. So the day before, I was so sad. I knew the day was coming and no call was in sight. I also had my endocrinologist appointment that morning, that I had scheduled at an appointment in January. The January appointment was scheduled at the November appointment, and so-on.
At each appointment, as I stood at the front desk to schedule my next visit, I would think, "Well, at least by then we'll have a referral and be closer to getting our baby girl home." And then when the time for the next visit would arrive, I would be even more disappointed not wanting the reminder of how little control I had over this.
So, on the drive back to pick up my kids from my in-laws on Wednesday, I called Mr. Smarty with the details of the new plan of attack on my hypothyroidism. Then told him I had to call him later because I thought I was going to cry.
It was as I was changing Baby's poopy diaper getting ready to leave my in-laws, that my cell phone rang in my back pocket.
Now, after 12 months of jumping at every ring, when the phone rings, I would think, "It could be the agency." But as I was leaning over Baby, and listening to the phone ring in my back pocket, my thought was this: "Why bother rushing. It's not the agency. Finish the diaper, then check the caller id." So I did.
When I checked it, even as I saw the area code, I was sure it was a sales call.
"Hello," [When I really meant: why are you calling when you're only rubbing in the fact that you are indeed NOT my agency]
"Kristen? This is Merrily, with AAI. How are you?"
"Uh. Uh. uh. I'm good. Really good, right? I'm good, right?"
"Well, I would like to talk to you about a baby girl..."
So...long story long, The baby girl whose referral we are gladly and gratefully accepting is a 1 month old cutie patootie. Her name is Sorette. She has loads of little black curls and teeny fingers. I wish I could show you more, but that will have to wait until we pass court and her last name is the same as ours!
Now, about this weeks rulings and the next steps for our case: We are now getting our case filed in court. This should be done in the next 2 weeks. If it is filed before May 9th, we will NOT be required to travel for the court hearing, only the Embassy date. We will learn of a court date in a month or two. I am also praying for our case to pass first time. Once we pass, we will make travel plans, and likely pick her up a few weeks after court. Clear as mud, right?
We're so relieved, but still have much to pray about. Thanks for all the love and congrats!
Oh, and a little family trivia--We got to accept her referral on my dad's birthday!
Still smiling,
At each appointment, as I stood at the front desk to schedule my next visit, I would think, "Well, at least by then we'll have a referral and be closer to getting our baby girl home." And then when the time for the next visit would arrive, I would be even more disappointed not wanting the reminder of how little control I had over this.
So, on the drive back to pick up my kids from my in-laws on Wednesday, I called Mr. Smarty with the details of the new plan of attack on my hypothyroidism. Then told him I had to call him later because I thought I was going to cry.
It was as I was changing Baby's poopy diaper getting ready to leave my in-laws, that my cell phone rang in my back pocket.
Now, after 12 months of jumping at every ring, when the phone rings, I would think, "It could be the agency." But as I was leaning over Baby, and listening to the phone ring in my back pocket, my thought was this: "Why bother rushing. It's not the agency. Finish the diaper, then check the caller id." So I did.
When I checked it, even as I saw the area code, I was sure it was a sales call.
"Hello," [When I really meant: why are you calling when you're only rubbing in the fact that you are indeed NOT my agency]
"Kristen? This is Merrily, with AAI. How are you?"
"Uh. Uh. uh. I'm good. Really good, right? I'm good, right?"
"Well, I would like to talk to you about a baby girl..."
So...long story long, The baby girl whose referral we are gladly and gratefully accepting is a 1 month old cutie patootie. Her name is Sorette. She has loads of little black curls and teeny fingers. I wish I could show you more, but that will have to wait until we pass court and her last name is the same as ours!Now, about this weeks rulings and the next steps for our case: We are now getting our case filed in court. This should be done in the next 2 weeks. If it is filed before May 9th, we will NOT be required to travel for the court hearing, only the Embassy date. We will learn of a court date in a month or two. I am also praying for our case to pass first time. Once we pass, we will make travel plans, and likely pick her up a few weeks after court. Clear as mud, right?
Oh, and a little family trivia--We got to accept her referral on my dad's birthday!
Still smiling,
A Day in the Life
Thursday, April 8, 2010
My Day: Wednesday, April 7, 2010
7 something: Wake up, see Mr. Smarty out the door. Get two chocolate milks and one apple juice out on the table; go back to my room to check email until the kids come down at 7:30.
7:30 Breakfast-cereal, and under-the-table picnic of clementines and yogurts. Why did I wait to start taking pictures?
8 something: Clean up. Kids play-Boo with the computer, Belle and Baby with blocks.
Mid morning: Is it too early for popsicles?
11:30-1 something: Lunch, clean-up.
Early Afternoon: I got out my block printing stuff to work on while the kids watched Elmo's Potty Video.
3:00 I folded laundry while Belle did school. Boys played upstairs.
4:00 Check email to find out soccer practice is canceled.
5:00 Where'd that last hour go? Clean up, again. Start dinner. Korman Curry with Jasmine Rice and Naan. Dug out this cool tool of my grandmother's for the carrots.
6:15 Kids & I eat, after talking to Daddy, who I forgot to let know soccer practice was canceled and stayed a little longer at work.
6:45 Daddy eats, kids play, Mommy cleans and makes Daddy's lunch for tomorrow.
7:00 My favorite time of day (is that horrible?) Kids play Nintendo with Daddy while I finish cleaning and sometimes sneak in a shower.
7:30 -Our three must do 4 Things: Brush your teeth, go potty, get into your pjs, pick a book. Nope. This is my favorite time of the day. Look at them.
8:00 Mr. Smarty has a conference call with Singapore; I upload these photos and read til he's done.
9:30 Get ready for bed, watch some hulu. Tonight we chose The Marriage Ref with Madonna, Larry David and Ricky Gervais. We watched longer than we intended and finally turn out the lights around 10:30.
I totally stole this idea from Making it Lovely, who probably leads a far more exciting life. But I loved the idea of documenting the ordinary with photos. Mr. Smarty has read to our kids every night since Belle was 2, maybe? Yet until today, I had no pictures of our ritual.
Thanks for coming along on my little tour. I hope it doesn't seem too glorified, as wonderful as my life is. Did you notice I never mentioned getting any dressed?
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