ONE YEAR MARK

Today marks one year that we have been waiting for the referral of our precious Alesha. I can't believe we have already been in this process for 1 year, 6 months, and 2 weeks, but who's counting right?? One year ago today we were placed on the waiting list at #13 and now we are waiting at #3. I am excited to finally be close to the top of the list.

As I sit here writing I am wondering where our baby girl is?. Is she born yet? Is she safe? What does she look like? When will she be coming home? What about her birth mother? When will "the call" FINALLY come? To all these questions I have NO answers, but God does. I MUST rest in this truth. I know that Alesha will come home when the timing is perfect. When I look back over this LONG and at times PAINFUL process I know in the end I will see God's PERFECT plan. I have been able to look back over my life and see how God planned out situations that didn't make sense to ME at the time, but now that I am on the other side I see His wisdom in the timing. If only I could see the big picture like HE does :-)

Yesterday, I took the boys to the library to pick up their prizes for completing the Summer Reading Program and was blessed to see the most adorable little Indian baby girl. She was SO precious it was all I could do to not ask if I could hold her. She had the biggest brown eyes and gorgeous smile. She had a little pink hat on, cute little outfit, jewelry on both arms and legs, and a bindi on her forehead. I told her grandma how gorgeous she was and told the baby girl what a pretty little girl she was...the baby gave me the biggest smile...it melted my heart. MAN do I want my baby girl home!!!

Today my heart is in India with my baby girl. We will be celebrating this 1 year marker with a home cooked Indian dinner.

We love you Alesha!!

Going Through the Motions

This song has really been ministering to my life the past couple of months. I so desire to NOT just go through the motions. I want to have a passion for the things that matter to Christ and have my life reflect those things in action. Orphans internationally and our modern-day orphans in the foster care system have been heavy on my heart. I am excited to see God giving me more passion in this area, getting me past my fears, and giving me ways to make a difference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_rmCeAzqKc

Darin and I just completed our foster parenting classes a couple weeks ago. These classes are an eye opener for sure!!! It is heart breaking to hear about the abuse and neglect that so many innocent children go through on a daily basis!!!! It is so sad that there are so FEW foster care homes to care for these children until their parents can address the issues that resulted in their child being removed from their home.

I was challenged emotionally week after week. To see videos and hear stories from children about their experiences of being moved from home to home and how they view adults after stuff they have been through...it just really ripped my heart apart. It is NO wonder that children would have behavior and emotional issues after some of the situations these precious children have come out of. The biggest issue for children is trust! How difficult it must be to trust anybody when the people that you love and say they love you hurt you. It is difficult for children to not put up HUGE walls to protect themselves from being hurt again or allowing themselves to feel love.

I will be honest that I had a pretty narrow view of foster parenting before I started these classes. I always thought that to do foster parenting you had to take on children for a couple of years and then they would be taken away, it would be too expensive, too difficult, too uncomfortable, etc. God has been breaking through ALL of these fears and misconceptions and speaking to my heart that it doesn't matter about ME and MY fears comfort, etc. it is about HIS hurting children. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. What better way to serve Jesus than by touching the life of His little ones.

After this class I realized that there are MANY options to help in the foster care system. You can take minimal training and provide care for a child ONCE a month to give that child's foster parents a break or you can provide a week or weekend of care for current foster parents. The next level would be to take the traditional 30 hours of foundations training to be able to provide short-term or emergency shelter for children. The same training gives you the option of being a long-term care provider or the option of adopting a child out of the foster care system. The options to serve are endless and VERY needed.

At this point our family will provide short-term/emergency care while we are waiting for our adoption to move along. We have a specific time frame that we can work under with our adoption and hope to be of help during that time. Our adoption comes first so at this point the timing of all of this in God's hands. Darin and I are a bit nervous about taking in foster children, but are so excited and pray that God will work through our family to touch the life of his precious children. I know it will be probably one of the hardest thing we have ever done, but it will be so rewarding at the same time. Our boys are really excited to have foster children in our home. It has been a great time of discussion with them. We have talked about the many challenges and the joy that will go along with this decision and we are all in agreement to move forward.

On a side note, all the training and preparing for foster parenting has really helped with the long wait of our adoption. The funny thing is now I am waiting for TWO calls. The first is the call on the referral for our precious Indian princess and now the second call from DHS to place children in our home. It is never a dull ride when God is in control.

I would encourage anybody who has ever thought about or even considered doing anything with the foster care system to look at the different options that are available and see if there is a way you can contribute your time to help with such HUGE need.

Orphan Movie

I have heard various comments about this movie in conversations, radio, etc, but have never watched the trailer for it until tonight. YIKES! It is scary!

I am impressed and so thankful that the Christian Alliance for Orphans put together this video in response to the movies current trailer. Please view by clicking on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVdluy-hEF8. There is a petition I encourage you to sign by going to www.orphansdeservebetter.org . I am disappointed and angry that Warner Bros would make such a movie at the expense of children and portray orphans in this light. I am not quite sure how to put into words what I am feeling at this moment. I just hope that this movie will not scare people away from adoption. There are so many beautiful children needing a loving home.

Indian Food Recipes

One of my blogging friends suggested that I post the recipes for the Indian dinner I made for my husband on Father's day, so here you go :-)

Chicken Tikka Masala

3 chicken breasts
4 T olive oil
5 Cardamon Pods
1 Cinnamon Stick
1-1/2 onion
1 t fresh giner minced
2 t garlic minced
1 t cumin powder
1 t coriander powder
1/4 t turmeric powder
1/2 t cayenne pepper
1 T paprika
1t garam masala
1 large tomatoe
5 fl oz water
salt

Cut chicken breasts into cubes - salt cubes and set aside
Dice onion - cut tomatoes - set aside
Put oil in pan- heat oil and add cinnamon stick and pods and remove after 1 minute (leaving oil in pan)
Add onions and cook until brown
Add water and mix in all spices along with ginger and garlic
Add tomatoes and stir and mix well
Add chicken and cook 10-12 minutes and then simmer until chicken is cooked through
Add salt to taste

Jeera Alu (Spicy New Potatoes ) - I got this recipe from my blogging friend Pam

2 16 oz cans whole new potatoes
2 T canola oil
1/2 t cumin seeds
1/4 t turmeric
1 t salt
1 T coriander powder
1/4 t cayenne pepper
1 t garam masala
1/2 mango powder (optional) I don't use this because I am allergic to mangoes.

Drain and rinse potatoes. Cut into 1 inch pieces.
Heat oil in heavy pan on medium heat.
Add cumin seeds and cook until golden brown
Add potatoes and stir to coat.
Add all spices and stir to combine
Reduce heat and fry 15-20 minutes

Naan Bread - My families FAVORITE!!!

1t yeast (I use quick-rise yeast)
3 C white bread flour (don't use all-purpose flour it doesn't turn out..I found out the hard way)
2 T canola oil
4 T low fat yogurt
1 t honey
1 t salt
Garlic seasoning if you like garlic
3/4 C warm water

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
Make 8 small balls and flatten them a bit.
Place the balls on wax paper and cover. Let rise for 20 minutes.
Press balls out flat into thin round circles. Place in oven on broil until brown on one side and then flip over to brown the other side.