Karate update

Oh and the karate video should now be working.  I just watched it again and laughed out loud at Sam's dancing in the background.  Hysterical.  I need to try to just zoom in on him.

Holy Week

“[W]ho, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”


Philippians 2:6-11

God bless you and your family this Holy Week!

Booted

So for those of you who don't see me often, I have been in a boot for over a week now.  Boot as in this:

Thank goodness I am in the smaller of the two but it is still a HUGE pain in my rear.  Long story short, I have an old ankle injury in one of my tendons from my cheerleading days.  I have started doing this ballet-type exercise classes (see here) which I absolutely LOVE, but apparently my ankle does not love it all that much.  I rolled the ankle in class (thank goodness I did not fall) and continued the class even though it hurt.  I went home and iced it and all seemed well.  So I went to another class the next day and the next.  Then my ankle got really big and was really sore.  I went to a sports medicine doctor that Ted goes to all the time and she gave me a little brace and said to stay off it for a week.  I did as the doctor ordered, but the swelling did not subside so that is why I am in the boot.  I go back on Monday and am praying that she will just prescribe me some physical therapy and I can get un-booted. 

Karate

When I was uploading/downloading (which one is it?  I have no idea) the video of the kids riding the old-fashioned stick horse, I cam across this video of Ward.  We must have filmed it a couple of months ago, right after he got his yellow belt.  He doesn't get the coda (sp?) exactly right, but it is still prettey impressive.  But what really cracked me up about this video is Sam listening to the iPod in the background dancing.  I laughed out loud.  Maybe you will too.

Good night!  Yes, I know that it is only 8:20, but I am tired and heading up to bed.  Don't make fun of me.  I know that you are really just jealous!

Oh and as an aside, the meeting with our social worker went really well this afternoon.  She said that she has almost completed our homsetudy and hopes to get it back to our agency soon.  I am praying that it gets to Russia this month and that we will find out what region we are assigned to in June!  Then I will be in full-on  research mode to find out all I can about that region!  Pray that it continues to go smoothly!

A typical night

Here is a video of a typical night in our house.  Ted could not help but videotape what was going on as he walked in the door from work.  A girl has to do something to keep the kids happy - especially considering that we don't watch television on school nights.

At least they are creative, right?

Meeting today

If you are so inclined, please think about Ted at 3:00 today.  We are having our last meeting with our social worker and I am so anxious to get everything wrapped up and sent to Russia.  It is very frustrating to know all the work that we have already put into this process and Russia doesn't even know we exist yet!  Here's hoping and praying that it all goes smoothly today and our packet can be sent to Russia by the end of the month!!!

Adoption update

There is not much new to say on our adoptions process other than it MOVES VERRRYYYY SLLLLLOWWWWLY.  I talked to our social worker yesterday and we are trying to schedule our last visit for some time next week.  At this visit, she will talk to Ted and I together and then individually.  It is the last step in our homestudy and I am very anxious to get it all over with.  After she completes all our paperwork, our entire packet heads to Russia!!  It will take about a month to be translated and then we will be assigned a region.  I am praying that we hear about our Region some time in May, but most likely it will be in June.  Pray for patience on my part.

I am getting used to waiting and am certain God is using this entire process to test my patience.  One of the things that keeps me sane, however, is knowing that our child is already ours.  She has already been picked out and was born to come live with us and be a party of our family.  So every day, week, month, that passes and I hear nothing is not nothing.  It is God's timing, not mine, and that is oh so very important.

Oh how I need thee . . .

A friend of mine had a baby yesterday and I am trying to decide what to bring her for dinner.  I was scanning some recipes at Our Best Bites when I came across this piece of heaven.  Check it out:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

(Recipe from Nestle)

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust, homemade or store-bought.
2 large eggs
1/2 C flour
1/2 C white granulated sugar
1/2 C packed brown sugar
3/4 C real butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
1 C chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark works best, you might find milk too sweet)
1 C chopped pecans (you are welcome to make it without nuts)
Vanilla ice cream, or sweetened whipped cream for serving (a must! I prefer ice cream)
Optional: chocolate sauce (honestly, doesn’t really need chocolate sauce, but it looks pretty!)

Preheat oven to 325° F.

Beat eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack or serve slightly warmed. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

*There have been several comments about pies turning out runny. First and foremost, follow the instructions, completely (no margarine or anything from a tub!) I’ve made a million of these and never had that happen so I have no idea. The recipe is correct as written, it comes straight from Nestle!

For the  full recipe, complete with all the delicious pictures (and specific directions + pictures for each step) check it out here.  Yummy!!

UPDATE:  I made it last night for Ted and my dad (my mom is in New Orleans visiting Jeanne and family) and it was DIVINE.  I did not include the nuts.  I think I might go get some right now.  So good!  And so easy!

Because you are all dying to know

I know that you are all on pins and needles to know whether the bat had rabies.  Well, you can calm down now because I got a call from the Alabama Health Department (from some guy with a TON of personality named Randy) and we are all safe.  No rabies.  Praise the Lord.  I don't think that I could handle a huge round of rabies shots for the family right now.

Oh and everyone needs to go check out my incredible talented friend, Calder Britt Clark, and her new spread in Garden and Gun magazine.  She is officially famous!  And oh so cool.  And one of the best friends a girl could ever want.

Spring Break

Here are some of the fun pictures from our long weekend at Grey Rocks with Ted's sister Julie and her family.  The kids had the best time and Ted got his first turkey of the season.   To make that turkey even more special, it was the first one he had ever called up by himself and he was on cloud nine.

Ann Margaret was a great helper/babysitter with Sam!

Bubbles!!

Sam had some fun feeding himself yogurt!

oh and the badboy buggie . . . a favorite for all!

Ted's turkey

double trouble!

the only way to get in a picture these days is to take it myself!

picnic!!