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We got the call today that the agency has gone with another family for the boy and girl we interviewed for. We're definitely sad as we had begun picturing these children as part of our lives. However, we trust that those that know these children best know what family situation will best meet their needs.
We've "thrown our hat in the ring" to be considered for three other sibling groups, so this could be just the beginning of many roller coaster rides. Thanks for all your prayers! They've definitely been felt!
Our interview yesterday went very well from our perspective. We were told that a decision would be made by the end of the week. What?! That would be by tomorrow?! Holy cow! I thought this was a slow process!!
Both Bryan and I feel more attached to the children since the interview, which we didn't expect. Now I keep trying to talk myself down with "God's will be done. God's will be done." I just happen to have a very strong opinion of what I would like God's will to be!
Thanks for all the prayers! While I was nervous prior to the interview, I felt pretty calm during. Could I ask for prayers for a good night's sleep tonight?
Bryan and I are very excited because tomorrow we will be interviewing to be considered for adopting two children. This was the first sibling group we submitted our homestudy for, and we are thrilled that we have the opportunity to interview.
Since we know that God knows what our family is to look like, we pray that God will bring the children he has planned for our family. However, our hearts have been knit to this boy and girl that we've never met, and so we are nervous as well!
I'm a little giddy about my knew knowledge...I made cheese today!! Not a big wheel of cheddar, mind you, but a little blob of an Indian Cheese called Paneer.
What has me excited is that it can be used in recipes calling for feta. We love feta but always forget to grab some before we want to make our Greek Ham Wraps. Now with this simple recipe, we can have that favorite more often!
It does use a lot of milk, so save the whey for a recipe like potato soup.
Paneer
6 C milk
1/4 C white vinegar or lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
Set the milk up to boil. When the milk comes to a boil, pour the vinegar or lemon juice and salt into it. Reduce the heat and stir continuously until the milk is completely curdled.
Remove from the heat when the separation of the curds and yellowish whey is complete. Strain the mixture through a clean muslin cloth (I used a tea towel) drapped over a colendar placed on a big bowl.
Leave it for 15-20 minutes so that all the whey is drained out. To make the paneer into a block, tie the muslin and place it under something heavy.
The paneer can now be cut into chunks and used as required. We crumbled it into our wraps. Yum!
On the menu this week:Monday (Bry Night Meeting) - Greek Ham Wraps, Micro-Roasted Potatoes
Tuesday (Rabbit Agility) - Cheese Enchiladas, Mexican Rice
Wednesday (AWANA) - Smoked Sausage Sandwiches, Baked Potatoes
Thursday (Karate) - Taco Salad
Friday - Bonfire at Church
Saturday (Math Tournament) - Veggie Alphabet Soup, Fresh Bread
Our menus for past years can be found at our website. Breakfast menu is here; lunch menu is here.
Find more menus at:
Since Emelie was the one with the forethought to photograph Saturday's events, she gets the honor of telling the story...
False advertising: this post has nothing to do with Easter. Bunnies and chocolate, yes, so you are somewhat justified in reading this.
My sister, Meghan, is obsessed with rabbits. She already has a Chocolate Rex, Ghirardelli, that she showed at the 4-H fair last year. She loves that little Delli, but she's always wanted Mini Lops. So last summer, she worked insanely so this spring, for her birthday, she could get two Minis, a buck and a doe. Girl bunny+boy bunny+overenthusiastic 11-year-old girl= oh my!! Picture my barn next spring...
Oh well. She's my sister, I love her, and I have great faith in my own persuasiveness. You're reading this blog post right now. That's gotta count for something.
This morning, we went on a quest. The Fellowship consisted of Meghan, my mom, my grandma, and me. We found the Mini Lop people without any problems. Meghan was certain what she wanted, a broken buck (multicolored) and a gray doe.
Then we saw the bunnies, and she fell in love.
Mom did too...
That was the buck Mom wanted. A broken gray. We totally called that one. Mom loves any animal in gray. Gray bunnies, gray cats, gray horses, gray warthogs...rhapsodies in gray.
But this was the buck Meghan fell in love with. A broken buck, just like she wanted.
The breeder didn't have any gray does, but there was this really nice agouti that Meggie loved. She is just about the sweetest, calmest rabbit ever :)
Then you have to do this whole bunny physical thing to make sure its nails are black. Of course.
But in the end, Meghan got two beautiful bunnies. Since she already has Ghirardelli, we said that she should name the other two after chocolate brands too. She like Dove for the doe, but she wanted Jellybean for the buck.
I know it's her birthday, but we were all like, seriously.
My mom and grandma came up with Cadbury. Which I loved. It fit a cute, puffy bunny perfectly! And, if you think about it, would a dude rather be named Cadbury or Jellybean? And jellybeans are gross. All of which were arguments I used in trying to convince her that Cadbury was the name to choose.
She didn't listed to me. It took peer pressure to get her to change her mind.
But she did, eventually, which means that we have Ghirardelli, Cadbury, and Dove, with lots more chocolate brands to go, as she pointed out. That led to the discussion on other rabbit/chocolate names. Heath. Reeses. Godiva. M&M. I said that the only way I was going to let a bunny be named M&M is if it was a white one. Named Eminem - lol.
We're gonna have to wait for fall, at least, until any of those dreams are realized. For right now, we are perfectly happy with Dove and Cadbury, the two newest members of our animal family!
Here's a delightful way to illustrate the Resurrection, especially to young children. Plus they're yummy, too!
Resurrection Rolls
1 package Crescent rolls
melted butter
large marshmallows
cinnamon
sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls.
The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.
Give each child a marshmallow.
This represents Jesus and His purity.
Have child dip the marshmallow in melted butter.
This represents the oils of embalming.
Dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar.
This represents the spices used to anoint the body of Jesus.
Wrap the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll
(not like a typical crescent roll up, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside)
This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.
Place in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
The oven represents the tomb (pretend like it was 3 days and nights!)
When the rolls have cooled slightly, the children can open their rolls (cloths) and discover that Jesus is no longer there,
HE IS RISEN!
The marshmallow melts and the crescent roll is puffed up, but like the tomb - IT IS EMPTY!
No, we're not making our yard birds do yoga. Although that is a great visual!
Around here, we treat meat more like a side dish. Which is how it is treated everywhere in the world -- except America. While my husband is a "meatatarian," he is fully supportive of the health benefits and economic considerations of having meat as part of the meal, rather than the centerpiece. He's happy to order a steak when we go out to eat!
Last week I made BBQ chicken for our family of 10 using only two chicken breasts. I cooked the meat ahead of time, shredded it, and then let it simmer in lots of BBQ sauce for about half an hour. Served with a big pile of mashed potatoes and lots of fresh veggies, it was yummy and child-friendly (no bones!). We even had enough for leftovers for lunch the next day.
When a casserole calls for chicken breasts, I substitute cubed chicken from a whole bird that I have roasted. Sauteing chicken tenders? Previously cooked cubes work just as well and throw in another handful of veggies. Fajitas? Try heating some shredded chicken in your pan with water and spices. Shredding the chicken helps it to go much further. That's why it's always shredded in Mexican restaurants.
I will often throw in some beans to keep the protein level up (white bean puree is usually unnoticeable in a sauce). Increase the sauce that can be sopped up with a carb. And don't skimp on the veggies (even if they are pureed into the sauce so no one knows they're there)!
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