Hip Hip Hooray!

We got an email from our agency with the instructions for our Dossier part 1. Dossier!! Then I went to the bank on my plan period to deposit the money from our latest garage sale. I discovered that we had more in savings than I thought. I had forgot to write down a deposit. I think we will have enough for the next round of fees. I was so excited that I tracked JJ down while the kids took a nap to tell him the news. The only down side to this day is that the home study still hasn't arrived in the mail. We got an email two weeks ago from our provider letting us know that the home study was complete from her end. It was going to the agency offices in Dallas to be signed. I know it was complete last Thursday, because I gave up and called our agency. I guess the only question now is how long mail takes to get from Dallas to the Texas panhandle. But at least I have paperwork to keep me busy.

Oh You Bring

I have had this song running through my mind lately. JJ and I work at a Christian youth camp for a couple of weeks each summer. I was privileged to lead the worship for the teen week this yer and this was one of the songs we sang. I have been tremendously blessed by the music from Hillsong United, but this song stands out to me during our adoption process because of the words, "Oh You give...joy to homes that are broken". The power that God has to transfer lives and homes continues to amaze me.

Chocolate Cupcakes Take One

I have wanted to try a new baking adventure and last night I finally got around to it. My mother and my granny both make this super yummy chocolate cake with a secret ingredient. No, I am not going to tell you. It is a secret! I wanted to see how it would work as a cupcake. I also wanted to try topping it with cream cheese frosting. First the batter was so soupy. Might I mention that if I have ever made this cake it was a long time ago. Well, I made a valiant and very messy attempt at filling the baking cups in my usual manner, with a ziplock bag. I did get to lick plenty of delicious batter off my fingers. It made enough batter for 18 cupcakes.

Then I had to guess at the baking time for cupcakes. When I checked them at 15 minutes they looked like little inverted volcanoes. Finally they became nicely rounded finished cakes. But alas as they cooled they sunk down again.

I found a recipe for cream cheese frosting in my favorite cookbook. When the cupcakes were cool enough to frost the fun really began. The cake was so soft that it crumbled and cracked. The frosting filled the "volcano" holes, but stubbornly refused to be spread over the edges. I gave up on making pretty cupcakes. JJ and I are well practiced at eating ugly things since he insists on experimenting with cooking and I insist on experimenting with baking, so we plunged right in and it was so worth it! I wish I could send each of you one, but trust me when I say that they were fabulous. So, I give these cupcakes a 10 on the taste scale, but a 2 on the "nice enough presentation I could ask someone to pay money for them" scale. I guess we will have more adventures soon.

Any advice on buying luggage?

I have been getting emails frequently from our home study provider this week. The first draft of our report had some errors. She has made all the corrections and sent the second draft back to our agency. Things are happening! Small things, but things none the less. I have been exploring grant options so I can get our applications done as soon as we have the home study finalized.

I have also been shopping around for luggage. I will not let myself even look at baby stuff yet, but I figure luggage is safe. Our luggage came to us as high school graduation gifts. It has served us well, but it simply won't work for multiple international flights. I would love to get a wheeled carry on and a backpack for each of us. Does anyone have any luggage advice?? I read Good Housekeeping every month. I seem unable to keep myself from buying it. I think I am addicted. Anyway, they did testing on carry on luggage during the summer and their advice is probably sound, but I would love some first hand suggestions.

That's Not Meat

I was encouraging one of my students to at least eat the meat on his sandwich when another student piped up. "That's not meat!" he said. "Oh? What is it?" I asked. "It's ham" he said. Oh the joys of Pre-K.

Faith, Family & Football

So when I had such a yucky day on Tuesday my husband came home and the first thing he did, after I vented, was pray. Sorry ladies, but I married the best man on the planet! I was able to get in touch with our agency and our report was being sent back to our home study provider that day with notes about the needed revisions. I plan to call her on Tuesday afternoon to see how things are going. It was wonderful to finally get some information. Tonight is the first home football game. I have a new job this season. Well, I actually started at the end of last season, but it wasn't official. I am the filmer (is that even a word?) for all the varsity and jv football games. I get to stand way up high and capture all the aspects of the game for review over and over and over again. Coaches watch oodles of film, so I try to do my best. I actually volunteered for this job because it keeps me from hearing any negative comments from the fans and it allows me to stay quiet without people wondering if I even care about football. Which, in case you were wondering, I do care, I just don't yell. It looks to be a gorgeous evening for football. Go Panthers! (that might have been a yell, but I don't think it counts if it is electronic)