How many ladies does it take to jump start a car?

A couple of dear friends from church got together to have some coffee from JAVA Brewing Company to hang out and talk...and of course, drink coffee. When Susan got up to leave, the rest of us were finishing up our conversations. A couple of minutes later, Susan walks back into Java and says that her car won't start...she left her lights on! So, we all jumped up and headed out to help. Susan pulled out her jumper cables, I pulled out mine. Thankfully, we were parked by eachother. With calls made to our husbands, sparks flying in my hands--right after my husband told me to be careful not to let the clamps touch! Trust me, this was an experience! Well, in the end, the ladies were victorious! Thank goodness Tracy took the clamps off for me..saved me a shock or two!

A nice lady who was parked by us readily stated that she would take a picture of this momentous occasion. It just so happens that Nichole had one more picture left on her camera.
So, if you are in need of some assistance on how to jump your car, I think any of us ladies would be able to answer your questions with flying colors!

Isn't it cool that we were making memories? Yes, it reminds me of a song...let me sing it to you...Memories..like the corner of my mind...misty water colored memories...of the way we were......scattered pictures.....

From the left to right: Claudine, Susan, Nichole and Tracy.

I love being Italian!

First, let me ask....have you ever had homemade, fresh pasta? Well my friends, I made it for the first time on Saturday and it was so much fun! Not to mention so yummy good! The pictures are an example of how to start making the fresh pasta. All you need is flour, eggs, and a pinch of salt (and a handy duty pasta roller/cutter).

Our good friends at Delizie Italiane (in La Grange, Kentucky)had a cooking class not to long ago on how to make fresh pasta (specifically from the region of Napoli--where my mom is from) along with 3 wonderful sauces. Wow! I learned so much.

Well, Saturday, I treated my husband to an authentic Italian meal. Fresh homemade pasta (thanks Caroline for allowing me to borrow your pasta roller/cutter--you saved me so much time and frustration--bless you!!) and homemade Puttanesca sauce. I also made a fresh Italian salad that we had ate last.

It came out wonderful! I highly recommend it!

Not this month....

Good morning friends and family. John and I just found out that China did not get to our LID this month. China sent out referrals through LID 1/31/2006.

This means that it will most likely be next month that before we receive our referral. We will be in Gatlinburg, Tennessee the first week in September (with several families from our church), so that will be just wonderful if we receive the news there! I hope we get cell phone service in the Smokies.....

I am so at peace with this. Truly, John and I believe the Lord was preparing us for the news that we would not receive the referral this month. He is so good.

So, we have 20 more days left in the month of August.......let the countdown begin!

I will post more later..I have to tell you all about the meal I cooked for John on Saturday!

Until then...have a great day!

Packages are in the air?

Rumor Queen just stated that packages (from China) are in the air headed towards agencies. What that means....um, not sure. All of us who are expecting referrals next are most likely hoping for...well...referrals.

This is the most positive news yet this week. At least it is something.

And if it isn't what we hoped for this time around....I guess I can wait another month. Really, what is another month? We have waited this long...can you tell I am trying to psych myself out?

Have a good night!

30 Months Ago Today

30 months ago today was 2/6/2006. I can't believe that it has been 30 months since we have been logged into the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs--in Beijing). Time has, in one way gone so fast, then in others.....so s-l-o-w.
Tonight we honor our daughter Lydia. We do every 6th day of the month. Typically, I will cook a special meal or we will watch a documentary on Chinese adoption. We love to watch China's Lost Girls. It is a great documentary about adoption through China. I highly recommend it. It is very informative. It gives us a very small taste of what it will be like when we go over there.
Over there....our daughter is across the world....wow! It reminds me of a precious passage from Isaiah 43: 6-7, "bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by my Name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Gives me chills just reading it. Isaiah 43 is one of my favorite chapters from the Word of God.

Read it, it is totally worth it.

So, tonight, John and I toast to our daughter and give thanks to our Father who has taken care of her......somewhere in China.
We love you Lydia....we are on our way!

Aren't Pets Great?

After a long hard day, I come home and there are our two Russian Blues sitting on our bay window, hanging out checking out the scene. I walk up to the door and they notice me...I call their names...then they take off...I open the door and there they are...waiting for me to pet them. They do their usual belly-side-flop and do some kind of meow...and all is well in the world. :)

It is quite amazing how different my mood changed, even when just 5 minutes ago, I was almost ran over by a Cadillac on my way home.

They are just about 6 years old and we have had them about 3 months. We adopted them from a family locally and have enjoyed having them be a part of our family. Harlow is the one on the left and Lola is the one on the right. They are from the same litter and have never been split up. Lola is the playful one, while Harlow is the laid back one who probably thinks Lola is immature for wanting to play. They both love to snuggle with us and we believe they will be perfect when Lydia comes home to be with us. All I can say is that we are glad they are here with us.

The Lord's Provision

Good morning folks! I just want to stop and thank the Lord for His provision throughout this adoption process. We now have a remaining balance of $3,443.75! Amen and amen.

It is quite humbling after venting last night that I have tendancy to trust God in some areas and not others. Which is obvious through my thoughts and actions. I had a very candid talk with the Lord this morning and I am resolved not to worry or be anxious of when we will receive our referral. It is truly in His hands and He has been so faithful to us. I have no cause to doubt Him.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

Thanks for all your prayers and concerns for us. I am so grateful for the Body of Christ.

May the peace of Christ rule in your hearts today......