Full Circle

I have many things festering in my heart.  I am battling the demons of stuff, of things not important.  I am trying to find a way to incorporate my life with what my heart is thumping about.

Since the beginning of our adoption with Desta, my thoughts about poverty have changed.  I no longer see an orphan as a child in a picture on a screen shown during a church service.  No, an orphan is now what my daughter used to be.  That precious little girl, asleep in her crib upstairs, has brought the issue of orphans smack into my heart.  And I feel like I’m not doing enough.

Maybe I call it a holy passion.  I am trying to find the balance between mothering my children, living in this world, this place and reconciling the issue of orphans (hundreds of thousands).  And I’m stumped. 

Because it is not easy.  It is not easy moving beyond what my heart wants to actually doing something.  It’s not easy surrendering comfort, my comfort, for someone else.

And when I stop and think about that orphan, that child who is overwhelmed with joy to get one hot meal of beans and rice, the same dish, every day, that makes my heart thump even more.  Because I wouldn’t want to eat beans and rice, day in, day out.

So my heart is thumping and my mind is swirling and I am looking for a way to do something, now, to ease the ache of this holy passion stirring.

Remains believed to be that of our dear friend David Adam Hames, have been recovered from the Hotel Montana and are in the custody of the U.S. government and are waiting to be transferred to Dover (DE) for final forensic examination. We don’t know how long this final examination will take nor how long it will take the military to transport the remains to Dover due to the snowstorm on the East Coast. We will post again when Renee receives the results of this examination. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Pastor Kelly

This is an amazing birth story.  LOVE, unexpected outcomes, LOVE, tears, pain, LOVE.

I am currently surrounded by stuff.  Little pieces of paper, projects the kids started but didn’t finish.  Bags of clothes, old toys and household items needing to be sorted and then disposed of.

Stuff is overwhelming isn’t it?  And the more I delve into it, the more I seem to uncover.  The funny thing is; I tuck away the kid’s items they haven’t touched in months.  I pull them out and guess what, “It’s the toy I’ve been looking for forever!”  Really?

So this week I’ll continue cleaning out my closets, figuratively and realistically.  When there is stuff around me, I can’t think, I get frustrated, I get caught up in the stuff and not in what I should focus on.

Maybe that should be the theme for the week.  Focus.  Because right now I have one very cranky baby (cutting more teeth is never fun!), two tired school aged children and one really tired mommy.  Without focus, this week is not going to go well.

I got hooked on the Pioneer Woman blog a few months ago.  Oh my.  She has some sinful recipes on that site.  I needed something easy to make that tasted amazing (you know the recipe I mean…the “it looks like I  slaved for hours in the kitchen but it only took me 10 minutes tops!” recipes) so I made this last night.  It was amazing. It was easy.  Go make it.  So worth it!

Here is the recipe very simply written. Go to her blog for the wonderful pictures.  I added a few extra things to my recipe to spice it up  and that is included below.  

Italian Beef Dip Sandwich’s

Ingredients

• 1 whole Beef Chuck Roast, 2.5 To 4 Pounds (I used a 3.5 lb roast)
• 1 large bottle Beef stock
• 2 packets of Italian Seasoning (I used the dry seasoning mix for dressing)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• ½ jars (16 Oz) Pepperoncini Peppers, With Juice
• Buttered, Toasted Deli Rolls

Preparation Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a heavy pot or dutch oven. Stir lightly to combine seasoning with the liquid.

Cover and bake in a 275 degree oven* for 5 to 6 hours, or until meat is fork-tender and falling apart.

Remove from oven. With two forks, completely shred all meat, leaving no large chunks behind. Serve immediately, or keep warm over a simmer on the stove.

May make the day before, then store in the refrigerator. Remove the hardened fat from the top before reheating.

Serve on buttered, toasted rolls. Top with cheese and melt under the broiler if desired. Serve with juices from the pot.

It’s been a long week.  It’s been a hard week.  I’ve been dealing with my demons.  I have been wishing that life would just be easy.

But then again, how would I become a better person if I just was allowed to skim by on life?

Hoping that next week the demons will be vanquished.

Today Desta went for her 9th month appointment, albeit a few weeks late.  The report?  We FINALLY have an average child. 

I never thought those words would sound so good.  Our little girl is average for her weight (19.8 lbs thank you very much) and average for her height (27.5 inches). 

When we brought her home almost 5 months ago, she wasn’t even on the growth chart.  She was a pale, very sick, extremely small little girl. 

Today we have a girl who even with chronic diarrhea (last week…don’t remind me!) smiles, laughs and LOVES to be in the center of everything.  I love average and am so thankful for our average, amazing!! little girl. 

Many years ago Ed and Renee Behr began “A Daughter’s Heart,” a father/daughter dance.  It has continued to this day.

This is what Renee wrote about why they started the event, “Research demonstrates that Fathers are important in the career and academic successes of their Daughters. Fathers need to reassure their daughters that they can pursue and achieve their dreams and that they need to believe in the gifts God has given them. Culture and society can not be allowed to dictate who your Daughter becomes. Connect with your Daughter spiritually, physically and emotionally, instilling proper values and ensuring a safe place for your daughter to cling to.

Take the opportunity and invite your daughter to the annual Father Daughter Dinner Dance. Be a model for how a woman should be treated by a man, share your dreams with her, smile, laugh and be open. Create a fresh image in your mind on what a Father and Daughter spending time together can look like.  Provide your daughter with “A Moment to Treasure”.

Matt took Caroline last year and it was a wonderful experience for them together.  Good food, good company and a band.  If you live in the Colorado Springs area and know a daddy and daughter who’d like to dress up and have a fun night together, this is it.

Go here for more information.

I will be cutting and folding 90 boxes for the event.  Should be a good use of all that tv watching time I have been spending lately with LOST and 24.

My biggest motivation today for running 8 miles on a treadmill while one little girl sleeps?  Watching the Biggest Loser.

And I just have to say, if you’re gonna complain about working out, don’t be on the show.  C’mon girl on red team, just lift and not cry!