19 Weeks and Counting

So, I looked at my blog the other day and realized how remiss I was in posting...February was my last post!  Let's just say ALOT has changed since then!
Spring is officially in the air and summer hot on its heels here in PA.  There is nothing better than the smell of fresh cut grass and Ayla exclaimation about there being flowers on TREES!  Flowers aren't supposed to grow on trees!  Well, sometimes they do.  It made the tracking in of flower petals much more bearable this year because she loved it! 
At the time of my last post I knew that God had blessed me beyond my allowable dreams, but the reality of pregnancy was still an evasive ghost.  Now 19 weeks along I'm a little more confident in the hope that this will ideed happen and I won't wake up to find a mean joke someone has been playing.  A few of you have been "bugging" for a baby bump picture...here it is!

I know I have a long way to go, no need to remind me!  We will soon find out if our little munchkin is a boy or a girl and I will share that here if possible! 
God was good before I got pregnant...He is the same now!  I'm so thankful for this opportunity and a little nervous about having 2 bouncing bambinos in my care!

A Happy Schnickerdoodle Morning

   February has come and gone and I would gladly forget most of it.  The beginning of February found me up in Maine with my parents.  My Dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer and my thought was to spend some time with him at the beginning while he was still able to enjoy Ayla.  I had no way of knowing that would be his last week on earth.  Our Heavenly Father took him home to be with Him on February 5th...literally, one week from the time I arrived.  The next week was a whirlwind of arrangements and activities and the rest of February was a blur.  I surfaced today and realized I wanted to bake!

   Schnickerdoodles are one of my favorite cookies.  I grew up making them with my mom and I truly think I enjoy baking them because of the very fun name they have.  I'm not positive of the history of this light little cookie (nobody really is), but there are rumors that its name stems from the Dutch or German word for "snail".  I do know the Schnickerdoodle was very popular in New England in the early 20th century (no records of recipes were found in 19th century cookbooks).  I like to think that the happy whimsical name was coined by some Maine family as they cooked around their wood stove and that is why I'm so attracted to the name and the cookie!  Of course, I'm not a true "Mainer".  My parents are from "away"...both were born in New Hampshire and as everyone in Maine knows, "If your cat had kittens in the oven that wouldn't make them biscuits!"  (Thank you, Tim Sample)!

     Anyway, Ayla and I pulled out the simple ingredients for Schnickerdoodles and enjoyed a very fun morning of baking. The cookies came out PERFECT!  Simple recipes often do! They are the perfect blend of crisp outsides and soft chewy insides. That is why I like it.  Here is my mom's recipe:

Grammie's Schnickerdoodles

1 cup shortening (or 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 2/3 cups flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Cream first three ingredients.  Sift rest of ingredients and add to sugar mixture.  Roll dough into 1" balls.  Roll into a mixture of 1/4 cup sugar and 2/3 tsp. cinnamon.  Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.

Happy baking!

Wait Poem

I was recently reminded of this poem...and I so needed it!  Maybe you do too!

Wait

by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .

And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?

By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

 

"My future and all to which I relate

Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?

I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,

Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

 

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:

I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

 

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,

As my Master replied again, "Wait."

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,

And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

 

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .

and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

 

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.

You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

 

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me

When darkness and silence are all you can see.

 

"You'd never experience the fullness of love

When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,

But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

 

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight.

The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask

From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

 

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,

But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

 

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.

And though oft My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

New Year...New Resolve

Well, 2010 is officially behind us and 2011 has dawned clear, bright and promising.

Before Thanksgiving we had the priviledge of sharing our adoption story along with a sacred concert up at Heritage Baptist Church in Orefield, PA. This was our first ministry fresh out of college and thankfully they still claim us up there! We were blessed beyond words by the love gift given to further our adoption and I am changing the "thermometer" to reflect how much that helped us.

We spent Thanksgiving at home with Pete's family coming in for a visit. It was busy, but so rewarding spending quality time with those we love.

Christmas was much the same, except for the 10 hour trip to Maine to be with my family. 13 cousins instead of 3 is a big difference, too. My parent's house isn't especially large, but it gets small quick with there are 23 people in it! We shared a wonderful day of memories shared and made and then headed home the middle of last week. I don't think I've ever looked forward more to the dullness that January and February typically bring with them. I find my heart craving after alone time with my Saviour and it makes me wonder how I could have made this past season more about Him. I just read a friend's blog where she lists a calculated plan to make next Christmas more purposeful. I know that as the months roll on I won't remember a specific plan, but I do need to work harder on making the season more about Him and less about us. That is my sole change for next year. I really would love to do an advent calendar with Ayla, too.

There is no new adoption news to speak of...wish I could say differently, but that is just the truth! We wait...knowing we wait on the perfect timing of our Lord.

We rejoice with our friends, Josh and Candace, as they received their referral for a baby girl from Ethiopia. I got to see her picture on Sunday and inevitably began the ever guarded water works! I'm so excited for their news and honestly so incredibly jealous!

I rest in this..."O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it." Ps. 139:1-6

Busy little Mommy!

Somewhere between potty training and getting ready for two craft fairs this fall I've also had time to sit back and worry and fret about how long with wait will be...can you believe that? Me, the world's calmest, coolest person (HA) worrying! Now if you know me at all you are laughing out loud. I'm the world's BEST worrier, but I must be honest...God is teaching me much about myself through this. He does give peace for today and hope for tomorrow. And I really can't be more thankful for that! I NEED it right now just like a little fishy needs water!

Thought you all might enjoy some currents pictures of what is keeping us busy!

Minnie Mouse made her debute at church on Sunday evening the 31st of October! She was playing the piano here just like "Daddy and Josh Groban"! Right! The good professor LOVED that! She was actually singing at this point, too!

The basement is progressing...I'm not quite ready to post pictures yet, but soon! I promise!

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support...I need it more than I'm truly willing to admit! If you are in the area come on out and support our craft show on Nov. 13th, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Lansdale, PA!!

While we are waiting...

I thought it might be fun to document what we are doing while we are waiting patiently on the Lord for Baby #2. Ayla has taken it upon herself to pray for Baby Radford at EVERY opportunity! It is wonderful to hear her faithful pray for her little brother/sister.

First things first...The Basement! It is shockingly cluttered and in desperate need of a face lift before I move my "studio" down there!! Ok, so here it is...

Ok...don't judge! You all have spots like this...I'm sure, right?! And I am working on it! This is the pile of clutter that needs to be consolidated and given a "home"! Here is the picture of the wall where my sewing/creative table will go...

The good news...there is space under the stairs for a small storage closet! YIPPEEE!! Bad news, I really can't stud out a doorway by myself. I must wait for the ever busy professor/ pastor/PhD student! Lord, grant me patience! Here is the closet now!

So, to the left is from the outside looking in and to the right is at the doorway looking under the steps! I can't wait to see this space filled up with stuff!

So, here you have it! I've put it out there for the whole world to see...I can't wait to post some updated pictures as we make our progress. I will also post pictures of the loft when we get closer to moving the stuff out and getting the basement studio set up!

And now we wait...

We got the news on Friday that our home study is approved and we are in the book...ready to wait! We are so thankful to be at this step, but we also know what this wait is like. There were many days with our first adoption that seemed neverending as we waited. Then you get a call...you meet a birthmother and you wait again! Just a whole lot of waiting, but we are excited to learn what God has for us as we wait this time. Isaiah says "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength...". Psalm 37 says "Trust in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." Psalm 38 "But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer."
God continues to provide the funds for our adoption and we are learning to wait on Him in that area as well.
Please continue to pray for us as we wait. Pray that God will teach us more about Himself at this time and please pray for our child and the birthmother! We covet your prayers as we move the waiting phase!