My New Trick

When I want to be productive, I put on an apron. It makes me feel domestically confident and ready for hard work. Put on some earrings, and I can easily imagine myself as a happy homemaker of the 1950s.

Try it; it works.

Anticipating Their Arrival...

Good friends, Marc and Jill, and their two little ones are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning. We're looking forward to our week with them.

What is it about old friends? Those people who knew you as you once were - pre-degree, pre-job, pre-house, pre-kids, pre-adult? There's something so precious to me about returning to those people, and remembering...

When I was younger, I always wondered why my parents and grandparents told the same stories of their lives over and over again. And now I know...it's not for the listener's benefit; it's for the teller's. And oh, the joy that telling brings me!

Sweet Corn

Our lovely next-door neighbors whose parents/siblings farm nearby brought us an entire trunk full of sweet corn last night!

After 3 hours of husking, scrubbing, cutting, blanching, packaging, and freezing, we now have 10 quarts of sweet corn to enjoy during those long upcoming winter months.

I LOVE turning homegrown food into something our family can enjoy and use - and NOT spend $$$ on. How incredibly fulfilling.

County Fair

An evening at the county fair. :)

Rides, animals, and root beer floats.

And about 20 - "Hi, Mr. LeFeber"s

And, wouldn't you know, the camera ran out of batteries before we snapped even one picture. Ah well...

SO excited to think about taking 3 little ones to the 2010 county fair.

Longing to meet our next addition...

DAYBOOK #1

Outside my window…
Sun, breeze, 76 degrees in July – perfect.

I am thinking…
About how much I love simple things

I am thankful for…
My washing machine – couldn’t handle all of the “accidents” around here without it

From the learning rooms…
Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You book

From the kitchen…
BLTs, blueberries, and 7up

I am creating…
A song to teach the girls the names of the countries and their capitals

I am going…
To work for a few hours this afternoon, to break up the week a bit

I am reading…
The Strength of Mercy: Making a Difference in the World One Child at a Time by Jan Beazely

I am hoping…
To make it to the library by myself today either before or after work

I am hearing…
Birds outside and child-noises in

Around the house…
Got two loads of laundry done and folded this morning; made some homemade tomato sauce from our garden tomatoes; toys are everywhere

A few plans for the week…

Going to the dentist Friday morning, taking the girls along so they’ll be ready for their first “official” visit in the fall; getting adoption paperwork notarized in the school office; BBQ with friends from Lincoln; municipal band concert Sunday evening

AGCI

To all who are interested in learning about the amazing adoption agency we're working with, please see their website at www.allgodschildren.org.

Bringing You Home

To our dear little one in Ethiopia,

Your mama and daddy, and many other people, are working to bring you home.

Though you are halfway around the world, we already love you and feel connected to you.

We long to have you here, in our arms. And, prayerfully, that is where you will be in the next months.

Until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you HIS peace.