It's for the children

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  Matthew 25:40

Don and I have a friendly little joke we refer to when we spend money or time for a cause that is somehow related to children.  For example, when Don goes and participates in a golf tourney on a Saturday morning or afternoon instead of attending to the Honey-Do list, he'll say, "It's for the children..."  How do you say, "no" and pout about that when you know children are being helped?  When 22 boxes of thin mints enter my house on an annual basis, we look at each other and our chocolate-covered teeth and proudly proclaim the hit we're taking to our non-existent diets is--say it with me--"for the children."  When I would go into some crazy bidding war on a silent auction for a local Christian school,  I'd remind him it was "for the children."  Long before we had a child, we had a soft spot for helping children.  When we found out our Lindy had been taken care of so well in foster care because of VERY generous donations through FTIA, we knew we'd always continue to help children...

I'd like to let you know about a way YOU can help the children, more specifically the orphans, of China.  My dear friend and fellow adoptive mother, Michelle, is having a wonderful giveaway on her blog to promote the 2011 Red Threads calendar.  EVERY penny raised from the sales of these calendars will go to charities which support children in China such as Half the Sky and Love Without Boundaries.  I might add that Michelle is an incredible photographer and was the photo editor of the calendar, so I'm sure it is beautiful.  I missed the deadline to get Lindy's mug in the pages but I know there are several other cuties represented!  PLUS, it is also filled with authentic Chinese recipes...

I know times are tight but please consider helping this wonderful cause either by promoting the calendar and/or purchasing a calendar or six.   Go to her blog and see all the fabulous prizes and many ways to win.

And remember, "it's for the children."

What do you say when you just don't know what to say?

I'm at a loss for words.  Really.  I am.  In the past WEEK alone I have had:

• A long-time high school friend lose her beloved father.
• A very close sister and friend lose her last living grandmother.  She experienced the loss of her other grandmother just a few months ago.
• One of my best friends hit the SURPRISE emotional high of thinking by Friday she might receive a long-awaited, unexpected referral of a son from Nepal--a country that has been at a complete standstill with referrals--only to find out on Friday that not only was she not getting a referral but the United States had suspended any further adoptions from Nepal. 
• A conversation with a friend who is facing the second year of her husband's unemployment.
• A friend and amazing adoption encourager come home with a precious baby who is now wondering if she'll be able to be his mommy because of complexities of the case.

I'm sure I'm leaving off others as I know of so many others suffering and struggling.  These were the current situations that burned the most in my heart and mind and really left me feeling so frustrated and awful and helpless and sleepless.


I so want(ed) to provide hope and encouragement and strength.  I want(ed) to help.  I want(ed) to impart wisdom and the truths I know to be true and yet I feel like I haven't done that at all.  I don't want to sound trite or insincere.  My heart feels so broken for them and, sadly, I. just. don't. know. what. to. say.  IS, "I'm sorry," "I'm here for you," and "I'm praying for you" enough? 

What do YOU say when you just don't know what to say? 

Menu Plan Monday

Yes, we still eat around here.  Yes, I still do a menu.  However, I just haven't been so diligent in sharing.

Here's what's cooking this week:

Monday-Leftovers for Don and Lindy from my birthday dinner.  Don't feel sorry for them.  They'll be having yummy pecan-crusted chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled zucchini, and some grilled pesto chicken flatbread.  Yum!  Meanwhile, I will be dining at Tiago's with my "big sisters."  Here we are last year celebrating in Port Aransas.  Notice the big pile of goodness in front of me!

Tueday-BBQ chicken and cheddar sandwiches.  I thought they sounded yummy and who doesn't love the combo of chicken, bacon, bbq sauce, and cheddar cheese?  I could do without the bun and am not quite sure how I'll eat it yet.  I'll make sure Lindy sets the table with extra napkins!   I think a nice side of mixed berries and some carrots and celery will bring some color and lots of vitamins.

Wednesday-Out before bible study...

Thursday-Pierogies, broccoli, and salad.  If you don't know what a pierogi is, I am not sure I'm totally qualified to tell you.  They are dumplings typically filled with mashed potatoes, onion, and cheese.  They are a staple among Czechs and Polish people, from what I understand.  I was first introduced to pierogies while I was at East Stroudsburg University.  I had a friend whose mom would make her homemade pierogies for her to bring to school; a total labor of love!  They were incredible--especially drenched in butter!  If I'm not mistaken, I can remember having them at the "caf" every once in a while, too.  Anyway, they are wonderful.  I have found a frozen brand that really is very good and the closest thing I'll be getting to homemade.  My body can't handle drenching them in butter like it used to.  Okay, honestly, it really never could handle it!  I pan fry them in minimal (hardly any) olive oil with garlic and they are really quite tasty!

Friday-It is the most wonderful time of the year!!!  Nope.  Not back-to-school.  Nope.  Not Christmas.  It is the $19.95 Party for Two at this restaurant all month--Two soups or salads, one medium SPECIALTY pizza, and a pizookie.  It really is a superb deal for our little family of three, as the pizza alone is usually more than the whole deal.  For $20 we get about six meals (three people eating twice--not three people eating six times) off the pizza.  We order the Mediterranean and have never been disappointed.  The p*izookie is incredible!  We order the Gh*irardelli chocolate variety.  Pure bliss on a plate (and my thighs).  Friday Night Family Pizza night is ON!

Saturday-Grilled chicken with basil lemon pasta and some yet-to-be determined veggie and salad on the side.  Don and I like to cook together but sometimes a lot of the time we get lazy and don't plan for it.  I think it is time for us to be elbow to elbow this Saturday using up some of that basil growing on our back porch.


Sunday-I'm banking on there being some leftovers!


I'm suddenly hungry!  I think my multi-grain Cheeri*s have worn off...

What's on your table this week?  If you like to peruse recipes pop over here to see what 100s of other people are eating this week!  Have a healthy snack first, though, because you're going to get hungry!

Monday miscellany

A while back my friend Sara posted about what she was reading this summer. I was happy to see that I'm not the only person with a few reads going at once.

I love to read but sometimes I go through EXTREME dry spells and don't read for months on end and then other times I read like I'm never going to be able to again.

I thought I'd check with my beloved readers to see what is on your nightstand and share with you what is on mine.

Here's what I've been reading:


I actually finished The Help a couple of weeks ago. It is a very powerful story set in the deep south in the early 1960s. I really shudder when I think about what was going on just a few years before I was born. I like to think that things have dramatically changed and shudder to think that maybe they haven't...

I'm still reading this:


My friend, Elissa, loaned me the book Going Public in May after we had talked about public school versus private school one day over breakfast. At the very beginning of 2010, I broached the subject of sending Lindy to a private Christian school with Don. (Is that sentence structure all screwy?) He was surprised by the topic as much as I was. I think the realization that in Fall 2010 Lindy would be starting school really hit. Suddenly I was feeling unprepared and worried about what all Lindy would be encountering in a public school environment. I was also concerned we'd be losing some influence, too, and possibly be facing a lot more competition.

After discussion, prayer, and consideration, we decided to send Lindy to public school. We had not been financially preparing for the expense of private school and we just couldn't do it. Also, as we were thinking about it, I heard a quote and it really resonated with me. Since then, I've heard it several times. I believe the quote comes from Colt McCoy's father and it goes something like this, "Our job as parents is not to prepare the path for our children but to prepare our children for the path."

At that moment, I realized I was really concentrating more on the path and not her heart. PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG...I am not saying that if you choose to send your kids to private school or homeschool them that you are not doing your job or that you have it all wrong. I don't feel that way at all. Really. The parents I know who have chosen those options are VERY concerned about their kiddos and are doing an excellent job parenting. So, please don't think I am criticizing or saying one is better than the other. What that quote reminded me is that no matter what, where, or who, we needed to be stepping it up and preparing her heart for that path and capitalizing on teachable moments.

The book Going Public has provided some great thoughts, ideas, scriptures, and encouragement as Lindy begins a new chapter in her life three weeks from TODAY!!!

Last but NOT least, I've been reading a less pretty version of this:


Here's a confession. I'm undisciplined. I'm a slacker. I'm a wannabe sitting on the sidelines. I can't even think of a time--recently--that I've set a goal and accomplished it. I am busy but I'm not accomplishing what I want to accomplish. I'm not being self-depracating; I'm being honest. Last year at some point I was whining to Don about how he was responsible for my weight gain and lack of exercise and he said, "So what you are saying is you want ME to be your self-discipline..." Um, yeah, basically...By the way, ouch...

With all that said folks, I set a goal. Yep! I set a goal to read the entire bible this year. I've started and stopped in the past but this year I'm going to do it. I am. Really. Sadly, I am on June 3rd and by my calculations that puts me at about two months behind. However, I WILL do this. I am not doing this with anyone else. I'm being my own self-discipline. I have no one to blame but MYSELF if I don't achieve my goal, which, by the way, I'm going to achieve. I felt like it was a more important goal than all the other quasi-goals I have floating around in my head.

I have been amazed at all I've been learning and all I had forgotten. I've been trying to read for comprehension and not just gloss over things. I'll admit it is rough at times. This approach offers some of the Old Testament, some of the New Testament, a Psalm, and then a verse from Proverbs each day. That breaks it up nicely in my opinion. God in his INFINITE wisdom gives me some great nugget for me to savor with each reading!

Along with catching up in the above-mentioned, next up for me is Crazy Love:


I'd love to hear what you've been reading or what you're wanting to read.

Happy Monday! Hope it is a great week.