One More Picture

I had to add one more picture from our trip. Look how small Kirk and the kids are compared to the Redwoods. Amazing!

Family Tradition

I am a lover of family traditions. One of my all time favorite traditions is going to Mount Hermon (click Here). It's a Christian conference center focused on the Lord and family. Every summer growing up (from elementary school through college) my parents, brother and I (along with our favorite family friends) drove up to Mt. Hermon for a fun-filled week. We started going back again about 5 years ago so that our kids could experience the same special family time. My parents even tag along, in addition to the same family friends who went with us when we were little. Now I have three kids and my childhood friend has four, plus all the grandparents= laughter till your sides hurt.

We always opt to stay in a private cabin, while our friends stay in the hotel on campus. We have late night "Baloney" card games, S'mores, awesome worship times and listen to great Christian speakers. Every morning for 3 hours, all the babies and kids go to their separate activities, and the adults listen to the morning speaker and get free time before we pick up our kids. Every evening after dinner, we do the same- but for two hours. That gives us 5 glorious hours of "couple" time without the kids! Every afternoon from 12- 6 is free time with your family for naps and fun. It's such a beautiful place set in the Redwoods, with the cleanest freshest air. The trails are where I have my special time with God. I feel the closest to Him there. It almost feels like He is right there beside me, listening to me. I know He is. This sounds funny, but one time last year I looked behind me for footprints because I was SURE Jesus was walking with me. I was deep in prayer about whether or not to adopt. You see, that morning we had just received Isabella's referral. She was not well at the time, but the Lord clearly told me (and Kirk separately) that she needed us. I will never forget my "prayer spot" on the trails where God told me that. I'm so glad I took the time to listen. If you haven't taken the time to listen to His voice today, I encourage you to. He's got lots to tell you because He loves you so much. Stop and slow down. To me His voice is just like a whisper.

Without further delay, here are the highlight pictures from our trip...
(Thanks, Joanna, for the picnik website!)

There were 5 babies in the Baby Room that week. Interestingly, 3 of the 5 were recently adopted... 1 from China, 1 from Ethiopia, and Bella from Guatemala. It's a small world after all!

Holy Guacamole! A Few Recipes...

As promised, here are a few of the Guatemalan recipes I used for Isabella's party. Sorry it took so long for me to post. It's hard to blog without a computer!! Yes, unfortunately my laptop officially bit the dust. Poor me! I can't check regularly on all of you... my favorite blogger friends! All we have is Kirk's work computer, and he WON'T SHARE WITH ME because he works pretty much 24/7. I snuck some time on it tonight, though, when I sent him out on an errand-- Hee! Hee!

I'm posting four recipes for you. They are Guatemalan staples and super easy & yummy!

Arroz Guatemalteco
(Guatemalan-Style Rice)

Ingredients:
2 cups long grain rice
2 Tablespoons oil
1 cup mixed vegetables (like carrots, celery, sweet red peppers, green peas), finely chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 cups chicken stock

Directions:
Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan and add rice.
Sauté lightly until the rice has absorbed the oil, being careful not to let it change color.
Add the mixed vegetables, salt, pepper, and chicken stock.
Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low.
Cool for about 20 minutes until rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
Serves 6 to 8.

Guacamole

Ingredients:

red onion
lime
lemon
cilantro
avocados
salt and pepper

Directions:

The first thing that you do to make guacamole is use 1 tablespoon of chopped red onion. Add salt, a little pepper, but not too much- then you begin squeezing limes. So basically you're forming a marinade. What that does is it takes the bitterness away from the onions. For every 3 avocados add one full lime. Ideally, you would want this to sit for approximately 10 minutes before you add the avocado.
While that's marinating you can chop your cilantro. You want to chop your cilantro right before you add it.

Next, open the avocados and scoop out the flesh. Then all you have left to do is mash it. You're going to want to find a home-sized potato masher which will make it much easier. Or you can also use a fork. The more that you mash it, the smoother your guacamole will be. Of course as soon as avocados hit air they begin to oxidize and turn gray. Add a sprinkle of lemon juice-- and that will keep the avocados greener for longer.

Note: I learned to put the pit on top of the guacamole (at the end). I saw first hand how it really keeps the guacamole green for a long time. Don't worry about storing the leftovers... There won't be any!!!

Homemade Corn Tortillas

Ingredients:

One bag of Maseca (or any brand) dry corn tortilla mix

Water

Directions:

Follow package instructions for the ratio of tortilla mix to water

Form the masa (dough) into little balls the size of golf balls

Pound the dough ball between the palms of your hands until it is flat and round like a little tortilla

Note: I bought a tortilla press (see picture below) for $17 at Linens and Things because when I hand form them they look hilarious and not very flat and round. In fact, I caught Sandra (the awesome lady who cooked for us in Antigua) laughing at my attempts. I don't blame her! HA!

Brown the tortillas on each side in a skillet.

Keep them warm in a kitchen towel until ready to serve.

These are the bomb!

Tortilla Press

Guatemalan Black Beans

1 LB. black beans

10 cups of water

1 medium onion cut into quarters

1 Bullion cube for each cup of water

Directions:

Put all ingredients in a crock pot on high for approximately 5 hours. Enjoy!

If you know of any other Guatemalan recipes, I'd LOVE to have them!!!

!Que rico!

Adoption Announcement Card

I finally found the time to send out Isabella's adoption announcement cards. As I'm typing, I just realized that (last July) I completed Bella's adoption dossier and homestudy paperwork faster than I got her announcement cards out. Oh, what a year can do!

It looks a little goofy at the top because I edited out our last name (to keep our secret identity. Ha! Ha!)

I added in the little rhyme (under her picture) that came to me as I was rocking Isabella to sleep. To me it was the perfect personal touch- and a reminder of God's miracle of adoption.

P.S. A couple of people asked me to post some of the Guatemalan recipes I used for Bella's party. I'd be happy to, and I'll post them very soon!

Have a happy Friday!!!

Birthday Party Pictures

Isabella's 1st birthday party was held on her actual birthday (June 29th), but we went on vacation shortly after so I haven't been able to post the party pictures until now. Here goes...

When I was fostering Isabella in Guatemala, I got VERY spoiled because we had a lady named Sandra cook for us three nights a week. The food was always amazing! Sandra's cooking inspired me to make Guatemalan food for Bella's party. I practiced the recipes every night for an entire week to get them just right for the party (My family was so OVER Guat. food by the time of the party. Ha! ). I even bought a tortilla press and made homemade corn tortillas... the yummiest EVER! I think Sandra would be proud!

Let's get this party started!

Table for two: Mama and the birthday girl eating dinner. My little Latina likes her food flavorful and SPICY.

Jolly jump to keep the kids- big and small- BUSY and havin' fun

Instead of a traditional pinata, Kirk opted for a tortilla throwing contest. The kids had fun chucking the tortillas as far as they could. Can you see Jillian's tortilla in the picture? It's between her and the red cooler. She bit holes in it to make it more "aerodynamic".

Josh and Luke ate more tortillas than they threw. You can see Josh's tortilla above his head!

Ask Bella how old she is and she'll show you one finger....

... and then she claps for herself! Too funny!

Ooh la la! The cake!

I actually picked up her cake at the bakery that morning and it was sooo not what I ordered. They must have decorated it with the lights off!!! Thankfully, they remade it for me. Phew! Crises averted!

For some reason she thought it was hysterical that she could take off her new birthday bracelet all by herself. She loves to make people laugh!

New dolly from Nana

After presents, we made a quick change into her birthday tutu and party hat. It was so fun to hear the ooh's and aah's when I brought her outside for cake. This family is used to BOYS, so it was so fun to go a little (or a LOT) foo foo!!!

She loved her cake AT FIRST...

... But then butter cream frosting gets a little nasty after half the cake is gone!

One of our traditions is that the birthday baby gets to feed daddy some birthday cake. Go, Kirk!

Isabella,

When I tucked you in bed at the end of the day on June 29, 2008, I kissed your frosting-scented cheeks and thanked God for your AMAZING life. God has SUCH great plans for you, and I am so BLESSED to be your mommy. I also thanked God for your birth mom and her courage to give you everything she never could. As I rocked you and prayed, this thought came into my mind... "Precious daughter from a distant land... brought to us by the Father's hand". It's true, Bella. God hand-picked YOU. You are special and important and LOVED BEYOND WORDS. Happy 1st birthday, Bellagirl! I love you!!!

Love,

Mom