I have been tagged!

Ok, so there are the rules. But I don't know how to post links with just the person's name. Maybe someone can comment and let me know how. Marisa, http://www.jmfoltz.blogspot.com/, tagged me. So here goes:

1. I collect, and use, eclectic and vintage purses. Unfortunately, because most of them are very old, they generally wear out long before I would like them to.

2. Many times a week I eat the same breakfast: Go lean crunch cereal, mixed with berries and yogurt from Moo Roo. http://www.hansendairy.com/ (Way fun dairy tour if you are ever in Iowa!)

3. I like crossword puzzles and sudoku, and often do them before I go to sleep.

4. I am lactose intolerant and both our kids are fructose intolerant. I used to love to cook, but it has gotten much less fun with all of the restrictions!

5. I love to kayak!! It is so peaceful. The air smells good and the water feels good. We went for our anniversary this year on the Root River in Lanesboro (Minnesota). I really want to go in Northern Wisconsin near the Apostle Islands and on the east coast, maybe in Maine. I love to travel and there are very few places that I do not want to go.

6. I was never in drama "growing up". But as an adult, I have been in three plays at the local children's theater. "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse", "Bridge to Terabithia", and "Henry and Ramona". It is very fun to interact with the kids, and be someone else for awhile.

7. My husband and I met on a missions trip to the Fiji Islands with Teen Missions International.

I tag: Katie (http://www.beyonddecaf.com/), Dawn (http://www.clivedawnb.blogspot.com/), Julie (http://www.fourplusmore.wordpress.com/), Diane (http://www.mikeanddianeandtribe.blogspot.com/), Amber (http://www.skywardjourney.wordpress.com/), Emily (http://www.teamalexander.blogspot.com/), and Carolyn (http://www.twietconfetti.blogspot.com/). It is very funny to me that I have only met in person one of these people. I wish my sisters blogged, but they don't!

Side note: As I am sure you are all aware, the financial climate sucks! As some of you may not know, my husband is a financial advisor. We were brainstorming ways to cut back financially and he suggested the Internet. I said, "Sorry!" I will skip going out to eat, I will wash and iron tons of dress shirts, I will give up magazines, but I can't give up my email and blogs!

This is for Marisa!

I have been requested to post my recipe for White, or Chicken, Lasagna. First, this is not my recipe, but it comes from a fantastic cookbook called "First Impressions". You can get your very own copy at http://www.jlwcf.org/. See "cookbook" on the left sidebar. Only $15 for a beautiful hardbound cookbook. Great Christmas present. Check out Texas Caviar, Lime Tequila Chicken Fajitas, Honey Glazed Carrots and lots of other goodies!

OK, here it is:

White Lasagna

8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter

1/4 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Salt to taste

1/4 teaspoon white pepper (I only had black pepper!)

2 cups half and half

2 cups chicken broth

8 ounces uncooked lasagna noodles

5 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts (I poached them, to keep them moist)

12 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded ( I used a little more, and used half Mozzarella)

Saute the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet until light brown. Add the wine and tarragon and cook over medium heat until the liquid evaporates.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in the flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in the half and half and chicken broth gradually. Cook until thickened and smooth, stirring constantly. Stir in the mushrooms.

Cook the noodles using the package directions, rinse with cold water and drain.

Spread a thin layer of the sauce in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Layer the noodles, chicken, sauce and cheese 1/3 at a time in the prepared dish.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Serves: 8

Bon Appetit!

No words

Our daughter's court date has been postponed due to a missing document. The document arrived yesterday, but apparently should have been there a week ago. Her new court date is October 30th. I cannot imagine what we will miss this month. I am just heartbroken and physically ill. I keep trying to remember that this is better than a denial. I keep trying to remember that God's timing is perfect. It doesn't feel perfect.

Run, Scott, Run!

That's my hubby, Scott, on the left. He is cranking it out at the Quad Cities marathon!

This is an example of the supposedly "flat" course.

Here he is crossing the finish line. Awesome PR (personal record for you, non-runners),

by 14 minutes! Unfortunately, he missed his Boston qualifying time by 2 minutes!

We'll try again, wait he'll try again, in the spring.

Here's the other man in my life, Jake. Homecoming night with our great friend, Katie.

Apparently, he danced the night away!

Thanks, Lord, for a fantastic weekend! For many answered prayers, especially for travelling safeties. Keep us sane this week as we await our court date on Friday and help us, especially me, to remember that it is safely in YOUR capable hands!! Amen.

Finally...a nursery!

Garage sale find, repainted to coordinate with the bedding.

Picture from Ethiopia, a gift from AWOP. Kitchen and basket from garage sales!

Stuffed animals from equally spoiled big sister!

Yeah! Crib on sale at Target!

Close up of the bedding and light switch plate I painted to match.

"Such a big miracle in such a little girl"

Tell me honestly, does the "S" make it look like it says "Sin", rather than an initial??

I got this dresser at a garage sale when I was in high school.

I know, I was a weird kid. But, not a bad way to spend $30!

I am having an antique child's size chaise reupholstered in vintage pink and cream fabric. Our daughter, Noelle, loved it but has outgrown it. I can't wait to see it refinished! I went garage sale-ing today and found lots for the Foltz' kids. Marisa wanted to go but had other plans so I volunteered to shop for them. It was so much fun!! Grandma Judy, I covered most of my kitchen table with fun stuff for them! They said that it is much colder in Arkansas than in Florida or Thailand.

God is good...all the time!

Today was a good day. Jon and Marisa Foltz, Collin and Summer, arrived from Arkansas. I spent the day preparing, cleaning, etc. The good part is that I didn't get stressed out. Sometimes I do that.

Noelle went to Wild Life tonight, which is a division of Young Life. Things have been tough lately with Noelle. We are trying to find out if the stomach aches, etc. she is having are the result of physical problems or are stress related. She went to school Tuesday through Friday...Yeah! She slept in her bed Wednesday and Thursday...Yeah!

Jake went to the West football game tonight and he made it into the National Honor Society. And he is taking a great girl to homecoming tomorrow night! (as friends, we do not encourage high school dating, much to his distress)

Scott has spent a lot of time praying the last two weeks with the financial state of our nation as it is. He is an investment advisor. Good news is, he gets to forget about all that and run a marathon on Sunday. Might not sound fun to you, sure doesn't to me, but he loves it!

One week from today, October 3, is our court date in Ethiopia. Please pray that everything would go according to God's plan and that we would be able to accept His plan! I cannot wait to hear that our little angel is truly ours!

Psalm 145

" I will praise you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
I will bless you every day,
and I will praise you forever.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy
of praise!
His greatness is beyond discovery!

Let each generation tell its children
of your mighty acts.
I will meditate on your majestic,
glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on
every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your
wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy of your
righteousness.

The Lord is kind and merciful,
slow to get angry, full of unfailing love.
The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his
creation.
All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will bless
you.

They will talk together about the glory
of your kingdom;
they will celebrate examples of your
power.
They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of
your reign.
For your kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom.
You rule generation after generation.

The Lord is faithful in all He says;
He is gracious in all He does.
The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts up those bent beneath their
loads.
All eyes look to you for help;
you give them their food as they
need it.
When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of
every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in everything He
does;
He is filled with kindness.
The Lord is close to all who call on Him,
yes, to all who call on Him sincerely.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear
Him;
He hears their cries for help and
rescues them.
The Lord protects all those who love
Him,
but He destroys the wicked.

I will praise the Lord,
and everyone on earth will bless His
holy name
forever and forever."

Living Vicariously!

Retail Therapy!!

Elke, the honoree and soon-to-be adoptive mom, and I
Joined by Angie, who planned the shower with me
A jog stroller, Yeah!

It's shower time! And travel time! But not for me. My great friend, Elke, left today for Korea to get her sweet little girl Anna! Our journey together has been amazing. And our girls will be close in age and in homecoming date, hopefully! Last night we threw a shower as a send off.

(I highly recommend throwing a shower at a restaurant. We ordered appetizers and had an amazing time! We didn't have to clean or cook, and I'm pretty sure it was cheaper than buying all those groceries and paper products!!)

Can't wait to meet Anna!!

As a side note, if you are waiting for an adoption to go through, I highly recommend retail therapy. Our sweet Ethiopian princess has soooo many clothes waiting for her! Check out her new bathing suit and pink chicky leggings.