7 Quick Takes

1.)  John finished his first week of his last quarter of classes! After this, his third year of PT school is 9 months of internships.  We're entering the home stretch!

2.) I got my plane ticket to DC to visit my sister and her family one last time before they move to Brazil for 3 years.  Looking forward to seeing them, but already dreading the goodbye.  Also, it's been 2.5 years since I was on a plane.

3.)  The twins are doing well and blossoming.  They've had some funny conversations between the two of them, and John and I stifle laughs listening to them.  On June 21, it was the one year anniversary since they were placed with us.

4.)  We're reorganizing the pantry. Yep, we're wild ones. But it makes such a difference to have everything in its place and be able to use what we have.  These have been a great help. We bought a set of 5 at Target. Perhaps I'll post before and after photos. 

5.)  On his week off, John cleaned out the garage and set up a workout area for us.  He's doing P90X and I'm in there for Zumba.  We have our weights, yoga mats and mini bar.  What I do need to get are some simple curtains or blinds for the window and door.  I'd be a little embarrassed if our new neighbors saw me gettin' my Zumba on.

6.) Still need to post a Father's Day note.  There are wonderful men in my life who are great fathers and I'm sorry that I haven't posted about them yet!

7.)  Need your prayers for a special intention.  As things progress, I will post about it.  In the meantime, John and I are on Day 3 of the 54 Day Novena.  Not only is praying the Rosary together something we haven't done for a long time, it is giving us much needed quiet time and reflection as our lives get more hectic.  For those who aren't familiar with this novena, for the first 27 days, you pray special prayers along with a Rosary for your intention.  The next 27 days are in thanksgiving.  Thank you for praying for us!

Cranberry Coffee Cake

Last night, after the kids were in bed, I decided to bake something using what we had in the freezer/pantry. I've had 2 bags of cranberries in the freezer since November.  A couple of weeks ago I used some in muffins.  Coffee cake sounded good, so I googled 'cranberry coffee cake' and found a gem from Joy the Baker.

Shortly before starting, I realized that I had no brown sugar. Joy the Baker to the rescue again.  Homemade brown sugar is fluffy and delicious! I happened to have a bottle of molasses in the pantry for ginger biscotti that I never made.

The cake turned out well, and the strudel top is delicious.  If you have extra cranberries around Thanksgiving, or have a bag in the freezer like I did, give this recipe a try.

The F Files #1

This is a new blog category: The F(oster) Files.  The first entry is a funny tale about a well-meaning parishioner.  As many of you know, Cherub, (a boy) has beautiful curly, long hair that is up in a ponytail every day.  Add on his long eyelashes, big brown eyes and a beautiful face, he looks like a girl.  However, he is always dressed as a boy, in blues, oranges, greens, Toy Story stuff, dump truck stuff, and a suit and tie for Easter Mass.  No matter how masculine we dress him, people still think he is a girl.  I guess people must reason away the masculine clothes??

Anyway, I found out from our pastor that someone (his brother) told him about a couple who dresses their little girl like a boy.  Father started laughing because he knew  that we were ‘the couple.”  His brother earnestly said, “No, you don’t get it. They dress her in a suit and tie!”  Father and I were laughing so hard about it. 

What makes me wonder is how many other people who don’t know us think that?  I don’t really care, because there is nothing we can do about his hair other than keep it clean and out of his face.  This well meaning young dad was kindly concerned about Cherub and our judgment, but for Pete’s sake, we’re at Mass and going up to Communion, and still the suit and tie didn’t make one think, “Maybe it’s a boy with long hair.”  The conclusion was made that we were dressing a girl as a boy.  It is funny, a little frustrating at times, but not as frustrating as the situation with the kids’ case.  Your prayers are most welcome.

The next time I see the nice young dad, I will joke with him about it and introduce Cherub as “Our little tranny.” ;)

So What?

So what if I didn't get everything done on the list I made today at work?
So what if the twins went to bed an hour later if it meant taking Cherub in the jogging stroller for some QT with him and a family (foster though it may be) dinner with John and the twins, and they enjoyed a beautiful WA spring evening in the backyard with Jill while John grilled?
So what if I'm going to bed later than I planned if it meant watching "The Office" with John?

What matters is that we had a lovely evening with happy twins. Let the madness of their case swirl around us.  Their lives will be peaceful and happy.

"To love is to burn - to be on fire"

Tonight, I'm sitting at the kitchen table on John's mac and enjoying a glass of red wine while thinking about the events of the day.  John has just left with a gradeschool/highschool friend to see "Thor." Um, no thank you.  :)

We got the kids up 15 minutes early so that they could have breakfast before we got ready for their all day visit with their father.  Their daycare was closed today for a training session, so I asked both the caseworker and their father that if at all possible, could the visit be today since I had to be at work and child care was closed.  Both agreed.

Wouldn't you know it that 30 minutes before I drove 40 minutes to take the bubs to the ferry, I picked up my phone.  On it was a text from bio-dad from 4:25 am saying that his boss had a medical emergency and he was at the ER with him. "We may have to change plans."  I admit that I saw red.

He canceled last Friday because it was raining and he had planned all outdoor things. (The children may not go to his place until the caseworker approves it.)  So, he asked if Saturday would work.  Yes, that would be great. I could go to work to make up some time and get the house cleaned for the Mother's Day brunch we were hosting. Wouldn't you know that he called 20 minutes before the kids and I left for the ferry that his public transit card was empty because DSHS hadn't reloaded it.  This being the case, it cut too much into his visit budget to have the kids that day.


So, I should not have been surprised that a boss (whose health problems are bad) takes precedence over this birth father's own children.  Thank God for my mom (Mimi to her grand kids) and staying with them so that I could get to work.  The dad said he didn't remember my email saying that today the kids' daycare was closed because he had a 'busy week.'  Join the club, dude.


John and I were talking about the children's parents tonight. They love their children, but not like a parent should. It reminded us of that scene in "Sense and Sensibility" where Eleanor is comforting Marianne when Willoughby leaves her for a woman of fortune.  She tells her, "Whatever his past actions, whatever his present course... at least you may be certain that he loved you."  Marianne replies, "But not enough. Not enough."

Nie Nie on 20/20

If you read The Nie Nie Dialogues, you’ll want to tune into 20/20 Friday.  Elizabeth Vargas reports on Stephanie and her family since the plane crash which burned her over 80% of her body.  Stephanie’s story is one of hope, inspiration, the gift of family and the power of prayer.  Check your local listings and click here for a preview.

Giveaway!

My talented friend, Grace, is having a giveaway on her blog. Run over and check it out and leave a comment for a chance at winning this book!

Our Field of Little Flowers: Receive the Holy Spirit