Receivers of Mercy, Givers of Thanks

A year ago, on Thanksgiving Eve, I was lying in the borrowed bed of my dear friend Ashlee in Washington D.C.  We were on the first leg of our trip to meet our children.  My eyes wouldn’t seem to close due to some obvious nervous anxiety and a bit of fear that we would oversleep and miss our flight. We didn’t miss our flight and as the story goes we met Roxie Kyle and Hudson for the first time.

Looking back it seems so far away and in some ways like a dream.  On this Thanksgiving Eve I’m not thousands of miles away from them but only a few feet.  I can hear Hudson’s even breathing on the monitor and see the nightlight shining beneath Roxie’s door.

Articulating all the emotions I’ve experienced through this process seem near impossible.  Even now, I fall short.  As simple as it sounds and during a season when at times we seem to throw around the words like confetti, I am truly thankful.  I truly feel am a receiver of mercy.  And as Charles H. Spurgeon says, “So as long as we are receivers of mercy we must be givers of thanks.”

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
And his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
His steadfast love endures forever,
And his faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 100

Two gifts

Three weeks ago I was nervously wandering around a guest room in Ethiopia trying to focus on packing my suitcase.  My little one was gazing out the window periodically yelling, “Beep, beep”.  It was the beginning of a two day journey to bring our little boy home.  Such a time of emotions.

Late that night, when I sat down on the airplane in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with Hudson in my arms, overwhelmed with emotion, the tears started flowing (I did the same thing with Roxie).  A hard, ugly cry that I could not turn off.  Finally.  My family of four would soon be together.

We arrived safely home and reality starting sinking in.  The first week is the hardest.  It just is.  Without going into details it’s a challenging, joyous, straining, tiring, happy, overwhelming week.

But it’s under our belt and we are moving forward.

Now the second and third week are over and I still have to blink twice to believe that I have two one year olds standing at my feet begging to be picked up, hugged, kissed, rocked, played with . . .

Even through the transition, I couldn’t be happier that the Lord has blessed me in such a way that I get to be a part of Roxie Kyle and Hudson’s lives.  Recently, I read a blog post in which I was reminded that these children are gifts to enjoy, not tasks to complete.  This is definitely a reminder I need because I am such a to-do list person.  So today, on this first day of November, three weeks after being a mom of two “gifts” I am thanking God for all the blessings that flow from their lives being intertwined with mine.

Two sippy cups to keep full
Two car seats in my rearview mirror
Two mouths to feed
Two diapers to change
Two sets of teeth to brush
Two sounds of children’s laughter
Two personalities
Two voices calling for mama
Twenty fingernails and toenails to clip
Double the toys littering the floor

“Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.”

Psalm 30:4-5

This that and the other

While it is extremely difficult for me to narrow down to saying one thing is my absolute favorite in the whole wide world, there is a long list of things I really like.  Here is just one of the items on my list.  I like to call these my Brown Paper Packages!

 Since becoming a mom there are a few things that have made life a little easier.  I’m definitely not going to call these necessities because it is not necessary to have painted nails.  But they have made things easier, cleaner, a little more organized, more comfortable, and definitely more fun.  Plus, I’m throwing in my favorite recipe for the week.

Easier:  Intuition razor

This razor has the shaving cream built in and makes the showering process much quicker.  When there is one (or two) little ones peeking through the shower doors, you do whatever you can to make it quick.

Cleaner: Stick Vacuum

I seriously may start giving this as a baby shower gift.   I thought I ran it a lot with one little person but with two I won’t be surprised if I burn up the thing.  The one I have is a Bissell Lift Off Floors and More and it has a built in dust buster that pops in and out (an extra bonus).  I would highly recommend it.

A little more organized: Notepad/calendar close by at all times (May Designs)

There is absolutely no guessing when I’m going to think of something I need to write down; an item on my to do list, a grocery we ran out of, a date we don’t need to forget.  So, having a calendar and notepad close by at all times has become critical!  I bought a couple of the May Designs notebooks when they ran a 50 percent off special and so wish I would have bought more.  I currently use a May Design calendar and notepad.  They live on my kitchen counter but they are small enough to toss in my purse when I’m on the go.  Each one is customizable which endless options!  Sidenote:  They make great gifts!

More comfortable:  Matilda Jane pants

I am a jeans girl.  However, when sticking around the house I like my comfy pants.  Since I’m at home most every day now I’ve found adding a ruffle to my comfy pants makes me feel like I’m getting ready for the day but staying comfy and cozy.

More fun: Sally Hansen nail effects

I really like to paint my nails.  Typically it’s a pretty neutral, boring color but I still like for them to be painted.  Once I became a mom I found there’s not a whole lot of time to let the polish dry.  These nail effects require no drying.  They’re a bit more daring for my taste but I’m giving them a go.  The ones I have on now have been on for a week with no peeling.  (The pharmacy had a better selection than Wal-mart.)

Breakfast-in-a-Muffin (original recipe from taste of home)

1/3 lb sausage
3 eggs
1/8 tsp seasoned salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 pkg. corn bread/muffin mix (jiffy works good)
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided.

• Preheat oven to 400⁰.  Cook sausage and make sure while cooking to break into crumbles.
• Whisk eggs with salt and pepper.  Cook until eggs are thickened and no liquid remains.
• Prepare muffin mix according to package.  Fold in sausage, eggs, and ½ cup of cheese.  Fill paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full.
• Bake 10 minutes.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake 5 minutes longer or until done.
• Note:  I made these with crumbled bacon also and actually liked it even better.  They are perfect warmed up for breakfast or even snack time.

Click here to learn more about Brown Paper Packages.

What to say?

Wow!  Where to start?  What to say?  I’m overwhelmed.

My babies are home.  After two years of praying, crying, and begging for our children they are tucked in safe and sound for their afternoon naps.  It’s surreal.  I keep looking at them walking around this house, and hearing their little voices having to remind myself that this is real.  They are here.

But you know what else I’m overwhelmed by?  How much love and support others have shown us from the beginning of this journey to even now that our children are home.  I can hardly talk about it or even think about it without crying.  This is all so much more than I deserve.  I do not deserve these children.  I do not deserve this love.  God has provided so many people that have sent encouraging words through text, emails, instagram comments, facebook messages that have truly helped me to journey through this process.  The hugs, prayers, cards, gifts, and meals are all so much more than we deserve.  I do not even know how to begin to thank so many people in our lives for all that we have experienced.  The words thank you seem so insufficient.  And I feel as if I can’t even get to every single person that has been a part of this to say thank you.

What an amazing blessing to see others bear my burden.  My prayer is that I too can bear the burden of my brothers and sisters in Christ (Galatians 6:2-5).

My “perfect” recipe

While it is extremely difficult for me to narrow down to saying one thing is my absolute favorite in the whole wide world, there is a long list of things I really like.  Here is just one of the items on my list.  I like to call these my Brown Paper Packages!

 

Do you know Pioneer Woman?  I mean don’t really know her, but have you heard of her?  Well, she has this way of labeling her favorite recipes by inserting the word “perfect” before the name of them.  For example, Perfect Pie Crust, Perfect French Fries, Perfect Iced Coffee, etc.  And let me say her “perfect” recipes that I’ve tried are pretty darn good, especially the iced coffee.  Anyway, I’m kind of borrowing her idea and naming the recipe I’m sharing with you, Perfect Tuna Salad.  That’s not what you were expecting, is it?  Tuna salad is just tuna salad.  But oh no, I’ve found the Perfect Tuna Salad.  I make it at least every two weeks and we eat on it for lunch or snacks or maybe even dinner (if I didn’t have time to cook).

P.S. Please excuse my pitiful food photography . . . and my messy kitchen.

The recipe is below.   I’m not very particular about measuring things exactly (unless I’m baking) so you may want to alter the amounts depending on your preferences.  It makes a pretty large batch if you want to half it.

So, there’s not much more to say.  We love it!  It’s hearty, pretty healthy, and super easy to mix up.  Enjoy!

1 small red onion, chopped
4 stalks of celery, chopped
4-5 carrots, chopped
5-6 baby dill pickles, chopped
2 cans of white albacore tuna in water (I haven’t tried it but you could probably sub in chicken.)
1 bag of real bacon bits
1 cup of mayo
1 packet of ranch powder mix
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups (at least) of cooked egg noodles (THE SECRET INGREDIENT)

Cook egg noodles and let them come to room temperature. While they are cooking and cooling, cut the first four ingredients up and put in a mixing bowl with the tuna.  Mix mayo and ranch powder together and add to the mixing bowl.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  After egg noodles are cooled mix them in as well.  Serve with chips, crackers, or our favorite on a bed of romaine lettuce.  Let me know what you think!

Click here to learn more about Brown Paper Packages.