Cake + John = Ham

Mmm...Spinach!

My baby is a little Popeye...he loves spinach! Of course, I mix in a little whole milk and technically it's more of a creamed spinach dish...but, we'll just say it's pure 100% veggie goodness. And, yes, he is indeed building stronger muscles day by day.

P.S. Um...yes, I'm asking the same question as you right now...where is his bib!?

My boy's first birthday is tomorrow! Who would have thought that one year ago today I would be holding my forever son? It seems surreal. It IS surreal. 50 weeks ago I was still a foster parent and I was holding a newborn, Eli, that I thought would be my forever child. We picked him up from the hospital NICU and brought him home on Christmas Eve of 2008. He was my world for 2 months...round the clock feedings and all of the joys and changes a newborn brings into a home. (And, I might add into the equation, maternity leave from work for me.) He was returned to his birth mother 2 months later.

While we were in the throws of the surprise of Eli potentially returning to his birth mother we began to fill out the paperwork for Thogl. And, one miracle after another led us to receive the call 2 weeks after John was born that he was ours! Yes, ours! What more could we ask for after 4 long years of life in the foster lane?! The Lord is good and always faithful to provide in our darkest hour of need. I know that firsthand.

Another neat glimpse of Him today - I finished loading up the car to drive down to the farm to work on some things and as I tucked John in and pulled my seatbelt on I realized I needed to take a minute to pray. I was feeling a little frazzled. So, after we'd taken a minute to ask the Lord to be with us I heard my cell phone ring loud and clear. My head popped up and I looked around and realized that it was still inside. (Big surprise...I am so forgetful when it comes to that little piece of modern thing I call...mmm...you don't want to know what I call it.) Sure enough, there it was on the kitchen table waiting for me to leave him behind. Again. Hmmm...I wonder "where" that ring came from!? When I think He's hanging out down the street I realize I'm oh so wrong. He's just around the corner of my mind.

The daffodils are poking their noses out of the ground here in central KY! Hurray for Spring's little surprises!

Qdoba

I adore the Mango Salad from Qdoba. It's a seasonal dish, and they don't serve it in the winter. So, I thought I would try to make it myself. It turned out to be yummy. It's not the exact recipe, but it's pretty close! Thought I would share...

Mango Chicken Salad

Black Beans

Corn

Tomato

Mango

Onion

Chicken

Lettuce

Azteca Tortilla Shells (in cold section of grocery)

Lime Juice from 2 limes

Orange Juice (3 or so Tb)

Vinegar (3 or so Tb)

Olive Oil (3 or so Tb)

Toppings:

Sour Cream

Shredded Cheese

My First

We're talking baby and award, people!

I was reminded today of the song that came alive for me when Faith Hill recorded it this Christmas 2008..."A Baby Changes Everything." Wow. What an amazing song! If you haven't heard it...now is the time ~ check out Faith Hill on CMT.com. And, for sure, I have shed many a tear as this 2009 begins anew with our precious baby in our arms.

My dear friend and family, Laura, gave me an award! Each day I am reminded how blessed I am by my husbands wonderful extended family. We are closer than most families in this hectic daily rush of life. Talk about quick - sometimes I think that I am feeding my blog addiction and jumping in the fast waters of the wide web as I skip from one site to the next. But, then, I'm reminded that it's a blessing to be able to connect with others around the world - in ways we have never been able to do in the past. And, what could be more wonderful than reconnecting with old friends, typing quick love notes to our families, and receiving awards from special friends? I ask, what could be more wonderful than connecting and understanding and wading through this life with others walking our same road that we might not have otherwise discovered?! Thank you, Laura, for the love! XOXO's back at you today and always. (And to K and G too!)

The text accompanying this award is as follows:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

I tag, with love:

Laura

Lisa

Jenny

EV

Cydil

April

Jyll

Amy

Amy is the last, but not least, on this list of great friends. She is an inspiring woman, who, alongside her husband, founded an organization that will one day bring many orphans to their forever home. Please pray with us that tonight as we sleep, their twin girls across the ocean are brought home quicker than all of us can imagine.

3 Days. No Power. No thanks.

I still can't get over the Winter storm of 2009...3 days without power was not fun. I repeat, not fun! But, it was peaceful when the power was still on for a morning while the snow was falling. It was clear Sunday and yesterday, and then more snow today! Just snow, though, thankfully. We have about 3 inches on the ground. The pictures below are from last week.

Birthday Boy!

Please drop in!