change of plans.

Good ol' Uncle Sam has surprised us again.
David got a call from the Pentagon with a job offer we couldn't pass up.
With a lot of heartache, tears and excitement, we're trying to wrap our minds around the fact that we're moving to Germany in July!
It's been a whirlwind week. The morning David got the call he was asked to accept the offer or turn it down within the work day - emotions have been running high since that call.

We are feeling deeply saddened to leave Spokane and the amazing friends we have here. God has richly blessed us during the last 9 months in WA and worked miracles with the speed of us getting so deeply connected to friends, church and home group.  We are still processing and grieving this loss but we know that wonderful things are in store for our little family over in Europe!

The time remaining in WA will be short since we have a trip planned back to the midwest and David now has new job training he is already attending in OH.  Like I said, whirlwind!

The most important thing any of you can do is to pray for our adoption process.  Please pray hard with us.  With the move happening so close to bringing our Sweet Pea home it could become a logistical nightmare.  Thankfully, God is in control!  Pray that the timing of our travel call and all the craziness that has to happen before Sweet Pea can leave the country can happen smoothly and swiftly and well before David would have to go to Germany sans his family.

don't forget...

This week is your last chance to buy something from this shop and proceeds to go toward bringing Sweet Pea home!  If you can't buy, at least take a looksie :)  Hope you are having a great week!

These cutie birds are for sale along with these birds too, I adore them.

to fly, or not to fly...

Not to fly is NOT an option for most military families.  since we live hours and hours from our beloved family we have given the "lap child" (children under two fly free) a run for their money.  

Norah has been on 24 flights to date!  She's quite the expert flyer. 

This time around was a little more complicated due to really early flights and her being a toddler wanting to walk around and play with everything in sight.

So, purely for your entertainment these are the things that make me feel like super mom...

1. Norah eats food off of the airplane floor - more than once

2. Norah lays in the isle face down because she's so tired

3. Norah has a complete and utter melt down due to exhaustion - clawing mom and screaming/crying

4. Mom has to pee once norah finally sleeps

5. Mom gets up, pee's in the airplane bathroom and washes her hands all while norah stays asleep in her arms! This is the best accomplishment!!! Although, on a previous trip I changed a poopie diaper on my lap because there was no changing table in the bathroom (ummm, how absurd is that?)!

Once we arrived in IL we had wonderfully blessed time visiting family and just being loved on.  Thank you Blomgren's for hosting us and making us feel oh so loved.

Norah playing peek-a-boo with David's cousin Erin!

One of many crazy pictures I have of Chuck chasing Norah around the house :)

It's hard to capture a posed picture with anyone these days. 

 

One of the days we visited IL my mom drove in from MN to visit with us!  I love the memory and vision of my Mom and MIL sitting on the couch knitting together. 

Norah in a Swedish hat from her Grandma's childhood.  Does she look tired or what?! 

Bird watching with the old folks :)

So many cuddles for Uncle Steve

I was so happy we could spend an evening in Chicago visiting Steve and Colleen - and seeing my first niece or nephew popping out of Colleen's belly :)  Can't wait to meet "Baby B"

Cousin Sarah also stopped by to visit a little!

Although traveling alone with a toddler isn't much fun - it was so worth the trip, hence the wonderful pictures. We missed David and wished he could have come too but he was busy working hard for our family taking some legal class in Alabama!

third day, children of god

We love Third Day - what a beautiful song and music video!  Enjoy.

not a taco pizza

A few weeks ago my friend posted a recipe for Black Bean Pizza!  I asked her if I could share her family recipe for Taco Pizza on the blog since it was so good and she said -yes, as long as you don't call it "taco pizza" - oops!

Here's my fancy picture and her yummy recipe!

Crust:

Dissolve 2 teaspoons yeast in 1 c. warm water (let soften a few minutes)

Add:

*1 teaspoon sugar

*1 teaspoon salt

*2 Tablespoons oil

*2 cups white flour

*1/2 c. whole wheat flour

Knead a few minutes, then rest a short time (15 minutes)

Roll out and bake @ 425 degrees for five minutes before adding the sauce & toppings

Sauce:

In food processor or blender combine:

*one can black beans, rinsed and drained

*3 Tablespoons olive oil

*2 Tablespoons chopped, fresh cilantro (or more!)

*1 teaspoon cumin

*1 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce

*1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Spread bean mixture on pre-baked pizza crust. Add the following toppings:

*small can sliced olives, drained

*1/2 c. or more diced red bell pepper

*1/4 c. sliced green onions

*8 oz. jack/cheddar blend cheese

Bake at 425 degrees for 7-12 more minutes. Serve with sour cream and salsa!

a gift for sweet pea.

You know we were excited to send Sweet Pea a package!

We had to fit this all into a 1 gallon ziplock!  We did it.

Handmade sweater by Sweet Pea's Nana, a lovie (blanket), two disposable camera's, a toy, robeez, a cute outfit to match and a photo-book (not pictured).  

We bought the shirt, pants and socks new but she's already getting hand-me-downs since the sweater, shoes and lion toy were all Norah's... oh the life of a younger sibling!

I've had a list of ideas for a package to send our baby once we got a referral - I guess I've been excited for our referral for a while since we thought, we wouldn't be sending our baby a package for another year!!

one.

it's been one month.

one month since we talked to the doctor about Sweet Pea's needs.

one month since we felt total unity about moving forward with adopting Sweet Pea.

one month since we called our agency to tell them the awesome news.

ONE MONTH since we truly started the agonizing wait.

one month down, the Lord only knows how many more until we have her in our arms.

good start!

things that make my heart beat faster

*Disclaimer* pardon the mess that is a home with an 18 month old.

Norah exploring... without even a diaper on... that's how we roll :)

 

REALLY loving shoes these days - these ones came in the mail from Grandma!

 

 Smiles for the camera during her morning smoothie!

Reading Norah's favorite book, and always the lady with her sweet ankles crossed!

And, my handsome husband :)

And, last but NOT least my Sweet Pea.

who we have almost certainly picked a name for

who is waiting for us without a clue that we exist

who has the most pouty full lips - soooo kissable

who is going to explore with norah, love shoes (all girls do right?), and read books with her daddy

who is loved beyond measure by her heavenly father

and who we anxiously wait for...

she. makes. my. heart. beat. faster.

jitters

I just got off the phone with our agency. Every time I talk to someone there about our Sweet Pea I get all nervous and jittery!  It's like excitement and emotions are just over flowing.  I swear, I'm always trying not to cry when I'm talking to them about Sweet Pea.  I love that I feel so excited and emotional about her - just confirms in my mama heart how dear she already is to me.

There are so many legal, visa, passport  and immigration things to get through before we can travel.  None of it is in our hands... we wait... and we'll wait some more as we pray for everything to happen swiftly.  So many hoops to jump through and rules to follow.  But, as our case manager reminded me today - it's all in the interest of the child and for her protection as they release her into our care.  I love that they protect her and care about her well being.  Thank you Lord.

The next two pictures are from the week we moved to Washington.  The exact age Norah is in these pictures (8.5 months) is the age Sweet Pea is right now!  Still such a baby girl :)

sewing and loving it!

I'm still having a blast sewing so I thought I would share some of my recent creations!  I hope that my new passion inspires you to create something too!

I got the rest of my projects from my One Yard Wonders book - I've basically been sewing my way through it since one yard isn't too intimidating for a new seamstress!

A small dog bed for Radar, my parents dog.  He apparently loves it!

I made this smock of all ages for Norah and a twin one for a friend of hers but... it's going to be too big for them both so maybe I'll save it and have my two baby girls to match!?  YES, I think I will!

And the flouncy bag for a very dear friend - it's in the mail as I type! I hope she likes it because I LOVE the fabric!  

AND, my favorite thing I've made so far! I finished this bag today and it's awesome!  I feel very proud.  I've been eyeing the pattern in the book since I got it for Christmas but... just hadn't found the right fabric. I found fabric that I like but don't love.  Now that I've made the bag and love the shape, I may have to make another one (if I can find fabric I love).  It fits a lot but it's not a huge purse - I fit a 100 count wipe container, a disposable diaper, a magazine, gum, keys, pen, hand sanitizer and there was still room for more!  You can see that there is a magnetic closer for the top which I really like, it somehow makes it seem more professional!  Okay, I'll stop talking about the folklore bag now!

Now I'm working on something REALLY fun for my girls with the below fabric!  Stick around and I'll show you what comes of it!  Yippy!!

So, what are you working on?  Anything new?!  Share!!