P.P.P.P.P.

A.K.A. "Perfect Pskov Photo of Pskovo Pechersky" of the week.

I originally picked out this picture tonight because I liked the flowers and I thought the buildings were interesting in the background. However, that wouldn't make much of a blog, so I needed to figure out what those buildings actually were!

This photo is of Pskovo-Pechersky, a Russian Orthodox male monastery, located in Pskov, about 9 miles from the Estonian border. Currently 90 monks live in the monastery. The monastery was founded in the mid-15th century, when people looking for seclusion settled in local caves. Many of the current buildings still exist inside the caves.

It's funny how the cave theme seems to be coming up in my life lately. I am reading a book (fictional) about an abused girl that suffers from agoraphobia. She discovers a cave in her backyard and it becomes her refuge from the World, her safe haven.

This morning, the Third Day song, "Your Love oh Lord" came on the radio.

The lyrics are:

"Your love, oh Lord

Reaches to the heavens

Your faithfulness stretches to the sky

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains

Your justice flows like the ocean's tide

I will lift my voice

To worship You, my King

I will find my strength

In the shadow of your wings"

Hmmmm......Sometimes I'm a little slow, maybe it's just a coincidence.

When I got into work my daily devotion calendar read from Psalm 17:8:

"Guard me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings"

Refuge in God? It's so easy for us to think we are strong and tough and we can handle the weight of the World on our shoulders. What God offers us (and we rarely accept) is refuge from a crazy stressful mean world. So many times I only take God up on his promises when I am burned out, stressed out and freaking out. Why? It's like walking out in the middle of traffic and thinking you won't really get hit by a car. Somehow you are too brave, too strong, and too colorfully dressed to really get run over. Why even take that chance? I am currently finding refuge in my father and I am also depending on you to lift us up in your prayers.

Please pray:

1- For God's strength throughout this journey.

2- For the grant application we are turning in this week, if we can get close to $3,000 then our only remaining expenses will be for travel (between the two trips that computes to: Approximately 20 days in Russia, 4 flights, 1 flight home for Baby Deetz ;0) and miscellaneous travel costs- food, lodging, cabs, inter-country flight/train rides, translation fees, medical fees, visas, and host fees.)

3- For Baby Deetz, most likely being cared for right this very minute (not by his mommy and daddy) but hopefully by loving, nurturing providers.

4- For Russia and our specific region, that they remain open and motivated to placing their orphans into American arms.

5- For the paperwork fairy. We've turned in so many different papers at different times in this process (Including round 3 to the Apostille yesterday) that all of our stuff is landing in the right file and at the right time with some wonderfully motivated and organized person.

6- For us all to remember that we are the apple of God's eye and he calls us to find refuge in his perfect strength.

P.S.: This post was published on 9/9/09 at 9:00pm! Cool!

Newest treasures

Today one of my friends at work nearly doubled Baby Deetz library! Thanks April. I got home and sat for an hour reading through them. Along with Michele's contributions to the library, we could start our own mini Barnes & Noble! I love it....thank you thank you thank you for the great books. We will treasure them for a very long time!
I also purchased a great car seat with my Target gift card from Mom. Baby Deetz has made out this week. Auntie Brittany went with me. She has a really cool gadget on her phone- you scan a product's bar code and it pulls up the price on the item in other stores and on the web and tells you if you are getting a good deal! Wait- there's more- THEN it pulls customer reviews of the product too. So we could check out the safety rating too. 5 stars! The picture doesn't really do it any justice- the lighter color is a shimmery gold color, the dark brown is a fuzzy teddy bear material. It seems really comfortable. I came home and told Chad I did REALLY good job- #1 spending my gift money on something practical (I was eyeing a really cool OVERPRICED diaper bag, but just couldn't justify it) and #2 I didn't buy another car seat just because it was "red" and "prettier", it had a lower rating and was almost double the price. Just for a recap- it is completely possible to spoil someone you've never met but love from the bottom of your heart.

Blissful!

I can feel it. It's just a hint in the air, but it's definitely there. Fall. Autumn. Whatever you call it, I love it! Now yesterday I was pulling weeds in the full sun (ick) it DID NOT feel like fall at all, but in the mornings and near dusk it's definitely there- like an old friend. When the breeze blows, it feels just a little crisper, a little fresher. Tomorrow, I might just get down the fall decorations and make it feel even more festive. Speaking things I love....
Tonight I went to see Julie and Julia with some friends- I loved it! I want to buy "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and go stuff a duck or something. It was so inspiring, I never realized how blissful Julia Child and her husband, Paul, were. It made me want to be more joyful! To laugh more, to be surrounded by people that I love more often. Not to care about my house being "perfect" to have friends over. I think Dr. Seuss might have said "People that mind don't matter, and people that matter don't mind." And you should always surround yourself with people that matter. Life is too short not to. I'll keep you posted about the duck thing. That may just be a whim...but I am definitely going to make effort to be more blissful! ;0)

Friday Funny ;0)

Why didn't I ever think of this? I hope you all have a happy weekend!

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an Envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to 'Dad.' With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad:

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am. But it' s not only the passion...Dad, she's pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy. In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it. Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.
Love,
Your Son John



PS. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I Just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my center desk drawer. I love you. Call me when it's safe to come home.

Mishka with a Cause!

This week we received a package on the front step. It was addressed to “Baby Deetz”. I hope they don’t mind but we couldn’t wait until they got here to open it. After strategically peeling off several layers of packing tape, we pried off the lid- and it was a Mishka! With a cute little red backpack. It was from Grammy and Poppy (my parents, no those names are not official) Inside the little bears backpack was a check (some funny money for the Fall Consignment Sale at church next week) and a Target gift card. That was so nice!
Well, the best surprise was in reading the bear’s tag. It was from Jockey (the underoo store) and it was called the “Jockey Being Family Bear”. A proceed of the cost of the bear benefit the owner of Jockey store’s charity- the Debra Steigerwaldt Waller Foundation for Adoption. The foundation was established in 2005. Their effort is to keep “forever families together forever” by funding post-adoptive services to families that are having trouble adjusting. They also raise awareness for corporations to help different companies employees adopt. Jockey is on the list of “adoption friendly workplaces” offering $10,000 to their employees if they choose to adopt. You can check out the whole list on http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/Our-Work/Adoption-Friendly-Workplace/Best-Adoption-Friendly-Workplaces-List-(1) The bear costs $8.50 and $3.00 is given directly to the foundation for each bear purchased. You can buy them in stores, online, or at the “Being Family” website: http://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/
November is “National Adoption Awareness Month” and if you buy a bear in November, 100% of proceeds will benefit the foundation. They would make a great gift for your caseworker!

O.K. so I call my mom to thank her. She tells me that she bought the bear just because she thought he was cute. Then she read the tag and went back in to talk to the store owner, to tell her that she was buying the bear for her future adopted grandchild. The owner said that she herself was adopted and she thinks it’s a great cause and wanted to sell them in her store. (That’s just the inside scoop in case you wanted to know!)

Perfect Pskov Photo (P.P.P)

When you talk to Chad's stepdad Rick (Hi Rick) he often stops you in conversation to tell you the initials of what you just said. Not like in a "Rainman" kinda way, but a funny, silly kinda way. Here is an example:

Sarah: "You'll never believe who I saw at the store yesterday."

Rick: "Who?"

Sarah: "You know that creepy neighbor guy"

Rick: "Oh...the C.N.G.?"

Sarah: "Yeah that's the one. The one that picks up the pine needles out of his driveway one at a time"

Rick: "He's actually pretty nice, just a little intense"

Sarah: "He was buying fifteen frozen peperoni pizzas."

Rick: "F.F.P.P.!!?"

Sarah: "Yeah, I don't know why he was buying so many."

I don't know why but I've always found it quite hilarious. I think he said it's from being in the Air Force, everything is an initial. "Joe, go grab those P.F.Q.'s and throw em' in the back of the C.V.C." But I don't know if that's the case- I still think it's really funny.

Wow, that was a really long introduction to tell you about this picture. I found a guy online named Sergei Kovalenko, he is a photographer in Boston and his Grandmother is from Pskov. He spent summers in Pskov and has always loved the region. He comments that many "bloggers" have asked if they can post his pictures and he said that would be fine. So I don't feel badly about using his pictures. The picture is of his children, playing outside the Kremlin wall in the city. When I see this picture I think of Baby Deetz, running and playing and being happy ;0). It's a perfect Pskov Photo! (P.P.P.)

You can check out his great pics at http://100photo.com/index.htm

P.S.: Ricky- I.L.Y.!

September is National Cake Month (not really)

How can it be September already? For those of you keeping track at home- Christmas is only 115 days away. I will be 30 years old in one month and 22 days. Yikes.

Here is my final cake. I had these illusions of grandeur about how the cake would be- I really wanted to do two tiers, but I tore the fondant on the top tier, I rolled it too thin. I could have salvaged it, but I think one tier turned out just fine (yes the flowers are edible and yes I made them!). I was crunched for time in class anyway so I had to complete it at home. Then I made a dozen cookies for Deetzsie’s Treatsies. Then I had a diabetic episode for consuming more sugar than one human should ever consume in a single day. Actually, then I got started on a new book “just to wind down” and it was so good I couldn’t put it down. Before I knew it, it was after midnight. Tonight we ate dinner out because I couldn't bear to even set foot in the kitchen.

So I’ve been laying the ground work for our financial course of action. I don’t know how I am going to fit anything else- but here are how the events unfolded. I sent an e-mail to our Pastor, he has graciously allowed us to but another blurb in the church newsletter about where we are in the process and how much more $ we need. He has also given the green light for an event in the Fellowship Hall. Now I need to get on the ball with food donations and perhaps a few items to auction (anybody know anybody?) I was thinking like a relaxation basket (maybe with a massage gift card) and some other fun stuff. I might bid on that basket. That would totally defeat the purpose, no? So…. Stay tuned on my latest scheme.

Next- I brought my cake into work and sent an e-mail talking about “Baby Cakes”. I got 3 orders today! Plus I already had one lined up from church, so that makes 4. So far I get to flex my baking/decorating muscle. I have booked everything but a Wedding cake (thank goodness, that’s too much pressure right now!) I have a sweet 16, a birthday, a baby shower, and a wedding shower (Even though it’s in the “wedding family” that’s much less pressure, I just want to stay away from Bridezillas on their “big day”. Showers are o.k.) Anyway- I am really excited to do these cakes, decorating has allowed me to be creative, something that I adore, but rarely get an opportunity to partake in. In case you're wondering about the fondant birdy I made, I still have him, but he just didn't look right on this cake.

Adoption update- All of our additional paperwork that needed to go to Pskov has been sent. The only thing I couldn't do was a"Letter of Recommendation" from our Home Study Agency. After a short debate, I persuaded our agency that they could do the letter, not our actual social worker (contracted through CWA) Since it has to be on CWA letterhead anyway, that will save us a few weeks and keeps things nice and simple! I need to follow up with them to make sure it's been done since our regular case manager is on vacation until mid-September, but they are really good at doing what they say they will do, so I'm not terribly worried.

Now...if you'll excuse me, my book and my pajamas are calling my name!