Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Ethiopia's Next Top Model



I'd fully intended to post some glam shots of Emnet in her sassy pink dress, but ended up unexpectedly sailing off into the sunset to be with my Dad.... who, by the way, is home now and feeling fantastic, if easily tired out.


The pathology report will be ready in another week or so, and then we'll find out if they got all the cancer. We're all pretty optimistic about it, though, and looking forward to seeing my Dad leaping around and clicking his heels again. He started telling jokes while still woozy from the anesthetic, which I feel is a very good sign!


So here is Emnet, in all her acrylic & wool splendour. She's soft and cuddly and warm, and ready to be drooled on, chewed, spit up upon, dragged through mud puddles and left on the floor of the car. (No illusions here, folks... I'm an experienced mother. Gosh, what I wouldn't give to have that pre-first-child ignorance and sweet expectation again.)


Coming soon... Emnet's little sister.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Pater Familias

Edit (February 2): My dad's surgery was successful -- the surgeon thinks that the cancer has not spread, although we don't have the pathologist's report yet. My dad is doing very well, with little pain so far. Thanks for your kind words and thoughts, and please keep praying for his recovery!

My father was diagnosed with cancer just before Christmas, and we've all been doing a lot of crying, a lot of laughing, and a lot of worrying. At first ominous, now it seems that there is a good chance of full recovery. Surgery is at 6:10 tomorrow morning, and I've come down to the Island to be with my family.

In our busy and independent modern society, we tend to save our expressions of love and appreciation until it's too late for that person to hear how we really felt. Somehow it seems all wrong, and inappropriate, to blurt out one's feelings... until it's too late. And then we share those feelings with everyone else, and we regret the fact that we never went ahead and told them just how we felt about them.

I don't want to do that with my Dad. I hope and pray he has many more years with us. But I'm not going to miss any opportunity to tell him, and the world, how I feel about him.

I tried for a long time to write this post tonight, sitting beside my sister as she knits a vest for my dad. After a lot of typing, deleting and staring into space, I've realized that it's too big an endeavor for one evening. He's a complicated guy -- he's a combination of Bill Cosby, Mr Cleaver, Charles Spurgeon and Pa Ingalls. Still waters run deep, and I know that there's a lot about my dad that I don't know, and don't understand. And tonight is a night to sit and laugh with my sister, cry a bit, and carry each other through this difficult wait.

But I'll tell you what I do know:
  • I don't remember a single day of my childhood during which my dad forgot to say, "I sure love you."
  • My dad can (and does) sing every verse of every hymn ever written, mostly while unloading the dishwasher and scrambling eggs.
  • My dad is the most awesome canoeist in the whole wide world.
  • My dad can carry the biggest armloads of firewood that you've ever seen.
  • No matter what time of day or night, my dad could always be trusted to come running, shoe in hand, to kill any spider that had the gall to trespass into my bedroom.
  • My dad can do a perfect loon call.
  • My dad understands the grace of God more thoroughly than anyone I have ever met, seen, heard or read.
  • My dad can strike a match off his jeans, or the sole of his shoe.
  • My dad makes a great pot of chili.
  • When I was in kindergarten, my dad was working afternoon shift. He used to walk me down to the bus stop at the end of the road, and wait with me until the big yellow bus came. We would always leave a few minutes early, so that I could pet the nice dog who lived one house up from the corner, and he'd carry my lunch kit and attentively listen to my chatter. When the bus arrived, I'd climb on, sit down and wave to him out the window. I used to watch him turn and walk back up the road, alone, and I'd think how proud I was to have a dad who came to wait with me.
Dad, you are everything a father should be. You worked your whole life to provide for us, and you provided a home that was safe, loving and happy. You and Mom are the kind of parents I want to be. I love you, and I am so proud to be your daughter.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Eight Days To Go

.

Oh dear Reader, in only eight more days
Season 6, Episode 1 of the most awesome, epic show ever
will air
and my life will be complete once again.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Meet Emnet

So, yeah, I've been inspired by several different adoption bloggers to ease the referral wait time with some crafty thingees. I got all excited reading about making dolls, and little hanging things that you hang from the ceiling that say the child's name, and little scrapbooky adoption announcements, and the cutest little crib mobile. I raced down to the craft store in a great rush of anticipation and motivation, then wandered the aisles, staring blankly. It was then that I found myself mired down in the Great Morass Of Shame, having realized that I am not crafty at all. Although I come from a long, proud line of knitters and craft mavens, I can barely tell one end of a glue gun from the other.

Anyway, I do know how to knit, albeit clumsily, so I purchased some lovely chocolaty yarn and went home to cast on my new BFF. Here is Emnet, in her early days:

I have found myself thinking a lot about our Ethiopian children's birth mother. Somewhere in Ethiopia, probably in or near Addis Ababa, there is a brave woman who has lain awake at night making agonizing and heartbreaking decisions about the future of her children. Perhaps she is still making those decisions. It's the kind of choice no mother should ever have to face. I don't know which factor will play a role in her decision to relinquish her children -- poverty, illness, despair -- but I can't say enough how much I respect her strength. What amazing love! What unparalleled strength!


"Emnet" is an Amharic name that means "believe, faith." I chose this name as a simple way to share, with my children, my prayers for their birth mother. I pray that this heart wrenching decision will be made easier by faith that her children will be cared for, cherished, protected, and accepted into a family. I hope and pray that this marvelous woman will believe that her children will live and be loved.

Emnet is, sadly, still longing for completeness. Whenever I lay down those needles, I hear a faint cry of disappointment from the depths of her soft little heart. But never fear, little Emnet! your time will come!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Ten Months







We have been waiting ten months for a referral...

Monday, January 11, 2010

Almonds and Raisins


"Life is a mixture of almonds and raisins: the bitter and the sweet."
(Jewish Proverb)


Life has been both bitter and sweet for me in the last several weeks. My dad is undergoing some tests this week; if you are a praying person, please keep him in your prayers.

But life goes on, despite the bruises and bumps we get along the way, and I was overjoyed when I got The Phone Call from a friend. After many long years of waiting, she and her husband are going to have a baby. God is faithful!

When you bite into a worm in the apple of life, any wise Bletherer hits the kitchen. I had neither almonds nor (C)raisins to make my most fabulous Biscotti, but decided that the next best thing to ease the pain would be a little chicken soup.


GWEN'S COMFORTING CHICKEN SOUP STOCK
bones from 1 chicken
1 onion, unpeeled and halved
about 3 stalks celery
about 3 carrots (peeled if you like)
4-6 cloves garlic (peeled and halved if you like)
1/2 turnip
1 rutabaga, peeled
about 2 Tbsp salt
about 1 Tbsp black or white peppercorns
about 1/2 tsp crushed red chilies
about 1 tsp Herbes de Provence
a few bay leaves
parsley


GWEN'S COMFORTING CHICKEN VEGETABLE SOUP
1 batch Gwen's Comforting Chicken Soup Stock
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, diced finely
about 3 stalks celery, diced
about 3 carrots, peeled and diced
about 3 bay leaves
handful or two of barley
handful of egg noodles
if you have them on hand: zucchini, turnip, green beans, chopped tomato, etc.
salt and pepper to taste


FIRST, MAKE THE STOCK:

The cast of characters: Turnip, onion, carrot, garlic, celery, rutabaga, bay leaf, parsley, peppercorns and red pepper. (The salt and the Herbes de Provence were both on the phone with their mothers while this photo was being taken - the chicken carcass just lay there sobbing weakly and couldn't be coaxed into joining the group.)

Roughly chop the vegetables, if you like, making sure to leave any leaves on the celery stalks. Leaving the skin on the onion gives a deeper colour to the broth; you can certainly peel the onion if you prefer. Put the chicken bones and vegetables into a large stock pot and cover with water. Add the salt, the peppercorns and the crushed chilies.

Bring to a boil, skimming off the foam if you happen to walk by the stove. Reduce heat and let the stock simmer away for several hours (at least 2 or 3 hours).


Using a colander, strain the whole shebang. If you come across a particularly nice looking chunk of meat, you can reserve it to put back in the soup... but you have already boiled out all the nutrients, so don't feel bad about throwing it out. Personally, I strain everything out until nothing is left but clear broth.


If you've got time, you can refrigerate the stock. Once it's thoroughly cold, it's easy to just skim the fat off the top and discard. Et voila! You have some gorgeous looking chicken stock. Easy, eh?


NOW FOR THE SOUP!

The first step is to heat up the broth, either in the microwave or in a saucepan. Keep warm and ready to use.

Heat up a little oil in a large saucepan. Add the diced onion, carrot, celery and garlic, and any other veggies you happen to want. (Except tomatoes, which you'd want to put in later.) Stir in the bay leaves.

Saute vegetables until somewhat soft.

....And pour in that gorgeous hot broth. Add barley and simmer soup for an hour or two, until barley is soft. Add egg noodles about 20 minutes before serving (or, as I do, boil the noodles in a separate pot and add to individual bowls as desired). Add salt to taste.

There now, don't you feel better already?


"Only the pure in heart can make good soup."
(Ludwig van Beethoven
)

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Merry and Bright

Oh, dear Readers, my Christmas holiday has been a lovely, indulgent affair full of sleeping in, jammies-until-noon and so many rum balls that I'm afraid to even think of the consequences. My parents were here to visit, and gosh! did we ever have fun.

Listen, we made the best turkey we've ever had. It was moist, juicy, flavourful and utterly divine. Here's why:
  • we purchased a fresh turkey, just over 7 kg. (Who am I kidding... my Mom purchased it, not me)
  • we roasted it, covered, breast side down
  • we cooked the dressing on the side, not in the turkey. Dressing generally takes longer to cook than turkey, causing the turkey to dry out while the dressing is still undone.
Honestly, I could not believe how awesome this turkey turned out to be. I will never stuff a turkey again. Here's the thing, though -- I recommend boiling the giblets and neck with a little onion, garlic, peppercorn and bay leaf for the first few hours of turkey roasting. That way, you'll have some gorgeous fresh turkey stock to use in the dressing, which will give it the required turkey-ish feeling.

Yes, it was indeed a truly divine holiday. The snow was soft, the ice perfect for skating, the children were excited and the company was wonderful. I'll be back in the New Year to blether away as usual.

Over and out.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas at the Blethering Spot

Balulalow

Lat us rejoyis and be blyth
And with the Hyrdis go full swyth
And see what God of his grace hes done
Throu Christ to bring us to his throne.




My saull and life stand up and see
What lyis in ane cribbe of tree.
What Babe is that, sa gude and fair?
It is Christ, God's Son and Air.





O my deir hart, yung Jesus sweit,
Prepair thy creddill in my spreit!
And I sall rock thee in my hart
And never mair fra thee depart.





Bot I sall praise thee evermoir
With sangis sweit unto thy gloir.
The kneis of my hart sall I bow
And sing that rycht Balulalow.

Note: 'Balulalow' is an old Scottish word for 'lullaby.' This lullaby to the Christ Child dates from 16th century Scotland. If you're having trouble understanding the words, try reading them aloud.

May God bless you with peace and joy this Christmas!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

So Blessed

It's our anniversary today. Thirteen years! Whodathunkit?

I'm not going to spend much time posting -- I have better things to do right now than sit at the computer! But I want to take the time to say that I feel so blessed to be married to this man. He knows me, understands me, loves me. He is patient, he is kind. He doesn't envy, he doesn't boast. He keeps no record of my wrongs. He protects me, trusts me, hopes for my best, perseveres despite my insecurities and fears and weaknesses. It's an absolute joy for me to be his wife. I thank God for him daily. Bring on the next thirteen thirty fifty years.... I can't wait to spend them with him!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Tidings of Great Joy!

Oh, Readers, how marvelously marvelous yesterday was. Here's why:

The weather outside was frightful

But the cookies marched in and out of my oven in an orderly fashion

The kids had fun skating with our homeschool group

And, best of all... We got news from our adoption agency. We're back in business, folks! We are now officially up and running. Some lucky, lucky Canadian families got referrals yesterday. What a Christmas gift! You should see all the exclamation points on the boards in our Yahoo group. This is, literally, the best news we have had since that awful day in July. I'm totally amazed and grateful, and so thankful for all the hard work that went into lifting Imagine out of bankruptcy. Wow! Hang on, little ones! Your new mommy and daddy are on their way!

Socrates

"The unexamined life
is not worth living."

Mahatma Ghandi

"There is more to life
than increasing its speed."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Nothing great was ever achieved
without enthusiasm."