Vacation

We head out tomorrow for a little vacation in Florida. It feels weird to me to "go on vacation" when we are unemployed. When Haiti is still reeling from earthquakes. I feel guilty. But as I got no sympathy from friends when I said that (I say with a smile), I realized that we need to embrace this vacation with a smile and in celebration of surviving 5 months of unemployment. We've made it! Our kids are still healthy, we have seen God work time after time, and we are learning to trust Him for every little thing.

The boys are excited for traveling ... their bags are packed and they have practiced carrying them around the house. Now for stories (and hopefully) a good night's sleep before an early flight. Florida, here we come!

Cardamom Bread

Because sometimes you just HAVE to have it ... like this morning ... is there anything better than a fresh, warm loaf of cardamom bread for breakfast?

Cardamom Bread Recipe (for the bread machine)

1-1/2 lb loaf (2 lb loaf)
3/4 cup (1 cup) evaporated milk
1/4 cup (1/4 cup) water
1 (1) egg
2 Tablespoons (3 Tablespoons) butter, cut up
3 cups (4 cups) bread flour
1/3 cup (1/2 cup) sugar
3/4 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) salt
3/4 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) ground cardamom (freshly ground is best, and I make my spoons heaping)
1 teaspoon (1-1/4 teaspoon) bread machine yeast

Put ingredients in pan in the order listed.
Bake with basic white cycle in the machine.

I mix my dough in the bread machine, then braid it and bake it (because I am rather Swedish like that), with pearl sugar sprinkled on top. I usually bake 2 batches of the 2-lb loaf ('cuz that is 1 can of evaporated milk), make 2 loaves out of each batch, and freeze 3 braided loaves. If I set a frozen loaf on the counter, it is thawed and risen by the next morning and ready for baking. Unless the dog eats it first. But that has only happened once.

The Process of Grief

I know we are a bit sporadic about posting sometimes ... working through emotions is tough sometimes and while I tend to process while I write, sometimes I need to keep that to myself for a while. I feel like we have come through our hosting experience wiser, stronger, and with a deeper heart for orphans. We definitely had some grief to work though, as did Vanya and Thor. I think it has been especially hard for Vanya since he understand more about NOT having a Mom and Dad and he wants Vlad and Dima to have parents like he does (and even asked us once if we would please be their mom and dad). We have been so aware of the reassurance that he needs in times like this that we will always be his parents, so matter how sick he gets. A lot for a little guy to go through.
Yes, do do hope to host again. No, not sure when.
THAT is why we are cautious about talking about adoption. God has plans that we don't know about yet. And that is both exciting and a little bit scary.

I have a quiet house now and am going to take advantage of it and SEW. Usually when I go into my chaotic project room, I have both boys and the dog coming in with me. It is far too small and far too messy for that many legs to be in that space. And yes, it is a goal to clean it up and get rid of more so that they CAN come and do projects with me. But first, we need some clothes for our trip next week. THEN we can clean.