tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59592452009-07-13T22:46:04.406-04:00Food, Family, Faith: Serving it hot and fresh daily...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.comBlogger1044125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-22509849351727266102009-07-10T11:31:00.004-04:002009-07-10T13:42:52.273-04:00

It has been a bumpy week. We've been up late. We've cried. We've looked to God for guidance. We've begged Him to bring our daughter home soon. It's as though we've been in labor.The last word from our adoption agency is that Srushti has an appointment at the Embassy on July 15th, which means she can fly home about five days later. Anything can happen in India, but we are holding fast that things

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-74815056218759931862009-07-07T12:04:00.006-04:002009-07-07T12:28:39.602-04:00

Our hearts were dashed when we first called India and thought we had to wait another month to get a visa appointment at the embassy in New Delhi. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and all the air was thrust out of me. I have to be honest, that I was pretty angry with God. This experience has exposed the pagan within me and shed light on the lies I believe about Him. I was angry

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-36706373908056243822009-07-06T08:36:00.003-04:002009-07-06T08:42:38.676-04:00

Every bit of paperwork that comes through we think is the lynch pin. "Once we have this, she'll be here." Right? Not the case. We stayed up late calling the US Embassy in India last night. The visa processing center is only only from 10am until noon, India time. That's 12:30am - 2:30am our time. After several frustrating attempts to get though. "Oh yes, the visa was sent electronically from the

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-49324674815300139262009-07-04T22:54:00.005-04:002009-07-04T23:03:10.617-04:00

Finishing TouchesThe contractors have finished the job and now it is our turn to dig into the garden and re-arrange plantings! We had a wonderful day in the garden today moving hostas and ferns to the area once occupied by overgrown bushes.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-86477882032764964942009-07-03T08:56:00.003-04:002009-07-03T09:03:36.937-04:00

I cannot believe it actually worked. I have achieved yogurt. I am so excited, I'm jumping around the kitchen yelling, "I DID IT! MY CREATION LIVES! IT'S ALIVE!" I also finally found a use for alll that cheesecloth.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-70878024790409233322009-07-02T14:14:00.003-04:002009-07-02T14:23:35.372-04:00

I started with a half gallon jug of fresh, raw milk from Dean Farms in nearby New Castle. I got the yogurt cultures from Natural Options, the health and wellness center in Grove City. After scooping off a dollup of cream for my coffee, I gently shook the jug to mix the cream with the rest of the milk. I followed the instructions on the back of the packette, but since I didn't have a thermometer,

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-74391456218090339402009-07-02T08:00:00.001-04:002009-07-02T08:04:51.881-04:00

Rained OutIronically enough, many of the members on our crew are actually working on the television show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which is filming in Erie right now. We've lost some crew members to that as well as to the rain. They are inches from being done. Nonetheless, the house looks fantastic and we are feeling really good about it.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-70723369120737632492009-07-02T07:54:00.003-04:002009-07-02T08:00:24.380-04:00

[argh] We received approval from the Department of Homeland Security and got a form that allows our child to be claimed as an immediate relative. This enables her to get a visa, come to the US and become a citizen. Approval date: June 8, 2009.We were instructed to call the Visa Center in New Hampshire every day until we had confirmation that they have the paperwork. Seriously? We called over the

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-11570031010791955712009-06-29T15:34:00.003-04:002009-06-29T16:26:14.128-04:00

Day sixThe cottage before, and the cottage after. And our garage no longer looks like a set from a zombie movie.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-65086660143641871942009-06-28T19:07:00.003-04:002009-06-29T15:34:31.401-04:00

We usually close the dining room during the summer months and open Cafe Irani, on the back porch, but our little cottage doesn't have rain protection. It's just no fun to eat in the rain. The clouds cleared enough for Erik to grill some sausages from my uncle Jeff's meat market. I steamed some artichokes as recommended by Easy as Pie. I cut up a pineapple and we had a delicious "weed salad" with

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-53235130729701075302009-06-26T12:44:00.003-04:002009-06-26T13:29:24.967-04:00

Day Five, almost doneSarah lives in a little yellow house, a little yellow house! Sarah lives in a little yellow house!

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-18629070727668131052009-06-26T08:31:00.003-04:002009-06-26T08:36:26.687-04:00

Our homeland security approval has been approved and we have permission to get a visa. That was on June 8th. We're very frustrated with how the system works. Once we got our approval, we had to call the Visa Center every day to ask "Is our visa ready?" "Is is there yet? Huh? Huh Is it there yet?" For two weeks, we got "Nope." Then last night, Erik called and the person on the other end said, "

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-62769137436077788712009-06-25T09:54:00.002-04:002009-06-25T09:59:45.405-04:00

More destruction. At least we didn't find any mold colonies!

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-27879371033242750432009-06-25T09:38:00.004-04:002009-06-25T10:02:31.631-04:00

I stuffed the fowl full of garlic, rosemary and lemon chunks, a little oil and salt and pepper on top. I didn't have any twine for trussing, but I did enjoy Easy as Pie's "How to Truss a Chicken" video. For all the work, I'm not sure it was worth it. I wasn't sure when it'd be done because it was so much smaller than a chicken, but it still took an hour. Perhaps once I get the hang of it, it'll

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-61621486884252564192009-06-24T13:34:00.003-04:002009-06-24T13:41:34.600-04:00

The During Pictures, days 1-3...The first step is to strip off the old moss-covered shingles. Ewwwww.... we found lots of rotten wood.Stripping the front.Nearly done with the front of the roof.More to come...

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-42545918661405853512009-06-24T13:22:00.004-04:002009-06-24T13:34:01.707-04:00

The Before Pictures...We bought this little 1930s cottage in the winter time with nearly four feet of snow on top. Once the snow melted and the sun came out, the foliage was completely overgrown. We cut down several bushes out front and three tall, scraggly junipers on the north side. With the overgrown junipers gone, you can see the damaged stucco to this wall. The front of the house looks much

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-14574904194777086042009-06-22T08:52:00.004-04:002009-06-22T09:01:14.079-04:00

Erik and I find ourselves stuck in a car, train or airplane together for some time quite often. The first road trip we ever took was a twelve hour drive from Frederick to Chicago when we were just a courtin'. It was a good test for our budding relationship: can you stand this person for twelve hours in a car? What's more, what if that person passes gas in the enclosed cab? We knew after that long

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-27044778381935487372009-06-17T10:26:00.003-04:002009-06-17T10:40:11.530-04:00

I love reading about my personality type when I'm feeling dreary about myself. I am an ENFP through and through. That's a person who is Extroverted iNtuitive Feeling and Perceiving. This is what the Personality Pages tell about people like me "ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-48698648826616502412009-06-16T13:04:00.001-04:002009-06-16T13:06:22.312-04:00

I've made cherry pie from scratch. I picked the cherries, pulled out the pits and worms, made a crust and baked the pie. The recipes on this blog, Easy as Pie, are actually a lot easier than that cherry pie we made last summer. Check it out!

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-77979077722498530892009-06-15T11:23:00.000-04:002009-06-15T11:26:38.030-04:00

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-22349692360246911832009-06-06T10:16:00.003-04:002009-06-06T10:45:55.818-04:00

Let me first start with gratitude. I am very grateful that we have the freedom and the means for me to not have to work a job for pay. I am grateful for the freedom that I have to jet off to see my family at nearly any time. I am grateful that the alarm clock is never on. I have an amazing and supportive husband. I have a pretty sweet life in many regards.On the other hand, I am an extrovert and

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-19236454313780771922009-06-05T10:24:00.002-04:002009-06-05T10:28:42.446-04:00

Two years ago today my daughter, Srushti, was born to another woman. Her birth mother was too impoverished to care for her so after six days, she was brought to the ashram. I thank God that she is here in the world with us and I thank Him that he has crossed our paths so that we will come together and make up a family. I am sad for her birth mother who must have grieved deeply that she could not

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-48895173928824913702009-06-03T14:52:00.002-04:002009-06-03T14:56:49.909-04:00

This isn't a real paella, but it's a bunch of leftovers mixed with rice and ultra tasty! Last night we grilled some Italian sausage and kabobs. On the kabobs I strung together vadalia onions, red peppers, pineapple chunks, and broccoli. I drizzled butter on them to make them sizzle.Back in the kitchen... In a cast iron pot I put butter, garlic and onions and cooked them down. Then I added a wild

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-13333464655969506222009-06-03T14:42:00.001-04:002009-06-03T14:43:15.284-04:00

Have you seen this? http://www.mypapercrane.com/She makes the craziest and greatest stuffed plush food. Put that on my wishlist!

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-19256268026449678362009-06-01T21:57:00.003-04:002009-06-01T22:01:32.667-04:00

This evening I wasn't sure what to make for dinner. I had some frozen salmon and some tomatoes so I did a Google search for "salmon" and "tomatoes." I tried a random recipe and it was amazingly tasty. I'll share it with you. I didn't have any parsley on hand and instead of garlic oil, I just added crushed garlic to the olive oil. It was still very, very delicious without those things. Sometimes

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com2