Trying to find the perfect cake

I haven't made one of my "fancy cakes" in a year. Last March was the last wedding cake I did before moving up to Napa. I loved working on my cakes but unfortunately my little kitchen in our little apartment can not handle the amount of buttercream and fondant I could throw at it.

Since I'm co-hosting my sister's adoption shower in a few weeks, I am in search of the perfect cake. Mainly because I don't care for store bought cakes. It been fun but a frustrating search to find a cake design I really like for her shower. I know I want it to be two tiers and possibly basketweave, but after looking on wilton.com and cakecentral.com, I am still coming up with nothing. Looks like I'm going to have to be creative and design it myself.

And since I was feeling nostalgic about my cake decorating, I thought I post my cake slideshow, since I haven't had it up. It does kinda make me want to rethink adopting this year and go to the Culinary Institute of America this year instead. Just kidding:)

I changed the title of my blog

So yes, I decided to change the title of my blog. Since I didn't want to add "and Adoption" to the end of the title "Marriage, Ministry and Medicine" I thought maybe another title would be better. Plus, I really never liked my old title anyway:)

Photo fun...

I've seen this on other's blogs. It's a fun little game. Here are the directions:

1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer

2) Select the 4th picture in the folder

3) Explain the picture

4) Tag 4 people to do the same

NO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc!)

Awe!! Its a cute pix of my brother Matt and his wife Beth when they first started dating! Arn't they cute :)

Ok, I don't tag people 'cause I don't wanna leave anyone out, so if you think this is fun - do it! (Thats what my other friend did on her blog and I think its a great idea:)

The secret is out

Since I went ahead and posted it on my "about me" section, I guess I can actually write a blog about it.

Alex and I have decided to start the process for domestic adoption :)

This has been a long time in coming, since we "almost" started at least 3 times in the last 2 years. I've been ready, but Alex really hadn't come around, so this last November I decided to just stop nagging him. I figured that worse case scenario we would wait until he was done with med school to start, but best case scenario, me "not nagging" would give him time to process and think about it without pressure.

Well the "not nagging" method worked for me. As I was praying for the Lord's direction, Alex was also praying, and talking it over with his friends and mentors. I was in shock when last week when he came home from his men's bible study and told me he was ready! Definitely a good shock though. ( I really think Kris and Doug getting their referral helped motivate Alex - he wants our kids to grow up with theirs!)

There are several reason why have chosen domestic adoption over international adoption. One is because several of the countries we are interested in adopting from have strict laws that don't allow people with any history of depression from adopting. Since Alex and I both have been treated for depression in the last 10 years, (seriously though, is there anyone with infertility who hasn't?) that counts us out. Because Alex is in school, he cannot accompany me on trips to other countries for weeks at a time. So that knocks out the remaining countries we'd considered. We both feel like domestic adoption will be a better fit for us in the long run.

So I've called a few agencies and requested information packets. Realisticly, getting started means we will probably be waiting 1-2 years from now before we actually have a baby. I can be optimistic though and pray for a quicker placement :)

I'm so glad we are finally taking this step! It feels like its been so long in coming, yet I can't believe we are actually ready:)

God is Good!

Just had to share

Kristi and Doug are definitely adopting Ben! The decision was final this week (as if there was really any question:) We are all hoping they are able to travel in May to pick him up, but it could be June or July.

They also received a few updated pictures that are so freaking cute I had to share.

I'm already SUPER excited to be an Aunt!!!

After Kristi received the referral, two weeks ago, I drove down and spent the weekend with my family in Fresno. Its definitely changed things - she was expecting an infant girl and is getting a toddler boy. She and Doug are thrilled to be getting him, its mean cleaning all the "girl stuff" out of his room. Than we went with Kris to register at Target for her "baby shower" because Babies R Us really didn't have what she needs for a toddler. Its amazing how the last 3 years has seemed like the "worlds longest pregnancy" for her, but now that she has the referral we are all rushing around to make sure his quilt it made, and the nursery is done and that Kristi and Doug have everything they need to bring this little man home. Its fun though - now I have a reason to buy cute boy stuff :)

Baby Ben

Kristi & Doug received the referral for this 2 yr old boy last nite. They had to make a tenative decision by 2 pm today. They have submitted their letter of intent to adopt him. They now have 1 - 2 weeks to have his medical files reviewed and make their final decision. He was born with heart problems and had surgery in Jan 08. They have had their doctor review the files and so far is looks like everything is a go. They are waiting for one more review before they make their finial decision.

As of now they are calling him Benjamin.

He is just the most precious little guy and we are all already in love with him.

February - The Good and the Bad

This months has flown by extremely fast! Several things have happened that I wanted to post about tonight.

First the bad- last Friday, Audrey and Bogart got into one of their fights in the middle of the living room. It was looking pretty bad, with Audrey pinning Bogey, so I jumped in and pulled Audrey off Bogey. As I was walking away with Audrey in my arms, Bogey then came after me and bit my leg. 3 times. I screamed for Alex who was in bed, and he ran in and pulled Bogey away from me. It turned out one of the bites was pretty bad. The result was a 3 inch gash under my knee. Obviously we had to make a very painful decision. On Saturday morning we called a Cocker Rescue and SPCA who both informed us that they couldn't do anything to rehabilitate him because of his age. Apparently because he was so young (not quite two) and already displaying biting and aggression, he would be too much a liability. So Alex took him into the SPCA to have him put down. This was a horribly painful decision, but we felt that we had made the best, most responsible choice. If he would attack me, his mom, he could lash out at anyone. So I have been grieving this week for the loss of my sweet pup, one of my kids, who I never thought would turn on me.

The good news (yes, now that your feeling depressed with me I'm going to cheer you up a little:) - Kris and Doug, (my sister and bro-in-law) just got a call today from Holt with a referral of a little boy in China. He does have a few medical issues that they are talking to a doctor about, but we should know their decision for sure in a week or so, after the doctors review the files. Please be praying for them, that they would know if this is the right child for them. I'll fill in the details about the child when we know more.