What I Learned In Children's Church Last Sunday and How It Encouraged Me In Our Adoption Journey

I was teaching.  And I'm thankful that when I am out of the regular church service, busy with the kids, God still meets me where I am--literally--and teaches me lessons that I need.

OUR lesson was on the story of Abraham sending his trusted servant to choose a bride for his son Isaac.  He sends his trusted servant back to his old homeland to find a wife.  His servant prays to God for very specific direction through a sign so that he might know who to approach, and miraculously, God answers very specifically through that sign.  (It's all found in Genesis 24 if you want to read it.)    And then, the servant presents gifts, and then thanks the Lord publicly, and then ends up going back to her house to meet the family, spill the beans about why he's there handing out gold jewelry pieces, and ask for their daughter's hand in marriage for his master's son.

 And there's more!  They discover that they are family of Abraham and this is pretty influential in the whole process too.  And the servant tells about God's blessing on Abraham (which couldn't have hurt either) and how his specific prayer was answered.  The dad and brother discuss the providence of God in this and agree to send their daughter back with the servant.  It seems like it's all worked out and then BAM!  The mother and brother say to "hold on", that the girl--Rebekah should stay 10 days before they let her go.  But the servant is anxious to get back to his master, and after some discussion they agree to let Rebekah decide when to go and she agrees to go now.  And THEN, there's this long, hot, dusty camel ride journey to get back to Abraham's new home in Canaan.  When they finally get there, Isaac is out moseying through a field and sees them coming from far off and they see each other and meet.  And marry.  And it says that "He loved her."

Now here's where I was encouraged: Isaac was at home waiting.  He knew he wanted a wife--even needed one.  He was not allowed to go on the expedition.  He didn't get much say in the whole matter that we can see.  He could only wait at home, and carry on each day with the work and responsibilities before him.  He wasn't aware of the spiritual drama unfolding in Nahor.  Nor was he aware of the minute practical persuasions happening.  He didn't get email updates stating : "We'll be presenting your profile to a young lady at the town well today.  She has olive skin, beautiful brown eyes, moves with grace and dignity and is a willing worker.  Are you OK with that?"  He wasn't aware how it was almost worked out and then doubts were raised to delay it.  Nor was he aware that the heart of his future beloved was made sure and confident by God.  He could only wait and pray and carry on.

His moment of joy came when he was presented with his bride at the end of all the details working together for good.  So many details.  But God's hand was active, moving and weaving them all.   It was all out of Isaac's hands, but firmly in God's.   I can relate a little bit.  And THAT's what blessed me in children's church.

"When it appears from earth that God is delaying, He is really putting pieces together that you had not thought of. He is engineering circumstances so that His power and glory will be on display. When God builds a waiting period into the course of our affairs, it means that what He is doing requires it! His apparent delays are loving, purposeful, and deliberate!". ~ Jennifer Kennedy Dean  (with thanks to my friend Tiffany Herring) 

Pioneer Woman Recipe Reviews: Pizza & Chocolate Sheet Cake

It's a Saturday morning and I actually find myself alone in the house.  For a home schooling mother of 5, this is such a rarity.  My big kids are gone having spent the night with friends, my husband is at a Saturday morning men's Bible study and offered to take our 4 year old along to give me the morning to myself.  The condition was for me to relax, so I've decided that I need to finally blog about my latest Pioneer Woman cooking.  I have to be honest, my heart isn't in it, but I feel like I need to "knock it out"  so that I can move on to a 53rd viewing of Pride and Prejudice or maybe Cranford---I haven't quite decided.  So, here goes....

About a week ago, I went to one of the book's most intriguing recipes to me: Potato and Leek Pizza.
Yes, you read that right.  Potato and Leek Pizza!  I had my doubts too, but it turns out that Pioneer Woman knows a thing or two about "yum".  I used her pizza crust recipe to start things off.  I've decided that  recipe is fairly user friendly.  It rolls out much, much more easily than the pre-made dough I usually buy at Winco.  Her recipe uses a few simple ingredients--I'm all about that!  It has:

1 tsp dry yeast
4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

So, once you have your foundation ready you get to work on the fun stuff.  The Potato and Leek Pizza calls for 3 leeks, bacon, olive oil, salt, freshly ground black pepper, fresh mozzarella, parmesan and goat's cheese.  (I used feta in place of the goat's cheese 'cause I'm no connoisseur and it's all the same to me.)  And the final ingredient: thinly sliced red or Yukon gold potatoes (I used russet because that is all I had and I wasn't about to wait for another trip to the grocery store.)

I'd say the toughest part is washing the leeks and getting all the grit out.  Once that is done, it's smooth sailing.  You fry the bacon, then you fry the sliced leeks in the bacon grease---this I think was key to the whole taste bud experience.

I also made another version that Pioneer Woman offered in her book of Tomato Basil Pizza.  With pre-made pesto, this was incredibly easy and very good as well.

I put both pizzas on my pizza screens to bake.  This, it turns out, was a big mistake.  With all the fresh tomatoes and juicy leeks and potatoes involved, there was a lot of liquid.  A lot.  This liquid caused everything to bubble and spit and leak and drip onto the bottom of our ovens causing massive, massive smoke.  This, in turn, caused massive, massive chaos as we sprinted to open doors and windows and don our oxygen masks.  But it was a great bonding time as the kids were drawn in to "help" with their use of instagram and comments like: "Mom's cooking again."  "I can't breathe!!" and "The neighbors are watching!!" and "Are you sure you know what you're doing??"

But the whole thing eventually worked out making the real title: Smoked Potato and Leek Pizza.  It was absolutely delicious!  I have never used fresh mozzarella in my own cooking before.  *Gasp*  But I've told you before, I'm not a gourmet, nor a connoisseur of anything except cheap and easy.  But so wonderful was my experience with this delightful product that I found myself placing another double pack in my cart last time I was at Costco.  Do it!  Use the fresh stuff!  What a difference!

The whole family loved both pizzas.  It was probably evenly split as to whether it was the Potato & Leek or the Tomato-Basil that was favored, but everyone agreed that they were both heavenly.  I give both recipes 5 stars.

To add to the deliciousness of our lives that week, I also tried the Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe.  OH. MY. GOODNESS.  It was a buttery, chocolaty, rich-but-not-rich, decadent piece of art.   I no longer care about pumpkin pies, peppermint bark, ginger cookies, etc.  I would be satisfied to make just this one dessert for the holidays and go to a quiet corner and celebrate.

Try these recipes at the risk of setting you back a week on your diet, but also know that there is always next week. To everything there is a season, and this is your season for pizza and chocolate cake.