East TN Ethiopian Families Pool Party RAIN OR SHINE!

(For security purposes, I'm not posting extensive details here.)

THE PARTY IS RAIN OR SHINE! COME ON OVER!


If you are an Ethiopian adoptive family, we would love for you to join us this Saturday, July 26th for a pool party! We welcome any family, whether you're thinking about adopting from Ethiopia, paperchasing, have a referral (like Eyerusalem's family!), or have your precious kiddos home.

Bring your swimsuits, towels and a lawn chair. We are having pizza and watermelon for lunch. Please email me for details and directions.

I look forward to seeing YOU there!

Another Victim!

Adoption is like a drug, highs and lows and all consuming. My name is Coffeybunny and I'm an addict.
A new victim, T, and her sweet family have decided to adopt from Ethiopia and last night decided on our agency, CHSFS! I'm so excited for them and that her dream is LITERALLY coming true. See her blog at http://eastiesandcompany.blogspot.com/ and read about their decision.
I was given the chance to speak at an informational meeting for our agencies, Holston Methodist (home study) and Children's Home Society (Ethiopia). I invited myself over to speak, knowing this was God's plan, and it went well. The kids behaved decently and God gave me confidence in my words. There were several families interested, hopefully we helped answer their questions and maybe even more will succumb to the power of adoption!

Another favorite recipe

Red Beans and Rice
(makes a big pot!)

1 tbsp oil
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 lg onion, chopped

(I also sometimes add some chopped carrot or celery)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb smoked sausage (I use turkey sausage to cut the calories)
2 tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp paprika
2-14 oz cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed
2-14 oz cans light red kidney beans, rinsed
2-14 oz cans diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 tsp salt
Rice (cook separately as much as you need)

Heat oil over medium heat, saute green peppers, onion and garlic until onions are transluscent. Add smoked sausage, parsley and paprika and saute for 5 minutes. Add beans and tomatoes and simmer for 25-30 mins. Add salt to taste.

Busy Weekend

Busy, busy weekend around the Coffey House.
-The dishwasher is still broken, I'm remembering how long it takes to wash by hand.
-Catching up on the laundry and then finding I'd washed an entire load of whites with a pen. Ugggh, I hate when that happens!
-Making a huge batch of "Poop Muffins" for the kids. Explanation: SJ likes breads for breakfast, B requires lots of fiber to keep his system "moving". Solution: high fiber muffins with hidden wheat germ and lots of veggies. Super healthy muffins that I grab from the freezer most mornings for breakfast, works for me!
-Spending waaaaay too much time at the Farmer's Mkt and at yard sales with SJ this morning. But, we did make a new friend, bought lovely tomatoes, and found a Star Wars beach towel for our favorite Korean.
-Celebrating Mamaw's birthday with a superb dinner and a swim. Mamaw's first swim with the grandkids now that she's living healthy. We gave Mamaw portraits of the kids and new charms. The kids were all super cute and very well behaved, the cousins love each other so much.
-Tomorrow, I get to throw a baby shower at church. All the stuff is in the trunk ready to go.
-Making a ginormous pot of red beans and rice. 1/3 goes to the potluck baby shower, 1/3 goes to a couple at church who just had a baby, and 1/3 stays home to feed my family. Triple duty, works for me!
-Urging on one of Super Daddy's stores that may hit record sales. If it's close, we'll be out tomorrow afternoon drumming up business!
-Being thankful for the amazing family (and extended family) that we have. A sister-in-law that shows up with the exact item I've been searching for, beautiful nieces and nephews that keep us laughing, a sweet daughter who indulges my yard sale habit, a son who spontaneously hugs me and says, "I love you", a husband who works hard and plays hard, friends who call "just to say hi", the kids' grandparents who plan fun outings for them and babysit on a moment's notice.
Whew, I'm going on to bed. I won't have any trouble sleeping tonight!

Flip Flop Bandits

"Where are my shoes, I left them here just a minute ago?!"

Jelly and SJ strike again.

Jelly is SJ's cousin, my brother's daughter. No, that's not her real name :o)

Healthy Summer Eats

I love to cook and enjoy making yummy, healthy food for my family. Some of our summer favorites are tzatziki with pitas, homemade popsicles, and watermelon. Nothing says summer like eating cold watermelon while lounging by the pool!

Tzatziki (a Greek dip usually served with gyros)
16 oz plain fat free yogurt
1 large cucumber, shredded
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1/4 c minced onion
1 tsp dried dill/1 tbsp fresh dill
salt and pepper to taste
Place yogurt in a strainer lined with a large coffee filter (or cheesecloth) over a bowl. Refrigerate overnight. Discard liquid. Mix strained yogurt and remaining ingredients. Chill 4 hrs and serve.

Blueberry Pops (from MOPS)
1 pt fresh blueberries
1 c fat free vanilla yogurt
1 c skim milk
sugar to taste (I didn't use any, still delicious)
Blend until smooth, then freeze.

Insanely cute

2 cute things already, it's only 8 am.
-SJ says "fuffin" for "muffin".
-At breakfast, I handed B his cereal and SJ whispered to B, "Wendom, say thank you Mommy"!