Fruitful Day

Today we were able to get more immigration/Homeland Security paperwork done. I went to the USCIS office in downtown San Diego and handed in our notarized homestudy and other paperwork needed for our I-171H and our fingerprinting appointment. While I was sitting there the worker asked me if I could go today. I looked at her with a blank stare. I totally thought she was asking if I wanted to go to Ethiopia today. When I came to my senses I realized she was asking if I wanted to get my fingerprints done today. I did!

I went out to my van which was parked a few blocks away and called Steve. He reminded me that we need Jesse to have his fingerprints done also. I head back to the building and talk to the worker again and she gave me a different paper that had all three of our names on it.

Since the girls were sleeping and Sarah was okay with me going I headed to Chula Vista to another USCIS office. The wait wasn't too bad. Last time we went it took hours. It was only about fifteen minutes this time. Steve met me there and then we ate lunch together at Weinerschnitzel.

Now we just have need Jesse to have his prints taken and we can get our needed document two weeks later. That will be the last thing we need to do paper wise.

I went home and picked the kids up for their piano lessons. After dropping off the piano kids; five of us headed back to look for Ethiopian churches. I found two of them. One meets in another church and one has its own building. One is evangelical and one is orthodox. I'm not sure how we should dress when we go so I need to email or call and ask. I think in the orthodox church I would have to wear a head scarf like they do in Ethiopia. At least I have not one! but two! Our adoption agency set me one and I received one when I went to adoption training last April. www.kingdomkidsadoption.org

Tonight we had chicken stir-fry. I cut up six pounds of chicken breasts and stir-fried it in some olive oil. It's so easy to cut when it's a little frozen. Made twelve cups of rice and fried up some frozen stir-fry veggies. Added Yoshida sauce to the chicken and it was so yummy!!!!

Tomorrow Joel has a tooth pulled. The girls are going to the doctor. Steve is taking them for me since their appt. is at the same time as Joel's. I'm not sure they don't have ear infections, and Adah is coughing so bad she is throwing up at times, so I want them to get checked. Leaving the window open helped with the croup, but the cold air made their colds a little nastier, I'm afraid.
I also get my hair done and we have Awana. Busy day!

Looking for the Ethiopian Church

I was hunting this morning. I drove around with Joe and the girls looking for an Ethiopian church. I didn't get a chance to grab the address so I was driving around "hoping" to find it. I didn't. I did find the Red Sea Ethiopian restaurant. I did find a Somalian and African restaurant, but not the church.

After we got home today I grabbed the white pages and looked up the address. I was so close. I was on the same street, but close doesn't cut it. Now I need to go back with the addresses (there are two different churches) so I can find out when their services are.

I want to connect the girls with other Ethiopians, and figured this is about the only way I know how at this point. We live in a "white" area and the girls need people that look like them, and not just look like them, but are from the same culture.

Guacamole

2 avocados (smashed with a fork)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
few dashes of hot sauce

Combine all the ingredients and serve with tortilla chips or put on your tacos. Enjoy!

Just so you know I used twelve avocados for about ten people and it went VERY fast.

Jesse's 18th birthday

Today is Jesse's 18th birthday! He invited lots of friends to Pat & Oscar's for lunch, and then some of them came home with us to watch the taped Charger game.

He shopped for his own party, Sarah bought the cake, and I only had to make guacamole. Not too shabby!

Do you know that after our first two boys we weren't going to have any more children? Can you imagine Jesse not being here? He was my first VBAC and a lot of hard work, but he was worth it. He's my brainiac. He's so smart, we don't know where he got his genes from. :0)

Onion Swiss Steak

2 tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 pound beef boneless bottom or top round, tip or chuck steak 1/2" thick
1 tablespoon shortening
1-10 3/4 oz. can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup water
envelope of onion soup mix or 1/4 cup minced onion, 2 tablespoons instand beef bouillon & 1/2 teaspoon onion

Mix flour and pepper. Sprinkle one side of beef steak with half of the flour mixture; pound in. Turn beef and pound in remaining four mixture. Cut beef into four or five serving pieces.

Heat shortening in ten inch skillet until melted. Cook beef over medium heat until brown, about fifteen minutes.

Mix the soup, water and bouillon/onion mix together and pour on beef. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until beef is tender, about forty-five minutes.

Makes 4-5 servings.

I always double/triple this recipe, and I quadruple the amount of soup mix so that I can have extra gravy for my mashed potatoes.