Thanksgiving Proclamation

A friend passed this along to us today and it made me smile.  Matt's Dad usually sends it out to us this time of year.  We haven't received it yet, but I'm sure it is coming.  Lincoln is one of his heros.  Anyway - it is a good read.  I think this is one of those things that it would have been really cool to be there.  I can picture myself in a big hoop skirt and bonnet...can't you??

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Disneyland for Mama's Birthday!

My Mom wanted to go to Disneyland for her birthday again this year - which we all thought was a great idea.  Her birthday is the perfect time of year to go, not too crowded, great weather and it's beginning to look like Christmas around the park!  We had such a fun day celebrating!  

Fun Fact: I went to Disneyland and didn't go on a single ride! I still had such a fun day and wanted to protect my nauseous stomach from becoming more nauseous and having to go home.

Cade met Mickey!

The official Thanksgiving Turkey that was pardoned by the President last year.

A special birthday dessert while we waited for World of Color!

Happy Birthday Mama!!  Your kids LOVE you!

I have a Tale to Tell

I want to do this story justice, because I think it is a pretty cool one. It involves twists and turns and ups and downs, but mostly it involves the ultimate Storywriter. It’s long, but I think it’s worth the read.


When Matt and I said “I do” we had dreams of what our life together as husband and wife would be like. I went straight to planning how many kids will we have and what will their names be. Matt went straight to thoughts of business school and maximizing our time together as a couple. As you all know well, God had some of those plans in mind as well as others we hadn’t even considered. He saw a diagnosis and treatment of cancer. He saw a move away from where we grew up. He saw travel to foreign lands. He saw ministry and growth opportunities for us both. Our story continues to unfold, which is where I want to pick up with the latest chapter.

About a year and a half ago we said the word “babies,” threw caution to the wind and prayed that the Lord would quickly grow our family. We continued to wait and pray…and wait and pray. It was hard. I have to admit. Sadly, I was prideful. It crossed my mind that I should not have to wait. I already had my trial. I heard the word cancer and it applied to me. But, God in his mercy showed me that this was also part of our story and this too would be good. I’m thankful we know God. We know He is in total control of our lives and knows so much more than we do. He knows about the timing of events. Why some must wait and others don’t. What challenges we need to change us. The fire we need to walk through. The refining we must experience.

It is impossible to write the millions of little lessons I learned during the wait. But they are so sweet to me and I would gladly sit down to coffee with you to share. I wrote about the bigger lessons recently in a blog on trials. See it here.

All the while God was slowly but surely crafting in my heart a desire to adopt. Matt expressed this desire often, from the first days of our marriage actually, and he patiently waited and prayed for me to join him. This past August I found that same desire. I had worked through the questions that come when thinking about adoption and was confident that we should begin the process. So we did. We filled out the application. Got the first approval needed to continue with our agency of choice. Set up a meeting with the social worker and registered for the orientation. We announced the exciting news to family and we felt overjoyed that the Poladian family would begin to grow and that our story, though different and not what we expected, was perfect.

Not long after, 3 weeks ago to be exact, there were some signs that led me to take a pregnancy test. I took the test and placed it on the counter and told Matt he could look first. We had been here before. But this was so different. Really, I don’t even know how to describe the emotion of that moment. My sweet and loving husband looked at me and said “you’re pregnant.” And then we laughed. Not because we thought it was some practical joke, but because in that moment God poured out his grace upon us. Then today, November 2, 2010, we heard the peanut’s heartbeat. It was amazing. We are thankful. We are blessed.

So will we adopt? I hope that is the question you are asking. We sure hope we will. We will pursue it again when the time comes and know if that is what God wants for us, He will make it happen. We know He can. He showed us.

We hope you will rejoice with us! Praise God for His blessings and His work in our lives. Thank Him for the trial He sent us and the precious, tangible reward we will hold in June.

He is good, so good.

Psalm 118:1 "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for his steadfast love endures forever"

Cousin's Weekend 2010

The 7th Annual Cousin's Weekend!  This is what we did....

a lot of this

tons of this 

some of this 

some of us didn't get to do everything we wanted

one run of this 

a good amount of this 

and of course..one of these 

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

This one is for you Miss Ag!

Our Louie loves his bath - well not really...but he totally tolerates it.  He even lets me blow his fur dry!

What a sweet dog!  We just love him!!

Honey Soy Broiled Salmon

Ingredients

• 1 scallion, minced
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 pound center-cut salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 4 portions
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Directions

Whisk scallion, soy sauce, vinegar, honey and ginger in a medium bowl until the honey is dissolved. Place salmon in a sealable plastic bag, add 3 tablespoons of the sauce and refrigerate; let marinate for 15 minutes. Reserve the remaining sauce.

Preheat broiler. Line a small baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Transfer the salmon to the pan, skinned-side down. (Discard the marinade.) Broil the salmon 4 to 6 inches from the heat source until cooked through, 6 to 10 minutes. Drizzle with the reserved sauce and garnish with sesame seeds.

How to skin a salmon fillet: Place salmon fillet on a clean cutting board, skin-side down. Starting at the tail end, slip the blade of a long knife between the fish flesh and the skin, holding down firmly with your other hand. Gently push the blade along at a 30° angle, separating the fillet from the skin without cutting through either.

To toast seeds: Cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Matt and I REALLY LIKE salmon.  Matt makes this special sauce that he usually grills our salmon with, which is so good (another post).  But, I had just found this recipe and so I told him we were going to give another recipe a try... knowing the stakes were high.  To my surprise he said "this may be better than my way!" No honey, nothing is better than you taking care of dinner completely.  All that to say - give it a try.  I served it with fresh steamed broccoli.  A little brown rice would have been great too.  And a little plug for our good friends in Alaska - buy wild!  It isn't always more expensive.  I found two filets of Wild Alaskan Sockeye at Fresh and Easy for $5. 

Bon Appetit!

Trials

Trials. I am thankful for them...no really, I am.  In fact - the other day I told Matt I wanted more.  I know this is a lesson the Lord is teaching me.  How do I know? Well, it seems like every corner I turn there is a message about trials, living in the presence of Jesus and drawing close to him.  Stuff about things that relate to trials and conversations that take me to the spot where trials are being examined.  With every message I am more and more convinced - I want more!


We are studying James with the ministry we are involved in at Compass. James barely lets you get out the gate before he hits you with this :  

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds

Count it joy - JOY - really? I question...that can't possibly be what he means.  Maybe James is saying have a good attitude, look on the bright side, put on a happy face?? Study some more and conclude. Nope that isn't what he means, he is saying to find joy in your trials.  Rejoice, take delight, be glad!  My friends, this is possible.  I hope you believe me.  Let me do a little more convincing.  James goes on to say:

³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

The reason I can rejoice and be glad about trials is that they are good for me.  Who doesn't want to be steadfast?  I sure do.  I can rejoice because I know that God is doing a work in my life.  He has seen fit to stretch, pull, move me from comfort so that I can grow.  I want more!  I don't want to stay the same.  My goal in life is to be more like Him and if trials is what it is going to take - well then bring them on!  When I think back about the tough times in life I can see marked growth.  

I no longer react to similar situations the way I once did.  

I can encourage others who are going through what I did.  

I trust Him more to work things out.

My faith grows more and more solid.

I become less anxious about what will happen.

I know God more. 

The last is probably the greatest treasure to come from the depths of the valleys.  

I know God more.  

I have learned more about his attributes.  I long for heaven more and to be in His presence.  To the very smallest degree, I can fellowship in His suffering. With each trial He increases and I decrease (John 3:30). How is that not good? Now, don't let me fool you. I have not arrived and am not the picture of peace in the midst of a storm.  However, God in his mercy is allowing me to see trials for what they are.  A joy.

Can I get an amen?