tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59592452009-11-20T16:13:48.239-05:00Food, Family, Faith: Serving it hot and fresh daily...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.comBlogger1077125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-59704018837372179992009-10-31T20:32:00.003-04:002009-11-03T19:47:02.123-05:00

A fair maiden, the hunchback and a wee little fairy!

Erik Iranihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03197027662550084329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-15707674580457023762009-10-21T09:07:00.004-04:002009-10-21T09:21:00.303-04:00

Days Four, Five and SixOK, so I took two days off. Yesterday was a beautiful day! It was a perfect October Tuesday. The air was crisp, but not cold and the sun was out. We went on our usual route with a little more spring in my step. My knee started hurting at the end, which alarmed me a bit. With all the pain I've had in my life, my knees NEVER bother me. They are the one part of me that don't

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-72782461363687720092009-10-17T10:35:00.006-04:002009-10-21T09:21:19.151-04:00

Day Two and ThreeI wasn't as sore from yesterday's run as I thought I'd be. My calves were stiff and some of the muscles in my feet felt like they had worked in a way that they never had, but I was pleased that my usually sore hips and shins were doing ok. Also, the insides of my elbows were sore. Perhaps it was from keeping them too rigid while pushing the stroller? (Keep in mind that I also

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-84010278125319990292009-10-15T10:30:00.007-04:002009-10-21T09:20:42.170-04:00

Day OneNow that I have my footgloves, the babyjogger, and rain cover for the babyjogger, I have no excuses not to get out there. Today, I awoke to a dreary, rainy 39degree day. Seriously? I'm going to start my barefoot running experiment today? I geared up with a rain jacket and turtlefur ninja hat, pulled on my footgloves, dressed the baby in warm clothes, strapped her into the stroller, affixed

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-19566938758391016422009-10-09T08:56:00.002-04:002009-10-09T09:08:38.722-04:00

For our anniversary, I got Erik his most favorite thing in the whole world: ice cream cake! Even at our wedding we had two ice cream cakes stacked together for our wedding cake. He couldn't resist sampling the frosting before we got out the camera. That's OK, it's his anniversary!

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-58731839807395675442009-10-08T12:29:00.003-04:002009-10-08T12:44:57.930-04:00

Erik and I have been married four years ago today! In four short years we have been through a lot together. We've had three home addresses and I've had four studio addresses and am now studio-less. We've been on numerous fun trips. And we have adopted a child from India. The thing that stands out to me the most, however, is the day-to-day joy that we find in one another. We joke about the one

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-23687282123749937152009-10-05T08:41:00.003-04:002009-10-05T10:17:01.654-04:00

I take the doctrine of vocation very seriously. For most of my life my primary vocation was as a student. In fact, all but the first five years of my life and three years after Hillsdale College have I *not* been a student. Since I'm still working on my MA thesis, I'm still a student. Most of those years as a student were to prepare me for my adult life. I have known since I was a small child

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-55742371146541956512009-10-01T10:29:00.004-04:002009-10-01T14:17:11.809-04:00

We took Asha to the pediatrician the on Tuesday, nine weeks after her arrival. I cannot believe she's only been here nine weeks. It feels like a thousand weeks since this summer. The leaves are already turning, the days are getting shorter and the heat is on. Asha is doing very well and growing at a fantastic rate. She has grown two inches, gained three pounds (and mommy lost three!), and her

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-41020053769136984822009-09-29T15:38:00.003-04:002009-09-29T15:43:57.409-04:00

Baptism is a great mystery. It is a mystery that we encounter in reverence and with joy. It is faith that saves us, but faith is a gift of God, freely given. It does not come by understanding, by knowledge, or by our own good deeds. Likewise, Baptism is a free gift, given generously by a God who dearly loves His children.For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-35051698607933282152009-09-27T16:44:00.006-04:002009-09-27T22:40:37.671-04:00

It's coming up on one year the day that Erik came to work in Pennsylvania, September 30th, 2008. That day radically changed our lives. I remember that summer I had no work at the studio and was collapsing underneath the pressure of studio rent and debts. I took out a loan to survive the summer that was just paid off two months ago. I was desperate for work, so I took a small job doing a sculpture

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-24990758196048321152009-09-22T09:42:00.003-04:002009-09-22T09:49:51.068-04:00

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-75644918219378206662009-09-21T21:36:00.005-04:002009-09-22T10:09:09.961-04:00

Asha is carrying her two babies in mommy's sling while also wearing her doggie backpack. "Backpack" and "baby" are words she can now say!Asha is the Queen of the Tupperware drawer!Look at my crown!

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-21157318596501191022009-09-21T12:29:00.005-04:002009-09-21T13:33:51.806-04:00

We're preparing to have Asha baptized in October. As we move towards that date, I've been praying, reading and thinking a lot about Baptism. I read a new book by Kelly Klages, a friend and fellow artist, that is available on-line. It's called "Water with the Word: A Baptism Q and A." No matter your tradition, this book brings up a lot of things to think about regarding Baptism. The opening

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-50149223906349865462009-09-19T08:54:00.001-04:002009-09-19T08:56:25.656-04:00

Asha is learning new words with her books from Nana and Papa.She's pretty excited about her new skills.

Erik Iranihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03197027662550084329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-70848987195021175032009-09-19T08:52:00.001-04:002009-09-19T08:54:09.092-04:00

Erik Iranihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03197027662550084329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-75506866355580926212009-09-11T13:12:00.002-04:002009-09-11T13:14:26.233-04:00

We're having a vocabulary explosion over here! Today Asha said "bow" and "blue." We put a bow in her hair and bought blue paint! She also can say her name, but she has a hard time with "sh" so she says "Ahh-ta!" Imagine her trying to say "Srushti." Adults cannot even say it.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-3338509975242541522009-09-08T13:18:00.005-04:002009-09-08T13:25:31.973-04:00

Asha busted out some new works yesterday: "Bird" and "dog." She does, however, point to a picture of a bear in one of her animal books and say, "DA-JEE!" which is what she calls her dad. We're a little puzzled because her father looks very little like a grizzly bear. She makes the sounds of a duck, a turkey, and a lion. The lion sound is similar to a kitten sound as well. Da-jee the bear.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-10859723920848038282009-09-07T11:21:00.000-04:002009-09-07T11:25:59.334-04:00

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-66002106517949415372009-09-07T10:39:00.002-04:002009-09-07T10:44:13.417-04:00

The Irani family spotted at the zoo. Nana and Papa Hempel met us at the zoo. Asha wanted nothing to do with the stroller and walked up and down the paths at the zoo. How did she get so much energy? Auntie Grace and Reed rode with us on the choo-choo.Asha met a new friend at the zoo.

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-20459680578719985702009-09-07T09:52:00.004-04:002009-09-07T11:27:38.831-04:00

Asha Srushti has been here six weeks as of Tuesday. We're starting to get into a rhythm a little bit at home, but we're also seeing all the attachment work we still have to do. All of the attachment in adoption literature we've read describes the child who is obviously resisting affectionate touch, who is withdrawn, who won't make eye contact, etc. Usually one or two sentences are offered for the

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-66582697504657006322009-09-03T11:34:00.005-04:002009-09-03T12:55:14.518-04:00

Explaining the attachement process to family, friends and random strangers who want to pick up our baby has been one of the challenges about being an adoptive family. I found this great list on another adoptive family blog, who got it from another. I think it's a pretty good list!Do1. Offer household help (running errands, preparing meals that can go right from the freezer to the oven, etc.) so

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-82178544185216235052009-08-23T15:27:00.003-04:002009-08-23T15:34:11.000-04:00

Asha really, really loves corn on the cob. She'll eat it cooked or raw, she doesn't care. She also ate some red meat for the first time! She has discerning tastes; all of the chicken we've offered has been rejected, but the lamb kabobs covered in garlic and rosemary were a bit hit. She is a good eater and we're hoping for some good, healthy weight gain over the next months.Mommies also need a

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-56917664038240211792009-08-23T10:17:00.002-04:002009-08-23T10:18:14.750-04:00

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-65114475016235578982009-08-17T20:46:00.002-04:002009-08-17T20:51:31.325-04:00

We made our living room as child-friendly as possible. We have several woven baskets filled with blocks, balls and plush toys. There are several children's books in here, too. I also tend to leave my laptop in the living room. Attached to my laptop is a mini-optical mouse. It has a nice red light at the bottom that is harmful when stuck on one's eye. Asha Srushti can partake of ALL the toys in

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959245.post-15489978969799838962009-08-09T20:30:00.003-04:002009-08-09T21:12:27.248-04:00

Asha Srushti IraniAfter much deliberation, we decided to name our baby Asha (pronounced AHH-Shah). We are keeping her middle name as her given Indian name, so her ful name is Asha Srushti Irani. Asha is an old Persian word for "holiness" or "that which is present when God is present." It's a common Indian name and easy for Americans to say. We were going to call her something else, but Asha

Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18122162947646462967noreply@blogger.com5