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Last night was meatloaf with a side of wild grain rice and salad. (I am too lazy to take a picture of our actual meal, so I used the one from the recipe.) Anyway, the verdict:
- The cooking time was totally off, at least for me. It said bake for 60 minutes or until 160 degrees, and that puppy was in there way longer and still a smidge pink by the time I lost patience and pulled it out of the oven so-we-could-eat-for-heavens-sake. I told Andy to just eat around the pink parts.
- It TASTED amazing!
- Not sure that I like devoting 1.5 hours to making dinner. I know it says to just bake for 60 minutes, and that technically means I could be doing something else for an hour, but I was also making rice, cleaning dishes, etc. while I waited, so I ended up being in the kitchen for a looooong time.
- I think I'll add this to the lazy sunday evening category, for when I have more free time to spend that long cooking.
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On another note, my trusty little Our Daily Bread provided some great encouragement last night. It was all about obstacles...
"How often do we experience delays, changes of plans, and redirections and treat them as intrusions? It could be that God is detouring us so we can do something different or new for Him. ... God can use inconveniences in our lives if we look at them as divine appointments."
I've been working feverishly on our Dossier - typing out templates, visiting offices, calling police stations and doctor's offices, collecting documents, etc. It has been very tempting for me to get discouraged with the magnitude of the task of recollecting these papers, and with the "hurry up and wait" aspect. It's also tempting for me to compare myself to other adoptive parents out there who have completed their paperwork much faster, and feel inadequate and behind.
But, if I look at this constructively, I am also noticing that my patience, my endurance, and my ability to stay positive are being refined. My hope is that this obstacle will be turned into an opportunity - one that will prepare me to face the defeat and trials of life with more confidence and strength as we move forward.
Kristen, I know you and I are going through different things, but we're both ultimately waiting for God to give us a baby. Your perspective on God refining your patience, endurance, and ability to stay refined was encouragement for me in my battle also. Thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteLorena, I'm so glad we can be a support for one another! Who would have guessed from our napkin-projection days at the diner before graduation that we'd end up on similar journeys! Can't wait to give you a hug in person next weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteI can assure you, you will not be devoting 1.5 hours to making dinner once your child is home with you! I'm a vegetarian, and I was having Sean pick up the pre-roasted, hot chickens from the grocery store on his way home from work! Now I can devote some time somewhat uninterrupted, but 30 minutes tops? Maybe 45 if we're doing a lentil stew that mostly just cooks on its own once you get it going. I remember using Curious George watching time as my dinner making time, out of desperation. That's 20 minutes of program. Enough time for Spanish rice, spaghetti, tofurkey ala king, or goulash. Breakfast for dinner is also a staple around here! And I'm still in the middle of the paperchase, 20 months home!
ReplyDeleteKaren, I totally believe you! Hopefully these big, full meals will fatten us up in preparation for the leaner days to come! :) So sorry about your paperwork - I read that on your blog. That has to be so frustrating. And pink notices - out of all colors?! Pink is supposed to be a happy color.
ReplyDeleteKristen,
ReplyDeleteNext time turn up the heat for the meatloaf. Different stove are... well different. What we cook with (gas or electric) can also have a difference on the time. Try turning up the heat and check it right at 60 min.