Speechless

I'm rarely caught off guard to the point that I am unable to form a cogent thought.  I, however, have a lot to blog about today and cannot devise even ONE good post title.  (Feel free to provide ideas in Comments).

Yesterday really almost sunk me.  I went to bed itching (almost hives) and wondering what in the WORLD I was going to do.  In addition to all blogged about here, we heard from the adoption agency yesterday as well.  As my dear and rarely demure grandmother would say, it's time to sh*t or get off the pot.  (I love you, Grandma.)

As I stared into the darkness of my room and listened to Hubs snore, I thought about the question that had been running through my head all day..."What am I going to DO?!" and realized that was the wrong question.  I needed to be asking, "When am I going to let go and open myself to whatever it is that is supposed to happen?"  So, I prayed.  Not the prayer of someone with the patience of Job, but the prayer of someone who is not quite smart enough to have this all squared away.  Basically, I told God that I was pretty sure I had the message a few months ago, but now, I'm not really sure what He's trying to help me get.  But, that if this lesson is something about relinquishing control, He could have at it...I was too tired to hold on anymore.  Then, I slept the sleep of the dead.  No dreams.  No waking up.  Nothing.

I was literally almost done with my shower this morning before I remembered that we had heard from the agency and that I needed to be thinking today.  Then, I stopped myself and thought, "Wow.  Today could be a BIG day...never know what might be in store if I just listen."

Then, the starter's pistol and the day began. 

I found out that my job at the law school pays $10/hour and I can do a lot of it at home.  Perfection. 

Later in the afternoon, I received a message from a friend who works in the mortgage industry that if I were still considering refinancing the mortgage, today is the day.  We locked in a great rate and if all goes as discussed on the phone today, we will save a couple hundred dollars a month, not have a mortgage payment until February and have around $1400 or $1500 in our pockets without adding anything to our loan.  Double Perfection.

I took a moment to compose and send a reply to the adoption agency which answered their questions and asked some of my own.

On the way to pick M1 up from school, I received a call from the law firm with the open $11/hour law clerk position.  I start Monday.  [Keeping an open mind.  I'll work hard and probably like it.  I'm doing this for the experience, which I sorely need, and a recommendation from a well known firm].

Then, I set about making the perfect lasagna.  I find the perfect lasagna usually starts with the sauce.  I've had some trouble with my sauce of late so I didn't rush this batch.  I started it during the time between arriving home from school and basketball practice.  It looked pretty terrific when I left.

When we arrived home from practice (which was really a scrimmage between M1's 4th grade girls' team and the 4th grade boys' team), it was time to set about making the noodles and then assembling the lasagna.

Assemby relies a great deal on a good lasagna pan.  I used to be a Pyrex 9x13 devotee, but after receiving a LeCreuset 9x13 baking dish...I changed my tune.  Aside from being really pretty, it does a good job with anything I bake in it.

M1 was very excited about lasagna as she selected that as her "pretend" birthday dinner.  I wanted it to be good!

Assembly is fun. 

Always start with sauce on the bottom, then noodles, then cheese and keep building with sauce as the top layer. 

Bake the lasagna and during the last five minutes, put your final layer of cheese on and pull the lasagna out when it's top layer is melty and bubbly.

The finished product was fabulous and M1 ate two, huge helpings. 

Not as huge as the three ginormous helpings Hubs had, but still. 

She also gave it a ringing endorsement--"the best lasana ever...except maybe for MiMi's."  I'm okay with the qualification because her MiMi is a tremendously gifted cook. [Please ignore the oven's innards...I roasted a chicken last week and it got a wee bit out of hand.  A good cleaning cycle is on tap for this weekend!]

So, let's recap.  I found out my job at the law school is about $3/hour better than I thought it would be.  I found out I can do many things at home, at night, for that job which makes the $11/hour law clerk job not seem nearly as depressing.  We're refinancing and will come out ahead on the deal.  And, the most recent e-mail from the adoption agency told us that we sound like the kind of parents M3 needs and to please submit our paperwork ASAP.

It was a big day.

Capped off by the perfect "pretend" birthday dinner for a terrific almost ten-year-old.  

The same almost 10-year-old who asked   probably the funniest/saddest/most mature question of her life tonight...and then made me promise not to blog about it!

 

Comments

[Reasa]

income+less outgoing= WOOOHOOO!!!!! I am happy today was not as dreary as yesterday. I am going to try your lasagna. It looks and sounds yummy.

[Amritas]

I read the first three paragraphs of this post a few hours ago and was scared to read any further. I've been worried about you, and I feared the worst.

Then I took the plunge just now and read the rest. I'm glad I was wrong. What a great day you had! Victories on every front. Congratulations!

So will you be working for the law school as well as the law firm? Sorry, I'm confused.

I think your current post title is fine. It could refer to an amazingly bad or good situation, and it doesn't give away the happy ending.

[Susan]

Yippee!!! Yippee!!! Yippee!!! on all fronts!

Great news to read this morning.

Happy Birthday to M1!!

[deb]

Hats off to you - God is good! He waits until the week of Thanksgiving to bless your socks off!
Have a great week and enjoy.

[Jeni]

Glad to hear that someone I know benefited from the $ the government pumped into the markets over the last day or so. Congrats!!