Surprise!

I am never surprised.
But I was yesterday and loved it.
(I so love being surprised but I tend to catch on to unusual clues.)

Here is what happened...
To start, Adam never comes home for lunch. But he walked in the door at noon (I didn't even hear the garage be/c the dryer was running) with flowers and a new book.
I have been wanting Shanghai Girls be/c I love the author Lisa See, but am too cheap to buy a new book!
Adam has a 'no flowers' rule. I think they became an easy and somewhat unthoughtful gift so they were ixnayed a very long time ago.
Arranging flowers is part of the fun of getting flowers for me.
But DO NOT ask Third Street Flowers in Jenks. I wanted a job there in high school arranging flowers. They waved me off like a fly on their prize winning pie.
I TRIED to tell them I was really creative and a hard worker. They would have none of it. SO now I enjoy arranging flowers even more- HA!

So he walks in and I was truly shocked. Hubby home for lunch, with flowers for me to arrange, with a new book, on our 8th anniversary.
I made myself a Faux Sunrise (o.j. + Grenadine over crushed ice, w/ or w/o Sprite, OMW) as a treat- to you know, thoroughly enjoy my day.

I'm looking forward to jumping into Shanghai Girls. If you have not read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, DO IT. So great.

RECIPE TIME:
I threw four things together and it was the best meal ever. Just had to share...
(I realize this pic is not Taste of Homes quality, sorry!)

1 jar Bertolli Organic- olive oil, basil and garlic flavor
1 can artichoke, squeezed and cut up
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
3 chicken breasts cut cup
MIX, BAKE covered with foil, at 350 for almost an hour.
YUMMY!

Yes, you could serve it over pasta or whatever you like. I served it with our squash bake.

Take squash, wash and cut thin
Melt butter and mix with olive oil- both amounts to your liking
Toss together
Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning
Bake covered with foil, also at 350 for almost an hour

They were done at the same time and the best throw together meal ever.
Here is one more just for fun.
My girlfriend Amanda's most requested dish.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." Psalm 34:8
Natasha
perrymanadoption

Anniversary- 8 years

We became friends in January 1998.

My girlfriend and I wanted to play a prank on her crush so we asked a guy who lived on his floor to check us in. We ran into his room to reek havoc in his closets. When we opened the closet these two guys jumped out and shot us with waterguns. The check-in guy had snitched on us.

I saw the closet guy next day and said, "Hey, you're the guy. From yesterday. Who shot me? Aren't you?" He said he was. His name was Adam.

We became friends. Not friends that liked each other, just friends, in a big group of friends. It remained that way until Sept 1999. I started to like him first (his character hooked me) and apparently turned on the charm. He asked me straight- "Do you like me?" I told him I did but he said, "We just need to stay friends." : (

That only lasted a month before he came to me and asked if I would like to start dating him.
Our first date in October 1999.

We dated until Feb 2001. Then we got engaged. Do we not look SO young?!
Our rehearsal dinner.
Married on August 4, 2001. It was also the 50th anniversary of Adam's grandparents!
We have both been through so much in these 10 years. We bought a house, we were both laid off, I gained and lost 40 lbs., Adam was diagnosed with "idiopathic nocturnal angioedema", we processed 2 adoptions in four years, lost and gained friends, I went through counseling, we both turned 30 and most importantly we have a love that far surpasses most!
Today, our 8th anniversary and many more to come!
My favorite anniversary present was taking bridal portraits! My mom (who has a spa w/ spray tanning) needed a fair-skinned bride to take before and after pictures. She tried to book other brides but no one had their dress ready, were really white or had a good camera.

It was exciting to be the one who was able to take the pictures for her brochure. I did not have bridal portraits taken so it was a real treat. AND Adam was the one to take all the pictures. On our anniversary week!

She will be using the before and after pictures at her booth at the Tulsa Wedding Show. Here are a few of the thousands we took. (these are not the ones she choose... but you can still see the difference.)

BEFORE (this was the rehearsal dinner dress)

Fair skin...
AFTER
I went to the beach and got some "sun" in my wedding dress.
Even upclose it looked very natural!
I asked Adam what scripture he would like to put for anniversary post. He said, Proverbs 5:19. I had a good laugh. And told him to pick another one. Just another reason I think he is funny.
"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Prov 31:30

Natasha
perrymanadoption

Pour Moi { for me }

As I am always completing projects for others, it actually feels odd to be working on one for myself. The hard part comes when I am not handed a "list" of what the client wants. Usually my client says, "I want it red, with brown stripes, butterflies flying, with the word Joanna in the middle, very girly," or something to that effect. Some are DETAILED and some are just DO WHATEVER you want, but oh, but here is what I like...
So when I got a creative wave a few weeks ago, it was hard to get started as I needed to decide what did I want? WEIRD, but it was a fun challenge.
I decided to paint the white step stool in the kids bathroom. Here is the rundown of the project.
STEP 1- Sand and double coat, I mixed a turquoise green.
STEP 2- Adding bubbles, red trim and a box
STEP 3- double coat everything, add a scripture, feet print and old faucet tops
STEP 4- Splatter with black, distress the edges and add a top coat
UPCLOSE DETAILS
The Wash & Dry between the Hot and Cold old faucets
Bubbles above the little bird on a tree
Baby feet print. You make these with the side of your hand and use your fingerprints for the toes. If you have not done with with your kiddos, its always a hit. Avi Joy steps up on them when getting to the counter, cute.
Add scripture. I chose, "'Heave is My throne & the earth is My footstool, what kind of house will you build for Me?' Says the Lord." Acts 7:49
View of the side. I was pleased with the color, splatter and distressed combo.
Complete and now in the bathroom. Avi Joy is brushing her teeth on her new stool!
Painting pour moi,
Natasha
perrymanadoption

What a difference a shirt makes...

I was having one of those days when I just could not decide what to wear. (Tag it along with the excess eating, irritability & bloating and you can get the picture.) After several shirts I decided on my Hanoi tee that we bought at the Propaganda Art Shop in Vietnam.

We all head out the door to take Nehemiah to his Dr.'s check up and as I walk up to the counter there is a guy working on the computer.
He asks me, "Have you been to Vietnam?"
I say, "Yes, twice... have you?"
He says, "Yes, twice."
I am in total shock.
Everyone knows this never happens.
I became ecstatic and full of questions.
Come to find out there is a local church that has started taking 2 trips a year to VN to do some work.
He casually says, "Yeah my wife wants to move there. And she is serious."
Adam and I get a big laugh out of this : )
We talk all about what cities we visited and how it is hard to just up and move because all the "details" seem overwhelming. (job, house, school)

AND the funny thing was when I asked the guy his name, he told me, but tagged on, "Oh and I actually don't work here, I was just called in from my company for tech support. I am finished and need to get going." I MEAN WOW.

It was a precious reminder from the Lord that He knows my heart. He knows what makes it sing. We pray for open doors daily to connect us and our children to Vietnam and here was an answered prayer.

Needless to say, I called the churches m-pastor when I got home and we are hoping to go someday - or help send.

I know most families integrate their children's heritage to some extent. Some way more than others. For us, its just a love for our children and their birthland that cannot be separated.

We have hooked up with one of the local VN churches and on August 23rd are starting Vietnamese lessons! Avi Joy, my mom and I will be attending. How awesome is it that my mom wants to join us, The Amazing NanNa!

"And so I will show My greatness and My holiness, and I will make Myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 38:23

Wishin I was Sippin some Vietnamese coffee (with condensed milk)
Natasha
perrymanadoption

Today I took my son to have a "little procedure" as we are calling it. I had a beautiful time caring for him and in one moment my heart overflowed...

As he was waking up from anesthesia he started to cry. I picked him up to comfort him and gave him a bottle. He fell asleep in my arms only to go through bouts of flailing, screaming and sleeping again.

As I kept holding him, all of a sudden a song burst out of my mouth.
(Now I do love to sing, I sing all the time. I am not good at it, but I like too.) Each of my kiddos has a song I made up just for them.
When I was singing to Nehemiah's he was so relaxed. He smiled and gazed at me, babbled and rested. But when I stopped, he was fussy.

Then the holy moment came.
God planted revelation in my heart by reminding me of this verse.
"The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17

Then the tears.

To think. I am picked up, comforted, given something to drink, rocked, patted and ultmately sang too. All this so that I will smile, gaze, babble and rest in Him.

OH LORD, you are so good. What would I do without believing that my God comforts in this way.
If you have not experienced this kind of comfort. Run to Jesus. "Come near to God and He will come near to you." James 4:8


We had our 5th To Be Free Women's Ministry this weekend!
The speakers did an awesome job and I know seeds of freedom were planted in every heart.
Pictured with Bernadette and April, co-leaders in the ministry.

Sippin QT half hot chocolate/ half decaf with flavor. Try it!
Natasha
perrymanadoption

Its gettin hot in here

I am one of those who refused to get an email account until starting college when they required me to get one. I was actually mad about it. But now, come on, I can't live without it.

I was stubborn about starting a blog because it seemed like too much work. But I loved reading my friends' blogs, so I did it. And it's so easy and a great way for family/friends to see your kiddo's growing and share your thoughts! (and now that you can print your blog in a book, its better than scrapbooking.)

I DID NOT want to get into the Facebook thing because it was introduced to me by my very cool college aged cousin who said it was, "like, all the rage." I wasn't going to go there. But after some real poking by some friends, I joined and yes, I ... well you will have to read on to see what I think.

I have not texted or used twitter. I do not plan too. But you can see from my past history here, things aren't looking good for me.

So like yo' Facebook me. My issue with facebook.
First I want to say I like it. I really do. I like the 'today' part of it. Seeing what is going on now.
But what I do NOT like is...
The quizzes, votes and polls.
I have tried to get into them, but just can't. Again, check my past history, you will probably see "what celebrity would play you in a movie" quiz tomorrow on my facebook.

Obvously I know all the people taking them, so it is interesting, but some polls are just wanting to add gas to a fire. Namely, vote yes or no to gay marriage.
This one really got my goat. By the nipples. and twisted. then pierced them.

Here is why.
I know God's Word says we are not to judge. I am not judging here. We are told to stick to what the Bible says so I will. Our personal opinions are now subject to His standards.
If you are not in Christ, I don't expect you to hold to His teachings, but if you are, I do.

In general we do not want people living in a harmful lifestyle...
We do not want people to murder, have orgies, lie, commit adultry, live in rage, or fear, molesting or abusing, having a jealous heart, full of greed, lust, I could go on and on here.

But WHY? Because it is NOT what is BEST for the person.

We want what is best for someone. God wants us to be free from sin through Jesus and depend on Him to NOT LIVE in that sin. Daily dying to our desires and choosing to live for Him. Hard? Ummm, YES!!!
Its the whole "love the person, hate the sin" thing.
I want someone to love me and hate my sin.

So... born that way? This is the great rebuke. Yes, we are all born that way. A slave to sin. In bondage to the world. Loving delicious sin that is not God's best.
People say," just love them the way they are." I am supposed to love my neighbor as myself, not the choices they make. Those who want to break free, its totally possible. I have to believe we can break free from ANY sin that holds us captive. If I didn't, where would my faith in God lie?

OK, OK, off the soapbox. Basically I am just disappointed. I am hurt. When people I know who love Jesus do not take a stand for what God's Word says, its like a slap in the face. Confusing. And they are airing it with the facebook world. I know there is someone on the fence about it and they see someone they trust vote Yes to something and now they will too.

P.S. I KNOW I continually get tangled in sin -and struggle in many areas, but do not want to remain in the sin. I have also been rebuked by fellow believers to keep me in check. (Gossip, hateful, controlling, just to scrape the surface) And you know who you are- thank you. This blog is not to check anyone, it is to air my heart and what is going on in my life.
Leviticus 18:22

Sippin some hot tea!
Natasha

a bit self indulgent

As Simon from American Idol would say, "I think it was a bit self indulgent." Well that explains this blog post. But its my blog and I'll be indulgent if I want too.

From the 5th grade when I got my hands on my first bottle of Sun In, my haircolor has not stopped changing color. I recently made it back to natural color, but then one day thought- I want to go dark red, then all that hard work was instantly changed with my five dollar bottle of hair dye.
In high school I stuck with the blonde shades. In college the reds/oranges and in the last few years the darks shades of brown/black. If haircolor made a wife, Adam has been married to many different women. Thank goodness he doesn't have any favorites (or so he says).
Here was the super short almost black. This is my personal favorite.

I had the best time in beauty school. Thanks to being laid off from teaching, my unemployment paid for me to accomplish one of my dreams, being a "beauty operator." That is the official term, ask anyone over 70 yr's old and that is what we were called.
During those 9 months I, the beauty operator, was able to perm, streak, color, style and seriously do anything my heart desired to my hair and my girlfriends hair. So much fun!

This month marks 2 years that I decided to let my hair grow long. I had not had long hair for about 10 years and so I made a pact with myself to just do it. Now thats it is long, my thoughts: girly, don't have to wash it everyday, easy to wear up, looks "pretty" but not necessarily cool.

I have been looking like this... fairly normal
Summer is here and now I look like this... (a few more blonde highlights are still needed) but basically its strawberry with blonde highlights and a little shorter. Fun for a season, then who knows, maybe I'll cut it into a faux hawk or section off some dreadlocks.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are still full of greed and self-indulgence." Matthew 23:25

Enjoying something new,
Natasha