Learning When to Say YES!

Saying "YES!" does not come naturally for me.  My knee jerk response is always, always no!  But in the last years, God has been teaching me that I need to learn to say yes to Him.

The funny thing is, the more I practice saying "YES!" the less terrifying it becomes!  In fact, I have become quiet passionate about being open to God's will for my life.  Slowly but surely, saying yes is becoming my first response.

You know how it goes though. . . just when you think you have it "figured out" God throws you a curve ball.  (sigh)

I shared a few weeks ago that Chad and I have completed another home study, but beyond that I have chosen to keep any adoption related thoughts quiet.  In truth, I have done that for a couple of reasons.  First we are not totally sure what this next adoption may look like.  We are open to many different things, and we are just hanging out trusting that God will open and close doors in accordance to His will.  Secondly, I fear this (possible) addition will not be as eagerly anticipated by those around us as Joshua's was.  (And do I have the strength to proceed when all the obvious reasons to NOT are pointed out - over and over?)

Saying yes to another (possible) adoption is both easier and harder than saying yes to Joshua's process.  It is easier because it is not totally unfamiliar.  We have been there/done that.  Yet, that is the exact same reason that it is harder this time! 

Just so you know, I do remember

• how hard the wait was.
• how long and intense the early bonding/attachment phase was.
• how much it cost - in time, financially, and emotionally.
• that I currently am a busy mom of 5.
• that it would make more "sense" to wait a couple years.  Then Krissy will be in college and no one would have to share a room.

But I also remember

• the joy that Joshua brings to our home every day.
• God has provided everything we need just when we need it.
• how much I love being a mom.
• how my heart is broken for the fatherless.
• that God desires obedience when He calls.

I could add to both lists, but in the end all that matters is that Chad and I both believe that God truly wants us to tip-toe forward with open hearts ready to do His will.  You see, like Jonah, I tried ignoring His call.  For about 9 months, I walked around with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.  You know that feeling of guilt you carry when you know what you should do, but you are refusing to do it.  I knew that God was asking us to renew our homestudy.  Knew.  Yet I still stalled.  I had lots of excuses.  It was too expensive.  I was not ready.  I was too busy.  Finally, one Sunday in November I emailed our social worker telling her we were ready to update our homestudy.  Wouldn't you know it, my stomach ache disappeared.

Since then, God has thrown us a lot of "curve balls."  (In fact for a few weeks in December, we thought we would have 2 more children by now!)  But the crazy thing is, as we walk day by day saying "Yes, God! Our deepest desire is to serve you." my heart is peaceful. 

That does not mean some days are not hard and heartbreaking. 

Chad and I are very open to adopting our of birth order this time.  And although we are willing to adopt domestically or internationally, we are drawn to adopting through the foster care system.

And that is where the hard and heartbreak comes in.

Have you ever logged onto a website, praying that God will open the eyes of your heart to the child/children He has chosen for you?

Have you ever looked at those beautiful children's pictures, looked into their eyes, and read their profiles trying to decide if you could "handle" their "issues?"

Oh how it hurts my heart!

In my opinion, one of the limitations to adopting through the US foster care system, is ALL the information available.  When you adopt internationally, you receive next to no information.  You most likely receive a short medical report, a short social history, and some pictures.  Then you say yes or no, trusting that God will set the right "lonely one" onto your family.

Children in the US foster care system come with a daunting amount of documentation.  They come with labels, diagnosis, and treatment plans.  They come with report after report after report.  And each report is filled with heartbreak. Abuse. Neglect. Under-age mothers. Addicted fathers. A long string of care-givers. Many "behaviors."

It makes me want to vomit as I think about how much hurt and trauma children have endured.

What/who do we say yes to?  What/who do say no to?  How do I say no to a child?  How do I say yes?

One day last week, our social worker sent me a report on some children and asked if I wanted any more information about them.  What I read, I wish I could forget.  But I also knew that although they were in desperate need of a family, they had more needs and deeper needs than we could deal with.  So I emailed an apology to our social worker. 

She responded with much grace and wisdom.  She told me, "There is no shame in saying no to me, only in saying no to the Lord."

There is so much to learn from in that one sentence.

So, I continue to learn.  I continue to seek His will. 

In all things.

One Loooong Week

 Monday night Krissy had a choir concert.

 Tuesday, Jamison had a basketball game.

 It was close, but they won!

 Tuesday, Joshua got to go shopping with Grandpa Scott of a cowboy belt - all! by! himself!

He loves it!

He can not understand why Krissy thinks it is "weird to tuck in his shirt."

After all "Grampa doos dat!"

Wednesday, I brought 7 kids to church.
And then brought them all home.

(no pics of that crazy fun)

 Thursday, Jamison had another basketball game.

Brenna attends mostly for the treats Grammy fills her pockets with!

 It was another close game,

 but they pulled it off once again.

 Just between you and me - basketball stresses me out!

I always love to watch my son, however track and cross country are much less stressful for this momma!

Friday, Joshua "helped" daddy at work for a while.

Then he "helped" me!
(Friday is my favorite day because Joshua gets to be with me at work some!)

And in 2 hours. . .

We will watch Jamison play another ball game!
(They won!)

Add to that the biggest workload I have had thus far at my jobs,

one last minute house showing (and the cleaning that goes with it),

12 loads of laundry,

5 meals cooked,

and one doctors appointment,

and I feel and look like a mom of 5, with two jobs, a golden retriever, and NO cleaning lady.

Really, really tired!

Good news though, tomorrow is Saturday!

So thankful, too, that my week was full because of busyness, not tragedy or sickness.

Now I Happy!

The above picture was taken while an adoptive friend traveled to Ethiopia to bring home her son in Feb/March of 2009.  She was the first person who checked on Joshua Gebeyehu for us.  While I had seen other pictures she took while on this trip, I had never seen this one before this weekend when she posted it on facebook.  (In this picture Joshua Gubs is in the background on the far right side sitting in the swing.  He is wearing pink pants.  The little guy in the front of the swing is her son.)

Seeing Joshua looking so un-Joshua-like, still breaks my heart.  On this trip my friend estimated his age to be no more than 16 to 18 mo.  Joshua was not walking well at all and she described him as very babylike.  We believe that Joshua was actually 28 to 29 mo. at the time this photo was snapped.

While it is good for me to remember all this, I am actually sharing it for a different purpose.

Joshua has no cognitive memories of being in Ethiopia.  He never says, "I remember doing, eating, seeing__________________ in Ethiopia."  We talk about Ethiopia every day, and he asks a lot of questions, but he contributes no memories to our conversations.

Anyway, I showed him the above photo.  He looked and looked at it.

Then he said, "That me?"

I told him it was!  I said I could not believe how much he has changed.

He responded, "I 'ook sad.  I not happy Ethiopia.  I waiting, waiting for you get me."

I snuggled him tight and said that I agreed, he does look sad in this picture.

He gave me the biggest, tightest hug ever.  Then he responded, "I NOT sad anymore!  Now I happy!"

Me too, my son.  Me too.

Basement Basketball

 Boys basketball season has begun!  Which means a drastic change to our routine as several basketball games each week are added to our schedule.  Not that I am complaining!  I love to watch Jamison play!

Going to games has given Joshua "basketball fever!"

 Jamison is an incredibly patient coach!  Joshua is not the most teachable of players.  He prefers all the attention and none of the tips!

 So we hear a lot of "Jay!  My turn!" and "Hey mom!  Look at me!"  and "Jayyymisonnnn let me have the ball! (even though Joshua has his own ball)

 Jamison just laughs, rolls his eyes, and eventually picks up his little brother and tickles him.

 Once in a while, Joshua gives Jamison some space to display his moves.

Between these two basement basketball players, the sound of a basketball being dribbled and shot through a hoop permeates our home.  And I love it! 

Some day (far in the distance) our home will be silent,

so today I am thankful for the slap of the ball against the tile,

the victory yell after a tough shot is drained,

and even the arguing over whose turn it is to have the ball.

My boys playing basement basketball make my heart smile.

Losing My Innocence

Two years ago today we saw Joshua Gebeyehu's face for the very first time.  This picture still takes my breath away.  I still want to scoop him up out of that crib, hold him close to my heart, and never let go.  And by the grace of God, that is now our reality. 

By the grace of God, Joshua is chattering away while I type.

By the grace of God, he snuggled in a hot bath with his daddy this morning.

By the grace of God, he dug through his drawers full of clean clothes trying to decide what he wanted to wear this morning.

By the grace of God, we giggled over doughnuts for breakfast.

I am so thankful for God's grace.

As I think over the last 28 months, I am still overwhelmed by the mountains that God has moved to grow me into the person I am today.  28 months ago I was living in my own little world.  I was busy caring for "my own."  I did not feel like I was "called to missions."  I was "busy enough" singing on the worship team, teaching Sunday School, and keeping up with my kids, our home, and our business.  The word "orphan" had next to no meaning to me.  After all, I did not know any orphans. (I talk about 28 months in this post because although we saw Joshua's face for the first time 24 months ago today, the 4 months leading up to his referral were very significant in shapingour hearts.)

That description makes me sound very self-centered and shallow.  And although no one around me at the time would have described me using those words, it is how I feel about my "old self" today.  However, ignorant or innocent would probably be a more fair description.

28 months ago, I did not know:

• that there are 147 Million orphans in the world
• that when Jesus said to care for orphans he was talking to all of us
• anything about Ethiopia
• anything about adoption
• anything about how trauma, malnutrition, and loss effect brain development
• anything about attachment and bonding
• how God could knit a child into my heart that had not grown in my belly
• how it felt to stand in a room full of orphans waiting for mommy's
• how it felt to hold and love a child that called me mommy, but did not know what a mommy was
• how much time it takes for wounds to heal
• how much capacity I had to love
• how much I have to offer

In the last 28 months, I feel like I have lost my innocence.  There is no longer a day that goes by that I am not thankful for clean water, food in my fridge, clothes on my back, and the ability to provide for my children.  There is not a day that goes by that I do not ask God how and who he wants me to serve.

Once in a while I miss my innocence.  I think I'd like to make a purchase without thinking about how much the money I am spending could impact the life of someone else.  But in actuality, I am so thankful.  I am grateful for each and everything I have learned because my life is so much richer and has so more meaningful now than it had 28 months ago.  I know God so much more intimately.  My heart is so much more joyful and grateful.

I can only hope that 28 months from now I will realize that God has continued to grow me, to teach me, to shape me.  I hope to continue to lose my innocence as I seek Him in all things great and small.

I celebrate today the gift that Joshua Gebeyehu is in my life.  I celebrate all he has accomplished and all the ways that he has grown.  I celebrate all the ways that he has grown me.

To God be the glory, great things He has done.

His Heart of Worship

I am so thankful I took so much time to record all Joshua's firsts last winter.  I think both he and I needed to celebrate each accomplishment and transition.  As everything has stabilized (and I have gone back to work), I have not  been as good at recording each and every moment.  But once and a while there is a moment that just takes my breath away, a moment when I wonder if I should run for my camera or just stand in awe.

This morning was one of those magic moments.  A moment so simply pure that I want to hide it in my heart forever.

Joshua LOVES to play Chad's guitar.  LOVES is an understatement.  Some days he spends more time strumming the guitar than he spends playing with toys.  In fact on New Year's Eve he requested to play.  Chad was in the middle of cooking appetizers, and he told Joshua to go ahead and play.  Joshua asked for a pick.  Thinking that he would only play for about 4 minutes, like a typical 4 year old, Chad told Joshua that he could play without a pick.  Joshua played for about 45 minutes.  Then he put the guitar away.  Later that night he showed me his thumb, because there was "something funny on it."  He had a HUGE blister covering his whole thumb.  Chad felt terrible!  We now keep a pick right where Joshua can reach it!

Anyway, this morning I was picking up the house enjoying just being at home.  Joshua was in out bedroom strumming away as usual.  I paused for a minute trying to listen to the words of the song he was composing.  I am so glad I did. 

He was strumming and strumming while singing, "I yunna yorship you!  I yunna yorship you!" over and over and over with a purity and sincerity I can only hope to imitate.

 His sweet, pure, simple song brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my heart.

Can you even imagine how his Creator felt?

She's Glowing

Krissy has inherited a bit of her Dad's love of cars.

Chad installed underglow lighting in her car for Christmas, and she loves it!

I have been attacked by a "killer cold" this week. Laying in bed this morning, I wondered how I would make it through the day.  Although I do not work at church on Thursday, I had a small mountain of work to do for Chad's business.  I also had a sizeable list of things I thought I should do around the house.

After my morning shower I was exhausted.  That convinced me that my list needed to be reduced to essential bookkeeping tasks and our family's laundry (clean undies are a must!).

Krissy had the day off, and I was feeling bad that I was not up to something fun.  Little did I know that she would be exactly what I needed to get through the day.  She helped me so much.  She played with Joshua while I got the paperwork I needed to get done completed.  She swapped loads of laundry and folded a load of clothes.  Best of all, she kept Joshua entertained while I took a 2 hour nap.  It was pure heaven.

I am feeling a bit guilty that she spent her day off taking care of me, but I could not appreciate it more.

Sometimes people ask how we could possibly "handle" having five children.  I always tell them that I am totally completely blessed by my kids.  They are now at the ages and stages where there is almost always someone to help me, almost always someone who likes me, and honestly, almost always someone who is irritated with me.  While I say that as a bit of a joke, I certainly appreciate the help that my kids so often provide.  I don't know what I would do without them!

(Chad, too!  He made breakfast and supper!  He knows my love language is not having to cook!)

New Resource - "Connecting with Kids Through Stories"

I just finished reading Connecting with Kids Through Stories by Denise B. Lacher.  I loved it!

It was written by therapists that have worked with adoptive families for many years, however I believe the technique described is VERY transferable to any child.

The basic premise of the book is that we often learn more readily through stories than through rewards, consequences, or lectures.  I know this is true for me.  When someone tells me a story, true or not, it opens my mind to new possibilities without me even realizing it.  I begin to imagine what it would be like to be in that characters place without feeling "my" feelings. 

The best example I have of this is in two books I have read in the past year.  The first is Radical.  Radical is an incredible "how to book."  The author describes how he feels we are called to live as Christians.  It is fairly clear-cut and "in your face."  I loved it, and I was totally overwhelmed by it. Contrast that book with Kisses from Katie.  Kisses from Katie is an autobiography.  It is Katie Davis telling her story of a radical life in Christ.  She is working in Uganda, serving the poorest of the poor, washing their feet (literally).  She merely shares her life and her heart.  She does not lecture that we should all become "Katie Davis," but in reading of her life, I was certainly inspired to do more, reach deeper, and work harder.

Both teaching styles are good.  Both are valid and useful.  However, often the kinder, gentler, "sneakier" approach works best.  Especially when introducing a skill or an idea that seems nearly impossible or will send up emotional flares of panic or doubt.

Using this technique to connect with and correct kids would go something like this:

1. Identify the source of the problem.  (Often we realize only the problem.  For example, my child is driving me crazy!  He refuses to share his toys.  But we do not take the time and energy to try and find the root of the problem.  The first step in this approach is to try to figure out why your child is acting the way he/she is.  What purpose is that behavior serving, or has it served in the past?)
2. How do you think your child needs to grow in order to change this behavior?  (Does he need to come to terms with past hurts in order to move forward?  Does he need to realize what the new behavior would look like?  Does he need to be inspired about how great it will feel when he accomplishes the new skill?)
3. Once these things have been thought out, parents construct stories that will be told and retold to their child that describe the source of the problem, the development of skills needed to move forward with the desired behavior, and finally the triumphant display of the new behavior.

Say what?

Let me give you a very simple example.

Friday mornings I leave for work really early - like 6AM.  I always try to sneak out of the house before Joshua wakes up because if I am gone when he wakes up he does really well.  If I am there but need to leave quickly, he panics because he wants more time to snuggle.  The separation combined with his sleepy brain is just too much.

Last Friday he woke up before I left.  He immediately started to whine about not wanting me to go to work, not wanting daddy time (which he loves, for the record.)  He latched his little arms around my neck and had NO desire to let go!

At that point I had a decision to make.  Try this new story telling approach I have been reading about OR ask Chad to peel Joshua off of me and make a run for it.  I decided that I could at least try this story approach because the worst that could happen is that Chad would have to peel him off of me after my kinder gentler attempt.

So I launched into a story about a little boy who loved to spend Friday mornings with his daddy.  I went into all kinds of detail about how much fun they had, the things they did together, and how safe the little boy felt with his daddy.  Then I said that one morning this little boy woke up and decided he only wanted his mommy!  He felt snugly and mommy's lap just felt sooo good.  But mommy had to leave.  He grabbed mommy and did not want to let go.  I described his Mommy telling him all about the things he would do with daddy that morning and how he felt excited at the thoughts, but he still wanted his mommy!  I described how the little boy remembered that when he says good bye to mommy bravely he is rewarded by getting to go to her office for lunch.  I then told him in much detail how the little boy unwrapped his arms from his mommy's neck and kissed her good-bye.  He still felt a tiny bit sad inside, but he was also excited about daddy time.  Besides he remembered how much fun it is to have lunch at mommy's office.  He gave his mommy a big kiss and then asked her to beep beep her horn 3 times when she drove away.

This story took about 5 minutes to tell.  Joshua listened intently.  When I got done, I said "OK mommy has to go to work now.  I can't wait to see you at lunch time!"  (Notice no lecture.  No try to sneak in a lesson just to make sure he got the point)  Joshua gave me a longer than usual hug, and I admit I held my breath a bit.  He said, "I want you stay at home!"  I told him that would be fun, but we had to wait until tomorrow for a stay at home day.  I reminded him how excited I was to see him at lunch though.  He gave me a little grin.  Then he climbed off my lap and reminded me to beep-beep before I drove away!

Now, this technique is not usually "instantaneous."  It usually takes many tellings and retellings of a story.  Stories often have to be told in parts, and each part has to be "digested" before the next chapter is told.  In my example, I told a story of a behavior Joshua already has the skills for and has successfully exhibited a number of times.  Do not be frustrated if you do not have instant results, however take note of his success!  By reminding him "sneakily" of what he has done, he was re-prepared to say good-bye without tears or tantrums!

I have very much simplified this fantastic approach to connecting with our kids while helping them to heal and move forward.  Hopefully, my simple review will inspire you to read this excellent resource!  It really was packed with very do-able ideas, and it offered many glimpses into why our kids may behave the way they do sometimes. 

Getting to the root rather than just correcting the symptom makes total sense to me!

Skating!!!

It was a BIG day in Joshua's world.

He got to go ice skating!!!

Joshua's Godparents, Luke and Ashlee, are MAJOR Sioux hockey fans.  They have been carefully planting the seeds of "Sioux loyalty" in our son.  He has caught the hook, big time!

It has not been a popular choice with his siblings who prefer the Bison and football to anything Sioux, especially hockey.  Pretty much our entire extended family has fought his Sioux fascination, but he continues to hold fast!

On a few occasions this has caused a bit of squabbling in our home.  He once told Krissy and Jamison that they looked "yucky" all dressed in Bison green and gold.  He was certain he would never wear that "yucky Bison stuff.  Because I (Joshua) only I likes the Sioux!"  His siblings were in an uproar over that comment.  His Grandpa Scott was not too thrilled either! (Not to mention Uncle Jeremy, Auntie Teresa, and Auntie Miranda, etc...)

So peacemaker that I am. . . I bought him a Bison shirt for Christmas, just to even out his wardrobe.  (Luke and Ashlee has already bought him a Sioux shirt!)  I kept telling him to cheer for Sioux hockey and Bison football!

Yes.  I know, all you true sports fans are seething.  "It" just does not work that way in your world.  However, I do not speak sports.  I just want everyone to win.  (corny but true)  And I just want everyone to get along!  It is a solution that works for me.  The Bison do not play hockey, so it seems a good compromise in my little world.

Joshua made his family proud this weekend as he cheered for the Bison as they won the National Championship football game.  I know everyone had high hopes, but I fear they may have been dashed today!

Today our son skated! 

I have to type that again.  Today our son skated!

The same son that could not jump one year ago today!  The very one who could not go up and down steps one foot at a time, either, just one year ago.  He was delayed, and we were worried.  We worked and played and prayed and played and worked and prayed some more.

And today our son skated!

Not only did he skate, he went to the rink with his Godparents all by himself.  All by himself!!! And he did great!

Whether you like the Sioux or the Bison, you have to cheer for that sports story!

(When I told Chad that Joshua was skating he said, "Can you even imagine what his birth family would think?  Our little Ethiopian son skating on ice. . ." )

There are so many miracles in this simple accomplishment.  I am so thankful for each and every one.

Historic Warmth

Way up North, we have been enjoying the warmest, driest winter I can ever remember!

In fact today it was so warm - almost 60* - that Chad wore shorts to work to celebrate!

I had to capture a picture, because even in the summer it is rare for him to wear shorts to work!

We have NO snow, NO ice, NO slush!

We are thrilled!

We will love this kind of record breaking!

For My "Fake" Friend

The time between Joshua's referral and traveling to bring him home, was the longest, hardest, most difficult time in my life.  Knowing without a doubt that he was our son, and simultaneously knowing that he was in an orphanage was nearly unbearable.  Truly, is there any worse place to think of a child being than an orphanage?!?  The time it took to process paperwork and pass court seemed like such a waste.  My heart was shredded thinking of my son all alone.

During that time I was blessed with some friends who loved me like never before.  Mary, Karri, Teresa, Sharlene, Ashlee, and Kristen - I could not have walked those days without your prayers, encouragement, and love.  Truly.

I was also blessed with a couple of new and as my kids called them "fake" friends.  There were a couple of mom's who were also waiting for the arrival of their Ethiopian children who loved, supported, and encouraged me.  That was such a surprising blessing.

Prior to Joshua's adoption I had very little interest in the Internet.  I was not on FaceBook.  I had never read a blog.  Chat groups were not my thing.  I liked privacy!  But as we entered the realm of International adoption, I realized that there were few people nearby who I could learn from and who would understand my heart.  So, I needed to "go more public."

I started this blog, and I joined my first Yahoo group.  I also read lots and lots of other blogs.  More than any other way, God prepared me for Joshua's arrival through the stories other families shared on their blogs.  I learned much about attachment, hearing God, walking in faith, God's heart for the orphan, orphan care, travel in Ethiopia, and details about Joshua Gebeyehu's personality through blogs and our agencies Yahoo group.  I have told people that the Internet has grown my faith more than anything else, and I am not joking.

By the beginning of May 2010 (3 weeks before we traveled to get Joshua), I really did not think I could wait another hour to see our son.  I was ridiculously miserable.  About that time, my "fake" friend Dardi traveled to Ethiopia to bring home her son.

While in Ethiopia she sent me these photo:

Now I understand that they do not have quite as much impact on you as they did on me, but at that time they were truly the most precious gifts I could receive.  To see Joshua Gebeyehu by the pictures of our family was so exciting to me.  He had seen us!  I knew he did not understand fully, but he had seen us!  In the bottom photo he was holding the rings we had sent him, and smiling mischievously.

Dardi also emailed me his shoe size.  She told me he was potty trained!  She sent a couple of funny stories that revealed a bit of his personality.  And, she was honest - letting me know how he had cried when he realized that he was not going to go with Dardi, her new son, and her daughter Kam.  She told me he was ready and waiting for us.

Dardi has continued to encourage me as mom and as a sister in Christ through little comments on my blog, advice on "mega momma mobiles," and in sharing her heart/ her God stories on her blog.

This is my friend Dardi and her family.

I tell you about them today because they (finally) need a favor from me. . . from us!  I, at long last, have the opportunity to help and encourage her family.

You see they are in the process of adopting a little girl from China.  They are thrilled to report that the process is going more quickly than anyone (save God) could have predicted.  However the quicker process made for less time to save funds, and they are a bit short.  That means we have the opportunity to help.

Now, you have all heard my lectures before about how every dollar matters to God.  Please trust Him with your gifts, large or small.  God does not need money, He just teaches us through it.  And He does not come up with a plan that He can not pay for.  I trust Him to multiply our gifts to meet the need od my friend Dardi and her little Kemeri.

To contribute to this family, please click here.

To follow their journey via Dardi's blog, click here.

Father God, thank you for the blessing that Dardi has been to me.  Thank you for the example she is.  Thank you for calling her and her family.  Thank you for Kemeri.  Thank you that she will soon be on the hip of her loving momma.  She is almost home, God.  We trust you to continue to move mountains as You set this child into the family You have chosen for her.  We know that You will meet each and every need they encounter.  Please pour out Your blessings on each gift and upon each giver - as only You can.

Pheasant Chili

Even though my pheasant hunters decided to sit out (or was it sleep through) today's hunt, we feasted on pheasant for supper.  If you have any pheasant in your freezer, this recipe is a MUST try!  (I am sure it would be yummy with chicken too.)

Pheasant Chili:

(serves 10-12)

2 lb boneless pheasant breast (cubed)

1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp onion powder

1 chopped onion

2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

2 - 15 oz can Northern Beans

2 - 7 oz cans diced green chilies

2 - 15 oz cans black beans with jalapenos

2 - 14 oz cans chicken broth

2 cups sour cream

1 cup whipping cream

Instructions: Saute meat, onion, green chilies, and all spices in olive oil until meat is fully cooked.  Add all canned ingredients.  Heat until boiling and then turn down and simmer for 30 min.  Stir in sour cream and whipping cream.  Serve once sour cream is melted in nicely.  (This can also be kept on low in your crock pot and served as hunters come in from the field.  However, do not allow to boil once creams are added.)

This was very delicious and easy! 

Enjoy!