Becoming a Family

The Adventure Project-water revolution

2011-02-13T11:17:00.003-05:00

The Adventure Project is at it again- this time in India. Please take a minute to read how you can make a difference in lives around the world through dignity investments.

http://jodyrlanders.com/?p=10253

(photo from Esther Havens)

Brotherly teamwork

2011-01-24T10:29:00.001-05:00

Belachew came up with a plan to get Hudson out of his crib recently...

Water and Coal for Christmas

2010-11-24T13:38:00.003-05:00

Water For Christmas well in Gbeivonwea, Liberia. from charity: water (special donors) on Vimeo.

I love Jody. We met a couple years ago at the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit. Her heart and vision inspire me. Her efforts to fight poverty issues and to fight for justice are a great reminder that if we worked together and each gave as we were able to, we could take on some of the major issues challenging our world today and impact many lives.

If you are not sure what to give for Christmas this year, consider water or coal.

(picture from The Adventure Project)

Brothers

2010-11-15T21:30:00.002-05:00

These two love each other so much. They also love to annoy each other. Typical brothers.

2010-11-14T22:59:00.005-05:00

Its been a while since I have posted, but I hope to do some catch-up posts soon.

In the mean time, we had some family photos taken this week by Micah Bell. He offered a special package for adoptive families during the month of November, which is National Adoption Month. We are grateful for his thoughfulness and desire to do something special for adoptive families.

Geremu and Belachew together again- 2010

2010-08-30T21:33:00.003-04:00

The weekend following the boys' birthday celebration, some friends invited us to use their lakehouse in Michigan. We were excited for the opportunity to get away as a family. We asked Geremu's family to join us. The took the ferry from Wisconsin across Lake Michigan and joined us for a couple days.

The lakehouse was wonderful and the weather was perfect. It was Hudson's first beach experience and although he was a bit unsure at first, he quickly began to enjoy playing in the sand and water.

Belachew and Geremu were very close friends in Ethiopia. They are from the same part of the country and lived together in the care center for several months. They have a special bond and it is so great to see them together. The boys had a blast together and it is always sad to say good-bye. We look forward to many more opportunities to get these boys together over the years.

(I stole these pictures from Ann Marie, I'll try to post some more later)

More birthday pics

2010-08-26T13:16:00.002-04:00

Belachew, my animal loving boy, wanted to have a lion, tiger, cheetah party. Hudson likes animals too, so we went with the theme. Both sets of grandparents were able to join us to celebrate birthdays. We had a party for family and friends. Belachew also had a party at the spray park with some friends. We had some special time as a family and the boys got to blow out candles on their own birthday.

Lion, Tiger, #5, and #2 cupcakes

Hudson blowing out his candle

Belachew at the spray park with friends

Belachew blowing out the candles

August birthday boys

2010-08-18T15:47:00.005-04:00

We had two birthdays to celebrate this past week.

Hudson turned 2

and Belachew turned 5

(wearing his Superwhy mask and cape, one of his favorite gifts)

More birthday celebration photos to come...

First day of school

2010-08-18T15:45:00.003-04:00

Belachew started pre-kindergarten today. We are thankful to have found an amazing Christ-centered school with a focus on racial and economic reconciliation. Belachew was excited and a little anxious, but he did great his first day! We are so proud of him.

My little football fan

2010-08-05T21:19:00.001-04:00

We had some friends come to visit this week, who are big Colts fans and wanted to go to their training camp. We took the boys and they had a blast, throwing the football, eating snowcones, and watching the players. I think Belachew may now be a Colts fan for life.

Home from Kenya

2010-07-02T23:58:00.000-04:00

In Kenya...

2010-06-22T11:06:00.001-04:00

2 years

2010-06-08T21:17:00.004-04:00

June 6 was our two year anniversary of being home with Belachew. We celebrated by going to an Ethiopian restaurant and letting Belachew chose a special friend to join us. Afterwards, we came home and watched the video of the first time we met Belachew. He loved watching it and the next day asked to watch it again.

Belachew is such an amazing boy. He makes us laugh and keeps us on our toes. He has a great energy about him and people are drawn to him. He is a great gift to us from God. We are grateful for the ones that gave him life, and for the ones who made the difficult decision to bring him to an orphanage.

Arriving home

June 6, 2008

With friends at the Ethiopian restaurant

Giveaways, for a good cause

2010-05-27T23:31:00.004-04:00

Check out this blog for some great necklaces that support a family's adoption from Ethiopia.

Tracy at JunkePosse is having a giveaway for Artists for Hope bracelets made in Haiti.

Summer is here!

2010-05-24T10:21:00.003-04:00

Haiti

2010-05-10T21:42:00.002-04:00

The media coverage of Haiti has slowed down, but children and families there are still greatly in need:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wirestory?id=10600403&page=1

Please, let us not forget the people of Haiti and let us show our care through prayers and action.

Because Every Mother Matters

2010-05-08T21:39:00.005-04:00

As we celebrate Mother's Day this weekend, I've been reflecting on how thankful I am to be a mother. Being a mother is probably the hardest thing I have ever done, but it is also one of the most rewarding. I am so thankful for the two little boys in my life who call me "mama."

I've also been thinking about Belachew and Hudson's birthmothers. The women who carried them in their womb and gave them life. I am forever thankful for these women. In honor of them this Mother's Day, we have made a donation to Because Every Mother Matters.

Because Every Mother Matters is working to build a maternity clinic in Ethiopia. In East Africa, 1 in 11 women die to childbirth related causes. Women dying in childbirth means more orphans. I think a big part of being involved in orphan care is helping figure out how to prevent orphans in the first place and keep families together. As Steffany, the founder of Because Every Mother Matters said "Every mother matters....because every child deserves a mother. "

You can make a donation to Because Every Mother Matters here.

World AIDS Orphans Day

2010-05-07T00:15:00.003-04:00

Today, May 7, is World AIDS Orphans Day. More than 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS, and less than 10% of the children receive any external support.

If you are looking for a way to make a difference in the life of a child affected by AIDS, AHOPE is an amazing organization caring for AIDS orphans in Ethiopia. You can find out more about AHOPE and ways to support their mission here.

Here is a great post written by an adoptive mother and advocate of adopting HIV+ children.

Baptism

2010-05-04T14:57:00.001-04:00

Hudson and Belachew were baptized this weekend. We were told that Belachew was baptized as an infant in Ethiopia, according to the tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (male infants are baptized at 40 days, females at 80 days). So for Belachew, our church recognized his baptism and we took vows, as parents and as a congregation. Hudson was baptized with water and the same vows were taken by us as his parents and by our congregation.

Paul was able to perform the baptism and it was full of emotion. We were reminded of the great responsibility and privilege we have of raising these boys. As Paul shared about the boys' names and their meanings, we were reminded of the birthfamilies who gave our boys life. We are so thankful for the great gift of these boys, but also know that this behind this gift there is loss and sadness. We were also reminded of our great love for our boys and the joys and struggles of their journey to become a part of our family, and that God's love for them is even greater and He has gone even farther to bring them into His eternal family.

We were blessed to have family come in from out of town to share this special day with us.

210 million reasons to adopt

2010-04-24T22:19:00.001-04:00

Another good article:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/april/13.55.html

Kay Warren on caring for orphans

2010-04-24T20:17:00.001-04:00

Here is a great article, sharing some from Kay Warren on our responsibility to care for orphans.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100424/kay-warren-questions-christianity-of-persons-who-neglect-orphans/index.

From the article:

There is a theological reason all Christians are to do something to help vulnerable children.

Warren highlighted: "What our Heavenly Father does for us spiritually, He expects us to do physically."

What God did was not only save sinners but also bring them into His family.

"You and I were all spiritual orphans," she said. "We're not just cleared of the guilt of our sin. We belong in God's family. He has taken us and made us part of Himself.

"Now He shares with me everything that He has. Everything that belonged to Jesus belongs to us."

The orphan advocate clarified that the Bible isn't necessarily calling every person to adopt a child. She and her husband, renowned pastor Rick Warren, have not adopted, she noted.

But, she added, the Bible does say Christians have a personal responsibility to do something, whether it's contributing to the fund of a family trying to adopt, providing house cleaning for a family that adopted, or getting involved with church sponsorship of children.

More from Easter

2010-04-05T20:25:00.004-04:00

On Saturday, we had some of our neighbors over to decorate eggs and we had dinner together. One of our neighbors brought over a pinata for the kids. I'm not sure how that fits with the Easter story, but the kids had a lot of fun!

On Sunday, after naps, the neighbors returned for an egg hunt.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T21:45:00.001-04:00

Or Happy Easter Egg Day, as Belachew announced to people at church today.

Brotherly love

2010-03-31T19:27:00.001-04:00

Belachew got a haircut too

2010-03-31T19:26:00.004-04:00

When asked what he thought about his haircut, he replied "I feel like a new man!"

Somebody got a haircut...

2010-03-31T14:55:00.002-04:00

And he is still as cute as ever!

Good news from Congress

2010-03-25T22:00:00.002-04:00

Whether or not you are happy with the Health Care Reform Bill, it included some great news for adoptive families (and potential adoptive families). The Adoption Tax Credit, which had been scheduled to end this year, has now been extended and even increased.

Here is a summary:

-The current adoption tax credit has been extended until the end of 2011
-The value of the adoption tax credit has been increased by $1,000 from $12,170 to $13,170.
-The increase is "retroactive," meaning that any adoption occurring after January 1, 2010 is eligible for this higher credit.
-The credit is now refundable. This means that even families that owe zero taxes can receive the full tax credit in the form of a tax refund to help with their adoption-related expenses in the first year.

For more information, check out the Christian Alliance For Orphans blog

If you have ever considered adoption but thought you could not afford it, you might be wrong! This is truly amazing, incredible news for adoptive families and I pray that this opens the door for more families to adopt and more orphans to be welcomed into loving families.

Spring is here!

2010-03-23T13:38:00.003-04:00

Unshaken-World Water Day

2010-03-22T10:27:00.001-04:00

Today is World Water Day

Unshaken - charity: water's campaign for Haiti from charity: water on Vimeo.

From Charity:water's website:
Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Many people in the developing world, usually women and children, walk more than three hours every day to fetch water that is likely to make them sick. Those hours are crucial, preventing many from working or attending school. Additionally, collecting water puts them at greater risk of sexual harassment and assault. Children are especially vulnerable to the consequences of unsafe water. Of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation, 90% are children under 5 years old.

2010-03-14T20:53:00.001-04:00

We had a great time last weekend with the Makukus! We love their family and always enjoy time together. We had a busy weekend, with meetings and events at our church, but it is always an encouragement to hear what God is doing through them in Kibera.

You can read more about their ministry in Kibera here.

One year ago

2010-03-14T20:40:00.002-04:00

On March 13, 2009, we received our referral for Hudson and saw this sweet face for the first time:

Our adoption process was hard and challenging at times (due to many circumstances that were out of our agency's control). To be honest, I really wrestled with God during this time, questioning His faithfulness and His plan. While we were waiting to adopt Hudson Musse, he was hospitalized a few times and and there were times when we were not sure if he was going to make it. We also faced some paperwork obstacles, which raised the question if we would ever be able to adopt him. But thankfully, God's plan for Hudson Musse included us. On November 23, when I walked into his orphanage, lifted him out of his crib, and held him in my arms for the first time, my heart was full. Our adoption process was not smooth and easy, but it was worth it.

Hudson Musse is a sweet, happy, cuddly boy. He is determined and he is growing up so quickly! He has the greatest smile and laugh. He has made so much progress in his development these past few months. Hudson Musse, we love you and are so thankful that God brought you into our family, in His time.

Two years ago

2010-03-08T09:50:00.005-05:00

Two years ago on this day, we saw this face for the first time:

You can read more about getting our referral call here.

Our lives have never been the same since. Kenyon Belachew, you are an energetic, playful boy, with a sensitive and caring spirit. You are a social and outgoing and have a great heart. You make us laugh and always keep us on our toes. We are so thankful to be your parents.

"A Slum Eye View"

2010-03-03T14:23:00.004-05:00

"A Slum Eye View"

Sometimes you might think you are on Mars or Venus, but all the same you are still on Earth.

You can see so many houses squeezed and there is no space for young children to play.

Very few children go to school because education fees are very expensive compared with the jobs that their parents are doing.

But whatever you have, thank God. If you don't have shoes, thank God because there are some people without legs.

Written by Peter Ndolo, age 13, resident of a Nairobi slum

Stories from Kenya

2010-02-28T20:47:00.006-05:00

As a junior in college, I began to think about what I would do after graduation. I worked hard to complete my degree in four years and the thought of graduate school overwhelmed me at the time. That spring, I went on a short term mission trip with a college ministry team to Belize. During that week, I felt that God showed me that I had something to offer and I began to pray about serving in missions short term. I contacted a missions agency and began the process of interviewing. My first thought was that I should go to a Spanish speaking country, because I studied Spanish in school. Over the course of several weeks, God literally shut the door on the Spanish speaking countries I was considering, so I was back to square one. That summer, in 2000, I visited my aunt and uncle in Botswana. There, my world was completely rocked after meeting many AIDS orphans and hearing their stories. The missions agency told me that they had just started working with orphans in Kenya and I quickly decided that was where I wanted to go. Spanish wouldn't get me far in Kenya, but I was excited for the opportunity to return to Africa and work with orphans.

The plan was that I was going to serve with another American woman and we would spend several months working in an orphanage in rural Kenya. She had just graduated from high school, and I had just graduated from college. We purchased plane tickets, began raising support, and went through training. A few weeks before our planned departure, we got word that plans were changing. We could not go to the rural area right away and would need to spend some time in Nairobi. The missions agency called a Kenyan pastor in Nairobi and asked if he could help find work for us and a place for us to stay. He told them that we could live with his family and he would find work for us. The pastor was Imbumi Makuku. We arrived in Kenya in August 2001. Pastor Imbumi and his wife Martha welcomed us into their home. They taught us about their country and culture. They listened to us, when we were homesick or needed to process hard things we had seen. They took care of us and encouraged us. They became family.

I had traveled internationally and had seen poverty and difficult things, but nothing had prepared me for serving in the slums of Nairobi. We worked with women who were dying of AIDS. We worked with children who had been severly abused and mistreated. We worked with people who were forgotten and just needed people to hear their stories and love them.

While we were living with the Makukus, Imbumi shared with us that he felt that God was putting it on his heart to plant a church in Kibera. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and the second largest in the world. It is approximately one square mile and there are nearly 1 million people living there. No paved roads, no running water, no electricity. In the spring of 2002, Imbumi started Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church. I had the opportunity to spend the summer of 2002 in Kenya and spent much of this time in Kibera with the Makukus. It was amazing to experience this new church, that Imbumi had been thinking and praying about starting while I was living with his family. Over the years, I've been blessed to return to Kenya several times to serve with the Makukus.

Through my time and experiences in Kenya, God has taught me so much about myself, my faith, what it means to serve Him, and God's heart for mercy and justice.

I wanted to share about Kenya for a couple reasons. One, is that the Makuku family is coming to visit this week! I haven't seen them in a couple years and am so excited to have time with them.

Second, I am going to Kenya this summer, with a group from my church to serve with the Makukus in Kibera. I am thrilled to be returning to Kenya, and introducing my church to my Kenya church family, who is so special to me. As I prepare to return to Kenya, and reflect on previous time there, I hope to share more stories about Kenya- about the people and experiences that have inspired me and taught me more about myself and my faith.

2010-02-27T20:02:00.002-05:00

"God help us if we are only willing to do what is easy to do. Rather, let us do what God wants done."

-Bob Pierce, World Vision founder

What I'll be watching on March 4

2010-02-19T18:33:00.005-05:00

Next Thursday night, March 4, I will be going to see this one-time showing of "Half the Sky Live." If you are in the area and want to join me, let me know. You can find a list of participating theaters here.

Here is a little more about the event from their website:

Half the Sky is inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof’s and Sheryl WuDunn’s New York Times bestseller, “Half The Sky,” which follows the stories of extraordinary women around the world as they struggle to overcome oppression. Kristof and WuDunn focus on three major problems facing women – sex trafficking, maternal mortality and violence against women. They argue that empowering women is the key to alleviating poverty and uplifting communities in developing countries.

Also showing at this event will be “Woineshet” a new film about a poor Ethiopian girl who ultimately triumphs over sexual violence and discrimination. As a teenager from a small village in Ethiopia, Woineshet and her family bravely fought against brutal local traditions of rape and forced marriage. The co-directorial debut of Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone, “Woineshet” is an adaptation of this brave and inspirational true story.

As a wife, as a daughter, as a mother, as a Christian, I think it is so important to be educated about the struggles of others around the world and to ask myself what role I may play in helping bring hope and justice. I hope you can attend this event. If not, I highly recommend Kristof and Wudonn's book "Half the Sky" that this film event is based upon.

My baby

2010-02-18T13:47:00.004-05:00

Hudson Musse is doing well. He started doing a couple things recently that melt my heart. One is that he now says "ma-ma." The other is that he gives kisses. He puckers his lips up, leans towards you, and breaths heavily through his nose. He loves to play with his brother and explore. He is still a great eater and one of my friends commented that every time she sees him, his cheeks are more round. He is a sweet, sweet baby and we love him so much.

another photo from Kiera

Ethiopian orphans...on my heart

2010-02-12T16:41:00.002-05:00

My heart is full, with having Hudson home and part of our family, after an adoption process that was tough at times (our agency was wonderful and supportive, but we experienced some delays and disappointments that were out of their countrol). But every time I go to Africa and visit orphanages, my heart is broken again.

Adoptions from Ethiopia are increasing. In 2002, 105 children from Ethiopia were adopted to the U.S. In 2009, 2,227 children from Ethiopia were adopted to the U.S. Out of the 143 million orphans in the world, 50% of those are in 8 countries alone (Ethiopia being one of them). I've had people ask me if there is still a need to adopt from Ethiopia, with the increase of the number of families adopting from Ethiopia (which also means that wait times for adoptions has increased). My answer is YES! Even if the number of adoptions from Ethiopia stays steady or increases, there is still a huge need.

In an ideal world, children would be able to stay with the families they were born into, assuming that the family is able to provide a safe and nurturing environment. But unfortunately, because of poverty, high maternal mortality rates, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other social issues, there are many orphans in Ethiopia. So many orphans, that extended families and communities can no longer care for them, making international adoption the next best option for these children.

Please watch this video, made by Children's HopeChest. Look at these faces and allow your heart to be broken for these children too. But I hope you don't stop there. Ask God how He would have you respond. I am a big advocate of adoption, but there are many other ways that you can be involved in caring for orphans.

Ethiopian Orphans from Simon Scionka on Vimeo.

Someone I'll be rooting for in the Olympics

2010-02-12T13:23:00.004-05:00

Believe it or not, Ethiopia is participating in the Winter Olympics. Robel Teklemarian is a cross country skiier, who loves skiing and loves his country. From the interviews I have seen with him, he hopes to be an inspiration to others in Ethiopia, that anything is possible, and he hopes that this is just the beginning of Africans competing in the Winter Olympic games.

My favorite 4 year old in the world

2010-02-11T21:33:00.003-05:00

Yep, I look at this smile and I melt. Belachew has grown in so many ways this past year. He has transitioned well to the role of big brother. He has his moments-transitions are hard- but he loves being a big brother. He can't wait to see Hudson first thing in the morning when he wakes up. He loves to give Hudson hugs and kisses (in fact, we need to remind him to refrain his physical affection at times). Today, Belachew ran in the door from preschool and couldn't wait to show his brother his Valentine's cards from school. Belachew promises me on a regular basis that he'll still want to snuggle me when he is a big man and he tells me several times a week that I am a sweet lady. He doesn't always obey (surprise!) and we have our struggles, but he is an amazing boy and I am so proud to be his mom.

photo from Kiera

My senators and representatives

2010-02-10T20:01:00.004-05:00

Do you ever write your state senators or representatives? I do, probably every month. They are representing me, so I want them to know what is on my heart. There are some websites that make it very easy to send emails to your representatives on various issues. I typically write on issues related to social justice such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, bringing peace to Northern Uganda, Sudan, and Eastern Congo (DRC), debt cancellation for developing countries, and human trafficking. There are several websites with information on these issues, and how to contact your representatives. It is so easy- you just type in your zip code and it will automatically look up your representatives. There are emails already created to send to your representatives, you just need to sign your name (and you can add a personal note if you'd like) and click send. Here are some websites that I have found helpful:

www.seekjustice.org

www.one.org

www.raisehopeforcongo.org

www.safedarfur.org

I have received several responses to emails I have sent. I even got a letter from the White House once. If there are any social justice issues that touch your heart, make sure to let our political decision makers know.

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4

What I've been reading

2010-02-09T21:27:00.002-05:00

I love to read. I don't make as much time for it as I would like, but I love reading. I was the kid who was reading at a high school level in 5th grade, who continued to read long after my parents told me it was time for bed.

This fall, I read "Say You're One of Them" by Uwem Akpan. I'm not necessarily a big Oprah fan, but I generally like her book club picks. This book is a series of short stories, set in several African countries, and tells the story of different social issues through the eyes of children. Prostitution, genocide, child slavery, political and religious conflicts are all explored. Sounds like heavy reading, and it is, but you will get a valuable perspective and may see these issues differently after seeing them from a child's perspective.

I just finished "Same Kind of Different as Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. This is a true story based on an unlikely friendship between a wealthy white art dealer and a homeless black man. It is an uplifting and encouraging story, as you witness this friendship develop and see how these men have impacted each other's life and other's around them. Issues of homelessness, poverty, and race are addressed.

I'm trying to decide what to read next. Any suggestions?

2010-02-09T21:16:00.003-05:00

I started this blog to chronicle our adoption journey and give updates to our family and friends, first for Belachew, then for Hudson Musse. Now that both boys are home, I've gone back and forth about continuing to blog. I don't post as often as I like and I've often wondered if anyone out there is still reading. I did a little test this week and found that I do still have readers. I know that reading other blogs has been such an encouragement to me. So I have decided to continue to blog for now. I will definitely continue to post about my boys and parenting. I'll also post about things that God has put on my heart or that I have been thinking about. Thanks for reading and for letting me share my life with you.

2010-02-07T17:40:00.002-05:00

Guess who we are cheering for?!?

Two months

2010-02-04T14:31:00.007-05:00

It has been two months since Hudson arrived home with us. He has changed so much in the past couple months and continues to bring a lot of joy to our lives.

-His energy and strength have increased and with the help of physical therapy (which will begin soon), he will continue to get stronger and catch up developmentally.

-He loves to eat. He has learned the sign for "more" and begins asking for "more" as soon as he sees food. He is not a big fan of fruit, but loves just about everything else.

-He loves people and is very social. He smiles and waves "hi" to people. When we put on his coat, he knows we are going somewhere and he begins to laugh and smile.

-He loves music and dances by swinging his arms.

-He is a good sleeper. He sleeps 10-12 hours through the night. We are still working on his nap schedule (he refuses to nap some days).

-He continues to be a happy, sweet baby.

My boys

2010-02-04T14:29:00.005-05:00

Bethany-Ethiopia

2010-02-02T16:15:00.002-05:00

One of the many reasons I am proud to work for Bethany Christian Services...

2010-01-31T20:10:00.003-05:00

Song sung in my church today

"In Haiti, There is Anguish"

In Haiti, there is anguish that seems too much to bear;

A land so used to sorrow now knows even more despair.

From city streets, the cries of grief rise up to hills above;

In all the sorrow, pain, and death, where are you, God of love?

A woman sifts through rubble; a man has lost his home;

A hungry, orphaned toddler sobs, for she is now alone.

Where are you, Lord, when thousands die- the rich, the poorest poor?

Were you the very first to cry for all that is no more?

O God, you love your children; you hear each lifted prayer!

May all who suffer in that land know you are present there.

In moments of compassion shown, in simple acts of grace,

May those in pain find healing balm and know your love's embrace.

Where are you in the anguish? Lord, may we hear anew,

That anywhere your world cries out, you're there--and suffering, too.

And may we see, in others' pain, the cross we're called to bear;

Send out your church in Jesus' name to pray, to serve, to share.

Words by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 2010

I'll find a way to get you here...

2010-01-30T23:19:00.009-05:00

I saw this video yesterday. This song is by Aaron Ivey, who has adopted two children from Haiti, one of whom just came home to them last week. The Ivey family has an amazing story, you can check them out here. Grab a kleenax or two and please watch this video.

When you are adopting, the wait can be so hard. Once you have seen the child who is to be yours, the wait to have them in your arms seems like an eternity. You carry around your phone everywhere and check your email multiple times a day. You wonder if your child is safe and healthy. You wonder if there is someone there to comfort them when they are sad. Your thoughts are consumed with your child. You go to bed at night and are thankful that tomorrow is a new day and you are one day closer to your child. As supportive as friends and family can be, you want to avoid them at times, not wanting to have to answer the question "any adoption news?" when you have none to share (For those that asked us this question, don't feel bad. Even though I know it can be a hard question to answer when there is no news, I find myself asking friends who are adopting this question too). Even in trusting God's timing and plan, you still question God at times (or at least I did).

Adoption is not for the faint of heart. I have learned a lot about patience and perseverance, about not giving up. And through it all, I have seen more of the heart of God, who spared no expense and waited patiently to bring us into His family.

"Before the quake there was estimated 380,000 orphans in Haiti. 1200 of them had pending adoptions. As of yesterday 497 of those kids are home. Still a lot of families trying to get their children out of Haiti. We can't forget those families or the many orphaned children!" Kristen Howerton, mom to Keanan who just came home from Haiti on Saturday after many years of waiting

A geography lesson from big brother

2010-01-25T20:19:00.004-05:00

Belachew, pointing out Africa and Ethiopia on a map and explaining to Hudson that they were both born in Ethiopia.

2010-01-22T20:42:00.004-05:00

Photo from The Oregonian

The adoption agency I work for is partnered with two orphanages in Haiti. Amazingly, 83 children from one of these orphanages arrived in the U.S. last night to meet their new adoptive families. These children's adoptions had been in process for several months prior to the earthquake. In spite of all the suffering and tragedy that we have seen and heard so much of in recent weeks, these photos brought happy tears to my eyes.

Adoption agencies have been bombarded this week with families interested in adopting children from Haiti. I've received many questions about Haiti adoptions and orphan relief efforts. Any interested in both can refer to these resources: http://www.bethany.org/blogs/bethanyblog.nsf, http://www.rainbowkids.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=687 and http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/.

I've been amazed at the outpouring of concern and generousity that has been shown to Haiti. It makes me wonder, though, how different the world would be if we responded with so much care and concern over the everyday tragedies in our world. Not just the tsunamis or earthquakes, but to the those in need on a daily basis. There are millions of children who are waiting to be adopted around the world and right now. Haiti has pricked many hearts, and I pray that this passion is carried out into the world.

Meet Jason

2010-01-17T21:06:00.002-05:00

Meet Jason (far right in the photo, with his family). Jason is from Indonesia and is studying engineering at a local university. He has been living with us for a couple weeks now and we are enjoying our time with him.

We have hosted students from Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, India, and Ethiopia. We enjoy learning about our students' countries and cultures, and we also enjoy welcoming internationals to our city and country. We also think it is a wonderful opportunity for our children to learn to appreciate different cultures. Belachew can now find India and Indonesia on a map (he already knows Ethiopia).

When I lived in Kenya, a Kenyan family hosted me. They welcomed me, made me feel comfortable and secure, helped teach me about their culture, and helped me settle into life in their country. They had lived in the US before and shared with me that they didn't always feel welcome in the US. When I returned home from Kenya, I got involved in an international student ministry. There, I was told that over 85% of internationals in the US never enter an American's home. That statistic saddened me and since then, I have looked for opportunities to welcome internationals to our country. Over the years, Paul and I have spent time with refugees, tried to find housing and jobs for new immigrants, waited at the airport to welcome new immigrants, and hosted international students. We have been so blessed through these friendships and hope we continue to have opportunities to make new immigrants to country feel welcome.

If you are interested in hosting international students, check with your local university.

Thoughts on Haiti

2010-01-16T13:54:00.007-05:00

I want to share a few posts from friends on the situation on Haiti, that I found challenging and encouraging.

From Jennifer:
My heart hurts for Haiti. And my heart hurts for the so very many who will continue to live in circumstances we could never even begin to imagine - day after day - while we slowly make our way back to normal life. My heart hurts that it takes this level of desperation to change us - and the change doesn't last very long, does it?

note - there is already so much to pray for, but add the 254 Haitian children who were in the process of being adopted by American families - pray that the US government grants them humanitarian visa status and that the Haitian government is somehow able to work together with our government to let these children come home to their families.

From Brianna:
Haiti wasn't really on most people's radar screens before this earthquake happened. But it was hurting. And incredibly impoverished. Countless orphans waiting for families. People dying of what should be preventable causes. Many hungry and starving. God sees these things all the time, but we only see them when we want to. Or when the media tells us to look. (I will again recommend Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains. It's awesome.)

If we care about the vulnerable children of Haiti, let's really DO something. After we send our money to Red Cross, let's pursue an adoption of a waiting child somewhere in the world. Or become a foster parent. Or give away a bunch of money to build a well somewhere. Or commit to permanently downsizing something in our life in order to continue giving to Haiti, even after CNN has stopped talking about it.

I'm wondering if our hearts start becoming numb to people and tragedies, if we simply endure one media frenzy after another, give a few bucks, and then go right back to our lattes and iphones and "reality" TV shows?

Guess I just wanted to remind everyone, including myself, that there are kids sitting around all over the world today waiting for families. There are hungry women unable to feed their
babies, there are families struggling to survive in refugee camps. Instead of despairing or just wringing our hands, we can do something. And we should.

From Jody:
God does not sleep.

He knows.
He’s weeping.
He’s moving.
and long after our compassion fatigues, He is there.

and before we were paying attention, He was there.

Haiti, in my prayers

2010-01-13T22:13:00.002-05:00

I have no words. Just a heavy heart and prayers.

Orphaned children in Haiti, sleeping outside

Photo from Haiti Rescue Center (I found this on Jody's blog)

Brothers

2010-01-12T22:28:00.001-05:00

Consider yourself warned ...

2010-01-12T22:22:00.003-05:00

If you see this face:

and it is snowing outside, duck and cover. He got a snowball launcher for Christmas (from relatives who live out of state and will likely never be victims of his snowballs).

Seriously, though, this kid loves the snow and has had a blast playing outside.

Adoption Art

2010-01-10T21:29:00.005-05:00

Jodi and I have been blog friends for several months now. She and her husband are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. Jodi is an amazing artist and has created some adoption themed art. She is currently having a giveaway and you should check it out! Some of her profits from the sale of her art goes towards Kolfe Youth Orphanage in Ethiopia. Great art, great cause. Check it out. You can also find necklaces and pendants made by Jodi here.

The Kolfe Youth Orphanage is a government run orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia located on a garbage dump and it is in great need of funds. Through Children's Hopechest, Kolfe has now been sponsored but the boys there still have tremendous needs. They call themselves "The Forgotten Boys of Kolfe." Thank you, Jodi, for letting these boys know that they are not forgotten and that they are cared for.

Happy Anniversary!

2010-01-08T14:14:00.003-05:00

5 years ago on this day, Paul and I were married.

I'm looking forward to celebrating many more years together.

Merry Christmas (again!)

2010-01-06T23:16:00.003-05:00

January 7 is the day Christmas is celebrated in Ethiopia. Why, you may ask?

Ethiopia follows the ancient Julian calendar, which is 7 years and some days behind the Gregorian calendar that the rest of the world follows. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church calls the celebration of Christ's birth Ganna. Ganna is usually celebrated by attending church, and spending time with family and friends having fun and eating food.

Here is more on how to celebrate an Ethiopian Christmas.

Holidays

2010-01-02T06:59:00.004-05:00

We had a great first Christmas together as a family of four. We visited my family and Hudson met many new family members and friends. He adjusted well to being in a new place and meeting so many new people.

Hudson definitely got the hang of Christmas presents! He was handed his first present and Belachew moved next to him to try to help him open it up. Hudson yanked his present back and gave Belachew the funniest look (we were envisioning him saying "stay away from my presents). Both boys get a set of wheels- Hudson got a stroller and Belachew got a bicycle with training wheels.

We had a great time relaxing, catching up with family and friends, celebrating the true miracle of the Christmas season, and reflecting on all the blessings of this past year.

Family of four

2009-12-22T00:16:00.005-05:00

Our friend Kiera offered to take some photos of our family. She did an amazing job and we are so thankful for the gift of her time and talent (if you live in the area, we highly recommend her).

More can be seen at: http://kieradubach.blogspot.com/2009/12/welcome-home-indianapolis-portrait.html

More from our arrival home

2009-12-21T23:54:00.003-05:00

Here are more photos of our arrival home and Hudson meeting Paul and Belachew for the first time. Thanks so much, Rachel, for coming to the airport and taking these photos. I love this song after hearing it on the Alexander family's blog.

Snapshot Sunday

2009-12-20T14:33:00.003-05:00

First week home

2009-12-15T22:11:00.003-05:00

Hudson has been home for over a week now and has been adjusting well. I, on the other hand, got whatever virus he had in Ethiopia and was sick last week. I'm feeling better now, thankfully. Hudson continues to be a happy, easy baby for the most part. He does well with meeting new people, as long as Paul or I are near. He is eating and sleeping well and loves to play and cuddle. We've had a few doctors appointments for him. It looks like he will likely need surgery to correct the hole in his heart, but the cardiologist wants to wait a few months for him to get stronger. His heart is showing signs that it is trying to heal itself, but the cardiologist believes the hole is too large for it to be able to do so without surgery. Hudson is 16 pounds, at 16 months, and the cardiologist feels he would do better with the surgery and recovery if he was stronger. We are working with our pediatrician on helping Hudson to gain weight and strength, and also catch him up on immunizations.

Belachew is doing great. He loves being a big brother and having Hudson around. He has said several times, "It is so fun to have a baby brother." He hasn't shown any jealousy so far and we are trying hard to make sure he still gets some special time and attention. Belachew loves to help take care of his baby brother and showers him with kisses.

(thanks Rachel, for these photos)

Sunday Snapshot

2009-12-13T14:01:00.003-05:00

Nazret, Ethiopia

Big brother

2009-12-08T15:46:00.001-05:00

Belachew is loving being a big brother (so far...)

World AIDS Day

2009-12-07T15:52:00.003-05:00

World AIDS Day was December 1. While I was in Ethiopia, I had the opportunity to visit Andy and Bev Warren and see more of their ministry in Ethiopia.

By 2010, there will be approximately 18 MILLION AIDS orphans in Africa.

We are home!

2009-12-06T10:36:00.004-05:00

We arrived home safely last night. Our final flight was 5 hours delayed, but we made it. More pictures and stories to come...

around Addis

2009-11-30T13:47:00.002-05:00

out and about

2009-11-30T13:42:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we attended an Anglican church with Andy and Bev Warren, who have been are living in Ethiopia and serving with Mission to the World and SIM. We then went to lunch with the Warrens and some visiting doctors from Yale. Hudson did great during his first church service.

Today we visited the orphanage in Addis where Hudson stayed for a few weeks and took some donations and said good-bye to his nannies. We went shopping this afternoon. I will spend some time visiting with friends and with the Bethany Christian Services office this week. On Thursday we have our US Embassy interview. On Friday, we'll travel to the orphanage in Nazret (a couple hours south) where Hudson spent most of his life and then start our journey home that night.

We are really enjoying our time in Ethiopia. I miss Paul and Belachew, of course, and am looking forward to getting Hudson home and settled. Hudson is doing great! He is eating well and his energy level has increased a lot. He loves cheerios and bananas. He smiles a lot and we've gotten some laughs out of him.

I will not have much internet access the rest of my time here, so this may be one of my last posts. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers and I look forward to introducing Hudson Muse to our family and friends.

a little more about Hudson

2009-11-28T12:46:00.001-05:00

Hudson is feeling much better and eating more. He is a little smaller than I expected, but his growth should catch up after his surgery. He isn't crawling, but he scoots on his bottom across the room. He gets tired easily from scooting or playing and rests his head every few minutes. He smiles a lot and has a lot of personality. He let's you know what he wants- if you try to give him a bottle or toy that he doesn't want, he'll push it away. He LOVES his bottle and gets mad if you try to take it away before he is finished. He started waving and giving high-5's today. He is very alert and follows people with his eyes. He is shy at first, but warms up to people quickly. He'll let others hold him, but prefers his mommy. He loves to snuggle. He is a good sleeper and is sleeping through the nights, waking up just briefly a few times and needing to be comforted. He loves being carried in my sling carrier and smiles when he sees me put it on.

New friends

2009-11-27T10:59:00.005-05:00

Today we met Abebaw's family. Abebaw has been living with Paul and I since August and will return to Ethiopia in a few weeks. I know Abebaw misses his family, and they miss him as well, so it was great to get to know his family and share some gifts with them.

With Almaz (Abebaw's sister), Ephrata (his daughter), and Tirhas (his wife)

Grandma and Grandpa are here!

2009-11-27T10:55:00.002-05:00

Grandma and Grandpa Heintz arrived safely last night. Hudson was a bit shy at first, but has warmed up to them. I am so glad that my mom and dad can experience Ethiopia and this special time. I'm also thankful for Paul's parents who are helping out with Belachew while I am gone.

Hudson is feeling better today and has gotten his appetite back. He's had more energy today and has been playful. We are so thankful that he is feeling better and are praying for his continued health.

Health care

2009-11-26T12:35:00.001-05:00

Health care is a hot topic in the U.S. right now. I thought I'd share a bit of what I'm learning about health care in Ethiopia.

We had a few people ask during our adoption process if Hudson Muse could get the heart surgery he needed in Ethiopia. The answer, unfortunately, was no. There is no heart surgery performed in Ethiopia (that any of the knowledgeable doctors I've spoken with here know of). There are a total of 4 pediatric surgeons in the entire country- a country of 80 million people. There is 1 doctor for every 40,000 people in Ethiopia.

I share this with you not to make you feel guilty or to make you feel sorry for people here. I've heard people say, "Well that is Africa, this is the U.S., you can't compare the two." Sure, there are a lot of differences in our political system, history, and resources. But why shouldn't we compare them? Do people here deserve less just because of where they were born? Shouldn't their lives be valued in the same way? As I learn more and my eyes are opened, I hope and pray that I can have a small role in bringing justice and improving the quality of life for those in need. I don't have answers and I know these issues are complex, but I wanted to share a bit of what's been on my heart and mind.

I'll return to posts about my adorable Ethiopian baby tomorrow...

An EthiopianThanksgiving...and much to be thankful for

2009-11-26T12:23:00.002-05:00

We had Thanksgiving dinner tonight with several American and African families, most of whom work for the Center for Disease Control, World Health Organization, World Bank, or Peace Corp. It was fun to meet so many Americans living in Ethiopia and to celebrate this Thanksgiving day together. We had turkey and all the trimmings- even pumpkin pie and cheesecake for dessert.

I've had many people tell me what a great thing it is that we are adopting Muse and how lucky he is. But the truth is, we are so blessed to be his parents (and Belachew's) and humbled at the opportunity to raise these boys. So on this Thanksgiving day, I am thankful for many things- my faith, my husband, family, friends, community, but I am especially thankful for the newest member of our family, Hudson Muse. For this little life that God created, sustained, and is entrusting us with.

My uncle did manage to get a turkey that was shipped from Kenya and currently thawing, that we will enjoy with my parents this weekend.

Hudson is still sick (not much of an appetite, temperature, spitting up, diarrhea), but we have him on antibiotics and hope he starts feeling better soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

sleeping baby

2009-11-26T05:41:00.002-05:00

Is there anything cuter than a sleeping baby? We got started Hudson Muse on antiobiotics today and hopefully that will help him to start feeling better.

2009-11-25T15:11:00.001-05:00

Good thing we are staying with a doctor (my uncle). Turns out Hudson has an ear infection, on top of his virus. Please pray for his health and healing of his little body.

Our day together

2009-11-25T13:31:00.001-05:00

Our first 18 hours together consisted mostly of Hudson Muse sleeping, eating, or pooping (sorry if that is too much information for some of you). He definitely has had some kind of cold or virus. He had an appointment at the US Embassy this morning to have blood drawn, which he was a trooper for, but not my ideal way of spending our first morning together.

After his afternoon nap, he was awake and alert and played for a few hours. I got to see him smile and experienced more of his personality. He loves his bottle and kisses, he likes to be held, and stacking cups are his favorite toys. I kissed his forehead a few times and if I stopped, he would move his forehead towards my lips for more kisses. I think he is on the mends from his virus and I am so glad that I was able to come here early to be with him. Thanks to family and friends for helping make this possible, and for our agency's support in this decision as well. We have plans to spend Thanksgiving with some of my uncle's colleagues from the US Embassy, then my parents arrive tomorrow night.

Worth it

2009-11-24T13:59:00.001-05:00

We had to pay extra to change my plane ticket to get me to Ethiopia three days earlier

I had a 9 hour layover at Dulles Airport in the middle of the night and slept on the floor

22 hours on one airplane (6 of those were spent on the ground fixing mechanical problems)

But in a second, it was all worth it. I met Hudson Muse today and he is sleeping next to me as I write this. He is adorable in every way. He still has a bit of a cold, but is so sweet and cuddly.

Change in plans

2009-11-22T00:22:00.003-05:00

We've been planning and preparing for me to leave for Ethiopia this Wednesday to meet Hudson and bring him home. We got a phone call yesterday that he was very sick and in the hospital. My uncle (who lives in Addis) was able to check on him and it turns out that it is just a severe cold and he is back at the orphanage. Colds aren't too big of a deal, but when you add that to a child with a heart condition and a weak immune system, its not a good combination. After much thought and prayer, Paul and I have decided that I should get to Ethiopia as soon as possible to be with Hudson. We really couldn't think of any reason why I shouldn't try to go early, and there are plenty more reasons why I should.

So I'm leaving Sunday night and will arrive in Ethiopia on Tuesday morning. Hudson will be in my arms that afternoon. My parents will join me in Ethiopia on Thursday, as we had originally planned our flights. We'll return home with Hudson on December 5.

We'd appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers:

-For Hudson to stay healthy and strong
-For smooth travel
-For Hudson's transition and attachment to us
-For Paul and Belachew while I am gone

My cry for the day

2009-11-18T20:54:00.003-05:00

I'm full of emotions these days, as I approach leaving for Ethiopia and meeting our newest son, whose face we first saw in February, who we have prayed and hoped and longed to have in our arms ever since then. I just watched this video, and it filled my heart with joy and my eyes with tears. I can't wait for that moment that Hudson and I walk off the airplane, meet family and friends, and officially begin our lives together as a family of four. Grab a kleenax and watch it.

http://teamalexander.blogspot.com/2009/11/o-praise-him.html

Countdown to Ethiopia

2009-11-16T14:07:00.001-05:00

I am leaving for Ethiopia on November 25 and am counting down the days! I've got my plane tickets, and now am just working on packing and crossing things off my "to-do" list. I'll try my best to post some blog updates from Ethiopia, but internet access can be unreliable there.

Belachew will be staying home with Paul, and I will be traveling with my mom and dad. This is the longest I've left Belachew and I asked him the other day if he was sad that I'll be gone for a while. He thought for a moment and said, "No, just hurry up and bring my brother home." He is so excited to be a big brother. I know Belachew will have some hard moments will all of the changes that are coming, but I am confident that he will be an awesome brother.

What I watched tonight

2009-11-04T17:08:00.006-05:00

Paul and I were invited to a screening of this movie tonight. Amazing. We loved it. And I hope that you go and see it.

One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Mrs. Touhys, the adoptive mother, is praised by another woman, “You’re changing that boy’s life.” Touhys shakes her head with a smile and simply says, “No, he’s changing mine.” It is so true. As Jed Medefind shared on his blog, "When we open our lives to an orphan, the transformation most always happens in both directions. Certainly, orphans do need us. We may need them even more."

We passed court!

2009-10-31T17:52:00.003-04:00

We passed court yesterday in Ethiopia! We are so excited and thankful! We are not sure of travel dates, but will hopefully travel by mid-November.

Introducing our newest family member, Hudson Muse. Muse is his Ethiopian name, which means Moses, and Hudson is a name we have chosen for him.

Chosing to hope

2009-10-29T19:50:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted much about our adoption lately, but yes, we are still moving forward with our adoption. We've faced many delays and obstacles this time around. I haven't wanted to go into too much detail on our blog and honestly its been hard to talk about. Although the process has been different than we had expected, I know once we have our baby in our arms, the wait will have been well worth it.

Our baby is now 14 months old and his health is stable, although he will need immediate medical attention after arriving home with us.

We have a court date tomorrow (Oct. 30) in Ethiopia. At this time, if the judge approves our adoption, our baby would officially become part of our family and we could hopefully travel a few weeks later to bring him home with us. Of course, there are cases that don't get approved the first time in court. We are prayerful and hopeful, and ultimately want to trust in God's plan and timing. If you think of it, we'd appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

We hope to have good news to share soon!

Fall days

2009-10-29T12:50:00.004-04:00

We've been enjoying this fall together! Belachew started preschool two mornings a week and loves it. We've been enjoying time outdoors and went apple picking this week. Belachew liked picking apples, but enjoyed climbing trees and eating candy corn even more.

Our little helper

2009-09-28T22:03:00.002-04:00

A night with U2

2009-09-16T17:10:00.007-04:00

We went to Chicago this weekend to see U2 in concert. It was an amazing show! We love U2 for their music, of course, but we also love Bono's passion for justice and fighting poverty in Africa.

More time with our Ethiopian friends

2009-09-06T21:59:00.004-04:00

As I've mentioned in previous posts, we are very blessed to have a great Ethiopian community in our city, which we love. We attended the Ethiopian Evangelical Church today and had a wonderful time of worship and fellowship. Afterwards, we had some delicious Ethiopian food and coffee. We are thankful to have these special friends in our life.

Our houseguest

2009-09-06T21:55:00.002-04:00

Meet Abebaw. Abebaw is a professor from Addis Ababa University who is living with us for until December, while he does research for his PhD in Social Work. He is also co-teaching some courses at our local university. He has been with us for one week and we are enjoying our time together.

Belachew and Geremu together again!

2009-08-25T22:06:00.004-04:00

Last weekend we headed up to Chicago to meet Geremu and his family. Belachew and Geremu were close friends in Ethiopia and have a special bond. Thankfully, we were able to connect with the family that adopted Geremu and have stayed in touch. We visited them last year and decided it was time to get together again. The boys had so much fun together. They didn't talk much, but they sure wrestled and laughed a lot. I think they have the same energy level and same sense of humor, so they have a great time together. We want to do everything we can to keep this special friendship going. Here are some photos of their time together (from Geremu's mom).

A Remarkable Woman

2009-08-16T16:17:00.002-04:00

My friend Jody has been recognized by Lifetime as a Remarkable Woman. Check it out here: http://www.mylifetime.com/my-lifetime-commitment/ewc/every-women-counts-salutes/index. Jody has been an inspiration and encouragement to me. I'm thankful that she and her efforts to raise awareness and money for Charity: water to provide clearn drinking water in Liberia have been recognized

My birthday boy!

2009-08-15T22:56:00.010-04:00

This is the first year that Belachew has started to understand what birthdays are all about. He went to a birthday party for a friend in May and after they sang "Happy Birthday" to the birthday girl, he told everyone at the party they should now sing happy birthday to him. He decided he wanted to have an orange and red puppy dog party and invited just about everyone he knew.

Belachew had special guests come for his birthday- both sets of grandparents and two of his cousins. On Thursday, we had cake and ice cream with family and some of Belachew's grown up friends. Then today we had a party for his "kid" friends.

I wasn't sure at first how to make an orange and red puppy dog cake, but I came up with an idea and the birthday boy approved.

I think his favorite birthday gifts were a harmonica, a horn for his bike, and a laser gun.

He is a special boy and has added so much joy to our lives. We are blessed to have so many family and friends in our life who love Belachew and were able to celebrate his birthday with us.

"Look, I'm 4!"

Puppy dog cupcakes and cake (not real dog treats-

those are graham crackers in the shape of dog bones)

Fun with cousins

Guess who had a birthday today?!?

2009-08-13T22:17:00.004-04:00

Belachew turned 4 today! Birthday pictures to come...

Please pray...

2009-08-01T23:52:00.002-04:00

Some friends from St. Louis have been working on a documentary about poverty in Africa. Paul and I were with Dan on his first trip to Kenya several years ago and we have been supporters of his project. They were in a plane crash Saturday in Nairobi and thankfully they survived, although they have injuries. Unfortunately, the pilot lost his life. Please pray for the pilot's family, and for Dan and Rob's physical and emotional healing.

http://www.marketvolt.com/custapp/cv.aspx?cm=93709399&x=38887013&cust=3629507

A few more reasons why I haven't posted lately

2009-08-01T23:49:00.002-04:00

We had a great time in New Hampshire, visiting family and introducing Belachew to more cousins. Belachew is an amazing traveler and did great with the nearly 20 hour drive each way.

Our "Opia" friends

2009-06-28T14:13:00.003-04:00

We are very blessed to have a wonderful Ethiopian community in our city. We are even more blessed to have some special friendships within this community. Belachew talks about our Ethiopian friends as his "opia" friends. Friday night we had dinner with another adoptive family who has a sweet 2 year old boy from Ethiopia. Then on Saturday, we had the privilege of welcoming the newest Ethiopians into our community. The father/husband moved to our city several months ago, to find work and get established, and yesterday his wife and two children joined him. We waited at the airport for their arrival, then witnessed the reunion of this beautiful family. They have come to the US in hopes of a better future. It is our small gift to be able to welcome them to our city. We are thankful for our Ethiopian friends and look forward to developing more relationships within this community. Here are a few of our friends.

Guess who he met on vacation?

2009-06-28T14:03:00.004-04:00

While we were in Florida, we decided to go to Disney for a day. Belachew LOVED it and it was so fun to try to imagine things through his eyes. As we walked in the gates, a parade began as if to welcome us to the park. Belachew met Mickey and Minnie and waited in line to meet Ariel but got too scared at the last minute. We rode many rides, with Splash Mountain likely being his favorite. He also loved the Mickey's Philarmagic- a 3D short movie that included songs and characters from different Disney movies.

Meeting Mickey

Enjoying the movie

Worn out towards the end of the day

He loved the beach!

2009-06-16T22:12:00.001-04:00

A few reasons I haven't posted lately

2009-06-16T20:15:00.001-04:00