One Mom

it's been a while...

2010-11-11T22:27:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've blogged. I've been busy working on this:

Check it out here!

adoption rock gear

2010-03-24T21:39:00.001-07:00

my friends, the Butterworths are adopting from Ethiopia. they are currently fundraising to help cover the cost with some super sweet adoption rocks shirts (even baby sizes) and really fun tote bags.

go here and buy some adoption rocks’ gear!

We have a WINNER!

2010-02-25T23:41:00.001-08:00

Thank you to everyone who joined in on the fun!

Thank you for supporting adoption and for supporting The Howertons!

Together…we raised $1890!! And sold 739 raffle tickets!

THE WINNER IS…

#457

LISA QUALLS

WOOHOO!!

Bag o’ Fun…A Bag for a Forever Family!

2010-02-22T09:22:00.001-08:00

The Howertons (who are GOOD friends) are just weeks away from their court date and travel to pick up their son. You can read more about their journey here.

I’ve put together a BAG O’FUN that I am going to raffle off to raise money for all their adoption expenses including traveling to Africa!

Here’s the Bag O’Fun:

Does it look like fun? Don’t be deceived- here is what’s inside:

PF Chang -$50 + Nordstrom - $50 + Itunes - $15 + Cold Stone- $15 + Jamba Juice- $15+ AMC Entertainment -$25+ Barnes & Noble - $25 =$175 OF FUN!!

Here’s how this will go:

Raffle tickets are 1 for $5, 3 for $10 or 8 for $20.

**UPDATED**

So, if you want get some raffle tickets you'll need to email me and I'll instruct on how to pay for your tickets.

But go ahead and leave a comment here about how many raffle tickets. And Thursday at 11pm (PST) we’ll randomly select a lucky raffle ticket and announce the winner on Friday morning!

Now get some raffle tickets because it will be FUN and because soon a boy who has no one will be part of a very amazing family…forever!

compassion…by Henri Nouwen

2010-01-20T16:57:00.001-08:00

“The word compassion is derived from the Latin words pati and cum, which together mean “to suffer with.” Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless. Compassion means FULL IMMERSION in the condition of being human.”

music to my ears…

2010-01-16T23:51:00.001-08:00

I have been listening to this CD non-stop lately. my husband got it for me on Christmas. It is super mellow music…(in contrast to my not so mellow kids, whom I love deeply…)

If you like old hymns and/or Rosie Thomas, Damien Jurado, Leigh Nash, Dave Bazan or Sufjan Stevens…than you too would appreciate this CD.

one year ago…

2010-01-08T12:50:00.001-08:00

We saw this sweet little face for the first time…

our lives are deeper and richer.

we laugh and cry harder.

we are better because of her.

and we are learning so much about her, about us, about the world and about our gracious Jesus.

Thank you January 8th!

2010- the year of the books

2010-01-06T15:57:00.001-08:00

2010 is going to be an interesting year for me. I am excited to see what this year holds- I have made some resolutions – one is about reading and pushing myself to keep learning and growing.

The goal is to read 36 books. 12 for fun, 12 related to my passions and 12 parenting books. 3 books a month. I am going to create a list on the side of my blog to track my books. Missing a few in each area so if you have any suggestions…send them my way! I’ll try and post a little something about each book…even the ones for fun. Here’s to keeping the mind alive!

Good Times!

2010-01-06T15:54:00.001-08:00

Enjoy some pictures from our Christmas/New Year Fun!

decorating cookies

my very own princess and frog

preschool parties

flying to spokane

craft time with mom

our family gingerbread house

christmas morning and new PJs

one of my favorite moments…jed sleeping with his new R2D2

first snow…first snow angel

Good Times!

6 months

2009-12-23T15:24:00.001-08:00

December 1st marked 6 months of us being together as a complete family. I have learned so much and I am fully aware that the lessons have only begun.

Here is video of Betty from her preschool Christmas program- and if you listen you can hear her singing loud and clear. It was such a great moment. Hard to believe she has only been home 6 months!

we’re alive!

2009-12-19T20:00:00.001-08:00

I realize it has been a long time since I have blogged…even longer since I REALLY blogged.

Here is a short list of excuses (not in any particular order):

1. It’s Christmas time!

2/3/4. Sim, Betty, Jed. All three of my kids are busy, crazy, loud, full of energy kids…love them…wouldn’t have them any other way!

5. I am currently transitioning at work- its been something I have been doing for 7+ years – I love my job but for various reasons its time to move on.

6. So, I am trying to get a few other little projects/jobs going on the side…one is for Christian woman and one is for youth workers working with teenage girls.

7. I am on a team of people at our church who are trying to launch an adoption ministry…good stuff happening at OCC!

8. Having fun with a our new friends from the blogging world…they come over from Idaho every few weeks for appointments. I now call Lisa my fairy godmother(future blog post)…this is why I love the blog community.

9. Sim’s 6th birthday!

10. Others (which include cooking, cleaning, working out, volunteering in high school ministry, being married…you know the basics!)

But a lot of good things have been happening in the midst and I am excited to write about them. So, for this next week…I can guarantee there will be some blogs!

**An interesting highlight** This month we celebrated 6 months of being a family of 5! I can’t really believe how fast it has gone. I can’t believe that last Christmas I didn’t even know Betty’s name. How life can change in a year!! I’ll write more about this in an upcoming post.

And a picture of two from the last few weeks…At Snowflake Lane:

only difference

2009-12-13T13:26:00.001-08:00

World AIDS Day

2009-12-01T09:09:00.001-08:00

adoption rocks.

2009-11-18T15:40:00.001-08:00

fingernails

2009-11-18T15:37:00.001-08:00

Today I noticed that Betty isn’t biting her fingernails anymore…they are getting pretty long. I am thinking that’s a good sign, right?

I let Betty paint my fingernails…it was a lot of fun and a total lesson for me in “letting go.” Still have so much to let go of…

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink

2009-11-13T09:30:00.001-08:00

First Gift! Everyone give $10 TODAY!

Every day, 4500 mothers bury their children due to contaminated water. They are forced to sustain their families with a diabolical liquid that contains both life and death. This lack of clean water is the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations. And it just doesn't have to be!

$10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years. It will literally change and possibly save someone's life. A mother. A child. A brother. A grandfather.

We are rallying together for a cause. Clean water. One day. $10. Asking everyone to let this be their first gift. Let water, let life be their first gift of the season.

Click here to be directed to the secure donation site of the highly recognized, non-profit, charity: water (then click Yellow Donate Button) All donations are tax deductible, and 100% of your donation will go to clean water solutions in West Africa.

Celebrating Betty- part 3

2009-11-10T13:17:00.001-08:00

Our final celebration was a little party with friends. Betty loved it and seemed at home with all the attention and gifts!!

her first princess dress!

There was also a piñata but I failed to take any pictures – which is a shame because it was so fun! Hoping one of my friends captured the moment!

I am so happy that Betty is our daughter and that we got to celebrate this special first birthday together!!

no hope

2009-11-09T22:40:00.001-08:00

OCC 2012 Stories: John Thomas and Living Hope from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

a few favorites

2009-11-04T22:01:00.001-08:00

the kids had their pictures taken a few weeks back. here are a few of my favorites. (oh yeah, it was an event for a great cause!)

Jed was in fine spirits that day…

stepping out.

2009-11-04T15:37:00.001-08:00

OCC 2012 Stories: Joe Cheng from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

*I am a fan of Joe’s impersonation of my husband.

oh, halloween!

2009-11-03T19:36:00.001-08:00

my kids are really cute.

Betty is funny…I told her to make a cute face. oh man, my daughter!

Unrelated to Halloween…I went somewhere with friends this weekend and was gone the whole day. Thank you to my husband who gave me a day to myself. (I went somewhere in WA…that people travel from all over the world to see…any guesses?)

oh yeah. I went to Forks.

Celebrating Betty- Part 2

2009-10-31T15:13:00.001-07:00

We had a little party in Betty’s preschool class on Thursday. It was extra fun because all the kids were in their Halloween costumes.

Betty is a kitty but you can’t see her ears or her tail…she’s adorable!!

Showing off her chocolate mustache!!

Part 3 takes place next week!!

Celebrating Betty – Part 1

2009-10-29T09:22:00.001-07:00

Betty turns 4 today and we started the celebration yesterday by enjoying dinner at Meskel, a local Ethiopian restaurant.

Betty was so excited when the food came out…she started digging in right away!

So proud of Sim for trying something new and having a great attitude. And well, Jed was there:)!

I think you could say we enjoyed it!

Playing a round of gold fish while we wait!

We love our little princess!

(Part 2 & 3 coming soon!)

no risk, no reward

2009-10-25T15:50:00.001-07:00

RISK! from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

this is awesome. and even better he’s my pastor.

a wise friend…

2009-10-24T11:14:00.001-07:00

A wise friend sent me this comment based on my last post…

“All of life is Plan B... started in the garden. But He also redeems...that is the story.”

She is right. And I believe that he redeems it through me and you…

…in adoption it is redeemed

…in speaking for those who can’t speak for themselves it is redeemed

…in defending the fatherless and widows it is redeemed

Grateful that He uses us!

and sometimes…

2009-10-22T22:18:00.001-07:00

I believe in adoption.

I believe that God brought Betty to my family and that she is my daughter…I could not be HAPPIER! But I also believe that we are Plan B. Injustice in this world robbed Betty of Plan A. And I feel the tension of this in my heart ALL the time. There is not a moment I am not thinking about this injustice and this great joy. How can they exist at the same time? I don’t know.

I believe in adoption and at the same time I believe we (me, you, the church) must fight the injustices of the world. Because really isn’t 143 million orphans enough?

*UPDATED* I feel the need, based on a few conversations I have had due to this blog, to state that for us...Betty is Plan A...in case their was any confusion. I love my daughter and I am glad God choose us for her!

big news around here…

2009-10-20T22:59:00.001-07:00

Three days in a row Betty has eaten the same dinner as everyone else. Only 5 months later!!

Hair Play

2009-10-15T20:04:00.001-07:00

I’ve been playing around with Betty’s hair…feeling kind of brave.

Yesterday, I made my first attempt at Bantu Knots. (my biggest struggle is the parting of the hair…any suggestions?)

Today I tried the veil…nothing fancy…no braids just the veil! (Same parting issue.)

I am learning more everyday about Betty’s hair- my 2 favorite websites for hair advice are Happy Hair Girl and Shuruba – both by adoptive moms and both include instructional videos.

in process

2009-10-13T21:30:00.001-07:00

This weekend we had our 5K Race Against HIV/AIDS – it was so great!I had two main highlights:

1. Lisa (author of this blog…if you have adopted or are planning on growing your family through adoption…you should be reading it!!)…anyway, Lisa and a few of her kids stayed with us. I loved every minute that I got to be around her…and I might turn into a friend/fan/stalker.

2. Betty decided that she wanted to run the kid’s fun run – I didn’t know so I dressed her in jeans and crocs. She jumped in and ran the whole thing…and came in dead last:)! I was so proud of her so I ran the last bit with her.

Life is a process and messy…

Today I accept that…praying for tomorrow!

typical!

2009-10-09T17:02:00.001-07:00

Today I was putting laundry away – Jed and Betty were upstairs playing- I heard lots of giggles and smiled to myself- “isn’t great how well they play together” I thought.

I should have known…In my house- playing well together now equals trouble for mom!

Enjoy!

(and wouldn’t you know we are getting family pictures taken tomorrow!!)

Have a good weekend!

girlie highlights…

2009-10-08T20:51:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, it was finally cold enough to wear tights…

Today, Betty picked out a jacket that I wore as a kid- pretty fun moment for me as a mom!!

Clearly…Betty has just 2 facial expressions:)!

la, la, la and such…

2009-10-07T09:45:00.001-07:00

LA, LA, LA…This morning during breakfast the little ones decided to turn on some music…and they turned on their favorite CD and began dancing around our dining room. It was cute and loud! They were dancing to our churches kid’s CD – GIve It All Ya Got!

I love this CD for so many reasons! For starters, it isn’t typical kid music…so it’s not annoying! But mostly I love this CD because of one of the songs that Betty began to sing right after we brought her home. She barely knew English but she loved to sing…A Better Plan. (God I know all the plans you have for me, plans for good, to give hope and destiny. Even when I don’t understand…God I know you got a better plan.) To hear her sing about God’s plan for her life was amazing, especially in those moments when I was feeling discouraged in the process. Now it’s amazing to hear her sing it knowing that this little kid song has helped her to hide God’s word in her heart, and I believe she’ll be able find comfort in it when she is grieving all that she has lost.

If you don't have it...you should get it! Available on ITUNES now!!

AND SUCH…

It’s not too late to join us for OCC’s first 5K against HIV/AIDS.

Reasons why you should do it: the course is flat, it will be fun, you can walk/run/skip, the t-shirts are super sweet…and it will literally change lives here in Washington and in Africa. How easy is that?

a little help from a friend…

2009-10-04T19:28:00.001-07:00

My friend, Dee,came over today to give me a lesson in hair care. (Dee used to be a student in my high school small group but now that she is in college…we can be friends!)

Um…first lesson...I have a lot to learn!

Seriously…could my girl be any cuter??

one lessons learned – due to Betty’s type of hair we’ll have to wait longer to attempt cornrows. She has great hair – and it’s super soft which makes it harder to braid when it is still on the shorter side.

This is me…doing the twist!

Finished!

Betty thought it was my turn next…

Thank you Dee! I look forward to many lessons in the future and to seeing this movie with you!!

a little behind…

2009-09-29T16:54:00.001-07:00

I am a little behind right now in life…thus the lack of blogging. I thought with the start of school-life would slow down and I could catch up but it turns out…it just makes life busier!

But here are a few recent motherhood learnings:

If it worked yesterday it probably won’t today! I feel like sometimes I am looking for “the key” to parenting but I am learning that kids are little people with minds of their own…and they don’t always respond the same way to the same things. It’s funny.

I don’t like guilt…and it never pushes me to a better place. Same is true for my kids.

My kids are cute…the end!

Sim has started making “to-do” lists…he is very proud of them. He even makes it with little boxes to check off.

sometimes easier said than done…

2009-09-24T13:40:00.001-07:00

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Philippians 2:14-15

the pros and cons of 35

2009-09-22T14:16:00.001-07:00

At some point during this week- I’ll turn 35. For some reason I am dreading 35. Not sure if it’s because it is closer to 40 or what but nonetheless the dread has set in. So I have made a list of my personal pros and cons of 35:

Pros: not 40 yet.

Cons: closer to 40 than I was last year.

One of the highlights from last year, bringing home our daughter. We arrived a day early- I was trying to peek through the crack to see my Betty girl!

run or walk…

2009-09-17T14:05:00.001-07:00

5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run

Saturday – October 10- 9am

@ Overlake Christian Church

The Overlake 5K: Race Against HIV/AIDS will benefit two non-profit organizations (one local and one international) that are tremendously effective in helping people impacted by HIV/AIDS.

REACH Ministries of Tacoma specializes in caring for children and families and has recently expanded its services to meet needs in 12 states. REACH also offers an annual camp that provides HIV/AIDS affected families a SAFE HAVEN, together.

Each year, Living Hope Community Centre in Cape Town, South Africa offers medical care and prevention programs to thousands of people. Working primarily in slum communities, Living Hope holistically addresses HIV/AIDS issues by teaching life skills, providing home-based care workers, counselors, medical professionals and much more.

agents

2009-09-16T13:13:00.001-07:00

We ourselves can be agents of God’s holiness, for God now dwells within us. In the midst of an unclean world we can stride, as Jesus did, seeking ways to be a source of holiness. The sick and the maimed are not hot spots of contamination but potential reservoirs of God’s mercy. - Philip Yancey

little ones and preschool

2009-09-15T20:42:00.001-07:00

Jed & Betty started preschool today. They were so excited, mostly about their new shoes.

Jed decided to wear Sim’s shorts- he was looking slightly ghetto.

I told him to make a cute face and this is what I got…

Seriously, how pretty is my girl!

(little ones and Miss Nicole)

Things went really well. Both Jed and Betty were fine at the drop off – “bye mom…see you later.” Which sure made it a whole lot easier for me!

how bazaar.

2009-09-10T10:54:00.001-07:00

I am not the arts and craft type. Don’t get me wrong…I wish I was. I have seen the creative genius of many of my blog friends and I am filled with jealousy. I have never been able to color within the lines, cut straight lines, sew, draw, write nicely or “see” the potential.

But 3 years ago (that’s right…3 years ago) I started a project. I bought bambo tv trays at a garage sale for $12…and I saw the potential. It just took me 3 years to finish it.

Last night, Josh helped me finish and hang it.

Enjoy!

Supplies…vintage surf pictures, modge podge, white paint, surf letters and 3 years of my life.

I probably won’t create another crafty thing in my life!

the big 3 months.

2009-09-05T21:36:00.001-07:00

(day 1)

Betty has been home for 3 months now! Can’t believe how fast time has gone.

I have learned so much about myself, Betty and our family…it has been the most joyful and hardest 3 months of my life.

here’s some fun “stuff” from the last 3 months:

Betty is still a picky eater. She has added some new food items to her diet like carrots and apples but mostly steers clear of everything else. Lately, I have been making her take at least one bites of new foods. Yesterday, I forced:) her to taste a rice krispy treat…she cried…but she finally tried a bite and she LOVED it. I think this girl might be more stubborn than me!

Jed and Betty are pure trouble! They love each other a lot! The best part is that they are the exact same size even though Betty is 8 months older than Jed. We call them the “little ones”…and I sometimes call them Jetty and Betty or Jed and Bed. Also, I can’t believe how quickly Jed and Sim have taught Betty to be naughty:)!

One of my favorite moments of every day is bedtime. Betty and I have a very special routine…we read some books, pray and snuggle. No matter the type of day we have had – we snuggle close, give lots of kisses and tell each other how much we love each other. It is wonderful!

I love my family!

(3 months)

Hello Kindergarten!

2009-09-01T19:12:00.001-07:00

Sim started kindergarten today! What a great and fun day! I am really excited for these school years!

I’ll leave you with this picture of Sim’s shoes! I hate shoes with plastic characters attached to them. And when Sim and I went shoe shopping I thought I could control the shoes he picked out. I carefully pulled out 3 choices of shoes…converses, vans and skater shoes. I tried my best to convince him that these were the shoes for him. Yet, with each shoe he tried on he had a reason why they didn’t work…it was like he knew that I was holding out on him. Finally, he pulled out some Spiderman light up shoes…and well, I lied. I told him that his school didn’t allow light up shoes because they distract kids during class. What? Don’t judge me it might be true. But he found these GI Joe ones…and he begged me for them. I sat down in the shoe store and called Josh…Josh laughed and told me that I cared too much about his shoes and that it wasn’t really that big of a deal. So, he got the GI Joe shoes and he is happy…and I guess that means I am happy.

water matters

2009-08-26T20:17:00.001-07:00

girl time

2009-08-26T20:05:00.001-07:00

One of the many things I was so excited for with Betty was painting her nails and having girl time.

I was not prepared for her loving it and wanting it more than me. But she would have me paint her nails every day and every night…it is amazing!

enjoying the last few days of summer

2009-08-26T20:01:00.001-07:00

feeling a little crazy today…

2009-08-20T22:04:00.001-07:00

First, I attempted to put all of Betty’s hair into 2 ponytails. I can’t believe it’s long enough!!

And tonight, I attempted a bath with all the kids. (Cropped the picture to maintain PG status…)

See…Crazy!

Pictures for a Purpose

2009-08-19T13:32:00.001-07:00

Do you live in Western Washington or are you near? Eastside Woman of Purpose is a great group of ladies in our area who are working to raise awareness and money to fight human trafficking. Every year they do a fundraiser called Pics For A Purpose – Children’s Portrait Sessions. We did it last year and the pictures were amazing and we already booked our spot for this year. Get great pictures while fighting human trafficking!! For more information check out their website!

homelessness

2009-08-18T15:49:00.001-07:00

Last night after Josh and I got the kids all tucked in and asleep, we decided to watch The SOLOIST.

I saw the movie recommended on someone’s facebook status as the American version of Slumdog. So we decided to watch it! And it was really good…a little slow at the beginning but in the end a really great story.

Even before this movie I had been thinking a lot about the homeless. The ones in my area and the ones in Ethiopia. On one of our days in Ethiopia we were overwhelmed by amount of children living on the streets. My husband started talking with a group of them while feeding them some sandwiches and cookies. Most of the group lived at the bus park because their parents had died or abandoned them to the streets – and due to the overwhelming number of orphan children…these kids end up on the streets by themselves. One of the kids was 3…the same age as Betty…and instead of finding hope and future through adoption he will find a life filled with sorrow, despair, sickness and death on the streets.

Boys, girls, women and men should not be living life this…there or here!

What can I do?

At one point in the movie…Jamie Foxx’s character (which is based on a actual homeless person) looked around and called all the homeless people on the streets of Skid Row in LA…Children of God. And what struck me in the truth of that statement…

Is that it doesn’t or shouldn’t matter how they got on the streets…they are Children of God.

If drug abuse led them there…Children of God

If mental llness led them there…Children of God

If disease led them there…Children of God

They could be your mother, brother, father, sister…

They could be your daughter…I know that now.

I often wonder what I can do as a mom with 3 kids… I can…

1. Make eye contact- acknowledge them

2. Carry a few gift cards to McDonalds or Starbucks…especially if I don’t feel comfortable giving cash.

3. Depending on the situation – invite them to eat with our family.

What else? I would love some simple (or even not so simple) ideas of what one mom can do?

Before they become collectibles! UPDATED

2009-08-17T15:18:00.001-07:00

Last chance to get an Adoption Rocks T-shirt…I have 4 left and after this I am 99.9% sure that I am not ordering any more!

Thank you to all that purchased shirts -it’s been so fun to see pictures on various blogs with Adoption Rock T-shirts on kids, parents, friends and grandparents. (It would be fun to have a little collection of pictures…)

Sizes available: (I'll update the numbers as they sell!)

White/Red – Youth – 1 Small, 2 Large

Adult- 1 Medium

That’s it and then they will be collectibles:)!!

See the paypal link on the side to order one- $15 plus $3 for shipping.

Sweet T

2009-08-16T10:10:00.001-07:00

Just got my UntilThen T-shirt and I love it!

Until no child lives alone on the streets of our world!

1.2

2009-08-14T23:40:00.001-07:00

1.2 – that’s the average times I post per week. I remember life before 3 kids and how easy it was for me to blog daily. Thankfully, I can feel a routine beginning to form and I am hoping that I can bump up my average.

Here’s a little update from the past week or so:

*Josh and I celebrated 11 years of marriage today…I love that guy!

*Last week, Betty met her new great grandma. It was a very sweet moment. I really wish I could know exactly what is going on in little Betty’s mind.

*We’ve had some amazing breakthroughs lately with Betty. (Which is partly why I feel like life might be getting more “normal.”)

*I am learning so much about myself through this process. And I am learning a lot about my community. I am grateful for the friends and family who have been willing to sit with me while I try and figure this stuff out.

*Did I mention that our social worker suggested that Betty enroll in Preschool with Jed in September?? Do you know what that would mean? I would have 3 mornings (2 hours) to myself! Oh my word!

*I got to meet the mom behind A Bushel and A Peck. Our friends who have adopted from Kenya have made a connection with her and they let us tag along last time they got together. It was eye-opening to sit and listen to them share stories and talk about their journey. I felt like a newbie on this amazing journey!

And in case, you forgot how cute my family is…I’ll leave you with these:

the man of my dreams and our cutie kids!

(I wanted to be sure to include this one of Sim…his outfit is awesome!)

while dad was away…

2009-08-06T14:29:00.001-07:00

Josh just got back from a 9 day trip to South Africa…and I had only one goal while he was gone…survive! And we did! I kept the kids busy, we endured the heat and survived. I feel exhausted and in awe of the brave women who do this alone all the time.

Here’s some pictures of how we filled the time!

Sim went to his first full day soccer camp for a week…he did awesome especially considering one of the days the temp reached over 100.

Already playing in the water at 8:30 in the morning- it was the only time of day that you could be outside without melting.

My friend, Amy, threw a robot dance party for her son…reminding my children that they drew the short straw when it came to birthday parties. She actually made robot outfits for every kid.

At the beach in Bremerton- playing with poor little defenseless crabs.

We spent a lot of time at parks, in ac-filled stores, eating popsicles, and running in the sprinkler…and less time than I like sleeping…but we survived. Though I may have gained 5lbs…

helpful book

2009-08-06T14:06:00.001-07:00

Our social worker recommended Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child to us at our post-adoption visit. I got it used at Amazon for $2.99 – the shipping was more than the book. I just got it yesterday and I am already excited about some of the practical tips. The subtitle on the book is “from your first hours together through the teen years” – I had just told my friend that someone needed to write a book about your first few months together.

We will be implementing some of the sleep tips tonight. We’ve been struggling a bit with going to sleep which definitely affects how we sleep through the night:)! The tips are easy and seem like they make good logical sense. Excited to see what else this book will offer.

Book Review: 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa

2009-07-27T22:04:00.001-07:00

It nearly took me 2 months to finish this book but I finally did. If I even tried to open this book while the kids were awake they would start climbing all over me!

The author tells 28 different stories, one for each million infected by HIV- varying from sex workers, nurses, truck drivers, orphans. While at the same time telling the story of AIDS and Africa. The second story was about 2 orphans in Ethiopia- so right away I was hooked. The author did an excellent job of educating the readers about the massiveness (did I make that word up?) of this crisis while keeping it personal and about one life at a time.

If in 10 years the author decides to revisit HIV in Africa, I hope and pray that the major difference will be the church. Because intentional or not, the church was only mentioned once in this book. I would hope that the church would be so active in the stories of the widows, orphans, nurses, sex workers that she wouldn’t be able to tell one story without talking about the church…about the body of Christ.

the things we say…

2009-07-23T17:40:00.001-07:00

Betty has picked up on 2 funny sayings around our house…it’s pretty cute to hear her say them.

1. “Oh goodness.’ When I see the mess the kids have made…Betty says it all the time now.

2. “That’s funny.” We value humor in our house…and if something doesn’t get a laugh from us but it still deserves our recognition we say it. When Betty says it we definitely laugh.

she’s also picked up on “cool” and “awesome”…can’t wait till she busts out a “totally awesome!”

verbal adoption diarrhea…and other stuff

2009-07-19T14:48:00.001-07:00

*I have an issue, when people ask me how it’s going…I get verbal adoption diarrhea. I can’t stop talking about the journey, the work, the love, the joy. If I have done this to you…sorry. From here on out, I will only answer “great” when people ask and if you really want to hear it all…just ask…I’ll tell you:)!

*6 weeks. Sometimes it feels like Betty has always been with us and sometimes it feels like I am meeting her for the first time again. Truly a mystery and a miracle.

* Heading out to VBS this week. Church filled with loads of kids everywhere…that totally counts as cocooning, right? Josh is teaching Betty’s class and I’ll be in there to help if she needs me.

*We bought a slip-n-slide yesterday. I had to show the kids how to do it…it’s been a long time since I have done a slip-n-slide (too long). Everyone but Jed had a blast.

*Our church had it’s first Orphan Initiative meeting yesterday. So stoked that my church family cares enough to act. Loved meeting new people and hearing the vision of our new fearless leaders.

*The ice cream truck is driving through our neighborhood and blasting “What Child is this!” Just thought you might want to know.

ex-hair-menting

2009-07-12T09:05:00.001-07:00

I’ve been experimenting with Betty’s hair. It’s been so fun and good for bonding.

the 2 ponytail look. actually went to to a braiding salon to get a few pointers for this look…but I haven’t done this style since.

yep- she’s that cute!

The headband is still one of my favorites!

prayer

2009-07-09T09:05:00.001-07:00

yesterday was rough. maybe one of the hardest this far. And last night when Betty was crying in her sleep- I picked her up and decided to pray for her, me and our family. and you could say I had a moment…

i began praying for the healing of her wounded heart. which led to me praying that i would be healed and available to help bring about the healing that she deeply needs in her heart.

i started praying for her future and all that God has in store for her. which lead me to pray for myself that I would encourage her to honor God with all of her gifts and with her story.

at this point…I started praying for all of my kids and their gifts, stories and futures.

and once again i was rocked by the redemptive power of adoption. mine to my heavenly Father. and Betty’s to our family.

and then for some odd reason…i started singing a song in my head. not a spiritual song but…

“take these broken wings and learn to fly again..” it was awesome.

30 days

2009-07-01T21:30:00.001-07:00

On Monday we celebrated 30 days of being a family of five. There really is so much too say but I am not great with words…so I’ll keep it limited.

Josh and I watched our video from our first meeting with Betty (the one are friends, the lunds, shot.) And I noticed a few things…

*My hair was out of control…but so was Betty’s hair…so we matched.

*our attempts at amharic…were awesome (note sarcasm)…they are getting slightly better. but really…WHY do white american people always speak with fake accents when talking to non-english speaking people? I noticed that everyone on our travel team did it…including me!

*I remember right after we met Betty- Josh and I were talking about how AMAZING the moment was…and it was amazing. But now seeing her face in the video and seeing the uncertainty in her eyes- it reminds me really how far we have come in one short month. Tonight when we snuggled in bed and she kept giving me tight squeezes and kisses…and how she feel asleep with her arm around my neck…I am certain now that it will only keep getting better and more amazing!!

Random pictures from the last 30 days:

stuff…

2009-06-24T14:17:00.001-07:00

our stuff

*Took Betty to the doctor yesterday for her first post placement exam. She was a champ! She got 5 shots plus they drew blood (took 3 attempts) and she didn’t fight any of it. It was so sad because she was trying to be so strong but she kept whimpering. It’s confirmed that she has Giraridi(sp) – and she was also a champ with the medication which we were warned could possibly make her vomit.

*Jed has had some great one liners lately. yesterday, while he was sitting on the toilet working on something….he said to me…”take a seat…let’s have a talk.” funny kid.

*Betty loves Sim…LOVES him. Today when we walked to the park she didn’t want to hold my hand – only wanted to hold Sim’s hand. He’s a sweet big brother…most of the time.

* Working on attachment and bonding is…work. Sometimes it feels like things are going smoothly and the next moment you wonder if you have made any progress at all.

*Josh is speaking this weekend at our church…which makes for a crazy week for him…and me.

*I am tired. And I need Jesus. I mean REALLY need him.

*I have been thinking a lot about HIV lately. and about the women in Africa. And I want to do something…even if it means reading…educating myself or giving to great ministries or serving. God has blessed my life so deeply…I MUST help those in need.

*I love my daughter’s laugh! This was the first time we really heard her laugh. I am a dork in the video but she is so cute!

the ups and the downs

2009-06-22T14:58:00.001-07:00

Growing a family is filled with lots of ups and downs no matter how you decide to do it. Add a solid dose of “mother’s guilt” and so begins the joyous ride of parenthood!

I have been surprised by some of the ups and downs of bringing Betty home…the things I thought wouldn’t be issues turn out to be issues and the things I worried about before she came home haven’t even seemed to phase her/us.

For example…food. I never even gave thought to her being picky (unsure) about the foods we eat. I was planning on cooking some Ethiopian food for her but didn’t realize that for the time being it would be the only food she’ll really eat. (She’ll dabble in a few other things…like black beans and yogurt). So, I have learned a few new Ethiopian dishes in the last 3 weeks. It takes me about 2 times per recipe before she’ll really eat it! And I’ve purchased enough injera from a local Ethiopian store to keep us stocked up for a while. (see below)

Or sleeping…she sleeps like a champ (knock on wood). I was totally planning on dealing with major night issues and so far that hasn’t been an issue at all.

I am feeling pretty good right now (also knock on wood)…not that I don’t doubt myself or the process, but I feel like I get it…I know it’s a process and I know that there will be great moments and that there will be hard moments…ups and downs!

Welcome to Motherhood!

let’s be honest…

2009-06-21T09:56:00.001-07:00

we’ve got the best one!!!

happy fathers day mister!!

Happy Birthday Jedi!!

2009-06-18T22:11:00.001-07:00

My little baby boy turns 3 today!!

three reasons i love my sweet jedidiah!!

1. he’s a total snuggle boy

2. he is one funny boy!!

3. he loves people

Can’t believe it’s been 3 years since this little guy came into our lives. He’s provided lots of laughs and kept us good and busy. We love our little Jedi!!

a few more

2009-06-16T17:11:00.001-07:00

we were blessed to have a few friends come with us to Ethiopia to help us capture the moments- she sent me 2 pictures today…can’t wait to see the rest.

Betty showing us her bed at Hannah’s Hope

some of our first moments together.

my dad sent me this one from when they picked us up at the airport.

The boys were being so sweet with Betty and she slept through the whole thing!!

wonder twins

2009-06-15T16:01:00.001-07:00

These little ones are only 8 months apart- in fact this week Jed will be 3 and I’ll have two 3 year olds…awesome! I have been pleasantly surprised by how well they have gotten along with each other. Not that they don’t have their moments- Jed definitely overwhelms Betty a few times a day.

But…Just now…Jed told Betty that he loved her. They both giggled for a few minutes. Then Betty told Jed that she loved him too. It was very cute. Followed by more giggling!!

I think these 2 wonder twins are going to create some serious chaos together!

sing along time with Jed & Betty

2009-06-13T15:06:00.001-07:00

just a little entertainment for the week.

cocoon stage- week 1

2009-06-13T14:54:00.001-07:00

One week down of the cocoon stage! (adoption professionals suggest families of “older children” cocoon for 1-3 months...we are targeting for one month before we need to spread our butterfly wings and fly!!)

A few highlights from the week:

play-doh time always a hit for 3-5 minutes!

trying on Betty’s headbands

visiting our neighborhood park

I wish I would have gotten video of Betty’s first few times down the slide…it was amazing!

Jed & Betty are having a blast with each other! Here they are sharing a stool while brushing their teeth!

The boys in their Ethiopian gear!

a little crack!!

It’s been a fun week! We are learning a lot and growing a lot. There have been some “interesting” moments but that is totally expected. So happy to be a family of 5!!

an open letter

2009-06-11T20:28:00.001-07:00

Dear Dr. Karyn Purvis,

I don’t really want to screw up…would you consider moving in for the next 6-9 months?

Thank you,

Neely

one week

2009-06-08T14:38:00.001-07:00

(referral picture)

Hard to believe that it’s been only one week of Betty being with us! We are learning so much about her everyday. Here’s a few things we’ve learned about our Betty since we met her:

1. She’s a survivor! We were able to find out more of her story while in Ethiopia…and she truly is a survivor. She has overcome (and is overcoming) and faced things that most of us can’t even begin to imagine. She is strong…you can tell she learned how to take care of herself. We are trying to help her learn that she can be a kid and that we’ll take care of her.

2. She’s funny. She is a total ham and loves to make people laugh.

3. She likes lip gloss and picking out her dresses. We are going to have so much fun!

4. She has ringworm…when we got there she also had pink eye and a nasty cough but we’ve taken care of those.

5. When we first met with Almaz (the director of HH) before we met Betty- Almaz was telling each family how their child(ren) would respond to them. She looked at Josh and I...and told us that Bethlehem would be fine because she was the BOSS and that she ran Hannah’s hope. What? Yep…she’s the boss!

6. She likes to say “Ah, mom!”…about 1000 times a day.

7. She is smart…like I am in trouble because she is so smart!

Mostly, we have learned how much we love her and are so grateful that she is our daughter!!

together…

2009-06-06T20:35:00.001-07:00

we are home. happy, excited, tired, joy-filled, overwhelmed, in love…home! here’s a few pictures from the last week…more details and pictures coming later.

Betty’s Room

2009-05-26T15:37:00.001-07:00

Her room is almost finished…I need to put some pictures in the frames and we have 2 canvas painting of Africa to hang up. It will all be done tonight! But here is the “almost finished” pictures of her room!

I can’t believe we leave in 2 days!!

we love the mariners…and food!

2009-05-24T09:33:00.001-07:00

We went to the Seattle Mariner’s game yesterday – with Sim’s little league team. And we got to be in a “parade” around the field. Baseball games are not the ideal activity for very actives boys. So we brought some food to keep us entertained…we made it 3 innings!

How awesome is my son’s facial expressions!

Crazy faces!

Jed loved peanuts…he would sit and work on one for a while until he would finally ask Josh to open it for him!

14 months ago…

2009-05-20T23:07:00.001-07:00

( the slow reveal…can you see her picture?)

14 months ago…We started this journey. And I am excited to finally be able to say we are going to Ethiopia in 10 days to bring Betty home! (Her TB test came back clear.)

We have been working like crazy today to figure out our flights. But we are definitely going…and it is safe to say that I am super excited and super scared out of my mind!!

A word about adoption- it’s amazing, glorious, a miracle but it is an intense journey with lots of ups and downs. And I have been blessed to meet so many people who are brave enough to enter into the journey. I am beyond thankful for these friendships and for this amazing community! And even today while we celebrate our good news – a couple of my friends got hard news. And the reason I love this community so much is because today my friends celebrated with me, at the same time I grieved with them.

Let the countdown begin:)!

advice needed!!

2009-05-17T20:36:00.001-07:00

On Friday, our case worker called to let us know that we should have Betty’s TB results on Tuesday and if she is clear than we will tentatively travel for an embassy date of June 1st! So, again I am hopeful but also mentally/emotionally planning for both test results.

But I am also freaking out. June 1st is only 2 weeks away…Oh my word!

This weekend we went away to the beach for some family time (and my husband surfed in a Surfrider contest…totally proud of him!) and my mind was all over the place. Imagining meeting Betty for the first time, hugging her, kissing her, playing with her, flying with her for 22 hours…oh my word…flying with Betty, who I love deeply but at the time we board that plane for 22 hours we will still be getting acquainted with each other.

So…here’s what I need…I am looking for all the fun and practical advice from adoptive parents for travel (whether the advice is from your own experience or some that you have gotten from someone else)… I have read several books on bonding/attaching but not a one on how to fly with a 3 year old that you just met a few days prior…

Don’t be shy…help!

waiting again…

2009-05-12T13:54:00.001-07:00

it’s been a week since we passed court. and here we are waiting. waiting for Betty’s TB test results…praying for good news, praying for quick travel, praying for patience…and waiting.

I am not sure what I’ll do with myself when we aren’t in a waiting phase anymore. I wonder how light my shoulders will feel once we are all home and together. I bet it will be nice!

who doesn’t love goggles?

2009-05-06T21:41:00.001-07:00

a difference a day can make

2009-05-06T08:58:00.001-07:00

May 4 – ME:

Married to the greatest man alive

Mom to Sim (5) and Jed (2)

May 5- ME:

Married to the greatest man alive

Mom to Sim (5), Betty (3) and Jed (2)

See the difference? Yeah! We passed court. Before we can set travel dates we need for Betty to test negative to TB. Please join us in praying for her upcoming test.

*I would love to post a picture of her…because she is so stinkin cute! She has these adorable dimples on her chin…can’t wait to kiss her little chin! But I think I’ll wait till all her test are done!

We are now a officially a party of 5!

the one with night court

2009-05-03T19:19:00.001-07:00

tonight is our night. our case is presented before a judge in Ethiopia and something will happen. don’t know what that something is yet, but i am hopeful!

praying for B and her little heart tonight.

also…if we pass, B has to be tested for TB. not sure what that means either yet. i am full of valuable insight tonight!

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Psalm 33:20-21

2009-04-29T13:49:00.001-07:00

We’ve drifted from being fishers of men to being keepers of the aquarium. – Paul Harvey

freaking out…

2009-04-27T21:18:00.001-07:00

So I am totally freaking out. I came to my blog today just to see the countdown clicker till our court date…just ONE week away.

Every moment is filled with crazy emotions and thoughts. One moment, I imagine getting the call from our case worker telling us that we have passed court and I am crying with joy. And in the very next moment, I imagine the opposite…her calling us to say that we didn’t pass…and I am crying with disappointment. (my poor husband.) I feel like I am leaning more towards the excitement but I am trying to remind myself that there is a chance we won’t pass…oh the journey of adoption.

What I do know is on Sunday night when I lay down to sleep a judge we’ll be waking up to decide on our case. And if all goes well, my life will quickly change AGAIN. We’ll be busy planning our trip and making final arrangements to bring B home. And I’ll be completely filled with joy for our family and at the same time totally aware of the great sadness from the loss that brought us to B and her to us.

Yep…I am totally freaking out!

{Tee Off eBay Auction is...LIVE!}

2009-04-23T16:03:00.001-07:00

A group of my friends started Eastside Women of Purpose…a group that fights human trafficking. This week they have an auction online to help raise money.

We have a TON of AMAZING items this year, and you DON'T want to miss out!
100% of the proceeds go towards the fight to

STOP Human Trafficking

throughout SE Asia. By slowing trafficking in SE Asia, we drastically reduce the number of children and women trafficked into the US.
Now how is that for smart shopping?!?!

Just click HERE to start BIDDING and CHANGE LIVES!
For more information about our cause, click HERE

(If you win an eBay Auction Item, please consider all money bid over the value of the item tax deductible.)

super late but super cute

2009-04-22T12:30:00.001-07:00

My husband took our camera with him to Morocco…so I couldn’t post our attempts at cute Easter pictures. (seriously, need a new camera…)

just another reason…but not THE reason…

2009-04-21T20:49:00.001-07:00

In Ethiopia…

One in ten children die before their first birthday.
One in six children die before their fifth birthday.
60 percent of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition.
1.5 million people in Ethiopia are infected with HIV (sixth highest country in the world).
720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone, and there are 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia.
Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88 percent will never attend secondary school.
Ethiopia's doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000.

one

2009-04-18T17:25:00.001-07:00

“don’t fail to do something just because you can’t do everything.” Bob Pierce – Founder of World Vision

“we are not asked to help all of them at once, just one at a time.” Richard Stearn- CEO of World Vision

today

2009-04-13T22:10:00.001-07:00

today…I got 3 wisdom teeth pulled out.I don’t feel horrible but I am rather hungry and ready for something more than yogurt or pudding!

today…I got an update from my case worker about our little B. It made my day! I am so READY to bring her home. Here’s what she had to say:

B is literally one of the sweetest little girls I have ever met—no joke! She was always so kind to everyone, always had a smile on her face, never squabbled about anything, and laughed so easily. Every day when I would come through the gates of HH, she was one of the first to run to me with a hug and kiss. And being the newest “toy” at HH, the children would try to push each other out of the way to sit on my lap or snuggle up at my sides, but she was so patient and would wait until others had run off and then bound up to me with her big sunny smile. I am so excited for you to meet her and know that she will thrive in your family!

Easter

2009-04-11T22:36:00.001-07:00

But the proclamation of Easter day is that all is well. And as a Christian, I say this not with the easy optimism of one who has never known a time when all was not well but as one who has faced the Cross in all its obscenity as well as in all its glory, who has known one way or another what it is like to live separated from God. In the end, his will, not ours, is done. Love is the victor. Death is not the end. The end is life. His life and our lives through him, in him. Existence has great depths of beauty, mystery, and benediction than the wildest visionary has ever dared to dream. Christ our Lord has risen. –Frederick Buechner

for you, joe*

2009-04-08T16:09:00.001-07:00

(my brother in law, who loves N.T. Wright and would be so proud of me for posting this quote)

Every act of love, gratitude, and kindness; every work of art or music inspired by love of God and delight in the beauty of creation; every minute spent teaching a severely handicapped child to read or to walk; every act of care or nurture, of comfort and support, for one’s fellow human beings and for that matter one’s fellow nonhuman creatures; and of course every prayer, all Spirit-led teaching, every deed that spreads the gospel, builds up the church, embraces and embodies holiness rather than corruption, and makes the name of Jesus honored in the world- all of this will find its way, through the RESURRECTING power of God, into the new creation that God will one day make. That is the logic of the mission of God. N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope

my son...the t-baller

2009-04-08T16:01:00.001-07:00

Sim had his first game this week for t-ball. It was awesome on so many levels!

Our friend Chris is the head coach and Josh is helping out as the assistant coach.

in case you were wondering…

2009-04-03T10:22:00.001-07:00

how cool I was in the early 90’s…I thought I would show you!

I am speaking this weekend in our student ministries and I am using the pictures below as part of my opener…they should break the ice but they may also ruin any credibility I had with the young people!

first one on the right.

one with super sweet expression on face!

As it turns out…weddings seem to be my awkward age! There is so many things to say about each of these pictures but instead I’ll just let you enjoy them for all they are worth. Got any embarrassing pictures from the 90’s to share?

“before she is home” list

2009-03-31T21:39:00.001-07:00

1. finish B’s room (paint the furniture…) 2. finish a couple different surf art projects 3. get wisdom teeth pulled (pretty sure I was suppose to do this 10 years ago) 4. finish connected child and toddler adoption 5. write thank you notes to a load of people 6. sell our baby stuff 7. get a new camera 8. collect donations for Hannah's Hope 9. Start B's lifebook 10. pray for may 4th (3rd- our time)

this list will be expanding...daily! Do you notice anything I am missing? Of course, this list should also include...enjoy boys, do things that I won't be able to do for a few months once B is home, etc...

last week

2009-03-30T14:46:00.001-07:00

Last week I was in California for our annual PDYM (Purpose Driven Youth Ministry) Conference. I get to hang out and be crazy with youth workers for a living…it’s a pretty great job. We had lots of fun and ate lots of food.

Some times working with youth workers is just like working with teenagers except they have more facial hair- minus the awkward 8th grade boy who has the full beard.

According to Richard…

2009-03-30T11:45:00.001-07:00

Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, took some liberties with Matthew 25:35 and wrote a paraphrase version for today.

For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thristy, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes. I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness. I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved.

Kidan

2009-03-21T14:04:00.001-07:00

been missing

2009-03-20T09:14:00.001-07:00

this photo makes me miss 3 things:

my long hair- I love putting my hair in a ponytail

my headband – Jed broke it

Africa- I want to go there

her legacy

2009-03-19T14:47:00.001-07:00

When we started the adoption process one of the first books I read was “There is No Me Without You”. I instantly loved the book- I recommend it to all of my friends and even some complete strangers. Josh got so annoyed by me because every 2 minutes I was like – “you have got to hear this…”

Well, yesterday the heroine of the book, Haregewoin, died suddenly. And the author of the book posted a blog on her website about the help needed- and I thought I would pass it along to you. (Personally, I am grateful for her story and for her faith and want to pay tribute to her legacy by helping her “children”). Below is a letter from Melissa Fay Greene’s blog:

Haregewoin Teferra 1946 (est.) - 2009

Dear Friends,

By now you may have learned the shocking news that Mrs. Haregewoin Teferra has died suddenly after a short illness. We don't know what caused her death; she felt sick for a couple of days, went to the doctor, came home without a diagnosis, felt sick again, laid down, and that was the end.

We are grieving, yet we have no time to spare: 59 children survive her, many of them toddlers and babies, the majority HIV-positive.

Worldwide Orphans--the New York-based organization that has provided pediatric care to Haregewoin's children for many years--has stepped into the breach. They have assumed full custody of the 42 HIV-positive kids and are prepared to take responsibility for the 17 HIV-negative children, as needed, most of them babies and toddlers. Those small children are still at Haregewoin's foster home; their caregivers have stayed on; and the Atetegeb board has taken charge of their well-being for the present.

These heroic measures come at high cost: it is estimated to require about $4,600 per child to cover food, healthcare and medicine, education, clothing, and caregivers. Once the children's basic needs are secure, their paperwork will be sorted out: some may be eligible for adoption, others may have extended families in a position to take them in; others may find new placements. No one knows, at this moment, whether Haregewoin had made financial plans for the children in the event of her death. All that can be sorted out in the future. The crisis is NOW: keeping the children fed and clothed, paying the salaries of loving caregivers to act as stand-ins for their late parents and long-devoted foster mother, and making sure there is no lag-time in their life-saving medical treatment.

At Little Atetegeb, for positive children

Haregewoin lived with these children seven days a week, 24 hours a day, for ten years. She is irreplaceable. The youngest children, of course, have no idea what has just happened. Please let us work together to act as foster parents in absentia for them and to provide financial sustenance to the adults on the ground in Addis during this transitional time.

Thank you in advance for any amount you can give.

Online contributions can be made at
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2669/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=2749

Checks may be sent to:
WWO
511 Valley Street
Maplewood, New Jersey 07040

Sincerely,
Melissa

fun stuff

2009-03-17T22:14:00.001-07:00

In fun and exciting news, we got a few updates about our little B from families that recently returned. Updates are the best! Here are a few lines:

I spent lots of time with B, she's a total doll. She doesn't understand much English, but she's really sweet and not afraid of the Americans. She was happy and affectionate and gave me hugs, but she wasn't clingy and needy…

…her hair is so pretty with those ringlet curls…she was quiet and very patient and kind

Come on May 4th!!

Camera…HELP?

2009-03-17T22:08:00.001-07:00

One of the items I want to replace before our trip to Ethiopia is our camera. We have an old digital camera that we bought used from the Sarti Party. It’s definitely time to replace it!

What I am looking for in a camera: compact, quality pictures, affordable (cheap), easy…

So, what are you using? What would you recommend?

roll call- let’s be friends!

2009-03-16T11:39:00.001-07:00

It's time for us to be friends! If you read this blog (Youth Workers? Overlakers? Adopting Families?) and have one of your own, please let me know! I'd love to add you to the roll call--and of course, be friends!

my people

2009-03-15T01:23:00.001-07:00

I have people. Good people who love my family, people who are passionate about Jesus and Africa and who have our back in this crazy journey of adoption.

People throwing parties for us, people giving sacrificially to help us, people decorating rooms, people putting together baskets to auction off…people, people, people!

I wouldn’t want to do it without them! Thank you to my people!

brothers

2009-03-12T19:34:00.001-07:00

They really do…and they can’t wait till she is home with us!

One Mom

it's been a while...

adoption rock gear

We have a WINNER!

Bag o’ Fun…A Bag for a Forever Family!

compassion…by Henri Nouwen

music to my ears…

one year ago…

2010- the year of the books

Good Times!

6 months

we’re alive!

only difference

World AIDS Day

adoption rocks.

fingernails

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink

Celebrating Betty- part 3

no hope

a few favorites

stepping out.

oh, halloween!

Celebrating Betty- Part 2

Celebrating Betty – Part 1

no risk, no reward

a wise friend…

and sometimes…

big news around here…

Hair Play

in process

typical!

girlie highlights…

la, la, la and such…

a little help from a friend…

a little behind…

sometimes easier said than done…

the pros and cons of 35

run or walk…

agents

little ones and preschool

how bazaar.

the big 3 months.

Hello Kindergarten!

water matters

girl time

enjoying the last few days of summer

feeling a little crazy today…

Pictures for a Purpose

homelessness

Before they become collectibles! *UPDATED*

Sweet T

1.2

while dad was away…

helpful book

Book Review: 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa

the things we say…

verbal adoption diarrhea…and other stuff

ex-hair-menting

prayer

30 days

stuff…

the ups and the downs

let’s be honest…

Happy Birthday Jedi!!

a few more

wonder twins

sing along time with Jed & Betty

cocoon stage- week 1

an open letter

one week

together…

Betty’s Room

we love the mariners…and food!

14 months ago…

advice needed!!

waiting again…

who doesn’t love goggles?

a difference a day can make

the one with night court

freaking out…

Before they become collectibles! UPDATED

We have a TON of AMAZING items this year, and you DON'T want to miss out!
100% of the proceeds go towards the fight to