September, 2008

Multiple answered prayers to report tonight. First, little Susannah is much better and on her way to the US with her new family!! What a miracle!!  Second, Brian FINALLY has a job offer, he is still negotiating, but hopefully we will have something signed in the next week! Whooohooo!

I have been following the blog of a wonderful family on their journey to their daughter who is a special needs child in China.  They are in China right now at her bedside in a horrible hospital.  They desperately need all of our prayers... they desperately need a miracle to save her life.  China has not given the family legal custody and without it they can not demand that the little girl be transferred to a hospital that can actually help her.  This is a God size task! Please pray for strength for the family especially Leslie, the mother. And pray for Susannah, the little girl.

I have a new favorite charity!  Charity Water.

Their mission is to bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.  They give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. And they also work to raise awareness of the water crisis through events, fundraising exhibitions and other public awareness campaigns.

Clean water won't fix all the world's many problems, but it's hard to even start fixing the others if people don't have the basic need of water.

Ethiopia's numbers are staggering. Only one in every four people in Ethiopia have access to clean water. There are more people in Ethiopia without clean water than any other country in Africa. Women bear the brunt of water shortage. Many women in Ethiopia walk up to 3 hours, carrying 40-pound jerry cans filled with polluted water that is likely to make them sick. And many girls never get an opportunity to go to school because the responsibility of collecting water takes precedence.  Right now Charity Water is working to provide 333 wells in Ethiopia. 

Charity Water is running a campaign in the month of September to fund these 333 wells in Ethiopia.  They are asking that people with September birthdays have all moneys donated to Charity Water instead of gifts.  Can you help?

Their site has photos and video which show the great needs but also the wonderful Ethiopian culture. And they have already drilled the first well!!

Celebrations are always better with friends!
We are blessed to have a great and GROWING group of families who have or are adopting from Ethiopia in our region.  Yesterday, Ethioguatemama and Ethioguatepapa, of Casa de Chaos, opened their home to all of us to celebrate the Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash. We had lots of new members in attendance... I think I counted 13 families, 6 families have their child(ren) home from Ethiopia.  People drove from 2-3 hours from two different directions to converge together.  We were able to share photos, items, food, and stories. The few dozen kids played together and had a blast!!

Coffeybunny was there with SJ and B.  Easties were there. The A Team was there. The M family was there with their new daughter Rusie. We were able to meet Robyn and the Inmans for the first time, along with a half dozen other new families who don't have blogs.

Really and truly, I can't tell you how much of a blessing this group is. We have been home with Miriam almost three years (making our family the first ET adoption of the group) and only in the last 9 months have we had these connections.  It feels so good to finally have the physical, real life connections.  Now if we just didn't have to drive 2 hours. :)   If you're in East/ East central TN,adopting from Ethiopia, and you're looking for a group come join us.

It is with a bit of sadness that I report one more piece of evidence that my baby girl is growing up. Miriam can now correctly say her name. So good-bye "Mee-uhm", I miss you alrerady.

Did we really just pay $5.09 for a gallon of gas? All due to a hurricane that came no where near us and a bunch of IDIOTS who don't know how to control themselves!

Brian has been told yet again, "We'll have a job offerby next Friday!"  Seriously, I'm over it.

Happy New Year.... Ethiopian that is!!  Today is Enkutatash, the Ethiopian new year.  It is now 2001 in Ethiopia.
We will be celebrating with our local Ethiopian adoption group this Saturday afternoon. This promises to be our largest get together yet... I can't wait!

Grandpa George picked 4.25 bushel of apples off our tree today.  I'll be making applesauce tomorrow, but tonight we eat these. 

Now we have been told that Brian will have a job offer by next Friday.  Haven't heard that one before. *La Sigh*

Well, today was the first day of preschool for Miriam and Evan.  They both did well.  Miriam's teacher reported that she didn't want to participate in coloring, but otherwise joined in all structured activities. Evan did VERY well with coloring and listening to the stories.  Their teacher is so proud of them! :)

For those who are curious, I'm using the Before Five in A Row book.  I've also found some really great activities and lapbook ideas at the Homeschool Share website.