Changes

Here is a little information about what is currently happening in Ethiopia. We received an e-mail today from our friend with the link to this article. We hope that this doesn't affect work supporting orphanages and families too much.

The article discusses how the Ethiopian government is choosing to outlaw work done by independent human rights organizations.

A Valley

Lately, I feel like I have been going through a rough spot with this adoption. I feel as if everything has come to a screeching halt and it is just one thing after another that continues to slow us down. I feel so discouraged. I am trying to keep a positive outlook, to keep the faith, but that feel so difficult, so out of reach.
My heart aches.

Melkm Ganna!

As we await bringing a little one into our family, we try to consider more and more what that will look like and how we can incorporate more cultural aspects into our family. We were reading a book that specifically described each of the cultural traditions practiced by different countries surrounding Christmas and of course were very interested in the celebrations found within Ethiopia. Below is a summary of what we found.

In the Ethiopian Coptic church, Ganna, or Christmas, is celebrated on January 7th. The celebration takes place in Ethiopia's ancient rectangular churches carved, over 800 years ago, from solid volcanic rock. Men and boys sit separately from girls and women. The choir sings from outside the circle. The second circle, or holy place, is for the congregation. Holy Communion is served in the innermost circle, the sanctuary. Following a day of fasting, everyone attending the early-morning mass wears white. People receive candles as they enter the church. After lighting the candles everyone walks around the church three times.
Twelve days after Ganna, on January 19, Ethiopians begin the three-day celebration call Timkate, which commemorates the baptism of Christ. the children walk to church services in a procession. They wear the crowns and robes of the church youth groups they belong to. The grown-ups wear the shamma. The priests will now wear their read and white robes and carry embroidered fringed umbrellas.
Christmas food in Ethiopia usually includes injera, a sourdough pancake like bread that can be easily cooked over an open fire. Injera serves as both plate and fork.
Ganna and Timkat are not occasions for giving gifts in Ethiopia. If a child receives any gift at all, it is usually a small gift of clothing. Religious observances, feasting, and games are the focus of the season.
Melkm Ganna, or Good Christmas!

Books for Babies

As previously mentioned, we are very blessed to have others join us in our journey to bring home a child from Ethiopia.
Our downstairs neighbors and their dear friend Mark set out on a journey of their own to help with some of the financial aspects of our adoption. They have put in many long hours to prep and create the handmade journals that you will see below. Each journal is not only an artistic creation reflecting their abilities, but an act of service to our family as well. Once the journals were created and finished they didn't stop there. They contacted a local gallery here in town and shared with the owner their desire to sell the journals raising money for our adoption. The owner of the gallery graciously offered her business, Keag Gallery, as an avenue to sell the journals and is asking for nothing in return. We are so humbled by the actions of others and continue to search for words to honor their acts of kindness.

Some examples of the handmade journals created by Mark and Mike.

The journals on display in the Keag Gallery.

If you or someone you know are interested in purchasing a journal and contributing to our journey please contact us.

Home Study is Studied!

For the last three weeks we have been meeting with our caseworker, who has got to be one of the most kind people, to complete our homestudy. She has been very supportive of moving through the process as quickly and efficiently as possible, which we are very grateful for. We had to complete three visits with her. The first visit consisted of her walking through our home, and interviewing us about our decision to adopt and our relationship with one another. The second visit primarily consisted of individual interviews about our childhood and our relationship with parents. Last night was our final visit with her to complete the homestudy! We discussed medical conditions we would be willing to accept, our health history, our employment and spirituality. We were so excited to wrap up that part of the adoption process! Once she has our report written we will review it and then we can begin submitting all of our paperwork for the dossier. We are so anxious to move through each step that we have all of the paperwork gathered and ready to go-we just need to add our homestudy report to it! We were very excited last night so we made a few phone calls and then celebrated by having dinner with some good friends. We continue to pray that the timing will work out and that there will be very few set backs! We can't wait to bring home our baby!

Without You

I am sitting here listening to a new song of Coldplays and I was reminded of the book I read last year prior to our decision to adopt, There is No Me Without You. This book was definitely difficult to read at times because it provides a  lot of information regarding the AIDS crisis and how that affects the children of Ethiopia.  The author, Melissa Fay Greene has her own website regarding the book and adoption information in general.  If you have time check out the website - and if you have even more time, read the book! Once you read the book you will not be the same!

The First Purchase

I traveled back to Rapid City to visit family this weekend. My dear friend Laura came with me while Micah and Joel headed up to the mountains.  We had a great trip and it was so nice to introduce Laura to our families! 

While we were in Rapid, Sharon continued on with her excitement for the baby by making the first purchase! She took us out to Target where she demonstrated how excited one person can really become about the opportunity of a baby entiring the family! I must admit that at times I was overwhelmed with all of the items, the choices..... there is just SO MUCH that a baby can have! I did appreciate her joy and we ended up leaving with a cloth sling and a backpack carrier. One for me and one for Micah.... Did I mention that she was soooooo excited to make these purchases? I tried them on, and I think that they fit okay--it is kind of hard to tell without a baby weighing it down and a sack of potatoes didn't really sit like a baby!
So we now have our first items for the baby. We have been talking a lot about our hopes to keep things simple and not go overboard with the amount of baby "stuff" that can easily be accumulated. We are really trying to determine what it is that is necessary and what is more just a convience. Any feedback? We would love to hear from experienced mothers!