The Best Things In Life Aren't Things

And the winner is....

2012-03-10T08:29:00.001-06:00

ASHLEY!

Congratulations Ashley! Thank you to everyone who made a donation to The Hendersons' Both Hands fundraiser. Today is their project "work day" and I know they will do amazing things to live out James 1:27!

Guess Who Got Her Ears Pierced?

2012-03-09T11:51:00.000-06:00

Grace has been waiting a long time to get her ears pierced...after all, she LOVES sparkly, fancy and shiny everything! She was so excited when her dad and I surprised her the day before her birthday and took her to the kid beauty salon in town. We went right after dance class (which is why she is wearing a tutu...although, knowing Grace, she could be wearing a tutu at any time I guess).

I'm not 100% sure she knew what to expect when they did the actual piercing. The video captures her personality so well...she just rolled with it and acted like it was no big deal.

Grace is so happy to have "real" earrings.

The hard part will be waiting for two months to change her earrings!

REMEMBER...

today is the LAST day to enter the giveaway for all of this cool Africa themed stuff. Please help our friends The Hendersons bring their little boy home from Ethiopia by making a donation to their adoption fundraiser.

If you make (any size) donation, leave me a comment and you will be entered to win. Drawing will take place tonight! Thanks for your support!

YOUR ODDS ARE GOOD!!!!

2012-03-08T10:16:00.001-06:00

Just a reminder that you have until tomorrow to enter my little (or BIG) giveaway to help benefit our friends The Hendersons.

PLEASE click the donate button below to make ANY SIZE donation to their Both Hands project, and you could win all of this great Africa themed stuff!
(leave me a comment after you donate to be entered in our drawing)

Grace will draw the lucky winner's name tomorrow...trust me, your odds are great at this point ;)

Read this post for complete details...

Happy Birthday Grace!

2012-03-07T08:37:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

I can't believe how fast the time is going...it seems like we just met, and you were a tiny little three year old. Five sounds so old!

You are an amazing girl. You impress everyone that meets you. You're so darn smart, kind, and resilient (not to mention cute)! Your smile can light up a room.

We are blessed to call you a daughter and sister and we can't wait to see the amazing girl and woman you grow up to be. There is no doubt that God has a very special plan for your life!!!!

"I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Grace ready to head out the door to preschool this morning...

She gets to be "special helper" at school, and then she is having her friends come over for her birthday party. I can't even describe the excitement that is in the air around here!

BIG Giveaway!

2012-03-02T13:18:00.000-06:00

I am so excited...lots to write about! Our dear friends, The Hendersons, are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. They are so special to us, because we were able to travel to Ethiopia together and bring our two precious kiddos home together. JT was so much fun to spend time in Ethiopia with. He was a first-time dad traveling alone to meet and bring home his son. Natalie and I had gotten to know each other throughout our adoption process, and because she was doing her residency and was unable to travel, we promised that we would be there for JT when he entered the world of fatherhood for the first time. Can you imagine traveling to Africa alone to meet and bring home your four year old son? JT was a natural and our time together was awesome. He was an amazing dad from day one.

The Henderson Family- 5 Million Minus One (but now...more like minus 2 or 3 or more!)

Tedi and Grace are almost like family...they arrived at the orphanage the same day. They met their forever families the same day, and they even traveled to America together on the same day. We have been lucky enough to stay in touch with Tedi and his family even though they live in Louisville, KY. We traveled to Louisville and it was as if Grace and Tedi didn't skip a beat. They will always be special friends.

The Hendersons are adopting again, and we are thrilled for them. We also want to do whatever we can to support their adoption. They are working with Both Hands to take part in a great fundraising opportunity.

Both Hands is a non-profit organization with a two-fold mission. They serve widows in a very practical way in communities, while raising funds to help willing families adopt. They partner withLifesong for Orphans whose mission is “bringing joy and purpose to orphans.”

JT and Natalie (along with a lot of friends and family) will be serving a widow in the Louisville area. They will be having a huge "work day" to help meet some of her needs, and in turn, will be asking for people to sponsor the project.

For the next week, I will be giving you a chance to win this awesome assortment of Africa related loot. I have three shirts, a paper bead necklace from Uganda, a key chain, and a great book to give away.

All you have to do is make a donation to The Henderson's Both Hands project.

I don't care how much you donate...every single dollar helps. We have all seen the amazing things that happen when people in "blog world" donate to help fellow adoptive families. I have seen amazing amounts of money collected for families in such a short time! EVERY SINGLE DONATION will help.

If you make a donation, please leave me a comment. That is all you have to do!

If you feel led to share this giveaway on your blog or facebook, that would be extra awesome!

Here are all of the items you could win...

I love Suubi necklaces. They are beautiful necklaces and are packaged beautifully for gift giving.

This book is such a good read! It is a historical fiction novel which is set in Ethiopia during the 1970's. I have learned so much about Ethiopia and it's history through books. I promise you will love this book and will learn so much about the heartache and difficult political struggles that Ethiopia has endured. I am giving away a new, hardcover edition of the book.

This hand-embellished t-shirt is super cute. It is black and has an applique Africa cut out on the left hip. It is a size L, but it seems like a junior fit, so it runs a bit smaller than a regular women's shirt.

This kids shirt is a size 6-8. I would say that it also runs small and is more of a 4/5. It is a pink tee with a brown polka dot Africa appliqued on the front.
I also have a very small tee from a wonderful adoptive family. The brown t-shirt pictured is a shirt says "147,000,000 minus one" and is about a size 24 mo (the tag says 4, but there is no way).
I ordered one of these shirts for Grace, and was unsure of size, and Cindy was so sweet that she sent me two shirts to be sure that one fit Grace! How sweet is that? So, here is the smaller shirt that did NOT fit my little Grace (or her not so little tummy).

Super cool Africa key chain

So there you have it! PLEASE donate a few dollars (or much more) to our friends Both Hands site

Beautiful Dancer

2012-03-01T08:51:00.001-06:00

Isn't this picture beautiful? I just love it. It was taken last weekend at Alyssa's first dance troupe competition of the season. Alyssa is the girl in the left corner of the front row (bent over backwards). This lyrical number was AMAZING. The number was professionally choreographed by a well known dancer in LA. She came to town last summer to start teaching the number to the girls, and the first day Alyssa practiced with her, she said..."our lyrical number is so cool!" Alyssa must have known that this number would be good. It took first place at last weekend's competition.

We had an awesome time at the competition last weekend. The whole family went (usually it is just Alyssa and I that travel). In addition to watching dance, the kids were able to do some swimming at the hotel (the water park was an added bonus) and sight seeing.

Here are a few more of Alyssa's dance friends in some of their various costumes...I missed a couple photo opportunities with her other costumes. She also performed a great duet with her friend El. Alyssa has grown into such an awesome dancer. Most importantly, she is still as beautiful and graceful on the inside as she is on the out side! We are so proud of her!

"Just Dance" - a production number with Lady Gaga songs

"Fly Me To The Moon"

"Radio"

Sisters...you can order a shirt like Graces here to help support my friend Kim's adoption!

"Burlesque"

After the first day of dancing, we took a few dancers and their families to eat at an Ethiopian restaurant. We do not have any Ethiopian restaurants where we live, so whenever we visit a bigger city we try to find one.

The girls were pretty daring and willing to try some new food.

The boys have gotten pretty good at eating Ethiopian fare.

And Grace, well, she was in heaven. She still loves her injera and is an expert at scooping up her favorites!

The meal was complete with a little coffee ceremony of our own!
It was fun to take these dance parents with us to the restaurant. They were good sports and tried a lot of new foods. It's funny how we think we are experts at eating Ethiopian food...two years ago we went to this same restaurant (while we were waiting to travel to Ethiopia) and had no idea what we were doing or what to order.

The next day we were able to take in a few sights between dances. Here is the capital building in Madison.

And not far from the capital is my favorite popcorn shop, Vic's. Whenever we are in Madison, we try to make a stop there for rainbow popcorn.

So, there you have it. A great time was had by all. The dance competition was great, the girls scored very well, the kids had fun throughout the weekend, and we got home safe and sound (and very late on Sunday night!). After resting up on Monday, Grace was off to her own dance class...

Doesn't she look cute with her matching dance bag? I actually didn't even notice until we got to the studio and the teacher pointed out how she looked just like her bag!

7

2012-02-24T13:33:00.001-06:00

Here is my new favorite book:

(at least for right now...)

This book is so darn good! It was life changing for me (sort of). I am so inspired by it (most of the time). I hope to change the way I live my life because of this book (until I lose my motivation). But seriously, this book was just what I needed (and continue to need). If you read my last post, you know I am feeling like life is crazy and days are hectic. This book was written for people like me who need the book version of a slap in the face to "wake up!"

Jen Hatmaker decided that her life was a bit "too much." Too much food, waste, spending, and of course, too much stress. She felt "trapped in the machine of excess." She decided to take seven months of her life (and that of her family) and make some serious changes. What followed was amazing. Every month, Jen focused on one change. Jen would only "eat seven foods, wear seven articles of clothing, and spend money in seven places (sounds easier than it is!)". She eliminated the use of seven media types, gave away seven things each day for one month, adopted seven green habits, and observed seven sacred pauses throughout each day.

Jen Hatmaker is an awesome writer (at least in this book she is...to be honest, this is the only book I've ever read of hers...I'll be reading her others soon!). Her book reads like her diary for the seven months that she was conducting this "experiment." She is so stinkin funny!

Here is an example of her writing on DAY 1 of her seven foods month...she gave up coffee...

"Dear coffee: I miss you already. We're just on a break. Don't worry. They say if you love something, set it free; and if it comes back to you, then it was truly addicted to you in the first place. Hold onto that. Mark it down: Jen/Java reunion in thirty days. Be strong."

On a more serious note, the book explores the real problem with having so much excess. We are all trapped to some degree. The bottom line of this book is, "Would Jesus overindulge on garbage food while climbing out of a debt hole from buying things He couldn't afford to keep up with neighbors He couldn't impress?" "...consider what Jesus' version of rich, blessed, and generous might look like in your life."

Well said Jen.

This weekend I plan to re-read parts of the book again in an effort to embed it's main message in my weak brain. Please let me know if you have read this book (or any of Jen Hatmaker's other books).

It would be awesome to hear your thoughts!

P.S. One of my little goals for 2012 is to not buy myself ANY clothes...It is February 24th and I am still going strong...still trying to figure out if adoption fundraiser t-shirts count...and scarves... clearly they are accessories and NOT clothes, right?

Where do I begin?

2012-02-22T09:59:00.000-06:00

I am not even sure where to begin this post. I have been out of the habit of blogging for so long, that I don't know how to jump back in. My goal in writing this blog has always been to connect with other adoptive moms. It has been amazing to get to "know" so many of you. I am not sure who is still reading this, but please know that I still follow your blogs regularly and love to hear updates about your families! Another goal of mine is to use this blog as a sort of scrapbook of our family memories. Gone are the days when I would haul out the paper, cutting tools, stickers, etc. and create beautiful scrapbooks. Now, I am lucky to have a few minutes to sit at my computer and type up a few thoughts to remember the moments in our lives.

With that said, I have decided to make blogging a priority again. I have so much to share. I have a great project that I have been working on (seems like forever!) that I can't wait to tell you all about. I have LOTS of super cool recipes to share (I may do a weekly Pinterest shout out), and I really want to keep documenting our adoption journey. There is one thing I have learned throughout our adoption experience...adoption isn't something that you "do" and then move on from. Adoption is something that will be a part of your family life at all times...there will continue to be ups and downs, challenges to muddle through, and new situations that need to be addressed as your child grows and matures. I treasure the advice and experiences that I read about on other blogs. I can only hope that sharing some of our experiences might help another family in "blog world" somewhere!

In an effort to catch you all up, here is a little family update...

Grace was very into Valentine's Day this year. She was decked out in her sweet shirt from my friend Kim. You can order one of these super cool shirts HERE. Kim and her family are adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia and are (patiently ;)?) waiting for a court date...

Don't you love these Valentines? My inspiration came from a fellow blog buddy (Gayla) a whole year ago! When I saw her son's valentine last year, I knew that we would copy her this year. They turned out so cute. They really looked 3D.

One of the reasons that I have been so busy and off of my computer:

Alyssa's dance team made it to "state" and headed to a big dance team competition. It was a ton of fun for her, but a little freaky for her mom who had to send her on a bus for two nights in a hotel with a bunch of high school girls! Of course, I was not far behind and it was a fun for her dad and me to watch the competition and to focus on her team's success without her siblings in tow (thanks grandma and grandpa!).

Alyssa was also busy with more dancing of a different kind...The school's Snow Ball dance was this month. There is nothing cuter than a bunch of freshman all dressed up for a formal dance. It was fun to talk to the moms of boys who explained that their kids just figured out what they were going to wear at the last minute. The girls, meanwhile, have been planning their outfits and accessories for a LONG time. I think Alyssa tried on more dresses for this dance than I did when selecting my wedding dress.

Alyssa continues to bring us joy. She is such a busy girl. She dances countless hours each week at the dance studio and the high school, yet she continues to be an excellent student and wonderful daughter. I am still waiting for the icky teenager stuff to hit, but so far we are nothing but blessed by Alyssa.

Drew has been busy with sports of all sorts. He and his basketball team are traveling all around to tournaments and are really starting to come together as a team. Drew has such a great attitude about staying busy. He never complains about going to practice or having to do nothing but homework after school so that he can get done before practice. In addition to basketball, he plays indoor baseball once a week (I guess this is to stay "fresh" for the real baseball season to start?), and goes to a speed camp twice a week (I have no explanation for this except that some parents seem to think this is good for kids to get faster and more agile...I am just happy that Drew (who loves to be active) gets a chance to run around and play inside during the dead of winter).

What do I say about Bryce? Well, he is as creative as ever. This picture was taken because he wanted me to take it and print it out so that he could draw his body with "six pack abs" and boxing gloves...OK. Enough said. He loves to create, build things, and is really into the book series The Series of Unfortunate Events. The reader in me gets so excited when I walk into a room and see him snuggled up with a book! I can't help but hug him and say (with so much joy) "look at you...you are a reader like me now!!!" I can only hope that this love of reading will stick.

Bryce is also playing basketball on a tournament team. It is pretty cute to see a bunch of third grade boys playing basketball...

And then there's Grace. She continues to amaze everyone she meets. She is so stinkin smart. I can take no credit for this, as I had very little to do with it. She loves to do "homework" when the big kids are working on their homework. She will plop down and write all sorts of words by sounding them out. She seems to have a love of learning. We recently signed her up for kindergarten for next year and she was beaming with pride. She is READY to go now! She looks forward to being at the same school as her brother Bryce.

For now, she goes to preschool three mornings a week. She has a nice class and a wonderful preschool teacher. One extra cool thing about her school is that they have a "sister" school in Ethiopia! How cool is that? They recently collected donations and supplies to send to the school kids in Ethiopia. Love it!

Grace thought it was pretty cool that one of the wise men had skin like hers!

My husband Doug get very little attention on this blog, yet this post could not be written without him. He is such a great guy. Here he is on the day that Grace came home...note how little she was a year and a half ago! Doug has been super busy with work. He is traveling all around the country all the time, yet does an amazing job of staying involved in all the kids' activities and performances. He works hard all day and then spends all night doing kid stuff, and then finds time to workout almost every day (I do hate that part because I feel like a lump compared to him!).

During this month of love and Valentine's Day, I would be remiss to not mention my love for my husband. I recently needed to spend some time in the hospital (another reason for lack of blogging) and he was so awesome. I had some nasty stuff going on and felt like crap (I may write more about this another time....trying to erase the memory from my mind for now). One of the things that I remember clearly from the ER, was that holding my husband's hand brought me comfort. Real comfort. I am so blessed to have a great family, four beautiful kids, and one really great husband. Even though Doug and I made a truce this Valentine's Day to not buy gifts for each other, and to not really do much of anything to celebrate, it was enough to know that we have each other. Hopefully even though we don't show a ton of outward public displays of affection and go on a ton of dates, our kids will know what love looks like and how to be there for one another through good times and bad.

So, there you have it. This is what has kept me busy the past month or so. Now that I feel I am caught up, I can start blogging about other fun stuff, projects, giveaways, etc.

Stay tuned for more to come... SOON!

Fashion Plates

2012-02-01T12:56:00.001-06:00

Here is a little secret for you...I am not a good "player." I don't love to play games with Grace during the day. I don't love to play with stuffed animals. I don't love to play preschool board games. I realize that I need to do these things, but I don't love it. So...I started to think about how, as a kid, I must have liked to play, right? I thought about what some of my favorite toys were. Enter "Fashion Plates." I doubt there are many of you reading this that will know what I am talking about, but I can remember spending tons of time creating what I thought would be the coolest "outfits" with these low tech plastic templates. Just think, this was popular before Project Runway (which I do love).

To make a long story short, I ordered some vintage Fashion Plates from Ebay (I'll never tell how much I spent). Today I introduced Grace to fashion "design." She seems to really like it. She also seems to have a great eye for fashion from the late 70's and early 80's. We'll see where this takes us...

Birthday traditions and Grace's new hairstyle

2012-01-27T12:34:00.001-06:00

Grace has a new hair style! She deserves a trophy for this little number...she sat for 2 1/2 hours straight for this look. We headed to a local beauty school where an amazing stylist said she had an "idea" in mind. I love it. It has the cuteness of pig tails and the ease of the braids. If you have a daughter like mine (who likes to be "fancy") and you don't have the skills it takes to do this type of style, you may want to check out a beauty school. There are a lot of women at our local school who know how to braid, and the price is unbelievable. Can you believe that this style (and a 2 1/2 hour appointment) only cost $20? Needless to say, I tipped very well! I am hoping we get a good two-three weeks out of this style before it starts to look too fuzzy...I'll keep you posted.

We've been celebrating a lot of birthday fun around here. Since I use our blog as a "scrapbook" of sorts, I wanted to write a little something about our family's birthday traditions. The kids always wake up on their birthday to find their bedroom doorway decorated with crepe paper. I just tape lots of streamers hanging down from the top of their doorway (sort of creating a curtain of crepe paper). They also find "the birthday basket" which appears while they sleep. We have a wicker basket that we fill with little goodies like candy, small gifts, etc. It is a fun way to start their special day.

Our newest birthday tradition addition (say that five times fast), is this cute wreath that we hang on our front door. I found the inspiration on Pinterest (of course). It was super easy and is really cute. I plan to switch the photo on it to represent whoever is celebrating a birthday.

Of course, birthday treats are part of our fun. This year, I made these cute little basketball hoops for Bryce and his friends. The chocolate basketballs were easy to find at our local candy store. The boys thought they were REALLY cool.

Of course, the birthday boy needed a treat to bring to school on his birthday. We decided that our favorite rainbow cupcakes would do the trick. Everyone LOVES these. I am telling you, something so easy can still get such a huge (and very positive) response. The kids went crazy when they bit into the cupcakes. I happened to be there volunteering, and kids were asking me to give their parents the recipe, email their mom "how to makes these," etc.

We eat a "fancy" birthday breakfast in the dining room (a room that is usually only used for me to spread paperwork all over...). This little tradition is tricky, because we are usually heading off to work and school in the morning. The "birthday breakfast" is a little rushed, but the kids feel special drinking out of stemmed light up glasses filled with juice.

Bryce's birthday dinner was at a Mexican restaurant. He can really rock the sombrero, don't you think?

Last, but not least, I found this cute idea for Bryce to take to school today...he is the "star of the week" after all... He needed to bring in one more fun thing, and since he is a fan of Star Wars, we made lightsabers out of pretzel rods, colored chocolate and colored sugar. They turned out really cute. Bryce is so creative that he even came up with the idea of using tin foil for the handles. These are really cool because the colored sugar makes them sort of sparkle like a lightsaber.

Hope you enjoyed some of our little traditions and projects. Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

Happy 9th Birthday Bryce!

2012-01-23T16:26:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Bryce!!!!

Today we celebrate the amazing gift of Bryce. He is truly one of the sweetest, most creative, kindest, and of course, cutest kids you will ever meet. We are so lucky he is ours!

I can't believe it was nine years ago that we were blessed by the arrival of our third child. Here is Bryce on the day he was born...His birth was so awesome...I had a scheduled C-section. Everything went so well. No labor, no pain. It was such a nice change of (birthing) pace.

I couldn't really believe I had TWO boys...I was so surprised when the doctor said those magical words... "It's a boy!" I think I gasped a little to myself...I was certain he was a girl. Then, the second I laid my eyes on him, I forgot all about the idea of a little girl. He was so precious.

(notice my drugged up eyes in this picture...).

His big sister was pretty excited to meet him too. She was hoping for a sister, but...it turned out that she would have to wait TEN YEARS for that to happen!

Big Brother Drew was also excited about his new baby brother...

It took all of about 30 seconds before we had to start "reminding" Drew that the baby was not a toy and that he had to keep his "hands off!" the baby.

Happy Birthday sweet Bryce!

Thank you for being you!!!!

We love you!

Win a new Kindle Fire ... Check out these cute shirts...

2012-01-21T09:32:00.000-06:00

Aren't these shirts cute???? Please visit my friend's Kim's blog TODAY to learn about how you can buy one of your own. The best part: You will be helping Kim and her (adorable) family get one step closer to bringing their sweet baby girl home from Ethiopia! They recently received their referral and are super close to traveling to meet their newest daughter. Please consider making a donation to their adoption fund to help cover the cost of TWO trips to Ethiopia OR, buy one of these super cute t shirts and help support them while adding to your wardrobe. They are so close to being fully funded...they are almost there...

Another cool part about helping Kim...she loves to do fun contests and giveaways. If you make a donation or purchase today, you will be entered into a raffle to win a brand new Kindle Fire!!!! How cool is that??? SO, PLEASE head on over to Kim's blog, read her super cute family's story, help them out by making a donation, and start praying for their family to receive their court date SOON!

Enjoy your Saturday!!!!

Favorite new recipe....You MUST try this one...

2012-01-18T16:12:00.000-06:00

I've been a terrible blogger lately...I have many good reasons, but the first is that my laptop is not working. It is currently in "the shop" because Windows will not open (I suspect this is not a good sign- I am not as computer literate as you might think). This is tough on me, after all:

SO...while I have many creative ideas floating through my head to write about (and some REALLY cool projects and families to tell you about), I can't seem to get into the swing of sharing them on my blog with this old, clunky desktop computer. In the meantime, I will share my new favorite recipe with you...

Honey Lime Enchiladas

They are so easy and so tasty!!!!

I must give credit to Pinterest for this gem of a recipe. Almost everyone in my house loves this. When I make these yummy enchiladas, I don't have ANY leftovers...that is a great sign around here. Grace and I polish off whatever is left over for lunch...they are so good!

(source)

Honey Lime Enchiladas

Marinade: 6T. honey, 5 T. lime juice, 1T. chili powder, 1/2 t. garlic powder

Toss marinade with1 lb. of cooked chicken (I use rotisserie chicken)

8-10 flour tortillas

1 pound of mont.jack cheese (shredded)

16 oz. green enchilada sauce

1 c. heavy cream

Marinate the chicken for at least 1/2 hour (the longer, the better). Pour 1/2 enchilada sauce over the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Fill tortillas with chicken and cheese (save 1 c. cheese for top), roll and place seam side down in pan. Mix remaining enchilada sauce and cream. Pour sauce over the top of the rolled up tortillas. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes (until slightly brown and crispy on top).

Enjoy!

Dr. King

2012-01-16T13:56:00.003-06:00

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I have a dream...that little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers."

Martin Luther King, Jr.
August 28th, 1963, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.

And what would Dr. King say about the 147 million orphans in our world?

...when considering adoption,

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just the first step."

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Finally! Snow!

2012-01-12T21:24:00.004-06:00

YESTERDAY...

50 degrees, took the dog for a walk...

TODAY...

SNOW!

Snow has finally arrived in Wisconsin.

2012-01-05T08:30:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year!!!!

In an effort to document our past couple of weeks, here is a quick Christmas recap. We were lucky enough to stay home and relax for the holidays. We were blessed with visits from family and friends and completely enjoyed the slower pace of a week without basketball practices, dance practices, running around town every night (not to mention having Doug home for a week straight!).

Although it was not much of a "white" Christmas, Grace attempted to make a snow man. The absence of snow contributed to a different Christmas "feel."

The boys.

The girls.

Grace's favorite Christmas present arrived on Christmas Eve. Her grandparents were kind enough to give her a fancy piggy bank (and a box of coins...great idea). She was thrilled to put the coins in, take the coins out, and occasionally share a few coins with the rest of us. This is the ONLY gift that she has actually gone back to play with over and over since Christmas...who needs expensive electronics?

No, the actual Green Bay Packers did not show up to celebrate with us. These are my (not so little) nephews. They are big! We decided to give them all jerseys for Christmas...

Here we are posing for a quick family picture. We were SO late and were heading out to church on Christmas Eve... You would never know how this picture was actually posed (imagine lots of "hurry up! let's go! we need a quick picture! come on people!!!!").

After Christmas Eve service, we always do gifts from siblings to each other. Each kid also gets a special present from mom and dad (new pjs, a book, and an ornament that symbolizes their year). This little game was a HUGE hit. Drew picked it out for his siblings. It is hilarious. You feed the dog "treats" and then he ends up "digesting" them and returning them to you for you to scoop up (if you know what I mean). The funniest part of the game is the sound effects that it makes. The winner of the game gets three "poops in their scoop." This proved to be a huge hit when friends and family visited us over break. Again, who needs expensive electronics?

Christmas morning....Grace loves her new Tiana doll.

Oh, I guess THIS is who needs expensive electronics. Bryce only had one request for Santa...an ipod. I was worried that he wouldn't get one, because Santa has a lot of kids to bring gifts to and I wasn't sure he could come through. Bryce was so happy and grateful that he did!

Drew was lucky enough to get a lot of sports stuff for Christmas. This is one of my favorites. It is Tim Tebow's rookie card and a photo of him "Tebowing." I LOVE Tim Tebow (not in a creepy,cougar sort of way, in a grateful to have a respectable athlete for my son to look up to sort of way).

This picture of Bryce really sums him up. He likes sports (and loves his new Jordon jersey), but is a lego builder at heart. He is studying his new lego book during all of the commotion of Christmas morning.

All of a sudden, Grace stops opening a gift and says "Wait a minute...HOW did Santa get all of this stuff in here????" She proceeded to inspect the fireplace.

Grace received this set of adorable aprons. She can dress up her doll with an apron that matches hers and then she can help me in the kitchen OR pretend to cook in HER kitchen (which doesn't get much use). I found these aprons through my blog friend Bonnie. Bonnie and her husband started a wonderful organization in Rwanda where women sew these aprons as well as clothes that fit American Girl dolls. They also sew beautiful handbags (which my niece was given). The best part...the income generated from the sale of these items helps women in Rwanda to support themselves. Please visit their website and check it out!

Alyssa and her new backpack. Backpacks are WAY more fashionable now than they were when I was in high school...She is going to hate this picture...I bet she never expected her "footie" pjs to show up on the blog!

Well...back to expensive electronics...yes, THIS kid really loves them. He was NOT expecting this super cool surprise. I love his excitement and joy!

And...after a long morning of gift giving, excitement, and family togetherness...what is the ONE gift that Grace choose to hunker down and play with while we waited for the rest of our relatives to join us for Christmas???? Yes...Doggie Doo.

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas

2011

Wishing you the peace, joy, and love that the true meaning of Christmas brings...

One Year Later...

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

This is a video that I posted exactly one year ago...I enjoyed watching it and remembering how special last Christmas was. Grace had only been with us for a few months, and we were so excited to share the holiday season with her. She looks so tiny in this video...and her hair...it was so short!

Our family is so blessed, and we know that being able to celebrate Christmas as a family is a true gift. We will forever be grateful for the miracle of adoption!

Hope you enjoy my little "walk down memory lane..."

So, what have we been up to...?

2011-12-20T22:28:00.000-06:00

I have been a terrible blogger lately. This holiday season is really kicking me in the rear end. I would have to say that we are one busy family these days. Most of the stuff we have going on is wonderful (lots of dance competitions, basketball, school stuff, traveling husband, etc.). There are days, however, when I really question the amount of activity in our lives...perhaps there will be a few New Year's resolutions in the works for us...

Grace has been enjoying the holiday season and is keeping busy with the preparations.

Here she is sporting her new holiday apron.

We had a great time at the annual gingerbread party we attend (Thanks Kneelands!).

The moms had a great time catching up. The party was fun and one of my favorite parts was talking adoption with the other moms (four out of five of our families have adopted). ***this picture makes me laugh- have you ever heard the song "Red Solo Cup?"

Grace got to hang with Santa during Alyssa's holiday dance show. She told him that she is hoping for a horse. Santa was nice enough to clarify that the horse would be a toy and come with a "brush."

The dance show was wonderful...Alyssa's dance studio raises thousands of dollars every year by having two holiday shows - all profits go to support a homeless shelter in Green Bay (last year over $15,000 was raised).

We can finally get Grace's hair in TWO "puffs" (although I can barely make them stay). Love it!

And...last but not least, a couple awesome ideas that I found on (my favorite) Pinterest:

These adorable reindeer nose cookies were such a hit. They are the perfect size, so easy to make, and make a cute little treat to share this time of year. ***My smart little high school daughter did point out, however, that reindeer noses would be blackish, not brown***

The other cool thing I have been working on, are these super easy (and fun to make) stamped metal ornaments. They are made out of washers...I am currently stamping anything metal I can get my hands on. It's so fun. I decided to give these as gifts along with a card that explains that "water has been donated in your honor" instead of just buying little gifts for people. I am donating to Living Water...love their advent conspiracy project.

So, that is a little bit of what has been keeping me from blogging.

FOUR more days to get ready for the main event...here we go!

Grace Attempts An "All Nighter"

2011-12-13T20:21:00.000-06:00

Grace decided that she did NOT want to go to sleep. She wasn't tired...yeah, right. Well, I figured, why not call her bluff. I told her that she could stay up ALL night long. I am so fun like that (NOT). I told her she could stay up ALL night, as long as she was wearing pjs, stayed in bed, and had the lights out. She was so excited that she wanted to get in bed without reading bedtime stories. She was so excited that she couldn't wait for her "fun" to start. She crawled in bed beaming with joy. (I love how Grace starts reciting our family rules when I ask her what the "rules" are about staying up all night).

This is how I found her two minutes later...

LOVE This!!!!

2011-12-07T13:20:00.000-06:00

Another Good Idea for Attachment/Bonding...

2011-12-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

I came across one more cool item that just might be helpful for the process of attaching to, bonding with, and appreciating an adopted child (or any child). The like book is a very simple book that allows a parent to take a minute each day to sit with their child (for me, before bed) and to verbally (and in a quick written sentence) acknowledge something that they "like" about their child. The book is meant to be used daily as a type of journal for expressing the things you appreciate about your child.

I think Grace and I could both use this tool to bond through this simple, fun type of nightly routine. The entries can be as simple as "I like ...your smile" or "I like...holding your hand" or "I like...when you say funny things."

I am hoping to start using the book with Grace (and maybe another kid or two or three) after the holidays. The book is written in a 12 month open date format, so it can be started any time (of course the Type A personality in me wants to start January 1st). There is even a "like book" for couples...hmmm...that could be interesting. I think I'll stick with the kiddos to start!

If you are interested, you can check out the "like book" website. If you decide to order, you may want to use the code: likebook for a 25% discount.

"Kind words are short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless" - Mother Theresa

A Great Gift Idea for Adopted Toddlers/Preschoolers!

2011-12-06T09:21:00.002-06:00

These little stuffed animals are perfect for helping kids express their feelings and share emotions. Each stuffed animal comes with a pocket that hides three "emotions." The animals all have their own "personality" and come with emotions that are specific to their personality. The little "emotions" can be taken out of the pocket and shared. Grace is such a verbal little girl and seems to be doing great, BUT...she has her moments. From time to time, she says things that clue me in to her frustrations, inability to express herself in a kind way, and her self-protective behavior. I thought these little "critters" might help her to express herself appropriately, and would allow us some good dialog when times are a little tough.

The reason I am posting about this TODAY, is that I just got an email from "8 moms" and the Kimochis toys are over 50% when you shop 8 moms for them. Check out the Kimochis website to learn more about the toys, and then register with 8 moms to order at a huge discount.

World AIDS Day 2011

2011-12-01T08:33:00.003-06:00

Today is World AIDS Day. Did you know that? Have you heard? It seems to me that we (as a country) have not been talking as much about AIDS in recent years. There was a time (in the early 90's) when the AIDS epidemic was featured on news programs daily. Magic Johnson brought attention to the issue in 1991. I remember going to visit the traveling AIDS Memorial Quilt when it came to a city near me...it was a very powerful sight to see...so many people who lost their lives to the disease.

Fast forward about 20 years, and here we are today. I held my little Ethiopian girl today and thought about how AIDS has not really gone away at all. Just because we don't hear about it every day in the U.S. doesn't mean it doesn't continue to change lives, cause heartache, and in Africa specifically, leave millions of children orphaned. We are choosing to keep much of Grace's story private (until she is ready to learn more about it and can decide what she wants to share), but we do know that her immediate (birth) family in Ethiopia has suffered the loss of some of their family members. Now...when someone dies in rural Ethiopia, they are not always dying in a medical facility or hospital. More than likely, they are succumbing to a disease that has been labeled something very vague. I am quite confident that many of these "diseases" are the result of untreated HIV/AIDS.

In memory of the millions in Africa that have lost their lives to AIDS, I took a few minutes to make a digital quilt square to add the the ONE campaign's digital AIDS Quilt. It was fun. It only took a few minutes. Most importantly, it reminded me of those affected by AIDS in Africa. It breaks my heart that people continue to die when two pills a day that cost about 40 cents can keep someone with HIV and AIDS alive and healthy.

The quilt will raise awareness and symbolize a pledge that people are making to help eradicate HIV by the year 2015.

To make a digital quilt square of your own go HERE.

***In sub-Saharan Africa, 4,400 people die daily from preventable, treatable disease

***Every day in Africa, 4,700 people become infected with the virus

***Africa has been hit harder by HIV/AIDS than any other region in the world; over two-thirds of people living with and dying from HIV are in Africa

***In sub-Saharan Africa, young females are three times more likely to have HIV than their male counterparts.

(statistics found in Shayne Moore's book Global Soccer Mom- a great read!)

AND...did you know that you can buy some really good (RED) products for Christmas gifts?

(RED) harnesses the power of companies and people to help fight AIDS in Africa. To date, over $180 million has been raised with 100% of the money going to work on the ground. Over 7.5 million people have been impacted through Global Fund programs that (RED) supports. When you choose to buy (RED) a portion of the profits goes to AIDS programs. Current (PRODUCT)RED Proud Partners include: American Express (UK only), Apple, Beats by Dr Dre, Belvedere, Bugaboo, Converse, Dell, Gap, Nike, Penfolds and Starbucks and Special Edition partners include: Feed, Girl Skateboards, Mophie, Nanda Home, Shazam, Solange Azagury-Partridge and Timbuk2.

And So It Begins....

2011-11-25T08:05:00.001-06:00

A Few Of My Many Blessings...

2011-11-24T07:05:00.000-06:00

A few of my many blessings...

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. ~Johannes A. Gaertner

Month In Review...(where do I begin?)

2011-11-21T11:52:00.000-06:00

It's been such a long time since I've blogged about what we've been up to, that I thought I would do a quick month in review (basically the highlights in pictures).

October was a busy and fun month for us. We started off by participating in our 2nd annual Africa Hope Run. Our church began this awesome 5K/10K race last year in an effort to raise funds to support orphans in Malawi, Africa. Grace had only been home a few months the last time we participated. This year she was ready to take the race by storm.

Here is Grace at the "starting/finishing" line. She was so excited...she still tells everyone that she"won" the race.

The "big boys" ran the race.

The "little boys" walked the race.

Grace ran AND walked the race. Here she is on the final leg. She had such a great crowd cheering for her as she crossed the finish line.

Celebrating after the race...

The high school girls had a great time as well. I love that Alyssa's friends come out to help support a cause that is so close to our hearts.

October was full of costumes and partying. Alyssa's first high school dance was a "masquerade" dance. She was dressed like a rock star with her friend Annie. They both looked a little too cute to be serious rockers. Her friend Haley did a great job of being cute AND creepy at the same time...

The SECOND high school dance of the year was called "Fall Ball." Once again, Alyssa and her sweet friend Annie looked adorable.

Alyssa is blessed with great friends.

OK...back to costumes. Our family has been hosting pretty cool Halloween parties for years. We pride ourselves on our Halloween spirit. Last year we passed that party torch to Alyssa and she hosted a great party for her friends. This year was no exception. Alyssa invited a bunch of high school kids to party at our house.

Grace was allowed to attend (some of) the party...she is still quite a novelty with Alyssa's friends. Her Little Mermaid costume was a hit as well.

We were lucky enough to find a great DJ (and a great deal) for the night.

Times have sure changed. I am pretty sure that if I had a Halloween party in high school, I would have probably had a few cassette tapes and my giant "boom box" to provide the music (and NO laser light show).

We watched a little soccer...Grace and her cousin Kayla...

We carved pumpkins.

Grace had fun dressing up for preschool.

And, of course, trick or treating was a blast. I can't believe the time has come for my boys to have such bizare costumes. I used to dress them in such cute costumes. Now, they are creepy and weird.

Thank goodness for cute little "Ariel" or my kids would have completely embarrassed me.

Grace and her BFF Kemily.

October and November also included some fun time with friends.

I was able to travel to Chicago TWO times to be a part of the taping of the new "Rosie" show on the OWN network (long story).

Here we are outside of Harpo Studios. It was fun to see the studio where Oprah taped her show (I was also lucky enough to attend a few of her tapings in the past).

Here we are IN the studio. We saw a few celebrities (Jim Belushi, Jane Fonda) and had fun seeing the production side of the show.

AND, last but not least, Grace made a new friend (and so did I)! We were able to meet a fellow blogger and her adorable son. He was welcomed home from Ethiopia this year. It is so nice to get together with other adoptive moms and their sweet kids. The kids seem to really "click" and recognize that they have something special in common.

So, there you have it- a little look at what our last month has been like. Busy, fun, and always interesting.

Now that I've caught you all up to speed, I can start writing about what has been heavy on my heart...my passion for, and desire to serve, the beautiful and remarkable people of Ethiopia. I have some REALLY incredible things to share about some great opportunities for YOU ALL to serve in your own way...details to come soon!

Help Influence The Next GOP Debate...(it only takes 30 seconds)

2011-11-17T10:09:00.004-06:00

This Tuesday, November 22, the GOP presidential candidates will debate foreign policy in DC.

Now will you submit a question for Tuesday’s live debate?

To make the process easy, ONE crafted three questions below. If they can get enough of the same questions submitted, they hope CNN (who is co-hosting the debate) will notice and make sure one of the questions gets asked.To make the process easy, they've crafted three questions below. If they can get enough of the same questions submitted, they hope CNN (who is co-hosting the debate) will notice and make sure one of the questions gets asked.

First, pick your favorite question below:

If you favor cutting foreign aid, can you justify cutting off potential access to new markets for American goods - all to save less than 1% of the federal budget?
A number of well-respected military leaders, including General Petraeus and former Secretary of Defense Gates, believe that development assistance is critical to US national interests. If you disagree, which programs that fight AIDS, malaria and other preventable diseases would you cut?
Do you believe that Ronald Reagan – who thought America should be a beacon of hope and a moral leader in the world - would support cutting foreign assistance that is saving millions of children from AIDS, malaria and polio?

Then submit your question to CNN here:

http://act.one.org/go/226?akid=2743.1382008.Tp1RwV&t=2

Let's make sure the fight against extreme poverty is a priority in the presidential campaign, so let’s try and get a question asked at this nationally televised debate. Submit your favorite question and then ask your friends and family to do the same.

Thanks for helping shape the debate!
( Taken from and email I recieved from:
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
ONE Vote 2012 Campaign Manager)

PS: The debate will be live on CNN at 8pm ET on Tuesday night, so tune in to see if one of our questions gets picked!

Crazy Busy Life...

2011-11-16T23:34:00.000-06:00

November. Thanksgiving is coming. I have so much to be thankful for, yet I find myself in a place where I can barely get through the day without complaining about the crazy, hectic schedule that our family has created.

Yes, I realize that our life is busy because we CHOOSE to be involved in a variety of activities (sports, clubs, dance, music lessons, volunteer opportunities...the list goes on).

Here's the thing...I am a type A person living in a Type B household and I don't enjoy the chaos. I read blogs written by busy moms who so eloquently describe their days and show beautiful photos of their homes and perfectly tidy lives...really? I try not to be envious, but

when I look around I see dust. Lots of dust (it sort of worked during Halloween, but I really must get it under control now...) The funny thing is, people tell me that I am organized and that my house looks great...they don't SEE my disorganization. They don't see the hidden piles of papers in the laundry room or the baskets of CLEAN laundry in my bedroom that still need to be put away (I knew we built a two story house for a reason...no one is invited upstairs!). And, they definitely don't know how disorganized I FEEL on the inside. I feel frustrated and overwhelmed with our busy schedule and disorganized house. I gave myself a break after bringing Grace home because I felt I deserved a year to adjust. It was sort of my "maternity leave" of sorts. Well, the year has come and gone.

So, I am writing these words no to complain, but to hold myself accountable. There are so many ways that I can improve the craziness that is our life and home. I love organization. I crave organization...now I just need to make it a priority.

So, I began reading a new book.

It is called Throw Out Fifty Things, Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life.

Sounds perfect for me. I begin by cleaning the clutter out of my house and then I move on to the clutter in my mind. There are so many things that I am not taking the time to appreciate because I am too busy yelling "come on, hurry up, let's go!" I absolutely adore the days that we stay home as a family. Days when we don't have activities, sports, work. Those days are few and far between. BUT...I know that we can do better. We can make an effort to say "no" to some of the activities and slow down to enjoy our home and time in it. We have so much to be thankful for- it's time to appreciate the people and things we have been blessed with! Right now, we are just going through the motions of everyday life. I want to work extra hard this holiday season to STOP and appreciate the beauty of the holidays and why we are celebrating and enjoying such an awesome time of the year.

I took a few minutes to read from Jesus Calling the other day. Like so many things in my life right now, I am frustrated that I haven't kept up with my reading or devotions. I picked up the book and read for a couple of minutes. This is what it said:

"...When you realize that your mind has wandered away from Me, don't be alarmed or surprised. You live in a world that has been rigged to distract you. Each time you plow your way through the massive distractions to communicate with Me, you achieve a victory. Rejoice in these tiny triumphs, and they will increasingly light up your days."

That is what I am going to shoot for..."tiny triumphs."

*taking five minutes to read a devotion book

*Cleaning out ONE cabinet in the kitchen (even if 15 are still chaotic)

*finding the matching hats/mittens/ski clothes needed for winter

*straightening the linen closet (learning to fold a fitted sheet...anyone else?)

*dusting the family photos hanging throughout the upstairs hallway (and enjoying the memories of the photos while I dust them)

My list could go on forever. I am just so thankful that I have a family who supports and loves me even when my house is a mess, I am crabby because of chaos and I didn't cook a healthy dinner. And most importantly,

His grace is enough and I know that I am doing a great job in His eyes...tiny triumphs...tiny triumphs...tiny triumphs...(my new mantra).

Still to come...my month in review. I have a few great pictures to share (as well as a couple of funny Grace stories). Hoping to take time to blog again very soon!!!

AWESOME giveaway and some great Christmas ornaments!

2011-11-08T08:26:00.002-06:00

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE head on over to our friends, the Henderson's, blog and take part in their awesome giveaway! You must act fast. The winners will be chosen on 11/11/11.

They are giving away TONS of cool adoption t-shirts, ornaments, accessories, and beautiful artwork. PLEASE make a donation to their adoption fund and you just might end up with a TON of cool stuff!!!

The Hendersons are also selling these super cute Christmas ornaments. I am making every effort to give gifts this Christmas that will help adoptive families or organizations that give back and are helping to support orphans and projects in Ethiopia...why not give a real gift this year?

Grace wanted to wear one of her many (I know...ridiculous) holiday dresses to pose with the Henderson's ornaments. These make great gifts - you could even make a nice size donation to their adoption fund (as a gift in someones name) and give the ornament to represent the donation you made...you could even use these to add to Christmas gifts as a very special tag attached to show your love of orphans!
Please go check out the Henderson's blog...
We traveled to Ethiopia with JT when we brought Grace home. Grace and Tedi are buddies from the same orphanage. We are hoping they can continue to be lifelong friends and we are so excited that this awesome family will be adding another little one from Ethiopia! Please pray for them as they embark on their second adoption. They are a wonderful family and we are honored to call them friends...who would have thought we would meet such awesome people when we started this adoption journey? ...another reason why adoption rocks!

Orphan Sunday

2011-11-06T15:38:00.004-06:00

“Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.”

(Thanks for the great quote Natalie and JT)

Today is Orphan Sunday...let's not forget those who wait and still need our prayers and our support...

A Future Free from Famine

2011-10-29T15:50:00.000-05:00

Totally Wicked Cute...

2011-10-27T09:20:00.001-05:00

We've been BUSY...more to come soon...Hope you are all enjoying fall!

Rainbow Cupcakes...so easy and so cool!

2011-10-17T09:13:00.001-05:00

These little goodies need very little explanation. Just take a white cake mix, divide up the batter (5 or 6 bowls), add food coloring (the good kind that makes nice, rich colors) and spread a little layers of each color into each muffin liner (I used white liners so that you could see the rainbows through the liner).

(the tricky part is having enough of each color to make the six layers- I would use a regular box mix to make 18 cupcakes instead of 24, that way you have enough of each color with a tiny bit left over). I have also tried this to make "candy corn" looking cupcakes with yellow, orange and white, and they looked really cute as well (making three layers was even easier).

Lexi showing off her rainbow cupcake.

Grace loves rainbows (coloring them, finding them when it rains, and now eating them!).

Dedication

2011-10-16T07:13:00.001-05:00

We are lucky enough to be a part of a wonderful church. We are blessed to belong to a church that really focuses on faith, family, and serving. I love our church's mission statement:

"Becoming a people of character with hearts for the world."

The church is VERY involved in work with orphans in Malawi, Africa. It is so cool to see the programs that our church runs in Africa. Mission teams regularly visit Africa. Our congregation sponsors orphans in a specific village. Over the past five years, the orphanage, school and community that our church sponsors, has grown so much and continues to expand.

A couple of weeks ago, Grace was dedicated at church. It was a very special day. Our other kids were baptized when they were infants. It was really special to be able to have a four year old who was being dedicated. She understood that it was a very "special day."

Some of our family as well as great friends were able to celebrate with us. The dedication involved Grace being able to go "on stage" in front of everyone...she was all about that.

When our pastor extended his hands to pray for her, she went to him with open arms. It was so sweet. We chose the following life verse for Grace...it seems so fitting...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

Jeremiah 29:11-12

One of the things that made the dedication so special, was that another little Ethiopian sweetie was also dedicated the same day....One of our pastors and his wife brought their little boy home from Ethiopia a few months after Grace. The kids are so stinkin cute together!!!!! It is so nice to have other adoptive families at church. One of my goals is help start some type of adoption ministry at church (I know, I know...I've been saying that for a year now!!!!)

And to top off a wonderful celebration, Grace requested ice cream!

She loves her ice cream, so it seemed a very fitting way to end her "special day."

(every time we go to church now, she says, "it is still my special day?")

A GREAT Book (or three!)

2011-10-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

A few months back, I was talking with someone about Ethiopia. He explained that he had served in Ethiopia in the Peace Corp a very long time ago. He went on to talk about the Emperor Haile Selassie and how he actually saw him while he was in Ethiopia. I sort of acted like I knew all about what he was describing, but in truth, I was not really aware of all of Ethiopia's amazing history.

When we were in the process of adopting, I tried to learn about Ethiopia, but if I am being honest, I was more interested in learning about adoption agencies, procedures, and following the blogs of people who were in the process of adopting. NOW that I have been to Ethiopia (and miss it so much), I can't get enough information about the beautiful country that I have come to love.

I was buying some books on the Barnes and Noble website about a month ago, and I decided to type "Ethiopia" into the search window. I found a few great books that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to read more about Ethiopia.

The first book that I believe is a MUST READ is Cutting for Stone. Am I the only one who had not heard about this book? It was a national bestseller. It is fiction. It is SOOOOO GOOD! If you like to read and are looking for a great book check this out! My favorite thing about the book, is that the story takes place in Addis Ababa. The author is so descriptive and does such a great job of writing, that you can feel the story come to life. There were so many parts that had me smiling because I could vividly remember the scenes that he was describing. He is a fabulous writer. The story is about twin brothers who grow up in Ethiopia throughout the 1950's-1980's. I learned so much about the Emperors in Ethiopia, the government, and what life was like in Addis Ababa. But the book is not a boring historical type of book...it has such an intriguing story line. This book is so fun to read after traveling to Ethiopia...I don't think I would appreciate it as much if I hadn't been there first.

I am not done with the book yet, but so far it is a favorite of mine. I read while I wait to pick the kids up from school, dance practice, etc. and am often disappointed when my kids appear because I want to keep reading!!! I can't wait to finish the book and would love to hear from anyone who has read it.

The other two books I discovered are non-fiction. I bought them from B & N's used seller list. The books are actually library bound books. They are reference type of books for young adults/kids to use while doing research (I suspect). I can imagine using these books with my own kids if they ever need to write about a certain country, etc. The books are very basic, but describe what Ethiopia is like (land, culture, government, history, etc.). I have learned so much from them!!!! AND...they were only a couple of bucks each because they were used. They are in great condition- I suspect they were not "checked out" from the library, where they once lived, very often. So, there you have it. Three books that I think are must reads. I feel so much smarter about Ethiopia already!

Grace and Mom...

2011-10-11T13:40:00.002-05:00

Grace continues to amaze me. She also continues to drive me a bit nutty some days. She has so much to offer. She is adorable (duh), smart (she recently started writing words...like all on her own), outgoing, and so resilient. The thing is...she is also different than my other kids in respect to one thing- how she responds to me. I know with 100% certainty that my three oldest kids feel an unconditional love for me as their mom. It is obvious (to me) that when an infant comes to a family, they are completely reliant on the parents for care. There is a certain type of bond that exists because of necessity (among other things of course). My first three kids shared this experience with me. Grace, on the other hand, didn't. She is very independent. She seems to view me as her mom, whom she loves, but I also believe that she views me as the caretaker that gets in her way at times. She reacts to me in ways that I am unfamiliar with. She doesn't seem to need the same things from me. Adopting an "older child" can be hard. Things are not perfect. Feelings get hurt.

There are days when I wonder if Grace has a little of this guy in her...

BUT...I also know that she has been through a lot. So, when she tells me that she "doesn't need me to come to school" with her on her 'special helper day' (like the other moms do), I need to remember that it might not be because she doesn't want me there, but that she might not need me there...(my feelings were hurt by her announcement that she didn't want me to stay at school). I need to remember that Grace is so darn independent and smart, that I am pretty sure she could take care of herself in most ways. She would easily be able to dress herself, clean up after herself, she could probably cook for herself, and I bet she could earn a living on her own if she had to (some type of entertaining...maybe a street side singer/dancer?).

So...today as I reflect on little Miss Grace, I need to remember:

"teaser" photo

2011-10-05T13:43:00.002-05:00

Grace had an awesome photo session yesterday.

The photographer was so good with Grace...she posted this "teaser" photo on her website last night...come on!!!! The rest of the pictures should be ready by the end of the week...

I can't wait to see them all! Grace was in her element during "the shoot" and I suspect we are going to have some great pictures to choose from.

Thanks Kelley!!!!

The "F" Word....

2011-10-04T16:12:00.003-05:00

I love ONE.

I love Bono.

I can't help but love this video...so true. They are not asking for money, just your voice. Please go to the ONE campaign website and sign the petition.

Apple Goodness...

2011-09-29T10:15:00.001-05:00

Fall is upon us, and even thought it has been a CRAZY BUSY fall around our house, I have taken a few minutes to enjoy the yummy treats and adventures that are all about fall.

First off, I came across a hilarious blog written by a law student who happens to be an ex-Barista. She dishes all about how to recreate the awesome drinks that I love at Starbucks! She is funny. She said that if you are rude to the workers at Starbucks, they will give you decaf when you order regular. I found that so funny. Always be nice at Starbucks.

If you are like me, you might enjoy the wonderful pumpkin and apple flavored drinks they serve at Starbucks this time of year. I love hot drinks. Like REALLY love them. All day long. Every day. I was excited to read her secrets about this very simple and enjoyable treat.

The caramel apple spice drink is so easy. I followed her suggestions, headed to Starbucks for the secret ingredient, and now I can make this little goody at home (more often than I should).

The secret is in the cinnamon dulche syrup. They will sell you a bottle of the syrup at Starbucks for about $7.95- I am guessing it will last a LONG time. You can find the recipe here.

I tried to convince Bryce that we should share a little special treat together one night when we were home alone (how did that happen? Grace must have been in bed, Drew at football, and Alyssa at dance). He was excited when he saw the whip cream come out of the fridge, but he was not sold on the idea of his apple cider being hot. He ate the toppings and I drank the liquid. Oh well...I still enjoy "drinking" with someone more than by myself...even if it is just a hot cider...yes, that goes for margaritas too.

In other apple news, Grace has her very first field trip! She was SOOOO excited. She got to go to an apple orchard and pick apples. I had to remind myself that even though I have been on this very field trip MANY times, I needed to be excited for her and enjoy the time. Is it sad that I had to psych myself up for the field trip? I need to remember that Grace is experiencing so many new things and they are all exciting to her. It's so easy to lose sight of where she was only a short time ago. Of course, for her, taking a bus and traveling to an apple orchard is a big deal. Getting a new tube of toothpaste is still a big deal for her (really- the pure joy that came from her latest tube of Dora toothpaste almost set her over the edge)...I just need to remind myself sometimes.

The bus ride was the highlight. She talks about it all the time. Maybe it reminded her of being in Ethiopia...flying all over the back seat of a car with no seat belt...bouncing on the bumpy roads....

This sign says "how tall this fall?" I would say "tall enough!" Grace really has grown like a weed in the past year. I can't believe how tall she has gotten. Enough already. She has grown 4 1/2 inches and three shoe sizes since last fall. My "baby" is no where to be found. She is all girl. She is so grown up and can't wait to be even older. Today she complained that she was disappointed that she has only had one birthday so far. She is sick of being four. She can't wait to be five. NO WAY! Five sounds way too old! Thankfully she will be four for a long time and we may decide to skip her 5th birthday all together :)

C4C Switch!

2011-09-27T11:44:00.004-05:00

Good news and bad news...the good news is that the wonderful ladies in charge of organizing the Created for Care retreat have gone into overdrive to serve more adoptive mommas and host a second retreat! Registration for the second retreat starts tonight at midnight (I would register early based on what happened the last time registration started (for the first retreat)- the retreat filled up (400 people) in less than 9 hours!!!! So visit Created For Care's website tonight to register if you are interested.

The bad news is that I am switching my registration to the second retreat...that means I may not be able to meet some of you bloggy buddies that I was hoping to. On the other hand, some other blog friends that I have been hoping to meet for a very long time will be attending the second retreat!!!! Yeah!!!! I feel like my little getaway is going to be wonderful and March will be an awesome time for a little break from every day life (sort of like when I went on "spring break" in college only 100% completely different! ;) - and safer!)

Here is Grace posing for a picture after dance class this morning...believe it or not, this is her unhappy, not wanting to pose for the camera look. She DID NOT want to have her picture taken. She was not happy about it. I actually thought it would be cute to get a picture of her pouting (for old times sake), but she can not help but smile! She is like Pavlov's dogs...when she sees the camera in my hand, she smiles... I really am lucky to be her mom.

Another Post About Hair...I LOVE this product line!

2011-09-26T13:30:00.000-05:00

I realize that I have written about Grace's hair care routine many times, but I am so excited about a new product line, that I had to write more! I read about Curls by Sisters Smith on the Ethiopia mamas facebook page (a great resource for so much information). I have been trying to figure out what to do with Grace's hair now that it is getting so much longer. I miss the easy hair care of her braids, but we have decided to have her hair in a "natural" state for awhile. She looks adorable, and I think her hair is very healthy, but I was in search of some products that would help to moisturize and define her curls.

The Curls by Sisters Smith product line is AWESOME. I must say that it is awesome for us, but I realize that all kids have their own unique hair care issues. The product line is very basic. The packaging and website are basic. I could care less, because these products are perfect for Grace's hair! I have never seen Grace's curls more defined than they are when we use the hair "pudding." It's hard to get a good photo of what I mean, but...I am guessing that all of you adoptive moms caring for curly hair, know what I mean. The "quick fix" spritzer is nice for throughout the day when I want to freshen Grace's hair up (in other words, when her hair gets squished while she is laying around watching TV and then we need to head out the door...). The regular conditioner is great too. I haven't even used it in the tub yet...instead, I use a little bit to condition her hair while it is damp (like before bed).

I got the products last week and have used them exclusively since. I am going to try to stick to only this product line for awhile. I seem to grab a little of this and a little of that and then who knows how many different products end up on Grace's hair at one time? We have really cut down on washing her hair too. I am only co-washing her hair and rarely use shampoo. This has also helped with her hair's level of moisture.

I've read that customers will email the "sisters" questions about specific hair types, etc. and they will offer you feedback and suggestions. Most of the products can be "scented" with a scent of your choice. I ordered all of our products in the Summer Citrus scent. It is nice, but I think I will order peppermint or vanilla next.

The company and the products seem very basic, yet are VERY effective. I have to say that I have not been more pleased by ANY OTHER products so far (and I've tried a bunch!!!) I am starting to believe that spending more money on products DOES NOT necessarily yield better results. Hopefully I will be done writing about hair products for awhile...I think I've found a winner here!

The founder of the Curls by Sisters Smith website explains:

"I chopped off the last of my relaxer 7 years ago. Immediately, I noticed a lack of commercially available ‎products for naturally curly hair. The few products I did manage to find were WAY to expensive for my ‎budget. So, I spent months researching the needs for natural curly hair and good hair care in general and ‎put my biology and chemistry background to good use to create my own products. I take great pride in ‎my products – each one is handmade, customized especially for you. ‎So, take a look around our little shop. Feel free to e-mail us with any questions or comments you might have."

Hello There!!!!

2011-09-19T13:39:00.000-05:00

It has been a bit since I took the time to blog...we have been busy. Things are t.r.i.c.k.y. when school starts. We have four kids at four different schools, and it seems like it takes a few weeks to get back into our groove.

I plan to blog more soon. I have a lot of ideas and thoughts that I would love to share with my "blog buddies" - I learn so much from your blogs and do read them regularly (even when I don't take the time to leave comments). If only I had a personal assistant...I could get so much more done...wouldn't it be cool if we all had a live-in helper like Alice from The Brady Bunch (ok...I'm daydreaming as I type).

In the meantime, check out this cool, mechanical hand that Bryce and I built!

I found the directions in the September edition of Family Fun magazine (but couldn't seem to find it online....). Bryce is very creative and loves to make things. He and I had a great time with this little project. All we needed was some pool noodles, clear duct tape, 20 ft of cord, and a little bit of craft foam.

Bryce thinks he is pretty cool making the fingers move with the cords....

He couldn't wait to take the hand outside and wave to people with it.

I sure love you Bryce. You are so creative and fun. Yes, you are definitely "super fly."

"Moms and their kids don't have to match."

2011-09-09T11:25:00.004-05:00

Third day of preschool. Yes, I did have to take another picture of Grace.

I also had to chat with Grace a little about other kids...specifically, other kids who say things that aren't really that nice. I figured it would take a little time at preschool before someone would say something that was hurtful. I was wrong. I forgot how outgoing Grace can be. She marched up to a little girl and asked her if she wanted to "be my friend?" The little girl looked at Grace and said "No."

I am sure this comment was only a typical little kid comment...nothing to do with race...right?

Well, it got me thinking. It got me and Grace talking. I asked her if it was alright that she and I don't "match." She looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Mom...moms and their kids don't have to match." OK. Good. She understands that. I am sure of it. The way she runs into my arms when I pick her up from preschool assures me of that.

Now if only I could "run into" that little girl that doesn't want to be Grace's friend....

"Moms and their kids don't have to match." - Grace

Game Time!

2011-09-08T10:50:00.005-05:00

Living in the Green Bay, WI area means one thing...Packers football.

Whenever we travel and mention that we are from Green Bay, people always ask if we are Packers fans...dah.

Packers football is a religion here. Lambeau field is the city's "cathedral."

They say people here bleed "green and gold."

People wear Packers clothes to church every Sunday during the season...really... not weird, normal.

I know it all seems strange, but we are not really crazy, over the top fans. It is considered completely normal to follow the Packers, and for good reason. Green Bay is NOT a large city. We do not have ANY skyscrapers. We are not a huge metropolitan area. In fact, the Green Bay Packers are owned by the fans. We are one of the 111,507 people who actually own stock in the Packers (I know...crazy).

Did you know that when someone has a baby here, one of the first things people ask is "did you put them on the waiting list for season tickets?" Seriously. (Yes, our kids are on the waiting list. Our oldest daughter (14) has been waiting since she was born and she is number 39,950 on the list of over 80,000 people waiting. They say the average wait is 30 years).

Well...I just had to give a little shout out to the Packers today. Since winning the Superbowl last season, the Pack has been an even bigger deal than normal. Today is there is a HUGE event being held in town. The NFL is doing an enormous "kick off" tonight for the season's first game. The Today Show aired their show from here this morning. Big name musical artists are performing this afternoon, and even schools in the area are getting out early to accommodate the crazy traffic and events being held (I know...weird, but normal here).

One of my favorite things about living in a small football market, is bumping into players around town. It is not uncommon to run in to a wide receiver at the local grocery store (Go #80 Donald Driver who frequents the Piggly Wiggly in our neighborhood!). Last weekend, we were out for dinner with some friends when I noticed that Charles Woodson was in the restaurant. He was just hanging out with some guys and was standing near the door, so when we were leaving, I had to let him know that my 8 year old son is a HUGE fan. He was gracious enough to let us snap a picture (so I could prove to my son that I had been hangin' with his favorite player).

So...as we prepare for a big night of football in Green Bay, I thought I would post some pictures of my family enjoying our favorite team. Keep us in mind tonight if you are trying to decide who to root for!

Go Pack Go!

My friend Beth and me hanging out with "Sir Charles."

Five cute guys getting ready to leave for some pregame tailgating...

I know...weird, but normal.

Bryce soaking up his first real experience at Lambeau Field.

Drew and Bryce sporting a REAL Superbowl ring that they were able to borrow for some pictures.

Wonderful Wednesday...a simple treat to try

2011-09-07T12:21:00.002-05:00

Now that Grace is in preschool, she is learning the days of the week a bit more. Each day has a silly name at school, and Wednesday is "Wonderful Wednesday."

I discovered this super simple treat on Pinterest last night. Lucky for me, I happened to do a little grocery shopping while Grace was at school, and now we are enjoying a "Wonderful Wednesday treat!"

(maybe this can be a weekly blog theme...wonderful Wednesday treats!)

Two of my favorite flavors...raspberry and chocolate. Just stick chocolate chips inside of raspberries!!!!!! Perfection!!!

YUM!

On on side note...Grace was so excited for her SECOND day of school that she INSISTED I document it (just like we did on the FIRST day) by taking her picture before we left for school!

First Day of Preschool (and some contest winners!)

2011-09-02T12:19:00.001-05:00

Seriously...is she not the cutest little preschooler ever?

Grace was BEYOND excited about her first day of school.

She was up MANY times last night asking if it was morning yet (note to self- learn to have more grace FOR Grace in the middle of the night).

She acted like a pro as she found her spot for "circle time" and settled in.

She gave us a little wave goodbye and smiled.

She was so happy to be in school.

Showing off her "first day of school" certificate.

And, as promised, here are the winners of our little giveaway:

Girl's purse: Ashley from "My Redburn Journal"

Tan hat: Joel from "Life with Jding"

Black hat: Kara from "It's A Plaisier"

***I will be in touch soon to get your addresses to mail out your goodies***

Thanks to everyone who bought shirts, made donations, or spread the word about Kim's blog and her adoption journey!

Last chance to win a hat...or cute little purse...

2011-09-01T18:00:00.002-05:00

If you haven't already done so, head over to my friend Kim's blog and order one of her awesome t-shirts. She is doing a great job of fundraising to bring home her two Ethiopian beauties. Kim and her family are working so hard (and fast) on their home study and dossier. I would love for them to be blessed with some donations/t-shirt purchases to help them along!

****Your odds of winning are still very good****

If you would like to win one of the following cute items, you have less than a day left. Just visit Kim's blog and (A) make a donation (one entry for each $5 donation)

(B) Purchase a shirt (5 entries)

Thanks for spreading the word!

Three winners will be randomly chosen tomorrow at noon (central time).

Please be sure to leave me a comment about what you have done to earn entries and which item(s) you are interested in winning!

Kim's design:

Good bye summer...Hello fall...

2011-08-30T09:42:00.000-05:00

Good bye baseball.

Hello book bag.

(notice our crazy dog in the picture? I really must write a post about him some time...I could use some help with him...he is quite the challenge these days.)

Grace is getting all set for preschool. She had a blast making her own book bag for school. She loves to do "projects," so this was a perfect way to start preparing for her first school experience.

She also loves clothes, so it was fun to talk about school clothes and how we will need to choose her clothes the night before school (thus eliminating the clothing drama that ensues around here when Grace complains that she does not want to wear something that I pick for her- I am sorry, but there ARE times when glitter, lace, sparkles, bows, and tutus are just not necessary).

Naartjie had a great sale. I love ordering from their website. It just so happens that most of the things I ordered feature the continent of Africa on them. I wonder if Grace will ever get sick of this????? For now, I love it!

The last thing we needed to do to get ready for school was to cut out Grace's braids. We decided that it was time to "rock the fro" again. We thought it would be nice for her new classmates to meet her with her "natural" hair. I thought it might eliminate questions and dumb comments that kids might make if, all of a sudden, Grace showed up at school with short hair instead of her long extensions.

Taking out the braids was a lot less dramatic this time around. Grace was actually excited about having her natural hair again.

So cute. She looks so much younger without the braids. I think I missed her cute curls more than I realized.

Now, all we need to do is meet Grace's teacher-I can't wait to see the look on Grace's face when we go to "open house" and she sees her school for the first time. She is going to LOVE it! Three more days until her first day of school. Hoping we can contain her excitement for three more days....

LOVE this t-shirt design

2011-08-29T23:32:00.005-05:00

Remember to check out my friend Kim's awesome t-shirt design.

If you don't have a lot of money budgeted for adoption t-shirts, just spread the word about her cool design. She needs to sell a few more shirts in order to come up with the first chunk of change needed to bring her TWO girls home from Ethiopia.

To have a little bit of fun spreading the word about Kim's shirts, I have a giveaway going on. Read my previous post for all of the details...be sure to leave me a comment...your odds of winning are still VERY good!

It is so much fun to give out prizes!

Looking for a awesome new shirt? hat? purse for your little girl? Look no further...I can hook you up!

2011-08-29T13:33:00.000-05:00

As those of you who have adopted know, there is something about adoptive moms that makes it really easy to hit it off with each other. I guess it is the fact that we share the same "calling" or something (it might also be that we feel so relieved that other people are as crazy as we are!). Recently I became friends with a wonderful person named Kim. Some of you have followed her blog (Change Me) while she prepared to travel to Ethiopia for the first time on a mission trip with Ordinary Hero. Before Kim traveled, I teased her that she was going to fall in love with Ethiopia and would come back a different person (I was right ;)). I also teased her that she was going to fall in love with a little PERSON while she was in Ethiopia and would want to adopt...I was wrong...she fell in love with TWO LITTLE PEOPLE!

To make a (really awesome) story short, Kim is now in the process of adopting two sweet girls from Ethiopia. And guess what? Since things have been done in a different order (no waiting around for a referral here = no time to save cash for the adoption fees), Kim and her family are working at warp speed to raise some funds for their adoption costs.

Kim has an awesome t-shirt design:

FRONT

BACK

I absolutely LOVE her design. I can't wait to get my hands on the shirt I ordered. When we started our adoption journey, I became obsessed with inspirational quotes that would comfort me...after all, adoption is not for the faint of heart. I leaned heavily on certain quotes and Bible verses. Proverbs 24:12 was one of these. That is part of the reason I love this shirt so much. It is such a simple message of love...once we know, we must act.

The shirt is perfect for anyone who has adopted, gone on a mission trip, or has just become aware of the orphan crisis in the world. Once our eyes are "opened," there is no turning back!

PLEASE take a minute to visit Kim's new adoption blog (Put A Little Love...) and give her some encouragement.

PLEASE take a few minutes to consider supporting her adoption by either purchasing a t-shirt or donating a couple of dollars to help with their (huge...think TWO adoptions here) fees.

I really wanted to do a little something for Kim. She is such an inspiration. She is following her heart and calling even though it will be a long road financially, emotionally, and physically (so much to do in such a short time!). So, I tried to come up with a little "giveaway" to help Kim sell a couple of shirts...

I have three really cool, hand-made items that I will give away.

A cute little girl's purse.
Cute tan hat!
Cute black hat!

So...how do you win these cute things? Simple.

A) buy a t-shirt... earn 5 entries

B) donate to Kim's adoption... each $5 donation earns 1 entry *every single dollar helps*

C) blog about (or share on facebook) Kim's awesome t-shirt design and earn 2 entries!

Be sure to leave me a comment about what you have done and which item(s) you would like your entries to be for.

Come on...we can do this! Your odds of winning are pretty good ;) I (probably Grace) will draw the winning entries on Friday, September 2nd...noon (central time) after Grace's first day of preschool.

Better get on over to Kim's blog, because Grace and I really like these little goodies!

AMAZING Goodies To Try...If You Dare...

2011-08-24T10:32:00.001-05:00

Isn't this the COOLEST piece of playground equipment ever? Grace (and all the kids) had so much fun climbing around on it. Thank goodness I discovered this as a seasoned parent, or else I might have been too nervous to let her play on it. Gone are the days of paranoia (no time or ability to watch every kid like a hawk...don't worry...I still watch them).

The only other thing we've discovered the past few days that compares to the cool playground equipment, is this:

A ridiculously indulgent brownie recipe...it's crazy...They start with a layer of brownie, next comes a layer of (raw) cookie dough (no eggs to worry about), and they are topped off with a layer of chocolate ganache. Wow.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

And if that isn't enough for you, check out these cookies:

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Now it all makes sense. I am the only person I know who has gained weight this summer...the kids and I really need to stop trying new recipes (yes, I blame it on the kids even though I am the one in charge of grocery shopping for ingredients)!!!!

Let's Meet in Atlanta!!!! Created for Care 2012!

2011-08-22T05:45:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about the upcoming (OK...it's still a long way off) Created for Care retreat. This sounds like the perfect get-away for all of us who love adoption, have a passion for orphan care, and want to connect with other adoptive moms (and like to spend time chatting with other people who "get it" the way we do).

I love what the retreat is all about...

While your hearts have been called to care, YOU were also created to be cared FOR.

The retreat is January 27-29th in the Atlanta area. Check out

www.createdforcare.org for more information.

If you are planning on going, please leave me a comment or send me a quick email to let me know. I have been in touch with a few of you about the conference, and I think it could be so cool to meet more of you who I have been sharing our adoption journey with.

Registration for the retreat is coming up soon...

mark your calendars for September 1st...last year, the retreat filled up in 48 hours.

September 1st is the first day of school around here, so I will really need to be on the ball to get everyone out the door for the first day of school and then register for the retreat. Wish me luck!

Cookie Cutter

2011-08-22T00:23:00.003-05:00

In case you are in the market for a cookie cutter in the shape of Africa...

I ordered mine online from Copper Gifts.

*For those of you have have asked about where the cookie cutter is from...it's time for you to get cooking! I look forward to seeing what you come up with ;)

"We're bored...there's nothing to do..." Oh...really? Kids in East Africa aren't "bored" right now...how can we help them???

2011-08-18T07:17:00.001-05:00

Yesterday morning, my kids were hanging out with some neighbor kids. I wouldn't let them come inside and play video games (it was a beautiful day!). I heard them say "there's nothing to do..." REALLY?

What transpired was a good day...we shifted their "boredom" to "purpose."

About the same time as the kids' "boredom" comment, I received an email of the following video:

Humanitarian Crisis in East Africa from A Glimmer of Hope on Vimeo.

I immediately asked the "bored" children if they would like to see something on my computer (it was technology after all...as close to a video game as they were getting...). They came inside and I showed them a few videos of the famine stricken people of East Africa. We focused on Glimmer of Hope's videos...set specifically in Ethiopia. The kids were pretty quiet as we watched images of tiny children (starving children) and families without water and food.

I asked the kids if they had any ideas how we could turn a "boring day" into something with purpose...They decided that they would spend the day making posters, selling lemonade, and even going door to door to sell Africa cookies in the hopes of receiving donations.

"Phase One" of the kids' fundraising was a lemonade stand. A few people took notice of their sign and stopped to give a donation. The slogan on the sign was totally kid driven...they decided on "Every dollar makes a difference." I agree.

The lemonade stand only yielded about $12, but their hopes were still high.

After taking a break for dinner, it was time for "Phase Two."

We baked 30 Africa cookies to sell to our neighbors. The kids rehearsed their sales pitch. I quizzed them about what a famine is, where the famine is, how many people are effected, etc. They were pumped and ready to get selling!

With the wagon loaded, we were off. The cutest thing happened as we began to walk around the neighborhood. Lots of other kids on bikes, scooters, etc. began to follow us. Our sellers did an excellent job of bringing awareness to our neighborhood. The kids decided to ask for donations instead of putting a price on the cookies...turned out to be an excellent marketing strategy. Their other (smart) strategy was to stick Grace in the front while they were pitching their information to people. They were equipped with little handouts that provided people with more information on the crisis in Africa and a website that they could visit to make a donation or learn more.

Here are some of the kids hitting the pavement...

And after a night of spreading "hope" and bringing awareness, they got to count their money and enjoy a cookie (which I made them BUY to donate more to Glimmer).

I'm so proud of the kids! Their "boring" day raised $64.04 to donate to Glimmer of Hope's emergency relief efforts in Ethiopia.

Our day goes to show that everyone can do something to help out. My favorite quote from the video above (and what I really want my children to know deep down in their hearts), is that

"A person in Africa matters just the same as you or I or anybody that we know..."

Bono and K'naan Talk Famine

2011-08-11T13:02:00.002-05:00

PLEASE take a few minutes to watch this video. I LOVE what Bono has to say...all of it. My favorite quote:

"We must not let the complexity of the situation absolve us from responsibility to act."

-Bono

The Colors of Us

2011-08-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Grace has been talking a lot about her skin color lately. She refers to her skin when we see other people who resemble her, when we see someone on TV with dark skin, and even when we are just sitting together reading books and she glances at my arm wrapped around hers. We always talk about how pretty her beautiful, soft skin is. She seems to agree with us. In fact, she commented that some of the girls in her dance recital were, well...not as pretty because they had "light skin."

Oh how I wish Grace would always be so confident about her beautiful skin color. I worry that there may come a day (hopefully not too soon) that she will realize that there are really not too many African American kids in our neighborhood, schools, or city.

We are blessed, however, to have some wonderful friends who also have beautiful children with brown skin! Take a look at these three beauties...

The three girls were playing together the other day, and it struck me that they are all adorable and unique, but that they have so much in common. They are all adopted, have families with multiple siblings, are not from good old Wisconsin, and have pale parents :) Grace has shared with me that she feels like her skin is "sort of like" her friends, but that it is darker. She does NOT think this is a negative thing. I love her confidence. The thing is...I wonder when it will be necessary or appropriate to share with her the opinion of some small minded people who disagree with her positive attitude. I read a great book that was written by an adult adoptee who explained how shocked he was when he realized that not everyone was so positive about dark skinned people. He said that he wished his adoptive family would have told him about racism. He felt sort of blind-sided by it when it happened to him. That being said, I can't imagine looking into Grace's beautiful dark eyes and telling her that some people may not like her just because of her dark skin. I simply can't imagine it....Have any of you explained such things to your kids? It was easy for me to talk to my bio kids about this before we adopted Grace, but it sure seems hard to have the same conversation with her. I would never want to even plant such a negative thought in her little head...

And...so...we read...We have several books about "differences." Watching Grace's two little girlfriends with her reminded me of this book:

The book does an excellent job of describing the different colors that people can be. Most of the colors are described as foods. For example, one of the characters is the color of "cinnamon." Another is the color of "creamy peanut butter." Grace thinks she is most like the girl who is the color of "chocolate brown, like cupcakes."

For now, I think I will still focus on the beauty of Grace's skin. I will continue to teach her that she is gorgeous. She seems to have no problem believing me. She thinks I have a long way to go to be as "fancy" and "beautiful" as she is. Her little dramatic self continues to focus on being as dolled up and glam as she can be- there is no doubt that she feels like a princess every day. Keep up the good work Grace!

Please Help Baby "E"...Awesome Fundraiser...

2011-08-06T10:21:00.001-05:00

Please visit my friend Kim's blog to read all about her amazing mission trip to Ethiopia.

While Kim and her team were in Ethiopia, they met a tiny baby boy without a name. He was not named, in part, because no one thought he would survive long enough to be named. He is very sick. One of the team members knew that he needed to be named...she needed to know his name so that she could pray for him... The team could not sit back and let the sweet baby die without doing everything they could to help him.

After returning home, one of Kim's friends on the mission trip decided to help fund some of his medical care so that he could have the emergency surgery that he needs. The surgery was done this morning!

To help raise funds for "E's" medical care, Kim is having a ONE DAY blog giveaway. PLEASE visit her blog and make a donation. Every dollar raised will be donated to baby "E's" care. Kim is giving away a complete blog makeover and an awesome necklace...check it out and please consider helping. Like my friend Kim said, "Before, he had no one. He was a tiny baby in a corner with no name. And now he has ALL of us coming together for him!"

Another Post About Hair...

2011-08-04T06:00:00.002-05:00

Grace has had braids for about two months now. I have to tell you...I love them. I love how easy it is to "do" her hair. I love how they look on her. I love them in pig tails. I especially love how much SHE loves her braids.

Her first braids were done by a friend that I had come to our house. You can read the details here. Grace did a great job sitting for her 4 1/2 hour braiding session. Since that first attempt, Grace has decided it is not that much fun to sit still and have your head pulled at (even if you get to watch 4 hours of television).

After about six weeks with the same braids (and one touch up session with my braider friend), I decided it was time to revisit Grace's natural, curly hair. The braids were starting to come apart, her natural hair was sticking out of the braids, and we had been on vacation and had done a lot of swimming...the braids had run their course.

Here is Grace's response to having her extensions cut off...

I started by trimming the long braids before I took them out. I wanted to see how her hair would look with shorter braids. I really liked the shorter braids and wanted Grace to look in a mirror and check them out...she REFUSED. She was so sad that her "long hair" was gone. She was VERY upset. I honestly can not remember her being as upset about anything...ever....it was like I was cutting off her fingers, not her fake hair/braids. She was horrified by the idea of having short hair again.

It took a long time to take out all of the extensions and while I was working on it, Grace decided to draw a picture (between sobbing). She drew a picture of a cute little stick figure girl with a big smile on her face. The little stick figure also had long hair. Grace said "this is a picture of me when I was happy...I had long hair..." Oh the drama...

We finally removed all of the braids and it was so fun to see how much her natural hair had grown. It seemed to be at least an inch longer! Everyone in the family was excited to see her sweet curls again. We couldn't keep our hands off her little head.

Grace finally agreed to look in the mirror and decided that her "fro" did look pretty cute. She picked out a rainbow headband and was happy to strut her stuff...for about two days...then, she fell into her hair slump again and begged for long hair!

So I found myself at it again. I headed back to Sally Beauty Supply to get the necessary materials to give Grace the "long hair" she so desired. I admit that I was also excited to have the extensions back. They had really grown on me. She looked so cute, and with our summer activities and being outside, swimming, etc. the braids just work so well.

After watching a pro do Grace's hair the first time (and doing some touch up braids a second time), I decided that I would try to tackle the extensions myself. By doing it on my own, Grace would not have to sit for the entire 4 hours at once. I broke up the hair sessions so that I spent about an hour doing parts, gave her a break, and then got back at it for another hour or so of parts. A few hours later, I braided about half of her head. I saved half of the braids for the next day. Grace loved having the freedom to take breaks. It worked really well and I believe that my braids look just about as good as the ones done by the expert. I decided to make the new extensions a little shorter. They seem to be a more natural length for a four year old. Grace can still whip them around and I can still get them into pig tails.

I can't begin to tell you how much easier it is to maintain her hair this way. In the morning, I spray her head with Olive Miracle Braid Spray. That's it! At night, I use jojoba oil (I buy it at Trader Joe's- great deal) on her scalp and have her sleep in a satin sleep cap (a long version that fits around all the braids without squishing them). The hair routine could not be any easier. I have even found that redoing a couple of the braids on the crown of her head from time to time, freshens up the style and it will last even longer.

Our goal is to have the braids/extensions in until school starts. Grace with start preschool with her natural hair. I think we will all be happy to see her sweet curls again, but, in the meantime we are enjoying her cute little self with her cute little braids!

A Great Weekend...Is It Fair?

2011-08-01T21:30:00.001-05:00

It finally seems like summer in Wisconsin. Warm temperatures, clear skies, and more time at home to relax. We decided to make the most of our weekend and spend some time together as a family of six.

We started off by taking out our boat. We drove to Door County and launched the boat in a really nice lake. The sun was shining and Grace couldn't wait to jump into the lake (clearly, she does not get this instinct from me...I am yet to jump into a lake with my kiddos).

The kids also had a great time in our tube/boat thing. It is so nice to see the two "big kids" getting along and riding around the lake at warp speed together...we don't see that every day ;)

Grace even loved the ride. It made me a little nervous to see her tiny body flying around behind the boat. Lucky for me, her big sister keeps a close eye on her.

Bryce soaked up the sun from the front of the boat. He is my least daring soul. We get along so well...we were both content INSIDE the boat.

Our weekend also involved a trip to the outdoor movie theater. I still get such a kick out of taking the kids to see a movie outside. I think I enjoy it more than they do. Of course, it was Grace's first experience and she seemed to like it. She thought it was fun to sit outside, eat lots of popcorn and (sort of) watch a movie...

Throughout the weekend, my mind kept wandering to those in Africa who are suffering through another famine. I don't want to sound melodramatic, but I can't help but wonder why we get to live our lives in such a carefree manner while so many are suffering. After traveling to Ethiopia, my heart can not just forget - I feel like it is going to be a blessing to have the experience imprinted on my heart, yet I am struggling with how to deal with the responsibility of it all. I want to do more. I can donate money, etc. but I want to be sure that I am doing what I am supposed to do -not to make MY heart feel better, but to honor God AND the people who have given so much to us.

While Grace and I sat in our backyard blowing bubbles, there were (and are) millions of women and their children making the long trek to a refugee camp somewhere in Somalia or Ethiopia simply because they do not have food and water. My heart aches for them.

It doesn't seem fair.

There were several times this weekend when I had to tell my kids that we can't worry about what is "fair" -they were bickering about how many pieces of candy one kid got and the other didn't, or when one kid complained because he couldn't play his Nintendo DS yet his sister could text her friend on her cell phone...I actually said "life will not always seem fair." As those words came out of my mouth, It really hit me that life is NOT fair- what we chose to do about it is what counts.

So, here we are...Grace is enjoying summer...living like a little princess...

...and others are hoping for a meal and some water to help them survive one more day.

If you are able to give (every donation helps), please visit Glimmer of Hope's website for more information....They are working to providing emergency relief for Ethiopia.

For more information about the crisis in Africa, check out this BBC article....heartbreaking...

Something Fun To Try Tonight...Go Get Your Glow Sticks!

2011-07-30T19:42:00.003-05:00

Alyssa and I have recently discovered Pinterest. If you haven't already visited Pinterest, consider yourself warned. It is addictive. Be very careful before you visit....

We did, however, find this super cute, easy and cool idea yesterday and decided to give it a try. Simply take a jar and empty the contents of a glow stick into it (we just snipped off the end of the glow stick with a scissors), cover and shake. So much fun!!!

I picked up jars and glow sticks at the dollar store. Cheap, easy and cool. Bryce decided to sleep with the jar in his room last night...fun times...

Happy Birthday Drew!

2011-07-28T06:00:00.002-05:00

I love this picture of Drew.

He looks tough and vulnerable at the same time.

He looks like he is getting older, but also looks like a little boy.

I am so lucky to be Drew's mom.

He is a great boy who is always willing to try new things, play hard, and take risks. He has a tender heart and is compassionate. He possesses so many qualities that will serve him well in the future.

Happy Birthday Drew!

Below is a picture of Drew that I NEVER thought I would condone.

I was the mom who didn't want her son to play with toy guns.

I waited as long as I possibly could to allow Nerf guns in our home.

I would even judge other families who let their kids play with toy guns and run around all "wild."

Then, I had a little boy. And he grew. And his personality was different than my daughter's (and mine). The game changed a bit.

So...here is Drew yesterday. He turned 12 and was very excited to have a paintball adventure birthday party. We have never been to a paintball place. We drove about 20 miles out of town and arrived at a boy's paradise - fields with obstacles, a giant castle with a roof to perch yourself on to act as a sniper and protect your "flag," and of course, lots of woods to hide in while shooting.

Please don't judge me...like I said, I was originally horrified by the idea, but I have to tell you, while I watched the boys (and the sheer joy on their little faces) it looked like a lot of fun (and I imagine that if I was a 12 year old boy it would have looked even more fun).

I was so happy to be able to throw this party for Drew. He was super excited. I can also tell you that his six friends that came to the party were also VERY excited. It is not every day that you are allowed to wear old clothes, carry a weapon and shoot your friends for fun.

Here the boys are loading up their guns for the first time.

The boys trying to look "tough."

The boys looking "tough." - sort of reminds me of Star Wars or something.

The party involved a private "guide" that took the boys to various courses to play all sorts of action/adventure games. Drew's first "hit" came from his dad. When the weapons fire, they really make noise and I have to admit that watching the boys get pelted was sort of strange. I knew getting hit hurt by the reactions of the boys...they always acted tough, but the instant the were shot, bruising and red marks appeared (proving the weapons really did deliver some force). Drew got a pretty good bruise from his dad's shot during the first game.

There were all sorts of obstacles for the boys to hide behind.

Bryce and Grace were obviously not allowed to play (the place has really strict age limits and does a good job of making it a safe activity). They spent the whole time gathering paint balls off the ground. The paint balls were like little treasures to them. Did you know that they come in all sorts of colors and designs? Neither did I.

Reloading. Still smiling even though some have been "hit."

Here are the boys after they survived two hours of shooting. Notice the paint on their clothes. Notice the sweat on their brows. A good time was had by all. I think Doug had just as much (if not more) fun than the boys. I could definitely see a father/son follow up adventure with some of his friends in the future.

Drew and Sam showing off a couple of their injuries. This sport is not for the moms who are worried about a few marks and bruises...Drew's leg looks terrible today, but he is wearing it like a badge of courage.

Happy Birthday Drew!

What a great party!

Famine

2011-07-25T11:33:00.005-05:00

I am sure that most of you are aware that the UN has declared a famine in south Somalia.

Ethiopia is also effected by the famine. It is heartbreaking to think of those suffering...so many children will die from something so basic- a lack of water and food.

More than 11 million people in the Horn of Africa are desperately in need of food, clean water and basic sanitation. Although there are many people on the ground working to make sure that immediate aid gets to the people who need it most, we can’t forget about the big picture.

Can you join me in telling Congress not to cut programs that fight the root causes of world hunger and keep families healthy for the long-term? Please go to ONE and act now. It only takes a minute to share your voice.

http://act.one.org/sign/protect_fy2012/?source=protectfy2012tafem&referring_akid=2302.1382008.6wyXGD

Family Vacation Part Three...The End...

2011-07-21T07:54:00.001-05:00

So...we made it to Branson, and the goofy tourist stuff continued for three days before we even needed to head to the big dance competition. That left time for shopping at super cool stores like the old-time five and dime store. I think we spent about an hour looking at silly stuff.

Bryce and I really cracked up when we found the "squirrel underpants." For some reason, this just struck a cord with me and made me laugh. Probably because we convinced Grace that it was a real thing and when she spotted a real-live squirrel outside the next day, she was concerned that it did not have underpants on...

This hat seemed like a good idea for the Green Bay Packer fans in our house, so we bought it.

One of the coolest things that happened in Branson, was that we got to meet the Gibson family (from the My Crazy Adoption blog)!!! I have been following their blog for a long time, have been in contact with them to buy their cool "simply love" shirts, and have sent Kari some headbands that she handed out on her last mission trip to Ethiopia. Anyway...I realized that she was having a garage sale to help raise funds for their next mission trip (leaving next week!). I also remembered that her when I mailed her headbands, her address was in Branson! Long story short, we got to visit with Kari, Roger and Zoe! Grace and Zoe hit if off and played together like they were best buds. Of course they were adorable together. Roger told us all about his upcoming mission trip. The "Man Up" trip includes a bunch of guys traveling together to Ethiopia...so cool. Kari was sick and not feeling too well, but she was still a super sweet blog buddy and didn't think we were just blog stalkers...It was a lot of fun to meet the Gibsons in "real life." It was also fun to meet their friend Julie who is doing amazing work to bring clean water to the parts of Ethiopia where her boys were adopted from. So cool to meet fellow adoptive moms who are so invested in Ethiopia. I can't wait to follow their footsteps and dig in to a few projects that will impact the beautiful people of Ethiopia who we have grown to love.

After spending some time meeting our blog buddies, we headed out to do some more wacky stuff...like riding segways. What was I thinking? It turned out to be a ton of fun.

Why do I look so much more nervous than Alyssa? She can't even drive a car yet...

She's just chillin' like it's no big deal.

And, what's a vacation without a lot of swimming?

Here WE are swimming...this is how much I participate in family swim time.

Grace and Bryce didn't get enough of the pool, so they had to continue the fun in our condo's tub. They can be such good buddies one minute, and get on each other's nerves the next.

It was finally time to watch some dance! Alyssa and her friends did such a great job dancing! Their trio was a huge success. They got the highest score they could get, got a special judge's award, AND took first (at a national competition) in their category!!!! We were so proud of them!!!

(The trio is a character routine...the panicked look on the dancer's face is part of her character...not just nervous dancer face ;))

Alyssa had six routines compete in Branson and they were all super.

GREAT JOB ALYSSA!!!!

The dancing was much more successful than the fishing. Branson has beautiful lakes and we heard that the fishing was wonderful. We did not have the best luck, but the kids had fun throwing in a few lines.

Turns out Grace had beginner's luck and caught the biggest fish!

As the week came to an end, it was clearly time to head home...we had resorted to eating donuts for lunch and were running out of miniature golf places to visit.

Branson will always hold a special place in our hearts...after all, where else could we shop for squirrel underpants, pose for pictures with Johnny Depp AND watch a great dance competition?

Family Vacation Part Two...Branson, MO

2011-07-19T14:27:00.002-05:00

So, we arrived in Branson, MO and immediately decided to ride "the ducks." The kids had a blast and it as fun to be on a vehicle that could drive around town AND into the water. Grace was especially excited because she didn't have to be in a car seat OR use a seat belt! She even got to drive the "duck" when it was in the lake...

I never really anticipated vacationing in Branson, but it turned out to be a really nice place to visit. The scenery was beautiful. The lakes were really nice and it was fun to hang out at the lakes between the other cheesy touristy things we did.

Come on, how often do you get to hang out in a giant rocking chair?

...or sit on Santa's lap in the middle of July????

And here is Grace with her "boyfriend's" picture. We went to a really cool restaurant called Mel's Hard Luck Diner. The wait staff are all incredibly talented singers, and between delivering your food, they belt out amazing songs. I was excited because they sang two Journey songs while we were there!!! It was so much fun. Well, one of the waiters, John, was smitten with Grace. They had an instant bond and he serenaded her more than once. It turns out the John is adopted too. Grace asked if he was adopted from Ethiopia (he thought that was pretty cute).

Here we are at Mel's. Please check it out if you are ever in Branson. Be sure to tell John that Grace sent you!

The next night we decided to have ice cream for dinner at a 50's soda shop type restaurant. Drew and Bryce thought it was cool to put money in the jukebox at our table...it amazed them that the music they selected started playing throughout the restaurant.

The next day it was time to head to the tourist spot I had been waiting for...the wax museum. I had never been to a wax museum, so I was excited to check it out. These are just a few of the famous people we "met."

Grace was really into posing with the wax guys...she would walk right up to one and ask me to take her picture...hmmm...

She seems to really LOVE Bob Hope...

...and the Godfather...

...AND she insisted that I capture this moment of her and Willie Nelson together...

SO...the wax museum was a hit...now, check out these pics and tell me...what is more disturbing...

Grace marrying Johnny Depp,

Doug hanging out with Angelina Jolie (and her very impressive wax self),

or, me with Hef? I would have to say the me and Hef is the most disturbing!!! Yuck!!!

Stay tuned for the rest of our crazy Branson vacation pics...

I need to wash my eyeballs out now...I can't stand looking at Hugh Hefner and me together...yuck...

Family Vacation Part One- Gotcha Day and America's Birthday Celebration

2011-07-17T22:00:00.000-05:00

It seems like it has been a really long time since I have posted anything! It certainly isn't because of a lack of activity...we've had such a fun and busy summer so far!

July 3rd marked Grace's one year anniversary of arriving here in "America"- she likes to talk about her life in two parts..."Ethiopia time" and "America time."

July 3rd is a fun day to celebrate her home coming. We told her that all of the fantastic fireworks we saw were to celebrate her...of course she believed it at first, because she is quite the diva and believes everything revolves around her ;)

We had a family vacation planned in Branson, MO this year. Alyssa's dance troupe was competing in a national dance competition in Branson, so it seemed like a great place to take the entire family and call it our summer trip. We started our 12 hours drive south by heading to Milwaukee and visiting our favorite Ethiopian restaurant.

We were able to visit the restaurant on Grace's special day and she was beaming. She was so excited to be the star of the day. She was also VERY exciting to eat some delicious Ethiopian food.

We brought along some extended family (my brother and his family live in Milwaukee and were able to join us for her celebration).

Grace's cousins were such good sports about trying Ethiopian food.

Here I am doing my funny "neck thing" pose...there is a little background to this picture...Grace was looking at my mom's neck the other day (her grandma) and she decided that she should be honest with my mom, so she told her that she has a very "old looking neck." Grace actually told my mom that if she looked up more and stretched her neck like this, her neck would look less wrinkly and younger...huh? What was she thinking? I guess honesty is the way to go for Grace. So, after telling my brother and sister in law the story, I decided to give it a try...do I look younger?

Grace was SOOOOO happy with her meal!

After our awesome dinner, we headed to Milwaukee's lakefront for the most incredible fireworks show. The fireworks lasted for an entire hour. Seriously...non-stop for an hour. It was great. The kids had a great time. It was late, and Grace started acting a little wild...can you tell she loved celebrating "gotcha day" and "America's birthday" at the same time?

After getting a little sleep, we decided to head out for our road trip to Branson. We made our first stop just outside of Chicago. When I asked Bryce what the one thing he wanted to do this summer was, he said that he really wanted to go to the Lego Discovery Center.

Alyssa and Bryce are my two Lego builders. Alyssa is naturally good at Lego building, so when he was younger, she was always able to help Bryce when he would get stuck...now he doesn't get stuck and she is just a nice big sister who was willing to go to the Lego place with him. The other kids and Doug headed somewhere else while the three of us checked out all the Lego creations.

The entire Chicago skyline made out of Legos...

They even had our president made out of Legos...

Bryce's favorite...Darth Vader...

Building cars with Legos...

...and then racing them...

We had a great time in Chicago...NOW it was really time to start driving and head south. Stay tuned for our wacky adventures in Branson!!!

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

2011-07-13T00:40:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

You are such a superstar...

You are the greatest daughter anyone could ask for...

You are such a caring and supportive sister...

You are SOOOO smart!

And of course, you are such a talented girl...

Not to mention that you are a beauty on the inside and out...

We are so blessed to have you as our daughter, sister, and friend.

Happy birthday to you!!!

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY GRACE!

2011-07-03T10:26:00.003-05:00

Today is the anniversary of Grace's arrival home. On one hand it seems like she has been with us forever, and on the other, it is as if we were just in Ethiopia meeting her.

The past year has been filled with so many new adventures.

We have been able to witness milestones with Grace and have made lifelong friends through our adoption journey.

We are beyond excited to see what lies ahead for our sweet daughter. Grace's given name, Hiwot, means "life." We know that she has lived a grace filled life already and God has so many big plans in store for her.

Happy Gotcha Day Grace Hiwot!!!! We love you!

While we were in Ethiopia, we bought some things that we plan to give Grace on her "gotcha days." I couldn't wait to give her the hand-made doll that I bought from a street vendor in Addis. I was also excited to give her a new Ethiopian dress (planning on going to an Ethiopian restaurant tonight to celebrate!). Little did I know she would grow so much and that she would barely fit into it....

I also finally finished an "ABC" book about Grace's adoption. I have been meaning to get it done for, oh, about a year now (right along with the adoption video that hasn't quite made it to the blog yet....stay tuned for that one...It will be done soon!).

"K is for KVI (the orphanage Grace was at)"

"L is for loved"

"M is for meeting mom"

We also included things like "C is for coffee ceremony, A is for adoption, T is for Tedi (a good friend from Ethiopia), R is for referral, etc.

It was fun to share this special book with Grace. She is having a great time celebrating her adoption this week.

We also found this book on Amazon to give Grace today. It has beautiful pictures of Ethiopia. Check it out here.

"Mosaic consists of multi colored glass and stones, some are broken and fragmented,

specifically placed to make a beautiful artwork. That is how I view adoption. Adoption includes various colors of glass...ethnicity, cultures, families, backgrounds. Many will be 'broken' But God specifically sets them in place...not at random....but with a specific pattern or purpose in mind. What seems like a broken piece of glass, becomes a beautiful artwork."

-unknown

Celebrating Gotcha Week...and a fun memory from one year ago today...

2011-07-01T00:43:00.000-05:00

We're still celebrating "gotcha week" and today we had some fun with the Ethiopian flag. It is a fun time of year to celebrate Grace's homecoming- lots of American flags everywhere- we can talk a lot about the American flags and about the Ethiopian flag and what it represents to us. Here are some facts we found...

The official flag of Ethiopia consists of three equal and horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands.

The significance of the colors on the Ethiopian flag are interpreted to have a connection to the Holy Trinity, as well as the three main provinces of Ethiopia. The red stripe stands for power, faith and blood. The yellow strip symbolizes peace, natural wealth and love. The green stripe represents the land and hope.

The yellow pentagram on the blue disk, also known as the National Coat of Arms, is a symbol of the current government; it is intended to reflect the desire of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia, as well as of its religious communities, to live together in unity and equality. The star represents unity of the people and the races that make up Ethiopia. The five rays on the outside of the star represent prosperity, and the blue disk represents peace.

One year ago today, we were in Addis Ababa enjoying the sights and getting to know our daughter. We had an wonderful driver who helped us out in so many ways. He was such a blessing to us. Here are a couple of pictures of him...we introduced him to Reese's peanut butter cups. It was so fun to watch him try one for the first time...

One Year Ago Today We Met Hiwot...

2011-06-28T21:23:00.004-05:00

"A little child enters your life and fills a special place in your heart. A place you never even knew was empty!"

-unknown

One year ago today, we met "Hiwot"...she was so tiny. She was so quiet. She was so cute! It was one of my favorite days EVER. We had so much fun spending the day at her orphanage and meeting the wonderful people that cared for her. Again, it is strange to say, but I wish we could be there right now and experience the entire day again...There is nothing like meeting your three year old for the first time. I would love to see all of the beautiful children, nannies, and staff members again.

Grace "Hiwot" June 28, 2010

Grace "Hiwot" June 28, 2011

Adventure...

2011-06-27T23:53:00.000-05:00

Exactly one year ago today, we were on a grand adventure...We were in Ethiopia and were just starting our amazing trip. We were just starting to get to know the awesome friends that we would make (Ethiopian friends and fellow adoptive parents who we were blessed to spend the week with).

Oh how I wish I could be sharing the same meal with the same friends tonight. It was so much fun. The excitement that we were all feeling was surreal. We had yet to meet our children and were able to spend the night at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant...we couldn't begin to imagine what was in store for us the next day. It was impossible to describe the feelings we all had- we were all adopting "older" children and we knew that when we woke up the next morning, it was going to be time to meet our children...they were kids-old enough to be aware that we would be coming for them...what were they thinking? Were they as excited as we were?

Our friends, the Harrington's, JT Henderson, and Endres.

Here we are driving through the streets of Addis. We were still a bit shocked at what we were seeing throughout the city of 3 million people...a city that, although obviously impacted by poverty and its harsh realities, is a place where I would love to be today...

"There is a rawness and a wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it.

Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe.

Or you can hear the voice of adventure—God’s adventure.

Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference.

Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it’s to live.

Sure it isn’t safe, but what is?"

Max Lucado

2011-06-23T18:29:00.002-05:00

Look at this little cutie. It's crazy to think that, last year at this time she was part of the following statistic...

WHAT DOES 143 MILLION ORPHANS LOOK LIKE?

All the orphans could stand side by side around the 10,913 mile parameter of the United States 4 times.

If all 143 million orphans stood single file, they could wrap around the Earth 2 times.

It's All About Timing...

2011-06-22T13:25:00.006-05:00

Unlike many adoptive couples, my husband and I never talked about adopting before we got married. In fact, we didn't talk about it at all until about four years ago. At first, it was just a little something I would mention. I know that God placed Ethiopia on my heart. I did not know anyone who had adopted from there. The only thing I knew about Ethiopia was what I learned from Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson singing "We Are The World" in the 80's. So, about four years ago I began to spend a lot of time on the computer learning about adoption and reading blogs. About three years ago, I started to seriously follow blogs of adoptive families that were traveling to bring their children home. I began to share my heart with my husband. It is fair to say that he had what some have coined "reluctant husband syndrome." I understood that God had not yet begun to break his heart for Ethiopia. I was steadfast in my belief that Ethiopia was where our daughter was. I prayed a lot. I even remember feeling frustrated and praying that God would "please take away MY desire if my husband's heart was not in the same place..." The pain of not being able to act was so hard.

Now that Grace Hiwot is home with us, it is so obvious why I had to wait and pray for so long. She was not ready to come home to us yet. She was still with her birth family. I have no doubt that God knew all along what He was doing...I'm so thankful that He didn't answer my prayers a second sooner!

Here is Grace the first time I met her. She looks so scared and confused. She was thinking about and processing so much that day.

Three years ago when I was on my mission to get my husband "on board," I used to email him inspirational quotes every day. I would send him these quotes along with a cute picture of some adorable Ethiopian little girl (just so he could picture a little one in his life).

I recently came across the document that I have that had all of the quotes I had sent to him...I thought I would share them with you all over the next few days...who knows, maybe some of you may use this approach. I wish I could tell you that it works, but I think the real "work" was done by someone with a little more influence than me...HE was in control the whole time.

And now, I can use my own pictures of an adorable little Ethiopian girl...

"God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called..."

-unknown

"The will of God will never take you where the

Grace of God will not protect you."

and the quote that really struck a cord with my husband...the quote that appears on the top of my blog every single day...

"Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine, and injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid God might ask me the same question."
-Anonymous