An American Big Sister

I just feel like bragging a little today on my amazing Ethiopian little sisters. First Eyerusalem. Whom I met on my Compassion trip. Words cannot describe how awesome this girl is, or how proud of her I am. Jerry was a Compassion child who has just graduated with her engineering degree. Amazing... Isn't she just beautiful???



Jerry used part of her small monthly stipend from Compassion to help start a ministry called Moriah. This is a picture of her with 3 of the boys from her home. Boys who were found living on the street. Stop and take that in, these boys were.... on.... the..... street. Can you even imagine? Moriah provides the boys with a safe place to live, a caretaker, clothing, food, and an education. It baffles me how when I speak to others here in America about helping a child, I so often hear "Well, maybe later. We just are too cash strapped right now." O.k., I understand. I use to think the same way. But now here is a girl, from the projects, who receives a small allowance from Compassion once a month. And used part of it to start an orphanage. Puts things in perspective, doesn't it??


Jerry helping another Compassion project. Building a youth center I think. Building a youth center??? Yeah, I would soooo be able to do that. Or not.
And my dear sis Masresha. Masresha was also a Compassion child who graduated with her degree in accounting and is now helping a mission's organization in Africa. Masresha was my translator on my trip and again, words can't describe the heart these girls have. Masresha is using her salary to help put her two younger sisters through school and eventually college. In Ethiopia, you have to pay school fees to get an education, something many families can't afford. So while Masresha's sisters were not Compassion assisted, in a way they are, through Masresha's faithfulness.

Masresha helping out at a Compassion project. Um, she graduated. So she's just sharing Christ's love with other little ones.

Former Compassion child, now accountant, and now wife!! Congrats dearest Masresha!!! So beautiful!!!





Make a difference in the life of a child. You never know how many people the ripple effect will touch. I am so blessed to know that these beautiful women are so excited about my new Ethiopian daughter. Their prayers mean so much to me. And it amazes me when I hear of all the people they have told our story to and have praying for us in Africa. I can't wait to be able to see them again in a year or so. And look forward to being able to assist Olivia in keeping in contact with her 'family' in her home country. God is so good in his amazing planning.

Psalm 68: 5-6
"A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in His holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families..."

Proverbs 22:6
"Train a child in the way he should go
and when he is old he will not depart from it."

If you can't sayin nothin' nice...

don't say nothin' at all. So that's why my blog has been so quiet. I have read several Christian fiction novels which talk about Earth being a war-zone with evil/good beings, unseen and fighting it out all around us. Waging war over our very souls and trying to upset or strengthen any work of God that we are trying to put our energies into. Let me just say that if that's so, I'm pretty sure that my guardian angel is needing a break to catch his breath.

I have one in the editing stages that served as a vent for my frustration but in the meantime, here is my lighter post for your viewing pleasure. I know I'm late for "Das Not Funny" Friday, but let's just pretend.

** Braeden was home sick from school all week last week. And with Tony having taken off an entire week 2 weeks before with Seth, it was my turn. One of the days, he tells me he has made up a new number. Oh really? What is it? "Derf". Oh, and how many make up a derf? "Two". And he starts counting without missing a beat - "One, Derf, Three, Four.... Twenty-one, Twenty-derf, twenty-three..." Where does he get this stuff? At least I know he can be successful in a career as a politician, where making up numbers has become an art form.

** Braeden absolutely, positively loves our neighbor and friend Brent who named him "Popsicle" when he was about 2 (because you never saw him walking around without one in his mouth).

#1 because Brent has a huge garage where old toys go to die. And he lets Popsicle go shopping whenever he wants in said garage. Thank you Brent.

#2 because Brent does BBQ competitions. And lets us have left-overs. I think I may just love Brent too. But it's funny now - Popsicle loves ribs. Which I have never, ever made for him. But he'll just ask his buddy "hey Brent, when you gonna make us some more ribs??" My poor child is now begging for food. Sweet.

Anyway, one day last week Braeden asks Tony - "if we don't get the money for Olivia's adoption, how are we going to pay for it?" Tony looks him over and says jokingly "well, you look kinda healthy. Maybe we could just sell you." To which Braeden breaks out in a HUGE smile and smirks "yeeaaaaah.... Misser Brent." So glad to be loved little buddy.


Also as a side on the adoption front: We have started our homestudy visits. Our first one lasted from 6:30-10. No rabbits were shot on the rabbit trails that we ran down that night. It was mainly an informative session with all the ins and outs of potential problems, paperwork, etc. Our social worker is super nice and very easy to talk to (obviously).

We also received our fingerprint appointment for our i600a. An $830 piece of paper from Citizenship and Immigration services that will give us permission to adopt an international orphan. I thought we would have to wait until the homestudy was finished until we got the appt. And I had heard it took a while to get, but we will be on our way to Charleston (closest place) next Monday to our appt.! So not only are we starting to move, but we are moving fast it seems. Hopefully all our paperwork will be on it's way to Ethiopia by March or early April at the latest. But we still have to raise about $6000 more before then to pay our international fee. The international fee pays for Olivia's care, medical needs, lawyers, court costs, etc. So if you feel led, 'chip in' now before our raffle closes on Dec. 1st to get a chance at winning the artwork.

Almost funny - but not at all

Writer's block, busy life, pessimism - call it what you want but I've had no nuggets of wisdom or things just to make you go 'ahhh' recently so I've abstained from boring posts. Until now...

I've spent the day in bed with a 101 fever so I choose today to write. Makes no sense what-so-ever. But here goes it, my life in the last two weeks:

- Two Saturdays ago, Seth has a baseball tournament 2 hours away, wakes up with a 101 fever. But even as I am telling the men of the house, "we can't take him with a fever", my child is putting his uniform on and saying he feels fine. We call the coaches who tell us "well, if he wants to play...." So we head out with him doped up on ibuprofen. Oh sweet medicine, you have become my very bestest friend. I learn that I have a lot to learn with being a sports mom. Dope 'em up and keep going. "My foot is falling off? Wrap it good, give me two aspirin, and let me get back out there! "

- Sunday morning it is up to 103. This time mom puts her foot down. Or the fact that he couldn't sit up or make cohesive sentences. So we missed the second day of tournament ball.

- Sunday night my grandfather passes after a long battle with Alzheimer's. We delay going home to N.C. until we see how Seth is doing.

- Monday I take Braeden into school and stay for his awards day. I don't even bring the camera as I figure if I do, and he doesn't win anything, I will look like a dork. Instead, he makes his mom look like a dork without a camera as he wears out a new path up and down off the stage. Here is my little smarty pants, who takes after his mom, of course:
Yes my friends, that would be every award available to a 1st grader but one. Two kids were chosen for awards out of each class. My child swept the boards! Little show-off.

- Tuesday we head to N.C. for the funeral with Seth still feverish with a nasty cough. Nebulizer in tow. We hit Rock Hill and the engine starts giving us trouble with Tony not being able to get it to go past 40 MPH. Thank goodness a Ford place was in his sights and we pay $127 to have a diagnostic run. To find out that it is only the air filter which had been shoved in too far. $127 for a $6 air filter. I credit Obama-nomics.

- Seth is sick until the following Monday (that would be nine days) when his cough sounds even more crackly and he is struggling to breath. Back to the Dr. for an antibiotic. (we are now up to $120 in co-pays)

- Tuesday Braeden's PE teacher asks me what is wrong with his finger. I.....have.....no......idea. It's only completely blue and swelled to twice it's size. With what looks like a huge blister all around it. So, back to the Dr., who has to drain it and send off a culture as it looks like MRSA. Just FYI, the Mayo Clinic site description, first paragraph : "MRSA can be fatal." This kid - if it is not a fishhook in the eye, it is a finger ready to fall off...... that he neglects to tell me about. The test comes back positive for bacteria and he is put on a high powered antibiotic, three bottles to be completely taken over the next 10 days. Copay total now at $160.

- And today, I'm running a fever. Like I said, it's almost funny, but not really. The high point of my life is getting a call from our homestudy worker who will be coming out on Thursday for our first visit. It's sad when the high point would be that that will force us to actually clean this house, which has been sorely neglected in all the excitement. I'm almost giddy..... must be the ibuprofen.

Updated - Lil Olivia's Store

Since the Christmas season is just around the corner...... please feel free to pass this web address to everyone you know!

ART STILL FOR SALE : (ALL proceeds going in the account to pay for our next agency / country installments of $7700. Click on artwork to see more detail. All art has a space to personalize.)

10 X 14 Butterfly pic - min donation $35

8 X 10s - monkeys & train - min donation $25

5 X 7s - sailboat & baseball pics - min. donation $15

Previously painted: (but can be customized & repainted just for your little one!)

Happy Fall 'Yall

Addison didn't want to hold MY hand. But then decided in the dark, running to a house and then yelling "mommmmmmy" to quickly find my warm fingers was pretty comforting.
Looks pretty good for a kid who had run a 102-104 temp all week. With very little food in 7 days (no flu thank goodness), he still had a good time tonight. Even with no energy.
This one ALWAYS has a good time. Wherever he goes. And especially if sugar is involved.
My baby is looking so big.
And a little bit more and more like her mommy. 'Bout time!!!
Happy Fall to All!!!

An apology - sort of

I feel like all I have been doing is asking for donations. Wanna sponsor a child? Wanna buy a raffle ticket? Check out our 'ChipIn' donation? Buy some personalized art?? Donate through PayPal? and now.....

wanna buy some coffee?

I'm hoping I can get 'ya on one front or another! Just Love Coffee is an internet store that just opened this week. The concept designed and brought about by an adoptive father of two beautiful Ethiopian girls. For every bag of coffee, or every T-Shirt, you purchase from our 'store', we are mailed a check to be deposited into our adoption fund. And if you have never tried Ethiopian coffee, you truly don't know what you are missing! I liked coffee before, I LOVE Ethiopian coffee now. Just click on the logo to be taken to our storefront. And I know it's a little more expensive than Starbucks bags, but it is also a charity. With proceeds going to both us and the orphanage where his girls were taken care of. So please pass along the website to any other java-addicts you may know.

And now to the apology:

A foreword - Adoption is expensive. And what you may not know is that the Ethiopian government frowns on all fund-raising. So once we get hot and heavy into this process, like around the time we submit our dossier (with a check for $7700) - I will have to pull all mentions of donations and fund-raising from my public blog. So I'm just trying to get the word out now that we need help, while I still can.

And the apology - I'm sorry I have to ask for help, but I'm not sorry I am asking. Does that make sense at all? I'm asking for help because I know the joy that we get from helping. True joy that lasts, unlike the joy felt after buying a new purse. Or the lingering good feelings from a movie we took our kids to, that is forgotten after a week when they are asking to go to the next blockbuster. True joy comes from the Lord:

** I know how awesome it feels to have a little 9 year old boy in Colombia tell me, through our help, he may grow up to be a preacher. A little boy in an area of child militia and drug wars.

** I know how awesome it feels to have a little 9 year old girl in India write to me simple words like "elephant. tiger. cat. monkey." A little girl who 2 years ago didn't know her alphabet. In a country that doesn't value women or an education. She's also growing her hair out to wear the ribbons we have mailed her.

** I know how awesome it feels to know a widow in Ethiopian has her own store and can support her two children through our help. A widow who is being exposed to Christ in an area where only 10% are Christians.

** I know how awesome it feels to see my own children praying for and loving these children on the other side of the world.

** I know how unbelievably sad it is to think of the infants, the little babies, left to die in gutters or at the doors of the orphanages by neighbors or distant relatives. Babies 5 months old that weigh as much as an American newborn.

**And I can only imagine how awesome it will feel to bring back a beautiful little girl with shining dark eyes from a land of poverty and pain. And hold her up for you to see. And tell you thank you for helping to bring her into our family. And to know that only through God, are we able to do this wonderful work.

I just told Tony last night. I get so uncomfortable hearing others tell us, "it takes a very special person to do what you are doing." No - it takes a sinful, normal person. But a person who selfishly wants to see where God leads us. Who selfishly wants to snuggle up to round chubby cheeks and feel the joy of being a new mom again. Who selfishly is excited to see how much joy we can soak up in the coming years from little Olivia. So, I'm sorry I'm so selfish. Don't ya want to get in on it???

• Be selfish enough to get tons of joy from saving the life of a child with Compassion...
• Be selfish enough to drink tons of unbelievable coffee from JustLove...
• Be selfish enough to order a great Christmas or baby shower gift with no shopping involved...
• Be selfish enough to donate towards paying the Ethiopian country fees for the care of Baby Olivia and hopefully, in about a year, know you helped to bring a healthy smile to her and her mommy's faces!!!

A Fair Splurge

It's funny - in the 5 years that we have lived here, my poor children have been the "onnnnnly kids who aren't going to the faaaaaaaaair". Only - I'm sure. Partly because their mommy is so cheap, and partly because their daddy is a tad bit obsessive compulsive about cleanliness and can't stand the thought of our children holding fast to handlebars which have been touched by at least a million and two children before them, all actively wiping their noses with their palms. All in the midst of cold and flu season . I just try not to think about it. ( I am definitely a 5 second mom, "go ahead and eat your sucker sweetie, you only got a couple bits of dirt on it when you dropped it. Just flick 'em off.")

So this year, as one of our best friends unfortunately hurt her back - we inherited her family's tickets to not only the fair but also the Toby Mac concert. Sweeeeeet.

And may I say, we......had.......a.......blast!! We, as in me and the kids. Tony was still a little put off by the entire fair atmosphere. I think it's a childhood phobia or something.

The kids helped pay for their ride-every-available-ride 16 times bracelets with money their Nana and Papaw had given them and we commenced to see how many rides we could conquer. They had so much fun. And were soooooo sweet with little Addison. Taking her along by the hand, helping her to get in the rides, making sure they were seated together vs. with strangers. They cracked me up. I am really still baffled how all 3 made it home without swallowing some sort of insect with all the screaming, shrieking, and smiling going on at, at least, oh, 1.5 miles an hour. Unfortunately, (but probably fortunately), I was the one to go head to head with an insect as I laid my arm down on the stroller handle and squashed a yellow jacket. Poor little thing never saw me coming. I thought bees were all dead by this time of year!

Toby Mac was awesome - and Addison had so much fun waving her hands in the air and yelling "woopsa-daisy, woopsa-daisy" along in beat with the crowd.

However, after about 20 minutes of holding a gyrating toddler up in the air with a swelled and throbbing arm, I was ready to go. So Tony and I switched off with him going to take a tired and cranky Addison home and me staying behind to make sure the boys got their $23 dollars worth of rides out. ($23, seriously?? Does it cost that much to hire your workers at minimum wage?) I have to say though, watching their expressions when they got off the "Spaceship 4000" (reminder: spinning spaceship where gravity staples you to the side until the floor floats out from under you) = Priceless. Totally worth the 365 dollars we probably spent on funnel cake and caramel apples. Cause mommy couldn't splurge on tickets that weren't free, but funnel cake - now that's a completely justifiable expense!