How little we've grown

"All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and

great will be your children's peace."

Isaiah 54:13

I am apart of some online adoption groups and one of the participants shared the attached news link. In the 1950's a Doctor did an experiment to illustrate why we needed to desegregate. The experiment was simple. Take two identical dolls, one white and one black, and ask children which doll was the good doll and which was the bad doll. Black children picked the white doll as the good doll and the black doll as the bad doll. Recently a high school student reexamined this experiment. The results are very concerning and validating.

Concerning because it shows how little we've grown. Validating because of the reactions we receive from people when we explain some of our deliberate approaches to teaching our children to be proud of their race and ethnic origin. The responses show peoples unawareness of the issues and our need to take such deliberate action. At times I begin to wonder am I making to much of this. The video has helped reaffirm our need to teach our children to be proud of who they are.

I don't want to believe we still battle racism. The attached video shows how subtle racism is still active in our society today. I claim the above scripture for Nemo & Nema.

Click here for video.

Katrina's Animals

"And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"

Genesis 1:26

Lots of Katrina and other animals are still in need of homes. Please send to anyone who might be able to help/adopt. Think this doesn't effect you- watch this video:

VIDEO: St Bernard Parish Shelter - Katrina Pets 1 Year Later, click here

For more information about the shelter, click here

Ethiopian Model

"I am the Lord who heals you."

Exodus 15:26

Sometimes I wonder "why this journey, Lord?" There seems to be two reasons. One is, the experiences that have happened during the journey reveal my heart. This may be a news flash but its not always pretty. However, what ever gets me to kneel before God is a good thing. He has been a faithful healer.

The second reason, is the events have revealed his glory. I have to admit at times I got tired and thought, "Enough with this already. Go reveal your power through someone else." (remember I warned you not always pretty.) Very thankful God is a forgiving God.

Ethiopian Model
I didn't see this but some of the posts are talking about a Ethiopian model on Good Morning America. Attached is a link to the news story. The model, Liya Kebede, has started a foundation to help provide basic medical care for pregnant women and babies. Click here

Rural Ethiopia Ignores Law Against Child Brides

Someone shared the attached link on one of our adoption chat groups. Please read, there's a slide show too.
Click here

Here's a link to a song written by a mom who adopted. It speaks to those of us who are waiting.
Click here

Timket

"Timket, or Timkat, is Ethiopian language for Epiphany. Although the holiday commemorating Christ's baptism in the River Jordan is observed by Christians all over the world, Timket is of special significance in Ethiopia. It is the most important and colourful event of the year.
The festival starts at Timket Eve, January 18, eleven days after the orthodox Christmas. Although the festival is largely religious, it has no lack of secular elements such as partying and match-making." This was taken from click here.

To learn more about Ethiopia's Timket click here.

Stretching Faith

I read once that when a woman is pregnant she'll worry about all the things that can go wrong with her pregnancy. She can think of how her precious little one will come into harms way. People who are adopting tend to call the time between sending in the dossier and "the call" our pregnancy. So I guess I'm good and pregnant letting my fear get a hold of me. Letting my imagination get carried away with images of what could go wrong. Anyway,I think I'm over it. For those of you who prayed for me, thank you.

"But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."

Proverbs 1:33

Do not be anxious...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

Where are we in the process?

Last week I was on a conference call with our agency. The next person/couple on the list for siblings is in July. Meaning that's when they sent in their dossier. We sent in our dossier in October. So we have July, August and September families ahead of us. Of course that's a bit fluid because of request restrictions. The more restrictions a family requests the longer they'll have to wait. So its a moving target. We're anticipating our referral in April.

The average wait time to travel to Ethiopia after receiving your referral is two months. That would mean we'd travel around June. However, not to be an alarmist, but here's a travel warning I've read recently.

Travel Warning

If things progress in Ethiopia as the Islamists would like we may need to have Nemo-Nema escorted to the US. That takes 4-5 months after receiving a referral. The worse case scenario is adoption from Ethiopia is disrupted.

Really, I didn't expect any more interruptions. This is a really long journey. I'm having trouble with, "Do Not Be Anxious" Thankfully I have a church family that will hold me up in prayer. I thank God for the people willing to be around for the not so pretty moments.

I will choose to listen to the voice of truth.

Ethiopian Dance

Finally I've found some dance moves even I can do. Yahoo Video has some Ethiopian videos. Its fun to watch them for the scenery and to try to glean a bit of their culture. I plan on showing them to Nemo & Nema. Hopefully by then I'll know if the lyrics are appropriate. The first video is 18 minutes. It's animated and fun. The second is called Manalemosh Dibo. It shows a bit of scenery and culture. Hope you enjoy.

Video 1, Sinziro
Video 2, Manalemosh dibo

A Time For Everything

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance"

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Today Ethiopians are celebrating Christmas.

Here's some information on Ethiopian Christmas.

As we were preparing to adopt we learned to replace what we wanted with what God had planned for us. It was a time of healing. Now were in the waiting mode and we're learning more about Ethiopia's culture. We're also learning more about adoption nuances. We are being prepared for the children God has already chosen for us. Thank you everyone in the blog world and adoption groups for so freely sharing your wisdom.

Merry Christmas Nemo & Nema.

Still Waiting

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Heb. 10:23)

Yes its been a long journey. Yes when I've lost hope I opened myself to enemy attack. There have been highs and lows. I heard a song yesterday that spoke to walking through the valley and then standing on the mountain. I always want to jump over the valley. I never prayed to learn patience but like any expectant mother that's what I'm learning. Probably will come in handy when Nemo & Nema arrive. Did you know an Elephant is pregnant for 22 months? Compared to that I'm not in a bad spot.

I found an article about depression with people who adopt. Its worth reading to be prepared, just in case. That is if your adopting.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/16164876.htm

Africa's Malnutrition

I live in a bubble. Why was I surprised children have difficulty learning when they haven't had enough to eat. Well I guess during the wait time I'm getting trained up to be a parent. I'm learning to see beyond my own noise.
Check out this article on Africa's malnutrition. It also has some wonderful pictures in the slide show.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/28/world/africa/28malnutrition.html?ex=157680000&en=beb0b8beb87d451a&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Our puppy

In September we got a new puppy, Brady. He's named after my favorite TV show, The Brady Bunch. Brady isn't at all like Bubba our Golden who passed away last year. Take this morning, Rick was walking into the bedroom to wake me up and Brady jumped up and bit him in the butt. Here's a picture of Brady helping his dad in the yard.

Happy New Year = Melkam Addis Amet

Ethiopian calendar
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_calendar
The Ethiopian calendar or Ethiopic calendar is the principal calendar used in Ethiopia and is also the liturgical year of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church where it is known as the Ge'ez calendar. It is based on the older Alexandrian or Coptic calendar, which is based on the even older Egyptian calendar, but like the Julian calendar, it adds a leap day every four years without exception, and begins the year on August 29 or August 30 in the Julian calendar.
Like the Coptic calendar, the Ethiopian calendar has twelve months of 30 days each plus five or six epagomenal days (usually called a thirteenth month). Furthermore, its months begin on the same days as those of the Coptic calendar, but they have different names, that are in Ge'ez. The sixth epagomenal day is added every four years without exception on August 29 in the Julian calendar, six months before the Julian leap day. Thus the first day of the Ethiopian year, 1 Mäskäräm, for years between 1901 and 2099 (inclusive), is usually September 11 (Gregorian), but falls on September 12 (Gregorian), in years before the Gregorian leap year.

The current year according to the Ethiopian calendar is 1999.