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Engaging Food Battles while connecting with your children

Children from hard places often struggle with a variety of food-related issues. Watch as Dr. Karyn Purvis offers insights and strategies to help parents engage food battles with connection in mind.



Engaging Food Battles with Connection in Mind from Tapestry on Vimeo.

The War Against International Adoption

Great blog today from Aaron Klein.  
http://www.aaronklein.com/2011/09/the-war-against-international-adoption/

“Largely deprived of the human touch as they grow up, those who survive physically are unlikely to develop emotionally and mentally in ways that will make it possible for them to relate meaningfully and happily to either human beings, or to learn or work in meaningful ways. The longer they spent in such orphanages, the less chance they will have are anything resembling normal development.” Elizabeth Bartholet of Harvard Law School’s Child Advocacy Project.

Happy New Year!!

Enkutatas, Happy New Year!

September 11th marks the new year celebration, Enkutatas, in Ethiopia! As the close to the rainy season draws near, Ethiopians enjoy celebrating the spring-like arrival of their new year.  It is also the Feast of St. John the Baptist. The day is called Enkutatas meaning the "gift of jewels." When the famous Queen of Sheba returned from her expensive jaunt to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her back by replenishing her treasury with enku or jewels. The spring festival has been celebrated since these early times and as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing can be heard at every village in the green countryside. After dark on New Year's Eve people light fires outside their houses. 

The main religious celebration takes place at the 14th-century Kostete Yohannes church in the city of Gaynt within the Gondar Region. Three days of prayers, psalms, and hymns, sermons, and massive colorful processions mark the advent of the New Year. Closer to Addis Ababa, the Raguel Church, on top of the Entoto Mountain north of the city, has the largest and most spectacular religious celebration. But Enkutatas is not exclusively a religious holiday, and the little girls singing and dancing in pretty new dresses among the flowers in the fields convey the message of springtime and renewed life. Today's Enkutatas is also the season for exchanging formal New Year greetings and cards among the urban sophisticated in lieu of the traditional bouquet of flowers. 

When meeting friends and neighbors on the new year, Amharic speakers share the greeting, “Enquan laddis amet aderesachuh,” or, “wishing you all a happy new year.”

Millions Starving in Today's Most Severe Food Crisis in Eastern Africa

Eastern Africa is experiencing what has been described as the "most severe food crisis in the world today", with at least 10 million people affected in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
In Ethiopia, the estimated number of people in need of emergency food and non-food assistance was revised upwards from 2.8 million to 3.2 million.

Among those who can afford it, thousands are fleeing their homes in the hopes to find food and water. Most of those who have died include children, the elderly and pregnant or nursing mothers.

We are in contact with our adoption agency who leads several humanitarian efforts in eastern Africa. STAY TUNED FOR HOW YOU CAN HELP!!

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=93092

Fast Break

I broke my news fast. It's been a little over a month now and I've finally started listening to, reading and watching the news again. Confession: it was much more difficult than I thought. I found myself automatically turning on news talk radio when I got in the car and immediately having to turn it off. Not being able to participate in conversations about "newsworthy" events proved to be a big downer for me. But, I made it. And, I found that every time I intentionally turned off the news or closed my automatic news pop-ups, I thought out our children and how God is watching over them and us every second we are apart. While I am returning to my news junkie days, I hope to more mindful that God is all-knowing and all-seeing. What comfort!

News Break - Pregnancy vs Adoption

I'm addicted to the news. Some people wake up in the morning and listen to the soothing song on the alarm radio. Others may have some quiet time or stand in the shower with their eyes closed counting the hours until they get to crawl back into bed. Not me. When my alarm goes off (and sometimes before), I roll over, grab my iPhone and start clicking on my news apps. Skimming headlines and clicking on the more creative ones that lure a reader in. On my way to work, I drink my coffee and listen to the two AM talk radio stations I have programed. When I arrive, I pull up FoxNews and leave the minimized window open in case there is breaking news. My drive home...news talk radio again. Then I fill my husband in on everything I've heard throughout the day. For those of you who know me, I like the crime reports and am drawn to the horrific stories most people try to avoid. I like being connected. I like knowing what is going on around me and around the world. Until now.

While I don't completely understand the hormone situation during pregnancy vs adoption, I've heard it is very similar. I'm hoping that is my excuse for the annoying ability to burst into tears for absolutely no reason and then continue crying because I'm frustrated for not having a reason. Or feeling like the creeper that stops in the grocery store staring at little children and dreaming that somewhere mine are experiencing the same happiness. (I cannot explain the food cravings...other than the fact that when you walk outside in Texas, you typically smell the sweet aroma of Tex-Mex and your stomach begins to talk...it's why Texans seem to know each other upon first meeting...our stomachs have been chattin it up.)

But, I am blaming my adoptive hormones on my sudden distaste for the news. I believe the news is making me have a stressful adoption. (like there is any other kind....) and this could potentially harm the waiting process. So, as of today, I'm taking an offical break from listening, watching or reading the news. I'm not sure how long this fast will last. My addiction to the news will likely make it difficult to quit cold-turkey. But, I'm determined. to make it at least one month. (We can reevaluate my hormone situation at that point.)

I do hope my friends and family around me will update me on any world disasters or crisis on a "need to know" basis. Please feel free to email or call me if WW3 starts of if someone other than Donald Trump announces their presidental running.

I will report back in one month...hopefully with a more stress-free adoption! :)