It's Christmas Eve and I'm sitting with my family, drinking coffee, snuggling with nieces and nephews and thinking about all the ways God has blessed us over the last 12 months.
He gave me a new job which I absolutely love. He blessed Josh with another year of teaching in Arlington. He put us in a fabulous church and lifegroup full of people who challenge us, love us and bring us joy. He got us through one year on the waiting list for our children. I could go on and on. But, one of the blessings this year that will forever be close to my heart was the Both Hands project we did through Lifesong for Orphans.
Twenty of our dearest friends came together to help us raise money for our adoption. We worked with a widow "Nanny" who was in need of home and landscape repairs. We planted gardens, painted awnings, cleaned gutters, trimmed trees, fixed plumbing and electrical problems inside. We gave her presents and hugs and reminded her of how thankful we are that she allowed us to serve her like she has spent her life serving others. Our goal is to raise $10,000 and we are getting closer. Here is the video highlighting our project!! It was a great day and I can't wait to share with my children how much they were loved before they were known!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__osqzEbESA
Lilypie Waiting to Adopt tickers
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
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.
Engaging Food Battles with Connection in Mind from Tapestry on Vimeo.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The War Against International Adoption
Great blog today from Aaron Klein.
http://www.aaronklein.com/2011/09/the-war-against-international-adoption/
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.
Friday, September 9, 2011
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.”
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.”
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
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
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
Monday, June 27, 2011
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!
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