First Doritos!

So yesterday I decide I want to upload the photos I have taken over the last two weeks...the first two weeks home with the boys- and something happens- and I am pretty good with my computer and my camera and I have no idea what happened but I plugged my camera into the computer and my entire memory card erased before the photos were uploaded. I was so sad...what we were missing were all of the firsts.

You know when you have a baby you have the first smile, the first step, the first time peeing on the potty, the first wave bye bye...well we had our own set of firsts...the first swim in the pool- those pictures are gone- the first rainbow- that was so cool and then when I was telling Mark how we had seen the first rainbow- Maren understood and said "daddy Daddy" and then when Mark looked he made his hands go like a bow in the sky and said "Rainbow!" This was several days after we saw the rainbow. He remembered what it was called and everything. We lost the photos of Madeline's and Phoebe’s recital. We lost the first trip to Tiny Town- which was father's day and their first trip to the Rocky Mountains- I was sad about this because the houses are so small and I liked the idea of having photos of them there when they first came and then again in like a year- plus I thought that the CWA staff in Addis would get a kick out of those pictures.

We lost the first Pizza, the time when we got him to say "I Love Pizza!" and the very very very first Popsicle....And the really great father’s day picture of Mark with all the kids at the lake in the mountains...we lost that too. We also lost the really bad photo of me in the mountains- it was a mixed blessing.

And we lost the photos of the first Doritos...I know - some of you are shocked that it took me two weeks to introduce my boys to Doritos...and others are shocked I would ever give them a Dorito in the first place... in any case this was a sacred moment in the Barr house- almost as special as Maren's first glimpse of "the others" on Lost...so we decided we should reenact this.

Those of you who know my family- know we are full of actors and writers- and so it would be fitting that our 3 year old from Ethiopia- only home 2 weeks has already caught on...So without Further ado- here is Maren and the "First Dorito" (Take two...)

Here you can see Maren enjoying his first Dorito...then he hams it up by eating straight form the bowl...then he offers the bowl to Phoebe. Then you can see him make one of his famous faces and Phoebe trying to imitate him.
And finally Yabsera - who always has the best seat in the house.

AHOPE - a must see while in Addis- make room for books, gloves and pain medication!

This is the main compound-and where the little kids live- the building directly in front of you is the main office. to the left is the kids bedrooms and the living/dining area.

See the bright blue gate at the end of the driveway? That is what the gate looks like from the outside...look for it!

This kind woman gave us the grand tour- she was wonnderful She explained that most of the children are now on Antiretroviral medication and that has increased their need for fund for the food budget. They are caring for nearly 60 HIV positive children. They are looking to exaplns this project and care for kids in the various regions of Ethiopia- basically subsidising a family to care for an HIV positive child in their own home.

This is the nurse I met with- stocking their medications. They need everything they can get because many of these things are expensive in Addis.


This is where they eat- its a long table but I had to crop out th little boy. They spend "most of their time" in this room.

This is a bed- they all look like this- there are about 6 bunk beds in each room. Each child has their own bed.

This is the littel girl receiving her gift in the small schoolroom- it was hard to stay composed while giving her this doll. She looked like I had just handed her a check for a million dollors. I am not exaggerating. that was what giving this girl a doll was like.


While in Addis, I was able to visit AHOPE, which is an orphanage for children with HIV. It as an incredibly moving experience. I actually went three times. I was staying at a guest house which was no more than a 5 minute easy walk to AHOPE and so it was easy to go back after I visited the first time. There are two orphanages. One is for the little kids and one for the older kids. I did not know that the little kid orphanage was actually the “old” Layla house. The little kid orphanage is pretty plain- but there is a big paved area to play in outside and they have this room where they eat and hang out which is nice and cool.

The older kid orphanage- is really nice- it has a few gardens and these little school rooms and the big girls were decorating their “dorm” with some balloons and streamers when I was there.

If you have never been to a developing country you need to know that when I say “nice” its nice by the standards of that country- you do not leave there thinking, “Wow these kids have it made!” You leave there thinking, “What can I do to make this better for these kids?”

Some of the kids have been adopted- its amazing because even a year ago that was a near impossibility. And now more are preparing to go home with families. They have so much hope that the kids will find homes and are so open and accepting- I showed up unannounced with gifts for a child who a good friend of mine and fellow CWA family sponsors- they immediately gave Mark and I the grand tour- the nothing to hide tour- they let us take pictures of the kids with the gifts we had brought from the Qualls. We are not allowed to post them- but only use them privately to thank donors etc…so on my blog I have several cropped photos. It was hard to get any pictures without kids because you would take one and suddenly a child would appear.

I know families have come and done crafts with the kids, taken a few for ice cream, played games, kicked a ball around. I spent a lot of time with the nurse because HIV is my specialty and so we hung out and talked a lot and then played with the cars that were donated.

I wish I had done more and I wish I had brought more for them. I brought MANY MANY things that CWA needed and I am glad I did that because they are new and have needs- but I wish I knew more about what AHOPE needed and had figured out a way to bring more- we barely got through each check point with all of the stuff we had!

The last day I was there , I met with the director, Sidisse. She was really sweet and she wrote down some of their current needs. I will post the list hear. I think any family who wants to see a little bit more of Addis and Ethiopia and how HIV has affected not just the children we are adopting but how it affects the children many of whom will be left behind.

It’s easy to do- even if you have just a few minutes and just want to drop some things off.

Here I what they said they need now: (and this list changes)
1) Gloves- she said they ALWAYS need gloves- bring gloves! even if each family brought one box think how that would help!
2) Materials for kindergarten and school- they are building a library and need books- in English.
a) Easy Coloring books
b) Numbers
c) Letters
d) Colors
e) story books
f) Reading
g) Reading comprehension
h) Math
i) General Knowledge books
j) crayons
h) Any other instructional materials (I just picked up some simple math flashcards to send)
***She showed me some examples and they were the kind of work books you find at target, Wal-Mart, Costco and the grocery store- sticker books, coloring books and activity books
3) Multivitamins
4) Pain reliever (we brought both Motrin and Tylenol (generic is fine!) and they were very happy
5) High calorie food products like Ensure- they sell Carnation instant breakfast at places like Sam’s club and Costco which is similar to ensure but cheaper and some in powder packets

You can also sponsor a child there. AAI requires that when you adopt through them you sponsor a child left behind…it’s a great thing to do for the country where your kids come from!

Here is their website:

AHOPE for Children

And a USA email contact:
Kpolsen@aol.com

To call them while you are there call:
0911606723 if you need directions
you can email them in Ethiopia at:
ahopeethiopia@ethionet.et
or
ahopeethio@yahoo.com

but you can just stop by- after 5 the big kids are back with the little kids- in the AM you will just see the little kids if you go to that campus.

I made the mistake of thinking that everyone brings stuff to AHOPE and they did not need much- I was completely wrong- they need so much and when you go you will see what I mean.

It is probably easier to visit a place like AHOPE without your new kids- but it is possible with them as well. The first Time we went they were with us- but frankly Dagne kept the baby in the car and when we went to the school we also left Maren with him. The last time I went- I went while the kids napped and my husband was home with the kids- since it was so close- I walked there with one of the guest house staff- she went with me. It was great!

Thanks- and let me know if you plan to visit AHOPE- I promised to send pill boxes- I figure if I can send a few with a few families I will get them enough over the next few months….so let me know!

From Sodo with Love Act I

The countryside as it changed, as we approached the town near where our sons were born.



Sign reads "Welcome to Wolita" The "Welcome to Sodo" sign was a blur

The highlight of our time in Ethiopia was the trip we took to Sodo. We were worried about bringing the boys- we had heard it was a long and rough trip. We knew they had made the trip already once in their short lives...so we left that in God's hands- we decided if it happened and everything fell into place then we would continue- sort of how we have gone through this whole process a lot of faith and trust and baby steps- We asked so many people what they thought an the general consensus among Americans was 'why would you do that?" but the general feeling among Ethiopian's was that we should go, the boys will want to know where they came from and the best way for us to tell them a little bit about it is to go ourselves. I remember one person in Ethiopia saying, "You must go...you need to do it for them." We heard how the children really love to travel in cars and travel really well...and this was so much in God's hands that we did not even call about a driver until Friday afternoon- and we planned on leaving Saturday morning! On top of that I was coming down with some stomach thing...Mark started calling drivers and spoke with several men and compared prices with what they could and could not offer and we ended up with the most amazing man. I went to bed around 5:00 and told Mark I was 'just taking a nap"- famous last words as was down for the count- he had to prepare dinner and care for both kids that evening without me- but I needed that time so I could get up early and prepare for our Departure time of 8:00AM. We knew it was about 6 hours to Sodo.

We got up and packed- we had so much stuff it was pretty funny! the Guest house staff all sent us off with prayer and well wishes- they knew our objective and felt it was a good one...to learn more about where our boys came from.

We started around 8:30am and it was a warm and beautiful Saturday morning- the first part of the trip was winding through and out of Addis - there is only one road out of Addis to the south- so anyone heading anywhere in Ethiopia- or Africa for that matter to the south leaves Addis the same way we did. Our Driver pointed out things to us like the place where the Dutch grow their flowers, the organic strawberry farms, the old Army training camp, the prison, and more Dutch flower farms - the next time you buy those Tulips from your kids school sale- they may be coming from just south of Addis!

It was a great drive- it started out fairly brown and dry...a lot of cactus - they use the cactus like fences. And many of the tukul homes. We had lunch in Shashimene and our driver pointed out where "the Americans" lives- which is where the Rastafarians have a compound. For lunch we ate some traditional Ethiopian food- injera and Tibs- Since my belly was still achy I had potatoes. Maren loved it.

We were getting excited as we came to the crossroads where you head west towards Wolaita. This was where so much of the landscape began to change- we saw many large lakes- its amazing how much water there is in Ethiopia- but its not used very effectively. There is this one high point where you can look out and see 5 lakes in one view- its amazing really.

Here it becomes greener, lusher, and hillier. There are mountains and areas of erosion leaving this red clay like dirt in these amazing patterns. It looks man made but it is just from the rains. Along the road you see many children walking, sleeping, playing but mostly working. Many children herding animals- mostly without shoes on the rocky earth. Children gathering water in large jugs which look as if they would be too heavy for me even- if they were full. Bathing, toileting and drinking from the same muddy streams.

As you drive you come across places where they are selling different crops- the first one I remember was corn. they would roast the corn on the side of the road and then sell it to drivers- you could also by fresh unroasted corn. Mark and I love roasting corn when we are camping- so this was tempting.

The it was bananas- the small sweet Kenya bananas and the large fibrous Ethiopian Bananas- the same ones you read about that they cook underground to make food that is like a fermented paste - these bananas coked this way can last 20 years...aged like fine wine!

Information on these bananas and their history in Wolaita

This bunch of Kenyan bananas cost 3 birr.


Every time you stopped the car there were these kids who would appear at your window- no matter where you were- and they wanted money or food- so while the driver was trying to bargain down the price of the large Ethiopian Bananas I was sneaking out the small bananas to the little boys on my side of the car- I would give them a banana and then I would say "Shhhhh!" so they wouldn't tell the driver I was giving away the bananas- so they would eat them so fast!



This is Maren- he ate so many bananas- it was like if we were here in America and stopped at a 7-11 and got snacks but here we snacked an a huge bunch of Kenyan bananas.


I will continue the details of this trip...but here are some photos of Sodo to whet your appetite...These are the main streets of Sodo and the photo of the large crowd is the market- it was HUGE...it was Saturday- Market day and I was just amazed that there we so many people living in this small and extremely poor corner of the world.

We took this because Yabsera is our baby boys name it means "Work of God" or more literally "Work of the Father" Aba meaning "father"

This little boy has a chicken in his hands- he kind of follwoed us but was a bit scared- I offered him a pen and at first he kind of wlked away- but then when he saw other kids taking pens he came back to get one. I guessed he was coming from the Market with a chicken for his family. And the other boy is brining home something else to eat (on his head).


See the large number of people in the distance? This is the Market- it was amazing to see so many people there.

Maren's Vocabulary

watis = water
mommy
Daddy
Bye bye
shoes
maren (he points at himself and an object to indicate possession)
I love you
How are you
hello
Armadillo
dabo- bread
Buna- coffee
nigh nigh (sleep)
Yabsera
cal
maddie
phoebe
Maxes (Max)
bogoot = cookie or Bisquit
beep beep = car
BIG TRUCK
Woof woof = dog
lots of Amharic
and he can repeat anything you say- literally
He loves to sing- Cal wishes he knew what he was signing
and he understands so much already - today I was getting mad at Cal and asking him to clean up and Maren was just fascinated by watching me get mad and before we knew it he had put away all of the toys and organized all the shoes- exactly the job I was asking Cal to do...and Maren says, "Ayo! (look it! ) Ayo Shoes!" because he is so proud of how nicely he organized the shoes.

He did have one Helen Keller moment in Target- which would have been disturbing if not for the fact that during his minor fit he pulled madeline's tube top down. She (being nearly 13) took the opportunity while we were out f the country to purchase some clothing we never would have allowed her to buy including a tube top - so I have to say I was slightly amused that Maren pulled it down during his fit in the middle of Target- I said, "well that is what you get for wearing at tube top!"

Maren is doing so much better he has toys and siblings to play with and actually listens and doesn't always get really mad when we say "no". and at the doctor when he heard Yabsera really crying he wanted to some in and see what they were doing to him. He is very bonded with his little brother which is very nice.


all is going well...it was my first real day- just me and the kids- and well- it had its moments- but all in all- a good start and I just keep thinking that it will all go so fast and I will be back at work before I know it.

Addiskidan Guest House

I made a separate Blog for the guest house with photos and more info than you need. Please check it out if you are one of the folks who has asked for more info.
Thanks!!

URL: http://addiskidan.blogspot.com/

Direct link:

Addiskidan Guest House

The road from Addis to Denver

Here is Maren at the guest house saying goodbye to the nanny who has been with him since the beginning- she started out in Sodo with the children and was moved to Addis to care for the children there. He was shy about letting her hold him at first and just clung to daddy- but he would ask about her during the week "Ama Ejigadu" (Give me Ejigadu) and it was clear that he really thought she was special and vice versa- she worked hard at getting him to let her hold him one last time- but when he did it was very cute- he fed her some cookies. It is an Ethiopian cultural norm to feed each other- even adults do this and a women on the plane explained it is a sign of love and respect and that once you have eaten food fed by another you can never betray them. He said its like, "you would not betray the hand that once fed you." So its pretty cool one of the last things our boy did before leaving his country was to feed the woman who fed him for the last 5 months.

This is Yabsera. We dressed the boys in their traditional Ethiopian shirts to say goodbye to everyone. They left Ethiopia in these shirts. This photo shows Mesfin, the CWA accountant, he was really in love with Yabsera and was really crying saying goodbye. Everyone said "this was his baby." They said he would not start work before spending time with Yabsera. I wrote him a note and also told him he needs to give that kind of attention to another baby now that "his" little guy is going. That his attention has wonderful long term effects and thanked him for loving my baby so much. Yabsera clearly knew and loved this man- he was just giddy when he saw him after a week.
These next two photos are from the airport. They left Ethiopian their traditional Ethiopian shirts and landed in Denver in their traditional American tie dyed tee shirts. Here is Madeline with Yabsera and below is Maren and his new buddies. Yes- yabsera is a chunk- he weighed 19 1/2 pounds when I weighed him on the scale I donated to CWA in Ethiopia!


This was this morning- our kid looked like a typical American tourist- he had on a NYC Tee shirt, a USA Flag baseball cap and Mickey Mouse sneakers. It doesn't take long does it? He loves cars- actually anything with wheels- he is just fascinated. This car was dear Madeline's when she was a baby and has come through 4 moves!

"LOST" in Addis

This is from an email written before we left Addis….so if reading the blog - this comes before the last post.

We have been successful, by the grace of God, in so many of our goals here- we have traveled and seen so much of this beautiful country and met all sorts of people- just today the boys have had their photos taken with an orthodox priest and a family who lives in a round traditional hut and a beautiful young Ethiopian woman by a lake- we have seen and done more than we could ever imagine and though we are like the "others" we have felt quite like those on flight 815 who have been in the dark for so long- and I felt a bit this weekend like I had met Henry Gale himself. I think I have.

So, to tell you a few things- Maren spends about 30-90 minutes each day crying- usually at nap time- its inconsolable and difficult to listen to- today it happened in the car- our driver who was wonderful understood completely that he is a child who has come from a place where no one consoled him (I don't mean at CWA (they have been wonderful to him Thank God- I mean before he came to CWA) Please pray for his little spirit and mind to let us comfort him when he feels that way and say a few extra prayers that he does not have this crying jag on the airplane- he is so full of life and is so funny and he has been saying "I love you" since day 2 but I think he understood it this weekend- he would say ILOVEYOU and then kiss us or smile adoringly-

He loves to eat and we are amazed at his dexterity with injera and traditional Ethiopian food- but he always insists on sharing the last few bites.

Yabsera continues to be a good-natured fellow and did cry for quite some time at the hotel last night (while travelling)- he knows its not home and was tired from a long day of traveling.

We saw the most beautiful people and countryside this weekend- but I kept remarking how many people there are everywhere!! if you go into the countryside in usa you see no one- here its amazing how many poeple there are and the fact that the children who are so very very young are on there own- girls as young as 4 are carrying babies on their backs while fetching water with three or so other children between 3 and 7- this is a common site- kids doing hard hard hard manual labor everywhere- and no adults in site- We have many many photos so the boys will have wonderful life books from where they come from.

Ethiopia is a country where children are just cherished- so many strangers have come up and taken Yabsera to hold him and kiss him- and well- they actually spit on you when they are showing affection- so that has been a bit unusual- but no problem...he does seem to know me because he only lets people hold him for a short time and then reached out for me- an example of how much they cherish the kids is that our driver took Maren to the bathroom and it was not #1 - now these are poeple who love children.

our guest house is incredible and we feel like family there- you should have seen their faces when we all arrived safely home tonight...they are helping Maren and mark and I to communicate we are learning Amharic as he learns English.

Maren can say "maddiecalphoebe" but he says it like its one long Ethiopian word.

We just visited layla house and I was able to give the letters to our friend’s kids and I cried- I think visiting these other orphanages has made me a little sad because I cannot visit my own. I think they will change the new rules- but not until I leave and it breaks my heart- but with all I saw and did this weekend- I feel I have learned so much about this country and culture and will share more details when I return.

Please pray for health, for Maren that he adjusts to the plane and rests and does not get upset easily on the plane and pray for Mark and I that we feel rested.

for our kids:
This is the part I wish you had gotten the other night- I miss you guys so much- I can't even tell you- i wish you were here and I know you are going to love these guys- we do have a bit of a Helen Keller on ours hands- but one who can talk and learns very fast- and knowing where he came from-I can tell you that he is a true survivor as someone was watching over him until he came into care with cwa and then to us.

I hope baseball has gone well, and that Phoebe is getting lots of cuddles and that maddie is loving the time away from me nagging her constantly.

Susan and Carol and Kimberly and Luana and everyone else who has helped with the kids- we can't thank you enough!!!! we miss them but know they are in many many good hands.

We love you !!!
Mar, Em, Maren and Yabsera

"Maren, were not in Sodo anymore"

Home.
Sweet.
Home.

as we drove into our neighborhood with the boys for the first time I said, "Maren this is America" because that is what they are told- you are going to America! and he said, "Sodo." just like that- "Sodo" he said it again- Sodo is the town where he was born. So I said, "Maren- we're not in Sodo anymore" knowing that the reference to Oz was lost on all but a few in the car. Since Maren's Arrival to 2341 Alton Street- he has been outside basically leading the neighborhood children in a lively parade...pushing a stroller with a stuffed beagle in it, trying the scooter, stealing the soccer balls and putting them in the stroller- and teaching the kids all of his favorite words...we now use many Amharic words to communicate- because of staying at the guest house and having translators everywhere- we know much of his most commonly used words- we always say the Amharic word and the English word...one of his favorite things to do is recite the names of the other children and the caregivers in the orphanage- its almost like he is trying to make sure he remembers them all...he will often start chanting over an over to himself- sometimes intelligible words or phrases and sometimes they are words we know- one of our favorites is "Ebeneezerebeneezerebenneezer" a friend from his orphanage who will go home with his family soon. He was doing it tonight listing the names and then gets stuck on Ebneezer- he says it really really fast- its adorable- Shelley- I need pictures of him for Maren! :)

The plane ride went fairly well- a few meltdowns that were short lived- but would cause a panic among the flight attendants- his cries are loud and pretty painful to hear---but he really did well.

Yabsera seemed to enjoy the trip- until we got home when he just crashed from all of the attention.

We arrived to an airport full of children- our children and the children of the three families who have been watching our kids- its was the best thing for our kids to be greeted by this enormous gaggle of kids 12 in all. Then we came home and found that members of our church had come into our house and cleaned and organized and put together the baby stuff- you see we had the new high chair and pack and play etc- but all was still sitting in boxes in the garage...and we starting painting last fall- the living room- but never finished- our pastor came in and found the paint and finished this- I think in finding the paint saw our garage and so the VBS staff who is working hard with kids all morning and prepping all evening came and cleaned the garage and the basement and got everything ready- these are college students from North Carolina- we have never met these people- but will tomorrow when I bring the kids to VBS...so to come home to such a welcome surprise was so nice- we had my favorite dessert waiting in the fridge and food glorious food from several friends and even a woman I have never met! :)

You all know my family lives far- but they were hear in spirit- Maren's first cell phone call "hello Poppa Hello...I love you!" He later talked to Grandma (Doris) and Aunt Jill- and hopefully tomorrow we can reach Marilyn the unreachable! :)

Maren is just in heaven with all of these kids and this huge courtyard to play in- and he has never seen so many stuffed animals and kept appearing with new ones stolen from Cal or Phoebe's beds...he likes Frogs...and is scared of snakes- we gave a way a book we had with us because there was a snake on one page and when you got to the snake he would scream and shut the book so fast you had to watch out for your fingers.

keep him and yabsera in your prayers- we are so thankful we had the "family" at the guesthouse- they were really our midwives in all of this and I feel that I got the homebirth after all- I feel that even though I was not allowed in their foster home- I had this wonderful group of people who really carried us through this process- they taught us what Maren's common phrases in amharic were and helped Maren and Yabsera to know and trust and love us...the people that God put in place for this journey for us to ease our "labor" were all incredible and there is no way to repay them- but they all feel that just knowing that these two little guys will grow up with us and not on the streets of Sodo is thanks enough for them. And we were able to meet and talk with many of the staff who knew and loved the boys- we had a tearful goodbye (at the guest house) and they shared a lot with us about how these guys affected their lives. I tried to explain that what they do with the kids for the short time they have them here in Ethiopia in CWA's care- has lifetime effects and how important their work is. I think they really got that.

We will visit the doctor on Friday and start the tune up- they both have medical issues that need to be addressed- nothing unexpected- the usual suspects- and one extra finger which is freaking out some kids and fascinating others- we will have to part with that! Mark asked me while in Addis is there was such things as a "finger fairy"- his horrible sense of humor is still intact after this long trip.

Glad to be back in Kansas.

Visiting AHOPE (this is an email from Thursday June 1)

We are here at the Ghion hotel for dinner. Its
Thursday night. Today we went to AHOPE - this is the HIV
orphanage. It was the most incredible experience and I
was very moved - this is from the person who has been
caring for kids with HIV since 1990 and I have been
to HIV orphanages in romania and south africa. I was
so - well can't explain - its important not to lose
it sitting in this internet cafe. DAGNE called and
asked what we wanted to do today - we said please take
us to AHOPE. We got the grand tour and took many
photos. I then went to the older children campus and
met Kalkidan - Lisa Qualls sponsors her. We brought her
gifts and it was so beautiful and moving I can't even
tell you. Part of my sadness was not being able to do
the same for the kids at CWA- that is the foster home
Maren and Yabesera came from. We are no longer allowed
to visit - and though they may reconsider this decision
very soon- it wil not be decided until after we leave
and we are still very sad about it. Being able to
see AHOPE and not the CWA home is heartbreaking - but
Dagne has been so wonderful I can't even tell you. He
is the man in charge over here - we have only met two
other staff, the driver and his assistant and I cannot
say enough wonderful things about them. I will tell
you more when we get home because there is so much I
can say that I have no time to say it here. For
instance today - bringing us to ahope and then at the
end of a busy day bringing Maren to the doctor (at
Dange's request) for a rash on his head. He cannot get
enough of our children an often insists on holding the
baby...
The guest house - its so wonderful - again more
later but for instance today we were hanging out in the
afternon and Kidist said " coee ceremony?" and I siad
sure. It was beautiful (our 3rd) and the best is
watching Maren "bona" and drinks the coffee too...he
is teaching us Amharic and we are teaching him
English. This kid is amazing at what he can say - we
think he probably is really three - and trilingual...he
already says so much in english and because the ladies
at the guesthouse speak his language they interpret
for us and its been so nice. Yabsera is the happy
baby that everyone gushes over and when he cries they
all come running because what does a faranji like me
know about taking care of a beautiful ethiopian baby!
:) Not really. They are actually so wonderful - tonight
we are eating traditional ethiopian food and watching
some dancing...tomorrow we will go get their visas and
I will return to ahope at their request to talk with
their nurse and check out the kids. That pleases me a
great deal- and Heidi i got a new photo of joanis (sp?)
i took several - and many of the kids in kalkidans
class.
So many stories to tell - please pray for health and
pray for rest. We are tired all the time...and also for
Maren. Today he was sad at points very sad and he said
this morning "ama eshigadu". That means I want
"eshgadue". This is the nanny that has been with him
since he came to the home...Dange will probably bring
her to us so we can meet and they can say good bye. That
will make us all cry I am sure - its his old mama...

Cal, maddie, phoebe- we miss you and cannot call
easily. We love you all so much and can't wait to
bring you back here one day to visit with us. Today
Maren learned all of your names and can point to your
pictures and say your names...you will love these
guys so much--kiss kiss. Yabsera is crying - got to go.
i love you all
em and mark and maren and yabsera