Forever Day

"Mom, I don't know what that mean, 'forever'."

"Forever means that it goes on and on. It never stops. It means always."

"I don't know what that mean 'Forever Day'."

"Today is the day that mommy and daddy were in Ethiopia, one year ago, and Dagne gave you to us and we kept you forever. It means we will never give you back. You will always be our little boy, our baby boy...forever...never ending....always."

Adoption is forever. Never ends. Always.

Today we celebrated one year- had lunch at our favorite local Ethiopian Restaurant with my brother and my father. We celebrate one year ago today when our lives changed inexorably, beautifully, wonderfully and joyfully. Thanks to all of you who were here along the way.

Here is one year ago....

What Ethiopia Spends on Healthcare

This is one of my all time favorite blogs. It's written by an American Man who is living as an Ex-pat in Ethiopia with his wife and child- and two cats-oh and a dog. His latest entry is worth repeating. Please click here to read it. It is short and to the point. And stunning I might add. It's no wonder my Maren looks like a 3 or 4 year old when he is really much older. He came from the poorest part of one of the worlds poorest countries.
Ferenge Blog on Health Care Expenditures in Ethiopia

Yabsera's first haircut

This was taken on a hike a few weeks before the haircut.
Before....
Hmmmmmm.......
Bald! :(
All 4 kids got a cut- but you cant even tell Cal's was cut!

The Cousins and Maren's 3rd birthday in one year

Maren has his 3rd and final birthday since he came home...the other day he said "when is my birthday?" I said...now you have to wait like everyone else for a WHOLE YEAR! When we got him he was supposed to be three but he was really older so we have aged him up with little parties throughout the year. My sister in-law makes a cool tablecoth with each year on it so people can sign it. So we have signed 4, 5, and 6. But its kind of sad to have 1, 2 and 3 all empty!

Cal and Yabsera- pre haircut
The cousins!!

The Dedication

Maren and Yabsera were dedicated the Sunday after Easter. It was beautiful. We had just started going to a new church and we met with the pastors prior to the dedication and in just that short they got the true essence of both boys. I would like to type here what the pastor prayed over them because it was beautiful. I remember he said that Yabsera was a "Son of Ethiopia" and he would return to his country one day. And he said that Maren's joy reaches everyone like his smile that extends from the east to the west.

Here is my verse fro Yabsera, whose name means "The work of God".
Isaiah 43:5-7:
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-
7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."

Here is my verse for Maren. His name means "Have Mercy".

Psalm 30:10-1210
Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help."
11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Here is Maren's teacher who came- Mrs. Peterson. She is just like Miss Frizzle and Maren has learned so much from her! We are so thankful to her for her patience and cultural sensitivity. We will miss her.
Here is Mark's sister, Sharon and her husband P. These are Maren's Godparents and he just loves them so much! They came all the way from New York to be with us.
This is Mark's side of the family. His mom, his sister and brother -in-law and our niece and nephews and our kids of course!

Please Pray for Lucas

Hey all- This is one of my favorite blogs - on my blog roll its called "My wake up call" because he really pushes you to think outside the box. Anyway- his son has suffered severe burns and is asking for prayer, You can read about it here:
Pray for Lucas!

They recently brought home their kids from Ethiopia afer a very long wait.