Graduation Announcement

Letter to CWA

By the way- I have MANY letters I have written to CWA- most lie safely in my "drafts" file- but one day I might have to get them out- they have never responded to anything I have written - even when multiple families participated in the writing of the letter to an action that affected everyone. But here is the letter I sent to Tomilee Harding- If you wonder why I am still speaking out about CWA it is because they have consistently participated in falsifying adoption records, lying to adoptive parents, avoiding the truth when it puts them at risk even when it affects a child and his or her family forever. And this next plan to build a place where they can truly harvest Ethiopian babies makes my stomach turn. If you think I am exaggerating watch this video and imagine yourself a young pregnant woman in Ethiopia- who perhaps was turned away by her family, was abused, who may have been raped and you need help- tell me placing these women in a camp with orphans being adopted and adoptive families always around would not feel coercive in relinquishing your infant- you would surely see that the child had a "way out" and you would easily be convinced that you could see this child again- that maybe even this child will grow up and come back and take care of you. You would not know the truth and the grief until it was "too late." Click here to watch the video on Acacia Village

Here is the letter I wrote to CWA today. It has to do with the change in our law allowing people with HIV to come to the US without a Waiver.

Dear Ms Harding:
You wonder why you are having to deal with the repercussions of your deceit. I think much of goes back to your reasons for not wanting to assist families in adopting children with HIV; siblings of children whose adoptions you were facilitating...because it was "bad for America". The statements you made back then about HIV just helped to promote fear and stigma. CWA should have been the first agency to facilitate adoptions of children with HIV instead of facilitating false adoptions under false pretenses. I saw a recent picture of Acacia village and it is not even close to being done- you really need to be careful what you say or your hole will get so deep it will bury you.

Below are the remarks on finally dissolving the waiver process for families adopting children with HIV, as well as allowing other visitors and immigrants in who have HIV. So, now that "America" says its ok to come to the US if you have HIV- would you be willing to facilitate an adoption of an HIV+ child?

Thanks
Emily Barr


"We often speak about AIDS as if it's going on somewhere else. And for good reason -- this is a virus that has touched lives and decimated communities around the world, particularly in Africa. But often overlooked is the fact that we face a serious HIV/AIDS epidemic of our own -- right here in Washington, D.C., and right here in the United States of America. And today, we are taking two important steps forward in the fight that we face here at home.It has been nearly three decades since this virus first became known. But for years, we refused to recognize it for what it was. It was coined a "gay disease." Those who had it were viewed with suspicion. There was a sense among some that people afflicted by AIDS somehow deserved their fate and that it was acceptable for our nation to look the other way. A number of events and advances over the years have broadened our understanding of this cruel illness. One of them came in 1984, when a 13-year-old boy from central Indiana contracted HIV/AIDS from a transfusion. Doctors assured people that Ryan White posed no risk to his classmates or his community. But ignorance was still widespread. People didn't yet understand or believe that the virus couldn't be spread by casual contact. Parents protested Ryan's attendance in class. Some even pulled their kids out of school. Things got so bad that the White family had to ultimately move to another town.It would have been easy for Ryan and his family to stay quiet and to fight the illness in private. But what Ryan showed was the same courage and strength that so many HIV-positive activists have shown over the years and shown around -- show around the world today. And because he did, we didn't just become more informed about HIV/AIDS, we began to take action to fight it. In 1990, the year Ryan passed away, two great friends and unlikely political allies, Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch, came together and introduced the Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act -- the CARE Act -- which was later named after Ryan." "But it will also take an effort to end the stigma that has stopped people from getting tested; that has stopped people from facing their own illness; and that has sped the spread of this disease for far too long. A couple of years ago Michelle and I were in Africa and we tried to combat the stigma when we were in Kenya by taking a public HIV/AIDS test. And I'm proud to announce today we're about to take another step towards ending that stigma. Twenty-two years ago, in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact, the United States instituted a travel ban on entry into the country for people living with HIV/AIDS. Now, we talk about reducing the stigma of this disease -- yet we've treated a visitor living with it as a threat. We lead the world when it comes to helping stem the AIDS pandemic -- yet we are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people from HIV from entering our own country. If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it. And that's why, on Monday my administration will publish a final rule that eliminates the travel ban effective just after the New Year. Congress and President Bush began this process last year, and they ought to be commended for it. We are finishing the job. It's a step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment, it's a step that will keep families together, and it's a step that will save lives. We are continuing the work of crafting a coordinated, measurable national HIV/AIDS strategy to stem and suppress this epidemic. I'm pleased to report that the Office of National AIDS Policy, led by Jeffrey Crowley, has already held eight in a series of 14 community discussions in cities across the country. They've brought together faith-based organizations and businesses, schools and research institutions, people living with HIV and concerned citizens, gathering ideas on how to target a national response that effectively reduces HIV infections, improves access to treatment, and eliminates health disparities. And we are encouraged by the energy, the enthusiasm, and great ideas that we've collected so far. We can't give Ryan White back to Jeanne, back to his mom. But what we can do -- what the legislation that I'm about to sign has done for nearly 20 years -- is honor the courage that he and his family showed. What we can do is to take more action and educate more people. What we can do is keep fighting each and every day until we eliminate this disease from the face of the Earth."

My Uncle Ronnie

What I remember most about my Uncle Ronnie was his smile. He always looked at you like you were the best thing that happened to him all day when you walked into the room. He had the gift of making you feel very special. He will be and is missed. XO Uncle Ronnie

The Boat That Rocked

Oprah, Science Fairs, Chinese New Year, The Rockies and Obama!

So, I took the morning off from work so I could watch the inauguration with some of my children...we watched in a movie theatre with a bunch of crazy loud people and we all acted like we were actually there- singing along, standing when we are told to stand, cheering, jeering, and tearing. It was an amazing morning and one - I am sure we will not soon forget. I wish Mark and the little boys could have been with us...but we carried on the festivities over dinner that night- eating out at The Vine and toasting a new era. Maddie said she felt different and realized she has spent her whole life since she can really remember under the Bush Regime and we all said how cool it is that Yabsera and Michael will be able to say that but about a President that they can look up to, identify with and be really proud of.
Later in the month, we scored tickets to a rockies fun festival where the kids got to meet players, hang out in the Rockies dug out AND locker room and play guitar hero with the players! Yes they gave out Tattoos which the boys LOVED.
Then it was Science Fair time at the Barr house- Maddie did something where she gave a math test to 4th graders and then gave a similar math test with music on- she found the 4th graders did better with the music on...what's the fancy research word for "treatment effect?" or when a participant does better because they have learned how to do better while being on the study?

Then Cal and his friend James built a "T" maze and ran Phoebe's Rats, Remi and Camille, through the Maze- 25 times with no food to see if they preferred a side then 25 times alternating food to see if they would learn to alternate. We were all pretty fried after this experiment...but no one was as tired as little Remi (or is that Camille?)
Then I got an email from Oprah because they were interested in putting my messy Cube on their show to demonstrate declutter- I guess it was not messy enough because they never came...

Then Michael had his science fair project where they ran cars down several types of "roads" to see the effect of Friction on Movement and Speed...I think this was probably the most fun Michael has ever had at school!

Then for Chinese New Year- Sweet Phoebe performed a Chinese Dance with the other dancers at her school. Poppa came and we all cheered Phoebe on. It is amazing being in a Mandarin Immersion program. Phoebe is learning all of her Math and Science in Chinese...she can talk about the solar system in Mandarin Chinese...I can't even do that well in English!Now on to February...Maybe if I blog once a month I can capture the year 2009!

Feet

Today Michael woke me up saying, "Mom! Mom! My shoes keep shrinking and shrinking!"

Our Year in Pictures!

This video starts with the Holiday season in 2007 and moves in time through 2008. It takes you through primary season, Easter, to Upstate NY, Lake City CO, Scotland, Atlanta, DC, NYC, back to Upstate NY and ends at home in Colorado with Thanksgiving and Christmas 2008. We had visitors from Denmark and Germany. We had an uncle show up three times in Denver and once in Scotland! We added a new baby to our extended family. Michael and Phoebe are learning Chinese at their school, Maddie has been in 3 plays- one in Scotland at the Fringe festival. Cal has played Soccer and started his film making program in middle school. Yabsera continues to make us laugh and shower us with his affection. Emily had a big surprise birthday party and friends and relatives came from far away to be with her. We feel very blessed by all of our friends and family.

History is Happening

Peace Train!

This is the DNC as seen through the eyes of the Barr family. We marched with Iraqi War Veterans, we participated in the Interfaith Service, Visited a replica of a Guantanamo Bay Prison cell with Amnesty International, listened to music at the Green convention, watched Hillary at the MSNBC Live outdoor studios at Union Station where Mark was interviewed by Chris Matthews, Participated in Tent State University and finally we were eye witnesses to Barack Obama's Acceptance as the Nominee for President of the United States of America. It was an amazing ride on the peace train for the whole family!

Drought In Wolaitta

Wolaitta is where M and Y are from. My friend just came back from there and it looked very bleak.

http://www.ifrc.org/Docs/News/pr08/5308.asp

International Red Cross, Switzerland

Ethiopia: drought victims increase as situation worsens
20 August 2008

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is launching a revised emergency appeal for 8.1 million Swiss francs (US$ 7.9 million / € 5 million) to support the Ethiopian Red Cross Society in assisting more than 76,000 people severely affected by drought in the southern Wolaiyta region.

Over the next six months, the Red Cross will provide emergency food and relief assistance, early recovery activities including improvement of access to safe water, and hygiene promotion.

The operation, which was launched in May to help some 40,000 people in Damot Pulasa, has now been extended to respond to the needs of an additional 36,000 villagers in neighbouring Damot Gale.

“Over the past two months the situation has worsened and living conditions have deteriorated. People have exhausted all their resources and are unable to feed themselves. We must step up our response,” says Lorenzo Violante, IFRC’s drought operations manager in Addis Ababa.

Food prices have risen by 330 per cent after a year of adverse climatic events. Floods in 2007 and water logging caused by the Meher rains destroyed most of the maize, millet, wheat, haricot and teff root crops. Failure of the Sapian, an extension of the Meher rains, has accentuated the crisis, and the 2008 failure of the Belg rains has resulted in catastrophic food insecurity and water shortages.

In Damota Pulasa, nearly half of the 54 hand-dug wells and 13 of the 39 shallow wells are out of operation. As a result, people must walk long distances to fetch water and the health of the population - particularly that of children aged under five years and of pregnant women and lactating mothers - is at risk.

“There are more than 16,000 acutely malnourished children in Damot Gale and Damot Pulasa, of whom 1,614 receive intensive care in therapeutic centres across the two regions. The situation can only deteriorate if we are not able to intervene efficiently,” warns Fasika Kebede, Secretary General of the Ethiopian Red Cross.

The Ethiopian Red Cross operation is designed to complement support from the government and other humanitarian organizations helping the families of children being treated in the therapeutic centres.

Food and seed distributions are underway in the two regions but more help is needed. The revised appeal will allow the procurement and distribution of 10,000 sheep as well as agricultural tools to prevent further damage to people’s livelihoods.

Longer term needs will be addressed through the IFRC’s Africa Food Security Initiative, a five-year plan covering 15 countries – including Ethiopia – which will develop food security programmes.
____________________

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rosemary_righter/article4568457.ece

The Times, UK

As We Celebrate our Freedom

One of the many things that freedom for centuries affords is access to state of the art health care, education, good public transportation, jobs, housing, and did I say education? and the right to worship the God you choose to worship wherever and with whomever. As the saying goes "it is our God given right to choose.." But so many of the worlds population who suffer from living with HIV, either in their own bodies or in the bodies of their loved ones, did not choose that. And even though there are many many organizations and hospitals and wonderful people working hard in the trenches of arguably this Earth's greatest battle, they continue to meet major road blocks, like what is discussed in the article below. I am currently reading Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds which was given to me by my freind who founded the organization From HIV to Home. (Which I cannot say enough good things about.) (And I will...in another post.) If you ever thought that doing something about the HIV/AIDS Pandemic was just not your thing, or if you wondered what you could do to make a difference, I suggest you read this book.

Here is the article I woke up to on this Independence Day...which by the way- is a glorious day for these hostages freed in Columbia after 5 years...after you read this article I leave you with the video of the freed hostages...lest we forget some of the amazing things we should be thankful for this 4th of July.

Quarter of Ethiopia AIDS patients have stopped drugs

Tue 24 Jun 2008
ADDIS ABABA - Over a quarter of Ethiopia's HIV/AIDS patients on drugs are not taking their medicine because of logistical problems but also due to religious beliefs, the head of a treatment body said on Tuesday.
Over 40,000 of Ethiopia's 156,360 HIV/AIDS patients on the life-prolonging medication have discontinued treatment "due to problems of transportation to hospitals," said Dr Ygeremu Abebe, the director of the Clinton Foundation in Ethiopia.
Some however stopped taking the anti-retroviral medicine on the prompting of religious leaders who encouraged them to take "holy water" instead, he said.
"Lack of awareness of serious health problem for patients who discontinue treatment could also be considered a reason," Ygeremu told a workshop on the disease.
Some 20 percent of 7,000 children with the illness have also stopped medication, he said.

Last year, the head of Ethiopia's Orthodox Church told about 5,000 faithful, most of who were infected, that they should combine the free drugs -- provided under U.S. President George W. Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- with the holy water.

With more than 1.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS, Ethiopia is one of the countries in the world most affected by the epidemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Over a million adults and children have died in Ethiopia in the last two decades from AIDS.

Infections in the country are predominantly in urban areas but have in the last several years spread to rural centres all over the country, where 85 percent of Ethiopia's 81 million people live, according to WHO.

And here is something to rejoice about..

Goodbye Mr. Kline

My sweet friend Heidi Wilson lost her dad last night. He was diagnosed on June 1st with small cell lung cancer. At first they had some hope that he might live a couple of years. Later they were told 6 months to a year. He died last night just hours before he was to have his first dose of chemotherapy. He was an amazing father and a generous and spirited grandpa- and today many of us who have grown to love Heidi like our own sister weep with her. Her Dad left her before they all had a chance to say goodbye- they all thought they had more time. The only consolation is that he is free from his bodily pain and suffering, but the Wilson's are sad and confused as they try and sleep tonight. Say a prayer for my dear friend and call your dads and moms to say you love them if you are blessed to have them still with you.

Here is Heidi's blog where you can take a walk through their life for a few minutes if you like.

Heidi used CWA like me and her daughter arrived in Addis at the Care center just one day before I arrived and she was the talk of all the staff- the loved her and kept saying how unique and special and fun she was. I wished I could have met her when we traveled- that would have been really special as Heidi and I have become such good friends over the last two years.

Take a few minutes to watch

A good freind of mine sent me this link- these videos - though heart wrenching- will hopefully open your eyes to say "What can I do?" We have so much.

Make sure to watch the
"Orphans of Nkandla" and the "Yellow Dress"

Make Poverty History!

You had me at "Well..."

Here is the link to my mom's blogpost about Hillary's speech yesterday- which was an amazing and historic speech- if you missed it you should take some time to watch it- with your children...so they can say they remember the time when we had a woman and an African American man who were at one time this close to the top job in the country. My thoughts about the speech can be found on my mom's blog because I emailed her yesterday what I thought about it. Here is the speech. I would like to know your thoughts on this as well.



...and if you don't want to watch all of it- but want to read the last half- the best part- the part I will never forget watching alone on my family room couch...you can read it here:

From HRC's speech June 7, 2008 Washington DC

"Now, on a personal note – when I was asked what it means to be a woman running for President, I always gave the same answer: that I was proud to be running as a woman but I was running because I thought I’d be the best President. But I am a woman, and like millions of women, I know there are still barriers and biases out there, often unconscious.

I want to build an America that respects and embraces the potential of every last one of us.

I ran as a daughter who benefited from opportunities my mother never dreamed of. I ran as a mother who worries about my daughter’s future and a mother who wants to lead all children to brighter tomorrows. To build that future I see, we must make sure that women and men alike understand the struggles of their grandmothers and mothers, and that women enjoy equal opportunities, equal pay, and equal respect. Let us resolve and work toward achieving some very simple propositions: There are no acceptable limits and there are no acceptable prejudices in the twenty-first century.

You can be so proud that, from now on, it will be unremarkable for a woman to win primary state victories, unremarkable to have a woman in a close race to be our nominee, unremarkable to think that a woman can be the President of the United States. And that is truly remarkable.

To those who are disappointed that we couldn’t go all the way – especially the young people who put so much into this campaign – it would break my heart if, in falling short of my goal, I in any way discouraged any of you from pursuing yours. Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. When you stumble, keep faith. When you’re knocked down, get right back up. And never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on.

As we gather here today in this historic magnificent building, the 50th woman to leave this Earth is orbiting overhead. If we can blast 50 women into space, we will someday launch a woman into the White House.

Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it. And the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time. That has always been the history of progress in America.

Think of the suffragists who gathered at Seneca Falls in 1848 and those who kept fighting until women could cast their votes. Think of the abolitionists who struggled and died to see the end of slavery. Think of the civil rights heroes and foot-soldiers who marched, protested and risked their lives to bring about the end to segregation and Jim Crow.

Because of them, I grew up taking for granted that women could vote. Because of them, my daughter grew up taking for granted that children of all colors could go to school together. Because of them, Barack Obama and I could wage a hard fought campaign for the Democratic nomination. Because of them, and because of you, children today will grow up taking for granted that an African American or a woman can yes, become President of the United States.

When that day arrives and a woman takes the oath of office as our President, we will all stand taller, proud of the values of our nation, proud that every little girl can dream and that her dreams can come true in America. And all of you will know that because of your passion and hard work you helped pave the way for that day.

So I want to say to my supporters, when you hear people saying – or think to yourself – “if only” or “what if,” I say, “please don’t go there.” Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward.

Life is too short, time is too precious, and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been. We have to work together for what still can be. And that is why I will work my heart out to make sure that Senator Obama is our next President and I hope and pray that all of you will join me in that effort.

To my supporters and colleagues in Congress, to the governors and mayors, elected officials who stood with me, in good times and in bad, thank you for your strength and leadership. To my friends in our labor unions who stood strong every step of the way – I thank you and pledge my support to you. To my friends, from every stage of my life – your love and ongoing commitments sustain me every single day. To my family – especially Bill and Chelsea and my mother, you mean the world to me and I thank you for all you have done. And to my extraordinary staff, volunteers and supporters, thank you for working those long, hard hours. Thank you for dropping everything – leaving work or school – traveling to places you’d never been, sometimes for months on end. And thanks to your families as well because your sacrifice was theirs too.

All of you were there for me every step of the way. Being human, we are imperfect. That’s why we need each other. To catch each other when we falter. To encourage each other when we lose heart. Some may lead; others may follow; but none of us can go it alone. The changes we’re working for are changes that we can only accomplish together. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are rights that belong to each of us as individuals. But our lives, our freedom, our happiness, are best enjoyed, best protected, and best advanced when we do work together.

That is what we will do now as we join forces with Senator Obama and his campaign. We will make history together as we write the next chapter in America’s story. We will stand united for the values we hold dear, for the vision of progress we share, and for the country we love. There is nothing more American than that.

And looking out at you today, I have never felt so blessed. The challenges that I have faced in this campaign are nothing compared to those that millions of Americans face every day in their own lives. So today, I’m going to count my blessings and keep on going. I’m going to keep doing what I was doing long before the cameras ever showed up and what I’ll be doing long after they’re gone: Working to give every American the same opportunities I had, and working to ensure that every child has the chance to grow up and achieve his or her God-given potential.

I will do it with a heart filled with gratitude, with a deep and abiding love for our country– and with nothing but optimism and confidence for the days ahead. This is now our time to do all that we can to make sure that in this election we add another Democratic president to that very small list of the last 40 years and that we take back our country and once again move with progress and commitment to the future.

Thank you all and God bless you and God bless America."

I am "Lost" without Hillary

If you watch "Lost" and have followed the Democratic Primary season (as we have) - you will LOVE this from the daily show. I saw it tonight and it really made me laugh...


I just hope my Mom, both a "Lost" fan and "Hillary Super-fan"- finds it as funny as I did!

Gosh- do any of you remember back during our adoption how I would always sneak in "Lost" references on my blog? I did it for my good friends Lisa and Amy whom I worked with - and Lisa was the scribe who put all my emails from Addis onto my blog...I remember that I was secretly happy that CWA had made me wait an extra week (they had to do a lot of quick cover up before our arrival) to travel so I could watch the season 2 Season Finale...which I watched so late the night before I left- but Mark had NOT watched it and I was not allowed to talk about it for three plane flights and a day in London...not an easy task. Until we met the boys- then they were all I could think about- the boys and getting them ready to come to Colorado to meet their siblings!

AHOPE Update and our "Forever Day"

Today I was at a work retreat with our families from the HIV clinic at the hospital- it was a really nice day- I was sad to be spending it away from my two youngest because two years ago today was the day they came into our lives (physically) forever. We were in Addis at the Addis Kiddan Guest house and that day- they gave us the boys and they never went back to the CWA care center. Yes- our lives were forever changed. So today is our "Forever Day." But I was with my families from work. This is not always the easiest event for me- I don't even bother bringing my own children anymore- but today was really different and I just enjoyed sitting around talking with the families and hanging out- it was - in the afternoon at least- actually somewhat restful.

So- today I bring you an email update from the AHOPE supplies coordinator- this is the orphanage that I visited two years ago tomorrow and that visit- also changed many things for me- and for many families and for many children- so that is a special day in and of itself- so read on about the recent donations and needs. I see that they credit many recent donations to one of the big agencies which is so great- I hope the CWA families are still staying connected to AHOPE in the way the early CWA families who traveled were- because it truly is an amazing place. Have you ever been to a place and you feel like "This is a God place...no really- that is what this place is." That is the way I felt when I first met K. in her schoolroom and saw her smile.

From Cat Brainerd:

Hi Everyone!

This is Cat Brainerd, the Supply and Donation Coordinator for AHOPE. I wanted to write and thank everyone so much for your incredible support to AHOPE these past few months! In fact, lately we've had more supplies than travelers to carry them! So if you are traveling to Ethiopia any time in the next few months and have any space in your luggage to carry donations, please let me know! Every little bit helps!!! Any extra thanks to Beth and you CHSFS folks - you are really outdoing yourselves between donations and sponsorships. Keep it coming!

Also (here is my request!) AHOPE plans to start a music education program with the children. We are all very excited about this development and think it will be wonderful for the kids! But AHOPE needs instruments. If you have any instruments looking for a good home, consider donating to AHOPE!

Finally, I'll wrap this up by attaching a few photos of recent donations, including a much anticipated medical book, brand new shoes for all the children at AHOPE (yep, that's over 80 pairs of new Crocs!) as well as 100 toothbrushes!. I hope to have some other photos to share soon.

Again, thank you all for what you are doing for the children of AHOPE. We couldn't do this without your support. Thank you on behalf of all the wonderful children at AHOPE!!!

Best Regards,
Cat Brainerd
AHOPE Supplies Coordinator

ahopesupplies@gmail.com
AHOPE website: http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/
Listserv: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AHOPEforchildren/
family blog: ouradoptionlog.blogspot.com

and I leave you some pictures of my forever boys:

Tell Two

This is a great post by a woman whom I have a great deal of respect. She has an amazing story and a blog with a lot of information about what is obviously very close to my heart, adopting children with HIV and navigating life as a family affected by HIV whether through adoption or not.

So do this...go here...and read this blogpost....Tell Two

And then please take a minute to go to this equally cool, short and sweet article about a little girl I met this week...and I can vouch for the validity of the "Eloise at the Hilton" comparison! (By the way- yet another amazing family...truly - I am humbled on a daily basis by the people who come in and out of my day!)

Children's Heaven

A remarkable woman came to Denver recently, Hanna Fanta. She came to share with us what she does in Ethiopia to help young teen girls who are orphaned, impoverished, and sometimes ill. She is one of those poeple you meet in life and realize that we are all capable of so much more. She brought tears to our eyes when talking about her girls. She does everything she can to keep the girls at home with family. She does this by providing education in the form of tuition or uniforms, meals, health education, job training, life skills and most importantly love. She wants to make sure she can give each girl what they deserve and by doing that she has kept her numbers down- but this spring added about 40 new girls. At our meeting, which was the last of several she had across the country, all of the girls had sponsors, but she said when she got home that she would take double sponsors on the girls to help off set rising food and gas prices. They have also recently lost the place they were living and are moving into a shipping crate. I will post her recent email here. But first, her website is finally up and here you can make donations or sponsor a child. This child will write to you and you can send her small gifts and letters with families who are traveling. I know several poeple who have visited Hanna's family and find that what she is doing is not only amazing- but is very real. These girls are truly being helped through our direct support. Here is the website for Children's Heaven.

Here are some pictures from Hanna's visit. My good friend, Luana Harris Scott, opened her home for this event. My husband cooked Ethiopian food and we had both families connected to Ethiopian adoption as well as a bunch of caring families interested in hearing Hanna's story at the event.





She was so loving towards Maren and Yabsera. Maren took to her so fast it made me a bit jealous. He would just cuddle up to her...and he has not always been the biggest cuddler in the family...though he does like it more and more.
At the end of the evening, when Hanna was really tired and just waiting to leave, Maren brought her out into the patio and told her to sit in the rocking chair where he rocked her gently and then he would crawl into her lap and then get out and rock her again. It was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen and you got the sense that he really knew deep down inside that this was an Ethiopian woman who should be treated with great respect alternating with the warmth and love he probably has deep memories from his own Ethiopian mama.

Another Article on the Famine in Ethiopia

Once Again, Children are Starving in Ethiopia is the title of the article, which makes it sound like perhaps there was a brief window when the food was plentiful in one of the poorest countries on the globe. This photo is of a 3 year old suffering from Malnutrition- she weighs 10 pounds. When CWA first opened they sent home babies who looked much like this. It seems that they now have figured out that they can really feed these kids while in their care before their new moms and dads come to get them- because now we see referral pictures of chubby babies...but this child is the one that is more typical of many of the children you will see outside the protective walls of the typical US/UK/European/Australian run orphanages when you go. You will see many many children whose growth has been severely stunted for lack of food.

Children Dying in Drought-Stricken Ethiopia

It is when I read things like this- that I feel that strong tug tug tugging on that rope that was tied around my heart so many years ago. On one end there sits Emily...here in Colorado, going about her life of daily chaos, fatigue, eat, sleep, work, eat, kids homework and to bed, "Lost", type- tap tap tap- sleep again...and then she sees a picture, hears a song, reads an article, reads someone's blog and tug tug tug that rope is being gently pulled to some far away place where just the "eat and the sleep of life" are a very real challenge, where your whole life depends on a clean glass of water.

This reminds me of this incredible video...