18 days

Eighteen days

19 days

Photo

20 days

Photo credit.

Twenty days until we meet you!

21 days

Twenty One

The countdown has begun! 21 days until we meet you, Little T! We have made arrangements for our ride to the airport (thanks Nana), for our dog sitter (thanks Jim, then A+B), and we are packing our bags!

We work the 4-8th then fly out early on the 9th, so we should be ready to go by the end of this week!

Love,

Mom

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

- Michael, Tegegne, Kristyn, and Taryn

Confirmed Travel Dates

Little T,

We got confirmed travel dates today! Jan 16-23 we will be in Ethiopia. We were planning on Jan 1-9th, but will have to wait. I am sure the time will fly by and we will be there before we know it. We are bummed that it is later, but glad we have confirmation. I am still working on changing our itinerary with our travel agent. I'd like to give Golden Rule Travel a shout because they have been great to work with.

Guess what? One of my awesome new coworkers named Scott gave you two bags full of great toys, puzzles, flash cards, and farm animals. He gave them to me today and it made me so ready to play with you and teach you and help you learn lots of great things. We must write Scott a thank you note once you get here. We actually have lots of thank you notes to write. I better get them started. We have finger paint so we could stamp your hand on the front of the cards.

Talk soon,

Mom

Neighbor Phil-vis

Dear Tegegne,

You will never believe the night we had! You see we have this great neighbor named Phil. He always brings Owen doggie treats from Three Dog Bakery on the Plaza. Well tonight he came over in rare form. He brought two slabs of pork ribs with sides for dinner, he was wearing an Elvis costume, and of course, he brought Owen a box full of gourmet doggie treats. Did you catch that he was dressed like Elvis? It's true, and it was awesome. He brought his guitar, a sheet with song lyrics and we sang and danced the night away. Phil cannot wait to meet you and teach you the guitar. He can play two songs at once and really jam some classical tunes.

Meet Phil. I mean Elvis.

One of the more enjoyable evenings we've had in a while. Thanks Phil! I mean Elvis...Hawaiian Elvis.

Tegegne moves!

After seeing so many great photos from our friends that have taken care packages over to Ethiopia for us, we go this breath of fresh air.  

This is a short video of Tegegne that our friends, John Mark and Karen Hutchenson, took for us while they picked up their handsome son.  

They are also adopting a girl from Ethiopia as well.  Thanks to them for taking our 2nd care package and for giving us some great photos and this video! 

He doesn't say much, but he sure is cute.   Click here.

Enjoy. 

T - you used to be this little...

Dear Michael & Kristyn

Just wanted to inform you of info from our adoption agency:

Dear Michael & Kristyn,

As our transition home psychologist works to prepare the children for adoption and family life and ensures they have a healthy development process in the transition home she has and under has informed us of the need for the following items that are not available for purchase in Ethiopia:

1. Talking Puppets (those that can be maneuvered to “talk”)

2. Family Dolls

3. Plastic Animals

4. Play Dough

Little T - You know what's funny about this??? I totally had a puppet and play dough on my packing list for you! I must be a psychologist myself!

Dear Michael & Kristyn,

Thank you for your patience as we are working hard with our in-country staff to confirm your concrete travel dates to Ethiopia. There are still a few paperwork pieces outside of our control needing finalization before we can confirm that you can travel on your tentatively scheduled dates.

We have been informed by several families booking with Susan Parr Travel with tentative travel dates of January 2^nd – January 9^thmost flights are full for the January 2^nd departure date and there is now a waiting list. Families always have the option to travel with the next group, tentatively scheduled for January 16^th – January 23^rd. There is also the option of arriving in Ethiopia a day or two early. The cost of the additional nights in the guest house will be added to the total of your in-country travel package cost.

We will let you know as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions during this time.

Again, thank you for your patience. We look forward to confirming your travel dates!

A Toto Knit

Elephant Toto Knit

Hey Son,

How ya doing? Thanks to Design Mom, I learned about Toto Knits. They are cotton safari animals made in Kenya. Our friends just adopted their son from Rwanda and they took a safari. I would love to go on a safari with you. If we do a safari I think you, your dad, and I should all wear Elephant Toto Knits! What do you think the real animals would do? Laugh at us? Unfortunately, they don't come in sizes to fit adults. Too bad I didn't catch onto knitting or I'd whip us up our own elephant family sweaters.

We still have tentative travel that will hopefully become concrete this week. In the mean time we move forward with packing and planning like those dates are the real thing. That means we meet you in 20 days. (Jan 4= first meeting, Jan 5= pick you up!) Are you ready to meet us? It will be here before we know it!

Mom

BIg Eyes, Little Guy...

Tegegne - 

it is true, you are a little guy.  now we think that you weigh only around 21 - 23 lbs, and you're somewhere around 2 yrs old.  i frequently try to "compare" your measurements with others around your age and i continually laugh.  you seem so little.  on one end i am glad; your mom will be able to hold you, something she wants to do for hours.  on the other end, i want to wrestle, run and play like fathers and sons play right now, but that will come in due time.  

for the past few months all i have been doing is staring at your eyes.  i look as far as i can into your eyes and dream of what you will become.  i want you to be great.  i want you to love and respect your mother and make her proud.  i want you to hold her hand and i want you to pray with her and for her.  i want you to be one of her biggest fans.  i want you to run, i want you to laugh.  i want you to fear Jesus and respect His longing for you.  i want you to tell others about Him and to be proud of where He brought you.  i want you to love yourself.  i want you to be a better man than me.  i want you to be so many things, but above all, i want you to know that you are loved and pursued.  from the day you were introduced to us to the day we must separate, i want you to know that your mother and i loved you more than you could ever imagine.  

your eyes have seen so many things, and soon they will see me and your mother.  we are coming for you son, and dream of you often.

Aeroplane

Dear Tegegne,

We have flights that will get us to Addis Ababa on Jan 2 and home on Jan 10 at 6:30pm! (AWAA hasn't confirmed our travel dates, but we had to book before flights were full. Our itinerary luckily only has a $50 change fee. We are hopeful that we won't change dates though.)That is going to be here before we know it! Yippee! I hope you had a good day. Your dad and I are going to the movies tonight. A date night.

That calls for another yippee!

Talk soon little guy,

Mom

Journey to you

(This kind man was trying to get you to smile for the camera, Little T. Looks like you are either on the verge of smiling or crying.)

Tomorrow we are supposed to get confirmed travel dates from our travel helper at America World. In the mean time I looked for flights because I heard they were getting booked.  Originally we thought that our journey to you would be a good time to stop through Paris and visit several dear friends. I mentioned this to the first two travel agents, then on the third, fourth, and fifth agents I called I dropped the Paris idea because I knew we just had to get to Ethiopia! I had two flights on hold that did not include Paris, but at the very end of the day one of the first agents emailed me with a great itinerary that included Paris. AND it was several hundred dollars cheaper than the other flights only to ET and back. That itinerary is leaving KC Dec 27 for Paris. Paris to Ethiopia on Jan 1. We either fly home Jan 9 or 12, still tbd. He said it was the cheapest option and that there were not many options to pick from. 

Tegegne, I think we may be traveling with several great families that are most likely adopting your friends/wrestle buddies. Our agency sends us in groups, and our group so far has 3 other families with darling children. Can't wait to meet up with the Roots, Rices, and Warrens in Addis! 

Love you,

Mom

P.S. Timothee, Agnes, Justine, Stephan...we are most likely coming to Paris to see you! I should know for certain tomorrow. We cannot wait to spend time with you! I will apologize in advance that you will not get to meet our little guy. 

A Walk to Beautiful

Dear Reader,

I got a comment from Natalya on behalf of Engel Entertainment, who produced A Walk to Beautiful. I thought I'd give it another shout out and let you know that you can purchase the full DVD on their website, www.walktobeautiful.com, or by calling, 212-413-9200. It's a great film. Check it out!

a flight...please?

Lord,

Will you please save a spot on a plane to Ethiopia so we can get Tegegne? Like around Dec 31-Jan9?

Amen.

TENTATIVE Travel Dates

Dear Michael and Kristyn,

Your family's tentative date of departure to Ethiopia is January 2, 2010. You will be in Ethiopia for approximately 5 days and will return to the US on January 9, 2010. Please keep in mind that this is a tentative date that is subject to change depending on the timeframe of completion of your child(ren)'s post court paperwork. The timeframe of processing post court paperwork is case specific and may differ for each family. We will do all we can to get you off to Ethiopia as soon as possible and will let you know by the end of this week if you will be able to travel on these dates.

Please note the consulate in Addis limits the number of families we can submit at each weekly appointment. This is also a factor as we determine the earliest possible date your family can travel. Within 7-10 days of passing court we will notify your family of your concrete travel dates.

Tegegne's Announcement

Tegegne,

Ethiopians tell us that your name means "I have been found" or "chosen". Well, your dad and I along with a lot of great people are so glad that you have been found and placed into our family. I have been thinking a lot about our meeting day. Although you are young and will be sad to leave your kind nannies with whom you have bonded, I pray that there is a part of you that will feel peace when they place you in our arms. May you feel warmly loved and cared for from the moment our eyes meet. In the mean time I will work on learning some key Amharic words. I think I will also try to learn some Amharic songs.

We are your mom and dad officially today, but really God new that we were your forever mom and dad even before you were born.

Mom

Meet our son - Tegegne Dena Jones!

We officially passed court today and are the parents of Tegegne! God is good. I am so happy I can hardly type straight!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A Walk To Beautiful

I watched this film this weekend, A Walk To Beautiful. It is a documentary on Ethiopian women who live in rural areas outside of Addis Ababa and what they go through with health complications in childbirth. I have been thinking about these women often and my heart goes out to them. You can watch it on PBS online.

I think I will look for a few more documentaries on your country before we travel.

I was packing your things tonight. They suggest 5 outfits for you while we are there. I need to buy a few more items to make your outfits complete. Also need some cozy pjs that will fit you and a onsie that is extremely cozy for the long trek home. Your dad can hardly stand looking at your little clothes right now because he's so ready for you to be in them!

Tis the season of Advent where we prepare for Christ's coming into the world! We are being watchful and aware of what God has going on in and around us. Tomorrow night we will pray for the Judge as he reviews our papers (9 hours difference in ET so Dec 8 happens there before it happens here). I'll let you know on Tuesday when I hear from America World.

Love you dear.

Mom

Checking In

Hey cutie pie. How are you? Your dad is out visiting with a friend, and your big dog and I are snuggled up by the fire. I'm reading adoption blogs and thinking of you. It is so good to read the blogs with Ethiopian kids recently home. It is good to hear that it is not always an easy transition home. You will grieve your loss and deal with the major changes in your routine. I just wonder when and how you will show it. I am taking a free course on how to make you a Life Book. I have gotten started on yours, but look forward to working on it more. Your life book will entail anything and everything about your life before us, and with us. While in Ethiopia, these are the things I need to remember to get for your life book:

• Any additional information about your birth family.
• A note to you from your nanny written in Amharic.
• A leaf from a tree outside the Transition Home.
• Photos of your homeland and people of all ages.
• Traditions on holidays. (I read that ET celebrates Christmas Jan 7, and I would love to be there to see what it is like.)
• We look forward to taking in as much culture as possible. The music, the people, the smells. The coffee ceremony, the arts and crafts.

Your dad brought home a cd tonight called "The Children of Uganda." It's beautiful African music by orphaned children that live around Uganda. He filled the house with the music and we danced around for a bit! We like to have fun and laugh. We look forward to dancing around the house with you in the African way!

Get your dancin' shoes ready Little T.

Mom

Quick Note from the Mama

It's true, our papers were locked up in a box and our Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs representative was gone and he had the key. This occurred to several other families in our agency today and we are all getting a second chance next Tuesday! 

We are doing well and know that our son will be home before we know it. This is not an easy process, but the outcome is pretty fabulous so I'd say it's worth the bumpy ride. Thank you for your prayers and thoughtfulness. 

Kristyn

No Dice Today

Little Guy - 

So we just got word that the guy that has your paper work was not at work today, and he took the keys.  No one could get to your file, so the Judge couldn't see your case.  He did, however, see some parts of your case that were very important.  This helps you a lot.  

He gave you another court date for Dec. 8th.  Since we got a lot of information out of the way for you today, the Judge needs only to see your file.  Apparently it looks much more hopeful on Dec. 8th that we will be able to legally call you our son.  

That is what I, (pops), understand.  Your mother will probably update the details.  Hold in a little while longer, we're coming. 

Sleep well and wrestle somebody!

Tomorrow/Tonight

Since ET is 8 hours ahead, our court hearing will happen while we are sleeping tonight. Let's be honest here, I probably won't sleep tonight. One, because our big lab keeps sneaking onto the bed on my side and he's huge, but more obviously because I desire more than anything to recieve a call tomorrow morning that says, "You Passed and T______ D____ Jones is officially your son!"

We got a great video of you today. Thank you Karen and John Mark. I hope to show it on this blog tomorrow along with more photos of you! If we pass court tomorrow, I'll put your photos and video here so our friends can see you! It was so great to see you in a video. You are small but mightly little guy! (Karen said the shoes you were wearing were US 4 and they fit well.)

I'll be traveling all day tomorrow, so I will not be able to give word until I arrive home that evening, unless your dad gets to post.

We love you dear son. I hope you are sleeping soundly.

Mom

Advent

Dear Son,

This is one of my favorite times of year because of how our church celebrates Advent. It is a whole new perspective on Christmas, the time of Jesus birth. You see, in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas our western culture is so busy buying gifts that the time goes buy without thought of what this holiday means to us. The "Advent Conspiracy" says Worship Fully, Give More, Love All. The past 2 years we have made homemade gifts, and taken the money we would have spent on those gifts towards a greater project. You see, there is a people group in Kenya (which is very close to Ethiopia) that have been without water for awhile now. They are the Pokot people. It is hard to live without water. Tis' the season to think about the coming Jesus, and the opportunity to Give More. Give more to people who have less.

Click here to read more about Jacob Well's Advent Conspiracy.

Click here to see beautiful photos of the Pokot people at one Water Well Dedication in their community. Photographer is Beth Mercer, a friend from Jacobs Well.

Next year we will experience Advent with you. God is good.

Love, Mom

November Update!

Getty Images Photo titled Fun Rough Housing

Hello little monkey! Are you having fun today? We got your November update and it is a good one! They say that you are 21 lbs. (+2 lbs, good job!), you eat well, you jump from crib to crib, wrestle with your friends, and you laugh when tickled! Jumping, wrestling, and laughing...that is awesome Little T. In one photo it is obvious that you are being tickled by a nanny because you are cracking up laughing. Your dad and I are so happy with these updates, because we see that you are having a ball with the caretakers and with your friends. They said when you first got to the transition home you were quiet and would only watch the other kids play. You have obviously come out of your shell, and are a true 2 year old boy! You are repeating words from the older kids, you nap between 2 and 4pm and sleep from 9pm to 7am.

We are so ready to play with you...and hug you, and wrestle with you, and show you the joy of the Lord. I have been giddy all night knowing that we are going to have loads of fun together.

On Tuesday the Ethiopian courts will convene on our behalf. This is the day that we could gain legal custody of you, and we would travel approx 4 weeks later. The wait is nearly over dear child. May the Lord have mercy on us.

Love,

Mama Jones

2nd Care Pkg!

Little Guy, did you get your slinky dink yet? You know what I should have sent? I should have sent you another yellow airplane, because Miss Brandi said you loved the yellow airplane. Hopefully you will like the yellow car! And I made you a necklace with our photo on it! I sent a thing of bubbles for you and your friend. Hopefully you are feeling better now so you can have a bubble party!

Can't wait for our update from Miss Karen! And Miss Jamie Jo!

Love,

Mom

sweet little feet

Your sweet little feet were measured last week at a whopping 5 inches! Now I must find out what shoe size equates to 5 inches. You got to meet Mrs Brandi and Mr Matt last week and in a few days you will get a greeting from Mrs Karen and Mr John Mark along with a few goodies.

And guess who may visit you TODAY? It's our special friends Jamie Jo, Hays, and their new 6 year old Rwandan son! Too bad Jamie Jo can't get photos of you (because we did not get her a release form) but she said she will hug you a lot! I am so excited that you get to meet our special friends, the Braners! Jamie Jo helped me pave the way towards adopting you, and for that I am so thankful! Can't believe she gets to meet you today. Awesome. They just got to ET from Rwanda and hope to wrap up paperwork and get home soon, but in the mean time they are stopping by the Transition Home!

I hope you will feel special after all of your visitors! May you know what it is to be loved by God after being loved by these kind people. Your dad and I are so thankful for you.

Love you.

Mom

Chicken Pox!

Got an update from Miss Brandi that you have the Chicken Pox! I'm so sorry little guy. I also got a bunch of pictures of you and Brandi while you opened your package. She said you grabbed the little yellow plane when she pulled it out. I see you holding it in each photo! She also said you grabbed the photo album b/c I put your photo on the front. You must have liked seeing yourself! Other than the pox, she said it was almost your nap time and that you were sleepy. I hope you are not too itchy and that you get well soon!

Love,

Mom

Care Package #1

Hello Handsome Little Fellow,

Did you get your first care package? I'm guessing so, b/c Miss Brandi and Mr. Matt should be back to Kansas City with their son in a few days. Hopefully then we will get updated pics of you looking at our photo for the first time! Well, I know what you might be thinking..."Hey, mom...I didn't see the wiggly caterpiller toy in my care package?" Well you see, luckily I delivered this package to Brandi in person and she so kindly reminded me of the size limits on the package. The caterpiller toy didn't make the cut. It's waiting here for you though! Did you like your Yellow matchbox car? Did you hear our message to you in the card? I hope the photos helped you connect the dots a bit more. That yellow bed in the photo is all YOURS, and the alligator backpack with YOUR name on it from Auntie Ashleigh. That's yours too. You will have your very own room at your new home. Did you see your Chuck Taylor high tops in the photo? And your books and your very own desk? We even got you a vintage bicycle last weekend from Grandpa Ben's auction. I was up last night imagining bringing you home for the first time. Who knows, you may be conked out on your dad's shoulder when we first walk in the door. But when you wake up, we'll be excited to give you a tour of your new house and your special room! My what fun we will have. Remember to pray that all falls into place on Dec 1 so that we can come get you sooner than later! Until then, have fun playing with your friends.

Community

Little Guy - 

So while you were sleeping, we got some cool news.  One of our close friends at your mom's work decided to round up as many as possible to support your mom.  He did it just because that is who he is; a great guy.  We were planning on going 3 months w/o your mom getting paid maternity leave.  Now, thanks to the Lord and thanks to your mom's co-workers who are both so gracious and giving, we have a paid maternity leave.  Everyone gave just a little bit, and it added up to a whole lot.   We just needed to tell 360 another thank you.  Words don't express what just happened.  It isn't about us, it is about you Son, and you are being blessed even when you are in a distant land.  

The Lord wants you here son.  He wants you to feel loved and feel needed.

The Lord is brining His orphan home.  

Toms Shoes in Ethiopia

Tom's Shoes was recently in the Sodo Region of Ethiopia! Isn't that neat? Tom's Shoes is short for Tomorrow's Shoes. They sell a pair of shoes off of their website, and a pair gets delivered to people who don't have shoes. That was recently the case in the Sodo area. Check out the video. What a great concept..."social entrepreneurship."

(if i was to support tom's shoes, i'd get these!)

P.S. Miss Brandi should be delivering your care package today or tomorrow to you! I can't believe she gets to meet you. Will you remind her to measure your feet so we know what size shoes to bring when we travel? Love you munchkin. See you soon.

initial travel packet

Little Ethiopian Jumping!

Yesterday we got our initial travel packet from AWAA! Twenty pages of important information and forms! This means that we are to START planning for our travel, but we must pass court before we get definite travel dates. It is exciting to start getting organized and make tentative plans.

May you enjoy the day happy little fellow. You will get your package and photo of us early next week from Miss Brandi! I hope you have a glimpse of understanding that we are going to be your forever mom and dad who love you beyond measure as you go through the photo album I sent. And feel free to share your new toys with your friends.

Love, Mom

jessie!

Happy Birthday Jessie!!!

Court Date!

We are getting closer to bringing you home son! We got a court date of Dec 1st! I'm so glad I emailed Anna with AWAA yesterday to touch base because she had sent us an email on Oct 29 that said we got a court date but I never received that email. We must pray to God that all documents and necessary people are present at our hearing on Dec 1, and that the judge would grant us favor.

Here is a bit of Anna's email. "At this time our staff will be working with the orphanage to finalize all documentation needed for your court case. The orphanage will be coordinating with any birthparents needed to appear in court."

Go run and play with your balls and toy cars, son! We are coming soon!

Mom

your dad and i...

...were hillbillies for Halloween.

aka, K-CO skit characters that came back to life.

last weekend

last weekend we played. auntie t, owen, your dad and i visited Big Sky Ranch aka Gramma Debby and Grandpa Ben's house. they have 80 acres of land with two big ponds, a bunch of trees, and beautiful open land. saturday morning taryn, g. debby and i went on a 2 hour walk around the land. your dad, g. ben, and great g. orville chopped down a tree that afternoon. we came back to the city refreshed. this happens every time we go there. we got home sunday and your dad put in a fireplace. by himself. he is self-motivated and determined. now we have a cozy and warm house for you. it was a great weekend. we hope yours was great too.

love, mom

p.s. my friend brandi is coming to meet your dad and i, see your room and pick up your package this saturday. and NEXT weekend she will be visiting you and picking up her son. i'm so excited that i get to hug her, then she will pass the hug on to you. and the package. i really can't believe she gets to see you.

an update

Hey there sonny boy! Just wanted to let you know that we are still waiting for a court date. We do however have a care package coming your way in November. With the list of families that is kept by the mom's in the yahoo group it shows that our court date is one of the next ones to be scheduled--so maybe we'll hear this week. In the mean time, your dad laughs because I'll go in your room nightly to hang out, or redecorate something. Here's your room. We hope to fill the wall by your bed with colorful photos from Ethiopia and our journey to bring you home!

New rugs from Grandma Debby's Store!

Your cuddly bedtime friends.

Your chalk board door!

Your sweet little yellow bed.

Talk soon,

Mom

tricycle, bicycle

william eggleston, tricycle

Will you like this bike? I hope so. You'll probably ride this type for a while, then we'll get you a bigger one, and then a better one, and hopefully we'll be able to go out together. What I would love would be to have to chase you down because you are so fast on the mountain bike and/or road bike. Just a little dream I have. We'll see...

Some more friends that want to meet you...

In this room rest 18, 8-9 year olds that want to meet you.  They continually ask about you, and ask why you have yet to come meet them.  These students are so fun.  You will really have a good time meeting them and playing with them.  As we look at globes in Social Studies, my students continually tell me as they point, "Voila, il habite ici en Ethiopie!"  They love to show me where your country is, and are still amazed that you are coming from so far away.  

I have asked them if they know anyone who is adopted, and most of them have previous experiences with children who are adopted.  They are curious in the same sense of what it means for their teacher to leave them for a few weeks, go across the world, find his son, and come back a father.  It isn't typical, but it is good and necessary.  

Sometimes they ask if they can see your picture again, and again, and again.  It never gets old for me to see their inquisitive minds.  

You have hundreds of people who are awaiting your arrival.  Amongst them are these 18 students who can achieve anything they desire.  For now they wait like your mother and I.  

I tell my class I will bring them back souvenirs, so you'll have to show me what 3rd graders would like over there (nothing too pricey...i have to get multiples...)  

we're coming soon...

Times they are a changing

Son - 

Of the many new experiences you will have here at your new home, you will be introduced each fall to the leaves that change colors.  This is especially beautiful where we live.  Though you may miss the change this year, for about 3 weeks in October it is as if Jesus paints every leaf on most of the trees where we live just for us to see His beauty.  This is one of the most treasured times of the year for me.  It reminds me that Jesus still wants to pursue me, and still wants to make good out of me and my life.  He wishes the same for you, and He will not cease His pursuit of you my young man.  

If you ever forget, just look at the beauty around you.  

             

I am reminded everyday when I look out my classroom window.  Here is my view, and why I catch myself staring when I get a minute.  I hope you'll be watching with me soon...

   

i wished for you

i just got two really special books in the mail from a sweet friend. one of them is called "i wished for you." this is a wonderful book that we can read together. you know why? because I wished for YOU too, yes, last December I wished for YOU! i cannot wait to get cuddly with you and tell stories of your adoption journey. i cannot wait for you to ask question after question. do you know how often i think of you? i think of you while brushing my teeth, while shopping for bananas, while logging onto my computer at work. i think of you while driving home, while cooking dinner, while climbing into bed...it's true...i think of you often throughout my day.

your dad too. he always asks me what i think you are doing.

we long to bring you to our cozy home on liberty street. until then be well dear child.

F-O-O-D

ethiopian food

Hey Son,

Are you eating well today? How about that injera, huh? (pancake-like break made out of teff flour) I bet you love that stuff. You guys eat almost every meal with injera, right? And with your right hand only? I will try to cook injera for you, but if I don't succeed I will go to our Ethiopian market or we will go to the Blue Nile, k? We already have some Berbere (red Ethiopian spice) at home to cook with, and some Ethiopian tea (Thanks to your Autie Taryn, aka Big T these days). Your dad and I have eaten a meal with berbere twice. We liked it. I've heard that you could be in love with popcorn. Ethiopian coffee ceremonies include popcorn, right? Have you been to a traditional coffee ceremony? Are you going to like the microwaved PC in a bag, or should I start doing stove top popcorn? (Can you help me with this, aunt jessie?) We are excited to be in Ethiopia and try your food first hand. Before we leave we will find some local favorite restaurants, so you can get some last tried and true Ethiopian food. We will do a sampler platter, to find out what Ethiopian dishes you really like.

Speaking of food, I am going home to make a nice pot of chili. Yum.

Talk soon, k?

Love,

Mom

sunburst story

http://sunburstwomen.com/

ps 112

Praise the Lord.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.

His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness endures forever.

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.

Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

Psalm 112: 1-8