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

let's have...

a puppet show!

the moose

the monkey

or the giraffe

which one do you want to be? i bet auntie jessie will thumb wrestle you for the giraffe.

via designmom

little eskimo

(old navy)

Your dad and I keep talking about how we are going to have to dress you like an eskimo this winter when we take you outside. Burrrrrr. I thought instead of eskimo atire that you may want to sport a pair of these cute little fleece-lined jeans. Or maybe you prefer the eskimo look. You tell me...

(eskimo boy)

Hello there

Hello there dear. Gosh I've missed writing to you. How is life at the transition home? They making you eat spinach and collard greens? I sure hope not. We won't make you eat that stuff until your 12, okay? Do you even know that you are in transition? It's okay if you don't know. Maybe we will show up there and you will be very surprised. But if you are expecting us in the near future, that is good too. Your dad and I are doing well. He is working hard to install a ceiling fan in your room tonight, because next weekend we are getting a wood burning stove insert. The fan will circulate the heat so you will stay cozy and warm through winter. Winter means cold temperatures, so we must wear extra layers and heat our homes. It's also a time for us to drink hot cocoa and sled down the big hill at the park. Winter is cold, but very fun. Lots of family gatherings also happen in the winter.

Your sweet Grandma Debby spent the weekend here preparing for you. We painted your room SW Raindrop and your door is covered in chalkboard paint. Your Grandpa Ben also sent a sweet gift along. I'll let you see it when you get here.

Did I mention that we are so glad that God created adoption? God adopted us into his family just like your dad and I are adopting you into our family. Adoptions are really special.

I have one more thing to tell you. Son, above all else God is good. He is good and he loves you.

Let's talk soon.

Mom

slight delay

by Uncommon Goods

Little T,

What's up buttercut? Hope you are enjoying the day. So there is a delay in the Ethiopian courts opening. They have been closed for a while and were supposed to open towards the beginning of October. Now they say they are opening back on Oct 12 will not schedule new appointments until a week or so after because they have to catch up on the already scheduled appointments. As we wait, I do not want to get caught in the waiting. I want to prepare and pray and be present here. I know that the good Lord is watching out for you. But I hope you know soon who we are and that we are coming for you. We got to ask 5 questions about you today that will be sent to Ethiopia and answered by your caretakers. One of the questions regarded your personality. I am excited to get the response to that question.

In the mean time, it's turning into fall. We have a large window in our attic bedroom and we see the treetops turning from green to yellow. It is beautiful around here. It's also time for warm tomato soup and grilled cheese. Yum.


Talk soon dear child.

What if...

Son - 

Lately your mom and I have been thinking collectively and by ourselves about what it would mean to adopt more from Africa.  What if you aren't the last one we adopt.  What if you have other brothers from Africa, some older or younger?  We are excited to see what the Lord stirs in our hearts.  Something is stirring, something is growing.  We know that part of it is the desire to have you and be with you.  Another part is unknown and even hard for me to communicate.  I just wanted to tell you that I am eager for your arrival and ready to hear your loud breathing when you sleep.  

Just know that the Lord is good, and He will provide the means for our stirring hearts, whatever that means.  We know that He is good, and you will come to know Him closely with your mom and me.  

Come home soon.

Two Nice People

Little Guy -

This is Tim and his wife Mimi. Ever since we started going to church here in Kansas City, Tim has been the pastor of our church. Jacob's Well Church is probably one of the best things that has happened to us and our marriage. Personally and as a couple we have grown in more ways than we can imagine through the Lord's hand in this place. I came there as a broken man, mostly dead from a grave ministry experience (we'll get to that story when you are older), and we were looking for a new place to call home. We went to Jacob's Well on Oct.29 2006 for the first time and never looked back. You, too, will call it home away from home. It is quite an amazing place.

Tim is the main guy, but his wife, Mimi, is one of the sweetest women we know. She was in charge of the children and making sure that they know about Jesus too. Tim was with the big people, Mimi with the little. Mimi makes us feel like we are the most important people on the planet. The thing is, she is like this with everyone. She is so nice and loves so many children. They have 3 kiddos, Mabry, Annie, and Blaise.

The reason why I want you to know about them is because they are part of the reason why we adopted you. As you will come to find out, there are hundreds of people who want to meet you. These are two of them. Tim spoke about taking the opportunity to love on Dec. 7th 2008 and that Sunday morning your mom told me that we were to adopt. She heard from Jesus that this is our time to not let the opportunity to love pass us by. Tim engaged her in a way that spoke deep to her soul and she still holds on to those words today.

Mimi has been a support the entire process. She always smiles and always is so eager to hear news about you son. She is more than a lovely woman, but I can't seem to express it with words how she makes Kristyn and me feel. Tim is as well very encouraging and any words from him to me makes me feel so special and cared for. As you are coming to understand, we look up to them in many ways.

We just found out that they are moving very far away to a country called New Zealand so Tim can teach there. He loves to teach and the Lord is telling him to move. We are so excited for their journey. They are going to bless people so much in New Zealand. Remember when I told you that I was very sad when we moved to Jacob's Well? I was hurt by some not so nice people and Tim and Mimi were part of the reason why I am standing today. They came along side me and supported me and your mom while I healed. We feel so close to them, like so many others do.

They are leaving in December, so we hope, hope, hope that you will be able to come home before they leave. They so want to meet you. If you need to meet anyone other than your mother, it is Tim and Mimi Keel. Son, they want to meet you so much, especially sweet Mimi. She is so nice. I just imagine you looking at her and her smiling a huge smile over you and blessing you as she goes. I hope Tim gets to hold you to, or give you a high-five.

Please come home soon so you may bless those who have blessed us so greatly...

See you soon Son.

Ethiopian Adoption Story: NY Times

This is a good story. (short video with sound.)