Delivering Christmas

Today is the first day of Advent.  The day we "officially" start preparing our hearts for Christmas.  Today, I officially start preparing my heart for TWO Christmases! 

It never quite occurred to me when I booked my flight to Ethiopia that I would be in Ethiopia on Christmas.  However, thanks to a calendar used in this remote corner of the world, I will be celebrating Christmas in the U.S. and then in Ethiopia 2 weeks later.  What an incredibly amazing blessing!

In preparation for our trip, we are starting to gather a variety of items to help us meet some of the needs of the people we will be visiting.  Below are some of the items on our list. 

No Ordinary Love Ministries:  Clothes and shoes for ages 5-16, in addition to adult petite clothes

Kebebe Tsehai Orphanage: Clothes for infants to 8 year olds, diapers, wipes, diaper cream

Street Shelter Boys:  Clothes for 12 boys -  (Size 10 to Adult S)

Covenant Sponsored Orphan Homes: Towels, clothes for 25 boys and girls (toddler to 10-year old)
   
Small Christmas gifts for 100 sponsored children:  Such as stuffed animals, deflated balls, coloring books, crayons (toddler to 14-years old)

Additional needs:

• New underpants and socks of various sizes.
• Money to use to help folks as they cross our paths during our trip.
• Prayers to help guide our giving.

 

For anyone interested in helping us deliver a little Christmas to Africa, please let me know.  For those of you who have already done so, I thank you and look forward to being your Christmas messenger!

 

 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 

Luke 2:14

 

 

 

 

The calm after the storm

As a kid, storms were scary.  As I got a little older, fear subsided and I started to see some wonder and amazement in them.  I used to love going out with my dad after a good storm to "assess the damage" around our farm.

Today feels like the calm after the storm, only the storm caught us all off guard and the damage is internal.  My heart is broken and no amount of duct tape or super glue can fix it.  The quiet at the farm today has felt peaceful at times and other times overwhelmingly lonely.  The phone has stopped ringing.  Most of our friends and family have gone back to their homes.  Even facebook is quiet. 

The storm started a week ago, almost exactly.  We waited for the phone to ring again, this couldn't be true.  How?  When?  WHY?  Waiting for more information, but not wanting to hear it, as it confirmed one of the saddest moments of my life.

She was 35.  She was Healthy!  She was Happy!  She was FULL of life and had so many new passions she was pursuing. 

And now, she is gone. 

And I miss her already.

And I can't imagine my life without her.

What about our plans?

Dinner this week?

Christmas baking?

Running the marathon?

The "week of cake"?

All of it, is it really over?

And how do I deal with the outward calm, when inside, the storm is still raging?  My heart is still breaking. 

I want to pick up the phone and hear her say "Hey, Lady".  I want to get a text with a recipe or a picture of something she thinks I should make.  I want to hear her laughter, see the twinkle in her eyes, just one more time. 

We all do.

That's why yesterday, at 1:00, the church in my hometown was as full as it had ever been.  Standing room only upstairs and down.  The clinic where she worked CLOSED for the entire day so her coworkers could pay their respects.  Her friends drove and flew in from all over the country. 

We proceeded to the cemetery outside of town, the sun warming the beautiful wood that held our beautiful friend.  And as the service was finishing, dirt from the farm forming a cross on that sun-warmed wood, a flock of geese flew over.  The sun reflected on their down, so they sparkled almost like glitter.  Some saw a "K" others saw an angel in their glittery lack of formation.  Her beautiful niece, snuggling in my arms saw Tinkerbell. 

And then they were gone.  And the people left soon after.  And there we were, just a small group, hugging and crying and not wanting to walk away, because if we did it would be over, forever.  And how could that be?

Maybe the storm is over?  Maybe it will come and go?  All I know is I am sad, sadder than I have possibly ever been.  And I can't believe she is gone. 

My 6th Birthday ~ We celebrated them all together!

Her 30th Pirate-Themed Birthday Party

 

Just an ordinary night. 

Our last visit.  What a happy memory!

4 months

Well, another month (or more) has gone by.  Rosie has been busy growing and changing every day.  As I type she is laying on the floor kicking and squealing.  She is such a happy little girl.  When I catch her eye, her face lights up.  Her Auntie says she smiles with her eyes first and the smile moves down her face.  It's true.  She has the biggest smile, the best dimples, and her little giggle just melts my heart over and over again!

She has started playing with toys in her car seat and floor gym more.  She likes to "stand" when you are holding her.  She likes to snuggle with little blankets and bears.  She loves it when you sing to her and when you make silly noises.  It's funny how an adult will do the silliest things trying to get a baby to smile or giggle.  And when she's sad, she still loves her nuk. 

September Adventures Included:
Labor Day at the farm
Lots of play dates
Visits from Grandmas and Grandpas
Her first "week of cake"
Walking her first 5K
And her baptism

Baptism Day

Labor Day Weekend

Miles for Max

Snuggles with Grandma M

Born 5 days apart, just like their mommies!

More snuggles

Our 9th Anniversary

Tummy time

How much is a giraffe?

She didn't get it from me, but Pinky is an absolute animal lover.  Her favorite animal is probably a dog.  Although recently she has decided it would be fun to have a pet giraffe.  Poor girl is just about as likely to get a pet giraffe as a puppy. 

So, yesterday, Pinky, Rosie and I were on an orchard adventure with my sister and her kids on an absolutely perfect fall afternoon.  We were having a wonderful time climbing trees, admiring all of the fall leaves, swinging in a tree swing and riding in the wagon.  We'd taken hundreds of pictures (not exaggerating) of our afternoon and we were headed to the cars when I hear my sweet little Pinky say,

"Hey Mom, wanna see my pet mouse?"

My instant fear was soon confirmed.  My little one had found a dead mouse on our path, picked it up, and was petting it gently.  I had all I could do to keep from SCREAMING in disgust.  GROSS!!!!  (I can still see it's little tail dangling from her sweet little hands.)

Fortunately, Auntie, who is much more of an animal lover than me, came to both of our rescue.  She gently walked up to Pinky, asked her to put the mouse down, and started talking to her about why it wasn't a good idea to pick up dead animals and why she couldn't keep it. 

(Meanwhile, I am rummaging through the diaper bag looking for wipes and hand sanitizer.)

Pinky responded with tears and lots of them.

"Why can't I keep it?"
"What if it's mommy misses him?"
"I want to take care of him."
"Please!"

Lots of wipes and hand sanitizer later, she was settled in the car, calmly eating a snack, but still talking about the mouse. She decided she didn't want a dead mouse for a pet, but could she please have one that moves. 

"But you do have a pet, honey, you have Goldfish."

She looked at her snack of crackers, and for the moment was satisfied with the response. 

Of course she woke up today still talking about the mouse.  I wonder how much it costs to buy a giraffe? 

Pinky and Lucy at the farm.

3 months

Rosie is officially 3 months old.  The summer has been so busy, it's hard to even remember those first few days when she was home.  She's growing fast and changes every day. 

This month:
She's been to the farm.
She's been to the lake.
She's been to the zoo.
She's been to her auntie's wedding.
She's been a flower girl.
She's been sucking her thumb and fingers.
She's been blowing bubbles.
She's been babbling.
She's been smiling.
She's been giggling.
She's been sleeping better at night! 
She's been outgrowing her 0-3 month clothes!
She's been a true delight!

Tummy time with big sister

Sisters

Pretty girl

Tell me about your day, daddy!

Loves her swing and her sister. 

Flower Girl

Love our girls!

Our Big Girl

Our lil Miss Pinky has had 3 pretty big milestones in the last month, all emphasizing what a big girl she is growing up to be.

1)  She spent a couple of nights at the farm WITHOUT MOM!  Knowing we would be following behind a couple of days later, Pinky went to the farm and spent a couple of days with Grandma and Grandpa.  I cried as they were pulling out of the driveway and Pinky waved, grinning from ear to ear.  And, like it or not, she was just fine without me, which is a very odd feeling.  Each morning she asked her grandma:  "Is today the day my baby is coming?"  She was certainly glad to see us when we arrived, but everyone reported that she was well-behaved and ready for adventure. 

Packed and ready to go.

Gardening with Grandma.  Holding furry caterpillars.  



Morning chores with Grandpa

 

 

2)  She Started Pre-School.  2 mornings a week, for 3 hours, she is back with her friends at school.  She couldn't have been more excited to see all of her friends she has missed over the summer.  Although she has had many imaginary play-dates with these friends over the last few months, being back together again was very exciting for her.  The first day they celebrated a birthday, so she came home full of  smiles and chocolate cupcake crumbs!  So far she has told us that she has learned about the calendar.  They also have sharing, snack, crafts, gym, and some play time.  I want to go to preschool!!! 

Happy Girl!

She found her name.

Auntie B and I took her out for lunch after her first day.
She could choose between Mexican Village and Dairy Queen. 
She chose Mexican Village where she ordered a hotdog and milk.  Silly girl! 

 

3)  Finally, today, she had her first day of SUNDAY SCHOOL!  A little confusing since it is in her daycare room from last year.  There are different kids, a different teacher, and different activities.  She was a little nervous,  but I only stayed through half of it, then I snuck away to "help" her sister.  When I returned to pick her up, she was as happy as could be.  One of her friends from school was in her class and the two of them were coloring and laughing together.

 

LOVE HER!!!!



Grandparents Day

Today is National Grandparents Day. 

I sometimes send cards . . . that didn't happen this year.  (Sorry!) 

And we're hundreds of miles away from grandparents on this day, so we won't be delivering hugs and kisses.  (Sorry for that too!)

But we have had a busy summer that has included lots of visits with the girls' grandparents and great grandmas! 

Here are some of our favorite pics:

That's a lot of grandma lovin! 

With Grandma and Great Grandma

 

Cousins with Grandma and Grandpa at Thumper Pond.

Pinky reading with Grandpa GB.

Sharing smiles. 

Great Grandma M. 

Reading with Grandpa Dennis.  (Not his favorite book!)

Snuggles

Napping

Happy Grandparents Day!  Thanks for all of the love you share with our girls!  They may not see you as often as we'd like, but that makes the time together that much more special! 

We love you!