Monday, March 30, 2009

Gotcha!

It is the season of milestones for us. Earlier in the month we celebrated becoming at legal family (our court date) with our dinner party at the Ethiopian restaurant. TODAY was exactly one year since we MET and have been together as a family -- it is Gotcha Day!!!

My sister and I landed in Addis Ababa just after 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 30th, 2008. We had breakfast with our friends who are missionaries there, after which they took us to get settled into our hotel. Then about noon, Kassahun from CWA took us to the foster home to meet the kids. The boys and girls are housed in separate facilities, so we met my amazing son, Naol (Josiah) first. After a short tour to see his bed, dining area, etc., we walked a half a block or so down the street to the meet my wonderful daughter, Firaol, nicknamed Flower (Naomi) and received a similar walk-through. We've been together every since!!!

Then and now ....



Love,
Josiah (Naol), Mom (Nancy), Naomi (Flower)

"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
~ 1 Samuel 1:27

Friday, March 27, 2009

Making Easter Cookies

I'm posting this early so you can gather the ingredients and get a head start. I've been so excited to do this with my kids. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Make these cookies with your children the night before to teach the true meaning of EASTER!

EASTER STORY COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

1 cup pecan halves
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
3 egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 cup white sugar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place pecans in a re-sealable plastic bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
~ Read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
~ Read John 19:26-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
~ Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
~ Read Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 C. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
~ Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
~ Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts, Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
~ Read Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
~ Read Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
~ Read John 16:20 and 22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
~ Read Matthew 28:1-9

This recipe is attributed to Wanda Long in "Home Life Magazine"

Makes 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

HAVE A BLESSED EASTER!



Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Earth Hour

Turn out. Take action.
Be part of this historic event.
March 28, 2009, 8:30 pm local time

In it's third year, and with time still to go before the globe switches off for Earth Hour, the number of cities and towns signing up to switch their lights off at 8.30pm on 28 March has already exceeded the ambitious target of 1,000 set by Earth Hour organisers.

Earth Hour 2009 – What Will You Be Doing?
Cuddling up with your loved ones and admiring the stars in the night sky or organising a treasure hunt in the dark? At 8:30pm on Saturday 28 March, people from all corners of the world will turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour - and cast their vote for action on climate change. Anybody can participate and join together with millions of people across the globe celebrating Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is about taking simple steps everyday that collectively reduce carbon emissions – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.

Here are 10 different ways to spend Earth Hour and reduce your carbon footprint:

1. Attend a local Earth Hour event or organise your own by throwing an Earth Hour street party with your neighbours
2. Gather family & friends for a night picnic in your local park and look at the stars
3. Enjoy a family dinner by candlelight
4. Organise a treasure hunt in the dark
5. Take the dog for a night walk
6. Have a candle-lit bath
7. Sit in the dark and share stories
8. Organise a family night playing board games
9. Share a romantic night in with your loved one
10. Upload your ‘on the night’ photos and videos to flickr and YouTube respectively, and then add them to the Earth Hour flickr group and the global YouTube Group.

Make Earth Hour work for you. Families with young children should feel free to turn their lights off earlier than 8:30pm and for those having too much fun in the dark during the hour, don’t feel you have to limit yourself to one hour and switch back on at 9:30pm.

In Sydney, where Earth Hour began in 2007, every ferry in the city’s famous harbour will sound its horn at precisely 8.30pm to herald the beginning of Earth Hour in Australia, while in Melbourne a people-pedal-powered concert will be underway at Federation Square.

On the other side of the world, arrangements will be underway for a host of concerts and parties in cities across Europe, including a ‘circle of percussion’ in Athens, where people will be given percussion instruments to play, led by a conductor, as the lights go out on the Acropolis.

To find out more about Earth Hour or see what events are happening in your area, visit the official website http://www.earthhour.org/, sign up and join millions of people in more than 1,400 cities and towns in 80 countries throughout the world by turning off your lights for one hour at 8:30pm on Saturday 28 March.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Celebrating a Milestone

Yesterday was ONE YEAR since we passed court and legally became a family!!! We celebrated by inviting a bunch of friends and family to our favorite Ethiopian restaurant. We had 32 attend, including ourselves and all the kids and babies. It was so much fun, that we are sure it will be an annual tradition. So mark your calendar for next year!