Family Math Night at school

The kids' grade school has monthly featured events to promote fun in learning. Recently it was math night! There were tables set up around the gymnasium with games an activities all related to math and numbers. The kids moved around the tables playing the various games to earn tickets. All of the tickets then went into a raffle for fun prizes. Naomi won a Farkle game!

Happy Enkutatash!!

Enkutatash is the first day of the New Year in Ethiopia. It occurs on Meskerem 1 on the Ethiopian calendar, which is September 11 (or, during a leap year, September 12) according to the Gregorian calendar. The new current year according to the Ethiopian calendar is 2001.

Literally, Enkutatash means 'Gift of Jewels'. The date traditionally marks the end of the season of heavy rains and is more recently or historically set by the return of the Queen of Sheba to Ethiopia after her visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem. It also marks the commemoration of Saint John the Baptist. Enkutatash is not only a religious holiday but it is also a day for young boys and girls to sing and dance and for exchanging New Year greetings among urban and rural inhabitants.

My kids received a small gift at home and their teachers (whom I told of the holiday) had noise makers and treats. We go out to dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant every Friday night, but hope this one will be a bit special for them -- the holiday made them really homesick for Ethiopia. And we will go to Ethiopian church on Sunday, dressed in traditional clothing, to celebrate.

HAPPY ENKUTATASH!

Getting better at braids ...

This was our first attempt at beads as well ... Naomi loves to swish tham back and forth!

Thanks Snapaholics for the great hair products and gallery of braiding style ideas!

Soccer champs

We finished our church summer soccer league undefeated!!! Josiah & Naomi were a big hit ... of the total 56 goals scored by the team, Josiah made a whopping 45 of them! Naomi saved the day many a time with her strong kicks from the backfield, getting the ball back into scoring position and defending our goal. AND they both won their medallions for memorizing all of their Bible verses. Proud mama! We look forward to joining the kids again next summer.

In the meantime, Josiah will continue with soccer on a fall rec league and Naomi is excited to start a dance combo class where she will learn ballet, tap, and jazz.

Not my usual post

"Well done, good and faithful servant …
Enter into the joy of your lord"
~ Matthew 25:21

After four years of living with excellence even in the face of terminal brain cancer ...

"Joy comes in the morning for Trent … at 6 a.m. Saturday morning, October 9th, Trent went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is more alive than he ever imagined and just where he desired to be. Friday afternoon the ventilator was removed and he took an immediate turn for the worse but God in His grace calmed things down and those gathered had an awesome time preparing for the healing of Trent’s body. If human wills could produce effect, Trent would have jumped off the bed healed and whole but human wills don’t hold any power. God had a plan for Trent and at 6 a.m. it was accomplished. He has finally realized what he longed for so greatly, to bask in the light and glory as a coheir with Christ in the Kingdom, and to experience the fullness of the love of God as his adoption as a son. Well done, Trent, Well done." (as written by a friend)

In honor of Trent's memory, his wife, Cathy is asking memorials be given to Gospel for Asia

Donations may be mailed to:
Gospel for Asia
1800 Golden Trail Ct
Carrollton, TX 75010-9954

Phone donations may be made at: 1-800-946-2742

Please reference "Given in memory of Trenton Frick" and let the family know you have honored Trent in this way.

My sweet friend Cathy, you are in my heart and prayers.

"Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy."
~ Psalm 126:5

PRAISE GOD

Finally Five Fabulous Family Photos

The adoption training suggests that family photos are taken within a week or two after arriving home. Wellllll ... we finally got our photos done, I FINally picked them up, and am FINALLY getting them posted. My apologies to the casual viewer or you who have stumbled upon this blog by accident. This is my forum for sharing with family and friends and I can't resist these pictures. Their smiles light up my life.







With Love,
~ Nancy
~ Josiah John Naol
~ Naomi Grace Firaol

Time flies when you're having fun

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post. The kids are typically bored with summer, but we have been keeping busy with swimming, soccer, and other activities. I made the mistake of taking them to an amusement park and they loved the little go-carts. Now they ask every day to drive the small cars. 

It is soooo fun being a soccer mom!! Josiah & Naomi are both on the same coed church soccer team. They play games twice a week and that serves as practice too. They played allot in Ethiopia -- though I'm not sure if on organized teams or just going for the gusto -- so are the stars of the team. We have four wins in as many games under our belts. Josiah will continue on a rec league this fall, but since the two are so competitive with each other and he is such a natural athlete (at all sports) I want Naomi to do something else. She is excited to start dance!

Hair continues to be a challenge.  With all their swimming even if I had done nice braids they were fuzzy in a day. So Naomi has cute extensions for the summer. She loves them! I'm afraid she is going to be disappointed when they have to come out. I thought they would last 6-8 weeks, but her hair seems to be growing fast so it may not be far off. Josiah's hair was getting a bit unmanageable as well. He didn't like to brush it out so we took a clipper to it. At first we tried to cut it just part of the way down, but what a disaster. He said, "Josiah no go outside. Josiah no play." So off the rest of it went. He looks very cute and it it's already growing back. 

I'm so loving being a mom. People are always saying what an adjustment it must be and how much work and what I must have given up. But it feels so natural and so right and I adore them and feel like they always been with me. Work? I suppose, but it doesn't seem overwhelming in the least and I feel like I've gained a life I've always missed. NO REGRETS!!!!!!!