Dawit and the number 5.

On December 12th  Dawit turned 5.  It happened to be 12/12/12.  It was lost on him and his bother but we all thought it was pretty cool. 

It was fun yet again to celebrate the life of Dawit and the blessing he is to our family.

Dawit has grown leaps and bounds this last year.  He loves to help his family.  Anything he is asked to do he will do willingly and with such joy.  I often hear, "OK Mommy", and then an explosion of action to get it done.

When Dawit came home one of his biggest challenges and gifts was his curiosity.  He decided one day he was going to feed the fish and fed them the whole container of fish food.  Like the Costco size of fish food.  The next day all the fish were dead and the top of the tank was filled with a thick layer of fish food.

We spent a few nites freezing last winter because Dawit pushed all the buttons on the upstairs temp gauge.  We were all freezing and were piling on the blankets until Mike realized it had been changed to be 50 degrees at nite.  Whenever we asked if he was responsible he would reply with an honest yes.

He now stops and asks questions and does pretty well with controlling those impulses.  I emphasize the pretty well.  Just a few weeks ago he was taking apart the Doctors ear thingymagiggy as she and I were talking about a possible ear infection.  I had to pry it from his fingers!!

Dawit loves music and whenever he hears a song that he does not know he pretends to know the words and sing it with confidence.  He pretty much does that with all things.  He is one confident guy.  These traits will serve him well as he grows.  We are just in the fine tuning stage right now!!

Little flirt!

Happy Birthday Sweet Dawit!

Israel-the big 5.

Israel turns 5! 

   So exciting to see how he has grown over the past year.  Not only in height and weight but in his speech.  His attachment to his family.  His love for cars, building, letters, friends, and all things boy.

Israel loves life.  Mike often describes him as the life is a lark guy.  He sings throughout the day and nothing, and I mean nothing makes him rush.  He takes things as they come and literally lets whatever jumps in his cute little brain guide him.  Which definetly leads to some interesting situations.

Taking off his gloves and leaving them in the snow so he can play.  Led to many tears as his hands were burning from the cold.  Catching him singing songs at the top of his lungs one morning buck naked.  He apparently got sidetracked while getting dressed as he was singing his medley.  Finding various toys perched high to see if they would make shadows on the ceiling.  Anything with string or anything that looks good enough to tie up something with will be forever tied, knotted, and stuck together. Oh and tape....don't even get me started!!   I love this kiddo.  He keeps us laughing and keeps mama and papa on their toes as we are learning to parent this free spirited young guy.

Singing!

His homemade goggles.

So darn handsome!

Looking forward to watching him grow and see how God will use this unique little guy.
Happy birthday sweet boy!

Giving with purpose

So the past few weeks I have been gathering some new Christmas Shopping ideas.  Check them out, learn about what they do, and help this season to change the world for one.

 

The purchase of a handmade necklace helps a women take care of her family and feed a child in Uganda.

amazima.org

                                                     

Host a shoe cutting party.  Or buy some cute shoes for your toddler and help another child in another country.
solehope.org

Hit the link below to go to special Christmas party ideas from Sole Hope

 http://solehope.wazala.com/?page=product_det&id=105948

 147 Million Orphans works to serve the orphans crisis all over our world.  Buy  shirts, jewelry, mugs, ect and the money goes to feed a child, provide medication, and schooling.

Visit them at 147millionorphans.com

 Go to missionethiopia.com to find out about their mission, view a video about what they are doing and help a women provide for her family by buying these handcrafted necklaces.  Some of which are made from the beautiful soil of Ethiopia.

Light Gives Heat works to create world-changing opportunities in both Africa and America.  

In Uganda we partner with local Artisans to create consistent incomes where there once was none. Through our Brands SUUBI and EPOH, our In-Country Staff create long-term partnerships with Artisans to create beautiful handmade products that will soon grace the shoulders, necks, and wrists of fashion conscious consumers in America and beyond. 

In America LGH is committed to not only offering beautiful products and a way for people to support our Artisans in Africa, but LGH is also committed to creating experiences that call all of us to look outside ourselves, to find Beauty in the Risk , and to pursue big, beautiful, crazy dreams. 

Watch the video below to learn more about LGH and go to their website to see their beautiful products.  lightgivesheat.org

Join helponenow.org to a build school in Haiti.

 Charity Water

What a great gift, give a community without clean drinking water a well in someones name or a group name. Check out Charity Water.   They are doing some amazing things.

Charitywater.org

Our Mission is to inspire and empower ORDINARY people to make an extraordinary difference in the life of a child in need.

Go to ordinaryhero.org to see their merchandise, sponsor a child, or give a gift to help a child in Ethiopia.

My boys will be sporting a t-shirt from them this Christmas!!

 

 

How about sponsoring a child or giving a gift to an organization in another persons name.

Holtinternational.org

Compassioninternational.org

Worldvisiongifts.org

 

Samaritanspurse.org

Like I said just a few.  Let me know if you have any other ideas!  And don't forget your community.  Food shelves, homeless shelters, Ronald McDonald Houses, oh and maybe your very own NEIGHBOR!!!

Considering

Last nite at dinner Dawit was looking at pictures of my hubby who was is Haiti this week.  I was showing him the orphanage where Mike is staying and explaining to him what that was and how he used to live in a place like that in Ethiopia.  He right away wanted to make room in our house for these children because that is what we do.  Erik, his big bro patted him on the back in total pride of his younger brother.  It was a great moment.  We saw his heart and that was pretty special.

Mike in Haiti.

When our first set of kiddos were young we wandered into many different parenting classes and books, we loved the concept of considering the preciousness of others.  Thinking  of others who come before us, behind us, and those who are walking along side of us. Dawit was definetely thinking of others and for that I am thankful. 

We need to show and tell our children about the needs in our community and our world.  How others do not have shoes, food, shelter, parents.  As  I continued to think on that I was reminded that we also need to continue to teach that in our everyday life.  To consider the preciousness of the people who are in line with us at the fair.  Consider the preciousness of others who sit in front of us at a show or in an airplane.  Teach our children to think of others and how their actions can effect others and that we can be a blessing all the time.  Not just on special occasions or moments.    This is such a tall order but it is possible to teach them that people that sit at the table after us at a restaurant are special too so we should leave the place in good condition.  Not to mention for the staff that work there.

We can teach our kiddos to open doors for others or give up our chair for someone who looks older or who needs it.  No matter where we are we should be a blessing to others.  That might be in Haiti or in the grocery store but it should be a goal for ourselves and for teaching to our kiddos.  Who would not want to be married to a man who was taught to be a blessing!! 

It starts small but practical.  At preschool drop off we make sure that the ladies go in first.  The boys think that is pretty cool cause the girls are always surprised.  Instead of the first person who was there goes first, it is simply the boys letting the girls go first in the door because that is kind, thoughtful, and sacrificial. Well it is sacrificial because for a four year old boy being first is really important.

Drying up the sink counter after they brush their teeth so the next person has a nice clean sink.  Taking their plate to the sink after a meal.  Being quiet in the morning because others are still sleeping.   Cheering for each other when they are successful.  There a so many ways we can encourage our children to be thoughtful of others.  To serve, love, and consider the preciousness of others.  By the way, we are not super successful in many of these areas yet but hey, we are all a work in progress!!!

My works in progress looking at the funny lady behind the camera who is also in progress!

Hubby Heading to Haiti

Tent City

So excited for my Hubby.  He is heading to Haiti next week and I am praying for an incredible week of ministry.

He is going to be working with orphans and helping to build a school in a tent city similar to the one pictured above.

Hoping he will have the chance to use my blog to let us know how it going and to share what he is seeing and learning.

In the last few weeks I have been reading many blogs and material about Haiti.  It is the poorest country on the western hemisphere and it is shocking to know that an hour and half off the beautiful beaches of Florida (by plane) are many tent cities of 20,000 people living underneath tarps with raw sewage running through the walk ways.  It shocks me, it saddens me, but it also inspires me.  How could raw sewage, devastating earthquakes, and a country with a 47% illiteracy rate inspire me?

It inspires me to be thankful, resourceful, live more simply, love more freely,  give and serve without questioning, and to remember that my worst day is a dream to most in this world.

Love ya Hubby, and praying for a week full of beautiful God sightings!

Click the side button on my blog from Help One Now and read about a bunch of amazing bloggers who were in Haiti last week.

A little mud never hurt anyone.

Look what I came home to...

 A hand print that was not saved.

Bathroom door.  At least they are headed in the right direction.

This is mud!

A good washing.

Much  fun was was had.

A simple shoe can make a difference.

A few nites ago I spent a great evening with some special ladies and their daughters and cut out shoe pieces to send to Sole Hope.  An organization who helps provide shoe pieces to organizations in Uganda and Kenya.  Places in Eastern Africa who deal with a parasite called sand fleas.  They lay their eggs in peoples feet and cause enormous damage.  What is the cure?  Shoes and clean water.    Can you believe that some kids aged 5, 6, 7 have never, ever had a pair of shoes?  Never.  I look at all the shoes that my 6 kiddos have and cannot believe how blessed we are.   I do not think blessed is an accurate word for it but that's the best  I can come up with.

Here is a video that spurred this organization on,

and here is the Sole Hope video.  I love that not only did we cut out pieces for 53 children to have shoes but we enabled a women, most likely a widow to make shoes for her community.  She is learning a skill, earning an income, and providing life saving shoes for her community, the children that run in her streets.  Just awesome!!

A great nite serving and learning that we are blessed beyond anything that words could express.

Thanks ladies for a fun evening and helping to provide shoes for 53 children.

17 years seems so old

It amazes me when we celebrate birthdays how some numbers seem so much older that others.  Erik turned 17 on September 12th.  I kept commenting how old that seemed.  He of course did not feel older.  Maybe it is because I feel older.  Just ordered my glasses the other day!  Oh and the hair coloring has to be done more frequently.

What a joy it has been to watch Erik grow.  He is a witty young man who has a knock out smile and amazes me at his knowledge.  Math questions when Mike is not around go straight to Erik.  Need to know some geography, go ask Erik.  Need some AV help or sound and light expertise,  go to Erik!  Such a talented and bright young guy who melts my heart every time he plays and loves on his younger brothers.  He adores them and they adore him, as evident by their special birthday bags they made for his special day!  Pictures below.  He was such a great sport and opened every piece of paper.

 Happy 17th Birthday Erik!

A treasure

Happy Birthday sweet Megan.  You have taught me so much in your short 15 years.  So thankful for your sweet presence, kindness, patience, and joy in the simple things.  You have taught me and reminded me not to worry about the small stuff and to take things day by day.  I treasure you and the gift you are to this family.

Love you Meganator!!

E-Man

Look at that handsome dude!  Such a loving young man.  He adores his little brothers.  I often find him wrestling or putting one of them on his shoulders so they can have a better view or be able to keep up with the crew.  He often can tell when they just need to get their wiggles out and will take them off to the side to run, play ball, or be silly.

On saturday of graduation I got to secretly see(Just happened to be in the right place at the right time) a big brother moment.  8 years ago we went on a Missions trip to Mexico and built a house for a family who days before had lost the bus they were living in to an explosion.  They lost their 2 year old daughter and the rest of the family suffered many burns and they lost everything.  It was our first missions trip as a family and it was an experience that we will never forget.  Erik saved a piece of that melted bus and made a necklace out of it as a gift for Sean on graduation day.  As they hugged and had a special moment I was glad to be off in the distance to see it.  So thoughtful and wonderful to see.  And yes I cried.  Crying right now as I remember the moment.

 Thankful for their relationship as it has grown and deepened this last year.  They still fight and argue but love each other deeply.

So excited for Erik this summer.  Lots going on.  2 weeks in a camper leadership training program. Then off to Africa for 2 weeks and lots of training for his favorite sport, cross country.

Love you E-man!!  :)