Melkam Gena!! (Merry Christmas in Ethiopia)

Happy Birthday Jesus!!

Christmas is celebrated on Dec. 29th in Ethiopia, which is actually January 7th here. 

We have talked about going to Denver for the celebration, but it didn't happen this year so I wanted to make it special for Aregash and also let our boys know how important it is to keep her country's traditions alive.

 We've never made a Birthday cake for Jesus so this was a highlight. 

Dorowat is the most popular Ethiopian dish....

made from chicken (doro)...and traditionally, legs are used.  

Berbere' spice, ginger root, garlic, and onions give it it's taste. It can be pretty spicy.

 Oh, and every person should get a hard-boiled egg.

Miser wat is made with lentils and some of the same ingredients as the dorowat, minus the red spice. Injera is a sour bread.....we love it, but it's pretty difficult to make.

Some day I'll try it.

 

Aregash & Mama in our cultural dresses.

Mine hasn't been worn since one of her "baby" showers.

It was time. 

She was soo happy.

Christmas is not the big production in Ethiopia that it is here in the states. 

The focus really is on the birth of  Christ, so gifts are not the focus (which i really love). 

 I read that if gifts are given it is usually a piece of clothing.....so this is what we gave the kids.......with a fair trade chocolate bar.

They thought this was pretty fun.

 My pretty girl.

 I am soo grateful that God brought us to a place where we can embrace another culture.

I never would have dreamed 5 years ago that this would be our journey.

A journey that I treasure.

"in all our lives, we experience mysterious happenings.

some call them coincidence. others synchronicity. 

and others, god.
but when you look at the world through the lens of gratefulness and thanks for what it is,

 life becomes an answered prayer. 

grace steps in and we develop a faith that hope is possible."
~living life as a thank you~

(a book i'm reading) 

grateful.

Merry Christmas.

Melkam Gena

from the Chiolis family.

new to the world

I KNOW!!!!  Can you believe it's a post in less than a week?!?!

I just had to tell you what IIIII got to do!!!  

I was asked to be in the birthing room for my little brother and sis-in-laws baby's birth.

What an honor.

I have never seen a birth before. 

It doesn't really count when it's your own cause you don't get to see much....and then there's the pain and all.

 i had someone video my baby's births, but i know i recorded over the last one. ugh.

sooooooo.......meet the newest member of the THOMPSON family!!!

Riess (sounds like Reece) Elly Thompson

5lbs 6.5 ozs. 17.5" long

(our hospital doesn't allow pictures or video during delivery anymore, but i got to get some pretty awesome photos after.)

teensy weensy, but healthy as ever

  

the mama and the papa

proud parents--minutes after she entered this world

the auntie

 (Kenj is what they call me)

Riess 1 day old

and her cousins...

 who love her oh-soo-much

this doesn't help the "i wanna baby sister" situation we have going around our family right now :)

that's 15 kids total between me and my siblings

Casey-4

Clay-4

Kendra-4

Kim-1

Dana-2

does anyone miss my music like i do??? 

 i can't figure out how to add music anymore since Mixpod died. :(

grateful

it's all about aregash. 

that's right....i have 4 children, but it's all about her. 

because i am feeling rather grateful. and not because i am not usually, but because i feel a truly BIG sense of gratitude when i recall all that she and i have endured together in the last year. 

some day i will tell our story, but i have to find the words and it isn't easy to open a can of share on something soo big.

 it must be done very delicately.  

i have to say that our relationship has come soo far that i am having a difficult time grasping it. 

 i really wondered if we'd ever reach this point....and i am feeling blessed.  

i am feeling true love. 

 i am feeling compassion. 

i am feeling peace.

 this past week has made me look at how far we've come and the journey that we've walked because there are soo many families right now that will not be soo lucky.

  families in-process in russia are in limbo and aren't sure if they will ever see or know their children. 

and there are those who have had their children home for a period of time and are still struggling greatly.  

my heart aches for them all.

 aregash and i have made strides in our trust and love for one another that seemed soo far away, 

even 6 months ago. 

it's something that most people don't understand unless they've been there.

most of us don't realize how you have to work for love, because it just seems to happen.

but when you want it to happen soo badly and it doesn't...... heartbreak sets in.

we don't have to worry about that now.

grace has shined upon us.

i am thankful.

 there are friends who haven't made it this far. 

but they will. 

god-willing, they will.

they will feel the joy. and the love. and the compassion. and the peace.

and their child will feel it too. 

they need us. 

they need families. 

through their hurt and their pain and their quiet suffering of loss.

they need to know that there is someone who will dream for them. someone will stand up for them. someone will guide them and reassure them. 

someone will love them because they are worthy.

 they are meant for love.

they deserve love.

every one of them.

every.  single.  one.  of.  them.

needs love.

every child needs a family

and a family....
 needs them even more.

donate $10 to love a child for Christmas == enter a drawing for some sweet stuff!!

 there are children all over this world that are barely living because they don't have the basic necessities.....clean drinking water, food, shoes, a family to care for them......

there is a village that was built after land was purchased by a group of local (South Dakotan) men.

 it was built to give children and families a hope....a life. 

it's called Hope Village....in West Africa. 

and there is an organization that was created to support this Hope Village. 

it's called Bridges of Hope 

http://www.bridgesofhopewestafrica.com/ . 

 You can visit the official website here--pretty great page. you can see the real children, the real school buildings, the real water wells, etc.

BOH has built a school and orphan homes (foster care for children living as orphans). it has purchased livestock and a well for clean drinking water. the children are taught by teachers who are paid by Bridges of Hope. and now Brides of Hope is asking for sponsorship for 300 children in the surrounding area to be able to attend school in Hope Village. with all of this, BOH is trying to teach the people to be sustainable, so that some day soon they will be able to provide for themselves without soo much help from the states.....but that all takes time.

bridges of hope needs our hands.......

desperately.

here's our chance:

 i am now sitting on the board for Bridges of Hope.

 it is a organization that was started in the little town of Rapid City, SD. 

so i can tell you EXACTLY where your money will go,

 should you choose to contribute in some way. 

100% of monies are sent to Hope Village in West Africa to pay teachers' salaries, provide rice, purchase chickens, etc, and to support and sponsor the children there.

 my hope is to visit soon to see the progress in-person.

 you can go right to the Bridges of Hope page to enter your name (or someone you love) in the raffle.

 for every $10 raffle chance you purchase, your name will be entered once.

 so should you like to purchase MORE than 1 chance ($10 ea.),

you will be entered over and over again!!

there are soo many reasons i see a winning situation.

you will be blessing a child who has gone without.....

you will be pleasing yourself for giving a child a chance....a hope.

you will be entering yourself in a great giveaway.....

you can't loose.

look at these faces.

she will thank you....

they will be grateful.....

their future will be brighter

and hope will be alive.

wanna be a part of something BIG??

here are more details...............

FROM Bridges of Hope:

Starting today, November 14, 2012, we are hosting the first ever 

BRIDGES OF HOPE: RAFFLE WITH A CAUSE! 

We are so excited for this. We are able to offer 4 fantastic prizes: a brand new Apple iPad4 with retina display, a brand new Kindle Paperwhite, a brand new Apple iPod Nano and a brand new Apple iPod shuffle! So how do you win one? Easy. Entries are ONLY $10. You can enter as many times as you want AND donate any amount you want – increase your chances of winning. The fundraiser ends on December 14, 2012 so get your entries in right away. Want to find out more? Click over to the page where all the information is laid out: 

http://www.bridgesofhopewestafrica.com/raffle-with-a-cause/

if you have any questions about the raffle or about Bridges of Hope, just leave me a message. 

this organization is very near and dear to my heart.

thank you for passing this along to every single friend/ blogger you know!!!

SMOOCHES!!

to listen to the beautiful music in this video you will have to click the pause button on my music above (red badge on the top right of the page)
enjoy!!....and meet (some) who you'll be helping

Bridges of Hope: Hope Village - 2012 from Bridges of Hope West Africa on Vimeo.

~`~Surrendering to Something Heavenly~`~

 i can't even explain what's been happening to me lately.

 i know it's a God thing. 

i have learned through some really tough things the last few years what God's presence feels like. there are soo many times when i wish i could feel that presence and it just isn't there. 

it feels amazing to feel the Holy Spirit working in me. 

i have been at a loss for words. i can't seem to figure out exactly what it all means.

 i have this spirit. this energy. this passion. a love for others that i can't explain. i want to help. i want to give. i want to go. 

it's crazy how badly i want to go.

it's really rather difficult to sit still and be quiet and patient while He works on me and gives me answers.

 i'd rather jump! 

tell me what to do with all of this!

 i have been fighting for the orphans and the widows more than ever.

 is that what this is about??

 are we suppose to adopt again? 

(the kids have been talking and praying)
 are we supposed to move somewhere where we can be closer? 

what is it?

i asked some advice from a wise soul and was advised to keep doing what i'm doing.

 i know it's not up to me. i know that there is a perfect time for everything. i know that i can make a difference whether i'm here or "there". but i know there is a plan to go. dic has told me to trust and listen about that.....that it isn't up to us or about us. i am keeping my faith, as i know to do, and trying to be as patient as possible. 

and i have asked dic to keep an open mind about what's to come. 

our family has found a place where we trust God more than ever before. 

i love that. 

so in the meantime i will give of myself. i will care for the needy. i will support the families who work soo hard to give children a family. i will lend a hand when i can. i will fight for the widow and i will fight for the orphan. i will trust my God when He says He has something big planned for me and my life. i will try to be still and quiet and listen for His words.

 changes that happen in my life, i am learning, are not about me. these changes will bring glory to my creator. i am His tool. i am His Shepard. 

i have given it all to Him before.

i am prepared to do that again.

for the love of God.

i am ready for something big.

something's happening.

it will be HUGE when i figure it out.

i'm praying and asking questions.

maybe i'm not asking the right questions.

i surrender...... 

 to whatever you're doing inside of me.
it feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace.
it's hard to surrender to what i can't see,
but i'm giving in to something HEAVENLY.
 

surrendering to something
heavenly.

the happy days of fall

i flopped on my monthly posting.
september came and went. 

darn.

home schooling my kiddos has been great.
and this is usually how i look at things.....

if I can do it, anyone can. :) 

 my boys are happy (and aregash is tickled to have them home). 

they sometimes miss their friends, but i have assured them that the homeschooling community will be scheduling more activities soon.

 i chose not to participate in the co-op because i wasn't sure how overwhelmed i'd be.

 turns out it's not the thing that overwhelms me.....if anything, it has taken stress away.

 

you know....a leaf-angel :)

last week i was down in the dumps.....we've had something laid on us that was unexpected and painful, but obviously part of the big plan. 

of course, i am the one who takes things the hardest.....i don't let things roll off my back
the way my hubby does,
and they snowball.  

so for the last couple of weeks i've felt pretty depressed. 

this isn't always a bad thing for my kids. :)

and this is why.....

school only takes us around 2-2.5 hours each morning, so we have some time to play.

 and we have. 

last week we filled our week full of donuts and cookies and french fries and fountains. 

we spent our time outdoors in the beautiful fall weather 

and indoors ice skating with friends. 

 then we had some ice cream.....a couple of times. 

there was even a comment or two like this....
"i think this is the most sugar i've EVER had". 

ha.

and i've decided what makes me feel better is when my kids feel good. 

we have a blast together.

 they crack me up.

and i'm the coolest mom ever.

life is grand.

the blues will go away,

but we'll have each other

FOREVER.

and when i feel like running

and hiding......

i think about this family of mine.

and how i love them.

and how they love me.

there hasn't been one ounce of regret 

about spending my every. single. minute. with them.

they soften this mama's heart,
which sometimes seems to harden.

they are happy days.

happy days of fall.