Traveling to Ethiopia -- Debbie

To all who reads,
I am leaving on Wednesday the 19th to go to Ethiopia for 12 days. I will return Oct. 1, Lord willing. We will be meeting with the US Embassy workers in Ethiopia. Also with the Ministry that is in charge of the adoption process in Ethiopia. We will also go to the orphanage that is about 11 or 12 hours away from the capital. I am taking 6 bags of clothing for the orphanage to use for the babies and toddlers that we will help families adopt. I asked our church and the preschool where Heidy goes and WOW did they all ever come through!! I have at least that much more clothing to send if not more!! And it's still coming in!! God is good!! Please pray for me that we will have safe travels and get a lot done for the Ethiopia program and be fruitful in our labors.
Thank you,
Debbie

Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 11, 2005 (long)

6 years ago, I will never forget the day. I turned on the TV and the first tower had been hit by a plane. Everyone was just hoping it was an accident. Then a little while later the second tower was hit and everyone knew it wasn't. I sat in front of my TV, broken and crying. The twin towers in New York City were attacked. I had never been there but Mark had. I sat and watched over and over, the replays of the towers getting hit by airplanes and crash to the ground, trying to figure out what happened and who was responsible. I remember praying for people I didn't even know, to find other people I didn't even know. I prayed for the rescue workers to not be hurt. I was sad for the people who lost family members, I was sad for the children who lost parents and for the parents who lost children and for the husbands who lost wives and the wives who lost husbands. I was sad for the rescue workers that lost fellow workers. It made no sense!!! I was sad for the kids who were in school and watched this unfold in their classes. Our son, Jordan, was away at college, I called and told him about it and talked a bit, and told him I loved him. Our oldest daughter, Milady, was home for a Doctor's appointment that morning and we watched it some and I told her I loved her, before she went back to school. My daughter, Skyler, was in grade school and remembers watching that in her class. That makes me sad that she had to learn at such a young age that this world isn't fair nor nice at times, but she knew her mommy loved her too. I called her school a couple of times that day, to check on her and the rest of the students. I wanted all my little chicks under my wing that day!!! I pray that God will comfort the precious families during this time in ways that no one else can!

2 years ago we were in New York City for a business trip for Mark. Another day I will never forget. On the subway, on the way to Ground Zero, we were riding along and this young lady got on the subway and at the next stop she came and sat by me. We started talking and I asked if she were from NYC and she said yes. I asked if she was born there and she said no. She was born in Ethiopia. Her mother had come over 10 years before for political asylum, our government granted it to them!! The kids came about 3 years later. I know my chin was on the floor because we were thinking of adopting from there. I told her this and she said we should! She told me a little about Ethiopia and we talked about many different things. Our stop was getting close and she asked me if she could say something and I said yes, of course. She said to Mark and me, "I just want to say, My country is so beautiful but so poor and needs so much help, if you could get just one child out that would be great. If you adopt a little girl from Ethiopia, I truly believe you will be doing God's work." I was crying by this time and she hugged me and shook hands with Mark. When we got off the subway, it was like OK God we don't need lightening bolts!! What are the chances that some people from a small town in Illinois would be on the subway with someone born in a small country in Africa, that they were thinking of adopting from??? God has ways of showing us what He wants us to do. I will never forget what she said to us!!

I just pray that we get to do this. Pray for us to do what God wants.

At Ground Zero, we saw many, many families and I cried. It was so sad. There is a small church, across the street. I met a woman who lost her daughter on 9-11, sitting on a bench there. I told her I was sorry. She and I talked a bit and then I got up and left her alone with her thoughts. She knew she was in ours.

God bless the families affected by this tragedy, God bless all of our families, God bless the people of Ethiopia, God bless the USA.

Tractor Pull

First of all, let me give you the real picture, Mark is an Investment Broker now, but he grew up on a farm. I grew up in a bigger city, in the suburbs. Our theme song could be the "Green Acres" theme song. Anyway, Mark wanted to go to a Tractor Pull. "It's a sanctioned one, it will be on ESPN!! " So we went. And yes, the TV camera's were there and I got a few pictures but not a ton. I thought I would share. Heidy wasn't as excited about it as Mark thought she would be. I think she liked it but it was so loud!! We all either had ear plugs or covered our ears.

She got excited that there was a Gator like hers!!
Here she is with her ear plugs!

Oh yes and trucks pulled too.

TV camera

another one

Mommy and Heidy

A few othe tractors......

Center Time at Pre School

I wish I had taken my camera!!!

Today after center time. Miss Natalie, the teacher asked me if I would read a book, it was about adoption. I have known Natalie since she was in first grade and she has known Heidy since Heidy came home and knows that Heidy is very open about it. But, before I said yes, I asked Heidy if it was ok to read a book about adoption and if she wanted to say anything. She said yes. So.... We read "Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born". It's mainly about domestic adoption, but Heidy told them she was born in Guatemala. She had a foster mom and her name was Gloria and we had to come to Guatemala to get her. She told them when she was there she drank bottles and wore diapers, and now she is a big girl and doesn't do those things. It did my heart good that Heidy sat up very confident in herself when she was talking about being from Guatemala. She was not shy about it at all. It makes me smile now just thinking about it!! I love my little girl so much!! It went really well, but I wish I had known about it and I would have taken things from Guatemala and probably a different book. But at least it opened up the thought processes of the little ones. Next week, I am going to take our big Atlas for kids and some things from Guatemala and another book to read about Adoption and make it a little learning series for the kids. Natalie thought this was a good idea.

And I will take my camera!!