Merry Christmas - a little late!

Asher the blurry rock star

Abby and Uncle B under the tree.

Well, like our Christmas cards we are late wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. We had a great time on Christmas eve. It started with worshipping with most of my side of the family at my parents church. We took up many rows with our party of 20. We spent the afternoon at Grandma Ewings with Brad's brother and sister-in-law. We all spent the night and enjoyed a relaxing Christmas morning and afternoon. In the afternoon we spent time with Grandma and Grandpa Shipley. We've been passing around a cold but most of us have been feeling well. The day after Christmas we took a different trail from our usual tradition. We usually get carry out at a ethnic restaurant and sit on our family room floor to eat it. But this year we cashed in some hotel points and gave as a gift to our kids - one night at a local Embassy Suites Hotel to swim, play games and hang out as a family. We had a great time and came back smelling like chlorine. We hope to get our Christmas cards out by the Ethiopian Christmas Day on Jan. 7 2007. Then officially (in Ethiopia that is) we WON'T be late!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Well, I've missed telling about a very important day in our family. Caleb had a great star wars birthday this month and we enjoyed celebrating his special day. Caleb is a sweet, smart young man that enjoys learning and right now he is absorbing anything he gets his hands on that talks about Star Wars. He recieved his first set of life sabers and the IV episode on DVD. He enjoys playing chess and now backgamon too. Our little boy is growing up and we are sooo proud of him!

Adoption and Christmas!

There is soooooo much adoption in Christmas! I read in my new archeological Bible that Caesar Augustus was adopted by his uncle and of course Jesus had Joseph as his adopted Father and it gives us a great picture of how our heavenly Father wants to adopt us into His Forever Family. Brad delivered a gospel presentation through our adoption experience at our Church's Christmas program for 4 shows and Asher made a guest appearance. I was going to try to describe what he said, but I thought I'd just copy it for you to see. God worked in great ways. It definitely touched hearts and gave people a new perspective on their relationship with God. We were just a vessel to communicate the best message of all.They sang "There are no Orphans of God" song right before he went on. Here is what he said,"My name is Brad and just five months ago today, my wife Chris and I were in the midst of an incredible journey to Africa, to the country of Ethiopia, to adopt a 7-month-old baby boy. Up until that day, we had only a few pictures of him and his sweet little face and we were dying to meet him and welcome him into our family. They called him Mamush, which means “little boy” because they didn’t even know his name. So as you can imagine, we knew very little about him or the circumstances that had left him as an orphan. And it was such a mystery for us as his new parents to picture what his early days must have been like or what sights his little brown eyes had seen. But what we could imagine was life with him in our own home and the smothering love he was about to receive not only from us but from his brother and sisters back in Cincinnati. We had an incredible first meeting in a hotel lobby in Addis Ababa that we’ll never forget and then a joyfully tearful airport reunion as a family of 6 that is one of the highlights of my life. We named him Asher and I would love for you meet him tonight.(Chris brings Asher out for a brief introduction.) Asher means “happy and blessed” which is surely true of his life but actually of ours as well because of the joy that he has brought to our family. I am still a rookie in many ways when it comes to this experience of adoption, but I know enough already to know what an amazing picture it is of God’s love for us. Asher is too young to know how alone he was. He doesn’t know how desperately he needed parents to love him and care for him, to cheer for him, and laugh with him, and protect him, and pray for him. He doesn’t realize how much he needed someone to know him and call him by name. Someday though he will know. But I’m not too young to know how alone I was. You may even feel that way tonight or if not, I bet you can remember too. Spiritually speaking, I was an orphan. And in reality, I was far more lost than Asher. I needed love and protection. I needed someone to cheer for me and delight in me and care for me. I needed someone to know my name. I needed someone to know everything about me - and love me anyway. I needed a Dad. And while Chris and I knew almost nothing about Asher, before we held him for the first time, Our Heavenly Father knows each of us intimately, because he created us. He knows what we need - and what we need is Dad. What we need is family. He has wired us for relationship with Him and each other and He has offered us the chance to become children of God. He is all about big families! As I think about this Christmas, and the first Christmas, I am reminded of the name Emmanuel, which means “God With Us.” I think that is just incredibly profound. God didn’t want us to be alone and he didn’t want us to be orphans without a Father. When we traveled across the World to be with Asher it felt like a trip that took forever. But God traveled even further. He traveled through space and time to be with us – to be God With Us – to welcome us into the family. Now that is the Hope of Christmas. And that’s my Hope for you this Christmas. “Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people . . . " Emmanuel, God is With Us and we don’t have to be alone! Merry Christmas!" Every time he practiced it with me I cried. So this Christmas and every one after will be seen through humble and grateful eyes. Thankful that I'm an adopted child of God and my Christmas wish is that all who reads this would be also. Our kids did great as they saw 2 of 4 performances and attended the dress rehearsal. We had lots of late nights and this week we are catching up on rest and getting geared up to celebrate Caleb's 8th birthday on Saturday, Dec. 16th.

Question for bloggers?

Why can't I get paragraphs in my posts? Most if not all the times when I hit the "return" button it won't do anything. So all my posts are one big paragraph. Any help on that one? Thanks!

More partying!

Asher went to town on his cupcake and had lots of fun eating cake and ice cream. He picked his cup cake up in one hand and turned over the whole cup cake and ate it upside down. He ate the cake first and then licked the icing off of his hand. Yes, the picture you see here is him eating his second helping. I forgot how uninterested one year olds are about the gifts - good thing we didn't go crazy buying for him. The simpler the better! Two of our neighbors came over with gifts for him and I wished he could have been a little more excited about their gifts. We gave him something called Boom Whackers. They are plastic tubes that you bang on anything and the play a note. Each are different sizes so they have different notes sounds. Everyone loved this one and we were playing Mary Had a Little Lamb and Jingle Bells by the end of the evening. Since Asher bangs on everything and uses pencils to bang on everything, he caught on quickly to how these work. Well, two more weeks til Caleb's birthday and then we will celebrate Jesus' birthday - what a fun season of life and the year!

Now I am ONE!!!!

After hair cut Before the hair cut

Happy Birthday, Asher!!! He is now a one year old. We got our Christmas tree today and had a great time. Tonight we will have cake and ice cream and he started the day off with a lollipop. He got it at the barber shop and yes, he is sporting a new do! So check out some before and after pics. Our little boy looks so sharp and so different. We keep thinking back to a year ago. We were at our decision point of adoption - domestically or internationally and far away in Boditi, Ethiopia a "mamush" (little boy) was born to a wonderful, loving and selfless mother. We don't know the circumstances that brought us together but we do know the loving God that is control of all and created our family from worlds apart. We are so happy with our little guy, he is soooo happy (even when getting his hair cut), cuddly, very smart, creative and extremely curious! He is another gift from God to our family and we are so HAPPY and BLESSED (the meaning of Asher)! I'll post pictures of the cake eating tomorrow!

What would it be like to be Mary???

While I read from Luke last night I really contemplated about what it would be like to have been in Mary's shoes? Tomorrow the movie "The Nativity Story" shows up in theatres and let me tell you it has me thinking about what Mary was like. Here she is stepping out in faith, I mean REAL faith without any big doubts or major question session. She is whole heartedly into it and with unabandonedment follows the Lord's leading. I mean she saw an Angel!!! She was engaged and now to have a baby. Who would believe it was from the Lord and she didn't just fool around. How much redicule did she get? How did she approach Joseph with the news and have faith that everything would work out. Some faith! She journeyed being sooooo pregnant and journeying then was nothing like journeying now. Did she really have to cross a river? (I still have to look that one up) I want a faith like Mary. I want to see God at work in my life. I feel like I've been squinting and need my eyes wide open. I'm praying this season and all seasons of my life I'll have my eyes WIDE open and my heart taking in all that God is doing and be willing to do all that he wants of me and maybe I'll have a moment to ponder back on all He has done. May we all have the heart and faith of Mary. She was only human but man, did she lean on her Lord in a big, bold way!! PS. I'll let you know what I think of the movie if I get a chance to go. If you go please let me know what you thought!

What a week to be Thankful!

We have had a fun week to say the least. We've spent time with my twin sister and family two weekends in a row and also spent a week with Brad's sister's family for a week and can you believe that I only have two pictures to show for it all.

The weekend before Thanksgiving we had a support raising event for my sister's family. They are going to Mexico to be missionaries. They will work with Back 2 Back ministries which works with orphans and people of Monterrey. We were really hoping for a good turn out but didn't get what we were expecting. So, we trust that the Lord is working in the hearts of those that we sent invitations. God will provide for them in His timing we are praying how else we might be able to help. We may ask a local restuarant to get a % of their profits for a night and invite our friends to bring their families to eat.

We had a great time with our sisters and their families. Our kids play sooo well and enjoy each others company. When they come over the kids disappear and the adults get to talk. It is a wonderful thing!

We spent Thanksgiving with Brad's mom. We took a two mile walk in the morning with our dog and Grandma and then ate at her house and then went to our church where our family was on the clean up crew for the Thanksgiving meal that they served for over 200 people who needed a place to be on Thanksgiving! It was great family time. On Friday, my twin sister and family and my brother and his family joined us for a game of Lazer Tag. 40 people played in our "Misssion" and my niece who is 14 was the #3 scorer. Fun was had by all and Cathy and I watched with Asher from the observation deck.

We had a great week and to top it off. Caleb came down with the flu tonight. Hopefully, he will not be sick all night, but we shall wait and see. We are blessed in so many ways and love the four kids we have. I have a wonderful husband and best friend. I have counted my blessings this week and can't get over how incredibly blessed I am. I'm so rich in the Lord, it is like no other.

So here are some pictures of this week. Oh, yeah, it has been sooooo warm here lately we are still riding bikes and playing football outside without our coats and gloves. Can you belive it! I don't think my photos are loading so I'll try again later. Thanks for reading!

We are still here and we are doing well!

Sorry that I haven't written lately. We are doing well. We will be having a weekend with family coming into town. Brad's sister and family comes in from Mexico tonight and my sister and her family who is raising support to go to Mexico and minister along side Brad's sister and family. We are having a support raising event Saturday for them and life has been crazy. Also, Asher gets dedicated on Sunday! It will be great to have family in for that event.

I have photos to post and things to say but it may have to wait a few more days. I'm so thankful with time with our family and we'd appreciate prayers for our event. And this is Michigan week. GO BUCKS! I'll write more later when the dust settles.

So Here is What Happened on Halloween!

Well, everyone was happy on Halloween! Abby, Asher and I were "scaredy cats" for Halloween and stayed in and watched High School Musical while eating candy. We left a bowl of candy on the porch so we wouldn't have to see the scary masks that came to the door. Caleb dressed up as Yoda - thanks to Brad for making his mask the night before. Caroline was going to be Anne of Green Gables but realized that she gave away the dress that she was going to wear. So with 20 minutes before they were to leave we leaped into action and came up with STATIC CLING!!!! She was thinking a laundry basket and since I needed all my baskets last night we decided to attach clothes to a sweat suit and call her static cling! What a great sense of humor she has! Asher just had a pumpkin hat and a trick or treat shirt on. He went casual! Abby put on a horse outfit for the picture! Fun was had by all and Abby was so glad she stayed in and no one woke with nightmares. Hurray!

What will we do about Halloween?????

Wow, what a day!!! We had a beautiful day of 70 degrees and sun shine while the leaves fell with the slight breeze in the air. We had our family portraits taken today. Who knew that the weather would be so great for it. We had a local photographer take them outside her home and can't wait to share them with you - I'll have to ask her if I can do that. They were so fun to do and she took great shots of our family, the kids alone and then Asher alone. We have school pictures of Caroline, Caleb and Abby. Actually our photographer is the same that Abby's preschool used. We used the fall foliage as a back drop and she even got fun pictures of the kids playing in the leaves. Everyone did so well and Asher did well when we got him to look in the direction of the camera:). Tomorrow is Halloween and we had originally decided not to trick or treat because Abby has a phobia of masks. But we decided that maybe Caleb and Caroline really wanted to but we were keeping them from the fun. So, Brad asked Caleb and he said yes and by the end of the night all three were deciding what to be tomorrow without going to buy costumes (we usually make them anyway). Caleb is going to be Yoda from Star Wars (like there is any other), Caroline wants to be Ann of Green Gables and Abby says she is going and she will wear a horse costume that we have. Asher may go as a bear if we can't think of anything else. And he looks like a teddy bear in his coat. Trick or treating is short lived at our house. We tend to just go to the neighbors house that we know well and we usually feel unsettled with some of the other costumes that we see. We haven't been in three years so this could be interesting. Plan B is to turn the lights down and watch a light hearted movie in the back of the house while a bowl of lollipops sits on the porch for those going around. We will keep you posted on how it goes.

Now and Then . . .

I can't believe it has been three months since we've brought home our son, Asher, from Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Here are some photos of Asher now and back when we were in Ethiopia from 7/9 - 7/16/2006. He has changed in looks but what you can't see from pictures is his developmental skills. He came home having a little problem holding up his head, rolling forwards and backwards but not sitting up at all without assistance. He can now crawl (rather fast I might add), sit up and go from his tummy to sitting to standing along furniture and walls. He has no problems creating a mess by emptying shelves, taking off papers and magnets from the refrigerator and emptying the laundry basket faster than I can fill it. What has not changed is his sweet smile, his deep dark wide eyes, his wonderful laugh and the wonderful way he looks at his father!

Now, Asher in his bear coat 10/06

Then, Asher getting warm 7/06

Asher Now 9 mos old

Asher then 7 mos old

Asher now 10 mos old
Asher 7 mos old

My Sweetie!

There is a breeze in the air and today we saw some snow pebbles. Not big enough for flakes so they are more like snow pebbles. Saturday was sweetest day! And my sweetie (of 15 years of marriage and 7 years of dating before that) was sick this weekend. We are passing around the virus I had last month. He was sick this weekend and he was still cared for me and worried that I was going to be tired today after being up with Asher last night while he broke his 7th and 8th tooth! I really appreciate him. He is the best help mate! The perfect and only one for me!!! I love you honey!!!

Fall is Here!

It is Starting to look like fall around here and this past week Abby has been home with a rash and a virus! So while the kids in the neighborhood were at school we came out to play. I don't know if her rash was from her 5 year shots that she got two weeks ago or just something she caught. We are hoping it will not cirulate through the family. We are in the full swing of the soccer season and enjoying following our football teams: Kings HS, Ohio State and Cincy Bengals! It is hard to believe that we,ve been home 3 mos from Ethiopia! We just completed our first post placement report and we are sooo blessed with a healthy and happy boy! Although these photos don't show it. They do show that Asher's taste test on leaves are a big thumbs down!:(

A picture paints 1000 words! Gotta see these!

Wow! A world away there are photos of a faith I can not even fathom. Take a look at the photos on the web site. Most are taken in Sodo, Ethiopia in the region that Asher is from in Ethiopia. He is from Bodite that sits on the river that is shown in these photos. One photo talks about a women getting water 5 miles from her home and how a child in her home died from disease caught from drinking the water. We all need water and how important clean water is to everyone on this earth. I'm amazed and in awe how different our lives are from those across the world and I know this happens else where not just Ethiopia. Only by the grace of God was I born in the US (the richest country in the world) to the family I am apart of today. What a blessing! Am I worth it? Do I deserve it? No. Am I grateful enough? Never!

These photos educate me, make me grateful and urge me to pray for the people of Ethiopia and others around the world struggling to survive. They also stir a passion in my heart for Africa, but I don't know what to do about that yet. Still praying!

It's not by MIGHT, not by POWER but by MY SPIRIT. . .

Here's the link http://www.womeninphotography.org/archive15-July03%20/member_prof/12MenNChurchLarge.html

There's an Author in the Family!!!

My parents brought the new author in our family flowers to help her celebrate. Caroline is having a short story printed in the Anthology of Short Stories that is due to come out the end of January. The best part of the whole honor is this awesome article that was written about her. I will see if I can have this copied to my blog. It is from the Sept. 28th, 2006 issue of the a local newspaper.
Student publishes first story
BY ANDREA REEVES -- Caroline set a goal for herself: to get published before she turned 20.
And as a student , she'll see her name in print in just a few months.
Ewing wrote a short story that was selected for the "Anthology of Short Stories by Young Americans." The book went to print Aug. 5 and will be available for purchase in January.

Her story, "The Snowman who Loved Hot Chocolate," is about a snowman who steals hot chocolate from a mother of six children, gets kicked out of the yard, only to later be adopted by the family and kept in a freezer.
While Ewing wrote the story as a fourth-grader, it wasn't until last school year that her teacher told the class that anyone who wanted to be in a contest should bring in stories they'd written.
"I thought I'd give it a try," she said. "I always wanted to be a writer. I think it's cool I actually got published."
In addition to her ambition of writing short stories and children's and teen books, Caroline also wants to be an interior designer and a missionary when she graduates in 2013.
"I don't know if I can do all that, but I hope I can fit it all in," she said, her contagious grin lighting up her face.
Her aspiration to become a missionary in Mexico or Africa comes from an aunt and uncle who are missionaries in Mexico.
She also has a 9-month-old brother named Asher, whom her parents adopted from Ethiopia.
But her simple reason for this aspiration: "I want to spread God's word to people who need it."
But for now, Caroline seems content to be a student, albeit a mature one.
"She is very, very conscientious," said her teacher, Mrs. Wiley. "She's an ideal student in a lot of ways. She's inspired by serving others and she's just really wise for her age. She's thoughtful and dedicated to what she believes in."
She likes to re-decorate her room, write, spend time on the computer, knit and sew and play sports. She's on a soccer, softball and baseball team in addition to playing games with her siblings in her front yard.
"Our family, we love the Bengals, Reds and the Buckeyes. I'm an avid sports fan so I follow those teams," she said.
She also likes to read, and lists The Lily Series and The Westing Game as her favorite books in addition to the Bible. "That's my favorite book of all time," she said.
"I think it shows a good deal of hard work and dedication... She's done something at such a young age that adults have difficulty doing," said Wiley. "It's a happy day when any kid achieves something great. She is, at a very young age, able to set goals and achieve them."
I want to thank Andrea Reeves for capturing my daughter with her whole heart and not leaving anything out that she shared. I wish I could take the credit for his precious 6th grader, but it is by the grace of God that she is what she is. God has taken hold of her at a young age and she has been walking with the Lord ever since. When I grow up I want to be like her.

The Boys Are on the Move!!!

Well, the past two weeks we've added two more accomplished bike riders to our family. Abby and Caleb have mastered their bikes without training wheels and they are riding all around ALL the time. Well, Asher didn't want to be left out so he got on his bike this week and loved it. Of course, he had to check the tires first. We are working on our balancing skills so that next spring we can take some big bike rides around our local lake, but the terrain in quite curvy and we need to have good control so no one ends up in the lake.

Proud Man Standing!!

Wahooo! He is standing! What am I talking about.?. AHHHH, he is standing!! He learned to crawl about two weeks ago and last week I was sitting at the computer working and I know I left him on his stomach to play with some toys and in moments, I mean MOMENTS later he was standing at the activity table banging away at the buttons. Now he gets himself up and then screams cause he can't get down and he also needs close supervision cause he will let go with out warning and fall backwards. He seems to be doing so much lately, I keep thinking he will slow down. Asher can sit up, crawl, get from his stomach to sitting position to standing, he can wave and clap! We are definitely at a different baby proofing level and all hands are on deck to help at all times in our household. Whew! It is tiring but oh, so much fun!!! What will come next . . . maybe he will say "Mama!" I'll keep you posted!

What to do with all my feelings???

I've been wondering what God would want me to do with the passion he has given me for Africa and the heart I have for orphans. I've been wondering, do I go, adopt more and there is even a part of me (don't laugh) that wants to be God's superhero to save the day for those in need -develop a ministry to help with AIDS, or getting clean water to people, getting food or appropriate clothes to those in need. But, in my times with the Lord and even in everyday living, I've felt God leading me in another direction. He says, "Grow, where you are planted, Chris!" Be a loving encouraging and supporting wife to the wonderful husband I've given you. Be the Mom of four children that need you to nurture, feed and love them in the way I want you to and encourage them in my ways. Grow in me and I will give you ministry opportunities that you can't even dream of and do it now for nothing else, but to glorify me and so that THEY may know that I am God. WOW! Thanks, Lord! So, this week I will dig into God's Word, help with a shoe drive at church for orphans all over the world, answer the many questions people ask us about our family as we are out and about and let them know our family is wonderful by the grace of God and He gets all the glory. I will clean the house (as much as I can, honey) for the Lord, make lunches, drive to practices, play the board game of "Life" with my son and wipe bottoms and give hugs and kisses all to the glory of God and invest in the life and ministry opportunities that God gives me now. And of course, I will update you if God calls us otherwise. I am also still learning about Africa, enjoying African music and reading new things about Ethiopia and Africa in general. So, if you learn anything interesting send it along! I love to learn! So what do I do with my feelings. Love Africa, pray for Africa (that is doing a lot) and grow where I'm planted!

Happy Enkutatash - New Year!

Today, September 11th, 2006 is actually Meskerem 1, 1999 in Ethiopia! Today is the Ethiopian New Year and according to their calendar they are counting down to the millennium! We celebrated Saturday Night by eating at our Ethiopian restaurant - East African because they are closed on Sunday and Monday. Our whole family liked the experience and I'm soooo proud of my kids who not only dove into the food but did it Ethiopian style with their hands only!! The girls enjoyed the food and drank lots of water to help with the spices. Asher loved the injera! Some of the customs I've heard about are waving palm branches and burning them in big bon fires passing out small signs and special flowers! So Happy New Year everyone!

How many takes does it take to take a family photo?

Can you believe that this in not even half of the shots that we took! We have some that are doable but I'm sure we will try for another photo session soon. :)

5 Senses of Ethiopia: Smells

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Well, I should have done this one first as I have to strain my brain to remember some. But off the top of my head the smells that come back to my mind are of car exhaust and burning trash. I remember the burning smell being one that reminds me of when I went to Tanzania. Burning trash was the only way the Tanzanians could handle the trash situation. I assume the same is true from Addis but I'm not sure. I wish we would have had the chance to go to the country side but because we made three trips back to the embassy to check on paperwork we weren't able to do so. I wonder if you could smell the burning trash in the country as well. Coffee is the best smell from Ethiopia. The rich robust flavors fill the air when someone starts the wonderful coffee ceremony. I enjoyed on one ride to a back neighborhood to go to the wood carrier women's project the wonderful smell of roasted corn that was being cooked on the road side and sold. The Stews or Wats that are made for the Ethiopian dishes are so delightful and makes your nostrils dance with the flavorful spices. Can't wait to go to the Ethiopian restaurant and experience these again! YUM!!!!

End of Summer Photos

Caleb and Asher out for a walk
First Cherrio with help from Abby!
Life's a party with my big sister Caroline!
Wide Eyed! Have I taken too many photos?
Last day of summer celebration with Grandma and Grandpa Shipley at the Mason Whippy Dip has become annual tradition - since this was year 2! Asher slept through this visit but has experienced a bit cause it is hard to eat ice cream with a baby straped to your tummy. We had a great summer but we are now in the second week of school and plan to head back to the whippy dip this weekend before it closes for the summer!

Here are some photos of some of our activities in August. August 10th we celebrated Abby's 5th birthday Ballerina Style and LOTS of Pink. Pink tutus, pink cup cakes, pink lemonade everything pink!
Asher loves water and the bath becomes a big party especially if you add a sister or a brother!

Life around our house can be very tiring! And Asher is the only one that gets caught up on his sleep somehow! Oh, for an afternoon nap!!!