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

nu=3289>949>:93>WSNRCG=323396;3:58;5nu0mrj.1.jpg">

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!!!!