16 years with the Love of My Life!

I've been married to the love of my life for 16 years today. But really I have known him since Oct. of 1982. That is almost 25 years! I truly do love him dearly and although I can drive him nuts some days, and some days we disagree (even though we have the same personality according to Myers-Briggs), and lots of days he laughs at me and we laugh at ourselves (I'm sure God does this on a daily basis so why shouldn't we?) I truly couldn't live without him. Happy Anniversary, honey! This is such a awful picture but we don't get too many of just us these days.

Down for a day or two!

Well, Asher had some out patient surgery on Monday. He did great but was down for the count all day. He bounced back yesterday but was laying low again today and since I've been feeling sick today I really didn't mind a bit. Even though it was nice to have a slow day because of me feeling sick, it is so hard to see our liitle guy not his smiley, fun self. We pray he heals quickly. I know I need to charish all this time on my lap because it will soon come to an end and I'll be chasing him around the yard and house again.

Look at those legs!

Asher is fast these days. Running around our house and can get into the toilet and trash at lightening speed! You wouldn't know it inless you examine Asher's legs carefully or have him wear shorts - but Asher is very bow legged. Here are some photos of him. His right leg is worse than the left. The doctor says that he should grow out of it but it is hard to imagine that now as he wobbles around - very fast might I add! I also read an article about bowed legs and they said that 75% of the college and pro basketball players are bow legged and it you watch them at the foul line you can tell. Not that I expect Asher to play ball, but it did make me feel that if he doesn't grow out of it then this shouldn't effect his quality of life in any way. Let me know what you think? Maybe you can't even notice - ya right!


Yes, this is Caroline laughing at me running around trying to get a good picture of Asher's legs.

Spring Break!?!

Tomorrow will be my kids last day off for Spring Break. We've had a great week for temps in the 30s, 40s and a day at 50! We've gone to the movies, read books, hung out together, watched it snow on several occasions and our special outing came on Easter Sunday night.

You are going to think that we really drag out our gifts and occasions, but with that said, last Sunday night (Easter) we went to see the Lion King Broadway show. It was my birthday present which was given to me back in October and we went to the show two days before my half birthday. It was the best gift ever!!!! The show was amazing, the cast phenomenal and the costumes out of this world! Everyone went but Asher since we didn't think he was old enough to appreciate it and be worth the money spent. I had to laugh that we enjoyed this show about Africa and left the African at home:)

This week the kids have put on shows, baked cup cakes, helped me make and deliver food to a neighbor with a new baby and yes, we even did a little house work - but just the bare minimum. We are going to Mexico at the end of the summer to visit my sister and Brad's sister and their families. So my hope was to apply for passports for the kids by the end of the week since they have to be present and the passport place is open from 9am-3pm M-F. So, I hope it works out to get them tomorrow. The wait for passports gets longer and longer. They are now saying that it will take 10 weeks to get back if you don't expedite them. I'm still waiting to get Asher's Birth Certificate so I might have to pay for his to be expedited but I'd like to avoid paying that extra for all four of them. Tomorrow it will be back up to the low 50s and we hope that the thermometer will keep climbing after that. Long Live Spring!

Change is in the Air!

Ok, beside the fact that on Tuesday the temps were 80 degrees and this morning it is snowing, there is a different change in the air. But be careful cause if you are not careful you will miss it. My twin sister was the first of us to get her bangs cut (in 8th grade)and the first to get a perm(in high school). And though its not a big change I was the first to have my hair high lighted (last weekend) with a little more red to cover the starting grey.

Pathetic before shot










After color shot

Can you tell the difference?

The Final Gift of Christmas!

Abby was given a gift for Christmas that was finally paid out this week. Abby loves horses and we gave her a gift card to have a horse riding lesson to check out horses and to see if she might be mature enough to start taking some lessons. We have this great Christian women that has a horsemanship school not to far from our house. They have an amazing place and a wonderful atmosphere. Abby LOVED her time with her teacher and her horse for the evening, Joy! She just dug in and did everything with confidence that was asked of her. Not too surprising because that matches her personality to a T. Her teacher told us that she was very impressed how she rested the horses hoof on her knee and dug in there to clean the hoofs. She wasn't afraid and enjoyed every bit of it. We are considering giving her future opportunities and her Dad is soooo excited to accompany her to the stables. They also give the students and parents an opportunity to help in the stables on Saturdays and that thrills them the most. Here are some shots of our brave little "dreamer"!

Catching up!

Sorry I haven't really blogged about life in awhile. About 10 days ago we had a great visit from my brother, Rick, Jane (his wonderful wife) and two of my three nephews in the family, Jordan and Justin (Josh was at Graceland - different spring break). We hung out and the kids had a great game of Laser Tag with their cousins. It was great catching up with them and they enjoyed finally meeting Asher and hanging out with all of our kids. I know our kids had a great time literally hanging on them during the few days they were here. We were also excited to hear that my nephew Justin will be attending Kenyon College here in Ohio starting next year. We will have to plan to make a trip to visit and hopefully we will have more visits in the future from my brother and family as they currently live in Kansas City. We were so busy visiting that I didn't take one picture of our great time together and the weather was wonderful. What was I thinking? Here is shot with their family about a year and a half ago when we went to their house.

So, you think that I would have moved the rolled oats or put them up higher, but that would mean that I'd have to think and plan ahead and being a mother of four and the fourth being a fast toddler there are days I'm just in survival mode in my thinking. So. . . it happened again. Since it has been a while since we'd had used the oats and they weren't too much left (comes with being dumped - more than once), so I finally just got rid of them. I think I should make a sensory table for the back porch and put in oats - he loves playing with them. Doesn't he have a guitly look on his face - Caught ya!

Here are some other shots of the cute guy. Asher got another hair cut but this time we asked for the almost shaved look. It took off all of his curls and I like the short look but I REALLY like his curls. He is so much fun and smiles almost non stop - so why don't I have many photos of that great smile. When I get the camera out he puts on the curious look instead. I'll have to try and sneak up on him for the smile shots. Here are a few of the good ones. This is taken after a snack and we were cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes. When we say "Go Bucks!" Asher puts his hands in the air and say "SSSSS" He is supposed to be saying "YYEESSS!" He gets so excited when we get excited watching the games. We will be watching again today when OSU take on Georgetown. GO BUCKS!

See What Can Happens When You Go to a Concert

I just loved this story that was on Oprah in January. It was just on a friends blog and I had to post it here as well. Just see what God has changed hearts of some many in one town. I love this story! Enjoy!


The first part is here

The second part is here

Amazing things happen when we are willing to listen to the pressions God lays on our hearts! I realize that God is not calling all to adopt, but how many times have I missed God blessings by not acting on the things He laid on my heart?

Spotlight Child!

Our agency asked us to write a little something for a spotlight on Asher. We were so flattered to put a little light on the fourth precious gift the Lord has given our family. So here it is if you interested http://cwa.org/cwanewsletter/mar07/spotlight.htm



He is such a fun little guy! We enjoy our time with him. Even some of his recent teething sessions from 2-4 am. He is awake but never fussy. It so nice and frustrating all in the same time. It only gets frustrating when the tiredness wears on you. We just love our Caroline, Caleb, Abby and our Asher Bradley Behailu! Oh, yeah! We came home 8 months ago today! And this was the day last year that CWA got our paper work and our taxes arrived in our account to cover the check we mail out of faith. It was truly an act of God and one of His many ways that he reminded us that He was in charge of the whole process and still is in control of our family! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Readoption Day!

Today was Asher's readoption hearing in the county court. Our whole family took part and though some of us were a little nervous the event was actually quite fun! We were asked the typical questions of how long has he been in our family? Was the adoption overseas completed? And how does he do with our family?

But there was one question that we weren't expecting and that was: Is there anything else that I need to know about Asher to help me make my decision to approve his readoption. We considered this a formality so we weren't ready to give reason for his approval on our adoption. Taken back Brad did an awesome job at stating Asher's need for a family and our desire for him to be in our family. My thought - We ain't shipping him back! After the formalities we spent time taking pictures and answering questions that the judge had about our choices in our adoption and why we decided to adopt. He was very sincere in wanting to know.

Afterwards we went to IHOP to celebrate and then took everyone to school and work. But we all did so with extra energy and joy from this awesome experience!

Where did it go??

We've had some great weather lately. Sunny and in the upper 50s, but yesterday on Friday it was actually in the 60s and we were all playing outside. Caleb was playing football when he said hey Mom look! I had no idea what I was looking at until finally a ball came into focus and I started to belly laugh. And of course, I just had to run and get my camera.

I couldn't believe that he had it balancing on the branch. But then I noticed that it was stuck between the little twigs which I think could be equally challenging to do. Yeah for Spring!

Last Year at This Time!

Last year at this time . . . is a favorite Ewing saying and maybe every family does this! So, these pictures were from this past weekend last year. My five brothers and sisters and I ascended onto the Colorado Slopes at Copper Mountain. We had the best time. This picture of my brother, Gary is at the top of the Mountains at our resort. He and my brother Rick went everywhere and took tons of pictures so we could see what it looked like up there since Cathy and I only saw the closest run past the bunny hill. We had a great weekend and I can't remembering laughing so hard. All 6 of us live in 4 different states and one of us is even out of the country. I miss you all Connie, Sharon, Rick, Gary and Cathy! Let's do it again!

How Would It Feel?

As I feed Asher his night time bottle last week, my thoughts went to his mother and how she felt feeding him when she had him. We don't know anything about his biological family so my thoughts are just assumptions and based on nothing real. I was wondering if she like many women in Africa (and other third world countries) was struggling to feel him. Maybe her milk ran dry from lack of nutrition in her own body and how hard that would feel. How hard to feel like you can't provide for your own children. It is the core of every mother to want to provide and care for your children. How hard it would be for me if I couldn't do that for my kids. What heart ache many parents go through on a daily basis over the surface of this earth. My heart is so overwhelmed at this thought. I pray for those families and it is then that I realize the importance of Compassion International, World Vision and other organizations that come along side the parents to put food in the bellies of this precious children while also providing the necessary supplies and uniforms to go to school. Just some sobering evening thoughts that were interrupted by the smile and laughter of a one year old finishing his bottle.

More Weird Weather!

Kids with Grandma Great! Icy Tree in our winter wonderland.

Well this February has been unusual to say the least. We've had snow, sleet, freezing rain, fog and I even heard thunder last night during some rain! We've had it all. We had a week with a delay and two snow days, a week with three snow days and then this morning we are on a delay because of fog and black ice on the roads. I'm just ready for Spring! And I know the birds are cause I've heard them out side for the past three mornings sing about the weather. I thought the ground hog said Spring was right around the corner?!? Well we were doing great and healthy and then it hit this morning also. Caleb has been throwing up this morning and Brad heads out of town for three days. So, we are good here! I love having my children home but I have to admit that it has been a little challenging with everyone home so much and we are doing a media fast (no TV, computer games). We've let Asher off the hook so he can watch "Wiggles" and we are all big fans now!

One big high light during this crazy weather is that we got away this weekend and visited Brad's Aunt Sharon and Uncle Tim and Cousins, Courtney and Kyle (they live in Canton). We also got a chance to visit and see Brad's Grandmother (in Sebring, OH). She had never met Asher. We unfortunately only took pictures at Grandmas - what was I thinking! We had a great time with them and they love to love on our kids! We enjoyed seeing Courtney's dorm room and hanging out and watching it snow. It snowed 6 inches here while we were gone so we came back to a winter wonderland again! One more week of February!

This is our River Birch all bent over! Fog alert this morning! School Delay!

Ice, Anyone?!?

Well, the ice and pjs worked because we've had two snow days in a row for the second week. Both weeks we have missed Tuesday and Wednesday. So it will make for a short week again. We got maybe 3-4 inches of snow with about a half inch on the trees and how knows how much ice and freezing rain actually fell. We have underground lines so luckily our power didn't go out. We cooked hotdogs in our fire place last night any way and pretended we were without power. Sorry the pj shots didn't really turn out but believe me they were inside out. (Don't know why they are so fuzzy) We only have one more snow day until the school starts to make it up. This week was a bummer because we can't play in the snow since it is all ice and very dangerous with branches fall every time the wind blows. Yesterday we made cupcakes and delivered them to the neighbors for Valentines Day that was fun for the girls to get out some. Looks like we won't thaw until next week. Well, so much for our blizzard but I know some of you got it! So today being Valentine's Day I made heart pancakes for the kids to share my love with them. Sorry hubby, he was already at work. Since his office move to ten minutes from our house (3 weeks ago), he has no reason not to make it to work even in bad weather.

Snow, Sleet or Rain????

Well, in the last three days the weather man has forcasted first 14 inches of snow for tonight and tomorrow. Then all day rain for tomorrow and then now then now they say we will have it all. With the temperature supposably hanging at 32 degrees we may experience some snow, then wintery mix, then rain until it turns cold again and turns back for more snow. One channel says 7 inches, one says one inch of ice and power outages and one says it the biggest winter storm for the last 5 years. Well, only time will tell! We are dying to know what our weather fate will be. Until then my kids will do the snow dance, flush ice cubes down the toilet and wear the pjs inside out to hopefully encourage the snow. We will keep you posted. . .

Let it snow!

Snow Day!

All four wonderful kids!

Asher in the sled Asher leaning back


Asher leaning way back!

Finally, a good snow! We got 6 inches and a second snow day. Yesterday we were off for cold and the anticipation of the snow. So, we got out this morning and played. Asher had his first day in the snow and loved being pulled in the sled. He had so many clothes on he couldn't stand never-the-less walk in it and it was halfway up his leg at that! So he loved the sled and then loved leaning back in the sled until . . . he laid back sooo far that he got a face full of snow and that was the end of the snow for Asher. We found a good hill in our back yard to ride because the snow was too powdery to build anything. Here are some pictures.

It was once a few seconds. . .

It was only a few seconds. . . We have many safe things for Asher to play with in the kitchen. We have Leap Frog magnetic activity on our refrigerator. We have one unlocked cabinet with Tupperware that he can empty, bang on and carry around the house. He also spends lots of time standing and walking under the kitchen table. But this time it was only a few seconds and I looked in all the normal spots, no Asher. I checked the bathroom cause he loves to play in the toilet and he was not in the garbage can either. Then I spotted him in the corner of the cabinets. I don't know how it got the cabinet open but he did and found the rolled oats and dumped them onto the floor. But the best part was the response he gave me when he looked up and saw me coming. He panicked and went into full mess mode. He tried with all his fury to swish the oats all over the floor. By the time I got to him, I was in a full belly laugh and I called to Caroline to bring the camera. The photos are doing the hole thing justice, but they help to give you an idea. Asher loves to play and plays hard! There are times I need to heed the same advice. Live life hard and have lots of fun!

Great NPR program

Just came across a great NPR program about white mothers raising black sons. I have thought of many of the things discussed, but it was good to have them brought back to mind. I know that Asher is easily accepted now by much of the public but how will he be preceived in public school and when he is no longer a cute baby, toddler and little boy. You can listen along.

It is a very good discussion with an white mother who adopted (2 from Ethiopia), a white mother who is married to a panamanian husband and raising bi-racial children and an African American mother who is very light skinned and raising African American children.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/roughcuts/

My Best Friend Moved to Mexico!

Have you ever been so excited and so sad at the same time. That is where I am. Today my best friend is moving to Monterrey, Mexico with her family to minister to orphans and the poor of the city. She is sooooooo caring, sweet, extremely creative, and flexible. She loves the Lord and seeks to walk with him daily. She has an amazing sense of humor and seeks to laugh with life! She has a wonderful Godly husband that works by her side and three wonderfuly different boys that I love having at my house and so do my kids! She is a great story teller. She is her own individual and willingly shares her opinion in a gentle manner. She sides with the down and out, has a heart for the homeless and those that aren't easily accepted. She has a huge heart and loves children - matter of fact, she is a child at heart! She loves chocolate. She's a great cook and not afraid to try just about anything. - Ok, maybe there are SOME boundaries. I know all these things about her because she is MY TWIN SISTER (yes, we are identical) and I already MISS her dearly! They will be driving for three days. I can't wait to see how God uses their family. I hope they start a blog so I can read about their adventures!

Tale of Two Great Personalities!

I don't usually forward emails that have been forwarded to me. You know the kind that you are to send to ten friends or just pass on to everyone. Today I received I mail I had to pass on and I thought I'd post it here to do the job. It's about Oprah having Billy Graham on her show and not only was I marvaled at all Billy told her and how he treated her but how I saw my relationship with God in this piece. I'm not comparing Billy to God but I just marvel at how much Christ is shown in his sweet, compassionate and gentle spirit. Here it is:

Billy Graham and Oprah

Last year I watched Billy Graham being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on television. Oprah told him that in her childhood home, she use to watch him preach on a little black and white TV while sitting on a linoleum floor. She went on to the tell viewers that in his lifetime Billy has preached to twenty-million people around the world, not to mention the countless numbers who have heard him whenever his crusades are broadcast. When she asked if he got nervous before facing a crowd, Billy replied humbly, "No, I don't get nervous before crowds, but I did today before I was going to meet with you." Oprah's show is broadcast to twenty-million people every day. She is comfortable with famous stars and celebrities but seemed in awe of Dr. Billy Graham. When the interview ended, she told the audience, "You don't often See this on my show, but we're going to pray." Then she asked Billy to close in prayer. The camera panned the studio audience as they bowed their heads and closed their eyes just like in one of his crusades. Oprah sang the first line from the song that is his hallmark "Just as I am, without a plea," misreading the line and singing off'-key, but her voice was full of emotion and almost cracked. When Billy stood up after the show, instead of hugging her guest, Oprah's usual custom, she went over and just nestled against him. Billy wrapped his arm around her and pulled her under his shoulder. She stood in his fatherly embrace with a look of sheer contentment.. I once read the book "Nestle, Don't Wrestle" by Corrie Ten Boom. The power of nestling was evident on the TV screen that day. Billy Graham was not the least bit condemning, distant, or hesitant to embrace a public personality who may not fit the evangelistic mold. His grace! and cou rage are sometimes stunning. In an interview with Hugh Downs, on the 20/20 program, the subject turned to homosexuality. Hugh looked directly at Billy and said, "If you had a homosexual child, would you love him?" Billy didn't miss a beat. He replied with sincerity and gentleness, "Why, I would love that one even more." The title of Billy's autobiography, "Just As I Am," says it all. His life goes before him speaking as eloquently as that charming southern drawl for which he is known. If, when I am eighty years old, my autobiography were to be titled "Just As I Am," I wonder how I would live now? Do I have the courage to be me? I'll never be a Billy Graham, the elegant man who draws people to the Lord through a simple one-point message, but I hope to be a person who is real and compassionate and who might draw people to nestle within God's embrace. Do you make it a point to speak to a visitor or person who shows up alone at church, buy a hamburger for a homeless man, call your mother on Sunday afternoons, pick daisies with a little girl, or take a fatherless boy to a baseball game? Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful /handsomeyou look when you're looking for what's beautiful in someone else? Billy complimented Oprah when asked what he was most thankful for; he said, "Salvation given to us in Jesus Christ" then added, "and the way you have made people all over this country aware of the power of being grateful." When asked his secret of love, being married fifty-four years to the same person, he said, "Ruth and I are happily incompatible." How unexpected. We would all live more comfortably with everybody around us if we would find the strength in being grateful and happily incompatible. Let's take the things that set us apart, that make us different, that cause us to disagree, and make them an occasion to compliment each other and be thankful for each other. Let us be big enough to be smaller than our neighbor, spouse, friends,! and strangers.
Every day, may we Nestle, not Wrestle!

And of course it ends with . . .

Please pass this one on...

Sensory Seeking!

Sensory Seeking! This is how the doctor described Asher this week at his one year check-up. I've been exploring this phrase in my mind and I've decided if you are sensory seeking it can mean many things. So for Asher it means lots of normal one year old behavior but also somethings that just make Asher the special boy God created him to be. So here are a few sensory seeking moments in the life of Asher 1. He loves to put everything in his mouth including leaning over the hearth and not only licking it but he scraps this top two teeth on the bricks. 2. He bangs everything with his hand, a pencil or any object he can find for his hand. His favorite pass time is banging a pot with a wooden spoon. 3. He picks up everything and first shakes it then tastes it. 4. He loves water and hates to get out of the tub. These last few weeks he has loved to bee line it to the toilet to play in that water. After many baths and changes of clothing and lectures about closing the lid and bathroom door, we now have a toilet lock. 4. Every meals is enjoyed by Asher and he loves most food. You know it's not his favorite because he will smack it on his head and make the sour face. Thus, more baths or wash downs. 5. Asher is always such a help when it comes to cleaning up. I fold clothes and he takes them back out again. 6. Now that the weather is cold. Asher loves feeling the cold in many ways like sticking out his tongue when it's windy. Yesterday while we were waiting for the kids to come off the school bus we stood at the storm door and the glass was foggy. Asher kept pressing his palm flat against it and then placing his cold wet hand on his nose and laughing. He got a kick out of that. I love his excitement for life and how he explores everything. Even though I'm an adult I'm trying to have the same outlook of experiencing life to it's fullest with wonderment.

Look Mom, No Teeth!

Caroline became rich this week when she put 8 teeth under her pillow for the "tooth fairy". Our beautiful daughter had 8 baby teeth extracted on Thursday to make room for her adult teeth and also for some orthodonics to being when the new teeth show their face. She did soooo well and was very brave. Even her mother admits she would not have been able to handle it as well as she did. She has been eating lots of soft foods and of course, ice cream! She is so beautiful inside and out!

Ye Ganna Baal!

This weekend we celebrated the Ethiopian Christmas. We dressed in our Ethiopian garb. Asher wore his shirt and the girls in the family wore our Ethiopian scarfs. We put away most of our Christmas decorations but kept out our Ethiopian Nativity Scene. Since our Ethiopian restuarant was closed we didn't eat any traditional food. We hoped to play hockey which is close to a traditional game played in Ethiopia. They do this in Ethiopia because they believe that the shepherd after seeing Jesus played a game with a ball and their crooks. But it rained and the hockey game never happened. It was fun to have some new traditions to add to our family.

New Year and New Happenings!

With the New Year comes some new skills from our Asher! He goes to the doctor next week and I can't wait to see how much he has grown. Unoffically he is 23 1/2 lbs, which sounds like a typical one year old to me. And finally after almost 6 mos. of Asher preferring his father and the last few months of saying only Dada! (Which I milked for all it was worth in the middle of the night). Asher is finally saying Mama! And I love it!!!! Nothing like the sound of that word- even in the middle of the night! Asher is also a walking man! He will take only about 5-6 steps at a time but he is not afraid to get back up and keep going and he flys if he has a wall or a coffee table or sofa to stable him. We are going to be exausted from now on. I think I've found my New Year's work out! Asher also loves blowing a kiss, waving and blinking at you to flirt or get your attention quietly.

Our 2006 was so full of family times both good and hard! Lots of learning from the Lord, mostly about patience and leaning not on our own understanding but in all of our ways acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight. Man do I take a lot of crazy paths. Am I acknowledging Him in ALL my ways? I really do need to work on this daily! This is my new years focus to acknowledge Him in ALL my ways! We had a great 2006 and look forward to all God will teach us in 2007.