Christmas Traditions!

We have many traditions for Christmas but they all come after our getting our Christmas tree, and that is a big tradition within itself. We go to a wonderful tree farm, ride on a horse drawn wagon, after taking pictures of the kids with trees they like we all pick a tree with Mom and Dad getting the majority vote! They have hot cocoa and funnel cakes and of course Santa to take photos with.

Birthday Boy with his Dad! Hansome Guys!


Birthday Gifts! Asher opening his talking Little Bill.
Taking it home to decorate!

Happy Birthday Asher Mamush!

Mamush means "little boy" in Amharic (the Ethiopian language). And our sweet baby turns two today (Dec. 2) and is starting to become our Mamush not our baby anymore. I gave him a long kiss and hug last night knowing that I will no longer have my one year old!

Asher has changed so much in a year. He has not only learned to walk, run, jump with both feet, but also taken leaps and bounds with his vocabulary and now talks in wonderfully fun sentences! I love that he sings and makes a beat with his hand all the time. He loves the water and can't get enough of it - just read the previous post. But the thing that I love most that Asher has started this year is praying to Jesus and singing about Jesus! It is so precious and I know for a fact that it will carry him far. Here is our traditional birthday video with Asher highlights from the past year!

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The Big Splash!

Brad is out of town and last night I was in Asher's room. I had just bathed him and put him in pjs and set him up right. He made his way out of the room while I straighted up dirty clothes. The rest of the kids were getting baths and showers and pjs on when I hear heavy foot prints a big splash and a piercing scream from Abby. I run to the bathroom to find Asher in the tub with Abby and it scared her to death. He was in PJs and all and according to Abby he didn't really stop upon entering the bath room he just dove right in. I wish I could tell you that I ran for the camera to take a picture but since it was the second PJ change I wasn't too happy at the moment and it wasn't until I changed he pjs for the third time that I had to chuckle about the whole thing. I wonder at what point in his way for the bed room to the bath did he know he was taking the plunge. I love the way he thinks!
So this is the swimmer when he is suppose to be in the bath and without his pjs and diaper!

Quick and Easy Gifts (and inexpensive)

We've been trying to get ahead for the holidays a bit. My MOPS group earlier this month showed us how to make 4 homemade gifts that where reasonably priced. We will be giving two of those - one I make and one the kids make - to teachers, bus drivers and others. Here they are:

The first is Tile Coasters. I simply went to Lowes and bought some 4 X 4 tiles (non shiny) and stamped a holiday stamp on them with a permanent ink pad and colored them with colored sharpies and the baked them both after the stamp and then again after coloring them. (350 for 15 mins.) . Then we put felt pads on the bottom and wrapped 4 of them with ribbon for giving.

The second one is gem magnets for the frig. We got round magnets at the craft store and cut festive scrap paper to fit the top of the magnets. We glued the paper to the magnet and then a clear gem (that you put into the bottom of vases) on top and you have fun festive magnets. You can package these in a plastic bag and the magnets on a mason jar lid. Makes for easy gift presentation. Enjoy the fun of making these with your kids!

Do you have fun easy gift ideas? Post them here or on your blog and let me know!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

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Need I say more! Hope your day was a happy one! You are a blessing to so many! We appreciate and love you Mom and Grandma!

Adoption Awareness Month

It was at the end of this month two years ago that Brad came to me and said, Ok, I'm on board I really think we should adopt! Let me encourage you that if you don't think bring ing another child in your home is where you are - that's ok. I've been learning over the last few years how many things we can do to help. You can be a foster parent and I know that is not for everyone. You can supply the foster care system things for the children that graduate out of the program to start their adult life like pots, pans, sheets etc. I've also learned that they need mentors not only when they are in school but if they go to college foster children don't also get the same emotional support others get. You can write letters or send care packages. And the one way we started again this year doing is supporting a child overseas through World Help, but also you can sponsor child through World Vision, Compassion International and AHope. There are many other ways to help as well. These are just a few I can remember.

Love this song and I cry every time I hear it so you may want to grab a kleenex.



1 John 3:1
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are!

The music man (boy)!

We love music in our family! Asher is no exception. He loves to singing it out and bang out the beat! You will notice a beautiful dancer in the back ground. We will have to have her do a recital soon. Enjoy and sing along!

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Giving Thanks!

Since the turn of the month I've been thinking of things that I'm thankful for and here are a few:

1. My parents - who not only brought me into this world but to a place where I could hear about God's plan for my life and accept Christ.
2. For my brothers and sisters that have taught me much and continue to do so. From humor, to caring for one another, humor, being able to achieve whatever you want to do and not give up, that if you get lost you learn more, humor, how looking at things through a child's eye is a great way to see the world, how God will supply ALL your needs if you truly trust him, did I say HUMOR! I could go on and on.
3. For my wonderful husband that I've known for over 25 years! He is my friend and my soul mate. Man, do I love him!
4. For my amazing kids! All their wonderful personalities and the many things that they have taught me.
5. That I can have a personal friendship with the creator of this world and (for the moment) I can worship Him, pray to Him and share about Him in this wonderful country I live in.
6. That we have the ability to eat our choice of foods when we desire to eat. That I have a refrigerator to store food for many days.
7. That I have so much in this world that many around the world can only imagine and many of those people CAN'T even imagine.
8. I'm so thankful for my health and that at this time I have no pain or discomfort that I have problems dealing with daily. I'm so blessed in that way.
9. I'm thankful that I have a family to call my own. Not only the family that I was born into, but the family I married into and the church family that I'm apart of, and a family of adoption families that we have joined as well. But mostly I'm thankful to be a child of the King and that He has adopted me into His family!
10. I could go on and on but I'll end with this one for now. I'm thankful to be a mother and to hold my children, wipe noses, cheer at soccer games, go to teacher conferences, put on band aids, hold a hand when they get shots and wipe the tears when friends don't play fair, love to pray with them as they go to bed and sing and laugh with them each and every day.

I'M TRULY BLESSED! THANK YOU, LORD!

"It's raining, It's raining!"

This is what I heard as I went down the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. I looked up to see a couple pass me with a concerned look on their face. I was wondering what was the cause for such a stare and then I saw it. . . Asher was reclined in the seated portion of the grocery cart. He had his head tilted and he was spitting into the air and saying "It's raining, it's raining." I know that couple might have been disappointed with my response but all I could do was laugh. I love the creative mind of my soon to be two year old.

Fall Shots!

Trick or Treat!

Well, Brad was out of town for Halloween and I got the best help for the older kids trip around the neighborhood. My brother showed up at the door complete in costume although it didn't last too long for him. The two younger ones (Cindy-Lou Who/Singer and Bob the Builder in the pictures) and I spent the night in the basement watching Hannah Montana and eating candy while "Yoda" and an Aircraft Carrier hit the streets. Caroline got the idea from a friend to carry around a toy airplane and be an aircraft carrier. So we did one better and taped them to her head and shoulder. People told her she was "unique". Fun was had by all. Thanks Uncle Gary for helping out!

Caroline's team are Champs!

If you've been reading this blog long, you'll remember an entry last Spring when Caroline's soccer team went to a tournament and got rocked, but I was still proud of them. This weekend while we were gone on our get-a-way Caroline's team was in another tournament. When we landed Brad noticed a message on his cell phone. It was Caroline bubbling with excitement saying that they won all three games and were going to the Championships that afternoon. We got our other kids and made it to the game by half time. Their team was tied 0-0 and I thought that maybe I should leave again, but I'm SO glad that I didn't. You have to understand that Caroline's team is a bit up and down and has never won more than two game in a row and never more that one tournament game all together. So this was exciting but I started to think runner up was just as good and then the both teams scored and it was tied 1-1 after regulation. Then it went to two over times and then to a shoot out where 5 girls from each side has a penalty kick against the goalie and our girls pulled out the victory and won the whole tournament. It was so exciting and the confidence that this has given them is unbelievable! Congratulations Lady Rockets!

Charming Charleston Getaway!

Brad and I had a rare opportunity to have a weekend away. We missed the kids and thought about them often. We went to Charleston, SC and specifically to Kiawah Island where Brad had a little business and I came along for the FUN! The weather wasn't wonderful but the company was fantastic and we had a wonderful time touring Charleston one day and tour Kiawah Island the next. Here are some shots from our wonderfully relaxful weekend.

A missionary update!

Check out this good post. It is an update from a friend that is serving on a short term missions trip in the region that Asher is from. Very eye opening. I just can't get enough of the pictures and stories that come from this region. My friend is with an organization called African Widows and Orphans Project. It makes me want to go and serve as well. We were away for the weekend and I will update more on that later.

Ever have one of those days?

This is how I feel today. This was actually taken a few day as ago when I was suppose to feed Asher lunch but before I could get it on the table this is what happened! Today is another story. I've put him down 3 times and Praise the Lord, the third time was the charm! I'm so tired and I don't have any soda, but I have ethiopian coffee. See ya, I'm gonna start brewing!

100th Post - well almost!

Here is where I'm suppose to post 100 things about me (us).

1. This is actually my 102nd post -opps!

2. Married to the best man in the world

3. Have the best children ever!

4. I am one of 6 kids.

5. My parents were only children.

6. I have no first cousins.

7. I have no aunts and uncles

8. I have many great aunts and uncles.

9. I have a identical twin sister.

10. We switched classes to fool our teachers from 1st through 8th grade.

11. Just absolutely love Chocolate!

12. My kids have all hair colors and I love it!

13. I went to IU and got a degree in finance.

14. I use my degree with our own personal finances.

15. I have two older sisters.

16. I have two older brothers

17. I have one younger sister.

18. She is 4 minutes younger than me.

19. She is two inches taller than me.

20. I love the TV show globe trecker.

21. There is not a place in the world that I wouldn't want to see.

22. I had a german exchange student named Petra in high school.

23. We still stay in touch.

24. I know very little german.

25. I know very little swahili.

26. I took a semester in college

27. I went to Tanzania in the summer after my junior year in college.

28. My twin sister went to Alaska at the same time.

29. I feel in love with Africa that summer and wanted to return.

30. I had dinner in Dar Es Saleem with the former secretary to President Naraare (sp?).

31. I feed baboons.

32. I drove through a game park sitting in the back of a pick up.

33. Watched excitedly as an elephant charged our truck.

34. Saw Hippos in a lake.

35. Had my hair corn rowed in the center of town and the whole town came out to see it.

36. Spent my first anniversary with my husband in Moscow, Russia with 70 high school students.

37. We were in charge of a group of 12 to evangelize in the class rooms there.

38. Coldest showers ever taken were in the cold tiled bath without a curtain.

39. Went back to Russia two years later and taught english in an old communist boy scout camp.

40. I know how to say Hello, thank you and a few other phrases in 5 languages and would love to know one fluently.

41. I love math and dig numbers.

42. I have this wierd gift of remembering birthdays of individuals. But, I don't always remember in time to send a card.

43. I love Thai food! And mexican. And Ethiopian. and German

44. Ok, I just love food.

45. I love being a mother of four!

46. I was promoted from my job as secretary at our church to motherhood.

47. I started dating my husband when we were sophomores in high school.

48. We went to different schools.

49. My Jr. year he was in my year book more than I was because he was the yearbook editor
for his school and knew the photographer.

50. I played sports in school but didn't really fit in any click.

51. My favorite was soccer.

52. I played basketball and softball.

53. My favorite verse is Zephaniah 3:17

54. My children look nothing like me and I love that!

55. They are all different.

56. My youngest is Ethiopian-American.

57. I don't care for regular coffee.

58. I love Ethiopian coffee - go figure.

59. I love the beach.

60. Favorite vacation spot is Kiawah Island, SC.

61. Love my parents to pieces.

62. My mother was a cheerleader and has an amazing personality.

63. She never knew a stranger.

64. My father played basketball in college.

65. He has a watch from the NIT tournament.

66. My grandfather was a horseman in World War I in France.

67. My favorite color is green.

68. My favorite movie is National Treasure.

69. My favorite season is fall.

70. I love the ladies in my adoption group - go sistas!

71. I love serfing the net for info on other countries especially Ethiopia.

72. I love to try new things but have a hard time in new social situations.

73. I have a stress out attack when people come to stay with us.

74. Amazing Race is my absolute favorite!!

75. I drink Pepsi not Coke

76. My first pop star crush was Barry Manilow.

77. I got perms in high school to have ANY body in my hair-do.

78. I melt with the glimmer of my 6 year old dauhter's eyes when she smiles.

79. I love the bright smile across my older son's face which occurs so often and especially at school - got to love that!

80. I love the sweet spirit of my 12 year old daughter's heart. Her compassion and desire to see all come to Christ.

81. I crack up at the raise of my 1 year olds eye brows when he says."Yes, I want a banana!"

82. My husband is the smartest man I know beside my father. He is so wise

83. I love watching football with my husband.

84. We are big OSU fans and went to the 1997 Rose Bowl where OSU came back with 46 seconds left to beat Arizona State.

85. I have a bald spot on the right side of my head due to being born breach. Mom, always said "Good thing you are a girl".

86. I love a good sunset.

87. I love the giggle of a child and a belly laugh is so much better!

88. I can't believe it took me this long to tell you that I love the Lord!

89. The Lord has helped me through my anxiety issue and continues to do so. He is awesome!

90. We celebrate the let down of Christmas by eating ethnic food on our family room floor in front of the fire on the 26th of Christmas.

91. I have a black lab named Buckeye - Yes for the Ohio State Buckeyes! And She is a female!

92. I have a sister who went to law school at age 40 and is starting her own plant business.

93. I have a sister and brother that run marathons.

94. I have a brother that every birthday I apologize for all the times my twin sister and I blamed him for our stuff we did and never got in trouble.

95. Brad and I both have sisters that are missionaries in Mexico.

96. I love newborns and that is why I volunteer in the nursery cause Brad says no more babies :(, but he hasn't said - no more period yet.

97. I want to go back to Ethiopia and this time visit many towns including the small town of Boditi.

98. I loved playing soccer with children in Njombe, Tanzania.

99. I love kayaking, swimming and playing on the play ground with my family!

100. My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip.

He made the front page!

Our little guy made the front page of our local paper and what we are really excited about is that article really centers on Adoption and foster care and how churches in our area are rallying to bring children into homes to discover their full potential that God has intended for them to be! Brad and Asher are recognized all over and an Ethiopian man gave Brad his business card in the barber shop and said if you need any help with cultural influence give him a call. Can't wait to see how this connection plays out.

In case the link goes away here is the article copied.


Bringing Hope to orphans
Coalition eyes more adoptions of local children
By Denise Callahan
Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
His big eyes shining, Asher Ewing extends his one-year-old hand for a shake.
He didn't learn this confidence from his birth parents. He learned it from Chris and Brad Ewing, who rescued him from a life of certain despair and devastation in Ethiopia.

Brad Ewing holds onto his adopted child from Ethiopia Asher Ewing in Landen Park Saturday afternoon. The Ewing family attends Hope Church which is a church that has been encouraging more families to adopt and foster children.Click to enlarge
Larry Bergeron, lead pastor of Hope Church in MasonClick to enlarge
Asher epitomizes the effort his parish — Hope Church in Mason — is making to save orphaned and abandoned children around the world and in the Tri-state.
Hope Church is marshalling the Tri-state community to find homes for foster and orphaned children.

The Ewings, who live in the modest community of Wood Trails, already were raising three children. But they reached into their hearts and there was room for one more. They traveled to Africa a year ago to bring Asher home.

"I felt God was calling us to join the process," Chris said. "It was in my heart for a long time, but I had to get Brad on board because I couldn't jump in that puddle alone. He was all for it."
Several families from the church, including Lead Pastor Larry Bergeron and his wife, Wendy, have adopted and fostered children. But Bergeron said they can, and will, do better.
"What a great thing it would be if a year from now the state of Ohio had taken such a lead on this nationally — that Ohio became one of the models for improving the lives of children — because of what we did together," he said.

Coalition of Care
Hope Church doesn't just give lip service to helping children — and it seems others are also interested in taking action.
More than 800 people flocked to the church Sunday night for the kick off of the Coalition of Care initiative. Hope and its Lead Pastor Larry Bergeron have collected eight other partner churches thus far for its Coalition.
The coalition is an effort to raise awareness about the great need for adoptive and foster parents worldwide, and locally and to provide direct support for families who have taken this generous step.

"Sometimes families think, 'I don't want to be a foster parent,'" Bergeron said. "But besides being a direct parent there are 40 different ways to be involved with foster care."
The churches agree in phase one to identify families in their parishes who are fostering or have or are trying to adopt and offer them support and recognition. The churches will educate their flock on the enormous need and offer assistance for those parishioners who are interested in programs to care for children. They also were asked to set some money aside to help families with respite care and other needs and to collect shoes, clothes and food for the needy.
The coalition will also hold a symposium in 2008 that partners are expected to attend.
The second tier of partnership requires a bit heavier commitment, according to Bergeron. Parishes are asked to provide money to dig a fresh water well in a third-world country, or perhaps to participate in a major food project or to set up an adoption fund to help with overseas adoption expenses.

Chris and Brad Ewing spent $17,000 adopting their son, Asher, but bills can often bulge to $30,000 in some cases. Brad said, however, they received a $10,000 tax credit for adopting Asher, "So it really was a wash."

The Ewings brought their son home in July 2006, just seven months after they applied — which was shortly after he was born. He'll turn 2 in December. With all the requirements —fingerprinting, background checks, immigration red tape and the like — that was a lightning-fast turnaround.

Bergeron said 22 families in his church either have or are in the process of adopting children. Some adoptions — he called them "paper pregnancies — can take years. He and his wife Wendy adopted a little Russian girl, Nadya, 12, in 2003 and little Emma, 2, came from China to join the Bergeron clan earlier this year.

"Many people tell us how fortunate these children are," he said. "But I have to tell people you don't understand, I'm far more blessed than these children are."
Warren County Children Services Director Patricia Jacobs said the local push to find foster and adoptive families could have a profound effect.

"One of the biggest things the churches can help us do is to recruit new foster homes in Warren County so we can keep the kids either in the same schools or the same county, at least to help facilitate a smooth transition," Jacobs said. "The same school would be ideal. The same county helps us with visitation between the children and their parents and with services we need to provide to the children."

In addition to forging the Coalition, Hope is also in the process of building a center on its site — set to open in 2008 — where community groups can come to prepare food packets for starving people around the world.
By the numbers
• There are 143 million children orphaned worldwide, and only 22,000 are
ever adopted.
• There are 500,000 kids in foster care in the U.S., and 120,000 are seeking
adoption.
• There are 12,000 children in foster care in this state, and 100 of them are in
our County.

We've Been Touched!

How can I describe the experience we have had last weekend. We were blessed to be a host family for two girls from the Children of the World Choir. Joyce is from Uganda and Rochel is from the Philippines! What a wonderful time we had with these two girls. We just lived life with them. We learned of their favorite animals and that Joyce loves lions and even had one in her home. We learned that Rochel goes to school in a bike carriage type of transportation. We loved talking about our faith in Christ and I had to repeatedly be reminded that I was talking to two 8 year old girls. Our kids loved playing with them and just living life. They sang at our church on Sunday morning and then again Sunday night for a full concert. They sing of God's Love and hope they have because of the faith they have in Christ. The choir is made of boys and girls from India, Uganda and the Philippines. These children are a part of the sponsorship program of World Help. Some are orphans and some have families and they are sharing about the needs of the children of the world and how you can come along side them and sponsor a child.

We were so touched by these two wonderful girls. My kids can not stop talking about them. The girls were so sad Tuesday when they left and Abby went in an laid down on the bed to try and smell them. We were touched in a big way. We have experienced other cultures without leaving the house, but truly we've been touched by two 8 year old missionaries. Please check out their website and see if they are coming to sing at a church near you! Our choir was the central US choir but there are two other choirs that tour the eastern US and the western US.

A Great Day is Going On!

So far my day has been wonderful. My mother-in-law watched my kids watched for me while I went to have my hair done and have a rare lunch date with my husband. We haven't been on a lunch date in the middle of the week by ourselves since we had kids which would be over 12 years ago. And then a man came a delivered this . . .
I'm trying to wait til my husband comes home to eat it all up, but I do have the picture right? My friends from my Bible study delivered this yummy treats. Thanks, Gals!

Lordy, Lordy, look whose FORTY!

This is just a few hours before the magical hour of 1:15am when I officially turned the young age of 40. I am not going to succomb to feeling sorry for myself and feeling bad for spending 40 wonderful years on this planet. God has blessed me with an unbelievable 40 years and I plan on many more if the Lord is willing so here is to making the most of every day. So, BRING ON THE CAKE!!!

Okay, so this is a pretty scary picture but I'm just brimming with excitment about my birthday! I have to shout out to my sis who is 40 today also since we are identical twins! Love you, Cath! Have a great birthday and dodge the birthday cake to the face thing! (a mexican tradition)

Cousin Fun!

We are so excited to have more time with our cousins this week. Brad's sister and family is in town this week to speak at a breakfast for Back 2 Back the organization that they are with in Mexico. It is rare that we see each other in the fall! We love time with our cousins!

Gitty Up!

This weekend Abby had a horse show and it was a day full of fun. The riding academy has horse shows to let the riders test their progress and everyone goes home a winner with lots of ribbons. The idea is to have fun and do your best! They hold a prayer service before they start. It's just a great atmosphere. Abby had the best time riding and showing her horse Joy. And as you can tell she came home with lots of ribbons. She truly loves horses and loves the time she can spend at the barn. The jacket I bought for many harvest party costume riders finally got to chance to catch a ride on a real horse.

Our first leaves!

We are 12 inches of rain short in our area and you can tell because the leaves are starting to turn brown and fall. Last week we spent most of our time outside raking leaves. It was lots of fun but after a few jumps on the leaves they would crack and crumble and just be a small pile of leaf pieces. Not sure how much color we will get in our trees this year with the leaves already beginning to drop but we will have fun with them non-the-less. I have some great help cleaning our yard this year that is for sure!

Happy New Year Y2K Style!

Today at 4pm we ushered in the new year with fellow Ethiopians back in Ethiopia. We celebrated in our family tradition of ringing in a new year with Pepi floats. Today in Ethiopia they will celebrate the beginning of the year 2000. If you are confused then check out here. So join us today and celebrate! Happy New Year ethiopia!

Run, run as fast as you can!!

If you know me well you know that I am NOT a runner. I have run in past years to get fit. I've run in soccer cause it's the chase of the ball! But it is not my passion to run. Lately, I'm back in the run but it's to keep my 21 month old safe. He is sooooo fast and is running ALL the time. He points to the window and the door and just says, Run, Run! I chase him and many times have to wait till he falls to catch him. I'm lobbying to fence in our front yard so I don't have to worry about him running into the street. I don't think that will happen so I position myself down on the street line and move back and forth to keep him in the yard. I love these small feet and they love to RUN!

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Labor Day Weekend!

We had a fun filled family weekend! We were having so much fun that I don't have any pictures to show for it - we were just too busy having fun. We took in the high school football game on Friday night. Went on a bike ride Saturday, the kids went swimming at Grandmas and Brad and I took our kayak and went on a five mile trip down the local river. The water was low but we had a great time on a beautiful day enjoying God's nature. Sunday we went to church and did some chores as a family and got things ready for a cook out with Grandma and Grandpa. We had a great time with them. We topped the day off by watching the local fireworks on the tv before bed. Today we woke up and rode our bikes to get doughnuts. Always good to work off the calores after eating doughnuts. After a family run of errands we went swimming again (it's again in the 90s) and then had another cookout but this time with Grandma Ewing. Tomorrow it is back to school but we had a wonderful weekend to end our summer. And since we will have 90 degree temps for a few more days we are ready to say . . . Bring on the FALL!!!