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!!!

New Longer Slide Show!

It has taken awhile, but thanks to several families that we traveled with I've added to our slide show. So now here is the 5+ minute version. Enjoy! http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=f57fbe2d69c98c0e076fb&skin_id=0&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

5 Senses of Ethiopia: Tastes

I have to confess that our week in Ethiopia was filled with much Amercian food as well as some tastes of Ethiopian food. We stayed at the Hilton and filled our stomachs with comfort food like club sandwiches, hamburgers, spagetti and of course, pizza! All of which lived up to it tastes we were accustomed. We even got brave and ordered an ice cream sundae from room service to celebrate our embassy day (we were told to stay away from diary, but thought it would be ok in the Hilton and we were right - thankfully). That tasted a little funny but still satisfied our sweet tooth! The catsup for the french fries was made with sugar and not salt - I thought that was great! But I truly love Ethiopian food and really enjoy the spicy stuff as long as I have a glass of bottled water. Speaking of bottled water, there seemed to be a debate on whether you should drink water from a glass even if it is bottled. If the glass was washed in regular water would you get sick? We never did and drank from a glass at the hotel and when we went out to eat. I don't know the names for any of the dishes but I really like the spinach dish and the lamb dish and the doro wat (ok, I know one, chicken stew). I also like the boiled egg that took the spiciness out of any hot dishes. We ate at the Crown Hotel and the buffet was wonderful. They had the traditional stews and then a great green bean dish! The small bananas were good but I expected more flavor for some reason. The tastes I skipped were the cut meat stew - I was afraid it was the raw meat one and the frozen octopus in the freezer at the market. A must was the fruit juice drinks at The Gazbebo at the Hilton! The best taste of Ethiopia in my mind is the coffee - and I'm not a coffee drinker! It has a rich and sweet flavor and it is such an experience. You rarely get a cup just poured for you - you get the experience of how they roast the beans and ground them and serve the coffee after your meal with the perfect partner - popcorn! If I'm ever offered Ethiopian coffee you will always hear me say, "YES!" Bon Apetit!

5 Senses of Ethiopia: Sound

So many sounds . . . where do I begin. We were awoken the first morning which happened to be Sunday to chanting music that blared in the distance. At first, we thought this was a muslim call to prayer, but as we inquired from some staff of our agency they told us that it was a call to worship by the Orthodox Christian Church and it made sense since we didn't hear it again until Wednesday night's call to worship for the mid-week service. We weren't sure how it was broadcasted but you could hear it from quite a distance. The sound of horns filled the street because people and animals where dense and the only way for a taxi driver to manage it's way through the streets was to warn the animals and pedistrians that he was coming and coming FAST! The sounds of the Amharic language fill the air wherever you are. It seems to roll of the tongue, but not mine have you! It is an interesting language and although so strange seems vaguely familiar. Thankfully the sound of English was very common as well! I wish I could tell you I heard many children laughing but to be honest that only took place with our own children and when we visited an orphanage and started playing with the children. Mostly I hear the voices of children approaching our taxis and saying, "Please Mother, Food" or "Please Mother, one doller" it was so hard to hear and it rings in my head still almost on a daily basis. The beautiful sounds of Ethiopia are of the songs we heard at the crown hotel in the variety of music and dance we witnessed from the different people groups all around Ethiopia. The music is lively and full of a rich beat. You will not find yourself standing still for long and you get swept into the beat and movement of the rhythm. It is full of life and joy and is appreciated by all no matter what part of Ethiopia you are from. Lastly, the sounds of many animals come to mind during our stay in Addis. The roosters wake you, the donkeys greet you on the road and the birds remind you of their beautiful presence. Though rare in our experience, I prefer the laughter of the Ethiopian children over any sound in Addis!

5 Senses of Ethiopia: Touch

There were many touches, and non- touches that I wanted to touch in Ethiopia. I wanted to touch more of the people and was frustrated because I couldn't because of lack of time and not having the ability to invest the effort. Here is one illustration of what I mean. We had the opportunity on our last day there to visit the children at the AHOPE orphanage. We had tried to go early, but it just didn't work out. I had Asher in the baby bjorn on my chest and it restricted me for the type of interaction I wanted with the kids. I was able to read a book to a little girl and hold the hands of a few children while we took our tour of the orphanage. The lack of touch with these children frustrated me, but also the limited touch that they were getting because they were not apart of a loving family was even harder for me to take. Don't get me wrong the care that they received there was great and the workers there loved the kids and cared so much about them. But God intended for us all to belong to a family and to HIS family and this was hard for me to hold onto. I lost my emotions some while I was there along with another mother that shares my heart for children. Our agency staff person had a hard time understanding why we were upset because these children were really doing well - well fed, great place to play and sleep, great medications for their HIV situation. But our hearts ached to see so many children without a mom and dad to hold them and care for them and share the love of God with them. It is the situation that these children are getting the necessities to live happy lives, but they also need parents to kiss their boo boos, read to them every night, rejoice in the victories and hold them when things get hard and teach them that God is there and loves them through it all. I think and pray for this children many nights. I realize that there are children like this through out the world and I've seen them in Russia and Mexico. I don't understand it all but I know that God loves and cares for these children and I'm praying about what else he would have me do for the orphans of this world. Without a doubt, I wish I would have taken more opportunities to touch the lives of the Ethiopians while I was there, but it is not too late for me to make an impact through sponsorship, prayer and hopefully in future, adoption. :)

5 Senses of Ethiopia: Sights

I can't stop thinking about our time in Ethiopia. Mainly, I keep experincing the five senses of our experience. The sights are what keep popping up in my head without any prompting. There are pictures of the wonderful people that we shared our time. There is Dagne the main contact person with CWA Ethiopia. His huge smile that lights up a room and his genuine love for the children are so evident in his smile. Behailu, is a man that can be recognized by his relationships. It truly seemed that the love of Christ flowed through the way he spoke with respect and cared for the people he encountered on a daily basis. The nannies shared their compassion, love and nurturing touch on all the children. We saw them a few times at the Hotel and when they accompanied us to the embassy appointment. Though they had deep connections with the children they felt comfortable in entrusting us with their care when the time came. Cassahun, the CWA driver, is cheerful and willing to help. He stretched his English to try to answer our many questions. He was so pleasant to be around! There were also those that we didn't get to know well but stick out in my mind. The beggars that press up against the door of the taxi asking "Please Mother, Food or money?" Wow, that was the hardest part and I have thought over and over how I might do that differently when I return. There are many precious faces of the street children that we saw roaming around. I will never forget the two boys barefoot and flithy wouldn't even discribe their presence. Hand in hand with smiles on their faces they went looking for the next adventure that may lie ahead. Many boys approached our car as we left one shopping area on Church Hill Road. As one boy said, "Please mother" and then placed his hand to his mouth, I remembered that I had an apple in my bag. I quickly gave it to him as we pulled out and remember seeing him and another boy hide it between them and run to another bigger boy. They gave it to him and he took a big bite. I often wondered, "Did the bigger boy share it with the others or take it for himself." Food was such a big commodity! And we take it for granted. Another snap shot I remember is the warm countenance and helpfullness about the people. Many would help us to the right shops, to the right directions or answer our questions with joy. I truly felt like the Ethiopians were so welcoming of us foriegners andwanting to come to our aid and help. Once when I had to change a diaper for Asher in a fairly nice restaurant the restroom help practically did the whole thing for me and used her minimal English in the process. I truly felt cared for by many Ethiopians. There were also sights of incredible poverty and amazing sites of innovation. There was dark, dirty lifestyles and plush green beautiful landscapes. Their were many people carrying or toting around food in hand made dollies made from anything and everything. Bamboo sticks string and small wheels and who knows where they got those. The best and most wonderful sight of our trip to Ethiopia was the people and the joy of God's love in their faces. It was evident in the children at AHOPE which is a AIDS orphanage we visited, we saw it in the people on the streets, the store attendents and in the Staff at CWA Ethiopia and it is seen everyday in the wide eyes of our son Asher Bradley Ewing!

Kiss Me I'm From Ethiopia!

It is hard not to kiss this face! Asher is such a joy and he has delighted all of us! He is a happy little guy and fun to play with. He has gone through many doctors appointments and a matter of fact, he has one tomorrow. The only time we've seen him unhappy for long was when he had his blood drawn and it took forever - those tiny, tiny veins. He has had a fairly clean bill of health so far and we are very thankfull. I have the best help at my house. Caroline loves to carry him and play with him, Abby is always available to hold him and bestow tons of kisses on him and Caleb is good for comic relief and makes Asher laugh a lot. Asher loves to swim, and also play with our dog, Buckeye. We are really enjoying our time with him. He is truly a blessing!