soli deo gloria

siblings and adoption

2012-01-14T13:32:00.001-06:00

We get asked frequently what our older kids think of each adoption. I love the question because it allows me to share the incredible love they all have for each other and how our older crew actually encouraged Moody and I to begin the adoption process from the start.

Each new arrival, just as bringing a baby home from the hospital, brings change to the dynamics of the family.

Abe came home and 6 weeks later we discovered that our world would never be the same. Abe teaches my kids on a daily basis what it means to work really hard, he teaches them about perspective, what REALLY matters. They each adore him. Delight in him and are fiercely protective and proud of him.

Abe with each soon after coming home! Look at that face. :)

Eyasu came home at 3 and was ready to play. He immediately gave the older kids a playmate. They taught him many new things: as evidence.

Now Miss Gigi is home and it has been pure joy to watch each child connect with her and she with them. The big boys literally fight over her. Nothing makes my heart swell like watching big teenage boys playing with their baby sister. Avery and Izzy got to bond with her in country and they are each very motherly towards her. She loves them. Eyasu has a little sibling that he can play with and teach her things. He has enjoyed both. And Abe.......well it makes me cry. Somehow she just knows. She knows he is special.

Gigi will playfully hit and try to knock over the other 6 kids. She is nothing but tender with Abe. Strokes his face. Pats him gently. Gives big smiles to him! And Abe thinks she is the most hilarious human on the planet. He is currently fighting a bad cold and is short on smiles (hard to believe right?). They were just in their high chairs and she was throwing food off of hers. He could hardly breath he was laughing so hard.

So I typically answer the question of what they think of adding to our family something along the lines of "it is hands down the best thing we have done!" I love how they all relate to and love one another in their special ways. I love adoption and the gift it is to Hill, Wick, Avery, Izzy, Eyasu, Abe and Gelila. LOVE IT.

gigi airport video!

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

Sweet Kristin captured our homecoming! So thankful for the role she has played in each of our children's lives. You are a gift friend. Thank you.

"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you!" John 14:18

ONE LESS. An orphan no more. She is home. FOREVER. Soli Deo Gloria.

ethiopia with gigi

2012-01-05T13:20:00.000-06:00

Thank you Grace for putting this together for us! What joy it was to have your mom on the trip.

I can't figure out how to embed it, so click here for the video.

Gelila Grace Alexander!

2011-12-28T09:31:00.000-06:00

Moody here... All the girls are doing great in Ethiopia! God is good, the giver of all good things. He has provided abundantly beyond our needs...once again. To see the joy on little Gigi's face, the sparkle in her eyes...such a mystery to literally see God fill the void in Gigi's heart and watch her be transformed. Even yesterday, Emily said there were no smiles, no sparkle, fear. But we know, that perfect love, casts out all fear. Thank you Lord for your perfect love, a love I often times don't get, a love we often times weakly try to share. May we, just like Gigi's smile, proclaim the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:3) to a world in need.

Thank you for praying and walking this journey with us! Soli Deo Gloria

Day 1 - just after they brought her from the Thomas Center

Oh the difference a day makes!!!!!

Nanny!!

The two BEST big sisters...ever!!!

Let's get ready to rumble!!!

This is more like it!

By the way...#manweek is going great! Lots of cheeseburgers, Mission Impossible, basketball and Xbox. It's all good but we need our women home!!

4 days!

2011-12-21T08:43:00.000-06:00

Christmas is in 4 days. I get on a plane to bring my daughter home in 4 days! I have discovered that either one of these would make life full with 6 kids, therapy, etc......but add the two together and it has been extra exciting around here! I will say I am loving this advent season. As we are preparing our hearts for the coming of the Christ child, our Redeemer, we also prepare our hearts for the addition of our daughter.

This will be my last post from here and I hope to be able to update while in country!

I would really appreciate your prayers for several things:
1. For Gigi, that the Lord would knit her heart to ours. That she would feel loved, secure and safe. She has had multiple transitions in her short 17 months. She has been loved and we are so thankful for the care she has received! Now she needs to learn that we are her family and this is the final stop.

2. For my boys back home. They are excited about all of the "manly" things they will do without any females in the house. I keep asking to just make sure Abe's monitor is ON! :) They will have a blast and Abe and Eyasu will get great care. I'm blessed to be able to get on the plane and not worry about home. Moody is staying here with the boys, the girls are making the journey to bring their sister home with me.

3. Travel mercies. Pray for easy flights. Pray we are healthy. Pray for sleep. Pray this would be a special time for Team Gigi. I am blessed beyond measure that my 12 and 10 year old girls, my mom, and 2 precious friends are headed to Addis to get my girl. The ultimate girls trip. :)

We arrive back at DFW on January 1st! What a way to kick off a New Year. Moody will have the flight info for those that would like to come meet our girl. We would love to see you there. Once we are home we will hole up for a bit. The boys don't go back to school until the 5th and this will allow us time to bond as a family. Imagine what this little one is experiencing.......everything is new. New sights, new smells, new people and it will be overwhelming. She has also had multiple care givers over the course of her short life. We will be her fourth transition in 17 months. It will take time for her to realize that we are family, mom and dad, siblings, etc. rather than just caregivers. The attachment process is just that, a process. It takes time. And we are committed to doing whatever we need to do to make her feel secure and safe.

Thank you to each of you that has walked this journey with us! We are so humbled and grateful by your encouragement and prayers! SOLI DEO GLORIA

WE HAVE CLEARANCE!! Soli Deo Gloria

2011-12-15T17:24:00.004-06:00

Sweet Abe was up off and on all night. The upside of that situation is it allowed me to check my email frequently throughout the night hoping to get an email from the embassy! At 1:36 it came. We had cleared. Sweet baby girl can come home.

I cried. Woke up Moody and immediately gave praise to the Lord for this amazing gift! She is coming home. We leave on Christmas Day, return the 1st. What a perfect way to kick off 2012.

Thank you to those who prayed and encouraged us along this road. Keep praying for those still stuck in the process. It is hard! Adoption is never easy, but He is good and faithful to fulfill all in His timing.

²And the LORD answered me:

"Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.³For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie.If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Habakkuk 2:2-3

buy a brick, build a school

2011-12-07T16:31:00.001-06:00

Gifts that Give Back

2011-11-28T11:50:00.000-06:00

Come bring your shopping list, and help give back as you cross names off one by one!!!! Items from the following:

147 Million Orphans

Lopa Art

Art Aids Art

Noonday Collection

Bring Love In

Several adoptive families selling jewelry and ornaments to help bring their kiddos home!

Hosted by Rainey Webb and Emily Alexander

3413 Yellowstone,

Arlington, TX 76013

Come for cocktails and appetizers

Thursday, December 1st 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Saturday, December 2nd 10:00 - 2:00 PM

Sunday, December 4th 1:00 - 4:00

See you there!

Korah video- EthiopiaSmile

2011-11-20T22:04:00.001-06:00

Another great video from Kurt Neale. A look into our 3 days spent in Korah.

2011-11-20T13:00:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Amy! You won the book. Send me your address and I will put it in the mail. :)

everybody

2011-11-18T09:46:00.001-06:00

book recommendation and giveaway

2011-11-15T16:05:00.001-06:00

I recently read "A Chord of Three Strands" and was certainly blessed by it. It is based on a true story of His redemptive grace as He wove the lives of several families together. It is a story of the miracle of adoption. It will draw you in and make you see His glorious hand at work.

I highly recommend. You can purchase one here or leave a comment and I will draw a winner on Friday. Winner gets a free copy of the book! :)

great gift

2011-11-12T08:49:00.001-06:00

My friends are raising money for their second Ethiopian adoption by selling these awesome Christmas ornaments. Head over to their etsy site to purchase!

They are so great they are giving my blog readers a 10% discount.

The coupon code at checkout is: TEAMALEXANDER

dube bute- last day of trip

2011-11-09T16:49:00.000-06:00

Where did the last two weeks go???? Still very excited about passing court and now the embassy wait begins. Praying sweet baby girl is home SOON.

I realized that I never finished up the trip. I need to share the amazing things that have taken place in Dube Bute since the campaign ended. It is just so difficult to put into words the emotions felt that day. Hoping the pictures do it justice.

Gelila Grace Alexander "Gigi"

2011-10-26T00:38:00.000-05:00

We passed court! I am officially a mom to 7!

First time we saw her face

10 months old

11 months old

You are 1!!! Thank you Robbins. :)

Thank you Avery for the video! :)

Thank you Aunt Mary!

Praying sweet baby girl is home soon. One major step down, now on to embassy! Prayers much appreciated. :)

40th!

2011-10-17T09:57:00.000-05:00

Loaves and Fish- our last dental day

2011-10-14T17:42:00.000-05:00

Our last dental day we were back in Korah. After counting our supplies the day before, it was estimated that if we were very careful, we might be able to see just over 100 patients.

The days get busy, a non stop flow of patients coming in through the door.

Everyone is working hard!

Occasionally stopping for pics, but mostly working. :)

We anticipating finishing up before lunch but around 1:00, my friend Jessica asked me to look at the sharps container. After the second day the container was not half way full. I looked at it now and it was literally filled to the top. Twice as many patients seen?? It was simply impossible. I looked at the table again of our anesthetic and needles, well still there. More. More patients to see. Unreal. Goosebumps for everyone that was there. Every patient seen. Over 220 that day. And we had to pack up a few supplies to take home.

Allow yourself to be in situations where nothing in the natural makes sense. Where the ONLY choice is to stand in awe, humbled that you were allowed to take part in His goodness, His glory.

With the vast majority of our supplies still sitting in Bole airport, the Lord provided exactly what we needed to see every patient that we were meant to see. What a gift and incredible lesson to the team that HE is enough. He works His purposes without our supplies- for our good and His glory!

I also happened to turn 40 this day! A long post on that next because, really-- if you must turn 40, by all means do it in Ethiopia. The most fun birthday that I have ever had! One quick b-day fact! I got the very best gift ever that morning. Moody and I had received a November 1st court date just as the courts were closing in August. We had a few people praying that somehow the judge would see us while we were there. We knew it was a long shot by a mile, especially since the judge was doing training in Addis the week we were there. Abdissa called this morning and said that we needed to be at court by 9:00 am!! We were packing up to head to Korah. We quickly changed, grabbed our passports and raced to court. We were allowed to see the judge and satisfy that portion of the court process. It won't speed the process up for us, but it will allow us to stay home until embassy. This was truly the best birthday gift!! We now wait for our MOWA letter to officially pass and introduce her to you!

day 5- back in Korah and Meskel

2011-10-11T14:22:00.000-05:00

We went back to Hands for the Needy for our second day to treat there.

Moody back in action!

Crowd arrived early and kept growing

Cute little guy getting his toothbrush after his extraction

Cute Matt

Our very own McGyver! Makes the perfect sterilizers for our instruments.

We were plugging along and seeing many patients. At one point we took a quick inventory of our supplies to best determine how to proceed. We actually had the conversation at one point if it would be better to simply work hard all day long and just blow out all of the anesthetic that we had left or come back the next day and do the best we could with what was left. After Tanisha, Yasmin, Moody and I talked for a second, we decided to see close to 200 that day and then based on our count, we could see 130 AT BEST the next day. It was frustrating but better than nothing considering we were running out of supplies.

We saw a little over 200 people and packed up for the day. It was the Ethiopian holiday, Meskel. The Meskel celebration includes the burning of a large bonfire, or Demera, based on the belief that Queen Eleni had a revelation in a dream. She was told that she shall make a bonfire and that the smoke would show her where the true cross was buried. So she ordered the people of Jerusalem to bring wood and make a huge pile. After adding frankincense to it the bonfire was lit and the smoke rose high up to the sky and returned to the ground, exactly to the spot where the Cross had been buried.^[1]

The night before we got the opportunity to partake in a Meskel celebration outside of our hotel. They do the fires the night before Meskel! I forgot to share these in the last post.

Mim cutting a rug with Abiy

We went to Cloud 9 for a wonderful meal. We got to meet up with several full time missionaries currently living in Addis. What encouragement they were to our team!

day 4- Korah dental day #1

2011-10-08T10:47:00.001-05:00

Tuesday a.m we woke up and set out for our first dental day in Korah. We were blessed to be working in the same facility for 3 full days (that was the plan at least, depending on our supplies!). Thanks to Tamara, Yemamu and Hands for the Needy for making this possible!

Team working hard to get ready to roll!

They people begin lining up early!

Our patient buddies are amazing. They show great love and compassion for those experiencing a trip to the dentist for the first time!

Part of our fearless sterilization crew!

The instruments that got through :)

You can't spend time in Korah without having your heart broken for the reality of life for some. Our team loved the people well. Know these babies broke many hearts for sure.

Sallie, our gatekeeper for 2 years!

Sadly Moody missed this day of dentistry as he continued to jump through various hoops trying to get the rest of our supplies! It was determined if they spent a very large sum of money, they could get the supplies out of customs. The whole situation was so frustrating and even then they had no real guarantee they would be released. Moody told them they would no longer try to get the supplies, they would remain at the airport. They tried to purchase more anesthetic but apparently there were only 2 boxes in the entire country???!!! So, they bought more antibiotics and we trusted we would be able to care for those we were meant to treat. After seeing over 281 patients this day, we were all amazed at the way the Lord continued to provide what we needed for that particular day! God was clearly at work.

Dinner at Makush was exactly what we needed to recharge for another full day in Korah on Wednesday!

Day 3- Adama and meeting #7

2011-10-07T10:34:00.000-05:00

I didn't sleep very well. Think night before Christmas. I was filled with so many emotions that morning. When we adopted Abe and Eyasu, the moment they were placed in my arms, they were MINE. This time I knew meeting her would be surreal, another moment where God shows me in such a tangible way just how BIG He is, just how much He loves me, just how thankful I am for my own adoption as a child of the King.........but I also knew it would be painfully hard to say good-bye. I was trying so hard to be present and in the moment and not allow the "saying good-bye" part to ruin the "hours together" part.

We finally arrived in Adama and were greeted by Tezera, the YWAM director there. My heart was now officially racing. We walked in and I knew the nannies were quickly getting her ready......I love this picture because it shows little Miss has paparazzi!

We pray that this moment, as Moody, Wick and I met our sweet baby girl, was a blessing to those on the team. That they saw a glimpse of Jesus and His very heart for the orphan. That in this moment, she was an orphan no more. She had a family (mom, dad, brother, both grandmothers, an aunt and niece along with a host of friends) to love her forever.

Her nanny and Mim seeing her precious face for the first time!

And there she is! Words can not describe this moment..........

Wish I could show you what we saw, the beautiful babe that was then placed in my arms, but I can't until we officially pass court! Trust me, she is the cutest.

She was naturally not sure of these new faces but slowly warmed up to us. We spent as much time as we could with our little one, letting her know she was loved and we would be back as soon as possible.

While I was spending time getting to know her........the incredible team was kicking off the first dental day.

YWAM - Adama. Beautiful people that were a joy to treat.

Holli, patient buddy expert!

This post is getting long so I will explain more about the dental days in the next few posts. We were witness to incredible things and the Lord provided for each of our needs!

It was time to go and I will say that leaving was horrible. It simply isn't natural to leave your child behind. I rest in the excellent care she is receiving in the YWAM home, but it isn't a substitute for family. Now the most difficult wait begins for us. I now know her smell, how she fits perfectly in my arms, what her giggle sounds like and all of these will flood my mind on a daily basis until she is HOME, for good, forever. Trusting in His perfect timing and know that He is indeed bigger than all of the paperwork and red tape that is involved with International Adoption.

After a very tearful goodbye, we loaded up for the drive back to Addis. Though my heart was hurting, a yummy dinner at Island Breeze certainly helped! Tomorrow is our first dental day in Korah so we were off to bed!

Day 2

2011-10-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

After getting a few hours of shut eye, we were up to begin our first full day! We eat our breakfasts downstairs in our awesome hotel, TDS. It is always a great way to start the day over delicious buna, oatmeal, eggs, toast, etc.... We headed out early to help deliver wheelchairs with our friends with Tesfa Means Hope and UCP Wheels for Humanity. What an amazing experience for so many reasons. As a mama to a kiddo that requires a wheelchair for mobility and was also born in Ethiopia, this is so close to home. To see the joy on the faces of those getting bright, shiny new yellow wheelchairs was simply priceless. I think it was the perfect way to kick off our trip! Everyone pitched in to help pump up tires or transfer someone to their new chair! Proud of you Drew for the incredible job you did pulling this off!!

We then headed to Beza International for worship! Always great to be there.

From Beza we headed to Top View for lunch. Great Sunday buffet!!

Where is my sweet Moody during all of this you ask??? How kind. Well he was back out before the team left to try to resolve the customs shenanigans! He was with 2 dear brothers and they were pleading their case, showing the proper documentation and jumping through hoop after hoop in an effort to get our supplies out of customs and into our hands so we could treat patients on Monday. Time after time, he thought they had satisfied the last request, only to be stopped again from taking the supplies from the airport. At one time, he was literally halfway out of the airport and some (in Moody's words "16 year old kid) came running after him and made him return back inside. :( He hated to be missing out on what the team were experiencing. We continued to pray, reached out to those at home to pray and simply rested in His goodness and grace.

We returned to the hotel to inventory what we did get through (several people got bags out before they stopped us) and organize the conference room. The TDS has a great conference room that we take over durning our stay. It holds all of our supplies and allows us to keep things organized for each day.

A few of the Drs. estimated that based on the limited supplies that we had, they would be able to treat approximately 150 patients before we ran out of anesthetic and needles. Those are the two main determining factors other than numbers of actual instruments. This would be not even one full day of dentistry. So we continued to trust and pray that the supplies would be released from customs.

We had dinner that night to discuss the dental days, assign jobs, etc. We packed up for the next day and went to bed!

Tomorrow, we meet our sweet baby girl!

Recap of trip- Day 1

2011-10-04T08:24:00.001-05:00

Getting adjusted back to reality but our trip was amazing, life changing and it was humbling to be a part of this team. So many willing to serve and love the people of Ethiopia. The Lord provided unity as a team and it was certainly needed! :)

Internet was spotty and our time limited while in Ethiopia so I will go back and recap each day of our trip. The opposition was strong on this trip was God was faithful and provided for each of our daily needs. One team member commented that He simply gave us our manna, just enough for that day!

We had a few issues with flights being delayed, etc on the trip over. Our team had great spirits and attitudes through it all. Who knew that a strike by the Greek air traffic controllers would impact our flight to Addis.

We eventually landed in Addis and started collecting all of our baggage. Amazingly only 1 bag didn't make it- it came a few days later.

We had all of the necessary paperwork to get our many dental and humanitarian aid supplies through customs. Moody and our dear friends in Ethiopia work tirelessly prior to these trips to secure the proper documents needed to allow for smooth travels through customs. Last year we got 120 bags through with no issue. We had many praying at home for the same experience this year. The Lord had other plans.

A few team members got their bags out with no problem but then it all came to a halt! It was rather crazy with bags being pulled to the side, we were pulling out our official papers signed by the various government agencies, Moody's official license to practice in Ethiopia, our humanitarian aid letter for the infant formula, etc to show we had cleared all of this prior to arrival. It was a Saturday night, we were already exhausted and it appeared that no one knew what to do or ultimately who had the authority to let us go or not. They began to open each bag, trunk and bin one at a time. We had to pull out any personal items and then they kept any medicine, dental equipment and infant formula.

After a VERY long time, the team headed out to load the vans and get to the hotel. Moody and Kurt stayed behind with our dear Ethiopian brothers to attempt to sort out the customs issue.

Apparently it went downhill for the guys at the airport and they finally decided to try to work it out the next day. They arrived at the hotel around 3:30am. Tired and weary but knowing the Lord must have a great work ahead for the team! Thankful to be back in Ethiopia, it was off to bed for a few short hours. :)

More to come on Day 2!

update

2011-09-28T09:21:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! This is Avery. I talked to my mom a little this morning. She told me to give an update. Some of you might already know all the issues that happened with customs, but they ended up just leaving all the supplies at the airport and are working on getting all of it allowed on the plane home now. Other than that she said the trip is amazing! God has provided for their every need. They will still be able to treat all 4 days, they just won't be able to do much more than extractions because of lack of supplies. She said the team has bonded so well. They also got to meet my baby sister! She said it was incredible. And she is beautiful! But it was very hard to leave. I cant wait to have her home! The internet and phone service has been out most of trip.

~Avery

heading out tomorrow!!!!

2011-09-22T19:57:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to serve with our team this next week! I had high hopes of putting together a big post, full of pics, etc and for some reason, it isn't going to happen. I blame it on the 6 kids. :) I wish I could magically make all of our bags be perfectly packed to 50 lbs, but that isn't going to happen either.

What I want you to know is that once again, the Lord has raised an amazing team to go serve on EthiopiaSmile 2011.

Moody and I are only taking Wick on this trip. Really excited about time with him!

The plan is to update the blog as often as possible. We would truly covet your prayers. We meet our sweet baby girl on Monday. I simply CAN. NOT. WAIT to get my hands on her and kiss her cheeks. I know my heart will break in a million pieces when it is time to leave, but I rest in the hands of the ONE that will provide for all of our needs.

Humbled to be given opportunity to once again go.

less than one week

2011-09-17T23:10:00.000-05:00

We will be in Ethiopia this time next week!!! I am so excited yet have a million and one things to do before I get on the plane. Last EthiopiaSmile trip we took the whole crew and this trip we are only taking Wick.....and about 40 other amazing people. So I am trying to get everything that I need to secure for being away from here for 10 days as well as prepare for the trip.

God will certainly provide for each and every detail. This mama's heart always has a hard time leaving, but knows the second we hit the ground, we will be moving!

I am so excited about our team this year and all the Lord has for each of us. On my to do list is a post to introduce you to our team. We do plan to update the blog while we are there as much as we can.

Here is a prayer card for the trip and we would certainly covet your prayers while we are there. It is humbling to be able to love and serve the people of Ethiopia.

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T08:01:00.000-05:00

I will never forget that day. I was sitting on the couch feeding 3 week old Izzy when my friend Carrie called and told me to turn on the t.v because a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. We watched as the smoke billowed out and they speculated as to the situation. Then, before our eyes the second plane hit the south tower. It all changed then. We knew. We didn't talk anymore.

Where were you?

Peggy Noonan wrote an excellent article as a New Yorker.

We'll Never Get Over It, Nor Should We

By Peggy Noonan (Archive) · Saturday, September 10, 2011

Ten years later, remembering a day of horror and heroism.

People are discussing the geopolitical implications of 9/11 and how the tragedy changed our country, and most of what's been said has been worthy and serious. But my thoughts, as we hit the 10th anniversary, are more local and particular. I'm in a New York state of mind.

There were two targets, Washington and New York. Washington saw a great military institution attacked, and quickly rebuilt. In Washington people ran barefoot from the White House and the Capitol.

But New York saw a world end. New York saw the buildings come down.

That was the thing. It's not that the towers were hit -- we could have taken that. It's not the fire, we could have taken that too. They bombed the World Trade Center in 1993 and took out five floors, and the next day we were back in business.

It's that the buildings came down, in front of our eyes. They were there and proud and strong, they were massive, two pillars at the end of the island. And then they groaned to the ground and there was a cloud and when people could finally see they looked back and the buildings weren't there breaking through the clouds anymore. The buildings were a cloud. The buildings were gone and that was too much to bear because they couldn't be gone, they couldn't have fallen. Because no one could knock down those buildings.

And it changed everything. It marked a psychic shift in our town between "safe" and "not safe." It marked the end of impregnable America and began an age of vulnerability. It marked the end of "we are protected" and the beginning of something else.

When you ask New Yorkers now what they remember, they start with something big -- the first news report, the phone call in which someone said, "Turn on the TV." But then they go to the kind of small thing that when you first saw it you had no idea it would stay in your mind forever. The look on the face of a young Asian woman on Sixth Avenue in the 20s, as she looked upward. The votive candles on the street and the spontaneous shrines that popped up, the pictures of saints. The Xeroxed signs that covered every street pole downtown. A man or a woman in a family picture from a wedding or a birthday or bar mitzvah. "Have you seen Carla? Last seen Tuesday morning in Windows on the World."

The bus driver as I fumbled in my wallet to find my transit card. "Free rides today," he mumbled, in a voice on autopilot. The Pompeii-like ash that left a film on everything in town, all the way to the Bronx. The smell of burning plastic that lingered for weeks. A man who worked at Ground Zero told me: "It's the computers." They didn't melt or decompose, and they wouldn't stop burning. The doctors and nurses who lined up outside St. Vincent's Hospital with gurneys, thinking thousands would come, and the shock when they didn't. The spontaneous Dunkirk-like fleet of ferries that took survivors to New Jersey.

The old woman with her grandchild in a stroller. On the stroller she had written a sign in magic marker: "America You Are Not Alone, Mexico Is With You." She was all by herself in the darkness, on the side of the West Side Highway, as we stood to cheer the workers who were barreling downtown in trucks to begin the dig-out, and to see if they could find someone still alive.

The notes neighbors left under each other's doors. "Are you OK? Haven't seen you and just thought I'd make sure all is all right." The flags in every bodega, on every storefront, in the windows of apartments, up and down the proud facades of Park Avenue. My beautiful cynical town covered in flags, swept by love and protectiveness toward our country.

At first we didn't know what to call it, so we called it what happened. "Do you believe what happened?" "They think he died in what happened." It was weeks before we called it 9/11. Sometimes tragedy takes time to find a name.

We were half crazy those days. We were half nuts and didn't know it. The trauma on Tuesday was followed in the middle of Thursday night by a storm, a howling banshee that shook buildings -- thunder like a cannonade, lightning tearing through the sky. And then there were the stories. We kept hearing about guys who dug themselves out of the rubble. We'd hear a guy came out of the rubble and said, "There's 20 firemen down there in an air pocket," and we'd all put on the news and it was never true. I will never forget this one: As the first tower went down some guy on the 50th floor grabbed a steel girder that was flying by, and he held on for dear life and it landed on a pile of rubble 30 floors below and he got up, brushed himself off, and walked away. That wasn't true either. The stories whipped through the town like the wind, and people grabbed onto them.

And there were the firemen. They were the heart of it all, the guys who went up the stairs with 50 to 75 pounds of gear and tools on their back. The other people who were there in the towers, they were innocent victims, they went to work that morning and wound up in the middle of a disaster. But the firemen saw the disaster before they went into it, they knew what they were getting into, they made a decision. And a lot of them were scared, you can see it on their faces on the pictures people took in the stairwells. The firemen would be going up one side of the stairs, and the fleeing workers would be going down on the other, right next to them, and they'd call out, "Good luck, son," and, "Thank you, boys."

They were tough men from Queens and Brooklyn and Staten Island, and they had families, wives and kids, and they went up those stairs. Captain Terry Hatton of Rescue 1 got as high as the 83rd floor. That's the last time he was seen.

Three hundred forty-three firemen gave their lives that day. Three hundred forty-three! It was impossible, like everything else.

Many heartbreaking things happened after 9/11 and maybe the worst is that there's no heroic statue to them, no big marking of what they were and what they gave, at the new World Trade Center memorial.

But New York will never get over what they did. They live in a lot of hearts.

They tell us to get over it, they say to move on, and they mean it well: We can't bring an air of tragedy into the future. But I will never get over it. To get over it is to get over the guy who stayed behind on a high floor with his friend who was in a wheelchair. To get over it is to get over the woman by herself with the sign in the darkness: "America You Are Not Alone." To get over it is to get over the guys who ran into the fire and not away from the fire.

You've got to be loyal to pain sometimes to be loyal to the glory that came out of it.

58: film

2011-08-31T17:34:00.000-05:00

58: THE FILM Trailer from LIVE58NOW on Vimeo.

Isaiah 58

1 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. 3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself ? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?

6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter– when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Happy Abe Day!!!

2011-08-25T22:42:00.000-05:00

So hard to believe that this happened three years ago today. We love you so much Abe!

YOU brought HOPE

2011-08-19T16:30:00.004-05:00

The following email went out today to give a progress report on Dube Bute! Tears flow as I am humbled and grateful to have been able to witness this incredible project unfold.

Many of you have given time, talents and resources to bring Hope to the people of Dube Bute. Thank you seems inadequate. Watch the video below and see hope coming!

Donor Update: Dube Bute Village

Construction Builds Hope in Dube Bute

August 19, 2011

It has been 8 months since the campaign for Dube Bute first launched. We have exciting news to share with you on the progress of the projects. Construction on the health post, vet post, school blocks, water projects, and access bridge is well underway and all of these projects are getting ever closer to changing the lives of the people in Dube Bute.

Dube Bute July Update from A Glimmer of Hope on Vimeo.

Health Facilities Near Completion

Just around the corner from the school blocks, the health and vet posts are each at advanced stages of construction. The health post is currently undergoing roof work and the vet post, which has been completed through roofing, is just waiting for the painting, glazing and finishing works. The guardhouse, which will protect the health facilities, is also awaiting its final finishing works.

Students Help Build Their Future

At the school compound in the village center, the children are all smiles and laughter as they help construction crews mix cement and carry supplies for their new school blocks. The two school blocks, which will have four classrooms each, are getting closer and closer to completion. With only roofing and finishing works remaining, they should be ready to serve students early in the coming academic year.

Water Construction Continues Despite Rains

While the school and health facilities are clustered in the center of the village, the 17 water projects are dispersed throughout the community. Because the rains are so heavy right now, it is not feasible to dig the hand dug wells without the threat of collapse. Yet progress is still underway as the concrete rings, which will support the wells, are being prepared. The spring protection water schemes are being expertly capped and their distribution points are being constructed. Soon they will be ready to serve the community.

Roads and Bridge Improve Village Access

The roads, which will improve access to and from the village, are well underway and the access bridge is nearing completion. Work crews from the village itself are working very hard to improve these aspects of transportation.

It is incredible to see all of the change that has already occurred in Dube Bute. All of it, every water point, every classroom, every smile of hope for the future, is because of you. We will keep you updated as progress continues to unfold. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for these deserving people.

because it is OUR problem

2011-08-18T11:03:00.000-05:00

I'm sick this morning and therefore having a forced time of being still, no running around for me. The Lord has met me here. I watched this video again. So convicting. So true. Watch it and then read THIS BLOG POST! Are you willing? Will YOU go?? The giveaway connected to the post has some fantastic items that could pay the ransom for a life in need of rescue.

Court date

2011-08-12T22:01:00.000-05:00

We got our court date!!! It is November 1st. We are thrilled to be one step closer. We actually depart Ethiopia on October 1st after our EthiopiaSmile 2. We rest in His perfect timing. Moody may do this trip with one of the kids since we will both meet her in September. We are just happy to be closer to getting our sweet baby girl home!

drought

2011-08-11T22:29:00.000-05:00

Gelila Bekele Call To Action from A Glimmer of Hope on Vimeo.

Love this organization and love this girl. Both are the real deal. Still looking for a place to give? Go here to visit their campaign page to help! CLICK HERE

cabo

2011-08-09T09:40:00.000-05:00

We just had an amazing long weekend in Cabo. An early 40th bday celebration for me. I have been looking forward to it for months and the morning before we left, I threw my back out. Like couldn't get up from the floor for almost 2 hours threw my back out. I have never experienced pain like that. My kids were great, doing all they could to help, but it just kept going into spasms every time I tried to move.

Finally Abe's awesome physical therapist walked through the door and saw me on the floor. She decided that I was most likely the more needy patient and spent time getting me to sit up, massaged my back and eventually got me to my feet! My neighbors and friends were amazing, bringing me medicine, taking kids, etc to help me feel better. So the long list of all I needed to do that day to get ready just got pushed aside.

I was going to get on that plane though!!! I got into a massage therapist and she worked me over to where I could move without terrible pain. I threw a few things into a suitcase late that night and the next morning we were on our way. Our friends were very gracious as they waited on me to catch up........I walked like I was about 90 years old. :)

It was all we hoped for. Relaxing. Incredible food and lots of it. Great fellowship. Much laughter. Blessed for sure!

(I only had a few pics on my phone, others took more pics.)

In adoption related news......heading to Mexico is a great way to get your mind off of obsessing over court closures and such.......trusting in His timing, not my own.

happy birthday baby girl!!!!!

2011-07-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today is our sweet baby girls 1st birthday! She is halfway around the world and that is hard on this mamas heart. I am SO excited that a precious family from our agency will be with her today (they are traveling for court!) and they will get to deliver her b-day goodies, take pics and let her know that we love her dearly and will get there as fast as we can!! Thank you so much Tana and Casey.

Avery is making a cake and our crew will celebrate today and rest in His perfect timing in bringing her home.

drought relief in Ethiopia

2011-07-29T13:55:00.003-05:00

The drought in the horn of Africa is so tragic. Not sure what to do, where to give??? Please consider giving here to the new campaign that A Glimmer of Hope is doing for relief in Ethiopia.

This is from the Glimmer website:

All are shocked by the news of the crisis in East Africa. Most want to help. The question is: Where is the best place to send your money? Glimmer is offering help. We are launching an Emergency Relief Campaign for Ethiopia to help reduce human suffering in the areas affected by the drought and famine. Glimmer kicked off the campaign with a donation of $100,000. We are in the process of partnering with leading international NGOs and relief agencies to assist with the crisis. We are picking our partners carefully based on specific criteria –established in Ethiopia, experienced in emergency relief, and after we review their detailed plans. 100% of all donations given to the Emergency Relief Campaign for Ethiopiawill go to our partners to help some of the 3.2 million Ethiopians facing hunger, and people arriving from Somalia, who are in desperate need for food, water, shelter and medical care.

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in East Africa, including Ethiopia. Thousands of people, mainly children, have already died in East Africa - in Ethiopia, in Kenya and Somalia. Hundreds of thousands are fleeing their homes, walking in extreme conditions, in search of refuge and makeshift camps. They are desperate for food, water, and medical care. Millions of people are at the risk of starvation, and malnutrition

The drought specifically affects Ethiopia in the south and east. The Early Warning System helped to alert and engage aid agencies. The Ethiopian government has appealed for $400 million in aid for food, supplements for mothers and children, as well as health and nutrition, water and sanitation. Major camps in Dolo Ado, Ethiopia are on the border with Somalia serving 114,000 people with water, food, shelter and medical care.

Today they need your help. Spread the word. Tell your friends, and join the cause. Things are moving fast. More to follow shortly.

tesfa means hope

2011-07-20T08:08:00.000-05:00

Go to Tesfameanshope.com

Our dear friend Drew and his business partner are putting on a Poker Tournament to raise money to deliver over 500 wheelchairs on our upcoming trip to Ethiopia. What an incredible gift to be a part of their efforts in September! I have a big ole soft spot for Ethiopians in wheelchairs.

So if you live in the Southern California area, you love a good poker tournament or you simply want to contribute to an incredible cause--- click on the link above cute Abe. Help bring mobility to someone that has none! They either crawl, are carried or never leave their homes. Be a part. You will see incredible video footage of these chairs being handed out on the trip and know that you played a role in the lives of those in need living in Ethiopia.

"get to work"

2011-07-14T14:49:00.000-05:00

58: THE FILM Trailer July, 11 2011 from LIVE58NOW on Vimeo.

who doesn't love fresh air?

2011-07-13T23:32:00.000-05:00

THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2010, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

If you live in one of the green states, check it out here. They are still in need of hundreds of families for this summer to participate.

beloved

2011-07-07T19:59:00.000-05:00

My mom sent this to me tonight. It is the final video of 8 on a sermon Henri Nouwen gave. This so well articulates my heart in regards to my overwhelming love and joy that I get from my sweet Abe and the people of Ethiopia.

Seriously, this is the face staring at me while doing this post. How blessed am I?

Thanks mama.

Happy Independence Day!!

2011-07-04T17:40:00.000-05:00

Happy 4th of July.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17

back story

2011-07-02T15:31:00.002-05:00

Filling in some of the gaps.......

(This is a gift from Eyob, director of KVI, the orphange Abe came from. Given on our trip to get him in August of 2008. Hangs in my bathroom and has been a constant reminder to me of a daughter in Ethiopia)

I've known that we had a daughter in Ethiopia for awhile, my dear husband wasn't so sure. I think since we lost the referral for Wudassie and Biruk back in the spring of 2008, I've known she was there and trusted the Lord would reveal His timing. We both assumed that we would return to adopt a girl after Abe and yet the Lord so clearly spoke to both of our hearts that we had another son in Ethiopia. I simply can't imagine our lives without Eyasu and the connection he has given us to our family in Dube Bute. After Eyasu had been home awhile, I started to long to return, to start the process to our girl. Last summer around this time, my heart literally ached for a child that I longed to mother. I was so heartbroken when Moody wasn't on the same page. I wondered how I could have missed it. So I prayed and waited. Around Christmas he was ready. The Lord confirmed in his heart we did indeed have a daughter and we were to begin! I'm so thankful now, seeing His timing, because it is now clear as our daughter wasn't ready for us yet, she actually was just being born. So the heavy heart was for her, I just didn't know it yet.

We updated our homestudy at the beginning of the year and made the decison to return to the agency that we used for Abe, Children's House International. Our dear friends, the Porters, had recently returned home from Ethiopia with their precious Mary Aster and they used CHI and their YWAM program. Their experience and way they described the care of the kids, family preservation programs, etc. gave us such ease using CHI again and it has proved to be a wonderful experience. Everyone on the team has been a joy to work with through this process, and we are grateful for each of them as they work tirelessly for their families.

We assumed that the process would take a very long time as news began to circulate that the Ethiopia program may shut down or at least become VERY slow. I even began to pray about other options and thankfully the rest of the family were RESOLUTE to remain in Ethiopia. Moody kept saying, "she is in Ethiopia babe, just be patient". Love him.

So we did our paperwork, we got fingerprinted and life went on. Upon receiving our CIS approval we were allowed to discuss any particular children on the waiting child list. She was not there and we were content to wait for our girl, trusting in His perfect timing. I got an email from Becky about a little one that was ready but not yet on the wc list. She was on the much younger end of our perameters, but once we saw her face, we knew. She was ours and we were hers. Her story breaks my heart and lets me know she is full of fight. I simply can't wait to see what the Lord has for her. We feel so blessed. The kids are beyond excited and want her home yesterday. We will sit out the court closure as we did with Eyasu and pray her home quickly. We would appreciate your prayers as well.

This is the second time that we did not set out to adopt a baby and that it what He has given us. I have now learned that His plan is always better than our own. That His purposes are always for our good and His glory. I have seen Him reveal Himself so much in our first two adoptions and have seen Him work in this one as well. Moody and I may be the oldest to show up for sweet baby girls 5 year old dance recital, but you can bet her whole cheering section will be right there with us! Welcome to the Team little one. We love you dearly.

Abe is fired up about having a sibling home with him for years to come! What a gift.

REFERRAL!!!

2011-07-01T15:29:00.000-05:00

We are thrilled to announce that we have accepted the referral of the most precious little girl from Ethiopia! I have much to tell (especially as many of you may be saying, huh? what?) but am running out to baseball games! Trust me, she is perfect for the team and we can't wait to have her home. More to come this weekend. :) God is good. Soli Deo Gloria!

adoption today

2011-06-24T13:57:00.000-05:00

This pic makes me so happy!

Click here to view this months Adoption Today article featuring Team Alexander!

abe update

2011-06-21T17:11:00.000-05:00

When we were in San Antonio I had a good conversation with a friend of my sisters. He has a nephew with CP as well as a good friend of the family. He said something that struck me and made me realize that I need to be better about sharing the little milestones along our journey.

Often times people want to see the BIG, the MIRACULOUS and fail to miss the very miracles that take place daily. Abe has made SO much progress, sometimes in tiny little increments and other times it is HUGE.

If you have followed the blog for any time, you are aware that sleep has never been Abe's friend. He didn't sleep through the night for over 2 years and naps were hit or miss. In order to get little man to sleep required one of about 4 people (myself, Moody, Avery and Gloria) to give him a bottle and rock him until he was SOUND asleep. Trust me, many dear people tried but no one else could break him. So while we celebrated his tenacity, it made going anywhere VERY difficult. He either stayed up really late until I got home (if Moody was with me) or sweet Avery did it for us. Imagine when we went out of town for the rare getaway? Avery would sleep in our bed after getting him down in anticipation of his waking up. You just never knew. Sometimes it would be 5 am, other times midnight. Then you didn't know if he would immediately go back down (in our bed) or if it would require hours of work.

You just really didn't know what to expect. Yes, we were tired, but you also just do what you have to do.......it doesn't hurt that he is so darn cute!

I have prayed over and over that he would start to sleep and always rested in the knowledge that the Lord was using this to sanctify and refine me. Anyone remember why I didn't want an infant referral back when we started the process in 2007?? It was because I didn't want to lose any sleep. Oh the Lord has a funny sense of humor!

My sweet friend Kristin was recently in town and I was telling her that I was going to have to try to sleep train Abe again this summer. She encouraged me to get many people praying before I began. I fully intended to do just that. We left for San Antonio that next day and after I long day in the car, we were all tired. We were getting the other kiddos to bed in the next room and then started the feeding, rocking, and begging process. :) Moody had to run downstairs to look at something for his lecture the next am and Eyasu needed me in the next room. I put Abe in his bed (fully expecting the usual immediate most-pitiful-tears-you-have-ever-seen) and went to check on Eyasu. I came back in very quietly because guess what????? NO TEARS. He stirred for a bit and then he was OUT. I sat there stunned and so very thankful. Moody came back and couldn't believe it either.

Well he has now done that for almost every night and nap since then!!!!! We are praising the Lord for this good gift. For us sleep was something we never knew if we would enjoy regularly again. We feel amazing to be getting good, quality, consistent sleep. It is also so great to tell the kids, "I will be right back, I'm going to put Abe down" and actually mean it. Often the process took so long that Moody had them in bed by the time Abe gave up and went to sleep.

So to all of you that have faithfully prayed that Abe would sleep, THANK YOU! We are so grateful. We also pray we are good stewards of this renewed slumber.

Here is short video of Eyasu helping with therapy. Sometimes he laughs so hard we have to tell the kids to stop so he can catch his breath. :) He is such pure joy.

Abe working hard in therapy!

Going for a swim with sissy. He loves the water!

Happy Fathers Day

2011-06-19T08:14:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day daddy! I pray you feel loved today. :)

Babe, what a blessing to parent these kiddos with you. You are an amazing father. Love you.

p.s- I need to take more pics of you with the each child, just realized that.......... :)

Wick, Happy Father's Day. Thank you for loving and raising your son well. I benefit greatly! :)

joy of giving

2011-06-17T07:51:00.000-05:00

Enjoy this video of Kristen Bell going to the site in Ethiopia she raised money for her 30th video.

Kristen Bell visits Northern Ethiopia from charity: water (special donors) on Vimeo.

brotherly love

2011-06-14T21:40:00.002-05:00

"Love one another with brotherly affection, Outdo one another with in showing honor." Romans 12:10

(big brother comforting Abe after he got off of a ride)

We just returned from a trip to San Antonio. The big boys were at church camp in Colorado and flew down to meet us while the rest of us enjoyed a nice long weekend there. Moody was speaking at a tooth meeting and we got to play at the fabulous new J.W Marriott Hill Country resort. I was very happy to have all my chicks back under my wing once they returned. :)

Hill turned 15 yesterday. Hard to believe. Really hard to believe. Do I really have a high schooler now?? Wow.

Hill is a great kid, natural leader and a joy to parent. Moody and I were so proud of him yesterday as he chose to spend his birthday celebrating Abe, not himself. We went to the most amazing amusement park in San Antonio for special kids called Morgan's Wonderland.

It was incredible. We all had a blast. I think the teenagers had the most fun. Moody and I felt so blessed! Enjoy the little video Avery made of our time at the park. Abe's smile says it all.

savannah's video

2011-06-08T22:56:00.002-05:00

My computer is acting really nutty- have made several posts with pics of Dube Bute and nada.....so I am tired and off to bed. :) Enjoy the video that Savannah and Pam took on recent trip to Ethiopia. Dube Bute has my heart, so ready to return! The progress is so encouraging. I will share details soon, assuming my computer starts behaving.

Oh, and some other fun news to share too.

blowing out candles

2011-06-02T17:00:00.001-05:00

So much to write about and can't seem to find time.

Yesterday my man had a birthday!! I love getting to celebrate his life. I am blessed beyond measure to get to be his partner in life.

We had cake at lunch and at dinner! Avery made TWO AMAZING cakes for dinner. One 3 layer Italian cream cake and one 2 layer red velvet. YUMMY. Both totally from scratch, cake and icing. She has mad baking skills.

A Dube Bute update in the works. You won't believe it. Brings me to tears.

Was going to post a pic but blogger is acting up. Hope to try again later. Until then, trust me or head over here to see for yourself. :)

change lives- it will only take a few minutes

2011-05-28T11:30:00.001-05:00

Please take the few minutes necessary to help the awesome people at The Adventure Project and their goal their campaign to get 1,000!! They give you step by step HERE.

My page is here. You can do it. Moody and all six kiddos have pages. See, easy.

This is personal as Eyasu's family are all farmers in rural Ethiopia. Go now. Support their efforts. Change lives. It is so easy to do. :)

Have a great weekend!

why was this child born blind? or with cp?

2011-05-24T19:30:00.002-05:00

My mom sent this John Piper sermon this morning. It is titled "Why Was This Child Born Blind?" and it was very powerful! Several of his words spoke to me. My favorite line was If you want to be one of the most remarkable kinds of human beings on the planet—a Jesus kind—see people with disabilities. See them. And move toward them. God will show you what to say. Wow. Think about that. "A Jesus Kind!" I have written here before about what it does to my heart when people talk TO Abe.....just gets me, big time.

Here is a bit of my email reply to her...."Just made me cry and really thankful for the special people that look at Abe that way, with love, grace and treat him as Jesus would. Though it remains hard, and will most likely get harder as he gets older and bigger, I'm just humbled and grateful that He chose me, us, our family to get the daily blessings that little man gives to all of us."

That really is my heartbeat. He is simply a good and perfect gift. One that teaches all of us that are privileged to know him well.

My sweet mom sent this reply, "Knew you would find it personally powerful. I too love that line. Abe has helped me look at all people with disabilities in a different way: as "uniquely & wonderfully made" by our Creator.

You ARE blessed to have been entrusted with this beautiful child. God will supply the grace all along the way. Today is where you are. And he has been used of the Lord in such powerful ways already and he's 3!!"

So, take the time to watch. Take the time to SEE. To Him be all the glory. ALL the glory.

from blog to msnbc

2011-05-19T09:02:00.000-05:00

Remember my raving review of White Glove?? You can read the post here. Well, apparently the good people at WG read the post and next thing you know, I am being interviewed for an article on their services by a nationally syndicated writer. What are the chances? :) They asked for a family pic and I was pleased to share one where we are sporting some 147 Million gear. You never know how the Lord might work to draw attention to His bigger purposes.

Still think it is a genius service that I intend to use........prayerfully not too frequently, but when needed.

Have a blessed day.

You can see article here.

ready to be back

2011-05-13T12:06:00.000-05:00

The City of Addis - A short documentary from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.

This is an amazing video of Addis and highlights some incredible ministries doing work there. It makes my heart long to be there.

birthmothers day video

2011-05-06T12:54:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is Birthmother's Day. I simply don't have words to adequately express how my heart feels towards the women that carried and deeply loved my sons. We have had the pleasure of getting to know Abe's birthmom and will never have the opportunity to know Eyasu's. Either way, they will forever have a place in our family.

I have shared this before. It is pretty raw and difficult, yet I just don't know of a better way to show you how in His marvelous creation, He could weave the lives of two moms together so perfectly.

ethiopiasmile 2010: Reunion at KVI Orphanage from Kurt Neale on Vimeo.

superman was adopted

2011-05-03T10:55:00.001-05:00

Check out these great shirts! The Ritzmann family is in the process of their 4th adoption in 4 years!!! Yes, 4 in 4. For those that have adopted before know that it isn't cheap, but oh so worth it. They are selling these shirts to help bring home their little one from South Korea. He has some special needs and prayerfully will be able to join his precious family soon.

I just purchased two for my Supermen, Eyasu and Abe. :) Show some love and buy a shirt. Who doesn't like to feel like a superhero anyway??

great book and excellent resource

2011-05-02T08:34:00.001-05:00

I had the privilege to get to an advance copy of Julie Gumm's new book, Adopt Without Debt: Creative Ways to Cover the Cost of Adoption. Julie and I first "met" years ago as we were both in the process to adopt from Ethiopia at the same time. We have kept up and I am so thankful that she took the time to tell her story and share these creative ways to raise the funds for an adoption.

There is a statistic that says that 35% of Christians consider adoption, yet only 7% actually do. There are many reasons that tend to be given, but the high cost is usually at the top of the list. I pray that this book would be a blessing for anyone that thinks finances are standing in the way of responding to the desire to adopt.

Julie and her husband, Mark, have an inspiring story about their response to the Lords conviction to get out of debt. She weaves their story with various fundraising ideas, budgeting strategies and other excellent examples throughout the book.

You can get your copy here. You will be glad that you did!

Julie and her beautiful family

How Great Thou Art

2011-04-26T21:49:00.001-05:00

I have seen this all over fb and blogs, but wanted to post if some of you hadn't seen it yet. Simply amazing! Be blessed.

too good not to share

2011-04-25T16:30:00.001-05:00

I pray each of you had a blessed Easter as we celebrated the Risen King. We did over here at Team Alexander. My sister in law, Melissa, saved the day I tell you, saved the day, or year.......you tell me.

Hill woke up sick on Easter morning and stayed home from church. Family came to our house for lunch and I was pretty sure that Hill had strep throat and proceeded to try to figure out best way to get him the needed meds. I had 2 choices (so I thought), pay $100 and take him to the local Care Now to get him seen, treated and begin meds or wait until today to start calling our Dr at 9:00. I LOVE our Dr, love him but this is the scene in many homes on any given day around here. Child is sick and you need to take him/her to the Dr. You wait until 9:00 when they start answering phones and have redial ready to go, hoping and praying that you are the lucky one to get a quick answer. Much like the old days and trying to win a contest on the radio. You get the picture.

Sometimes you win, and other times, well you wait hours to get someone to answer and then you get "worked in" to see the Dr. "Worked in" means a VERY long wait at the office. It also means contracting every illness that your child didn't have prior to this VERY long wait. It also means that the healthy kids that you had to schlep to the Dr with you, will place you right back here the same time, the very next week.

So as we were all sitting around the kitchen talking my very smart sis in law asked me about White Glove. Have you ever heard of it?? I vaguely remember hearing a commerical and thinking now that is something, must be too good to be true. Never gave it a second thought.

I called to see if they took our insurance and sure enough they do! They said someone would come to the house (it was Easter Sunday afternoon) in the next 1-2 hours and treat my son---- for the exact same co-pay as I would have paid my Dr. if we had gone in to see him. I wanted to cry and hug Melissa and her friend Kristi that told her about it.....wanted to hug them all.

I was still a tad sceptical because it just sounded so incredible. Hill stays in bed, he gets treated at home, for the same co-pay we would owe our Dr. Well, I am a skeptic no more.

James (the nurse practictioner) arrived right on time. He was professional and very friendly, though possibly a tad overwhelmed by his captive audience. All 6 kids, a neighbor, Moody and I were sitting around simply amazed at what was taking place. We may need to get out more.......ok, so he comes in and first hands Hill a Get Well Kit. Seriously? A goodie basket! It had a can of chicken noodle soup, crackers, apple juice, a Gatorade, jello, Tylenol, Advil, cough drops, kleenex and a whole lotta love. He proceeded to ask Hill some questions, does a strep test, a mono test and then hands us our medicine. No trip to the pharmacy. Nope. We love you James.

We told him that he would be seeing him again. They treat anyone over the age of 2. The last time that I was sick I called my Dr to schedule an appt and they could see me the next Wednesday..... James and the other NP work 365 days a year from 8am - 8pm. How great is that?

If you haven't spent the hours that I have waiting to schedule an appointment or waiting in very small examining rooms with way too many children, you might think that I am over reacting here..........but seriously this is BIG people. :)

They aren't in every city, but check to see if they are in yours. You are welcome.

good friday

2011-04-22T10:45:00.002-05:00

master cleanse

2011-04-20T15:58:00.000-05:00

I am on Day 3 of the Master Cleanse. Day 1 and 2 were A.W.F.U.L. My head felt like it was going to explode (most likely from lack of my daily consumption of awesome Ethiopian coffee) and I was really tired and generally pretty grumpy. The headache is now just a dull ache and I, well who am I kidding, I am still hungry! It doesn't help that I have 6 kiddos to continue to provide nourishment to and am therefore constantly around food.

Moody and I decided to do this a few weeks ago. We wanted to do a cleanse and eliminate all those nasty toxins from our body. I knew it would be hard, but not this hard. Wowzers.

A true Master Cleanse is 10 days. Apparently if you go the distance you will be all clean. :) We chose to do a mini-cleanse which is 5 days. We recruited a few friends and ladies from Moody's office because we read that success is greater if you have accountability and let's face it, misery loves company.

My brain has been really scattered. For example, yesterday I picked the boys up from school. On the way home Hill reminded me that he needed new football shoes, so off to the mall we go. Only problem, I realize when we pull up that I never put shoes on. :) Hill ran into Target with some cash and came out with a pair of $2, BRIGHT orange, 2 sizes too small flip flops and off we went to get his shoes. We were in and out of the sporting goods store quickly and my head was literally killing me. I just wanted to get home. Only problem, I locked my keys in my car. NICE. Hill said, "mom, I think you are losing it!" Thank you smart 15 year old. So we went inside to wait, by the Starbucks and pretzel shop, torture.

Today has been better, not great. I was told by many people that day 3 is the turn around and I am still waiting. :) People have been so kind and encouraging and I have to remind myself that I don't have the flu or any other virus, I CHOSE THIS. Why? I am not as confident in my answer right now, but I have been know to be a tad bit competitive and that is most likely the only thing keeping me going right now.

So we will see if I survive day 4, 5 or dare I even say 10???

Anyone else done it? Have another cleanse to recommend for when I forget how I feel at this very moment?

missing it

2011-04-13T16:02:00.002-05:00

I am really missing Ethiopia today. This video makes me happy for the upcoming trip in September. I am ready for EthiopiaSmile 2011. :)

day without shoes and 147

2011-04-07T15:26:00.000-05:00

Great, great day on Tuesday. Had several opportunities to talk to my kids about the millions of children that live daily without shoes when felt the stares as we walked through the grocery store in our barefeet. Excellent exercise, I highly recommend it sometime. :)

We went on a local TOMS walk, then hurried home to get ready for the 147 event here.

The event was SO much fun and CRAZY. Crazy because so many of you came to support 147 Million (in your bare feet) and Dube Bute. I was so full as there was never a break the entire time. You just kept coming in and buying the awesome new items from the 147 million orphans Spring line. :)

Thank you!!!! Thank you to those that purchased at home too. $1,000 will be going to bring Hope to Dube Bute. How amazing is that?

Only pic of that part, did I mention it was a bit nutty?? Heather, it was great seeing you!! :)

3 of my favorite things

2011-04-05T08:45:00.000-05:00

TOMS shoes, 147 Million Orphans and Dube Bute

While I am no Oprah, and will not be giving you free swag today (not entirely true, read on), I am excited to be able to combine three of my very favorite things today. You can help too, here is how.

1. Go barefoot today. Don't wear shoes to raise awareness for the million of children that go without shoes daily and risk serious infection or disease! Really, who doesn't like to go barefoot anyways. Buy a pair of TOMS, ONE FOR ONE. You get a great pair of shoes and so does a child in need. WIN WIN.

2. Come by here to see the new 147 Spring line and shop, shop, shop. I have samples and ordering will take place online. If you order over $50, you will get a FREE multi-colored Uganda bead necklace. Ok, so kinda like Oprah there. If you can't join me in person, just go online to

147millionorphans.com and shop, shop, shop. If you live in Texas, all orders will AUTOMATICALLY go towards DUBE BUTE!! Bringing Hope to the village Eyasu spent the first 23 months of his life.

3. If you live out of state, leave a comment in the special instructions portion of your online order that you want the order to benefit the ALEXANDER FAMILY and you too will support Dube Bute. How great is that?? You get some great gear that will help to raise orphan care awareness and the people of Dube Bute get much needed help as well. WIN WIN.

Have a great day!

Baptism of Liberty

2011-04-04T11:21:00.000-05:00

SO encouraged

2011-03-30T16:40:00.002-05:00

We got the following email from Daniel (next to Moody in the white jacket). Daniel is currently studying at the University and grew up in Dube Bute. It is our understanding that he is the only student currently (maybe ever) to have left the Kebele to study at the University in Awassa. That will change once they are all able to get a quality education!!

Words can not describe the joy his words bring to my heart. Can you see it?? This email is written to everyone that has contributed to helping bring HOPE TO DUBE BUTE.

Dear brother Moody,
   Every thing is good with us. Since last week, contraction materials has been transporting to Dobe butte and first stapes work started like school and bridge work.

  Yesterday really very impressive things has happened in butt's kebele.As you saw animal health post place, it is not comfortable for construction and looks like hilly place .it needs much dig before start building. For that, all the kebles people including old women, men and children were participate on digging of the place and leveling.
    At the end of work there was miracle worshiping and praying.

Finally they bless living God and pray for you and you r family as well as your country.
              In other way, we are arranging the pastors and evangelists for seeds conference.

    Dear Moody, this week I started to collect a data and will proceed for a month I believe you are searching options for a laptop.

                 Be blessed. Yours Daniel

Hoffman visit and a birthday

2011-03-28T10:02:00.000-05:00

Little late on recap of our weekend with Hoffman crew............it was awesome. Just so refreshing to spend time with passionate people. Felt like we had spent many weekends together already, it was THAT easy. Hope to do it again soon, next time with all 4 Hoffman's. Praying sweet M home with them........love looking at her face on my fridge each time I open it!

We celebrated Abe's birthday with a low key backyard bash. He loved it, until everyone clapped after singing Happy Birthday. That, he didn't love. :( Sweet boy.

The whole gang

Abe getting some Meron love

He dug the singing, just not the clapping.

Not the clapping! :(

Nice having an 11 year old resident baker in the house!

Showed off his stuff!

Miss that smile

Tymm getting beat by 2 cute Ethiopians

World Water Day 2011

2011-03-22T10:39:00.000-05:00

March 22 is World Water Day, please help raise awareness! In Ethiopia, women and children walk an average of 4 miles and carry 40 pounds of contaminated water to their family daily.

You can help make a sustainable difference by giving to the people of Dube Bute, a village in rural, Southern Ethiopia. This was the home to my son Eyasu for the first 2 years of his life. They have no access to clean water and instead draw water from

HERE

AND HERE

AND HERE!

But that is all about to change as the people of Dube Bute will have 27 new water points to collect crystal clear and clean water! Thank you to the many of you that have already helped to bring HOPE TO DUBE BUTE.

We stand in awe that so much has already been raised and trust the remaining funds to come in as well!

ethiopiasmile: Hope For Dube Bute from Kurt Neale on Vimeo.

perfect end to spring break

2011-03-17T22:25:00.000-05:00

We have had a restful week! Several days at the farm with some of our favorite farm cousins. Eyasu caught his first fish. He LOVED it. Gigi, send me more pics when you can!!

Seriously?? How cute is he?

Ally and Eyasu. Uncle Willy, thank you for the cool fishing pole!

Look who rolls into town tomorrow to cap off the break???

The Hoffman gang are headed to town for a wedding and will be staying here. We are so stinking excited! They feel like family to us here at Team Alexander and the chance to hang out with them is amazing........even if they are Yankee fans.

Abe is 3!!!

2011-03-11T16:36:00.000-06:00

Someone is pretty excited about being a big 3 year old!! Hard to believe. We love you buddy and are SO proud of you! Thank you for teaching us so much on a daily basis. You are a great gift.

children of God

2011-03-09T10:04:00.001-06:00

The tears flowed this morning as I watched this new video by Third Day. Take the time to watch the WHOLE thing, it is worth it.

sets the lonely in families

2011-03-08T10:00:00.003-06:00

My heart is heavy, heavy for a country that I love dearly and the recent news about potential changes that could slow things down there to a crawl! I have been around Internation Adoption long enough to know that rumors swirl, changes take place and eventually things settle down and are accepted as the new norm. If the news about Ethioipian adoptions slowing down like they speculate becomes reality, SO many children will spend YEARS living in orphanages, not families. This breaks my heart.

I am all for reform and am well aware that there are agencies not playing by the rules and they absolutely should be stopped. My heartbeat is for all of the children there that are true orphans, legally available for adoption, in the care of ethical agencies, doing everything they can to process cases in an ethical manner. These children deserve homes, deserve moms and dads to tuck them in at night. Deserve the security of a loving home.

I am not so naive to think that unethical practices don't exist, that some families aren't torn apart by greed and lack of options. That definitely needs to be stopped! I am a HUGE supporter of family preservation, and DOMESTIC adoption within Ethiopia (check out this amazing new initiative if you haven't already). Sometimes though, IA is the best option for them. Their chance at life.

I can only speak to my 2 experiences so far. Speak of my 2 precious sons.

Abe- I honestly don't allow my mind to go to what life would be like for my little guy had he stayed in Ethiopia. Had his precious birthmom not known in her heart that she wasn't able, didn't have the tools, the resources, the means to care for her son. The son that she thought was healthy. She made the decision based on what she knew. She simply didn't know the needs this beautiful child would have, the therapy he would need, the access to neurologists and orthopedic surgeons and nutritionists......she didn't know, but HE did. "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families," Psalm 68:5-6

I can't think of anything more lonely than lying in a crib, unable to move and having your muscles severly contract due to lack of stretching. International adoption was Abe's best option and our greatest gift.

We would have missed out on moments like this. When his legs move in a way that an MRI simply says they shouldn't. We get to experience the miracle.

Eyasu- A double orphan, extended family doing the very best they could to care for him, to love him, to meet his needs. I imagine, and have been told, that the decision to relinquish was extremely difficult. When a 2 year old weighs what a typical 6 month old does, sometimes you don't have a choice. So he moved to care, he got well. He got a family. Our joy, our blessing.

So today, I am prayerful. Prayerful for the children that need homes, that deserve families. For those already referred, about to be referred, those waiting...... I am prayerful that the necessary measures needed to make sure that unethical practices, people and agencies are stopped, and prayerful that His glory will be shown and revealed in ways that we simply can't imagine. His plan is best. He writes the script and I am learning to allow Him to move the pen.

For I know the plans I have for you, (orphan and adoptive parent) declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

progress

2011-03-04T14:30:00.001-06:00

Abe has been killing it in therapy this week! One of the many joys of parenting a special kiddo is watching them progress.....sometimes it is simply slower than others. Sometimes it seems as if things aren't moving forward at all and then BAM!, huge strides will be made. Just love getting to witness it all.

He is baring so much weight on his arms now and gaining better head control. All of his therapists have mentioned how great he has done this week. Way to go buddy. Keep it up.

To those of you praying for Abe, keep it up! We SEE the results daily and are simply blessed to not be on this journey alone.

when will abey grow up?

2011-02-28T20:45:00.000-06:00

Still processing the massive amounts of information we heard at Idea Camp! It was extremely challenging, inspiring and humbling to be there. So many people with such passion for changing the plight of the 147 million orphans in the world. As I process, I will share. For now, here is a story that happened today.

Eyasu has never asked any questions about Abe, until today. He always has referred to him as a baby. "Abey can't eat that, he is a baby!" and so on..... Abe has always been a baby to Eyasu and I guess it simply has never occured to him that Abe is a mere 15 months younger than he is..........so today, seemingly out of nowhere, Eyasu asked me when Abe was going to "grow up."

I asked him what he meant by "grow up". He said, you know learn to walk and talk. My heart hurt a little.

We had a precious conversation about how God made Abey's brain special. How he can't walk and talk YET like most 3 year olds. His next question, "did God make my brain special too?" Oh sweet boy, he sure did, but not is the same way that Abe's brain is special.

I further explained to him that we are faithfully praying for healing, that we trust he will one day indeed walk and talk.............to that he said, "he will talk mommy, he will talk."

The things to learn from a 4 year old. Thank you little man.

quick update from idea camp

2011-02-25T20:33:00.000-06:00

Today was amazing. Possible information overload, but really so many great things to chew on for awhile. :)

I will certainly share more once home! Moody and I speak tomorrow at 1:30. Would you please pray that we convey our story in a way that brings glory to the One that has led us on this amazing journey? We would greatly appreciate that. They are broadcasting the conference via live feed, so feel free to join in on the fun.

Here is the link to watch. It starts tomorrow at 9:00 am (CST)

off to idea camp

2011-02-24T09:17:00.000-06:00

I am, I am!!!

Excited about a weekend with my man, and spending time hammering out ways to help the orphan crisis with a group of people passionate about the 147 million orphans in the world! Should be a good time. :)

Will share details when we return!

fishers of men

2011-02-20T08:52:00.000-06:00

A precious blog friend, Traci, has made her 40th birthday request be known. She wants people to donate to Dube Bute, to continue to bring HOPE! How amazing is that?? She will be 40 in a little less than 40 days. Go check out her h.i.l.a.r.i.o.u.s blog and make her birthday wish come true! :)

Below is her post. You can read her blog here. Her campaign page is here.

In less than 40 days I will be 40. This spring my oldest baby will graduate from 8th grade and enter high school, and my youngest baby will graduate from elementary school and enter middle school. Have I mentioned that baby #1 gave me stretch marks and baby #2 gave me wrinkles?

It's a perfect storm.

On Sunday I was convinced I'd end up like George Clooney trapped inside a sinking ship wondering what happened to my life.

And I do believe I mentioned that I wept. The weeping didn't help.

So I continued on into Monday.

And that's when I realized that I was in the throes of a mid-life crisis.

But I digress. I know I promised you HUGE news. So here it is:

Last night I asked you to pray two things for me:

"If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will be like the noon day." Isaiah 58:10

"I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living." Amos 5:24

And then I told you that God had a come to Jesus meeting with me.

It's big. It's really, really big. It's so big that there is absolutely no way that I can pull it off. This will be a total God thing.

And it's left me speechless and terrified.

We are going to raise $10,000 in 40 days for Dube Bute, a small village in Ethiopia.

I told you. HUGE.

Over the next few days I'll tell you how all of this came about, but for now can I ask you to do one thing?

Prayerfully consider giving to this cause. Your gift will help to provide water points, classrooms, medicines, and veterinary services to a village so that poverty can be wiped out one village at a time.

You can read more about it here. What I'll tell you today is this- 100% of your gift goes directly to the people of Dube Bute.

My bloggy friend Emily and her family started the campaign to raise almost $500,000 in order to save the children of this village. They are roughly $47,000 away from finishing the project.

Did I tell you that in addition to their 4 children, Emily and her husband have adopted two boys from Ethiopia? Those two boys have changed their family forever, but more importantly, because their family was changed, the lives of hundreds of Ethiopians will change.

I promise, there will be more information tomorrow. But tonight I need you to pray and consider giving.

And consider this...

And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

God told me to go fishing for my birthday. He promised a big catch. Will you come with me?
See y'all.

i carry your heart in my heart

2011-02-14T08:35:00.000-06:00

Woke up this morning all ready to do a cute little Valentines post and kept thinking of her..........I have debated whether or not to share this video for several reasons. It is raw, it is very emotional, it shares details about Abe.........but ultimately it is a story of love. A story of two women deeply in love with their boy.

This is from our trip in October to Addis. We saw Abe's birthmother. Her heart was broken and we pray somehow healed a bit as she knows he is one loved little boy. It was a rare and precious gift to have shared that moment with so many of my dearest friends and family.

ethiopiasmile 2010: Reunion at KVI Orphanage from Kurt Neale on Vimeo.

global soccer mom- a great read

2011-02-13T08:19:00.000-06:00

This is a great book! I read it on one of the snow days we just had. It was one of those ignore the kids because I'm so into my book kind of days. :) Moody was home, so don't worry, they were fed! :)

It really spoke so much of my own heart. Shayne has done some pretty amazing things to care for the poor and needy and to be a voice for those that have none.

Get it here, you won't be disappointed.

Here is a bit about the author:

Shayne Moore is an author, blogger, speaker, mama of three, and outspoken advocate in the fight against extreme poverty and Global AIDS. Shayne is one of the original members of the ONE Campaign, The Campaign to Make Poverty History(www.one.org) and sits on the executive board of directors for Upendo Village, an HIV/AIDS clinic in Kenya (www.upendovillage.org) and Growers First. (www.GrowersFirst.org) Shayne has written for ONE’s blog, Christianity Today’s Gifted for Leadership, FullFill, a digital magazine, and for her personal blog. Shayne is a member of Redbud Writers Guild. (www.RedbudWritersGuild.com)

Shayne is an ordinary, full-time “soccer mom” who joined the ONE Campaign at its inception and who represents the heart of the movement. Shayne is an original member of DGAAN, Dupage Glocal AIDS Action Network, an advocacy group in her hometown. She was chosen to attend the G8 Summit as a delegate to both Gleneagles, Scotland in 2005, and to St. Petersburg, Russia in 2006, to urge World Leaders to keep their promises to Africa and fully fund AIDS initiatives. In 2007 Shayne was featured in a commercial with Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Matt Damon. Shayne has been interviewed by CNN, NBC, and was quoted and pictured in The Wall Street Journal (2006). Shayne traveled to Capitol Hill for a photo shoot which was featured in the Africa issue of Vanity Fair (July 2007) with ONE members such as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Pastor Rick Warren, Matt Damon, and NAACP chairman Julian Bond. Shayne has traveled to Honduras and to Africa twice to see first-hand the devastating effects of AIDS and extreme poverty on communities.

Shayne was raised in Wheaton, IL. She graduated from Wheaton College in 1992 and moved to Los Angeles during the riots to teach school in the inner city. After returning home Shayne slowly completed a Master of Arts in Theology while her children were babies. Shayne still lives in Wheaton with her husband John and three children, JD (14), Greta (12) and Thomas (9) spending most of her days driving carpool and doing mountains of laundry.

sick and snice

2011-02-05T10:00:00.001-06:00

Sweet baby Abe has been sick for a week. It started with the crud and quickly headed downward. He is getting some cuddle time with his big bro. :)

At the Dr. two days in a row. Still trying to smile for the camera, but definitely not himself. :(

Ok, I am officially miserable! Back at Dr who quickly sends us to Cooks to get IV fluids.

After they finally got my IV in.....cried pretty hard. Didn't like that it took a few tries to get it in.

Felt much better after several hours of fluids running through my veins. :) The Dr and nurse still never saw my trademark grin, but they still thought I was pretty cute.

We had FOUR days of no school due to the storm that blew through here. Texans tend to over react in winter weather. It doesn't help that the meteorologist are constantly using words like "treachorous"to beg you to stay home.

Snow days are fun, but snice (thank you David McDurham, I stole the word) not so much. Much more ice than there is fun snow for the kids to play in. I really have to hand it to you parents that live in places that this is typical weather. Getting all of them geared up to go outside and play, then the mess they make as they come inside to warm up- it is a pain....... :)

Avery's darling little snowman. She was determined to make one and since there was more ice

We did get beautiful snow yesterday that redeemed the ice days. The sun is finally out and I expect days more to come of wiping up wet floors.:)

why ethiopia?

2011-01-23T19:36:00.000-06:00

Saw this on several other blogs. Oh it breaks my heart and reminds me why it lives there! Love that A Glimmer of Hope sign is in there (next to girl at water point). Makes me love my little boys a little more and thankful that the Lord has allowed us to partner with Glimmer to prayerfully change those statistics for all living in Dube Bute!

abes people

2011-01-20T10:45:00.001-06:00

Abe has people. When you are one of them, you know. He has his big smile and then he has the smile reserved only for "his"! It can seriously change your mood and make your day. It can reduce me to tears quicker than anything to see him with one of his peeps.

I didn't grow up with anyone that had significant special needs. I know now that it was my loss. They aren't called "special" for nothing. Because of my experience, I don't take it personally when someone is awkward or unfamiliar with how to approach Abe. I understand it. I love when people will ask direct questions as it gives me a chance to explain what a blessing he is and how the Lord is continuing to work a miracle in him!

While I completely understand those that are uncomfortable, words can never express what happens to this mama's heart when people LOVE my son. Like delight in him, consider it a gift to hold him, talk to him! TO HIM. He knows too. When one of his friends walk in a room, he glows. He kicks his legs and throws his arms wildly in the air!

One of Abe's friends is Chris Webb. Chris and I met our first week of college. Just the greatest guy. Fast forward a few years and he marries a friend of mine from Kanakuk days. As the Lord would graciously do, he moved them to A-town. Chris is a SWAT bad-a in Big D (Hill and Wick are mesmerized by his stories) and Rainey is a DA in Ft. Worth. Arlington was the perfect location for them to move. Right next door to our dear ML and Tommy to be exact.

Chris loves Abe. Abe loves Chris. One night over the break, I looked over my shoulder and found Chris and Abe cuddled up in a big chair. Chris was having some deep conversation with my boy. My boy was simply giddy. I couldn't stop the tears. Is there a greater compliment to a parent than someone loving your kid?? It's even better when that kid is special. Difficult to hold, drools or "spills" as Eyasu says, can't talk back (but will be very vocal with you).

(this may or may not have sealed the deal on Chris' love for Ethiopia)

Chris and his team are participating in grueling 26 mile march in honor of the Baatan Death March from World War II and is raising money for Dube Bute in the process. Click here to see his page.

Below is what he had to say:

"But those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Isaiah 40:31

I am often inspired by the strength of others. I stand in awe of people who are able to do things they never imagined were possible. I have felt this way watching our friends the Alexander family step out in faith for this campaign. I see it being used to change the lives of the people of Dube Bute. While I have never stepped foot on African soil, I have met two boys who have stolen my heart. Abe Alexander has been referred to as the "ripple maker" of this project. Without him there would have been not been a second trip to Ethiopia to adopt Eyasu and no discovery of a tiny village with a great need. But this one child has changed the lives of so many. He has for sure changed me. As a police officer I unfortunately see the very worst in people. I see how lives are tormented by drugs, greed and hate. I have witnessed things that I will never be able to erase from my mind. But, when I am lucky, I get to steal a few moments with my buddy Abe. As he sits in my arms and smiles that contagious smile of his I know that world is right. There is still good in people and there is HOPE even when we feel overwhelmed by all the difficulties of life.

I wanted to use my ability to raise money for this campaign but I wasn't sure how to do it. I found the opportunity in the inspiration of another group of people. During World War II a group of brave soldiers were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines. The conditions they encountered and the aftermath of the battle were unique. They fought in a malaria-infested region, surviving on half or quarter rations with little or no medical help. They fought with outdated equipment and virtually no air power. On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. The Americans were Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marines. Among those seized were members of the 200th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard. They were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived faced the hardships of a prisoner of war camp. This became known as the Bataan Death March.

Every year teams of competitors travel to New Mexico to honor the memory of these heros by participating in a 26 mile march. I will be traveling in March with my team and I believe this is the perfect opportunity to raise money for this project in Ethiopia that has become so dear to my family's heart. I am asking for your support as I participate in the march. Each dollar you donate will inspire me to not only honor the memory of the brave soldiers of the past, it will literally save lives of the people in Africa in the future.

Thank you Chris for being one of Abe's peeps and bringing Hope to Dube Bute. Head on over there and help him out! :)

Idea Camp

2011-01-17T06:00:00.013-06:00

How are we addressing the orphan crisis...?

Friends from around the country will gather at the end of February in Northwest Arkansas to answer this question. The Idea Camp is going to be a beautiful few days of sharing ideas, sharing stories and sharing lives.

For Emily and my sons, Eyasu and Abe, the orphan crisis was solved with their adoptions. Praise God indeed. However, that's not the answer for all of the 147 million orphans worldwide. Below is our story of hope, a hope that no more children will be orphaned, at least in the beautiful region of southern Ethiopia. A story of bringing hope to Dube Bute.

Four years ago, our family began a journey that none could predicted - nor had we planned on - but God did.

Our dear friend Kristin went on a mission trip to Africa and sent us a video of highlights. As our family watched the beautiful work she and her team did in the orphanages, our children began asking if we “could bring one home”. Then they began to ask us if we you pray about it. That was the winter of 2007. 15 months later, we received an email with a beautiful picture of our son Abe, wearing a Texas Tech T-shirt. We knew God has His hand in this journey. Three months after that, our family, traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to bring home Abe. That is when we first began to fall in love with the country.

Kristin chronicled the trip through pictures and made a beautiful video of the day we first met Abe, using the song “Mighty to Save”. Because of that, the song has become our anthem. Abe immediately became our “ripple maker”. I like to say that Abe is the large boulder that came crashing into our otherwise very calm pond. Those ripples reached new heights six weeks later, when we received the devastating news that Abe had a severe brain injury from an in-utero stroke. Those were hard days of suffering, but we have a God who is faithful, whose love and grace sustains. Good friends and family walked through those days - our faith grew deeper, our love for Ethiopia grew deeper and our desire to give something back to this country grew.

Just over a year ago, Emily and I went back to Ethiopia to bring home our son Eyasu. We had the privilege to meet his biological uncle who cared for him after both of his parents died from TB. The uncle cared for Eyasu and his biological brothers until he was 23 months old, and on the verge of dying from sickness and malnourishment. Also on this trip, we first met the staff of A Glimmer of Hope and began this beautiful relationship. From the very beginning, we had been looking for an organization to partner with. Once we met these guys, we knew this was the group doing big work, effective work and sustainable work.

Emily traveled back to Ethiopia in June to see completed projects of Glimmer - and the dream of returning to Eyasu’s village was born.

Another reason, Emily traveled in June, was to lay the ground work for EthiopiaSmile. In the spring of last year, the idea came to return to Ethiopia and use the gift of dentistry to love the people of Ethiopia, God moved in the hearts of over 60 people to join with us. Abe’s ripples just exponentially increased! So this passion for Ethiopia and it’s people reached out to our community.

Last month, we visited Dube Bute, Eyasu’s village, we saw the need, we saw the extreme poverty, we saw the lack of clean water, the dilapidated schools, the lack of basic health needs. Trusting God to do big things, we partnered with Glimmer to bring hope to Dube Bute by fundraising to provide 27 water points, a health post, 12 new classrooms, a vet clinic, necessary latrines and a bridge to make all of this possible. By God's grace, almost all of the funds are raised and construction is set to begin!

That’s what this is all about - a beautiful story of redemption, taking a dear orphan out of a dire situation, using him to inspire a community to make a difference in the lives of people a world away.

idea camp

2011-01-15T11:30:00.006-06:00

We need you!! I am not a "camper" but this camp is right up my alley. A group of people, coming together to collectively share ideas, and ultimately bring about change in the orphan crisis. An idea camp is only as good as those who come to participate. If you have vision, passion and a heart for the millions of orphans in the world, this is for YOU.

Moody and I are humbled to have been asked to be guides. Love that they don't focus on the speakers, yet the speakers simply help facilitate the sessions. You are an active participant!

Join us!! February 24-25th Click here to see other guides. Here for main page.

ICDC Behind the Scenes from The Idea Camp on Vimeo.

We have some winners!!!!

2011-01-12T11:25:00.000-06:00

Abe pulled through this morning. Opening and closing his hand is a difficult task, but he rose to the challenge. Words can't adequately express our gratitude for the way each of you stepped up to help bring Hope to Dube Bute. These people mean so much to our family and we are humbled that so many have chosen to literally transform their lives. Over $2,000 was raised in this raffle! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G

I hated seeing so many names in the basket and only having ONE winner. So we have ONE GRAND PRIZE winner and 5 additional winners. The others will be receiving a traditional Ethiopian wooden cross.

Congrats to April Reep!!! Grand Prize Winner. You will receive a large box from me and several additional items from the people that donated them directly!

5 additional winners!!!

Rebecca Winter

Davis Mitchell

Savannah Thorne

Becky Ames

Amanda Bush

last chance

2011-01-11T08:45:00.000-06:00

Last chance to enter the raffle today. We have been blown away by the support you all have shown for the people of Dube Bute. Be sure to let me know if you have put on facebook or your blog so I can add your name to the drawing. Abe is working hard to get his hand all nice and stretched out to pick the perfect name tomorrow. :)

Some of the items donated will be mailed directly to the winner so they aren't in the above picture.

a few more goodies and joseph hears!!!

2011-01-09T15:00:00.003-06:00

The McDurhams have given a great Christmas ornament to the cause! WE loved having these on our tree this year. The back says "hope". :)

Missy at It's Almost Naptime has donated this great adoption tank! Thank you girl.

The cute Reeves family has donated their adoption t-shirts!

And Bobbi Jo Majors has donated one of her awesome ya gotta love.....t shirts.

My dining room table is filling up!! Ends on Tuesday, so there is still time to put your name in the hat!

In a non Hope for Dube Bute, raffle related news.........please take the time to watch sweet Joseph get his hearing aids put in for the first time. Gwen is a dear friend and we share the common bond of parenting special little ones. I cried such tears as I watched his little face light!!

but wait, there's more.......edit (yami cuff pic added)

2011-01-06T09:07:00.001-06:00

Kendra has donated one of her adoption awesome shirts.

Rainey at Bow in the Clouds has donated the coziest HOPE fleece vests. I wear mine all the time.

And here are better pics of some of the items from Ethiopia.

Magazine bead necklace

Wooden bead bracelet

Hand embroidered messenger bag from Alert Hospital (leprosy hospital)

Traditional wooden Ethiopian cross

Beautiful silver cross

Smaller silver cross- used as a Christmas ornament

Necklace with silver cross

There is still time to enter. You can donate, share on facebook or twitter, blog about it or donate $10 here. Be sure to email me or comment on the blog to let me know so I can put you in! The winner will be announced next week! Abe is going to draw the winning name. :)

Here is the pic of the awesome leather cuff bracelet that Lori donated!

more goods to win!!!! edit

2011-01-04T12:10:00.002-06:00

I have been so blessed by those wanting to participate in the raffle!! Some really great items have been added. Read the previous post to see what is already up for grabs. This all benefits the village of Dube Bute, home to my son, Eyasu, for the first two years of his life. Still home to bio brothers, and extended family.

This beautiful lap blanket was made by my friend Jill. We met at church this summer. She came up to me because I was carrying my 147 Million Orphan bag! She has lived in Africa and has a HUGE heart. She wanted to participate and created this amazing masterpiece in 2 days. Her dear hubby helped. What a team. :) Thank you so much!

Amy from Beautiful Brown Eyed Girl Boutique has graciously donated a $45 gift certificate for you to custom order from her handmade creations. Aren't they the cutest things??

Savannah at Bringing Hope to Ethiopia has generously donated 4 shirts and a jacket! These are great- we have them. Savannah is the precious 14 year old daughter of our good friends that traveled with us this fall to Ethiopia. She will make a HUGE difference there, trust me. :)

Fellow adoptive mom, Ashley, has donated one of the cookbooks she sold to fundraise for their adoption! Yummy. Thank you Ashley.

Lori and her LoPo partners have donated a cool t-shirt for the work they are doing in Korah along with an awesome Yami cuff. (leather bracelet)

Lyndsay has also donated her great adoption shirt! They are in the process of bringing home the amazing Miss B! I met Miss B in ET in June. She is a gorgeous child that is celebrating her 4th Birthday. Her last as an orphan.

More.........Julie is donating 2 Ethiopia window decals!! Thank you Julie.

Remember to share the raffle on your blog, facebook and twitter. Let me know by leaving a comment and each way that you share Hope, gives you an entry into the raffle. You get an entry for each $10 donation HERE as well. You can also get entered by donating something to the raffle. Thank you for your help!

starting the year with a RAFFLE for hope!!

2011-01-01T11:30:00.002-06:00

Happy 2011!! We are going to be kicking off the new year with a little fundraiser here at Team Alexander. It will benefit the people of Dube Bute and of course whoever wins!! :) 2010 was so FULL for our family as we had the blessing of traveling to the very village where Eyasu spent the first 2 years of his life. 2011 is the year that that village receives HOPE in the form of 27 clean water points, new schools, a library, a health clinic and a vet clinic. Here is a way to help bring that hope and win some cool stuff!

We already have some great items to giveaway as Gwen and Suz at 147 Million Orphans have graciously donated a tumbler and a shirt, Kari at My Crazy Adoption has donated an awesome Simply Love T, Erica has donated one of their groovy shirts too! A darling little keychain from Deena. Joely is going to do a custom piece of art for the lucky winner, and there is some Ethiopian jewelry, large wooden cross, beautiful silver Ethiopian cross, a scarf, a messenger bag from the Alert Hospital in Addis, a Hope for Dube Bute hoodie, hat and shirt!

If you have something that you would like to donate, that would be awesome! Just let me know. Anything would be a HUGE benefit to the village transformation in Ethiopia. I will continue to add items if they come in! Anyone that donates to the haul, will get their name in the drawing. :)

So.... here are the rules...and how you can start 2011 by bringing HOPE!

1. For every $10 donation given through the donate button (will link you to the campaign page)... it buys you a raffle ticket for the loot. You get 1 entry for any $10 donation or 2 entries for $20 and so on.

2. After you have donated $10 or more, you can get more entries by Facebooking or Twittering or any other social media about this raffle... that gives you 1 more raffle ticket entry (1 entry per social media)

3. If you Blog Post this raffle... that gives you 1 more raffle ticket entry

4. I can only ship within the United States

5. Please comment on this blog post letting me know if you bought a raffle ticket, or if you facebooked, twittered, blogged, etc., since clearly I won't know if I'm not "friends with you on Facebook" or "follow" you on Twitter. You can email me at teamalexander at mac dot com

More details:

1. Raffle ends January 11th.

2. We will have a video drawing of the winner posted on this blog on January 12th.

thank you Heather, I just may have copied and pasted the rules from your recent raffle! :)

whiz kid

2010-12-30T17:40:00.003-06:00

Abe got to test the coolest new toy today. It is a DynaVok speech aid. They put a small dot on his forehead that controlled the mouse on the device! The rep said that he had NEVER had a child so young figure out the mouse so quickly!! That's my boy. The world awaits you buddy. :)

(His should arrive in about 6 weeks)

more merry

2010-12-27T08:49:00.000-06:00

annual sitting on the stairs Christmas morning pic- big boys love it! :)

family pic from Ethiopia this fall

best teammate in the world!!

cleaning out/up, enjoying time as a family this week and getting ready for 2011.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T08:24:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas from Team Alexander to you! I pray this will be a blessed season for each of you as you celebrate the birth of the Savior.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:8-11

san antonio bring hope

2010-12-15T10:05:00.002-06:00

Hope for Dube Bute Campaign Fundraising Event, Hosted by the Festes and the Baileys from A Glimmer of Hope on Vimeo.

Our time in San Antonio was another reminder to us just how much He loves the people of Dube Bute. Just how much the story resonates in the hearts of others and motivates them to act, to DO, to help bring hope to those living without basic needs today. Not for long.

Phase 1 is DONE! And while it was really amazing to see 100% total campaign goal on the main page, it was clear that we needed to begin Phase 2. So we have. The total has gone up and we rest that the funds will come in as the Lord continues to reveal to us that this is His. We are humbled to play a role and more humbled to witness those that step up and are bringing HOPE.

Watch the incredible recap video from the event in San Antonio. Thank you Eric. Kelley and Joey, Anne Marie and Jeff, Moody and I are so grateful that you jumped in with both feet, were willing to ask your friends to come along on this adventure! I simply can't wait to be standing in Dube Bute with you, watching these beautiful people experience the gift of clean water for the first time!!!

P.S-- Just how incredible is Grace and how cute is my hubby???

by our love

2010-12-09T11:24:00.002-06:00

ethiopiasmile: By Our Love from Kurt Neale on Vimeo.

recap

2010-12-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

Above is a video of Grace singing "Mighty to Save" at the fundraising event we held a few weeks ago. It was a very powerful moment for us in the midst of an unbelievable night. We prayed that others would hear the story and respond, well.........respond they did.

The initial project was 18 water points, 2 classroom buildings (8 total classrooms), a health clinic, and vet clinic. There are latrines at the schools and two clinics, as well as equipment and furnishing for everything.

We ended the night and had 1 well, 1 classroom, and a vet clinic left. That's it. Hope is definitely coming.

We currently lack about $17,000 to complete Phase 1(once all the committments come in)!!!!! Can you even believe it? God is so, so good. My way out there, walking in faith goal was that all the funds would be raised by the end of the year. It seemed like such a LARGE sum of money (and it is) but not to Him. He simple funds what He favors. His very heart is with the least of these, those living without health care and clean water. He cares for their very needs, and He is using a LARGE community of people to meet those very needs.

My sister, my brother in law and their very dear friends, Jeff and Anne Marie are graciously hosting a similar event in San Antonio next week. Never in our wildest dreams did we think they would have so little inventory at their event.

We knew that Phase 1 didn't meet all of their needs in Dube Bute, but it certainly was an excellent start. We knew we would commit to a second phase, but clearly thought that would be MUCH farther down the road. Apparently the Lord had other plans! The people of Dube Bute will now have 9 more wells, 4 more classrooms and a library!! How amazing is that????

That is 27 TOTAL water points, both spring protection and hand dug wells. They will have a complete Primary school. Grades 1-8 in 12 classrooms. A library full of books and reference materials. A health clinic. A vet clinic. HOPE!

We need to quickly finish up with Phase 1 so the funds can go to Ethiopia and they can begin construction. We will also attempt to raise the new funds needed to fully transform the lives of those living in Dube Bute! The total for the Phase 2 will be $155,000.

I am excited to see how these funds are raised and have total faith that they will come in as the first. I will be sharing with you some new inovative ideas of others to help raise these funds. I have been reminded over and over again that He is raising up the group to bring Hope to Dube Bute. We have received the most humbling donations from fellow adoptive families, some currently fundraising themselves. From a couple with a miracle pregnancy that felt led to donate the funds set aside for fertility treatments, from a single mother that struggles to make ends meet, from some we simply don't know personally but are forever connected via Dube Bute. We have had some that we assumed would join the cause that haven't felt led, and then been blown away by others we never considered. Just continually reminding me that we are NOT in control, that HE is and He will provide for every need of those living in Dube Bute.

Soli Deo Gloria

EthiopiaSmile 2010 prasie and worship

2010-12-02T08:32:00.002-06:00

I know that I said this post would be a recap of the fundraiser that we held, but apparently 24 hours just aren't enough time on occasion here at Team Alexander!! :)

I do want to invite anyone local to please join us tonight as we give glory to the ONE that so graciously provided for each and every one of our needs on this trip! We are blessed to have the Connect worship band, amazing photos from Bobbie Jo, videos from Kurt and testimonials from the team. It should be a great night.

It is for anyone that prayed, followed along or simply want to see a piece of His handiwork. We look forward to seeing you there tonight!

Please email me for more information if you need it!

New video, news and more great news!!!

2010-11-28T17:30:00.002-06:00

Hope For Dube Bute from Kurt Neale on Vimeo.

Please take the few minutes to watch the incredible video that Kurt made of our time in Dube Bute. He is so talented and he shot the entire thing on his iPhone! We are so thankful for the way that he captured the story and emotions of our time spent there. Makes my heart just long to be back there with them.

The Lord has rained down blessing far beyond our wildest expectations for the people of Dube Bute!! We are SO close to being done with the first phase of the project and are getting ready to roll out MORE for them. More classrooms, more clean water and a library!!! All because so many of you have already brought them HOPE.

Many more are just beginning sub-campaigns as well as various ways to contribute to these people and we are very grateful. They are so deserving and your efforts are greatly needed. It has been very humbling to watch the BODY step up, use gifts and talents to help people halfway across the globe.

We still need these projects to continue to bring HOPE. I can't wait to share a few with you soon.

I will recap a truly powerful evening we had to bring HOPE to those in Dube Bute tomorrow. I am still so in awe of the way that He used the musical talent of Grace London and Eyasu's story to move in the hearts of others. I will break down where we are financially and what the new needs will be- I have NO DOUBT that it will come as well and the village of Dube Bute will experience total transformation! Praise God.

new tumbler and some exciting news to come........

2010-11-23T09:15:00.004-06:00

Been an absent blogger, good reason though. I promise. Stay tuned for some really amazing news!!! Hope is coming to Dube Bute people- what a privilege to watch the Lord provide for them.

In the meantime- head over to my girls at 147 Million Orphans to purchase a new tumbler and provide HOPE to Dube Bute. They are amazing!! Great Christmas gifts for sure. :)

one stop shopping

2010-11-16T09:21:00.000-06:00

Love this girl. Rainey has created a one stop shopping experience for Hope for Dube Bute on her embroidery business website. She is very talented and has made numerous items that my kiddos use- awesome blankets, etc. Head over to Bow in the Clouds to see.

Thank you Rainey, your friendship is invaluable to me.