My Blog List
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Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund1 year ago
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Last Call4 years ago
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Adventures In Substitute Teaching5 years ago
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Perspective7 years ago
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Tag! We're It!8 years ago
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Koceich Crew Update8 years ago
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Vacation Without Ruby8 years ago
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A little analogy9 years ago
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Slideshow9 years ago
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Jasa Penulis Artikel SEO Murah9 years ago
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Modern Technology Plus Person Dyslexia9 years ago
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Is This Blog On?10 years ago
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I am without grandparents10 years ago
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A Perfect Life10 years ago
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Disappointed10 years ago
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In which I compare my belly to male genitalia10 years ago
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Hi...10 years ago
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DON'T EVER QUIT !!!10 years ago
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Brokenness10 years ago
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Move out of the way10 years ago
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It's Time10 years ago
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Brooks Baptism11 years ago
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The Start of School11 years ago
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my big girls11 years ago
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First Day of School!11 years ago
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5 Best Beach Reads11 years ago
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Hope for the Limping Soul11 years ago
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Good Bye Old, Hello New!!11 years ago
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Flipping for Lent11 years ago
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Lulu's Par-tea!11 years ago
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Exciting News!11 years ago
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OUR BLOG HAS MOVED!12 years ago
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Update and Pics12 years ago
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I’m a terrible blogger.12 years ago
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Water is Everything12 years ago
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Sam’s Story Part II12 years ago
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Can We End the Orphan Crisis?12 years ago
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Scenic Route12 years ago
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Home Two Years12 years ago
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We've Moved!12 years ago
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Members Only13 years ago
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There is no one but us.13 years ago
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Ben's 8th B-Day!13 years ago
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2 Weeks Home!13 years ago
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Summer Fun13 years ago
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The BIG Giveaway--5 Days remaining!13 years ago
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Moved13 years ago
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Pregnant With a Third Grader13 years ago
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Happy Summer!15 years ago
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amazing photographer
.......she captured our trip on film
Thursday, January 20, 2011
abes people
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.
(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
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! :)
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About Me
- emily
- "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from becoming polluted by the world." James 1:27
6 comments:
As one of Abe's peeps, this post moved me to tears!
Love ya,
Kim
This brought me to tears! What a great guy!!!
tears flowing.....I KNOW that grin, so I am going to consider myself one of his "peeps!!" and you are right..whoever named them "special" was RIGHT ON TARGET!! I love you sister! miss you SO! xxoo
Just found your blog. This post made me cry tears of joy! Your little Abe beautiful and obviously a gift.
We are in the process of adopting from ET. This post makes my heart yearn even more for our future child. Thank you for sharing.
I am totally one of Abe's home girls for sure !!! He brightens my day all the time and he doesn't even know it ... LOVE YOU !!
Abe has amazing friends that will impacted to changed the world !!! ABE IS DEFINITELY SPECIAL !!!
love you Abe !!!
I just have to say Em, that Abe has touched SO many people- many whom you'll most likely never meet. I've obviously never met him, held him, and witnessed his grin I hear so much about...but he's touched my life and many people I know. I'm learning that as years go by the Lord grants us perspective. You had no idea what all God had in store for you and your family. But I can't imagine how you feel looking back and seeing all God's done in and thru that sweet boy. What a precious gift.