Childbirth in Ethiopia

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The Best Christmas Present

Our best Christmas present came early this year, 

December 6th 2010

(Since she couldn't be with us for her first Christmas we took a picture of us with her referral picture)

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”

 Buddha

What's currently playing in our car?

Another great CD of Ethiopian music! We purchased it at our local music store, Music Millennium, but you can also find it on Amazon.

Ethiopian music has a rich and diverse musical tradition that stretches back thousands of years. Each of Ethiopia's ethnic groups have an identified and unique sound. If you are interested, PBS provides examples of some music across Ethiopia. From the 1950's to the 1970's emerged the Ethio-jazz period. NPR allows you to listen to some music that was a product of this period.

These are just SOME of the instruments that are used in tradition Ethiopian music:

Traditional string instruments include:

The Masengo: a one-string violin

The Krar: a six-string lyre

The Begena: a large ten-string lyre. 

The Dita: a five-string lyre

Traditional horn/flute instruments:
The Washint: a bamboo flute
Malakat: three to four meter long metal trumpet
Holdudwa: an animal horn
Embilta: a flute with no finger holes, producing two tones
Pan flutes: consisting of 5 or more pipes of increasing length

Traditional drum like instruments:

Kebero: double-headed hand drum

Atamo: a small hand drum sometimes made of clay

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. 

~Bob Marley

Ethiopia Guest home...not only a place to stay

When we saw this video posted by Ethiopia Guest House our hearts were filled with so many different emotions, too many emotions to list or address. Please take the time to watch this video...to understand the need in Ethiopia, to see the efforts being made by amazing people in Ethiopia, to see an inviting guest home where adoptive families and to see the beautiful people of Ethiopia!


Ethiopia Guest Home - More Than a Place to Stay from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.

http://www.ethiopiaguesthome.com/

"The origin of Ethiopia is largely the origin of us all."  ~Javier Gozalbez 

Family Love

We have been so thankful for the support and love that we have received from our families and friends on this journey.

To celebrate seeing our daughter for the first time, "getting our referral", we tried another Ethiopian restaurant in Portland, Mudai. We can't wait to spend time in Ethiopia!

“There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained” ~Winston Churchill

3 months...and how many left?

We can't believe that, as of today, our dossier has been in Ethiopia three months....ONLY three months and we have already received our referral. We still find ourselves daydreaming of what the next few months will be like. To be honest, our heart aches for the families who are still waiting to see their child...families, who for whatever reason, have already passed their 3 month waiting mark. We have always believed that the timing on our journey would be perfect, no matter how long or how short, everything would fall into place the way it was meant to. Over the last week, the way our journey has unfolded has been better than we had ever hoped (not only because of the shorter wait). This has truly confirmed to us that everything truly does happen for a reason. Because when we saw and read our referral we immediately KNEW that we had been matched with OUR daughter.

Cause just like a tree planted - 

planted by the rivers of water 

That bringeth forth fruits - 

bringeth forth fruits in due season; 

Everything in life got its purpose,

Find its reason in every season, Forever, yeah! 

~Bob Marley

After we received our referral we had to submit our "ACCEPTANCE form" to complete the review process (as if it took us more than 1 second to say YES!!). We also provided one picture of us, to be shown to our daughter (we think its wonderful that the staff in Ethiopia truly believe in the importance of showing our picture to our daughter in preparation of our arrival).

So you may ask, what now? Well, as always, there are only ESTIMATED court and travel dates. Right now we are waiting for paperwork (both her complete paperwork as well as our Dossier being translated and submitted) to be sent to the Ethiopian courts, which usually takes about 6-8 weeks. Once everything is received, will be given our 1st court date and are finally able to make travel arrangements, with the anticipation of going to Ethiopia in 1-3 months. So ideally, we will travel around March but we are prepared to leave anytime from February to May. We have ALWAYS known that this would be the hardest part of the process, seeing our daughter's face and not being able to hold her and give her our love.

So now its time to put things in motion, time to further research everything TRAVEL related: vaccinations, lodging/transportation (our flight as well as traveling to different areas of Ethiopia), supplies to bring for her, and what we need to live for two months in Ethiopia! This week we also researched the area she is from, which we already knew some information about. We gained even further respect for not only the country of Ethiopia, but the region she was born in. It is also the time to start preparing for her arrival HOME, getting her room ready *finally*. So needless to say...we have alot to do in the next few months to prepare for the next step of our journey.

In an ideal world we would be receiving regular updates on our daughter around the 15th (or later) of each month. We are of course already greatly anticipating our daughter's next medical report and pictures. We have tried to take a PATIENT approach with this journey, knowing that it is truly not in our control, but we can't help but desire to hold her and give her the love that currently consumes our hearts as soon as possible.

“Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance. Where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor vexation. Where there is poverty and joy, there is neither greed nor avarice. Where there is peace and meditation, there is neither anxiety nor doubt.”

 St. Francis of Assisi

We love to say that...there are now THREE of us!

Wordless Wednesday

Still all SMILES & WORDLESS in delight

“Yesterday is but today's memory, tomorrow is today's dream.”

 ~ Kahlil Gibran 

THE CALL....YES THE CALL!!!!!!!

We can't believe that we are already posting "THE POST"..."THE CALL"..."THE REFERRAL"!!!! It still seems so surreal! We find ourselves just looking at each other with big smiles. Today were able to see OUR daughter for the first time, and we fell head over heels for this precious girl! We just have to acknowledge how lucky we are! The average referral wait for our agency right now is about 4-6 months, with most referrals occurring around the sixth month. In the beginning we had hoped for an early referral, but to ensure sanity, we just focused on the sixth month marker and agreed to not even become restless until the seven month mark. As of today we have waited just four days shy of 3 months.

First, we just have to say that no words can adequately describe our joy, the love that we have for this child already, and the deep sense that she was truly meant to find us.

The Call:
Since I (Viv) took the initial call I will provide the details. So Pete recently started his rotation of working graveyard, and today was his day off, so he was sleeping. I also had to work and noticed in the late morning that there was a missed call from the adoption agency, (Pete was also called but he was sleeping and never hears his phone when he is sleeping). After hearing the voicemail I immediately called the adoption director back, thinking there might be something wrong with our paperwork or there was a sudden change in the process that would directly affect us, truly the last thing on my mind was that we were getting our referral. After a good morning greeting I was a bit stunned to hear the director say "we need to conference Pete in before we can go any farther....." which ensued a response that is now a bit blurry, but something to the effect of "does that mean this is THE CALL." After that was clarified, and there were a few giggles and quiet screams, I informed the staff that I needed to leave work immediately for "good reason". The drive to the house seemed to take forever! Once at home I set up the camera(s), yes, there was more than one because there was no way we were going to miss capturing any of this excitement. Anyone who knows about adoption journeys knows how memorable this day is to the family. So I tried to wake Pete up gently, and at first he was really confused as to why I was home and even thought I was joking when I started to explain we got our referral this morning (still half asleep at this point). Once he realized I was serious he jumped out of bed and we immediately headed to the computer, where we talked to our agency on speaker phone and read the referral documents.

Because we won't legally become her parents until we testify at court in Ethiopia we aren't able to release any identifying information on our daughter such as her name, birthdate, the area she is from, or any pictures. However, we can say we fell in love instantly. She is 2 1/2 months old and absolutely precious in every way. Her smile melts our hearts..and we can't wait for the day WE make her smile! After looking over the information we were truly speechless and thankful. Not only is she healthy but the meaning of her name, the date of her birth...already have ties to our journey and family.

This was an amazing day, filled with so much love. We can't wait to see more pictures of our beautiful daughter...hopefully by Christmas or around the first of the year. Now the hard part truly begins...waiting these 3-4 months to hold her in our arms.

“There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.”
 George Sand 

P.S. And we were wondering what to blog about since we just finished 30 topics in 30 days.... ( : 

Festival if Maryam Zion Nov 30th

Today, November 30th, Aksum hosts one of the Ethiopia's largest festivals, the Festival of Maryam Zion. The festival is held in Aksum, where thousands of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians make the pilgrimage to the Church of our Lady Mary of Zion. Why is the festival held in Aksum? Aksum is a city in northern Ethiopia which was the original capital of the eponymous kingdom of Axum. Axum is considered to be the holiest city in Ethiopia and is an important destination of pilgrimages and significant religious festivals. The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion is referred to as the oldest, and most significant church in Ethiopia. This was the traditional place where Ethiopian Emperors were crowned.  It also is the only church in the world to claim possession of the original Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments Tablets.

Journey of Love

We began this journey of love in our hearts

and did everything imaginable on our part

to bring you into our welcoming arms,

awaiting the day you play on grandma's farm.

By the time you become ours

we will have wished upon every star

that you will receive love and good health

despite the tough hand you have been dealt.

You have been through so much already

we promise to provide a home with love ever steady.

One day our eyes will meet

we can't wait to kiss your little feet.

Until then you will be in our dreams

...waiting for that day of joyful screams

~Enat and Abat

Trans-racial adoption

To be honest, one post can't fully address all the issues that are related to trans-racial adoption. Although race doesn't impact the amount of love that you have for your child, it is a part of your child's identity. We as adoptive parents should not only acknowledge this aspect appropriately but also celebrate their race. So instead of addressing the ambundance of variables in trans-racial adoption, we would like to acknowledge some excellent books which provide education and awareness about transracial issues.

As stated by the author, Marquerite Wringt, "Part of my motivtaion for writing, I'm Chocolate, You're Vanilla, is to show that most young black children are not ashamed of their race. Indeed, like young children of other races, they are incapable of feeling shame about their color or race unless they have been unduly sensitized about the issue or somehow traumatized. As a black clinical psychologist and mother of four school-age children. I am bothered that black children are routinely portrayed as disliking themselves and facing bleak futures simply because of their race. In  my research and practice, I've observed just the contrary. Young black children are no different from youngsters of any other race." She continues to mention the book "offers a guide to parents, educators, and others who work with black and biracial children. It shows how an understanding of the child's perspective can help nurture and support the healthy self-images children bring to the world despite centuries of oppression and the enduring effects of racism in society today."

Jaiya John, Ph.D., an African-American adult adoptee was raised along with his younger adopted brother in a Caucasian family which lived in a predominantly Caucasian community. In his autobiography: Black Baby White Hands he writes about his personal experiences as well as providing education "to parents raising adopted children of a different race who face the important challenge of ensuring that their children grow up with knowledge and pride in their racial/cultural heritage -- keys to a cohesive, positive identity and self-esteem. This involves commitment to open communication -often initiated by parents, around..."

• the adoption story
• the reactions of others to their visibly "different" family
• the racism that exists in our society

Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall emphasize in Inside Transracial Adoption, "that parents must make it a priority to ensure that their children have regular and comfortable connection to the cultures with which society will identify them. Living in a diverse community certainly can help make this easier, but only if effort is made to make real, close connections with families of the child's birth heritage. If parents seek out experiences where they are the minority, they will also understand what it feels like to be in their children's shoes. Steinberg and Hall list the following suggestions to connect children with members of their racial culture."

• Do everything in your power to make friends with at least one family who shares your child's racial heritage, hang out in their neighborhood, giving your child a chance to make friends with kids who share her racial experiences.
• Join in recreational, religious, or educational groups or activities with members of your child's racial or ethnic group.
• Shop; go to restaurants, movies, and beauty/barber shops with people of your child's heritage.
• Seek out special events such as museum exhibits, street fairs, musical productions that are likely to be attended by people of your child's heritage.
• Choose professionals of color: doctors, dentists, and teachers, etc.
• Choose schools with diversity in mind.
• Join adoptive parent groups with other transracially adopted families, esp. families with children of the same racial heritage as your children.

“Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.”

 ~Abraham J. Heschel 

Talking to our daughter about Ethiopia

Of course in an ideal world the beautiful children of Ethiopia wouldn't have to leave their homeland in search of opportunities...in a perfect world there would be no adoption...but unfortunately we are faced with this reality. The ideal situation would be that our daughter would never have to leave her birth country, her culture, her family.  No one can replace any of this, however we can do our best to keep her ties to Ethiopia, to encourage her to be proud of her homeland and culture.

We will honor Ethiopia in our home through an attempt to intertwine this rich culture through regular family activities. Just to name a few we plan to....

• Reading her Ethiopian children books
• Having scrapbooks and dvds of Ethiopia (hopefully of the area where she was born)
• Attending Ethiopian festivals and celebrating the holidays in our home
• Cooking Ethiopian food in the home as well as eating at Ethiopian restaurants
• Listening to Ethiopian music (which already is playing in the house)
• Encouraging and maintaining relationships with other adoptive families
• Talking openly and regularly about her birth heritage
• Planning to sponsor a child so he/she can attend school
• Continued involvement in EOR to continue to give back to her country
• Participating in Ethiopian Cultural Camp in the summer
• We will purchase 18 little gifts for her in Ethiopia, one to open for each birthday
• Planning to return to Ethiopia, not as often as we would like, about every 5 or so years

Ethiopian Facts
Land Mass: 1,119,683 sq km
Covered by Water: 7,444 sq km
Lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 m
Highest point: Ras Dejen 4,620 m

People
There is an estimated population of approximately 70 million people in Ethiopia, with 80 ethnic groups and a wide diversity of languages. More than 80% of the population live in rural areas.
Ethiopia was never colonised, even though from 1935-1941 it was occupied by Mussolini’s Fascists it has remained untainted by colonial powers. Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%,  Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2% , and 1% other.

Religion
The major religions are Christianity (mainly Orthodox Church) and Islam. It has been estimated that there are Muslim 40%, Orthodox Christian 40%, Animist 15%, and 5% other.

Government

Ethiopia is an independent Federal Democratic Republic, with a President as head of state, and a Prime Minister as the head of government. The constitution was established in 1994, following the over-throw of the Mengistu military dictatorship in 1991. A federation comprising nine-states with considerable autonomy were established and the first multiparty elections were held in 1995. The distinct regional states are – Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Benishangul-Gumuz, Southern Nations (SNNPS), Gambella and Harari.

Language
Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia, although outside the larger cities and towns, there are over 80 different languages and 200 indigenous dialects. The most common of these are Oromo, Tigrinya and Somali. In the northern and central parts Ethiopia different Semitic languages are spoken. Namely Tigre, Tiginrya, Guraginya and the official national language Amharic. The Sidama languages are spoken in the east and south-east. Parts parts of the south include the Cushitic-speaking peoples of the Oromos, the Afars and the Somalis. In the west and south-west are the Nilotic peoples who have their own distinctive language and culture.

Currency and Money
The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr, which is made up of 100 cents. Notes are issued in five denominations - 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr and there are five different coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents. One US Dollar is about 9 Ethiopian Birr.

Clocks and Time
There is a six-hour difference between Ethiopian and Western time. This means Western 6:00am is 12:00am Ethiopian time and 6pm Western time is 12 noon Ethiopian time. There is no adjustment of clocks for Winter or Summer Time, so there is daylight savings time. Being close to the Equator there is almost twelve hours of constant daylight. In Addis Ababa, sunrise begins at around 06.30 and sunset is about 6:45.

“In this bright future you can't forget your past.”

 ~Bob Marley

Books for adoptive families

Thankfully, due to the increase in adoptions, there are more books available about adoption. Here are just a few that we would recommend:


Books for Parents:

Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for todays parents, by Deborah Gray
Twenty Things Adoptive Kids wish their Adoptive Parents knew, Sherrie Eldridge
Toddler Adoption: A Weaver's Craft, by Mary Hopkins-Best
Dear Birthmother
The Whole Life Adoption Book: Realistic Advice for Building a Healthy Adoptive Family
Perspectives on a Grafted Tree: Thoughts for those touched by adoption, by Patricia Johnson

I'm Chocolate, You're Vanilla: Raising healthy black and bi-racial children in a race- conscious world

Black Baby White Hands: A View From the Crib, by Dr. Jaiya John

Inside Transracial Adoption, by Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall

Children's Books about Ethiopia/Adoption:

Storyteller's Beads, by Jane Kurtz
Fire on the Mountain, by Jane Kurtz
The Perfect Orange: A tale from Ethiopia, by Frank Araujo
The Saint and his Lion: The story of Tekla of Ethiopia, by Elaine Stone
The Color of Us, by Karen Katz
I wished for you: an Adoption Story, by Marianne Richmond
Tell me again about the night I was born, by Jamie Lee Curtis
Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale, by Karen Katz

“The books that help you the most are those which make you think the most.”

 ~Theodore Parker

Thankful, today & everyday

Today and Everyday we are THANKFUL for:

Our incredible families for their unconditional love & support

Our wonderful friends, old & new

Our cozy home and beautiful city
Our country which give us freedom & opportunity

Our devoted furry friends

Our dependable jobs

Our Journey of Love
( for how it has touched our lives and hearts already)

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.”  
~Oprah Winfrey

One of the things we are very grateful for in the Portland area is the large Adoption Community! Not only have we met some incredible families, but they are ongoing opportunities and gatherings for adoptive families throughout the year. Just to name a few....

Waiting parents support groups
Toukoul Orphanage annual reunions in Portland
Ethiopian kids play groups
Amharic lessons for kids
Annual adoption agency events
and of course.....Fabulous Ethiopian restaurants

We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way. ~Author Unknown

Adoption stories featured on the Today Show

We are family: Stories of adoption

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Adopting later in life

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Orphan Train

Here is a little history lesson. Have you heard about the Orphan Train?

In the 1850's, there were an estimated 30,000 children who were either homeless or neglected, living in the streets of New York City. The children ranged in age from about six to 18 and had little hope towards their future. Charles Loring Brace, a minister and the founder of The Children's Aid Society, felt that there must be a way to provide a home and future to these children. He had a dream of removing these children from the slums and harsh poverty they faced, and placing them in homes across the country, where he thought they would be given opportunities and hope. These children were sent by train to live and work on farms out west. They would live in homes for free but they would work on the farm and help with chores. Older children placed by The Children's Aid Society were to be paid for their labors. The Orphan Train Movement lasted from 1853 to the early 1900s with more than 120,000 children being placed. Although this was an unusual and even controversial plan of action, it has been now recognized as the beginning of the foster care concept in the United States.

The Orphan Trains stopped at more than 45 states across the country as well as Canada and Mexico. There were numerous agencies nationwide that placed children on trains to go to foster homes. The Orphan Train Movement and the success of other Children's Aid initiatives started various programs of child welfare reforms, including child labor laws, adoption and the establishment of foster care services, public education, the provision of health care and nutrition and vocational training.

“Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future”

 ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy 

Paper Pregnancy

Paper Pregnancy? What does that mean? Traditionally, this adoptive term is used to describe the wait time that the adoptive families experience, which usually begins when the family received their application approval. For us, we felt that our paper pregnancy started when we submitted our dossier to Ethiopia. That is when everything became real for us, our focus is not about the paperwork anymore instead it is about the wait to see our daughter. Therefore, according to OUR time line we are just over two months "paper pregnant" with the hope that we will be kissing her beautiful face for the first time in about seven months. Just like a biological pregnancy this wait time is about preparation...preparing her room, preparing ourselves with as much "parenting" and "adoption" knowledge as possible, etc.

Although we understand that these two paths to motherhood are different, the amount of love that we feel for this child is the same. Both journeys....focus on the importance of education, force parents to deal with patience, and bring joy and anticipation to the family. We found a great blog entry about how to take care of yourself during your paper pregnancy and would encourage all adoptive families to take a look.

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at it destination full of hope.” ~ Maya Angelo

Adoption Assistance

There is a misconception out there that you must have a large bank account to start the journey of adoption. Although adoption, at times, can require a large amount of money up front there are financial resources available.

Adoption myths that may prevent a family from continuing to pursue their dream of adoption:

1. All adoptions are expensive
2. The family must be wealthy
3. The family must own their own home
4. There are no financial assistance programs available
5. The legal fees are too high

A great website, How to Make Adoption an Affordable Option, provides information and resources addressing these myths and how to navigate the financial maze of adoption.

Federal Tax credits:
Recently, the federal Adoption Tax Credit has been improved and extended until Dec. 2011. This law was included in the Health Care Reform bill which became law on March 22, 2010.  There were a few changes. First, the maximum credit will increase from $12,150 to $13,170 per eligible child. Second, now the Adoption Tax Credit is refundable, if your credit is greater than the taxes you owe, the difference will be refunded to you as cash. In the past, if your adoption credit was greater than the amount you owed in taxes you had to carry it over for up to five years in order to take full advantage of the credit. Here is the IRS news release

State Tax Credits: varies by state of course

Loans/Grants: Just to name a few
A Child Awaits
Gift of Adoption
Show Hope
Lifesong for Orphans
National Adoption Fund
Pathways for Little Feet

Adoption Fundraising:
Be creative! We know several families who have contributed to their adoption fund through making and selling items. Also, here are some organizations that will allow adoptive families to use their product in fundraising, with the family given some of the proceeds. 
Just Love Coffee Roasters
Adoption Bug

And yes, there is even a Blog dedicated to providing information and products that contribute towards financial resources for adoption! You can just shop...or you can sign up as an adoptive family!

In our family we have always taken the mindset that once in a while you have to take that leap of faith to reach your dreams. We hope that other families will follow their heart and see where it leads them.

“There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.”

 ~ Albert Einstein 

National Adoption Day 20th

Today is National Adoption Day

Today is a day to celebrate the beautiful children around the world who have displayed strength and resilience

Today is a day to honor the special and selfless birth families

Today is a day to rejoice for the adoptive families who allowed adoption to enter their heart to bring together their "forever family"

Today is a day to be thankful for amazing adoption communities

National Adoption Day Website

And of course when we say "today" we mean "everyday"...we are so thankful for adoption...it has already touched and enriched our lives so much.

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

 Buddha 

Birthmothers and Birthfamilies

We can't pretend to know what the birth mother or birth family is feeling or going through during the decision to place their child for adoption. We DO know how much respect we have for the birth mother and the birth family for identifying what is in the best interest of the child. We have known women who have had to make that difficult choice of placing their child for adoption, and we have known the mothers who have humbly accepted this blessing...seeing the abundance of love given to this child from both sides.

If given the opportunity we hope that we can express our deepest gratitude and respect that we feel for the birth mother. Whether or not we are able to meet our child's birth mother or her birth family we will always honor these people in our home and consider them family. We might be a world apart physically but we do have one thing in common...the same abundance of love for this child.

Thank you!
Thank you! 
Thank you!

Our dear friends and fellow adoptive parents posted a beautiful entry on their blog about mothers.

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. 

~An ancient Chinese belief

Photography that touches our hearts

As famously stated, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Pictures capture the moment, the person and the ambiance that words can't describe. Pictures speak to your heart and your soul.

As a way to support adoption and bring visual awareness to foster children who are available for adoption, eight years ago the Heart Gallery of America was created. As stated on their website, "The Heart Gallery is a traveling photographic and audio exhibit created to find forever families for children in foster care.The Heart Gallery of America is a collaborative project of over 120 Heart Galleries across the United States (and growing) designed to increase the number of adoptive families for children needing homes in our community."

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” ~ Aaron Siskind

For us, Ethiopia has spoken to our hearts and we have become emotionally connected to this rich country. We were thrilled to hear about this 20 year old photographer, Joey Lawrence, who traveled throughout Ethiopia capturing images of the country and people of Ethiopia. As stated, his mission and passion was to "capture images of tribes on the verge of extinction."

To learn more information about Faces of a Vanishing World or Joey L's website

Here is an NPR interview with the 20 year old about capturing the images of Africa.

“Photography is truth.”

~ Jean-Luc Godard

Wordless wednesday...Le Toukoul...

Another video of our daughter's first home and where we will meet her for the first time. We can't wait until we pull up at the big blue entrance!

"A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams." ~Unknown author

Baby Book // Lifebook

Whether your child grows in your stomach or in your heart, it is important to document the journey of love to meeting your child. Everyone cherishes their baby book. Viv has her mother and grandmother's baby book and we can't wait to add our child's baby book to the shelf. For our daughter we have a journal, which discusses our desires and emotions during this process, our blog documenting our journey, and of course a scrapbook to place all the photos of happiness along the way. Eventually she will have a scrapbook of our travels in Ethiopia as well as a Lifebook containing all the information that we have of her life before she became our daughter. This information includes any history regarding her birth parents or birth family, as well as her time in the orphanage.

Just as everyone's journey to parenthood is different, there are different ways to journal or document this journey for your child. The most common or traditional method is the "baby book", although these traditional books are beautiful, the topics in the book sometimes don't apply to adoptive families. However, adoptive families can be very creative and find a way to not only acknowledge but celebrate the part of their child's life before he/she is united with his/her forever family. The goal of the baby book is to express the joy and excitement about bringing this child into the family. Most often adoptive families refer to this book as the child's "life book".

For adoptees the information they have about their life before they join their "forever family" is invaluable. Every little piece of information is precious, whether it's a photo or quote from the orphanage staff. Lifebooks allows parents to put all the pieces of information together in a way that helps your child make sense of, and ultimately feel good, about his/her history.

Here are some different ideas/books to get someone started:

My family My Journey: A Baby Book for Adoptive Families

Lifebooks: Creating a treasure for the Adopted Child

Adoption Lifebook: A bridge to your child's beginning 

My custom story: A website which truly allows you to create your own baby story

If you are worried about your creative side, there are not only books but classes to assist you in creating a lifebook. If you live in Portland, Oregon Adoption Mosaic provides ongoing classes on making lifebooks (variety of experience levels).

I didn’t give you the gift of life, life gave me the gift of you! ~Unknown Author

Hague Convention and International Adoption Programs

Concluded on May 29, 1993 in The Hague, the Netherlands, the Convention establishes international standards of practices for intercountry adoptions. The United States signed the Convention in 1994, and the Convention entered into force for the United States in April 2008. Hague Adoption Convention governs adoptions between the United States and approximately 75 other nations. Here are some facts about the Hague Convention according to the Depart of State:

1. The Department of State is the U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Convention, and oversees compliance with both the Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA).  In this role, the Department of State also serves as U.S. liaison with other adoption Central Authorities around the world.  
2. The Hague Adoption Convention protects children and their families against the risks of unregulated adoptions abroad, and ensures that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of the children involved. The Convention also serves to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children.

Although not every country involved in international adoption is a part of the Hague Convention, the goal is for every country to eventually adhere to the Hague convention regulations.

Here are the lists of various countries that are frequently identified with international adoption. To find out more about that countries program simply click on the name of the country and you will be taken to the Department of State website to learn more information about that program. 

Hague Accredited:

China

Guatemala

India

Kazhakstan

Not Hague Accredited:

Ethiopia

Haiti

Nepal

Russia

Vietnam**Currently suspended**

Although 99% of adoptive parents have good intentions in adoption and are putting forth the interest of the child first, it is important for both countries involved to thoroughly investigate the adoption parents to assure this is the bet placement for the child. 

Educational Links:

Department of State overview of International adoption and the Hague Convention

Adoption alerts and notices regarding various countries and their programs

Guide for prospective adoption parents

"At that point the child is eligible for adoption and can be placed with a family that can love the child and can raise the child." ~ Henry Ford

EOR (Ethiopian Orphan Relief)

One of the inspiring facets of this journey is meeting other adoptive families and organizations who place great importance on continuing to give back to the children of Ethiopia. As a family we feel this is very important.  We became familiar with EOR last year and were immediately impressed with their mission and dedication. EOR was started by a few adoptive mothers who felt a need to help the orphans in Ethiopia, which is a continuous effort. Last year, their annual benefit Lights of Hope 2010, was very successful and we felt fortunate to be a part of such an inspiring event (our blog entry from that event).


Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc. 2010 from Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc. on Vimeo.

At Lights of Hope 2010, the generous guests gave enough money for 100 girls at Children’s Heaven to be fed for 500 days. Here are the pictures of the beautiful and happy children. We hope that Lights of Hope 2011 will be even more successful. The need in Ethiopia only grows bigger...and so do our hearts.

Here is their blog if you are interested in reading about their current projects

Here are some of the EOR's recent and current projects:


Gena Giving Project - 130 backpacks to children in Ethiopia from Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc. on Vimeo.

Tasfa Ethiopia live and silent auction

We are looking forward to Lights of Hope 2011 and we hope you are able to join us!

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.  ~Dalai Lama

Presidential Proclamation

We were so pleased to see the president bringing awareness to adoption and the needs of the children in the world.

Here is the statement from the White House

Believe you can and you're halfway there. ~Theodore Roosevelt 

Secretary of State

This is a wonderful message about supporting adoption!

Serendipidy

n. pl. ser·en·dip·i·ties
1. The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.


Post by Viv:
I had a case of Serendipidy this week! I have been so fortunate to work in the adoption field and to meet so many amazing families. I knew little about international adoption before I worked in this field, but I was eager to work with children and families. At the time I was given the opportunity to work with adoptive families I felt it was by chance, but now I see that it wasn't by chance, it was by fate.

I was lucky enough to provide a homestudy for a couple from Ethiopia, who is adopting from Ethiopia. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. After we completed their homestudy interview, we talked about the incredible people and beautiful country of Ethiopia. I just couldn't stop smiling, it was music to my eyes, to actually speak to someone from Ethiopia about their country and their adoption plans. I just hope that I was able to convey accurately the deep respect that I had for their journey and their country. To my delight and surprise the wife prepared delicious beef wat and injera, only to be following up with...yes you guessed it popcorn and roasting of coffee beans, it was a beautiful home coffee ceremony. I felt very honored to be in their home and to be a part of their process. It is moments like these that leave you speechless and with peace in your heart.

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

 Ryunosuke Satoro 

Thank You Veterans

Today  is Veterans day! We give thanks to all the men and women who have served this country today and in the past.  These brave individuals fought so that we may have the freedoms that we have today.

Did you know that Ethiopian Veterans helped the United States in the Korean War? Six thousand Ethiopian soldiers served in this war to help the United States defeat North Korea. Here is part of an informative article that I found, "In 1951, the United Nations formed a coalition to fight against communist North Korean and Chinese forces on the Korean peninsula. The Kagnew Battalion was comprised of then-Emperor Haile Selassie’s personal bodyguards. During three years in combat, three Kagnew battalions served in Korea; another arrived following the cease fire. Ethiopian troops fought alongside the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Regiment, under the 7th Infantry Division, participating in hundreds of battles that included action in the Iron Triangle and the fight for Pork Chop Hill. During the war, 122 Ethiopian troops died and 526 were wounded in action."

To read more here is the entire article.

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. ~Author unknown

THANK YOU