Favorite Photo Friday

I'm busy putting a collage together for Beamlak per her request of her and her little buddy Simon from Kechene. These are my favorites thus far :)

"Mom! He's a climber just like me!"

"Mom! I taught him how to do that! He learned that from me!"

The little caretaker :)

3 Years and 6 Months

It's absolutely amazing to me that it's been 3 1/2 years since I first met Beamlak. The little sweetheart pictured below had me from the absolute first moment I met her. She didn't say much but she held on tight to me as I held her that day and I just couldn't let go and I haven't been able to since :)

Beamlak had turned 5 years old shortly before I took my first photograph upon meeting her (below). She is now an absolutely stunning, hilarious, entertaining, goofy, intelligent, beautiful soul. I am simply in awe of the privilege I have been given to be her mom. There is not a day she doesn't wake up the happiest little girl I've ever seen (OK, so we haven't hit the teenage years yet ;) )

Some of my latest favorite Beamlak-isms:
1. Her cuddliness - she LOVES to cuddle and is always asking for hugs or giving me kisses. It's certainly the sweetest thing.
2. Her bossiness - OK so we have been told by teachers to work on this little (BIG) characteristic but I sincerely admire her for it. This survival characteristic has served as one of her greatest strengths. It defines the role she played at Kechene and has allowed her to enforce her strong beliefs with others (though at times can be a bit forceful!)
3. I wrote a few months ago that she was set on reading chapter books - well she's doing it! Slowly but surely she's starting to read them and even practicing on her own during quiet time before bed. She's so proud of herself - as am I!!
4. It truly isn't possible to summarize the happiness she brings to life every single day!

Goofing Around

The Beauty of Ethiopia...

...certainly cannot be summarized in eight and a half minutes - but the video below does an amazing job at providing a glance into just some of the beauty that is this country and its people. Immediately the music made me want to jump on a plane and visit an asmari bait to hear the instruments live. I longed to simply walk the streets of Addis that make me feel I'm home. To hear nothing but Amharic as you go through your day - beautiful. Strangely, I even had the urge to be in a taxi making my way across town knowing I paid 3 times too much for the fare :) Anything to bring me back.

Ethiopia: The Whole Picture from Paul Hassell on Vimeo.

Through the Lens

Writing.... by image
Easter

Why? why? why? do you have to make me sit here...Well if you're serious, I'm going to seriously start eating my feet

Mya in awe of the play, love this picture :)

The girls continuing to enjoy the play... Anthony... well at least he tried? ;)Grandma! Grandma! Look what I found!!

Sorry the images were cut short because for some reason my connect keeps disconnecting. I'll try to upload some more soon :)

The Builder's Manifesto

The Builder's Manifesto - I read this a few months back and just returned to my notes from the article. It's a great piece that's well worth taking the time to read (in my humble opinion. :)) I certainly don't agree with the article in its entirety but I certainly value the information presented. A portion of it is included below:

The 21st century doesn't need more leaders - nor more leadership. Only Builders can kickstart the chain reaction of a better, more authentic kind of prosperity.

How can you become one? Here are the ten principles of Constructivism (contrasted with these principles of leadership), just a few from the article:

-The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm. The Builder is inspired — by changing the world.
-The boss says "I"; the leader says "we". The Builder says "all" — people, communities, and society.
-The boss assigns the task, the leader sets the pace. The Builder sees the outcome.
-The boss says, "Get there on time;" the leader gets there ahead of time. The Builder makes sure "getting there" matters.
-The boss knows how; the leader shows how. The Builder shows why.
-The boss makes work a drudgery; the leader makes work a game. The Builder organizes love, not work.
-The boss says, "Go;" the leader says, "Let's go." The Builder says: "come."

My Most Favorite Beamlak Moments of the Week

1.
In the car on the ride home tonight after her Amharic lessons,
Beamlak: Mom, you know, girls can save the world and boys drool.
Me: (Laughing just a bit) Really?
Beamlak: Yes, mom. Boys think that they can just do everything, but everyone can do something. Girls can do it too.
Me: You are absolutely right hunnie, you are so smart, everyone can do something in the world.
Beammlak: Yes, they can.
Me: Were the kids talking about your T-shirt today? (she was wearing her "girls can save the world" T-shirt)
Beamlak: No, I just know that.
Me: Well I'm so happy to hear that you know that. You're such a smart girl sweetie.

2.
Again in the car on the way home tonight,
Beamlak: Mom, I'm going to call the Ethiopian flag.
Me: Good idea!
Beamlak: Ring, ring... Hello!
Me: Hello!
Beamlak: Who is this?
Me: The Ethiopian flag, how are you doing?
Beamlak: I'm doing good. How are you?
Me: I'm doing well, thank you. So, can you tell me a few things about Ethiopia?
Beamlak: Yes!
Me: OK, so what color am I?
Beamlak: Green, Yellow and Red.
Me: Good job!! That's right! Can you tell me what Ethiopian Orthodox people wear to church?
Beamlak: clothes?
Me: Yes, you are correct (with a chuckle), they do wear clothes. Do you know what kind? What color gabbi do they wear?
Beamlak: White! Dresses!
Me: Awesome! You're right! Good job! What else can you tell me about Ethiopia?
Beamlak: They need families.
Me: You're right, there are many children who need families (this one just floored me as we haven't spoken much about this besides how it relates to my work and why I was traveling to Colombia, more on this later).

3.
She is now determined to learn Spanish! She has a LOVE for languages and I'm so proud of her for wanting to learn more about people throughout the world. It's so much fun for her to discover the differences and similarities of places around the world. Upon my return from Colombia she was just enthralled with learning about what they do with all the items I brought back, how/if I could understand when people spoke Spanish, etc. Her school is offering weekly Spanish lessons for the Spring quarter so she's beginning those next week! I simply couldn't say no, she was too excited to join before I could contest!

4.
She did so well during my trip last week to Colombia (thank you amazing friends for taking her in, she had a blast!). She's now an even BIGGER cuddle bug than ever and I just can't get enough of it.

5.
She is determined to read chapter books this week! It's quite a leap from where she's at, but she's confident she'll be able to do it. I just LOVE and ADORE her inexhaustible confidence and determination.

And there is so much more that I want to include but just cannot tonight - I'm certainly feeling MUCH better but still a bit out of it. I hope to follow up soon!

To all a good night!

Reflection

The days that I long most for Ethiopia are the days filled with perspective and those lacking just the same. The day you realize just how precious life is in the moment you live it is just as concerning as the days when you long for this perspective and yet is solidly out of grasp.

There are many reasons why I long for Ethiopia – none of these reasons are greater than the other. Yet most often I lack the ability to describe this longing – this longing for living in a moment that is so fragile – a moment that brings you closer to life and death. The moment that though indescribable at the time you later realize is so precious because of the delicate balance that exists between life and death.

The dance necessary to survive this blessed and yet tragic reality is unknown and is discovered only in the moment of reflection. Understanding why certain moments have become permanently imbedded into your memory, your life, your existence is invaluable. The knowledge you gain through this reflection is immeasurable – and yet leads you no closer to discovering its amazingness.

Just a Few Photos :)

Beamlak reacting to her light-up Princess Tiana purse from Santa!AND Princess Tiana clothes!

After opening presents we made our first snowman!! It was a lot of fun, but it was windy and actually began to rain as we were finishing up, leave it to Duluth weather! She's just giving a "little" hug to Mr. Snowman

That's my goofball!Posing

For Christmas I got her an easel and art set! The artist's tools

Beamlak completing her first painting - she was using our Christmas tree scene at the house as a model and did so well I think I'm going to frame it!

One more photo from the day of sledding!

A Decade, a New Year, and a Birthday

Wow! Life is amazing! I've had the pleasure of reading many friends posts and journal entries about what they have accomplished in the last decade and year - I'm truly blessed to be surrounded by such amazing individuals. Their posts have allowed me to take a step back from life and ponder what exactly has happened in the last decade, the last year, and think about what lies ahead.

In retrospect, it's purely amazing to me how much life has been lived in the last 10 years!

2000

• I turned 17 years old :)

• A job shadowing experience solidified my choice of studying Anthropology at University

• Changed from the swim team to the soccer team - should have stuck with swimming. Swimming is a lot less fun but lets just say I'm a much better swimmer :)

• Traveled to France and had an amazing time - quotes are still used from these times! Solidified lifetime friendships :)
  

2001

• Graduated from High School
• Began studying Anthropology at UMD and LOVED it!
  

2002

• My daughter was born
• I began my second year of school
• Decided I wanted to learn more about international law and found myself wanting to take additional courses on the topic - added a Criminology major to the agenda as it allowed me to take all the law courses I wanted.
  

2003-2004

• Continued my education
• Began working as a server and at the post office to make tuition
• Moved into the dorms for my 3rd year
  
• Studied in Italy in the Fall of 2004 and made some of the best friends a girl could ever have, had the time of my life traveling, running, studying (everything from Flamenco to Prostitution) enjoying countries East and West, and LOVED eating gelato, pizza, and pasta everyday!

2005

• Began working at a law firm
  
• Began noticing a trend in the projects I undertook for Honors, Undergrad Research and a Seminar, all three highly focused on International Human Rights with a focus on women and children and their guarantee of the most basic of rights: life, food, medicine
• Graduated
• Completed an internship with my present employer
• Took a chance and attended a conference on Children Without Parental Care in Boston, MA that changed my life and provided me with amazing opportunities

2006

• Continued work at the law firm
• Began volunteering for the organization that sponsored the conference in Boston
• Offered the chance of a lifetime to work in Africa - though the country had yet to be determined
• Traveled back and forth to Holland for work and took my first trip to Ethiopia on a "Fact Finding Mission" to determine whether or not it would be possible to collaborate with the government and other NGOs in our mission
• Offered the position in Addis Ababa, needed to be in Holland January 1

2007

• January 6 Arrived in Addis
• Met Beamlak January 27 my first day volunteering at Kechene, a day that changed my life forever, though I told myself over and over I had a mission to accomplish and I was not capable of providing the life that she deserved
• March 7, I inquire about Beamlak's social history to learn about her wait for a forever family, and began the unofficial journey toward us becoming a family
  
• Traveled to Uganda - the most visually, beautiful country I have visited, and rafted down the Nile! Yep the Nile!
• Friends visited me in Addis! Much needed!!
  
• Traveled back to Holland to assist in hosting the 2nd Annual Conference on Children Without Parental Care
• Impromptu travel home to MN just for a week, thanks to my boss!
• Back to Ethiopia
• Back to MN for weddings! Yippie!
• Back to Ethiopia with a new mission
• Meet Beamlak's Ethiopian Mom - learn about her true social history - her birth mom is alive
  
• Began working as a consultant for my present employer
• Informed employer that I would be returning to MN
  
• Oct 10 left Ethiopia thinking I would be back in just 1-3 "short" months to return as the Country Rep of a new program -life had other plans
• Daily fought the battle to not return to Ethiopia on the next flight out - the only thing stopping me was knowing that it would cause a delay in the adoption - this was certainly the hardest time of my life
  

2008

• Continued - Daily fought the battle to not return to Ethiopia on the next flight out
  
• April 15 - I turned 25 years old and could legally send my dossier to Ethiopia for Beamlaks' adoption
• Oct 27 Beamlak's Official Referral!
• Nov 28 - first court date

2009

• January 14 - second court date
• February 26 - third court date
• March 26 - 4th Time is a Charm! We passed court! I was in such a fog that entire time that until I just reread my posts I thought I only had 3 court dates! Wow!
• Submit purchase agreement on my first house - wow! The timing!
  
• April 11 -arrived in Ethiopia and it feels like home
• April 13 - reunited with Beamlak!
• April 30 - departed Ethiopia and it is certainly bittersweet
• May 1 - arrived in MN
• May - Beamlak joined Kingergarden as she desperately needed to be around kids
  
• Moved into the new house sometime in late May

And the rest is history :) It's truly amazing to look back at 2007 and 2009 and say wow!, I seriously cannot do this time justice and then glance at 2008 and say, wow! those were the only moments that truly stood out among all others.

With 2010 just beginning and the reality of my daughter's 8th birthday becoming more apparent I continue to look back at the year, day, and time she was born. Not only to honor her birth and the relationship she has with her Ethiopian family but also in awe of what 8 years are. What it means, what can happen in this amount of time, and know that without a doubt the last (almost) 3 years that Beamlak has been a part of my life have been the most amazing.

To a beautiful 2010 and Beyond...