Oh By The Way

Did I mention I'm going to Africa?

I'm really excited.

I'm going to Ethiopia more specifically.

And if you must know even more specifically than that I'm going to a little village called Garmaam.

Just in case you didn't catch that the first time around and also because I want to say it twice Garmaam is in Ethiopia which is in Africa and I'm really excited.

I will be going with this group.

A little over a year ago our family committed to sponsoring this small village.

Giving just a bit each month together with 99 other families who also give just a bit will hopefully do great things for this small village.

A year ago an opportunity came up to sponsor a different small village and I missed it. I saw it just a few hours too late and it already had it's 100 sponsors.So I waited and watched carefully and when Garmaam went up for sponsorship I signed us on up.

Something about the photos I saw of the village of Garmaam captivated me. I just thought to myself how those people looked like someone I could know or maybe they just looked like people I wanted to know. And those babies. Chubby,bald and bright eyed they reminded me of my own babies.Whatever it was about them we were sponsoring them and I was happy to do it.

Recently an opportunity came up for the sponsors,if they so wished, to actually travel to and visit with the people of Garmaam.Shiloh and I talked about finances and timing and such and it was decided that he could bring in enough extra work at the shop to pay for me to go.

Now I am ironing out all the details and there are many details to be ironed. Normally I don't iron. But I thought it unwise to toss all of this into the dryer and wait to see if it comes out smooth.

Pshhhhhhh who are we kidding? I don't toss things into the dryer to de-wrinkle. We just wash and wear around here. Sometimes we fold and sometimes we just wear clothes out of a big ole pile. And that's good enough for us.

I digress.

On the phone interview with one of the organizers of this trip I was asked what my agenda was. What did I want to do or see while there.I don't know much about the area and I felt a little silly answering what I really wanted to do but I did.

I just want to connect with these people. Just kind of hang out with them.

I want to show myself that while there are certainly cultural differences and language barriers that somehow we are the same. And there isn't really anything to be afraid of.

I want my children to be inspired to dream big.

I want to make this world seem a little smaller to me.

I want to prove to myself that seeing it is possible.

I want to go to Africa and tell you all about it.

Wont you come along?

Yesterday...

We added some red ornaments to our tree.

We bought elf hats with jingle bells on them.

We spinkled a whole bag of tinsle to add some sparkle.

We made a secret surprise for Cecily and Silas hidden in the branches.

One of us got a special gift from a special friend.

We decorated gingerbread houses and ate too many chocolate pretzles and played chubby bunny and created good memories.

Today we rested and played too many video games. But yesterday was good.

Waiting With Pie

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year at my Granny and Papaw's house. That is the tradition for us. At least every other year or so. As we sat eating the traditional foods and a lovely coconut cream pie I couldn't help but think of a Thanksgiving day exactly eight years before. I could almost conjure up a memory of sitting around eating,visiting,playing games. I hadn't had any pie eight years previous. I had missed this particular Thanksgiving and it was a doozy. Family from all sides gathered. Family that hadn't been together since our wedding day and hasn't been since. I missed it because I was at home giving birth to our Cecily.


I tried to imagine how they must have all been lounging here and there visiting. My Granny's house acting as a hospital waiting room. A hospital waiting room with pie. Papers were passed around to write down guesses of the new baby's specs. Talk of if this would be a boy or a girl was rampant I'm sure. Pins and needles each time the phone would ring.

I remember calling soon after Cecily was safely delivered and we were all cleaned up and cozy. Shiloh and I with our heads together listening as someone picked up.

'Hello?' It was Mom I think. Or maybe Dad. They put us on speaker and grinning we announced 'We have a girl!' There were lots of questions.

What does she look like?

How much did she weigh?

What is her name?

Cecily. Cecily Gracin.

She was the happiest little baby. Today we celebrate her eighth birthday. I can't believe how big she is already. She hasn't lost her smile and if you know her you know she has a belly laugh that is infectious. She finds joy in simple things. Well, simple things and cartoon violence. The short film by Pixar with the magician killed her. She laughed the entire length of that short little cartoon. Seeing her cackle at the big screen gave me a stitch in my side and tears in my eyes. I will never forget watching her watch that for the first time. She makes me laugh in other ways too. I thought today to honor her I would share a few things she has said to me that I have written in a book I call Today You Made Me Smile. The kids love hearing 'funny stories of when they were little' and I would love to share with you too.


1-Upon putting on warm clothes fresh from the dryer she exclaimed

"Man these clothes are sweaty!"


2-June 3,2009

After being told to buckle back into her car seat while waiting on our free root beer floats at Sonic because she didn't stay in the back of the van like she was told...

"Mommy,compassion means giving people a second chance!"


3-August 19,2009

After coming in filthy from the backyard where she had been playing she declared,

"I know,I look like an orphan."

4-September 11, 2009

While at a park,

"Mommy can I ask you a question?

"Hmmm?"

"What does a person do if they lose a tooth in jail?"

"They probably throw it away. I doubt they keep it like you do"

Now she is hanging from a bar swinging "Huh. Well, how do they go potty?"

"They have toilets"

She jumps off

"Oh, I put Clara in a little cell"

giggle

"Is she gonna be able to get out?"

shrug "nope" giggle

She runs off.

5-September 13, 2009

Upon entering the bathroom at Cheddars,

"It smells difficult in here"




There was no pie and we skipped the cake. She wanted only ice cream.

I love my Cecily and I would skip pie everyday if it meant having her.

It's Unanimous

Of those who left a comment for a title for this photo




they agreed Silas as a baby in this suit looks Bondish. James Bondish. Thanks for playing! That was fun.

Name This Photo

I wanted to post a baby photo of Silas since his fourth birthday is fast approaching. I found this one by Abbie but didn't have any idea what to title it. I think it needs a title though so help me out. Leave a comment and let's name this photo.

Camping

Labor day weekend we took advantage of the extra day and made our way up to Arkansas to have some family time. We wanted to see if camping is our thing. We found a great spot close to the river and the bathrooms. We had neighbors on either side who were so sweet and helpful. They told us of places to explore and loaned us lanterns when they saw us sitting out in the dark.

We had a wonderful adventure swimming and hunting for gems,zinc and tumbled glass among the rocks



some of them were much too big to bring home



we hiked and picnicked in the 'air conditioning' of this old zinc mine




we cooked smores and chai tea



we fished a little and soaked up lots of vitamin D



we wore Camille here



there



and everywhere



we found this skull rock



and even spotted a mama and her baby deer.



It was quiet and peaceful and the kids were in there element enjoying so much nature.



As it turns out camping suits us quite well. So much so that we decided to go again last weekend. But that's a whole 'nother post.

Self Portrait