6 months ago today we met for the first time!

Where has the time gone. I look back at the pictures of the first day we met in Ethiopia and cannot believe how much A&A have blossomed. 6 months ago we where all scared and unsure. We had just landed in Ethiopia on New Years Eve and after a restless sleep we where anxiously waiting to get to the transition home and meet our 2 newest members. It felt like the time was standing still and even though we where so close they where so far away. The moment we met was a moment I will never forget and I hope you don't either.

The past 6 months have been filled with many ups and downs and we have grown so much as a family. I can't imagine our lives without you and want to thank you for changing our lives forever.

I am so lucky to be blessed with 3 of the most amazing, wonderful and beautiful children. How did I deserved to be so blessed?

Wordless Wednesday

When I grow up I wanna be a.....

big A - doctor of little kids and babies who are sick.
C man - A policeman who is big and strong.
little a - DI-NO-SOWR!

;-)

Time to catch up

It has been so long since I last posted. I think with the excitement of Christmas and then loosing Winston I just never back into a grove and took the time to post. I finally feel like we are once again back in routine and think I need to catch up on our life. For me this is a way for me to journal our life and also share what is going on with others we may not be able to keep in touch with all the time. I love the comment side of things but also know that the majority of my family and friends don't leave comments and that is ok too. I am hoping over the next while to be able to keep a more regular posting as well as to write about our Ethiopian trip. I have asked my husband to write about it as he did a great job of keeping a journal while we where there but I am not too sure if that will happen ;)

Life has been crazy busy with soccer, hockey, gymnastics, school, skating, etc. I love spending time with the kids and even though after school is super crazy I love the routine we have and the time we get to spend together. I am glad that even when I go back to work I should be able to work it so that I can be home in time to pick them up from school.

I will end this post with a few pictures from our first Christmas together.

A good video word the viewing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu25STfbej4&feature=player_embedded

This video brought back so many emotions. I can't wait for the day when I can return to Ethiopia and learn more about it's beautiful people and culture.

Good-bye my dear friend

Yesterday we said goodbye to a special part of our family. Winston had been with me for 12 years and was truly the best dog a person could have asked for. My how how family grew Winston and you where there with me every step of the way. Your where a very loyal and loving companion and you will be deeply missed. There is a void in our home that will never be filled. I hope that you are finally at peace and free from pain. Maybe now you are able to run free again with your old pal Justice.
We love you deeply and you will always be remembered.

Donations while in Ethiopia

While in Ethiopia we tried to make donations to several orphanages and organizations that we thought did great work within Ethiopia. While there is so much need we did find it hard to spend the amount of money we had brought with us in the amount of time we had there. Here are a few pictures of our donations and the organizations they went to. All are worth checking out and possible making a donation. Many have gift options to give to those hard to buy for individuals.

http://vulnerablechildren.ca/2010/12/06/pictures-of-faya-orphanage-kids-from-a-visiting-family/

http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/index2.html


Is that what 70 backpacks, 24 pairs a pant, 12 skirts, 12 shirts and 100 kg of fruit (along with some other donations of shoes, blankets, medicine, etc.) looks like.

Ambo Women and children's center

http://www.canadianhumanitarian.com/



Purchasing Teff from a teff mill - each bag weighs 100KG....in total we bought 450kg.