Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Spices fill the air. People, people everywhere. Loud air-polluting 1950's trucks. Animals...goats, horses, mules, dogs. Tiny shops. Dirt roads.  Construction.  Sunshine. Perfect temperature. Prayers ringing over speakers throughout the city.  Blue and White vans (taxis). Brown and orange city buses. Corrugated metal. Shacks.  Beggars. Children. Smoke. The aroma of coffee. Heavy traffic. Scarves. Beautiful brown eyes. Music. Poverty. Happiness. Sickness. Sadness. Gated communities. Smiles. Beauty. LOVE.

These are a few words that come to mind when I think of Ethiopia. I have greatly missed this country since our return. There has not been a day that has gone by without my mind traveling back. Even though my daughter is now here, I believe Ethiopia has a piece of my heart and always will.

 
I have the privilege to be traveling with a friend to pick up her two boys. I am so excited about this opportunity! She is adopting from a different agency and we will be staying in a guest house in the center of the city. This will be such a different experience than my trip to pick up my daughter, as we stayed on the outskirts of town and the hotel we stayed at was very influenced by western civilization.

So next week I will be returning to breath in the Ethiopian air and experience more of this beautiful country. Please pray that our trip is smooth and that the boys will feel peace and immediately start to bond with their mother.

Graduation

Last weekend my baby sister graduated from high school.  She was born my senior year of high school. I can't believe she is 18 and will be leaving for college this fall. I missed so much of her younger years due to college and just trying to figure out my direction in life, but I have loved having her so close the past few years. We live 15 minutes apart now. She is my kids FIRST choice when we are looking for a babysitter. We are ALL going to miss the graduate!

There was one other graduate in our family last week, my sweet little 5 year old. I must say I am so glad to have him home this summer. I don't know what I am going to do this fall when he is gone all day long at kindergarten. :(

 Here are the 100 cupcakes I made for my little sister's graduation party.

Little Miss and Mr. playing robots, yes, they designed the costumes while I made the 100 cupcakes.