Thursday, July 22, 2010
TDS Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Our room at TDS Hotel. We had one of the suite rooms so there's a livingroom and a separate bedroom. Still much preferred the guesthouse when we have our kids with us, but I can't complain about much else! Except if you're there in the rainy season, dress warm.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Claire's final post-placement
Claire's final post-placement report is done! Here are the photos we sent along with it:
Friday, February 5, 2010
I 171H
We got our I 171H in the mail today! We just mailed a copy along with our dossier to WACAP so as soon as they get it, we'll officially be on the wait list for baby #2!!!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Recipes and Coffee
Shai and I have decided to put together a cookbook to raise money for our own adoption costs for Baby #2! Shai and I will to pay over $20,000 from beginning to end to cover administrative costs, travel, etc. Our adoption agency, WACAP, employs lots of amazing people both in the USA and Ethiopia and they are doing a lot work in Ethiopia to educate children, make medical care available and work to keep kids with their birth families as much as possible. WACAP is known for their high ethics and have always passed USA and ET government inspections with flying colors. Lots of wonderful people are doing wonderful things for these children so I truly feel every penny we pay is doing good.
We would love your recipes: your own or from your favorite cookbooks, as long as you site where the recipe is from.
Main dishes, appetizers, desserts, soups, etc. and we’re definitely going to include a “Lutheran Jell-O Salad” section! (and if anybody knows any good Ethiopian recipes that they’ve tried and loved, those will be especially appreciated!)
Also, we’ll throw in some household tips, money-saving tips, cooking tips, etc. so pass those onto us as well.
We’re thinking of getting the higher quality cookbook binding so we’ll sell the cookbooks for about $20 and we need at least 150 recipes (even more would be wonderful)
Please don’t feel the obligation to purchase a cookbook if you submit recipes if it’s not in your budget! Any way you can help—recipes, tips, or just keeping our family in your thoughts—is much appreciated.
Thank you!!
Shai, Victoria, Claire, and future baby #2 (0-2 years old, open to any gender, unknowns and special needs)
We would love your recipes: your own or from your favorite cookbooks, as long as you site where the recipe is from.
Main dishes, appetizers, desserts, soups, etc. and we’re definitely going to include a “Lutheran Jell-O Salad” section! (and if anybody knows any good Ethiopian recipes that they’ve tried and loved, those will be especially appreciated!)
Also, we’ll throw in some household tips, money-saving tips, cooking tips, etc. so pass those onto us as well.
We’re thinking of getting the higher quality cookbook binding so we’ll sell the cookbooks for about $20 and we need at least 150 recipes (even more would be wonderful)
Please don’t feel the obligation to purchase a cookbook if you submit recipes if it’s not in your budget! Any way you can help—recipes, tips, or just keeping our family in your thoughts—is much appreciated.
Thank you!!
Shai, Victoria, Claire, and future baby #2 (0-2 years old, open to any gender, unknowns and special needs)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Claire's adoption finalization
On Dec 31st we got a phonecall to schedule Claire's court date with Ramsey County MN to finalize her adoption! Claire will become a citizen of the United States on Friday January 15, 2010. WOO HOO!!!!!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Post Placement #2
Our second post placement visit was today (due at WACAP on Sept 22)
Though you'd like to see which photos we chose:
Though you'd like to see which photos we chose:
Monday, August 31, 2009
Found Day
Dear birthparents of our daughter, Claire:
One year ago today you said goodbye to your daughter. She was so tiny and so sick at 3 weeks old, born premature, we can only imagine you made a plan for her knowing you didn’t have access to the nutrition, clean water and medical care she needed. I wish you could see her now, so strong, healthy, growing, intelligent, happy, smiley, active, outgoing and beautiful. She is a miracle.
She loves reading (and chewing on) books, throwing balls, laughing at kitty cats and puppy dogs, watching cars and trucks go by, singing songs, taking walks in her stroller, swinging, riding in shopping carts, playing peek-a-boo, being held and cuddled by mama and dada...
She is loved by so many people. She has a large extended family here and, as cliché as this sounds, she has charmed her way into everyone’s hearts. Even total strangers comment on how beautiful Claire is and how infectious her smile is.
I think about you all the time. I wish I knew who you were so I could tell you how wonderful our child is. It bothers me that the lack of basic needs is keeping birth parents from being able to care for their children.
Everyone should have water that doesn’t make you sick.
Everyone should have enough nutritious food to eat.
Everyone should have shelter.
Everyone should have access to medical care.
Everyone should have access to education.
It is ridiculous and childish that those who have SO MUCH hoard it so others go without. We’re taught to share in preschool, yet somehow this hasn’t translated over to the basic necessities of life (especially when it requires tax dollars, God forbid). Why is that? I hope I can teach our daughter to be better than that.
One year ago today you said goodbye to your daughter. She was so tiny and so sick at 3 weeks old, born premature, we can only imagine you made a plan for her knowing you didn’t have access to the nutrition, clean water and medical care she needed. I wish you could see her now, so strong, healthy, growing, intelligent, happy, smiley, active, outgoing and beautiful. She is a miracle.
She loves reading (and chewing on) books, throwing balls, laughing at kitty cats and puppy dogs, watching cars and trucks go by, singing songs, taking walks in her stroller, swinging, riding in shopping carts, playing peek-a-boo, being held and cuddled by mama and dada...
She is loved by so many people. She has a large extended family here and, as cliché as this sounds, she has charmed her way into everyone’s hearts. Even total strangers comment on how beautiful Claire is and how infectious her smile is.
I think about you all the time. I wish I knew who you were so I could tell you how wonderful our child is. It bothers me that the lack of basic needs is keeping birth parents from being able to care for their children.
Everyone should have water that doesn’t make you sick.
Everyone should have enough nutritious food to eat.
Everyone should have shelter.
Everyone should have access to medical care.
Everyone should have access to education.
It is ridiculous and childish that those who have SO MUCH hoard it so others go without. We’re taught to share in preschool, yet somehow this hasn’t translated over to the basic necessities of life (especially when it requires tax dollars, God forbid). Why is that? I hope I can teach our daughter to be better than that.
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