Ethiopian Saturday

We were able to attend an Ethiopian event in Seattle on Saturday. It was a fundraiser for Heinok Belete, a 14 year old who died in his sleep last year in Edmonds. His family and friends intend to honor his memory by building a school in Ethiopia. We enjoyed watching soccer, and were happy to make some local Ethiopian connections. We found out about Amharic classes, which are held at NSCC every Saturday. On Fridays the kids get together and play soccer. Sami is so excited!

Sami went to buy an ET flag at a booth. He walked over with Zach, and asked how much they were. The man said "For you 4 dollars" Sami thought he said "4 birr" so he ran over to tell us. Lance and I laughed, cuz "for us" it was probably at least 5. Wherever you go in ET, if you are "ferenge" it is at least triple!

Tsion practicing her golf swing, with the ET flag.

Tsion's Sayings

Things I do not want to forget....

***"Bite" (right) now, Zach and Josh have started to say bite, instead of right when they talk to her. :)

****"All Guy".....All done, another one Zach and Josh have picked up.

***Where is my Person??? (purse)

***Tonight she asked me to take the polish off her "toast" (toes)

Tsion is Sad

Tsion has been sad from time to time, mostly sad for Chekole (her dad) or Helen (her cousin who helped raise her) or her grandma. I have had to help her identify this feeling, and give it a name in English, "sad." So the other day when she said she was "sad", that is what I expected. Instead she said she was "sad for me and dad in Kidane." And she says "why did you take so long to come?" Considering that they only waited 5 total months in the orphanage, can you imagine what the other kids think?

So then we go thru "you loved me in Kidane" Yes, we loved you then. "You loved me in my home?" Yes, we loved you in your home too. We love you all the time. :)

Memorial Day

A dear friend surprised us on Memorial Day with this picture. She sarched for a couple years for this unmarked grave of my Grandpa's uncle. Our family is so grateful for all her hard work! Thanks Marjorie!

Viking Cup '07

Go Explosion!

The pictures say it all.....the results are here http://nkitsap.bonzidev.com/frameset.php

"I am Sad"

These were siblings that I took a picture of when we were in Ethiopia. They looked so sad, and so hungry. As we were surrounded by a ton of different laughing children, who were then shushed away, these two caught my eye as they were so quiet, and subdued.

I was reminded of this picture the other day when Sami came up to me and said he was sad. I expected to hear him say he was sad for Ethiopia, or for his family. Instead, he said he was sad for the people that lay on the street with no clothes and no food. Then he said on Sundays when they went to church, sometimes they would bring "dabo" (bread) or some coins for the people they would see. Their family had nothing and gave from their hearts. I can only pray that I would do the same!

A Week in Review

This week we have had 4 baseball games (for only two kids, wait till next year!) a soccer game, purchased a trampoline, planted a garden,(still need a deer fence) we went to Seattle for a trip to the zoo, and got haircuts! Here are the highlights......

For Grandpa Wilson

All the boys got their haircut yesterday. Grandpa had been wondering when Zach was going to cut his hair, this is for you gramps!!

Happy Mother's Day Mom

Excerpts from the 8 cards I recieved on Mother's Day:

"I love you Mom so much" -Joshua

"Thanks for being my wonderful Mom"-Zach

"Mom, I never see Mathers day. Thanks for being my Mother." -Sami

And lots of pictures and hearts from Tsion. :)

It makes all those long days worthwhile, and I am writing it here so I do not forget!!

For the Grandparents :)

The top pix is Zach stealing home, he stole all 3 bases, and I couldn't get the camera ready fast enough to take any video! They won 13-12. The bottom pix was the day they beat the team they were tied for 1st with, 5-1.

Little League standings, scroll down, Zach is AAA Edgren Hecker, Lemmon. Josh is AA, EHL also.

http://www.nkll.com/files/GameStandings.pdf

Peter Checks in on Family

Our friend Peter went to visit Sami and Tsions grandmother last week. Their 3 cousins Helen (whom they lived with), Melisho and Rediet are going to a Young Life camp in Ethiopia in a few weeks and they wanted to know more about the ministry. Peter had a great visit, and the kids were so excited to see a recent pix of their family! It is a difficult concept for Sami to understand e-mail and how a picture can travel from computer to computer! :)

From left is Melisho, Rediet, their grandmother, Helen, and Peter. Below is Tesfaye and ???!

Here is part of Peters e-mail:

"The other exciting thing is I went to yewagnesh house and visited them. We had a great time. They are so thankful about you all and telling me that your kindness and love for them. Melish, Rediet and Helen are so exciting about the camp. I explained them about what YL and camp means. I want them to come club before we go to camp. They are happy to do that. They are right people for YL. We took picture together and I attached all pictures below and enjoy with it."

We are so thankful that we can maintain this connection!

Compassionate Youth Ministry

"Here are some pictures the children who lost their poor farmer parents to HIV AIDS VIRUS and the young people whom I am ministering. I want you to put these pictures on your refrigerator and pray always and continue to share it with your friends too so that they can pray for those needy children. As I told you before a lot of young people continues coming to know Jesus and many Muslim kids too. A big miracle."

This is from our friend Peter, (on the left) who also is an Area Director for Young Life. We spent a lot of time with him when we were there in January. He has asked us to share this ministry with our friends, and ask for your prayers. The website is www.cyministry.org/

Ketchup

Tsion has adapted to the taste of ketchup, on her chicken and hot dogs. The other day I had cut up her favorite fruit, and she brought it over and asked..."Can I have some ketchup with my mango???"

The Queen's Handbag

Monday afternoon I turned on CNN "the most trusted name in news", wondering if I would see a brief excerpt on the recent "unrest" in Addis. As I flipped it on, there was the Queen, and the topic on the bottom of the screen was "What is inside the Queen's Handbag?"

Kudos to CNN for reporting the news.

Josh Running Home!

Here is a pix of Josh running home!

"SICK"

This is the first time I have heard a child lick cookie dough and say "sick!" Then take another, "sick!" and another........That would be Tsion and not Josh! :)

A letter from Sami

It was Zach's birthday on the 1st. Sami woke up and said, I didn't get you anthing for your birthday (in Feb). I said "of course, I got to go to Ethiopia and get you!" Those types of answers do not usually satisfy children, so he sat down and wrote a letter:

Mom,
I love you so mach.
Your doing good to me.
Thanks for all ting (things)
Thanks for in a Kidane (orphanage) chose me and Tsion,
Thanks for doing all ting
Thank for soccer
I Love you mom.
Sami

Happy 10th Birthday Zach!!

At this point 10 years ago, I was VERY tired trying to figure out a newborn, and reading Prep for Parenting....Growing Kids God's Way, and listening to Zach scream and scream in his crib...then he would throw up. I thought it was then acceptable to go get him at that point. (probably wasn't!) Now, 10 years later I can admit to my friends that we had let Zach sleep in our bed. AGH! It's out.

At 10 his (our!) life is soccer, which is almost year round in Poulsbo with the new indoor facility. Baseball is #2. He also is involved in Royal Rangers, Chess Club, home school class, and church. He has also been going running with me, MOM would like to keep that regime up! :)

His past birthdays have included Tacoma Rainers and Chuck e Cheese, but he voted this one as the best. He hung out with his grandparents, went to class today, took a friend to Taco Del Mar, and his brothers baseball game. They came home and played Cars and FiFA Soccer 2007 till we had to take CJ home. Guess it IS just the simple things in life. Another lesson for me.