I decided to look at my blog today.  It's been almost two years since I posted anything here.  I started the blog to tell Yohanna about our journey towards life with her.  As I read those old posts, I laughed and I cried and I remembered, feeling a warmth in my heart that had, over the last two years faded.  It wasn't gone because each time I see my little Ethiopian Princess I feel the joy that she gives me.  But it had faded.  It used to be everyday I would feel that warmth, then weekly, then monthly.
                   I sometimes think that I get that way with a lot of things.  Home, work, family, church, God. Today I ask for the strength to feel that warmth every day.  

The wind may howl
Through the barren trees,
The cold rain may fall
On a wintry breeze,

Yet peace I feel,
A warmth in my heart,
For You are here with me,
We will never part.

Though storms may come,
I am safe and secure,
I am in Your arms,
Your love does endure.

The storms of life
You make peaceful for me,
You hold me in Your arms
Where I feel eternity.

Yes, child, do not worry,
I am here with you;
Cling to Your Jesus,
This I ask you to do.

Should the snow fall,
Should the cold rain pour,
Should the winds rage,
My reign does endure.

See how I calm all
With but words I say?
You need never to worry
When you follow My way.

Yes, follow Your way,
Cling tightly to Your side,
Jesus, I will do both,
Please within me do abide.

Caroline Gavin ©Feb. 2013
Purposeful Pathway

Psalm 112:7 (KJV)
He shall not be afraid
of evil tidings:
his heart is fixed,
trusting in the LORD.

Today is a day to reflect

I got up this morning felling probably better that I have in a week or two. The day was gray but I was excited to go to Sunday School with my grandson Caleb and then to relay the message during UMW Sunday in the Worship service. I picked 5 women of the bible to portray and with each woman I had a different piece of clothing to wear and a different piece that was special to that woman to put on the altar at the end of my portraial. I got through the first three and began to speak about the woman who's only hope was to touch the hem of Christ's garment so that she would be healed. I spoke of hating the people who looked past me or made fun of me because of my illness. Who yelled hurtful things at me and shielded their children from me because I was unclean and might hurt them. One line said in a questioning tone, Me, Me hurt them? I talked about wanting to have a little girl that I could hold on my knee and tell stories too. About having no hope but then hearing about Jesus of Nazareth who healed the man of demons, who healed the leaper and raisied a man from the dead. I got the part after the woman had touched his robe, where I was talking about Christ healing and what he did for her, and I was in tears. My throat closed up and I was close to sobbing. "He took my hands and pulled me to my feet. He touched me! He didn't just touch my hands, he touched me here, on the inside, in my heart, in my soul, in all of me. In that moment and many moments at other times before I came to realize again that not only did he touch that woman but He touched me, Renee and He took away my pain, my sickness, my sin. So today I ask you to reflect on the impact that Jesus has made on your life. He definately has touched my life and I know he has or can touch yours.

Winding things up :)

I can't believe it's been over a month since I have posted anything here. It's been a busy time, the end of school, my son's wedding, prep for Vacation Bible School and G and B were gone for a week in Haiti on a mission trip and we had the 4 kids here. Today was the first day of VBS and it went great, I feel like I should be doing something but everything seems to be ready so I thought I would see if I could finish our trip journal.

Feb. 18th
We were on our way home. We got on the plane but didn't get to sit together. G and B and Y were at the bulkhead, that way they could have a little crib thing that Y could sleep in. I was two rows back on the isle in the middle next to a young Ethiopian man. The baby even had a seat belt that looped through Gretchen's and then around Yohanna. We had snacks within a few hours, gold fish like crackers in the shape of airplanes with the Ethiopian Airline logo on the bag. There were 2 other meals served during the trip but I didn't enjoy either. We had eaten something from the market the day before and I still wasn't feeling that well. And it didn't help that every time a meal was served the stewardess would put up my seat. The person in front of me was almost laying in my lap and she didn't put up her seat but mine had to go up.

The kid next to me was from Ethiopia and it was his 1st plane trip. He crossed himself when we started our decent to D.C. He was so excited about snow, remember there was over 40 inches at the D.C. airport. He was getting a job there. His English was very poor. All he had was a light windbreaker for a coat. I asked if that was they only coat he had and the Ethiopian lady next to him burst out laughing. I assume that they had already discussed that in Amheric and she was laughing that I had said the same thing. It was only 20 degrees in D.C. when we arrived. We were used to the cold but I am sure that he was VERY COLD. Remember it was 85 in Addis and they were wearing winter coats.

We got to D.C. and had to get all our luggage through customs and immigration. We figured that it would take over 2 hours but Y was too little to fingerprint so they just took the envelope of documents and we were off. I was surprised that customs wasn't harder to get through. They just asked what we brought with us and took our word for it. I was done first so I went to look for our luggage. Of course ours was last off the plane because it was first on the plane.

We went to the USO, they said they usually only let immediate family in but they wouldn't say anything about me because there was no one else there. Both volunteers were a bit unusual but they probably thought the same thing about us. It was good to relax and eat normal food. G and B check facebook and posted a few things. Another worker came in to deliver some paper products. She talked to G and B about Y and then left in a few minutes she returned and handed B a $10 bill for Y's education. Wow!!!

We headed off again to to through security. I had Y in my arms and bumped the side of the metal detector so I had to do it again. They even checked out Y's bottles and the formula and rice cereal for drugs or what ever.

When we were standing there putting on our shoes an Female Africian Security Guard came up to talk to us, I thought we were in trouble. She just asked if Y was Ethiopian. G said yes, she said she had lived there for many years and could tell an Ethiopian anywhere. She asked if Y was Somilian, of course we didn't know. She said she looked it and then asked about how we got Y and G gave her the name of an adoption agency that let single parents adopt. She had been a widow for 12 years and would like to adopt some older children.

We tried to look for Nathan's bag. The lady was snippy with me but then she got nicer. She was from the middle east with the scarf covering her head. She tried and tried and then told me that we would have to wait till we got to our final destination to put in a claim. Everywhere we go it's someone else's problem they can't help us. It had been over 48 hours and it was probably gone forever.

While we stood there 2 ladies came up and talked to G and B about Y. The daughter was also interested in adoption. They had missed their plane and we were where God had planned for us to be. G and B gave her info and they went away very happy.

The plane from D. C. to Chicago was the best flight we had, a little bigger plane than on the way out, much more comfortable. Y slept in my arms the whole way. I had watched out the window on the way to D. C. but my stomach couldn't handle it on the way home I closed the shade.

One guy in the airport that I had talked to hadn't been home to Africa for 12 years.

The last plane to Peoria was a puddle jumper again. It seemed that we just got up when we were on our decent again. Seth and Dayna were at the airport to get us with an extra blanket for Y. Those were in the luggage we lost. We waited and waited for our luggage. I went and talked to the United guy about Nathan's missing piece. Of course there was nothing he could do. Why hadn't we done something before? I wasn't happy but I held my temper. But I wasn't very kind. Then one of our other suitcase was missing. That guy came looking for us thinking he had made the big find of our lost suitcase of course it wasn't it. He was very rude. I should have written to the airline but I never got around to it. It definately wasn't our fault that our luggage got to where we were suppose to be before we got there.

We dropped off Dayna at the apartment and Seth came home with us. We told him stories and laughed and laughed. Gretchen called home and Caleb said, " Mom, I'll come home tonight but tomorrow can we have another sleep over at grandpa's?" That boy would live here if we let him.

Seth told us about Caleb falling and Tami coming over to help take care of him. We think he just had the flu, but Speed talked Laural into saying she didn't feel good too so he didn't have to lie when he called the school to tell them that the kids wouldn't be there one day.

We came down the road and the kids were in the patio door watching and jumping up and down. C and L were all over Y but Sam wasn't into her. We sorted out their stuff from mine and they headed home. Gretchen told me later she really didn't remember Fri. night, she was so tired. Bill told L to keep talking to him so he would stay awake on the way home. He had drill the next day. While Sam and Y slept G decided to nap too. When B got home he woke her up and the two oldest had destroyed the house.

The bottle of wine that B had packed had broken in the suitcase. At least B had put it in with dark stuff so it didn't ruin anything.

I went to bed at 9 and woke up at 6, cleaned house and took a real bath. Went to Williamsfield to have cheesy fries. Came home and figured out the message I would do at church. Some where the one I planned before I left had got lost. Those kids were into everything. Watched TV and tried to stay awake to get on a more normal schedule. Fell asleep about 4 and got up at 6, ate a little and went back to bed woke up at 4.

Went to church at Gilson and Williamsfield. Gretchen dropped off the boys and L and Y came with her to church. She was sick. We came home and had pizza for lunch and watched movies while G napped. Went to bed at 7 and woke up at 4 again. It took me well over a week to get back into somewhat a feeling good state. Even when I went to bed early every night. Got though the week of school, a three day weekend yay, soap operas on Monday. Good night.

Traditional Meal/ Feb. 18th

This is a Pepsi/7 Up place most of the others are Coke/ Miranda places. We sat on short chairs around a table basket like thing. They bought out an an aluminum bowl with a pitcher of water. You got a squirt of soap and then they poured water over your hands catching it in the bowl. Then they brought the food. The Plate was as big as the basket table top, maybe 24 -30 inches across. With little piles of different kinds of food around the edge and a large meat dish in the middle. There were dancers that should have been in the Olympics. They were to wild to describe. There were singers too, in between the dances to give them a break.

They brought food a second time. You don't eat with forks and spoons you eat by tearing off pieces of a pancake like thing and scooping or pinching it. The little girl at our table really knows how to do it she doesn't miss a drop. They say that no one eats with their left hand because that is the hand you wipe with.

After dinner we rewashed our hands. The first time we air dried, the second we had a towel.

I don't know how the dancers can keep up. They are so full of energy. Some of the kids are trying to keep up and are winded. After the performance the dancers came out to the audience and danced with people at the tables. Allen age 7 got called up on stage to dance with them, You Tube material. One dancer caught me on the way back from the bathroom. I couldn't do much. They giggle and gangle their necks and shoulders like I've never seen before.

By the time the day was over we had been on the bus for at least 6 hours. The driver didn't know where he was going most of the time. We made several u turns.

We were up and on the bus by 8 am. Didn't get to bed till 11 pm. To early. To late. Again we waisted time going all over town picking up people here and then back tracking. We went to several shops. The shop where we bought clothing at was #13 my favorite number. we bought 10 scarves, 2 shawls, 1 dress with scarf, 2 bedspreads and 4 shams for about 2800 birr or less than 210 dollars. It was all bartered. Abel did a great job they wanted us to pay twice that much.

I bought copper bracelets at one place, baskets at another. Abel negotiated he didn't think he did a good job but he did. Gretchen wanted a coffee set. They wanted 530 to begin with and he got it down to 230, less than 20 dollars. The sun was getting to me so I went back to the bus. One family had to go to the airport at 3:30pm. We went to Bethany for final passports, etc.

Again we ran all over Addis. We suggested that they drop us off about 2 blocks from our corner. Abel had thought of that idea and told the driver so we all agreed. Bill didn't think we could carry everything. He doesn't know how I know how to pack. We made it back I'm sure hours before we would have if we stayed on the bus. We had to be to the airport by 6 for a 10 pm flight. The driver still almost missed our spot. He made a u turn in front of the supermarket. We got back to the guest house and took our stuff up to our room. Gretchen and Bill went to the market to get personal stuff and lunch. I stayed with Yohanna. All of a sudden here came Anya. Her parents were at the embassy with Malowi. She wanted me to help her with her ipod. Ipod ignorant. Told them maybe when G and B came back. She and Eaman came out and watched some TV and I let them have some soda, Miranda. Hopefully their folks won't mind.

G and B came back with lunch, chips-fries, and cheeseburgers with Swiss cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. I ate the meat it was very spicy. My stomach hasn't been right for the last two days. Not looking forward to the plane ride home. I put my things into my small suitcase and one larger one. Maybe I didn't mention it before but one of our bags never made it to Ethiopia, but that is another story or maybe blog. I put some of B and G's things in my suitcases. I zipped up my bracelets into a see thru pouch in the lid and carefully packed my bowls. When I got home I was missing a bracelet and the middle bowl was broken, with a piece loose in the bottom of the suitcase from the middle of the bowl. MAD MAD I am not very happy with any of the airlines we flew on.

We got everything packed. I can't believe that they let Bill's BIG bag go thru and when we weighed everything it said it was less than my bag. I couldn't even pick up his. Their scale was WRONG. We got everything down stairs ready to load on the bus. The doctors and Texans kids all passed the embassy appointment . Elizabeth started cooking. I told her what I gave the kids and it was OK. They did a great job while their folks were gone. Elizabeth was making massed potatoes and Mama soup, milk, potatoes, corn ? The kids haven't eaten very well this week and she is worried about them especially Anya

They have planned on going to the same place we went last night but don't think the kids will like it. We all told them we thought they would.

Abel came a little early and brought me soda bottles to take back to the US. How nice. I am sad that we weren't able to give Abel a monetary gift. He worked so many hours at least 8 per day 7 days a week. But most days he worked overtime and only got paid for 56 hours. Today he took us shopping, a family to the airport at 3:30, us at 6:00pm and then Emily, Terri and Elliott at 4 am. when does the man sleep? No days off, no overtime, No complaints, no vacations, just a little time on Sunday to go to church. He is a Methodist!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gretchen had taken a nap, Bill had juiced up the electronics. I took pictures. Abel,the driver and Bill carried the bags to the gate. It was very tearful saying goodbye to Yonatan he came running out not wanting to be forgotten. The airport was just a few blocks away. Abel and the driver wouldn't let us push the carts. They took us up to the gate as far as the could go. we shook the drivers hand and thanked him.

When we left Abel we hugged, and hugged and hugged and cried and cried and cried. He is a true brother. And we will never forget him. I have a box ready but don't understand all the rigmarole on how to send it. You will get it soon Abel.

Had to have bags checked and weighed again. Had to keep little stuff with us. we had to buy water again. It's a racket. We sat in a bar for a while. Bill ordered ice cream and 2 hot fudge sundaes. We SAT SAT SAT SAT SAT SAT SAT SAT SAT. I have no idea what they were doing but ours weren't hot fudge sundaes either. Just choc and vanilla ice cream no hot fudge to be seen. Looked at the ticket from the 5 bottles of water at $1 each. the ticket said $50, boy will their cash register be off later. I paid the right price.
Custard like ice cream again, not my favorite. G and Y fell asleep on the table. B and I looked at photos on the computer. Didn't go through security until 1 hour before the plane was to leave, no bathrooms in there.

Finally we went in, I got patted down. Not one Ethiopian woman got patted down. I was some what insulted. I don't think they treated us very well, us Americans, on the way home. Definitely  while we were there we were truly their guests and treated as royalty but now we weren't going to spend anymore money in their country.


I think I will end for the night. It is my goal to be done with this before school it over, I have 10 more journal pages and then a little bit to share from after we got home. My blog will probably change then to the wedding and what went on and VBS and G and B's trip to Haiti . Hope you keep reading. You know how I love to talk.

Just left the mountain

We went through the Peraza- Market we will visit tomorrow when we go out to shop. We tried to stop to exchange US currency into Birr but 3 banks didn't have any birr. Everyone had enough for lunch so we stopped at a pizza place. B and G had pizza, I had a Philly Chicken Sandwich laiden with BBQ sauce, I hate BBQ sauce. It was stone oven pizza. Thrown dough. We sat at tables on a hillside and the resturant really did slant. I felt that I was going to fall into the plate of the person across from me. The bathroom didn't have running water in the sink. A restroom worker poured water from a pitcher over your hands to wash the soap off.

It is hard to order things here. We ordered a second soda and it took them 3 times and the waiter and manager to come back to make sure the order was right.

We passed a huge, beautiful playground at the Hilton on the way back to the guest house. No one is able to use it because it is too close to the palace and a security risk.

This driver doesn't seem to know where he is going, he gets paid by the trip not the hour or mile so you would think that he would take the shortest route. NOT.

B, G and Y took a bath. We will get ready again to leave at 5:45 to go to a traditional resturant for supper.

I am taking candy bars to Abel. He bought Swiss Choc. today, and has never had a real candy bar. I brought down my choc. covered peppermint sticks, Anya had several.
I think G, B and Y are taking a nap.

Yonathan says his grandfather is the oldest man in Addis, 106. (Later Abel said he knew someone 112) He was here when the city was just huts and was rich. He drinks milk with honey, and his name means saint. He sold uniforms to officials. His cousin lost his money for him. He is very kind and forgiving, and says youngsters know nothing.

Yohanna is staying with the house girls. Yonathan says we should pay them about 50 birr for the evening, less than 4 dollars.

G and B weren't napping they were emptying a card for the camera.

The military here is a job. No draft, not really, it's volunteer.

Yonathan really loves the kids, little and big. He was showing Anya how to do karate. We are watching Robin Hood Prince of Thieves with no sound and Amharic subtitles.

Feb 17th

Nightmares and upset stomach. Bill is charging up the computer so he can get more pics from Emily and Terri. Posted on facebook wondering how things are going at home. today the kids are up early they had been sleeping in, Dr's. Kids. We had a ridiculously long drive. They picked us up and went to get Sarah a Bethany official and came back past our guest house again. This driver seems to "Take The Long Way Home". I sure wish we still had Abelselom as our driver. We have been on the bus 2 hours and still are not there. We are heading up to the top of the mountain to the original Addis. The palace and museum. We had to change buses because the first one couldn't make it up the slope. G had to go to the bathroom again when we stopped. Another hole in the floor. She said she just imagined she was at the Big Pasture, a place we own where we camp and have deer hunting, mushroom hunting and hot dog roasts.

Part way up the mountain we stopped so everyone could take pictures. If you know me you know I really don't do heights so I stayed in the bus, just me and the driver. Still not feeling the best, stomach. Remember Speed said I was going to dye in Ethiopia, well as I was sitting there I thought this could be it. They are all our there taking pictures, the brakes will fail and it's all over for me and the driver.

It's cooler here. Wish we were already up the mountain. It's elevation is about 4000 meters and Williamsfield is about 350 meters. So it was hard to catch your breath.

This was the original Addis where the king and queen lived. They ran out of fuel so they moved down the mountain to more of a plain area. The first king is considered a hero. He unified Ethiopia, in the 1890"s, established the 1st hotel, hospital and school. The map of Ethiopia was made when he ruled. His wife named the city Addis Ababa, New Flower. The first church of Ethiopia was there just a small round tin roofed building. There also is a temple. Only the Holy Men go in but during Lent people will travel up the mountain every day to pray. It looked kind of like the exercises we used to call burpies. They have to do how ever many the Holy Man says to do for their sin, I guess like Hale Mary's only physical. They had a prayer mat to do the exercise on.

We went into the museum there, no pictures. Photo's from the 1870's. The last King was killed in 1974 by the communists. There was a day time bed, not to sleep in but to use like a couch, it was made of leather like a table covered with cushions. They had the Sydney 2000 Olympic Metals. A Bishop's Umbrella. In this area there are 3 common crosses used all were displayed. Each ruler had different currency. Fity birr- Fifty Birr. Spelling funny. They fast for 2 months before Easter, they don't eat until after 3 pm and then no meat or milk.

High altitude, Hard To Breath. People were living there. Rocky and uneven ground. Wouldn't happen in US to many liability suits. The Palace has separate buildings for the bedrooms and guest house. 12 foot doors. Mud covered with walls 2 foot thick, wide window sills. Horns on the walls to hang meat to dry. Different entrances for the King, Queen, Princesses, Prime Minister, etc. Emperor Minilk and Empress Titu, had a balcony terrace. Oval shaped bedrooms with dressing room below. Very narrow stairwells. Small ditches running along the sidewalks to keep the water off the sidewalks.

The sheep here look like goats. Juniper trees are local, and Eucalyptus was brought from Australia. Sheep tail down, goat tail up. The hair is different and heads are different or so they say. I don't see it.

There was a tall wall of empty cement holes, say 4x4x8. They were grave sites.

People climb the mountain every day to collect fuel and then sell it for about 10 birr. The amount is more than most people could manage. Most are probably permanently bent over because of carrying it on their backs. If they are lucky they have donkeys. This is where Bill made his second enemy in Ethiopia. He took a picture of a donkey caring fuel and the owner thought he should pay for the photo. Bill said no and she took her stick after him, cursing him out in Amharic.

Of course coming down the mountain was much faster, almost too fast. It was hard to adjust.

Tuesday the 16th

Better night last night. Elizabeth suggested a tsp of rice cereal in her bottle. It worked and it stayed down much better. Up and dressed for the embassy date. Nathan had a really good night, yeah. His clothes are too big but he is sooooo cute. Malaowi had a great night. She eats and eats and eats. Yonatan says they still don't have any fuel. Yohatan also says Ethiopian children don't know I'm full they only know I'm sick, so they eat and eat and eat.
Bill is teaching Eamonn how to make napkin roses, his hidden talent. Eamonn is into oragomi. Bill had eggs and coffee for breakfast. Gretchen asked for pancakes, no pancakes. I had a poptart and we ate the bread they always have on the table. Gretchen says the Pepsi tastes weird. Gretchen tried to figure out how to use the baby carrier.

Elizabeth had a bad night with Onya. Gretchen changed Yohanna into her dress, the shoes are too big.

In Awasa they served soda like a waiter would serve wine from a bottle, resting on their arm on a towel.

We had lunch at the Blue Tops again and we all had breaded chicken cutlets, as big as your plate, a few boiled potatoes, carrots and spinich. We tried desserts. Yohanna spiked a temp of 107. Gretchen stripped her except for the diaper and we tried to cool her off. Scary.

Some of the group was trying to teach Abel spanish. The other kids seem to be doing well, I found out after we got home that looks are deceiving. But they all got home.
We gave Abel our facebook addresses and email addresses.

We got to the Embassy. Left most of our stuff in the bus. Walked through one metal detector. Even when it beeped they let people through without checking. We then sat on cushioned benches under a tent, moving up as each family or two was called in. We got to go ahead of some of the local people, or at least they looked and sounded local. You must have your passport and go through another metal detector. If it went off this time they searched you. Bill and Emily went off. Bill had his cell phone, don't know why it wouldn't work. Emily had batteries. They had to give them up and were given a receipt for when they left.

We went into a large hot room with lines of chairs and a small play area for kids. 'm not sure I would have let my kids play there. How many germs? There was a toilet there but no soap. Lots of people were waiting. HOTHOTHOT LOUDLOUDLOUD Eventually some were taken upstairs so it got better.

We were then called upstairs and sat again. The families went up to a little window like the old casher's windows at old banks and were interviewed individually. Recently the government had some unethical adoption agencies problems so the questions were different. The families didn't get yelled at but the person that they were with representing the adoption agencies did. 5 kids passed including Yohanna and Elliott. Yeah. One little boy had pnemonia and has to have medicine before he leaves for the US. One issue was about HIV and another about the actual age of the child. We hope they all get to go home as planned their planes leave in a couple of days. One dad was so upset he put on his sunglasses to keep everyone from seeing him cry, it was so sad.

We ran all over Addis dropping off people, we went by out guest house corner at least twice. The driver wasn't very smart, he was paid by the trip not the mile.

If you to to Ethiopia, stay at the New Flower Guest house, it has 4 bathrooms and is closest to the airport. The other guest house had 1 bathroom that was shared with all the guests and the family running it.

The doctor's were eating noodles when we got home. Gretchen was sent up stairs to rest, I changed Yohanna and took her up too. Bill, Elizabeth and her 2 kids and I went to the market.We got ice cream and desserts, wasn't too impressed. Bill and I looked for something for the kids, nothing there. 1 scoop ice cream 10 birr. Tasted like cooked custard homemade. I bought butter cookies for the guest house, Bill and the others bought Choc. crissonts. It was really dark when we headed back. We had to stand and bang on the gate. Eyob was out and Yonatan had to come from the house.I was glad there were several of us no street lights.

Took out the braids in my hair, gave me a headache. One man told me it only took 15 minutes to braid my hair because my hair was "soft". Getting up a 7 am. Nathan's parents got a caregiver to go out for dinner. Malowi's parents got a caregiver so they could go to the mountain. That's where we are going tomorrow.