Bliss

I don't know that I have witnessed true bliss before meeting Birke. In the two weeks we have been home I have seen it in her so many times. The first time on the merry go round, the first taste of ice cream, the swimming pool, fireworks, a monkey at the zoo, every tiny little gift she receives, painting a ceramic cat, an old pair of jazz shoes, a blonde wig, being hugged by her family and friends...Everything is new and exciting and a reason for bliss. Her eyes get big and she says, "yea!" and she is just, just...blissful. It is a beautiful thing and has been so fun to watch.

The bliss will fade, I know. Things won't be new anymore. She will get used to getting things and having things. I hope she is able to retain just a little bit though. I hope part of her is always able to remember when simple pleasures were worthy of bliss.

Missin' Ethiopia

I miss Ethiopia.

Not the plane ride, not leaving Brynly, definately not the lack of consistent electricity...but I miss Ethiopia. I am connected to the place bc of my children, bc of Miskaye, bc of friends there. I am not sure people in my life here understand how I could love and miss a place that has such serious challenges. But I do. The people are so warm and hospitable and have a constitution that we, as Americans, can't begin to truly understand or emulate. They are so strong. They live with no clean water, with electricity only on some days, with very few of our creature comforts. And yet, they don't complain, they don't whine, they don't constantly desire more and more and more. They make do with what they have and they do quite well with it. They are happy. Depsite every challenge, they are happy and loving people. They are also tolerant. The country is pretty much half Christian and half Muslim (there is also a significant community of Ethiopian Jews as well). There isn't fighting amongst them. They each practice their faith and leave others to do the same. There are also very distinct regions of Ethiopia, each with their own language and culture. They all live peacefully together despite their differences. I think this boils down to the fact that they identify first as Ethiopian and feel great pride in being Ethiopian.

I want my children to feel that pride as well. Yes I will give them the tools to learn Amharic and we celebrate Ethiopian holidays and have Ethiopian music and artifacts around our house. Those are all very important. But, it goes beyond that. We talk about Ethiopia everyday. Even though Brynly is only 2 and Birkely can't speak English, we still talk about it. Birkely can identify Ethiopia on the globe. We look at pictures of trips there. We talk about those still there. We talk about it in a positive way, every single day. They are Ethiopian and always will be. And that is a great thing. Ethiopia is part of who they are and to ignore or, God forbid, reject that would be to ignore or reject a part of themselves. I want them to know how wonderful this place is. They will certainly also be aware of the challenges. But, not passively. As they grow up, they will be involved in the orphanage work and other EAFS projects. They must retain the connection. And they must know, that part of the grand plan that brought them here also involves going back and doing good in the country that has given us all so much.

Until we meet again, Ethiopia...SELAM!

Flippin'

Imagine, if you will, you are 7 years old. You have been in this country for less than a week. You speak all of about 5 English words. Now imagine your new Mama sends you into an acrobatics class. How would you do?

'don't know 'bout you, but my little trooper ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!!

Day at the Park

Yesterday the dance studio I am involved with had a performance trip to an amusement park. Brynly, Birkely, my sister's family and I loaded up and headed for a day at the park. The forecast called for rain and we considered cancelling, but I am so glad we didn't. We had a great day. Birkley loved it! She is no shrinking violet and is pretty much up for anything. She wanted to ride everything and I let her. She loved the ferris wheel and all the whip you around, up and down, fast as you can go rides. She played a few games and loved even the littlest junk prize. She ate ice cream for the first time and just had a great time experiencing all the new sights and smells. She also enjoyed hanging out with some kids her own age. Brynly also had a blast. This year, she was finally old enough and tall enough to ride some of the little rides. She is a bit of a daredevil like her big sister, so she was not too thrilled to be banned from the bigger rides.

It is so fun to witness these firsts with Birkely. If you think the wide eyed amazement of being on an escalator is cool to see, you should see the face that goes along with something called "The Howler." So fun.

We also made a stop at Red Lobster on the way home for some dinner. I probably should have kept on driving home since Brynly was asleep. She was not on her best restaurant behavior at all. Whining, crying, swiping food from the plate next to her did not make for an enjoyable meal. It is very frustrating for me when she acts like that bc I know she knows better. But, live and learn, dining after a busy, no nap day might be the best plan.

Despite the Red Lobster scene, we all had so much fun. I am happy to report that it is still "so far, so good" at our house. Birkely gets a little more comfortable everyday. I just can't imagine being in her place with all these new things and people. She handles it all with ease and grace and courage. It is very cool to admire my own child so much.

So Far, So Good

Birke(ly) and I are back from Ethiopia. I love Ethiopia but HATE getting there and back. I am just not a long haul flyer. Birke, on the other hand, handled it all like a champ. She flew like she was a seasoned traveler. What a trooper-three planes, layovers, running through airports, a two hour drive home after the last flight, jet lag...and yet, she was in better shape than I was after it all.

The trip itself was great, albeit short. We spent some time at Miskaye, visited some museums, ate some great food, spent time with friends...I knew it woul dbe both of our last times in Ethiopia for awhile, so I wanted to be sure she got to see a little bit of her own country. We will be back but it was important to me that her Gotcha Trip was about celebrating the good things of Ethiopia. That we did.

Lots o' people have asked how she did leaving. She did great. The strength, resilience, adaptability and sheer courage of these children never ceases to amaze me. She was taken away from everything and everyone she knows, can't understand a word I say, has no idea what is going to happen at any given moment...and yet, she is able to laugh and even be amazed by new things. Would I be so able? I doubt it. Anyway, I picked her up from the orphanage the day I arrived. She shed some tears saying goodbye that day. By Wednesday, when we went back for the goodbye coffee ceremony, she had gotten used to the situation and to me. She didn't cry and told everyone goodbye in English and away we went. I let her take my camera around by herself and she got pictures with her nannies and had a chance to tell them goodbye in private.

Since we got home, she has been doing well settling in. My mom and sister picked us up at the airport and then we had a little welcome home gathering at our house. She enjoyed meeting the people in the pictures she has been looking at and had a good time playing with toys. She and Brynly hit it off pretty well and she made up with Rudi the dog after a few minutes. I was a little worried that brynly would spaz,especially after my last trip, where she was attached to my hip and was quite challenging for days. But, she is doing fine. The first thing Brynly said when she woke up was, "where Birky?" They played together with only a few "mine" outbursts from the Brynster. They had a great time playing in the back yard. I am sure we will have our trials and tribulations, but we are at least over the first day hump.

So, next week will bring the start of Birkely's tutoring, her first doctor visit, a trip to an amusement park and who knows what else.

So far, so good.

We Three

It is the eve of my departure for Birkely's "Gotcha" trip. I have several things still to do. I am definately not as ready as I was for Brynly's trip-in terms of having stuff just right. I am definately ready to have her home.

I have a children's theatre company. It is not very active anymore, but anyway. Back in the day when I was doing shows regularly, there were shows that were so ready. Every necessity was done early and I had time to add special, finishing touches. I had time to think and really enjoy each moment of the show. Then there were shows that I was not nearly as ready for. I was finishing sets, gathering props,etc. at the last minute. Either way, the shows went up, but it was just so much easier and more enjoyable when I had time to really soak it all in. I liken the latter to how I feel now. Everything necessary is ready. Birkely has a bedroom and clothes and toys (thanks to my BFF). There is just so much more I wanted to do. I wanted to have her scrapbook started. I wanted to have our daily schedule mapped out. I wanted to have a lot more pictures of her around the house so it didn't look like she was entering Brynlyland. Many things I wanted to do just didn't materialize.

That is how it goes. And even if everything I wanted to happen didn't, the time is here and I am definatley excited about bringing this child home. This child who, a month ago, had never seen a bubble or a sticker, didn't know what to do with a crayon...who just wanted to belong to someone. I suppose she won't mind all the details that aren't in place. So, I will focus on the two of us enjoying our Gotcha Trip and on Birkely, Brynly and I soon becoming "we three."

Dancin' Queen

Brynly had her little dance recital a couple of weeks ago. At our studio, the two year old class has a mini recital at the studio then all the big kids (3 and up :)) have the "big show." Anyway, Brynly and her dance class posse did a great job. The show had a luau theme and, I must say, Brynly rocked the look. :)I have some video, but haven't gotten it uploaded. Stupid Vaio with no Firewire...should've gotten a new Mac. Geez.