Truth

A few months ago, I ordered several books from Powell's (highly recommended) on race, adoption, and transracial families. I've slowly been making my way through them. By far one of my favorites so far has been The Color of Water by James McBride. It is his story of growing up as the son of a black father and a white mother.

This is a great book. Recently, Lori, reminded me again about why I love this book. Here's a quote she pointed out:

"The plain truth is that you'd have an easier time standing in the middle of the Mississippi River and requesting that it flow backward than to expect people of different races and backgrounds to stop loving each other, stop marrying each other, stop starting families, stop enjoying the dreams that love inspires. Love is unstoppable. It is our greatest weapon, a natural force, created by God."

Good stuff, folks. A good read for anyone, but especially for those of us who will be raising children and families where racial issues are not just likely to come up, but guaranteed to come up.

I'm not naive enough to say that all you need is love (sorry, Mr. Lennon), but I'll certainly be using as much of it as I can.

-b

Things that make me smile

I can already tell this is going to be a good week. And here is why:

1. Many families (15 or so) from our agency have court dates this week, and several more families are traveling to Ethiopia right now to bring their little ones home! Yay!

2. I'm going to Disneyland! Okay, not really, but I think I will be able to see it from my hotel room. My Grandpa is turning the big 8-0 and we are going to live it up in California to celebrate. And while I am there, I will get to see my very best friend in all the world, a beautiful lady I have know since our mothers met in Lamaze class. And I get to meet her sweet baby girl!!!

Doesn't Delaney looked excited about my visit?

3. I'll get to spend some time with my nephew! And see his new room, which is sporting these cute cousin dolls that I made for his birthday (and which may or may not have arms that are very close to actually falling off since my sewing skills could use some work).

No comment please about dolls with no faces. I didn't want to give the kid nightmares with my attempt at a face.

4. Water is now flowing into the surrounding villages of Kuer Soce, Senegal, thanks to our great community and the money they gave during the Advent Conspiracy (and a big shout out to our friends Scotty and Crystal who have moved to Senegal and helped make this happen!).

Water!

-b

Mother's Day 2009

He's been listening to my longings, my concerns, my hopes.

This image captures my feelings perfectly.

Thank you, babe, for understanding my heart!

To my son

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

-ee cummings

Mother's Day Every Day

There is a saying in Africa that to find out you are pregnant is to have one foot in the grave. It must sound strange to Americans, since becoming a mother is so celebrated here. But in the developing world, more women die from pregnancy and childbirth than any other cause. In my native Ethiopia, children are treasured, yet dying in childbirth is a fact of life.

Every minute, a woman dies in childbirth, mostly from preventable causes. Ninety-nine percent of those deaths occur in the developing world. No other health disparity is so stark; virtually every woman who dies giving birth lives in a poor country. And as horrific as this statistic is, it hides the true scope of the problem. For every woman who dies in childbirth, twenty more will suffer debilitating and often lifelong injuries. Injuries such as fistula often leave women isolated, rejected by their communities and unable to support themselves.

When a mother is harmed, her community is devastated. Her children are up to ten times more likely to die within two years. They are less likely to be immunized, more likely to be malnourished, more likely to contract HIV and more likely to be exploited. Older children are denied an education because they must care for siblings or work to feed their families. Much attention is justifiably paid to children's health issues but one of the best ways to protect a child's health and future is to protect his or her mother.

Maternal mortality isn't just a family tragedy or a problem for the developing world. It affects us all. We can't end poverty if we fail to save the lives of our world's mothers....When we lose our mothers, we lessen productivity, deepen gender inequality and destabilize societies. When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do extraordinary things...like the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who marched in Argentinean plazas, defying the military junta dictatorship and demanding the whereabouts of their abducted children...or the Liberian mothers who faced down civil war armed only with T-shirts and courage. If we are going to solve the unbelievable global challenges that face us all, we're going to need our mothers.

-excerpts from Liya Kebede's article: Let's make Mother's Day a Global Reality

recommended: Mother's Day Every Day campaign

Home

I’m an Oregonian through and through. Born and raised here in the beaver state. Although schooling has taken us to far off lands (okay, just to Canada) and our adventures have taken us to live in other states for a short time (a couple of summers in Colorado) and other countries for longer times (Czech Republic for a year), we keep coming back to this great state.

I love this place. And my favorite thing? The rain. My idea of a perfect day does not involve the beach or sunshine or a great view. Nope...my perfect day is spent sitting by the window, curtains pulled back, window open, book in one hand and tea in the other, listening to the rain and smelling it sweetness. It is refreshing. Invigorating.

A lot of people can only take so much of the rain. Me? I can’t get enough of the rain. Summer takes too long to pass and just holds back fall. So, although we are well into May and still experiencing day after day of rain, I am content. It makes me feel at home. This really is the perfect place to live.

And inside this perfect state, there is a little town (although considerably bigger than my hometown!). This little town is the only place in Oregon to have an Ethiopian sister city (and one of only a handful of American cities to have one as well). It is our town. The place we now call home. Our child will be raised with the opportunity to celebrate his homeland right here in our little town. The perfect town in the perfect state.

Like I said, we’ve made our ‘home’ in several places over the years. But, I’ve never felt settled in any of them. I’ve always plotted our next adventure. But, here we are, 3 years after moving here and I don’t want to leave. This is home; the place where we will raise our son to love both of his countries and both of his cultures.

I hope he likes the rain as much as I do.

-b

Treasure

Tonight is the night I get to meet (or maybe just hear) Desmond Tutu up close and personal (or maybe just in a big auditorium with 5000 other people). Whether or not he knows I am there, I am very excited to hear him speak!

But what makes me even more excited is that little Olly is coming home! The courts made it official today. Congrats to Craig and Cindy (and Bob Laurence!) -- your treasure hunt has brought you a sweet baby boy with precious curls and the most beautiful eyes. Congratulations!

-b