Update on Mihiret

Just received an update from Shaun (A fellow hopester) on Mihiret. Shaun was there to pick up her little girl, Tsion. It's so funny because every time we look at her pictures we laugh about her fro she's got going on. I told Mike she looks like a Tomboy (that of course could be because of the boy clothes she is always dressed in). And if she's not one now, she soon will be when she starts growing up with three brothers.

Deanne- Mihret had some sort of red splotches on her face when we visited on
Monday and she was very cranky and crying a lot. The nanny said that she had
just woken from her nap. I asked about the red splotches but she said it was
from laying on the blanket. That didn't appear to be the case to me, however
when we returned on Wednesday, she was on the floor with the other kids and
having a good ol' time. She was full of laughs and giggles. She is a cutie with
a fun afro.

I guess school is not an amuzement park!!!!

My 12 year old is so funny and so witty and such a smart alick!!!!
I called him yesterday while he was walking home from school on his cell phone. I was picking up the five year old. This was our conversation;

Me; How was your day?
C; Fine.
Me; What did you do at school?
C; Nothing.
Me; Anything exciting happen today?
C; Mom, it's school-not an amuzement park!!!!

Update on the princess!!!!!

It's so cool when a traveling parent gives an update on Mihret. I love hearing what anyone that has spent any time with her has to say. I love getting any little glimpse into her life that I can.

Here is the update I received today from one of the traveling mommies;

Mihiret - doing great! 12-18 mos clothes, tried to steal her but they stopped me
Deanne! :)

Oh! I can't wait to hold that little turd myself and smother her with kisses.

Three month's ago I sent her an outfit from the Gap that was 9 mo.'s and it looked a little big on her and now she is wearing 12-18 mo.'s, so hard to believe.

FRUSTRATED AND IMPATIENT

I HAVE BEEN SO PROUD OF MYSELF AND MY FAITH OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS AFTER GETTING THE REFERRAL FOR MIHRET. I KNEW THAT EVERYTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN IT WAS TIME AND WHEN GOD WANTED IT TO. I THOUGHT I HAD LEARNED MY LESSON ABOUT PATIENCE FROM THE LAST ADOPTION FAILURE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME, MAYBE I'M STARTING TO PANIC BECAUSE I KNOW COURTS ARE CLOSING SOON AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE A DATE. ARGGHHHH!!!!! I JUST WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE AND SCREAM REALLY LOUD!!!!! MY PATIENCE, I'M AFRAID IS OFFICIALLY GONE, RETIRED, CAPUT. I AM STARTING TO THINK, HAVE THEY FORGOT ABOUT US, IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH HER PAPERWORK, HAVE WE EVEN BEEN FILED FOR COURT??????? SOMEBODY HELP!!! I NEED SOME REASSURANCE, SOME SPECIAL SCRIPTURE THAT WILL CALM ME DOWN A LITTLE. ALRIGHT, I AM GOING TO START LOOKIN!!!

Thinking of Africa more and more!!!!

It has been about two years since I was in Africa. I don't know what it is about the continent, and it is quite difficult to explain to those who have never visited. The land, the people, the culture, the simplicity, all become a part of you. It is true that Africa digs down, gently, but deep into a part of your heart you didn't even know existed, a part of your heart that you long for and miss, once you have spent any time with her. As the completion of our adoption is nearing, I feel my longing for Africa deepening. I can't wait to see her again, my old friend.

When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. "I am needed here," I think. "They have so little, and I have so much." It's true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in those same people. It's a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day. The images spilling out of my television showed circumstances that could seemingly only equal misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. The truth is, in Africa I find hearts full of victory, indomitable spirits. In places where despair should thrive, instead I find adults dancing and singing, and children playing soccer with a ball crafted of tied up trash. Instead of payback, I find grace. Here, weekend getaways are not options to provide relief from the pains of daily life. Relationships and faith provide joy. Love is sovereign. My new reality… I know now that my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I'm ashamed by my lack of faith, but at the very same moment I am excited by my new pursuit. I'm forced to redefine the meaning of having much or having little. I'm uneasy with the prospect of change and of letting go, but just the thought of freedom is liberating. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head into my heart - I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy. I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me.

Cambria Mehret Broscious

We have a name. Mike researched names for hours the other day. He looked at tons of African Princess' names. Most he couldn't pronounce. He really wanted to name the baby a "C" name because he feels bad that everyone has a "M" name except for cole. So he found Cambria and I love it. The name means "Beautiful Life" and Mehret means "Mercy". Now we just need it to be official, come on court date!!!!!

Blessings!

I am such a bad bad blogger. I don't know why and I really don't have any excuses except that I love to read them, but I hate to blog myself, pitiful huh?

Well, within the last couple of weeks. I got a call from Grace and she told me she had some big news. I had no idea what she was about to tell me, but my heart started pounding in my chest so hard and loud it was ringing in my ears. TURNS OUT MIHRET IS HIV NEGATIVE. WE HAD THOUGHT FOR THE PAST FEW MONTH'S THAT WE WERE ADOPTING HER HIV POSITIVE. THE CLINIC SHE WENT TO DID THE DNA/RNA TESTING AND THEY GOT THE RESULTS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I THOUGHT IT WAS SO FUNNY THAT OUR AGENCY WANTED TO KNOW IF WE STILL WANTED TO ADOPT HER NOW THAT SHE WAS NEGATIVE, DUH!!!

I CANNOT WAIT TO HOLD THIS PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL IN MY ARMS AND SMOTHER HER WITH LOVE. I FEEL LIKE SHE IS ALREADY ONE OF US. FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM OTHER ADOPTIVE PARENTS THAT HAVE SPENT TIME WITH HER, SHE HAS QUITE THE PERSONALITY AND IS COMPLETELY SPOILED ROTTEN, PRETTY MUCH SHE SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE BRAT THAT DOESN'T TAKE ANYTHING FROM ANYONE. SHE WILL FIT IN PERFECTLY!!!! I PRAY FOR HER AND HER CARETAKERS DAILY. I AM SO COMFORTED KNOWING SHE HAS AT LEAST THREE CARE TAKERS THAT ARE TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH HER. I THANK GOD THAT THERE IS SOMEONE LOVING ON HER AND LETTING HER KNOW THAT SHE IS SPECIAL UNTIL WE ARE TOGETHER. AN ADOPTIVE MOTHER BROUGHT ME THE E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR ONE OF HER CARETAKERS THAT LOVES HER VERY MUCH. IN THE FIRST E-MAIL HE SENT ME HE SAYS "I LOVE MIHRET VERY MUCH BECAUSE SHE IS SO SMART" I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO FUNNY. SHE TURNED ONE ON MAY 13TH, JUST FIVE DAYS AFTER MANNING (THE FIVE YEAR OLD). GOODNESS GRACIOUS, I'M GOING TO HAVE (2) TAURUS THE BULLS :) SO SHE HAS NOW MOVED OUT OF THE BABY HOUSE AND HAS MOVED INTO THE TODDLER HOUSE :(

I left my teaching job in May, had a new job, decided not to take the job (contract problems), got offered another job with a huge sign on bonus, turned down that job (no way for Mike and I to both work 3 twelve's a week with four kids), and now am going back to my teaching job! MAN MAKES PLANS, AND GOD LAUGHS!!!!

AND ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE POOR LITTLE COLE. THE TWELVE YEAR OLD IS SICK. HE HAS STREP THROAT. I WAS WORKING AT THE HOSPITAL LAST NIGHT TIL 1AM AND MY HUSBAND, WHO IS A PARAMEDIC MIND YOU, CALLS ME AND TELLS ME C. HAS A FEVER. I SAID LOOK IN HIS THROAT AND CALL ME BACK. HE SAYS NAH! IT LOOKS FINE. OK I'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM WHEN I GET HOME.

GET HOME AT 2AM, WAKE HIM UP, EXAMINE HIM AND HIS TONSILLS ARE HUMONGOUS, RED, SWOLLEN, AND WITH EXUDATE. HIS TONSILLOR NODES ARE HUGE. AND HE HAS HORENDOUS STREP BREATH. I ASKED MIKE "ARE YOU SURE YOU LOOKED IN THE RIGHT CHILD'S THROAT?"

I CALLED HIM IN AN ANTIBIOTIC TODAY AND HE HAS HAD HIS FIRST DOSE, BUT I CAN'T GET HIS FEVER UNDER CONTROL. I HAVE BATHED HIM AND ALTERNATED MOTRIN AND TYLENOL,BUT IT'S JUST NOT GETTING IT. PRAYING THE ANTIBIOTIC WILL KICK IN TOMORROW.