I had a baby shower and it was the best ever!! Great food, great friends, great time. Plus, the cutest cake I've seen in my life.  I am still working on getting pictures to share. We go to an amazing church and I feel so lucky to know so many wonderful people who care about us and our children. Besides some cute baby/toddler gear and gift cards, we got some good, solid advice from experienced moms that is being assembled in a book for us. Love it!

                                                    
This past weekend I also took some time to talk to our church youth about older orphans and our adoption. It is a challenge speaking with teens since you don't always know what is going to resonate with them and what they will be bored with. I didn't have a real plan, I just went in to talk. I really believe that everyone is called to do good in the world using one's own gifts. Well, my gift is talking so that's what I did. I told them about Ethiopia and the millions of orphans there in a country about the size of Texas. I told them a little of why people are dying: AIDS, famines, poverty, etc. I explained that these orphans are kids the same age as them, struggling to care for themselves and sometimes their little brothers and sisters. I talked about the unbelievable spirit of these people even with so many terrible things going on.  I showed them video of the boys at Kolfe orphanage. At the end I just asked them to learn more about Ethiopia and Africa and help in whatever way they can. Maybe educating someone else, maybe money, maybe volunteering. I just hope I made a connection somewhere.
 

This week has been a good time for us in our spiritual life. A lot of time of quiet reflection getting ready for Easter. Whatever your religion or denomination, we ask you to pray (in whatever way you wish) for our children. Pray that they are safe. Pray to give their hearts peace since they have already been through so much in their short lives. Pray that they come home soon so they may know the joy of a family again.
 

And especially pray for us that we may be the parents that they deserve.