Took the kids to Monster Jam last weekend. As always, they had a great time. The highlight this year was the trailer they pulled out for the freestyle event.
And then…
And then the announcer asked, “Who Dat? Who cares!”
Hopefully the Colts do the exact same thing tonight. Kickoff in just a few minutes!
The Colts and Saints kick off in a little less than 90 minutes. Here’s a few more family pics in recognition of the boys in blue as they fight to bring Indy another Lombardi Trophy.
Today was a “snow day” at church. So instead of rushing around doing my best to make sure everything and everyone are ready for Sunday School and morning Worship Service, I got to make French toast for the family this morning.
As Mihret was sitting in her high chair, finishing up her breakfast, all I could do was stare. She had thrown her hands in the air with joy and it suddenly reminded me of one of the pictures we had of her while she was in Addis. It was one of the pictures I carried around with me because of her eyes. They were so full of life and joy. They suck you in.
Just like they did a moment ago when I saw her sitting in the high chair.
She’s only been home for four months and I can’t remember how we had lived without her for so long. Little Girl has come a long way, hasn’t she?
Mihret got hold of my keyboard as I was about to post something. Apparently she had a lot to say:
nbubnyubyuuuuuuuu gvv vgvbjhgg vghmjyh bnuyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyny7nmy7i [p.lp[.ptfv bvctfnbtu6bnut6tt67itn 67teeeeeebewwxweeew44444444wswswxcsert4d345eeddf d sfdfseefc x csefwg4ww3s32zxxzSXDSSDFD2 BNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNJM79BN, MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM8MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM8
DFGC RTTTTTTTTTTTT HG YJTBG6N V67IKGV 76KHJJJJJJJJJJ678HNNN6 8NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNHGGGGGGGGGGNNN J FTR VCRTVC RY5V RY56445454FD45BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB VVVBVCVCCCCVVCCVBFD
Let me make an attempt at translating. Although I’m uncertain about some of the conjugation, I think this is either Mihretese for “Go Colts!” or “Daddy’s my favorite!”
Another year, another AFC Championship for the Colts.
OK, seriously.
The Life in the Fishbowl team is ecstatic that their beloved Indianapolis Colts are headed to the Super Bowl again!
Granted, this year’s AFC Championship wasn’t quite as dramatic as the one against the Patriots a few years ago, but I’ll gladly take it. And I’m sure Christy’s happy because she wasn’t worried that I’d fall through the floor like she thought I would last time.
I’m happy for the Saints, too. And although I’ll be disappointed if the Colts lose, I will be happy for all of the Saints fans who have stood by their team during some pretty lean years.
All that being said, we’ll be decked out in Colts blue again, hoping to watch Peyton lead the high-powered, well-oiled machine of an offense to another Super Bowl victory.
Wednesday (9/23)*
Ethiopia is quite proud of its coffee heritage. According to legend, the benefits of the coffee bean was discovered by a goatherd who noticed his flock was jumping around, bleating loudly, and acting rather hyper after eating the berries of a particular plant.
So, if you can’t get through the morning without having your coffee fix, you have an observant goatherd from the Ethiopian highlands to thank.
Coffee is such an integral part of Ethiopian culture that they have a ceremony centered around the beverage, and it’s often used as a sign of hospitality. While we were in Ethiopia, we experienced three different ceremonies: one in Durame with the birth parents, one hosted by the staff at our hotel, and another hosted at the Care Center with our children.
When we arrived, they whisked our children upstairs and had them change into traditional Ethiopian dress. When they were ready, they had a small parade down the stairs as the ceremony began.
In addition to coffee, they also had two large cakes for us, the families, and the children still living at the Care Center. And everyone ate some. I felt sorry for the nannies who had to try to corral these children after they experienced such a sugar high.
We had the opportunity to express our gratitude to the staff of the Care Center. We also prayed with and for them as they continue to minister to the children under their care. Although somewhat chaotic at times, it was a powerful experience. We also got to love on some of the children a little bit more and tell some of them that we knew their Mommys and Daddys were coming to get them soon.
Here’s the aftermath of the coffee ceremony. It’s quite a mess!
We were surprised after the ceremony when we took the traditional clothing off Mihret and handed it to one of the nannies. “No,” she said. “It’s yours.” It was completely unexpected. And yes, this is the dress she’s wearing in this Christmas picture.
Yet another treasure from our visit to the Land of 13 Suns.
*I know. It’s been a long time since I’ve posted about our trip to Ethiopia. In case you’ve forgotten this series, here’s the link to the account of Tuesday (9/22/09).
It’s Christmas in Ethiopia (and other countries that follow the Julian calendar) today! We here at Life in the Fishbowl wish you Melkham Genna!
Our initial plans were to celebrate Genna with a large, homemade feast. Unfortunately, that won’t happen this year. Although it will probably be cancelled due to snow (yes…that means we’re having a white Christmas), basketball practice was supposed to start for the older kids tonight. Because of that, we wouldn’t have time to prepare the desired feast. And now that practice is likely to be cancelled, we’re going to have the time to fix a feast, but now we don’t have the ingredients. Guess we should plan better for next year.
Even though we won’t be celebrating Genna with a huge feast, I hope you join us in celebrating the birth of Christ today.
Here’s a quick look at some of the highlights of 2009 here at Life in the Fishbowl as told through pictures and song. Enjoy!
When 2008 rolled into ‘09, I had no idea how different things would be just one tiny year later. But 2009 is almost in the record books. In the past, I’ve created a Top Ten list of events that happened in the past year. I’ll probably do that at some point.
But not today.
It’s going to be too hard to narrow it down, I think. I mean, there was Aiden’s baptism, Disney World, Star Wars in Concert…
oh yeah – and the whole “flying to Ethiopia to meet our daughter for the first time and bring her home to live with us forever” thing.
Come to think of it, I guess there wasn’t very much noteworthy stuff that happened this year.
As you wait on the edge of your seat for the upcoming Todd Top Ten of ‘09, a year-in-review pictorial, and possibly even my Ralphies, I leave you with this final thought for 2009…
Christmas Day was the three-month anniversary of our arrival in the States with Mihret.
We flew in on an NWA flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.
We arrived on Friday the 25th at around noon.
I’m thinking it was the same flight this guy was on – just three months later.
Kinda sobering.
