Thursday, July 9, 2009
what a ride!
A few weeks ago, I got one of the greatest compliments I've ever heard, one of the teens we work with told Amy, "I think Tariku's starting to look like Pete!"
I'm not sure how that works, but Tariku’s definitely one of us...we cannot think of life with out him. Our family has become so much more with him – He’s added another dimension to our lives. I can’t fully explain it, but it seems we understand God’s compassion, grace and desire for our lives a little more clearly now because of Tariku and his story. His life has affected ours in more ways that we ever knew possible.
It’s kind of ironic too… his name actually means “his story” … Because of that we felt like it was too important not to keep his given name. His story has affected us forever. We’ve tried to come up with an appropriate nickname, but nothing’s confirmed yet. I've started calling him TK once in a while, but we'll see if that sticks or not. Amy's not convinced yet. ;)
It’s been about 15 months since we returned from Ethiopia and about eight or nine months ago Amy and I began to talk about adopting another little boy. It’s never made a ton of sense “on paper”, but after a lot of thinking, praying and investigating, we began the process to bring home a little boy between 3-5 years old. To make a long story short… it's been a crazy process for us this time –last time was crazy too, just different. Seems par for the course though… So, as of about a month ago, we finished our paperwork and we're now officially waiting for a referral for our new little boy. We don't know his name yet, but God does. We would appreciate praying with us for him. We'll keep you posted on this new adventure.
Amongst the new adoption process…
It's been a wild year in general. Last September we moved to Middletown about 20 minutes from where we were living and we love it here. We’ve got great people living near us in our diverse and loving neighborhood. Our girls both love their new schools and their teachers and they have fit perfectly in their classes.
Shortly after we moved, I began taking two seminary classes and in June I finished my third term at Bethel Seminary of the East. It has been such an enriching time for me, but over the last year Amy and I have talked about her going to school to pursue her nursing degree. This has been something we've been kicking around for probably more than 3 years. So, we’ve concluded over the last couple weeks that it would be a better use of time and resources at this point in our lives, that she pursues this degree now. Afterall, she’ll be able to complete it in two years. We're both excited about the kind of opportunities this could open up for us in the months and years to come.
It's been a cool thing too- living in a more urban area now- we’ve been able to connect with our community in some different ways as well. This summer, we're able to serve at one of the homeless shelters with some others from church, and help out the summer program for the kids in our community held at Kenni's school. .
Church life...
It's been about 6 months since we began our worship services for Hope Church in one of the local High Schools, and God has done some tremendous work in the lives of many among us. The stories that God is shaping in the lives of students is even more thrilling for our Alien Youth Ministry Team. We just returned from our summer mission trip, The Hartford Project. You can learn a little more about it here- http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/TheHartfordProject?v=info&viewas=526845182
The local TV news came out to cover an event that was part of the week's serving time: www.wfsb.com/video/19920314/index.html
The Love Wins event described on that news segment was only one piece of our week together. Over 190 teens and youth workers worshiped, prayed, and worked hard with over 20 different non profit organizations all over Hartford that week. Powerful stuff…can't wait till next year!
As for this summer, we're looking forward to see how God will use our time in connecting with students, serving together and making deeper footprints. We've got some aggressive goals, but we are even more convinced of intentional living… act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. We know that there are a ton of things attached to that 'call'- but we've got some amped people around us who are preparing for greatness.
Looking forward to how God will continue to refine and focus us, as we hang on for the ride!
I'm not sure how that works, but Tariku’s definitely one of us...we cannot think of life with out him. Our family has become so much more with him – He’s added another dimension to our lives. I can’t fully explain it, but it seems we understand God’s compassion, grace and desire for our lives a little more clearly now because of Tariku and his story. His life has affected ours in more ways that we ever knew possible.
It’s kind of ironic too… his name actually means “his story” … Because of that we felt like it was too important not to keep his given name. His story has affected us forever. We’ve tried to come up with an appropriate nickname, but nothing’s confirmed yet. I've started calling him TK once in a while, but we'll see if that sticks or not. Amy's not convinced yet. ;)
It’s been about 15 months since we returned from Ethiopia and about eight or nine months ago Amy and I began to talk about adopting another little boy. It’s never made a ton of sense “on paper”, but after a lot of thinking, praying and investigating, we began the process to bring home a little boy between 3-5 years old. To make a long story short… it's been a crazy process for us this time –last time was crazy too, just different. Seems par for the course though… So, as of about a month ago, we finished our paperwork and we're now officially waiting for a referral for our new little boy. We don't know his name yet, but God does. We would appreciate praying with us for him. We'll keep you posted on this new adventure.
Amongst the new adoption process…
It's been a wild year in general. Last September we moved to Middletown about 20 minutes from where we were living and we love it here. We’ve got great people living near us in our diverse and loving neighborhood. Our girls both love their new schools and their teachers and they have fit perfectly in their classes.
Shortly after we moved, I began taking two seminary classes and in June I finished my third term at Bethel Seminary of the East. It has been such an enriching time for me, but over the last year Amy and I have talked about her going to school to pursue her nursing degree. This has been something we've been kicking around for probably more than 3 years. So, we’ve concluded over the last couple weeks that it would be a better use of time and resources at this point in our lives, that she pursues this degree now. Afterall, she’ll be able to complete it in two years. We're both excited about the kind of opportunities this could open up for us in the months and years to come.
It's been a cool thing too- living in a more urban area now- we’ve been able to connect with our community in some different ways as well. This summer, we're able to serve at one of the homeless shelters with some others from church, and help out the summer program for the kids in our community held at Kenni's school. .
Church life...
It's been about 6 months since we began our worship services for Hope Church in one of the local High Schools, and God has done some tremendous work in the lives of many among us. The stories that God is shaping in the lives of students is even more thrilling for our Alien Youth Ministry Team. We just returned from our summer mission trip, The Hartford Project. You can learn a little more about it here- http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/TheHartfordProject?v=info&viewas=526845182
The local TV news came out to cover an event that was part of the week's serving time: www.wfsb.com/video/19920314/index.html
The Love Wins event described on that news segment was only one piece of our week together. Over 190 teens and youth workers worshiped, prayed, and worked hard with over 20 different non profit organizations all over Hartford that week. Powerful stuff…can't wait till next year!
As for this summer, we're looking forward to see how God will use our time in connecting with students, serving together and making deeper footprints. We've got some aggressive goals, but we are even more convinced of intentional living… act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. We know that there are a ton of things attached to that 'call'- but we've got some amped people around us who are preparing for greatness.
Looking forward to how God will continue to refine and focus us, as we hang on for the ride!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Tariku's First Birthday is tomorrow...WOW!
We can't believe it!.... Tariku's 1st Bday is TOMORROW!
Thought I'd post this article link. (below) Several days ago we got a call from a local reporter who wanted to publish our story about Tariku's adoption and the Birthday Party/Fundraiser we're doing on 11/22 for AHOPE AIDS Orphanage . AHOPE has a home office here in the US, but their Ethiopian Care Center works closely with the CHSFS Care center where Tariku was.
Our fundraiser event is on Nov. 22 from 10-12 EST. We're expecting many friends, and many others from our community that wish to learn more about adoption and investing in AHOPE to help HIV+ Kids. We will have community leaders, adoptive families, those interested in adoption, and financial supporters to help others adopt too. We'd appreciate prayer for that event, and we'll let you know how it goes.
If you aren't aware already, we've just submitted our application (about another 12mo process) to bring home a second son from Ethiopia. He will be 3-5yrs old... so between Sasha and "TK" ;)... We don't know who he is yet, but the Lord is caring and preparing him now.
Love to all, Pete... for the rest.
http://easthampton.htnp.com/around_east_hampton/1661.html
Thought I'd post this article link. (below) Several days ago we got a call from a local reporter who wanted to publish our story about Tariku's adoption and the Birthday Party/Fundraiser we're doing on 11/22 for AHOPE AIDS Orphanage . AHOPE has a home office here in the US, but their Ethiopian Care Center works closely with the CHSFS Care center where Tariku was.
Our fundraiser event is on Nov. 22 from 10-12 EST. We're expecting many friends, and many others from our community that wish to learn more about adoption and investing in AHOPE to help HIV+ Kids. We will have community leaders, adoptive families, those interested in adoption, and financial supporters to help others adopt too. We'd appreciate prayer for that event, and we'll let you know how it goes.
If you aren't aware already, we've just submitted our application (about another 12mo process) to bring home a second son from Ethiopia. He will be 3-5yrs old... so between Sasha and "TK" ;)... We don't know who he is yet, but the Lord is caring and preparing him now.
Love to all, Pete... for the rest.
http://easthampton.htnp.com/around_east_hampton/1661.html
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend
Hey Folks...
Just thought I'd jot a quick post for those of you keeping up with this crazy journey. ;) I will try to post some pics from this past weekend soon, so stay posted.... We had some great family time this weekend!
Amy's sister Michele graduated from Rutger's Law School on Thursday, so we left Wed night for NJ to spend time with Amy's family (We'll have to dedicate an entire post to Michele's incredible success at Rutgers...and her upcoming position with the NJ State Supreme Court Chief Justice! We're all SO proud of her - Way to go Shell!)
On Friday morning we left for the Hershey area to hang out with my family for a short time too. It was my mom's 60th Birthday... (I'm not so sure she wanted that made public... but oh well) Mom doesn't look a day over 40. She looks great! ;)
Since it was such a special birthday, we decided to drive out and surprise her. We stopped in to see Dad at his office in Lancaster before heading over to St Joan of Arc School where Mom's been a music teacher for several years now. She was pretty excited to see Kenni and Sasha when they ran up to her in the lunchroom on Friday. We were also able to see Ben and Kami Deppen in the Lancaster area later that afternoon, and then had a nice birthday meal with Mom, Dad, Nate and the five of us. We had a great time... and Tariku is loving Grammie and Papa more all the time!
We planned to head back home on Saturday, but we had a great time a great food with the Ensminger/Epler crew in Annville! That was a great time relaxing and catching up, and watching the kids have a blast getting dirty.
ok... I'll post more pics of the weekend soon.
Love to all,
Pete
Just thought I'd jot a quick post for those of you keeping up with this crazy journey. ;) I will try to post some pics from this past weekend soon, so stay posted.... We had some great family time this weekend!
Amy's sister Michele graduated from Rutger's Law School on Thursday, so we left Wed night for NJ to spend time with Amy's family (We'll have to dedicate an entire post to Michele's incredible success at Rutgers...and her upcoming position with the NJ State Supreme Court Chief Justice! We're all SO proud of her - Way to go Shell!)
On Friday morning we left for the Hershey area to hang out with my family for a short time too. It was my mom's 60th Birthday... (I'm not so sure she wanted that made public... but oh well) Mom doesn't look a day over 40. She looks great! ;)
Since it was such a special birthday, we decided to drive out and surprise her. We stopped in to see Dad at his office in Lancaster before heading over to St Joan of Arc School where Mom's been a music teacher for several years now. She was pretty excited to see Kenni and Sasha when they ran up to her in the lunchroom on Friday. We were also able to see Ben and Kami Deppen in the Lancaster area later that afternoon, and then had a nice birthday meal with Mom, Dad, Nate and the five of us. We had a great time... and Tariku is loving Grammie and Papa more all the time!
We planned to head back home on Saturday, but we had a great time a great food with the Ensminger/Epler crew in Annville! That was a great time relaxing and catching up, and watching the kids have a blast getting dirty.
ok... I'll post more pics of the weekend soon.
Love to all,
Pete
Thursday, April 17, 2008
New Pics!
So, we've been home for a little over three weeks now Tariku is transitioning better everyday, as you can tell in these pictures...Amy and the kids are in S. Jersey right now with her Parents and extended family so I'm catching up on some things here at the office. I talked to Amy yesterday and she said Tariku woke up every hour the other night... I hope he slept better last night.
Anyhow... Here's some new pics!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Recent American Idol ... my response
I wrote this in response to a thread on our agency's adoption forum ... it was in response to the American Idol show highlighting Ethiopia and her struggles. There is a lot of controversy amoungst the Adoption community as to how "negatively" they chose to portray our children's birth country.
So ... I don't usually say much on the forum, but here go some thoughts I've been trying to collect ever since our return 2 weeks ago from Ethiopia with our son.
We traveled to Addis early and were able to spend a week and a half there before our adoption week started. It was during those days prior to meeting our son that we were able to really see the devestation in that city. Having been to West Africa before, we thought we were prepared to see and handle the poverty, etc. in Addis. Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw ... the impact poverty, drought, disease has had is far greater than any other place we had been.
During our week with CHSFS we were significantly sheltered from the worst parts of the city. In their defense, I think they were just trying to keep us safe. We never drove through the Mercado (spelling?) ... which is the center of the largest slum in Africa. People/children sleeping on the median and lined up down the sidewalk. A million people living in an area with no sewer or water system. So many people ... living in condition I did not even know existed.
It was only during our early time there that we were able to really see all this.Before we left for Ethiopia we had put together this beautiful picture of our son's birth country in our minds. We had done the reading/research and we knew so much of the amazing history and rich culture Ethiopia has to offer. We knew about the beauty of the people and the countryside. It was easy to focus on the beauty when we were a half a world away.But when we actually were there it was very easy to do the exact opposite ... be so completely overwelmed by the devestation that we could not even bear to think about the beauty.
It is so hard to explain in words and always comes out wrong when I try to write it. It's sort of like this ... the beauty is there, it is amazing and overwelming and striking. The history is deep and the culture is fascinating and wonderful. But when I held an HIV+ little girl in my arms at AHOPE (an orphange for HIV+ children) I could not even think about the beauty because the unfairness and overwelming grief that surrounds her is so big I can't even see it all. It's like the beauty makes the poverty so much more real. It's the contrast between the two that is so overwelming and hard to deal with.
When I watched my two bio daughters play with the kids at AHOPE ... play with them without any regard for language or nationality or sickness ... it make my heart ache with grief for these people. Not because I am any better than them ... not because I have some ability to "save" them from anything. But because all of a sudden I felt guilty for my life of priviledge ... for my life that has come so easily by comparison.
We worked hard to make this adoption possible ... working extra jobs, cutting way back on things we used to think necessary. And our friends here honored us with this huge going away party/fundraiser before we left. We were sent off with this huge encouragement for all the "good" we had done as a result of our "sacrifice."
I stood at AHOPE a couple days later with my bags of donations and felt so horrible for even thinking I had made a sacrifice. Nothing I had done really qualified as a sacrifice in light of what I was then staring in the face.
And now that I'm back here in the States I've gone back to my regular life ... the shock of what I saw has worn off in so many ways. It is when I stare into my son's eyes that I feel this overwelming responsibility to him ... like I owe it to him to try and make a difference.And if me, as a mother who has traveled to Ethiopia to pick up her son, can move past what I saw in such a short amount of time ... then surely the majority of our American population can do the same. And if it takes pictures and statistics of the worst to compel us to give ... then so be it.
Ethiopia is a beautiful place ... probably the most beautiful place we've ever been. But her beauty is being overshadowed by her struggles ... struggles that we as a country could significantly impact. Not because we are better in any way ... but because for some reason that I don't understand ... we have access to more resources.
So ... there it is ... the rambles of a mom who gazes at her new son with so many emotions going all the time ... love, grief, guilt, sadness, joy and more. What happened to cause our son to need our family should never have to happen.
Right now we are trying to figure out the next step our family needs to take in order be a part of the rebuilding of our son's birth country. Adoption turned out to be so much bigger for us than we ever thought it would be. So much bigger ... and so much more amazing. Truly the journey of a lifetime.
So ... I don't usually say much on the forum, but here go some thoughts I've been trying to collect ever since our return 2 weeks ago from Ethiopia with our son.
We traveled to Addis early and were able to spend a week and a half there before our adoption week started. It was during those days prior to meeting our son that we were able to really see the devestation in that city. Having been to West Africa before, we thought we were prepared to see and handle the poverty, etc. in Addis. Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw ... the impact poverty, drought, disease has had is far greater than any other place we had been.
During our week with CHSFS we were significantly sheltered from the worst parts of the city. In their defense, I think they were just trying to keep us safe. We never drove through the Mercado (spelling?) ... which is the center of the largest slum in Africa. People/children sleeping on the median and lined up down the sidewalk. A million people living in an area with no sewer or water system. So many people ... living in condition I did not even know existed.
It was only during our early time there that we were able to really see all this.Before we left for Ethiopia we had put together this beautiful picture of our son's birth country in our minds. We had done the reading/research and we knew so much of the amazing history and rich culture Ethiopia has to offer. We knew about the beauty of the people and the countryside. It was easy to focus on the beauty when we were a half a world away.But when we actually were there it was very easy to do the exact opposite ... be so completely overwelmed by the devestation that we could not even bear to think about the beauty.
It is so hard to explain in words and always comes out wrong when I try to write it. It's sort of like this ... the beauty is there, it is amazing and overwelming and striking. The history is deep and the culture is fascinating and wonderful. But when I held an HIV+ little girl in my arms at AHOPE (an orphange for HIV+ children) I could not even think about the beauty because the unfairness and overwelming grief that surrounds her is so big I can't even see it all. It's like the beauty makes the poverty so much more real. It's the contrast between the two that is so overwelming and hard to deal with.
When I watched my two bio daughters play with the kids at AHOPE ... play with them without any regard for language or nationality or sickness ... it make my heart ache with grief for these people. Not because I am any better than them ... not because I have some ability to "save" them from anything. But because all of a sudden I felt guilty for my life of priviledge ... for my life that has come so easily by comparison.
We worked hard to make this adoption possible ... working extra jobs, cutting way back on things we used to think necessary. And our friends here honored us with this huge going away party/fundraiser before we left. We were sent off with this huge encouragement for all the "good" we had done as a result of our "sacrifice."
I stood at AHOPE a couple days later with my bags of donations and felt so horrible for even thinking I had made a sacrifice. Nothing I had done really qualified as a sacrifice in light of what I was then staring in the face.
And now that I'm back here in the States I've gone back to my regular life ... the shock of what I saw has worn off in so many ways. It is when I stare into my son's eyes that I feel this overwelming responsibility to him ... like I owe it to him to try and make a difference.And if me, as a mother who has traveled to Ethiopia to pick up her son, can move past what I saw in such a short amount of time ... then surely the majority of our American population can do the same. And if it takes pictures and statistics of the worst to compel us to give ... then so be it.
Ethiopia is a beautiful place ... probably the most beautiful place we've ever been. But her beauty is being overshadowed by her struggles ... struggles that we as a country could significantly impact. Not because we are better in any way ... but because for some reason that I don't understand ... we have access to more resources.
So ... there it is ... the rambles of a mom who gazes at her new son with so many emotions going all the time ... love, grief, guilt, sadness, joy and more. What happened to cause our son to need our family should never have to happen.
Right now we are trying to figure out the next step our family needs to take in order be a part of the rebuilding of our son's birth country. Adoption turned out to be so much bigger for us than we ever thought it would be. So much bigger ... and so much more amazing. Truly the journey of a lifetime.
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