Don't Give Up, Africa

Bawled, BAWLED listening to the song below in the car today. I pictured the mother of my children singing the parts in regular font and me singing to her the parts in italics. I pray for the mother of these children so much... my heart breaks for her... I want her to know she does have friends; she may not know us, but we are going to be there for her to fall back on. Whoever you are, my friend, don't give up. Don't despair. Don't lose all hope. Your children are going to be able to grow up healthy and loved. And they will be like you. Strong. Fighters. Wanted.

(Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up" sung by Bono and Alicia Keys)
In this proud land we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail

No fight left or so it seems
I am a woman whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
But no one wants you when you lose

Don't give up
'cos you have friends
Don't give up
You're not beaten yet
Don't give up
I know you can make it good

Though I saw it all around
Never thought I could be affected
Thought that we'd be the last to go
It is so strange the way things turn

Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground

Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up
We don't need much of anything
Don't give up
'cause somewhere there's a place
Where we belong

Rest your head
You worry too much
It's going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don't give up
Please don't give up

Don't give up
'cause you have friends
Don't give up
You're not the only one
Don't give up
No reason to be ashamed
Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up now
We're proud of who you are
Don't give up
You know its never been easy
Don't give up
'cause I believe there's a place
Theres a place where your children can belong

Happy Easter!

Easter Egg Hunt w/ my boys and my adorable nephew Ian...
"Close your eyes... On your mark, get set..."


Ian had to shoot each egg before he put it in his basket. Hilarious.








(ps- how great does my Japanese Maple look right now???)

He is risen! He is risen indeed! (and tomorrow I'm back on fb!!!)

Fingerprints!

Mick and I got fingerprinted for the FBI today.





One step closer...

Mmmmmmm...

Thanks Heather, for the Spring Veg Soup recipe!!! Mmmmmmmm.... (I added some grilled turkey to make it a bit more hearty. totally yum.)

Magnificent...

Yesterday Becky and I got AWESOME tickets to go see U2 in Atlanta for her birthday!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAUGH!!! 3rd row just to the left of the stage. Bono is going to be SO glad to see us again!!!

(I think when Bono and Bec and I are hanging out after the show I'm gonna ask him to "sponsor" our adoption. He's always talking about how he wants us all to help Africa... I've got the will and he's got the moo-lah- sounds like a winning combo to me! Whaddaya think? Think he'll chip in?)

My Computer Stickies

I totally ((heart)) my Mac. Love it. Adore it. I think Becky summed it up best when she said shortly after getting hers, "Now I know why Gweneth named her daughter Apple!" My sentiments exactly.

One of the fun features on a Mac is "Stickies"- you can write yourself (virtual) notes and stick them (virtually) on your background. I use mine to remind myself to do things, but also when I see a quote I like anywhere on the net I cut and paste it to a sticky. I thought since I haven't blogged in a bit that I would share a couple of them with you.


"Why is my life more valuable than this baby's? Someone asked me recently why I don't save money for emergencies, or retirement. My answer was how can I justify saving for myself "just in case" something happens to me when something IS happening to so many already. 29,000 kids will die today of preventable causes. If I'm to love my neighbor AS myself, why spend so much time worrying about me?"
Francis Chan

"...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."
(Proverbs 24:12)


There are seven sins in the world:
wealth without work
pleasure without conscience
knowledge without character
commerce without morality
science without humanity
worship without sacrifice
politics without principle
Mahatma Ghandi


Ezekiel 16:49 (NASB)
 "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy."

(how about that one??? ring a bell??? we always want to blame sodom's sin on something sexual, but right there in the bible it says that sodom's sins are basically the exact same as mine in this country.)

And finally, here's one I came across today. Not for the faint of heart.

Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, took some liberties with Matthew 25:35 and wrote a paraphrase version for today.
For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thristy, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes. I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness. I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved.

God, help us.

Sad News

On Tuesday Haregewoin Teferra passed away. She was the amazing woman that "There Is No Me Without You" is all about. I've cut and pasted the below from Melissa Fay Greene's blog:


Dear Friends,

By now you may have learned the shocking news that Mrs. Haregewoin Teferra has died suddenly after a short illness. We don't know what caused her death; she felt sick for a couple of days, went to the doctor, came home without a diagnosis, felt sick again, and that was the end.

We are grieving, yet we have no time to spare: 59 children survive her, many of them toddlers and babies, the majority HIV-positive.

Worldwide Orphans--the New York-based organization that has overseen the medical care for Haregewoin's children for many years--has stepped into the breach. They have assumed full custody of the 42 HIV-positive kids and are prepared to take responsibility for the 17 HIV-negative children, as needed. Most of the latter are babies and toddlers; they're still at the foster home; their caregivers have stayed on; and the Atetegeb board is attentive to their health and safety at present.

These heroic measures come at high cost: we estimate $300,000 will be required in the coming year (about $4,600 per child) to cover food, healthcare and medicine, education, clothing, and caregivers. Once their basic needs are met, the children’s paperwork will be sorted out; some may be eligible for adoption, others may have extended families in a position to allow the children to return. But that is for the future. The crisis is now: keeping these children fed and clothed, paying the salaries of loving caregivers to act as stand-ins for their late parents, making sure there is no break in the life-saving healthcare provided by WWO.

Haregewoin lived with these children seven days a week, 24 hours a day, for ten years. She is irreplaceable. The smallest ones, of course, have no idea what has just happened. Please let us work together to act as foster parents in absentia for these little ones and to provide financial sustenance to the adults on the ground in Addis with them. Thank you in advance for any amount you can give.

Online contributions can be made at www.WWO.org.
Specify Campaign for Haregewoin's Children.

Or checks may be sent to:
WWO
511 Valley Street
Maplewood, New Jersey 07040

Sincerely,
Melissa

Please pray for these orphans and their care givers. I'm sure all are grieving and will forever miss this amazing woman.