Okay, so I have to share this CD with the world.
Before I tell you about it, let me explain a few things about my music tastes. I get bored easily. I mostly listen to the radio, because after listening to a CD once, I don't feel like hearing it again - for a long time. I don't have an ipod because I don't have the patience to download enough songs that would keep me interested. I prefer the radio - and hey - it's free, and if there's a natural disaster or some such emergency, I'm more likely to hear about it, right?
So I leave the CD-purchasing and ipod-downloading to Chris who DOES have the patience, and frankly could listen to the same song for DAYS and still enjoy dissecting all of the recording, mixing, and mastering details that went into its production... One of our differences, I guess.
I share that so you will know how incredibly great I think this CD is, and I NEVER say that!
It is called Rock Rwanda, and is a fundraiser for Africa New Life Ministries. They work specifically with survivors and street kids in Rwanda, but the founders, Charles and Florence Buregeya, also worked in Uganda, and Charles speaks all over the place. I heard him here in the Portland area. He has a contagious spirit and they are doing amazing things, especially for all the orphans that were left behind after the war.
So there is a movement rising in Portland associated with this work that Chris' good friend and his wife are working on. It is for anyone interested in music and healing and Africa. Obviously right up Chris' alley. So this CD is the first volume and is AMAZING. It is mostly local artists, plus an amazing musician, Enric Sifa, who was a child-survivor of the Rwandan genocide, a famous singer in Rwanda, and currently going to school here in Portland. Every single song is original, and I couldn't find any of them on Playlist to share with you...
So if you are a sucker for great, original praise music, African praise music, and a great way to donate to a worthwhile project while getting a CD that you'll play over and over, then I insist that you purchase Rock Rwanda immediately! It is also sold at Christian Supply, although I can't seem to find it on their website.
Enjoy!
Monday, January 26, 2009
A Good Day
The sun is out!!
And I have the day off!!
How does life always look so much better when the sky is blue?
I'll be picking up M.C. right after kindergarten today to spend the afternoon with him. I'm so looking forward to this day!
We miss our small town desperately. It seems like baby steps as we continue to adjust to our new home. I remembered last week, that even at our old house on the hill in the woods, that winter dragged on, and we talked about moving sometimes. The weather affects both Chris and I - maybe most people? So even though we talk about moving back someday, I am interested to see how we feel this spring. Things always seem better in the spring. And our new kids will help us have new experiences here that will hopefully help us feel more like this is home.
Today, I am simply thankful for sunshine.
And I have the day off!!
How does life always look so much better when the sky is blue?
I'll be picking up M.C. right after kindergarten today to spend the afternoon with him. I'm so looking forward to this day!
We miss our small town desperately. It seems like baby steps as we continue to adjust to our new home. I remembered last week, that even at our old house on the hill in the woods, that winter dragged on, and we talked about moving sometimes. The weather affects both Chris and I - maybe most people? So even though we talk about moving back someday, I am interested to see how we feel this spring. Things always seem better in the spring. And our new kids will help us have new experiences here that will hopefully help us feel more like this is home.
Today, I am simply thankful for sunshine.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Lull Before...
So we are plugging along in this new year...
M.C. turned 6 and had a very fun birthday party with friends from kindergarten and our neighborhood. He still struggles with life in many ways, but we are hopeful that this will be a big year for him.
We have settled into a very loving church that both Chris and I enjoy being part of. For so many years, I felt like I mostly went to church to support Chris. At times he played in the worship band more often than he could sit with me in a service. So everything else rested on my shoulders - getting the kids there (however many we had), and both of our boys had fairly severe separation anxiety early on. It was years before I could leave G.J. in the nursery or children's program, and not get called 10 minutes later to go comfort my hyperventilating son! M.C. was similar, but moved out of it quicker. And for over a year I pulled up in our van, unbuckled kids from car seats, and tried to keep track of 4 running kids as well as the one in my arms until we could at least get in the front door. So some days, I wasn't sure what I was doing, and if it really was the best thing.
So this is a church that I am watching Chris unfolding his music-ministry gifts again, but this time, our kids love their program, and I love the service and the people. It isn't stressful to go, and I can actually feel God speaking to me again. It is a good place to be.
We had hoped to expedite E.'s adoption to be able to get her on the waiting list for her surgery, but that hasn't been successful. So we are trying to patiently wait for her court date in 3 weeks. If she passes, Chris and his mom can make travel dates and we can decide if G.J. is going with them. We can also plan out the next couple of months before the baby is born. If her case doesn't pass (and many don't on the first try), then it is pretty likely that Chris won't be able to go get her before the baby. It is pretty hard to not have any idea which way things will go, but I am trying to trust that since my Father was in charge of the timing of things up until this point, that He can handle determining the timing of things this spring :).
So we are in a bit of a lull. Since we have added kids before, I know very well about those moments in the first few weeks that I am kicking myself for not enjoying the calm before they came. I intend to spend as much quality time with the boys as I can right now. I am resting much more than I normally allow myself. I know I will need it pretty soon. I am trying to take things in stride, because worrying never helps. We are going out and doing things more than usual, because we know how little ones change our ability and energy to do fun things as a family. And I'm trying to enjoy time with Chris.
For the last 6 years, when a child or sibling group has come to our family, we knew there would be an end down the road (with the exception of one girl we set out intending to adopt). We knew that in the middle of the craziness of adjusting, that we would have some breathing space again one day. Since these two kids are staying forever, which I am very excited about, I am also trying to treasure these last couple of months that we are a family of four. We have weathered many storms together. And in a few months we will have permanent new members, and things will never be quite the same.
So on some days I am so anxious about our adoption/court timeline, and the birth of this 3rd little boy. And sometimes I long to hold our little E. and to see our baby's face for the first time, so deeply it hurts. But I'm trying to catch myself and trying to enjoy this lull, which will never come again...
M.C. turned 6 and had a very fun birthday party with friends from kindergarten and our neighborhood. He still struggles with life in many ways, but we are hopeful that this will be a big year for him.
We have settled into a very loving church that both Chris and I enjoy being part of. For so many years, I felt like I mostly went to church to support Chris. At times he played in the worship band more often than he could sit with me in a service. So everything else rested on my shoulders - getting the kids there (however many we had), and both of our boys had fairly severe separation anxiety early on. It was years before I could leave G.J. in the nursery or children's program, and not get called 10 minutes later to go comfort my hyperventilating son! M.C. was similar, but moved out of it quicker. And for over a year I pulled up in our van, unbuckled kids from car seats, and tried to keep track of 4 running kids as well as the one in my arms until we could at least get in the front door. So some days, I wasn't sure what I was doing, and if it really was the best thing.
So this is a church that I am watching Chris unfolding his music-ministry gifts again, but this time, our kids love their program, and I love the service and the people. It isn't stressful to go, and I can actually feel God speaking to me again. It is a good place to be.
We had hoped to expedite E.'s adoption to be able to get her on the waiting list for her surgery, but that hasn't been successful. So we are trying to patiently wait for her court date in 3 weeks. If she passes, Chris and his mom can make travel dates and we can decide if G.J. is going with them. We can also plan out the next couple of months before the baby is born. If her case doesn't pass (and many don't on the first try), then it is pretty likely that Chris won't be able to go get her before the baby. It is pretty hard to not have any idea which way things will go, but I am trying to trust that since my Father was in charge of the timing of things up until this point, that He can handle determining the timing of things this spring :).
So we are in a bit of a lull. Since we have added kids before, I know very well about those moments in the first few weeks that I am kicking myself for not enjoying the calm before they came. I intend to spend as much quality time with the boys as I can right now. I am resting much more than I normally allow myself. I know I will need it pretty soon. I am trying to take things in stride, because worrying never helps. We are going out and doing things more than usual, because we know how little ones change our ability and energy to do fun things as a family. And I'm trying to enjoy time with Chris.
For the last 6 years, when a child or sibling group has come to our family, we knew there would be an end down the road (with the exception of one girl we set out intending to adopt). We knew that in the middle of the craziness of adjusting, that we would have some breathing space again one day. Since these two kids are staying forever, which I am very excited about, I am also trying to treasure these last couple of months that we are a family of four. We have weathered many storms together. And in a few months we will have permanent new members, and things will never be quite the same.
So on some days I am so anxious about our adoption/court timeline, and the birth of this 3rd little boy. And sometimes I long to hold our little E. and to see our baby's face for the first time, so deeply it hurts. But I'm trying to catch myself and trying to enjoy this lull, which will never come again...
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Blog Anniversary!
So today is the one year anniversary of the day this blog launched. I've been thinking back over the changes I have experienced, and it still stuns me.
Trip to Ethiopia
Decision to adopt a 10 year old girl
Foster kids moved after spending over a year with us
Sell our house
Move out of state
Buy a new house
Start new jobs (both Chris and I)
Kids start new school
Lose adoption referral
Surprise pregnancy
Lots of remodeling projects
Decision to adopt our little girl
And we are another year older!
--And that is just our immediate family! It seems like everyone around us has had lots of changes too.
I am so thankful for all the new friends I have met this year through my trip to Africa, this blog, and our super-supportive adoption community. Between old friends, family, and new friends, we have survived all of these changes pretty well!
I also want to say a public Happy Blog Anniversary to one of my very special new friends over at Selah At Last, who started her blog on the same day as I started this one. We were strangers that day. But this last year has seen so many changes for both of us, and I completely believe that God intended for our lives to intertwine in so many interesting ways. Kimberly also went to Ethiopia this last year with her beautiful family. Her new son is only a couple of months older than our new daughter, and they will always share Ethiopia and adoption in common. A strange twist during this last year is that Kimberly and her family were planning to go work in the same school we considered working in this school year - in Ethiopia! It didn't work out for either of us, so we met in Portland, instead! Kimberly helped Chris and I weather a very stressful out-of-state house search. In fact, I don't think we would have survived without her, and I know we wouldn't have found the house we were able to buy. She was calm, always supportive (even through an inspection of a house we didn't end up buying!), and always made time to help. At this point I can't even remember how many houses we made offers on by faxing paperwork back and forth from Washington to Oregon. She always had our hearts and our family in mind. Her compassionate heart is so needed in this world. Her love for Ethiopia and anyone hurting, especially kids, is contagious. She and her family were the first people to reach out and welcome us to our new community (besides some very loving neighbors), and now our kids go to the same school! She is a precious treasure to all who know her, and I am so thankful that we were able to meet! So Happy Blog Anniversary, dear friend! I am excited to see where God takes you this year!
Here's to another year for all of us, especially all of the other willing hearts out there - and you know who are :) I am grateful to know you!!
Much love,
--Carrie
Trip to Ethiopia
Decision to adopt a 10 year old girl
Foster kids moved after spending over a year with us
Sell our house
Move out of state
Buy a new house
Start new jobs (both Chris and I)
Kids start new school
Lose adoption referral
Surprise pregnancy
Lots of remodeling projects
Decision to adopt our little girl
And we are another year older!
--And that is just our immediate family! It seems like everyone around us has had lots of changes too.
I am so thankful for all the new friends I have met this year through my trip to Africa, this blog, and our super-supportive adoption community. Between old friends, family, and new friends, we have survived all of these changes pretty well!
I also want to say a public Happy Blog Anniversary to one of my very special new friends over at Selah At Last, who started her blog on the same day as I started this one. We were strangers that day. But this last year has seen so many changes for both of us, and I completely believe that God intended for our lives to intertwine in so many interesting ways. Kimberly also went to Ethiopia this last year with her beautiful family. Her new son is only a couple of months older than our new daughter, and they will always share Ethiopia and adoption in common. A strange twist during this last year is that Kimberly and her family were planning to go work in the same school we considered working in this school year - in Ethiopia! It didn't work out for either of us, so we met in Portland, instead! Kimberly helped Chris and I weather a very stressful out-of-state house search. In fact, I don't think we would have survived without her, and I know we wouldn't have found the house we were able to buy. She was calm, always supportive (even through an inspection of a house we didn't end up buying!), and always made time to help. At this point I can't even remember how many houses we made offers on by faxing paperwork back and forth from Washington to Oregon. She always had our hearts and our family in mind. Her compassionate heart is so needed in this world. Her love for Ethiopia and anyone hurting, especially kids, is contagious. She and her family were the first people to reach out and welcome us to our new community (besides some very loving neighbors), and now our kids go to the same school! She is a precious treasure to all who know her, and I am so thankful that we were able to meet! So Happy Blog Anniversary, dear friend! I am excited to see where God takes you this year!
Here's to another year for all of us, especially all of the other willing hearts out there - and you know who are :) I am grateful to know you!!
Much love,
--Carrie
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