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So, as of this month, we are co-leading a new-ish family Kinship in our own neighborhood!

{The church we attend is 30 minutes away.}

It was a bit of a bumpy transition into its new format...but I think we've worked out the kinks.

Tonight was Girl's Night Out for the women in the fellowship.

*

We are sad to see our friends {the Mom on top} return to Africa soon {that's 1/4 of our group!},

but excited to support them from here, and, 

hopefully even go as families on a work/ministry trip there sometime in the future.

We all have high hopes for our little community.

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A fun moment between silly friends at this month's gathering of families 

who have all adopted from Ethiopia, or are in process.

This group has been so good for all of us.

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Family picture time for our friends.

I've only done this one other time for friends, ages ago.

I was a little nervous, but it was a good time.

They seemed to have fun...except for the bit where the kiddos 

had to stand around outside in the crazy cold wind.

The only frustrating part was the full-on sun.  

I was hoping for cloudy, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

I tried on-camera fill flash, but it was no match for the blazing brightness.

Still, I think they were so freaking cute together, it didn't matter.

Thanks for letting me take your pictures, Millers!

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We had our monthly Family Night tonight.

With it being V-Day eve, our friend Paige created these 

heart braids in her sweet daughter's hair.

Can you believe this cuteness?  

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My baby girl felt too sick to go to school today.

I thought it was debatable, but hey, this is pre-school after all.

However, I still kept my coffee date with my dear friend Melissa, 

whose days in the Midwest are numbered.

My heart overflows.

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Dear friends of our family who will soon be returning to their ministry in Africa.
In fact, I will certainly implode when the Mama is no longer around
for our Wednesday morning talk at a local coffee shop.
*
Their sweet, eldest daughter, Noa, was baptized tonight at our church.
I can't decide which picture I like better, so I'm putting both up.
Really not sure what I'm going to do when they leave.
*
They want me to take some informal pictures of their family before they go.
I'm really excited to try this, but a little nervous too...even though it's just for fun.
As I've experienced in my own family, adequately lighting our skin tones is very tricky.
*
Anybody out there who has any insight on this...feel free to comment or email me!
Also...does anybody have any suggestions for interesting dead-of-winter backgrounds?
Either indoors, or outdoors...locals {or previous locals!}...any ideas?

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We experienced an exciting first tonight.

Boo's former, delightful Speech Therapist Miss C

became our family's first bonafide babysitter.

Oh, Miss C, how we love you so!

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A sweet gift for Zee from our dear friends Admasu and Tiru at dinner tonight.

Considering I wasn't able to get her any little Ethiopian dresses on our trip so long ago,

we were thrilled with this precious gift.

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Ooops...nearly forgot a picture today!
Hence the complete absence of creativity on this one.

This is on the way out after Family Night.

We have these monthly gatherings for all the local families that have adopted,

or are in the process of adopting, from Africa.

It is so very good to be in fellowship with these folks.

And, our beloved friend Tiru (who cooks a traditional Ethiopian dinner for us)

and her family have become family to all of us.
She is pictured above with her youngest daughter.

Life is good.

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went on an impromptu trip yesterday to ikea 

with a very dear friend.

she needed a bunch of goodies for her home and office

so, so, crazy fun.

2 hours of talking on the way there,

then a whole lotta hours spent looking around and deciding what she needed

2 hours of talking on the way back.

bliss.

you know what else is bliss?
their tiny little sunflower-colored espresso cups with saucers.
oh my freakness these are gorgeous.
now to figure out a way to get the whole set of dishes!

Ethiopian...it's what's for dinner

Our friends, Admasu and Tiru, who have become family over the last few years, had us over for dinner this weekend.  It was a fantastic time.  They also invited a few other families, all of whom are a part of our Ethiopian adoptive families group.  Each family had helped them out in some way over the last couple of years as they went through some very difficult times. 

It was a sweet night of fellowship with lots of kids, lots of adults and lots of freaking awesome food.  Then there was the Tej:  homemade Ethiopian wine, made with honey, lots of honey, and hops.  Ethiopians almost never have dessert...rather they prefer to drink their sweetness along with their communal meals.  Yeah, you could pretty much say I'm in love. 

And, as always, an Ethiopian coffee ceremony at the end.  Well, an abbreviated one...the real one lasts 4+ hours.  

Pure, sublime communal and culinary perfection.