Response to a Post

Please log on to my sister-in-law's blog, link above, and read her comment on race.

Leah, I want to thank you for that beautiful post. Those of you who read this blog know that Leah and James adopted a baby boy from Ethiopia this past August. I can't tell you how many times I have heard people comment on his color. The comments, I hope, have been in pure ignorance, but still bother me. When I proudly told people I was getting a nephew from Ethiopia I recieved strange looks and comments such as "Will it be a black baby?" I'm sure, as stated before, many of these comments were in sheer ignorance. But one has to ponder just how far these thoughts of "race" have been engrained into our vocabulary and culture.

A child is a child, regardless of the country they come from and the color of their skin. I have always wanted a baby from Africa. As a child, and a history buff, I studied the history of slavery in our own country and around the world. I was fascinated by the struggles men and women were subject to because of their color. When I was nine I read a book that has stayed with me throughout my life. It was the history of the Underground Railroad. I read how Harriet Tubman risked life and limb to bring slaves to the free north. I have always been amazed by her story, and admired her for her bravery and devotion to God. Another story that has made such an impression on me is from the American Girl Collection. The story is about a yound slave girl, named Addy, and her mother. With the help of God and the Underground Railroad, Addy and her mother successfully escape to freedom and are eventually reunited with their liberated family after the Civil War. It was Addy's story that made want to adopt an African baby some day.

We are all humans with the same struggles, fears, and problems. I pray that people may someday look beyond the skin and see that we were all beautifully and wonderfully made by a Creator who loves us. Remember, this Creator loved us all so much he gave us Jesus, His son, to save us, regardless of our skin.

I will finish with this statement. I am so proud of Leah and James for adopting Zachary. This child was once a prayer, a hope, and a dream for Leah who longed for a child and the rest of us who wanted her to have a baby. I love you Zachary, and I'm so happy you have come into our family. I hope you will continue to know just how much you are loved as your grow older. You are our miracle, our answer to prayer, and our little bundle of joy, regardless of where you were born and your beautiful brown skin.

These People Are Nuts!

So, it snowed all day today. I think we had a total of 4 or 5 inches, haven't heard the final verdict yet. Well, the entire town, except Aaron's school, has completely shut down. It hilarious! All of the local chanels on TV cancelled their regular programs to cover the winter weather. It's as though they have never seen precipitation before. Having recently moved from snow country I find it so funny. At home they would have plowed the main roads, pured lava pebbles down, and life would continue. Here, they have no plows, people don't know how to drive in the white stuff, and they all freak out. It's been quite the sight. Here's a final picture from the day!

The Street and our Car at 4:30ish.

As you can see Max enjoyed the day as usual, curled up on the couch with a pillow, snoring away!

Let it Snow?

I woke up this morning to a beautiful site, SNOW in Portland. This doesn't happen very often, and when it does happen the enitre town shuts down. It's actually pretty funny. People around here act as though they have never seen precipitation, even though it rains almost constantly for 5 or 6 months out of the year. When it rains, they tend to freak out and traffic on the freeway comes to a crawl. It's insane. I've been told by locals "Welcome to the Northwest!" Here are some pics.

A Blessed Trip (Posted a Little Late)

We had a wonderful vacation in Arizona and I can't believe it's over. It went by so fast and before we knew it, we were back to work and school in full swing. Here are some pictures from our great trip!

The first day of our trip. Meet Wolfgang, my brother's blue tongued child. :-)

My mom, Jenny, Christmas Eve on the Bill Williams River Trail in Parker, AZ!

Meeting Zachary, we hit it off right away and his mommy, Aaron's sister Leah, let me hold him while he slept. It was wonderful!

Uncle Aaron and Zachy

Zach surrounded by his Christmas booty.

Aaron's side of the family with little Zachary!

Driving from Flagstaff to Havasu. Look at the snow!

Rosco, the dog my parents got when I was 16 :-)

Shelby my Mom's Heiz 57 doggy :-)

Rudy, my 15 year old Cocker Spaniel, my doggy I grew up with :-)

Aaron at Mandalay Bay the day we flew home!