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Did you know that April is Poetry Month???

I do, because my husband is a literature teacher. :)

Today my friend Sarah posted this poem on my FB page in honor of Poetry Month.  The truth and humor of it, the sweetness of it,  made me tear up (happy tears, of course):

An Excuse For Not Returning the Visit of a Friend
by Mei-Yao Ch'en
translated by Kenneth Rexroth 

Do not be offended because 
I am slow to go out. You know 
Me too well for that. On my lap 
I hold my little girl. At my 
Knees stands my handsome little son. 
One has just begun to talk. 
The other chatters without 
Stopping. They hang on my clothes 
And follow my every step. 
I can't get any farther 
Than the door. I am afraid 
I will never make it to your house.

And here's one of my favorites, by Richard Wilbur:

Having Misidentified a Wild-Flower

A thrush, because I'd been wrong, Burst rightly into song In a world not vague, not lonely, Not governed by me only.  Richard Wilbur  Happy last-day- of-poetry-month!!!!

A Short Update

1. We start Amharic lessons this Thursday. We're ready.

2. I've not added any clips to my etsy site, some of you may have noticed. Since making the decision to move overseas, it's become clear that I have way too much on my mind to continue making, photographing, and loading up clips to the store. (Like, learning Amharic, for instance.) If you're still really wanting one, let me know and I'd love to make a special order. Thank you to all of you who bought everything I loaded up to the store--it was really fun while it lasted! Now I'm dreaming of ways to use that felt and the notions with the older girls at Kechene. Who knows, maybe you'll travel to Ethiopia, visit the little shop the girls have, and find some adorable felt clips for sale. That would be cool, right?

3. Yesterday sweet baby Ru went down for nap rashless, and woke up with a rash covering her torso--lots of little raised bumps. She isn't scratching at it. Any thoughts?

4. We'll be visiting with an international MD soon to learn how to keep all three of us as healthy as possible in Ethiopia.


The end. Thanks for bearing with me.

Who Says The Ru Can't Say Her Words on Command?

hello.

Lately I've been trying to figure out what this blog should look like now that we're gearing up to join Gladney staff and move. I'm still not sure. Thus the lack of posting. Scott at Gladney has given me permission to keep on blogging, but honestly I feel a bit weird about staying as involved in the blog world as I have been. Seems a bit inappropriate. So, though I will continue posting here, I am planning to withdraw a bit from commenting on blogs, etc. I hope you understand, and I hope you also understand how much this community has meant to me......and I hope those of you who have become friends will keep in touch by email......anyway, I'm not going anywhere, but wanted you to know my "current state of blogging involvement." Also know that I'll continue to avidly read your blogs.

Ruthie is doing so well. At 15 months, she weighs a whopping 21 pounds and is at the 25th percentile for weight. She is walking, nearly running, all over the place with confidence. There are about 8 words she can say, though she refuses to say them on command. ;)

We are already preparing for our move in late August, though obviously there are some things we can't actually do till it's nearer to moving time: like, sell our cars and furniture. :) One new development I'm excited about is that Michael and I are going to take Amharic lessons! Gladney has connected us with a deacon in a local Ethiopian Orthodox church who is willing to teach us. I know this will help make our transition in Ethiopia easier. TTFN!

African Adoptions Up

The rise in African adoptions is hitting the headlines--especially adoptions from Ethiopia.