Our Special Place

Bereket and I have a secret place.  We go there at least once a week. Sometimes we meet friends there and sometimes its just the two of us.

I actually started going to this special spot more than 15 years ago with my friend Dawn.  We loved to rollerblade and walk around Silver Lake, and often those outings started or ended with coffee and a bite to eat at Salad Brothers on Elton Hills Drive.  The staff quickly knew us by name.  We'd been regulars there for a few years when the owners transitioned our beloved Salad Brothers into a Dunn Brothers.

Over the years, so many special coffee and lunch dates have been shared with friends at this little spot.  Meet-ups with high school friends, college friends, family members, co-workers and other adoptive moms. So many wonderful conversations in that coffee shop have given me so such great perspective on life. A coffee date even lead our family to the new church we love.

When Jason was in India for two weeks in December, Bereket and I had a lot of Mommy-Daughter dates at Dunn Brothers. I think we went  there 5 times while Jason was away!  Often, it was at Bereket's request.  She loves the excitement of going to a restaurant and she especially loves Dunn Brother's creamy tomato soup.  I have actually started carrying around a child-sized spoon in my purse so we can drop in at any time.

Bereket has AWANA on Wednesday nights at our church downtown.  To make the night even more special (and because there are too many distractions when we try to go home and eat quickly) I pick Bereket up from daycare and take her to the Dunn Brothers South location for dinner before her class begins.  In the car, Bereket is always over the moon. "Mommy, AWANA and a restaurant! I so excited! I so excited!"  I usually am too, because I get to sip on some Ethiopian coffee while watching my little Ethiopian loving every sip of her soup and chocolate milk. As you can see in these picture, it can be quite a show!

Today I am thankful for wonderful friendships, creamy tomato soup, and the beautiful little girl who is the best Wednesday night date!

Never Stop Reaching

This morning we went to a birthday party at our church in Lanesboro.  It is an annual event where the congregation celebrates everyone's birthday in one big party.  There was yummy food, cupcakes, games and of course balloons.

Can you find Cousin Daniel?!

All the kids got a brightly colored balloon to take home and Bereket was beyond excited about her new helium-filled treasure. (It was the first thing she showed her special neighborhood friend when he came over to play this afternoon. "Mommy, play some music so we can dance with my balloon!")

Within moments of getting home, her new prize floated up to the ceiling of our living room.  "I will get it!" my determined almost 4-year-old proclaimed as she pushed a chair from the kitchen table onto the carpet.

"Oh, that is too high for you." I said. "Mommy will get it." As soon as the words came out of my mouth, the tears began to roll. My determined, strong-willed child wanted to try to get it down herself.

I moved the chair under the balloon and smiled as she tried with all her might to get it down.  I got my phone out and snapped a photo.

"I can get it!"

Later, as I looked through the photos from the birthday party, my eyes rested on that shot. I couldn't help thinking, "You go girl!" Why did I try to stop you?

I have a very determined, strong-willed child.  She is beautiful and tall and fast and funny and a lot of other wonderful things.  With her determination, she can accomplish great things in this life.   My prayer is that I will not be one to limit her...but rather that I will encourage her to run like crazy after the dreams God places in her heart.

Keep dreaming, Miss B. Don't ever stop!

Sweet dreams, sweet girl!

And this photo really has little to do with anything in this story. I thought she just looked so darn cute while washing her hands before she ate the leftover cupcakes we took home from the birthday party!

This smile could melt a snowbank!