B's First Date

Summer break is flying by. Bereket will be heading back to school in just two weeks. Sometimes I wonder how she can be going into 2nd grade already, but she just keeps maturing. As her birthday approached in May, people would asked me how old she would be. My reply was, "She's turning 7, but really she's more like 16."  Our mini teenager loves cellphones, iPads and Converse high top shoes. She's also already had her first real "date."

I'm a few weeks late writing this reflection, but I wanted to get it down in the register of important events so that Bereket will always remember that her first date was extra special because it was with her daddy.

Bereket's school held its first ever father-daughter dance on a Friday night in May.  Jason dressed up in a suit and tie. Bereket chose the Easter dress and matching coat Grandma gave her last year. Just like we will do for her prom one day, Bereket posed for a pre-date photo on the front step.

The PTA did such a wonderful job planning the night. They had a photo booth, special lighting on the dance floor, ice cream treats and each little girl got to pick out a wrist corsage.

The girls also got to make a grand entrance on a red carpet!

Jason admitted that after the first dance, Bereket ditched him for her little friends. He joined other dads standing on the sidelines.

Bereket danced the night away until the party was over and it was time to help clean up.

I think Bereket had a great first date. She couldn't have picked a better guy to take her out on the town. I hope she'll one day make other good choices regarding the boys she spends her time with. I hope those boys will show her just as much respect as her first date did. She will always be the apple of his eye.  

A Love Story

Today is Valentine's Day. Bereket just got home from school with a sack filled with mini cards and treats from her classmates. Taking inventory of the little bags of Skittles and trinkets, I smiled at a heart shaped pencil sharpener and pink mustache. Some parents and kids are so clever! I would make a mental note to do something more Pinterest-like next year, but I know that won't happen. So instead, I will enjoy the creativity of others.

Today though, it is a different kind of expression of love that has me smiling.  It is the love and pride my child has in who she is and where she comes from. Last week, Bereket decided she wanted to tell her adoption story to her classmates during sharing time. She wanted to share her precious photo albums and talk about Ethiopia and the important people in her life there.  Bereket's teacher reached out to us first for our blessing and so that we could guide her in preparation.  We were a little uncertain if Bereket was ready for this, but in the end it is her story and her decision who she shares it with.

We have yet to see the video Bereket's teacher took yesterday, but she did message us this photo. Bereket's principal joined the class for her special story. We've been told Bereket's sharing was beautiful and we look forward to watching the video with her. We could not be more proud of her.

If I was to tell the story of my own childhood, it might include the wonderful box of chocolates my father gifted me with every Valentine's Day. He never missed giving my sister and I each our own giant, heart-shaped box. We would cut into each chocolate with a knife, trying to find the caramel ones. The candies with pink and orange filling were always the last to go.  My parents have now passed on the tradition to their grandchildren. We enjoyed going out to dinner with my parents last weekend and Dad did not forget that special heart-shaped gift for Bereket.

We keep holidays pretty simple around here. I bought my own flowers for $4.99 at the grocery store on Sunday and Jason used a scrap of paper as a card as he headed out the door to work this morning.  But my heart is full. Happy Valentine's Day.

Little Acts of Kindness

In November, the inspiration from a simple Facebook post shared by a friend, a December Acts of Kindness calendar, re-shaped the last month of 2016 for our family.  Before I had a chance to think out the implications of what this would mean, I boldly proclaimed on Facebook that Bereket and I would do an Act of Kindness on each day during the entire month of December. Yep, 31 consecutive good deeds. Here's a report on how it went down.

I will admit, on November 30th, I wondered, what had I gotten my family into? Often by the time Bereket gets home from school, I am already in my pajamas and the thought of going out into the Minnesota cold to share a little love with the neighborhood just wasn't looking so practical. I decided I would give us some grace. If we missed a day (or two) that would be o.k. We would just get back on track and start up where we left off.  That grace came in handy.

In some ways, December was the perfect time of year to do this. Opportunities to do good were right in front of us for the taking. Like collecting toys for my work's annual Drive By Toy Drive. Despite some rather lengthy "warming up" breaks inside the building with hot apple cider and donuts, Bereket was a shining example of doing good for others during the time she was outside. She also did a few live television hits with me encouraging people to stop by and donate toys.

Bereket wrote lots of Christmas cards and prepared special gifts for staff at her school.

Some cards were fun and happy like the ones to Auntie Jolene and to her beloved Kokeb. (How my heart smiled when she signed that card: your sister, Bereket). We consider Kokeb her "Hilawe Sister."  Another card was heartbreaking to send. A dear adoption friend we met in Ethiopia, who also adopted a little girl named Bereket, had passed away from cancer. She leaves behind 5 devastated children and a husband who adored her. If only an act of kindness could bring Amanda back.

We accepted an invitation by our church to share the "good news" by reading in front of the congregation and lighting an advent candle. Bereket questioned if "reading" could be an act of kindness, but what better gift to give than God's grace and encouragement? I know I sure need it.

Now, a few admissions:

I admit, we did not get to everything on our list. We have some really good ideas still out there for January.  One of them came from Jason. He wants to gift a family in our church with some venison meat since he had a very successful deer hunting season and the hunter in their family did not. (Good idea, Jason!) 

I admit, there were 3 days in a row when the weather simply stole my ambition. So one night when it was finally a little "less cold," we went out and did four acts of kindness to catch up.

I admit, my child proclaimed more than once, "I am sick of hearing about acts of kindness! Please tell me we are not doing this next December."

I will also admit, when I received an email from my mother titled "thank you." I wondered, "What is she thanking me for?"  I completely forgot that the week prior we had sent her an Elvis Christmas cd we discovered while waiting in line at Walgreens. My mom is one of Elvis' greatest fans and she said it brought tears to her eyes listening to his voice sing such special songs.  I guess acts of kindness are worth your time even if you don't remember doing them the next week!

Will the people we hoped to bless with a baby gift, a ride to the airport, or a card remember they are loved and treasured? 

Good thing we can continue to send reminders of love in 2017!