A wonderful friend

I am starting a blog for a fabulous friend of mine, Shirley.  She makes me laugh (all the time).  My children love her and anxiously look forward to her visits.  My sons often comment that if they didn't have a mom...the would choose Shirley.  We are blessed to have her friendship.

Shirley is currently in Ethiopia waiting to become a mama to two beautiful girls, B and M.  Thursday is her big day (Wednesday night in Canada), and we will be on our knees in prayer for Shirley's dream to finally be realized.  We ask that you pray too. 

Below is an e-mail I received last week from Shirley.  Enjoy!

Ethiopia is amazing. amazing. when you are here it's easy to find a driver to hire, who will be with you all day if you want, takes you to places you might not know about. There are of course many  adopting families who have stayed here at the Weygoss and are happy to recommend someone. I have found my driver/guide now so when my kids are with me I feel good about showing them around their beautiful country. Yes, they all drive crazy there are no signs and very few traffic lights but lots of honking, few accidents and a very kind society who lets the next guy in :) - I feel totally safe.

Spent the day at a great book store and bought some things for the girls and a few for me. All english books which were SO cheap here. For example a book that cost $25  is about $4 here . Had burgers and french fries for lunch today, they put taragon in the burger meat and it's delicious. - they like to over grease everything here, so you have to tell them 'no grease', then you're ok.  I am slowing learning Amharic but have been lazy b/c our driver does all the work for you :)

I am trying to uplead pictures but it's too slow so might have to wait until home.

When in Rome.....I had my first squatting toilet experience today and did not fall in - yippee!!! when you gotta go, you just go :)

Feel free to share my adventures with anyone over there who wants to know - I am trying to keep a daily diary for my kids and me when dementia starts in about 5 years . And I will off  print off these message for them when I get home.

I have taken loads of acidopholius before I left , and still take every day. Got rid of my head cold with many hours of sleep, oregeno oil (it takes HORRIBLE and it works), cold fx, airborne tablets and lots of bottled water and orange juice.

Driving so much today in Addis , there is so much poverty in the streets similar to a large city anywhere I guess, but it's very hard to ignore the women who come to your windows with their baby's in their arms begging for food. You cannot give to them b/c it's now made illegal to give out as it creates many more problems than it solves. Much better to give to local food kitchens/agencies who help those on the streets with food and shelter. Very hard to see this and really makes you aware how wasteful we are in our society.

I have satelite TV in my room and about 7 stations, so dancing with the stars in on now - they have never heard of cable TV here. The water is hot but the shower drips slowly :), so you need to just get in and out. Good enough for me! The coffee is strong and yummy :).  This journey to my kids has been so much more than I ever expected and I am grateful to be here in their birth country, it's beautiful and I am already plotting and planning to bring them back in 5yrs.

Better get going, have some organizing to do in this messy room :)
Thank you for the e-mails, it makes me feel less homesick :)

XO