on why Ekisa.

this morning brought to you by a ring sling & a strong cup of coffee.

i'm trying not to panic about what will happen when they both don't

fit in here anymore. don't worry about tomorrow, right? maybe they'll

actually like being somewhere else for small periods of time by then.

or maybe we'll have one on the front & one on the back mastered by

then.  i was hoping to get to a local babywearing meet up this morning

to try out a woven wrap, but two tiny sniffling babes and the intense wind

quickly put the plan to a halt.  it was even at the library so the big kids

could have re-stocked on books.  did you know that even home educators
can do the book-it program?  we always have reading challenges going on
in our house, so it's fun to add that one to them! i remember it being so
fun as a kid to go out with the family & have my earned personal pan.

i don't have a new update on my birthday project.  i just wait for them
to come as they are coming from Emily in Uganda.  i know she's been
in the hospital with Zuena a lot lately on top of everything else she
has going on. the last update we needed just 67 more people to give
$33 to meet the goal.  we have 2 days left to get it done!
i've had people ask how i picked Ekisa.  let me try to explain.

i've always had a special love for people with special needs.  when i was young,
my mom was an aide in an elementary school profound special needs classroom.
i loved those children.  i would do anything i could to make it in there for a visit and
to help--feeding, playing, doing small lessons.  there was one particular boy that i had
a special connection with.  over time, through my mom, our families became friends
and it turned out that they had 3 children all with the same extensive special need.
i began babysitting for them.  i filled in the time between when the mom left for work
and the dad wasn't home yet.  at such a young age i was so impacted by their family.
seeing the time, commitment, patience & love that the parents dedicated to their
children made quite an impression on me. and the kids?  so much fun.
i loved learning their quirks, calming techniques, favorite [very particular] snacks
and the things that made them happy.  we had so much fun together.

Zuena [source]

now i'm going to make a long story short[er].  i decided to major in
special education. i figured out i'd be an awful teacher. [not because of
the teaching, but because of the lifestyle & time commitments.] switched
my major to nursing & promised myself i'd do as much volunteer work
with those precious souls as i could in my lifetime.
that has looked different throughout each season of my life.

when i sat down on the floor to break bread with a group of young volunteers
in uganda, my heart was floored to hear one talk about how she was moving
from my [and her] homestate of indiana to open a orphanage for children
with special needs.  i heard her vision & i knew that i wanted to be a part
of loving those children anyway that i could. the next time i returned to
uganda, it was up and running.  oh, those kids.  they captured my heart
and i prayed to be a blessing to Ekisa in any way possible.

that's the trip that i also fell in love with Jojo. transparently, i can tell you that
 i prayed and prayed to be able to adopt him.  in interest of the 'short' story that
i'm trying to tell, i'll just say that that obviously never worked out.
i'm so thankful for Ekisa, but to tell you that i wasn't completely wrecked
that that sweet boy had to live through so much in his short life--
the fact that he was in an orphanage, had HIV and Down Syndrome--
and he still lived with SUCH joy and never knew the love of a family...
well, that would be a lie.  it wrecked me.  still does.
me of little faith questioned God's sovereignty.  maybe i still do a little.
[told you i was being transparent here.]

so, when Jojo went to be with Jesus, it ignited me. i wanted to do even more for them.
it seemed like the perfect birthday wish.

$7500 to cover just 2 months of their medical bills.
268 people giving $33.
we only need 67 more people. 

thank you for being along to watch and be part of this blessing.
i'm thankful for what it's doing for Ekisa, but
will [transparently!] tell you that selfishly--it's so good for my soul right now, too.

want to be a part?
donate your tax deductible $33 directly to Ekisa here: