Things Left Unsaid

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 6 Comments

I haven’t spent anytime here discussing one of the biggest crises to hit Ethiopia since the 80’s.  Famine.  Ethiopia is ever important to me and will forever be my second nation–because it is my children’s first nation.  As as examine our society of excess–really who needs a double whopper or double quarter pounder with cheese?  The waste that happens in this country on any given day would be welcome 8000 miles away.  Our greed often prevents us from giving to those whose are not as fortunate as us. 

There is so much more we could do if we wanted.  There is so much we could do if we banned together to help the country that has been kind enough to allow us to adopt their children–their precious resources.  Danielle–president of EOR posted a great letter on EOR’s blog.  We are working hard to find a way to help with the relief efforts.  You can donate through our organization.  And if not ours–please donate to someone’s.  It is our responsibility as parents of Ethiopian born children to help in any way we can.

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So, my carry-on is too heavy.  Ethiopian Airlines has a very strict carry-on policy.  One bag under 15lbs.  I can also carry on a purse.  But really–15 lbs ads up quickly.  I knew this would be an issue so I went out and bought a small carry-on.  I spend a lot of time picking up bags to try and determine which was lighter, etc.  I thought I had scored.  Turns out the bag I bought weighed 8lbs empty.  Over half of my weight allowance.  UGH.  Now I have to figure out another carry-on and it has to be light.  I really don’t have that much stuff–only about 9lbs of stuff to carry-on (camera, lens, small camera, dvd player, books–they all take up space and are necessary to carry-on). 

I get to leave on Saturday to bring Peepers home.  I will get to meet her on Monday June 23rd and I cannot wait to hold her.  It is going to be awesome. 

Can’t Tell One End From The Other

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 1 Comment

My life is a complete and utter frenzy of chaos, excitement, sorrow, happiness, sadness, and so on and so on.  I leave for Ethiopia in 3 days.  Saturday at 12:50 I will be on my way to Peepers.  I am so excited and if I didn’t have almost a million other things to do before I left, I might be calm.  But there is so much to do.  I have to admit that I catch my breath every time the phone rings.  I know that this adoption is going smoother than Minnow’s adoption.  I mean we passed court the first time and all of our paperwork is in order.  But I can’t help but be cautious. 

I am having a hard time balancing my happiness with the feeling of sadness I have for my friend Anne and her loss of their beautiful baby.  The loss of a child is something one never gets over.  It forces me to remember and appreciate the miracle that is a child.  During our last adoption another family lost their baby two weeks before they were to travel and about a month or so before we traveled.  It is scary and reminds me of the dangers of life in a developing nation.  I am happy and sad at the same time. 

I have a list that just keeps getting longer and lists about my lists that keeps getting longer.  I know it is all worth it, but I am gettin dizzy trying to keep it all straight and together.  And, I cannot believe that I am leaving Minnow for 8 days.  I don’t know how I am going to do that.  I don’t know how Minnow is going to handle me being gone.  I am sure he will be fine and won’t really miss me that much–but I worry that he might and then what. 

Okay. Must. Stop. Worrying. About. The. Things. I. Cannot. Change.

I am leaving just over 72 hours.  Holy Shit.

My Heart Is Breaking

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 4 Comments

Tears have come for my wonderful friend Anne who had been waiting for 44 weeks for the referral of a baby girl.  The call came last Tuesday.  Then yesterday a call no parent wants to hear came.  Their sweet baby girl had passed away on Saturday at the age of 2 months old.  Anne’s blog is private but many of you may know her from when she was adopting her daughter Hayat and her blog was public.  My heart is broken by this devastating and incomprehensible loss.  I can only imagine the pain that rips through every ounce of one’s being.  They are mourning and devastated.  Please keep them in your thoughts. 

Time Won’t Stand Still

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

And I have to say that I am glad because I am leaving in 5 days for Ethiopia.  I leave on Saturday at 12:50 cst.  I cannot wait.  I certainly have a lot to do before I take off and leave Minnow and Hubby on their own for a week.  I think Hubby is much more anxious and nervous as I am.  He isn’t all that confident that he can do this whole single-parenting thing for a week.  I know he will do awesome.  He still will work during the day as we have my bonus mom watching Minnow for 3 days and then  my MIL arrives and will watch Minnow for two days.  I know it’s tough being the sole parent but he’ll do awesome.

This weekend was a lot of fun.  Hubby and my dad both finished their first 5k.  It wasn’t pretty but they finished and neither were last.  My baby bro was third overall and finished in just under 20 minutes. We had a great time.  The weather was gorgeous and we were able to enjoy an afternoon at the beach.  I made a quick slide show of the finishes of my brothers, my dad and Hubby.  A great time was had by all and I am glad that I didn’t have to run. 

slide show to come….off to bed

Fathers

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 4 Comments

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I am excited that we are going to have a daughter.  Not just because I get to buy really awesome clothes–even though this is awesome–but I am happiest for hubby as there is something special about the relationship between a father and his daughter.  I know that Hubby is looking forward to having a girl and I hope his relationship with her is half as awesome as the relationship I have with my dad. 

Fathers are often overlooked on so many parenting levels.  I was reading an article today that said the average father now spends 6.5 hours a week caring for their child (that is not even one hour a day) which is up from 4.8 hours per week back in 1984.  This stats means the fathers are the primary care givers for those hours.  I know stop laughing moms…okay how can I ask you to stop when I can’t.  I have to say that I pretty lucky as hubby spends a lot more time than 6.5 hours a week parenting our child–soon to be children.  It is stats like this that give dad’s a bad rap. 

I am amazed at the father my husband is and that my father is/was (when I was young).  I am so happy the Minnow and Peepers will have both of these men as constants in their lives.  Fatherhood is tough and a pretty thankless job.  As the mom and primary care giver I receive most of, if not all, of the credit for the awesomeness that is Minnow.  Hubby doesn’t get much.  But he is an awesome father and I have to remind myself to give him some of the credit that I get. 

So ladies, make sure to tell your hubs what a good father he is.  It’s okay to lie on Father’s day. 

How many hours a week does you hubs (or wife if you are an at-home dad) spend parenting your children without you?  Do you wish he’d do more?