Mommy, Adi and Belay's special day

That's how we've been referring to this upcoming day for quite a while.  Adi and Belay were baptized today, on mothers day.  I reluctantly gave up "my day" to share with them. Now let me explain. I'm not as selfish as it sounds (well maybe I am :) Mothers day year 2 was spent flying home from a friends wedding in the Caribbean.  As Andy argues, I got to wake up on a beautiful island in the carribean on mothers day.  Which is true. I then got to spend the next 10 hours on a boat, van, and multiple planes with a crabby 15 month old. Not so fun.  Year 3 involved leaving Ethiopia on friday night and arriving home on Sunday night.  Grant it I got to bring my sweet baby boy home but in the midst of volcanic ash, less than friendly flight attendants, 40 something hours of not sleeping (am I exaggerating? I can't even remember anymore), a brand new one year old and a not so brand new 2 year old, it seemed less than idyllic  mothers day.

  Next year,  I vowed 52 weeks ago, I will be at home on mothers day. I will enjoy my day. Then time came to set a date for the baptism.  After pouring over a calender to find a time when I wasn't working and family could join us, mothers day was all that was left.   Hence "reluctantly" I gave up my day.


It couldn't have been a more beautiful day and I am so happy Adi, Belay and I could share our special day.   After 3 years of beautiful gifts involving precious stones from my husband for mothers day and 3 years of me begging him to please not spend money on me and just bring me coffee in bed, he did it.  Not only did I get an amazing breakfast of chocolate pancakes with flamed bananas, but my coffee was in a beautiful mug painted by my 2 little angels. Super dad didn't stop there, he did dishes, bathed children, stopped fights, cleaned toys and is now soothing a ridiculously over tired 3 year old in bed.

We were blessed with 2 grammas and 2 grampas and an aunt and uncle and a pseudo aunt and uncle to all come partake in the baptism. Andy's brother and sister in law officially became their God Parents and the service was beautiful.  Our ministers words touched deep in our hearts as she spoke of Belay's birth mom and the meaning behind both there names.  I felt a true sense of community and an outpouring of love in what had previously been an unforeseen place.  Belonging to such a community and having a place where my friends and family from all walks of life can join in unity on such a joyous occasion is truly a gift.

My only regrets...not a single photo! I have no idea how that happened.  One friend did shoot a short video with his cell phone, so I guess thats better than nothing.  I did snap a photo with my phone when they tried there outfits on a few weeks ago. Mind you, the pink socks and green hat didn't make it to the service!