Soccer Mom

Well, I think I've officially earned that title now. With 5 kids playing, being at the practice field 4 nights a week and 3 weekends of games under our belt, I'm pretty sure that qualifies me--yep, I think that about does it--I'm officially a soccer mom.

Last year, Caleb played baseball and the girls played soccer. It was a little too crazy having two different fields and trying to make it to all of the practices and games. We were kind of relieved this year when Caleb decided he'd like to try soccer. So, all 5 of our oldest kids are playing in the same league. The saving grace is that Caroline and Meron are on the same team and Caleb and Hermela are on the same team. Rahel is flying solo and Colton--well, we spend a lot of time on the playground and digging in the dirt during practices and games.

Meron's really starting to get the hang of it.
Here's an action shot of Caroline (there aren't too many of these as she's not so much into the whole running around and kicking the ball thing--I think we may try ballet next season with her).

Rahel is doing great. You can tell that she's pretty worn out by the end of her practices and games, but she sure tries hard. I can't even imagine playing on a sports team in another country just 4 months after landing there. We are amazed by her progress.

Hermela--well, let's just say she's fierce. They other day she said, "I can't wait until I'm playing soccer on TV." She just may have a shot at that with her determination.

A little brother sister action.

Orange throw in.

Caleb's spent a lot of time as goalie and really likes it.

So that's our Saturday mornings in a nut shell. I keep meaning to get a group shot of them all dressed up in their game clothes (they are after all the cutest soccer players I know), but I've yet to get my act together enough before we rush out the door on game day--maybe next week.

See Your Impact

Well, in just 5 days, the 5 for 5 campaign has raised another $8000 to help those affected by famine in Ethiopia! That brings the grand total up to $33,000 so far. Isn't that amazing! If you still want to donate, head on over to Sarah's "see your impact" site and give today.

In other fundraising news, Trees of Glory sponsorship coordinator Karen Wistrom has designed some pretty cute t-shirts that she is using to fund raise for the care points that she helps support. There are lots of different color choices and all the proceeds go to support the projects that the team going in November plans to do while in Ethiopia. She's taking preorders until October 10th only, so click over to her blog to check them out.

GUEST POST: ASK 5 FOR 5

Guest Blogger: Sarah Lenssen from #Ask5for5

Family photos by Mike Fiechtner Photography



Thank you Jessica and nearly 150 other bloggers from around the world for allowing me to share a story with you today, during Social Media Week.



A hungry child in East Africa can't wait. Her hunger consumes her while we decide if we'll respond and save her life. In Somalia, children are stumbling along for days, even weeks, on dangerous roads and with empty stomachs in search of food and water. Their crops failed for the third year in a row. All their animals died. They lost everything. Thousands are dying along the road before they find help in refugee camps.



At my house, when my three children are hungry, they wait minutes for food, maybe an hour if dinner is approaching. Children affected by the food crisis in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia aren't so lucky. Did you know that the worst drought in 60 years is ravaging whole countries right now, as you read this? Famine, a term not used lightly, has been declared in Somalia. This is the world's first famine in 20 years.12.4 million people are in need of emergency assistance and over 29,000 children have died in the last three months alone. A child is dying every 5 minutes. It it estimated that 750,000 people could die before this famine is over. Take a moment and let that settle in.



The media plays a major role in disasters. They have the power to draw the attention of society to respond--or not. Unfortunately, this horrific disaster has become merely a footnote in most national media outlets. News of the U.S. national debt squabble and the latest celebrity's baby bump dominate headlines. That is why I am thrilled that nearly 150 bloggers from all over the world are joining together today to use the power of social media to make their own headlines; to share the urgent need of the almost forgotten with their blog readers. Humans have the capacity to care deeply for those who are suffering, but in a situation like this when the numbers are too huge to grasp and the people so far away, we often feel like the little we can do will be a drop in the ocean, and don't do anything at all.

When news of the famine first hit the news in late July, I selfishly avoided it. I didn't want to read about it or hear about it because I knew I would feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable. I wanted to protect myself. I knew I would need to do something if I knew what was really happening. You see, this food crisis is personal. I have a 4-year-old son and a 1 yr-old daughter who were adopted from Ethiopia and born in regions now affected by the drought. If my children still lived in their home villages, they would be two of the 12.4 million. My children: extremely hungry and malnourished? Gulp. I think any one of us would do anything we could for our hungry child. But would you do something for another mother's hungry child?

My friend and World Vision staffer, Jon Warren, was recently in Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya--the largest refugee camp in the world with over 400,000 people. He told me the story of Isnino Siyat, 22, a mother who walked for 10 days and nights with her husband, 1 yr-old-baby, Suleiman, and 4 yr.-old son Adan Hussein, fleeing the drought in Somalia. When she arrived at Dadaab, she built the family a shelter with borrowed materials while carrying her baby on her back. Even her dress is borrowed. As she sat in the shelter on her second night in camp she told Jon, "I left because of hunger. It is a very horrible drought which finished both our livestock and our farm." The family lost their 5 cows and 10 goats one by one over 3 months, as grazing lands dried up. "We don't have enough food now...our food is finished. I am really worried about the future of my children and myself if the situation continues."

Will you help a child like Baby Suleiman? Ask5for5 is a dream built upon the belief that you will.



That something I knew I would need to do became a campaign called #Ask5for5 to raise awareness and funds for famine and drought victims. The concept is simple, give $5 and ask five of your friends to give $5, and then they each ask five of their friends to give $5 and so on--in nine generations of 5x5x5...we could raise $2.4 Million! In one month, over 750 people have donated over $25,000! I set up a fundraiser at See Your Impact and 100% of the funds will go to World Vision, an organization that has been fighting hunger in the Horn of Africa for decades and will continue long after this famine has ended. Donations can multiply up to 5 times in impact by government grants to
help provide emergency food, clean water, agricultural support,
healthcare, and other vital assistance to children and families suffering in the Horn.



I need you to help me save lives. It's so so simple; here's what you need to do:

1. Donate $5 or more on this page (http://seeyourimpact.org/members/ask5for5)



2. Send an email to your friends and ask them to join us.



3. Share #Ask5for5 on Facebook and Twitter!

I'm looking for another 100 bloggers to share this post on their blogs throughout Social Media Week. Email me at ask5for5@gmail.com if you're interested in participating this week.



A hungry child doesn't wait. She doesn't wait for us to finish the other things on our to-do list, or get to it next month when we might have a little more money to give. She doesn't wait for us to decide if she's important enough to deserve a response. She will only wait as long as her weakened little body will hold on...please respond now and help save her life. Ask 5 for 5.



Thank you on behalf of all of those who will be helped--you are saving lives and changing history.





p.s. Please don't move on to the next website before you donate and email your friends right now. It only takes 5 minutes and just $5, and if you're life is busy like mine, you probably won't get back to it later. Let's not be a generation that ignores hundreds of thousands of starving people, instead let's leave a legacy of compassion. You have the opportunity to save a life today!