when you take a 3-year-old Ethiopian boy to his first urinal? Well you get a little boy pulling down his pants, taking his hand and putting it INTO the urinal and pulling out the TOILET BISCUIT. Then you get a daddy screaming and dry heaving, taking the aforementioned “biscuit” out of said son’s hands and Joe Namothing it back into the urinal. Then you get son and father scrubbing hands in sink and forgetting all about the need to shinte (pee).

When man and son return to table you get mommy laughing so hard she crys. And that, my friends, was us at Buffalo Wild Wings today. My life is one big comedy feature after another, I live for that.

Also, I got a new tattoo. (Sorry, mom and Uncle Vic). It’s pretty sweet and I’m quite pleased with how it turned out. For those that don’t know (and I’m quite certain no one who can speak/write Amharic is reading this) my tattoo says, “Grace” in Amharic (the national language of Ethiopia). I’ve been wanting to get this tattoo for a long time now but I’d given myself awhile to make sure I really wanted it and then Zach made me wait awhile to make sure I really wanted it. So I perservered and am glad I did.

I’ve talked about grace a bit here but it really is how I get through life. God’s grace is unfathomable, unexplainable but so very amazing. I count on it minute by minute. So I got it tattooed on my wrist to remind me what that grace cost for Jesus. (It was a very constant reminder for the 15 minutes I was actually getting the tattoo as it hurt worse than my other 2 and I kept thinking that Jesus got NAILED in that general area, it freaked me out). Anywho, it also will be a constant reminder how I need to live life, treat other people and all of that. That’s a 2 second snap shot at what could be a 3 day conversation for me.

So here are some pics of the new tat. I did the second photo just for my sister, Kait, because when she got her tat done she did this sweet “emo” pose so I gave a good shot at my own. What do you think, Kait, emo enough for you? Can you feel all the emotions I was thinking at the time?

So I mentioned in one of my posts from Ethiopia how the Ethiopian people were generally astonished at how see through I was. In most of the pictures I look like a ghost, a phantom. Unfortunately I did not get the rest of my family’s nice darker complexion (as you see from the skivies post, neither did my son). Anyway, here are three pictures Zach and I like to call the “Where’s Waldo” series. Try to find me, I get smaller and smaller as the groups come to swarm the nice ferenjes (white people). I tried to bend down and talk to some of the kids but they were literally so freaked out by me they ran. I don’t blame them, I’d been crying all morning and then there’s that see through bit. After seeing how beautiful all of these kids are you can see how I developed a complex while there. I love a good dose of humility from time to time.

Zach and I were able to go back to sleep this morning so that was nice. We woke up in time to make scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. I wish I could say we felt better after such a big breakfast but that would be lie; it’s almost sad how much we had to eat when someone we know quite well eats once a day at best. Anyway, off the soap box now. We were also able to get a shower and all kids ready to head to church today. Tariku and Trysten did very well (Dailah went in the child watch) so we were proud of that!

Here are some more pics, just because I’m on a roll. The kids are eating a cookie my mom brought to celebrate Tariku’s birthday (March 16), my brother Marcus’s birthday (April 10th), my sister Kara’s birthday (May 2nd) and my mom Connie and my birthdays (June 5). We’re celebrating because my sister is in town from Virigina and will doubtfully get back for everyone’s birthday!

I guess I should stop falling asleep at 7:30. Me and my boys went to bed at 7:30 so now I’m wide awake. They were both moving around on the floor next to us so I decided to take them to their beds. It sounds like they’re both sleeping so that must have been a good decision. Turns out we’re not the type of family who enjoys a “family bed” of sorts, which is aokay with me.

So our first full day together went really well. We had 0 tantrums from Tariku and that included giving him a bath! Turns out if he sees his big brother doing it, he’ll try it as well. So that was refreshing. As you can see in the video, life at the Klipschs is awesome as this was the sound pretty much the whole day.

I have to keep trying to remind myself that we’re still early in our time together and the shizniz could hit the fan at any point but I’m counting my blessings this early morn. So here are some more pics of our trip back to the hegemonic super power (as my sister, Kait, so elequontly put it). Excuse Zach and my absolute exhaustion and our desire to take a picture of Ronald McDonald.

We have 3 kids!

2 of them are sleeping, the other is “quietly” reading books. Tariku fell asleep with covers over his head because his big brother kept trying to play with him. I love a kid who sees napping as a priority.

Last night when we got all 3 kids in their car seats I turned around and it hit me. When we were getting ready for bed, it hit Zach. About 10 times this morning it hit the both of us. Holy shizniz we have 3 kids. They all have done so well today (Trysten hit a bit of a wall after waking up too early this morning but that can be expected) it’s amazing. It’s been hard for me because I want to hang with Trysten and Dailah as I missed them so much these last two weeks but I want to hang with Tariku to continue getting to know him. It’s weird having to remind myself to spread myself between them all the make sure they know I love them all.

With that said, I’m going to take my second cat nap of the day. My belly misses the Ethiopian food and my non-existant gall bladder hates the greasy American food. Tariku enjoys my mom’s turkey, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole; so apparently he continues to not discriminate when it comes to food. As a side note, he ALWAYS smells food before he eats it. If it doesn’t make the smell test he refuses to eat it. On the plane he went for a smell test with the ice cream and stuck his nose in it, hilarity ensued. Never seen anything like it but cracks me up every time to see him smack a piece of food to his nose and take a big whiff.

Zach is trying to beat me to sleep, I must not let him.

I’ve been up since 4am. Though when you go to bed at 8:30 that doesn’t sound so bad. I slept like I haven’t slept for days (literally) it was amazing. Both boys slept in our room in sleeping bags and did very well. I feel really good about it all.

The meeting was great. Tariku gave lots of samis (kisses) and Trysten and Dailah were genuinely happy to see us and meet their brother. After a greeting from our amazing family and friends the kids commenced to being brothers and sisters and cousins. It was sooo great seeing the kids and the rest of the family, I had missed them all so very much. I only cried a bit so was very proud of myself. Once I get the video, I’ll put the video on the blog so you all can see.

So I got 1 1/2 hours before Zach and Tariku joined me, with Trysten following soon after. The boys have been jumping, playing and primarily laughing the entire morning (and last night for that matter). I can’t say enough how amazing Trysten is. He has welcomed Tariku in the family as if he’s been here the entire time. I asked him what he did last week that was really fun, he said, “Nothing compared to seeing you guys and getting Tariku.” I mean, really. He has taken a liking to try to copy whatever Tariku says in Amharic which is very funny. Dailah has loved giving him kisses and was hesitant to go down last night as it was quite obvious she thought Zach and I would not be here when she woke up. I’ll be happy to prove her wrong.

Been kind of sad watching Tariku just look at all of us speaking in English. He is obviously confused as to what we are saying and also why Zach and I would be talking like that as we’ve done a decent job at speaking primarily in Amharic to him. We plan on ichating with a few of Tariku’s friends that were also picked up last week so that he can talk about the crazy stuff we’re making him do…things like sharing and eating non-spicy foods.

Better be off to play with the kiddos. I realized I woke up at 4am because it’s lunch time in Addis. I got so sad thinking I wasn’t going to be heading down to the kitchen to enjoy a freshly made breakfast. I went down to our freshly stocked kitchen (thanks mom, Jody and Leslie) and was tempted to eat the Doro Wot and Injera but decided instead for powdered donuts. It was not nearly as enjoyable.

Sounds like Tariku is getting frustrated, better go throw the kid a bone. 🙂

I’ve never been so excited to see the great chill that is Minneapolis, MN. We’re here and have just 2 hours until we take off to Moline, IL. Arriving there around 5:15. I’m getting so anxious to see the kids it’s ridiculous! Thanks for all your prayers, they have worked! Tariku has been an absolute gem the entire trip thus far and has surpassed me in his ability to travel well without complaint! So just one little 45 minute flight and we’re home free!

I’m attaching the last post I wrote before leaving Ethiopia that I didn’t get to email while there. Can’t wait for you all to meet this guy!

So the last day is here. It’s 9:15am and I’m waiting for the Ethiopian cooking class to begin. Zach took his youngest son guitar shopping with him so I could have full concentration when attempting to make Tku’s favorite dishes. Last night we had a hair braiding “class”. It was interesting to watch her do it but became a bit problematic when we tried to ask questions because the nice woman knew nothing of what we were saying. So it wasn’t a class as much as it was an exposition of sorts. I’m hoping the cooking class goes over a bit better otherwise I’ll have no idea what and when to put in the various spices that make Ethiopian cuisine what it is.

A bit nostalgic today as I think about how impacting of a week we’ve had. Obviously the best part of this whole trip has been meeting and getting Tariku. I’m very thankful we didn’t bring the other two kids with us as it wouldn’t have been near the experience with them (this says nothing about them, but our ability to parent 3 children and be fully aware of what’s going on around us is not so good). I think the second most life changing event was on Sunday. When I think of my time in Ethiopia, I keep coming back to that day, that moment when we met a very special person. That scenery on the way to Hossanna. That day is what I think of and what I will undoubtedly keep coming back to when I need to find strength in parenting, in life, in work and in my daily pity parties.

I am really looking forward to getting home and seeing the kids run to us at the airport; Dailah with her one armed run and Trysten with his hair flying behind him. I imagine our first family hug and get a bit teary eyed; I am so looking forward to that. But I also wish, to some extent, our kids could have seen this. Their reality of life is far different than most of the world and I wish they would start seeing real “reality” at their young age. It was a bit startling for me to REALLY see it for the first time at 25. I do pray they grow up having a worldy view of life, love and the varying degrees of the pursuit of happiness.

I’ve heard other people say they missed Ethiopia about a week after they got back to America. I can definitely see why that might be. (It has nothing to do with the fact that they clean after us, cook 3 amazing meals a day and we have the option of a driver anywhere we go). Life in Ethiopia is quite nice, relaxed, intense and above all very beautiful. It turns out the Mighty Mississippi has nothing on the land of 19 months of sunshine.

So the rest of the day is just the cooking class, a nap for Tariku, an exit interview for CHS and then collection of all our original documents. If it’s anything like this past week, it will go by very quickly. I’m eagerly anticipating our return home but absolutely dreading the flight back and that’s because I’m a heinous flyer and I have no idea what to expect of my beautiful Tku.

Last night a few of us were talking about the week after the kids had gone to bed. One of my friends, Rebekah, said, “If we do our job right, our kids will be the generation to come back to Ethiopia and make a real difference.” I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on our kids (and I don’t think she was putting that pressure on them, she was more making an “I have a dream” statement). It saddens me terribly that there will be a huge part of Tariku’s generation in foreign lands. It also saddens me that the children in other lands just might be who God has chosen to come to Ethiopia and give the people a chance to eradicate so many of the country’s less than desirable aspects. I think if we REALLY do our job right, our children will know the culture, the language, and the people well enough that they CAN come back and change what hurts the country and keep what makes the country so beautiful. The last thing in the world I would want is for Tariku’s generation of Ethiopians to come Americanize Ethiopia, it is beautiful BECAUSE it is Ethiopia.

What has surprised me most about this trip is how in love I can be with God and how mad at Him I can be at the same time. Overall the feeling is, as always, complete awe of His Creation and ability. Perhaps the word that I most feel about God right now is grace. His grace has led us here, to pick up Tariku and experience a nation He so obviously holds close to His heart. I can’t be too mad at Him for that.

So we’re just getting ready to eat dinner. The buses are here so we can tally ho right afterwards. I just sent Zach up to bring down our luggage. Tariku is trying to get into the buses to go on the “aerwoplan”. I think we’re ready to go.
 
2 good signs we’ve attached to Tariku. 1) Zach keeps calling him Trysten. I figure this innately shows he already thinks of him as his son and is in love. 2) A child hurt Tariku and mama bear came out full force, I picked the kid up by his arm and placed him away from Tariku. Then proceeded to smother him with hugs and kisses, it was effortless.
 
So with those good signs, we take to the air. Pray for us! Give Trysten and Dailah lots of hugs and kisses and tell them we’re coming soon! Love you!

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But I love it still…there were approximately 6 tantrums today each getting longer. I’m very glad I’m a veteran mother or I might turn and run but I distinctly remember what this is like and know it gets better. Plus, I know that all of this means that he knows we’ll be around regardless. he doesn’t just need to be cute and funny all the time, he can just be Tariku and we’ll still love him. So, it sounds funny, but I’m glad we’re at this stage in our relationship. I still get such a big kick out of the kid.
 
It was all Tariku all the time today. Side from the tantrums, we had an enjoyable day. He’s starting to learn Zach and I have an amazing ability to hang out while he works things out so we’ll win every time. Tariku still eats like it’s going out of style and drinks enough to go pee every 10 or so minutes. No accidents yet so that’s nice.
 
perhaps the biggest shock of the night came when we attempted a bath. The nannies told us he didn’t care one way or another whether he had a bath but we witnessed something different altogether. HE HATES THEM WITH A HOT, HOT HATRED. He took one look at it and screamed and didn’t stop until 40 minutes later. Not sure how that worked out but if the kid would learn to wipe better we wouldn’t have had to run into it yet. 🙂 Either way, not a big deal but perhaps a better heads up would’ve enabled me to strap on a bigger pair and prepare myself.
 
Anyway, loving this whole thing I’m not going to lie. Talked to the kids tonight and Tariku had a hoot of a time talking to his “cchee cchee” (TT) and Dailah as well as both grandmas. I’m sooo wanting to be home and have all three of my kiddos in my arms, I miss them so much! We leave in just 24 hours so that’s very exciting.
 
Not sure if I’ll get to post tomorrow or not but we’ll post when we’re at Minnesota as we have a 4 hour layover. So until then pray for our safe travels home! Love to all!

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