Posts (page 2)

Thanks for my first pair of "big kid" shoes Grammy...I love them.  Sorry I can't "upright" this picture...my computer is not agreeing with my blog.

Sammy is breaking 4 molars right now...so please be patient with my inability to post! :)

The weather here has been really severe (for CA)...

**This one's for you Dad! :)**

2007 was such a wonderful year on a personal level...yet so challenging on a global one.  Sammy's been trying his best to make sense of the world around him.
But, alas, no easy answers were had.  We were, however, excited to see that Obama is now expanding his lead in both Iowa AND New Hampshire...this brings a smile to the face of every Abbott.

Since this is an invite-only blog, I feel comfortable sharing this news here...with our friends and family!

Nick and I have been searching for a way to offer support to the orphans of Ethiopia who will not be adopted.  The average Ethiopian death rate is 48 years old...so many children are orphaned when they're older children and are left to fend for themselves in a society with little or no support.  So, I found a fantastic British charity, A-CET (I encourage you to click on the name and look around at what they offer), that fits our desires perfectly.  Starting this month, we've dedicated ourselves to supporting a young man in Ethiopia with the cost of his schooling, housing and medical care until he decides for himself that he has met his educational goals.  It's slightly ridiculous how little it costs to do this...and we are thankful for the opportunity.  Welcome to the family Abera!  We look forward to meeting you in Ethiopia someday.

Well, you can imagine how much Sammy loved Santa when we visited him this morning...here's proof of his love!
Ignore that random video-taking at the end of the video...I'm not sure what Nick was up to! :)

Luckily for me, I've been aware of white privilege and unconscious bias because of the education that I received while becoming a teacher.  Before the credential program, I proudly told people that I was not racist (meaning, I believed that I lacked bias).  I encourage you to take 10 minutes to take this test from Harvard exposing your own bias (or lack thereof).  I took the "Race" test near the bottom.  To enter, click on the US flag and they'll walk you through it.  If you take the test, will you email me your thoughts?  That's the only way I'll tell you what I scored! :)

Harvard Implicit Test

Seriously...it's really interesting and will help you to become much more self aware.

I did it!  I finished the 13.1 miles AND met my goal of finishing just short of 3 hours.  The race was really cool...many of the people running were raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and wearing pictures of the person they were running for...it was really emotional to see how many people have been affected by these diseases.  It was really mentally challenging around mile 7 when the course was mostly uphill and...let's face it...you've already run 7 miles and you're only halfway there!  But, it flattened out around mile 10 and it felt FABULOUS to cross the finish line.  I trained for this race using Jeff Galloway's run/walk method of racing in which I ran 2 minutes and walked one over and over and over and over again.  But, I ran the last mile without walking and REALLY enjoyed picking up my Tiffany's necklace from the tuxedoed men after the finish!  I only have one picture of the entire day...Nick is just not much of a picture taker...but, here it is...Sammy and Mommy after the finish.

Okay...so the promos have aired, so it must be official...our adoption story will be on TV in the Bay Area on NBC 11 on Tuesday, October 2nd at 11:00pm (after Law and Order SUV)...and on the internet at this address:

http://www.nbc11.com/movingpictures/index.html

But, not until after it airs on the 2nd!

If I sound like an idiot in the 2nd segment it's because they taped it a couple of days after we returned from Ethiopia and I suffered from severe jet lag/new Mom-itis.