Settling down in Utah

Almost two months after getting back from Africa, I am finally adding a new entry!

Brendan is excited that the snow has melted enough he can go play outside. In fact, when he wakes up from his nap today we are going to go test out a new soccer ball! He has also started swimming lessons, which he LOVES. We also added the planetarium to the places we have a membership. They have a really cool “sculpture” that is called “Newton’s Daydream.” “The two-story tall sculpture combines an intricate maze of moving balls with bells, drums and other noisemaking obstacles to create a whirring visual and auditory palette.” We also watched a short movie in the dome theater – it almost made ME motion sick and I don’t usually have a problem! Brendan loved it, Sela did not.



Sela is growing and turning out to be quite a little princess. Which one you might ask? You remember the story about the princess and the pea?!?! THAT one. :) She is getting a little better about not letting every little discomfort (like her big brother patting her on the head) set her off, but she is still pretty sensitive. Funny how even non-birth siblings are SO different. Sela isn't crawling yet, either, but is certainly making motions in that direction. Until then, she is simply rolling around to get where she wants. Which usually means to get a toy that her brother does NOT want her to have (trains, cars, books). Won't he be in for it when she really does start to crawl, and then walk!!!


As for sleep, well, some nights are better than others. MOST nights Sela will sleep from 8 to around 4 or 5, will drink a bottle, and head right back to sleep for a few hours. Occasionally, though, she will wake up 2-3 times a night. (This usually happens on the nights we need sleep the most, of course!) Her big brother isn't really helping matters by waking up himself 2-3 times a night. If they would coordinate their waking up so it occurred at the same time, mommy and daddy might not go insane. Only time will tell!

As for Utah itself, it is really pretty here, and they are SO family oriented. I have also talked with a few different multi-cultural families, but haven't really connected with too many just yet. I am hoping that by started to get more involved with kid activities (swimming lessons, Children's Museum, etc.) that we will make some connections along the way. What I don't think is going to change is the looks we get when we go anywhere as a family. It really cracks me up to see people doing a serious double take, looking hard at both of our kids and then looking hard at both of us. Quite amusing.

Right now is also a time of fasting for Baha’is. It has been a challenge, especially for Brian as he has been working 12 hours days to get one of his tools up and running. I think, however, that I am actually really enjoying this Fast more than any before. (This is only our 4th year of doing it.) One of my friends says that she likes to dedicate her Fast to something and shared a story on her own blog about a friend she dedicated it to one year. It is a really touching and powerful story. And I really like the idea of using this time to focus on something important. So, I am adopting her idea and have been saying a special prayer for assistance (Tablet of Ahmad for my Baha’i friends). This prayer has an added benefit of reminding me of yet another friend who would say this prayer at a difficult time in her own life. So, every day not only am I saying this wonderful prayer which helps to alleviate some of my stress (living in a new place, being away from family & friends, house not selling), I get to be reminded that while the people I love may not be physically close, they are still really close in my heart.

Love,

Lori

P.S. After I began this entry, we (the whole family!), went to play in the park. We had a great time. The pictures are from swimming lessons and the park.

Day 3 - Uganda, House of Worship

Ethiopia Trip – Day 3

Uganda

Wow. We are actually in Uganda. Brian and I have been talking all day about how very strange that seems. Who would have thought this of us? Certainly not us! But it is wonderous.

The flight was somewhat funny. We got through the airport in Addis just fine and then were bussed to the plane. There, it seems people just sat where they wanted to without regard to seat assignments. The flight attendants had quite a time trying to straighten that out! Fortunately, not too many people were disgruntled. The other really interesting part was that here we were, Baha’is, sitting with several beautifully dressed Muslims from Uganda (I saw their passports), and in the seats in front of and behind us were Italians – including a priest. What a nifty place to be.

The drive from the Entebbe airport was, well, interesting. Brian and I have both seen extreme poverty in third world countries, he more than I. Today’s sights went beyond our previous experiences. It isn’t that we are naïve enough to think this kind of poverty, and worse, exists in our world. But seeing it firsthand is quite a different thing. The smells were quite another matter, too. Almost constantly was the acrid scent of burning. The other thing was the AWEFUL condition of the roads! The road from the airport wasn’t so bad. When we went to the House of Worship, our driver drove half the time in the other lane to avoid potholes that would swallow a good-sized dog! On the road up to the House, there were humps intentionally placed in the road that caused our car to bottom out – almost every time. Craziness!



The African Baha’i House of Worship is another world altogether. We began our visit there by going inside to pray. The only sound was of the birds outside. Peaceful doesn’t even begin to describe it. The grounds are expansive, quiet and peaceful in a way that you forget you are in the city. Brian said it is reminiscent of Haifa in that way. One young man is doing a year of service there while he waits for results from his educational testing. He walked us all around the grounds so we could see the House from every angle and see the span of the grounds themselves. He said it is 70 acres. And it is on the top of a hill so the view is breathtaking.

After our guided tour, we met with Mehari, Aqsan, Ridvan and Mehret – the director (I think) of the House of Worship and his family. We did the Baha’i game of how many people can we name until we find mutual friends! Turns out that they know our Ethiopian Baha’i friends in Denver and Ridvan is dear friends with Luna. I don’t think I will ever cease to be amazed at how closely knit the worldwide Baha’i community is! The family treated us to wonderful treats – including some of the best tea and coffee we have ever had! – and terrific conversation.

A bit into our visit another Baha’i stopped by – “Auntie” Vi Walkup-Gilbert. What an interesting lady. She came from a Baha’i community in Alaska, but has lived in Africa for longer than I have been alive. And for more than 25 years she has been in Uganda. We talked about her family and her teaching nutrition – and trying to implement it in her own house! So, it seems that the admonition to “eat your vegetables” is heard by kids the world around!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the House of Worship (which does also include the Ugandan National Center) and meeting so many wonderful people. It is very humbling to be a part of this community of such loving, giving people. Wow only tips the iceberg of how today made us feel.

Lori

Day 1 - Franfurt

Ethiopia Trip, Day 1 – Frankfurt

It has been a long day, but a good start to our journey. The flight left Denver more than ½ an hour late, but we easily made that up in the air. Brian and I both slept a precious little bit, did a little bit of reading, a lot of listening to music, and some talking. An average flight without much out of the ordinary.

In Frankfurt, we easily got the hotel shuttle and made it to the hotel without incident. Brian was stuck in this airport and a few of its hotels just a few short weeks ago when he couldn’t make it home to Denver due to snow. He is now intimately familiar with the Frankfurt airport making it much easier to navigate!

After we checked into our room and dropped off our carry-ons (our other luggage is checked all the way to Addis), we went to the front desk to find out about getting to the European Baha’i House of Worship. The young lady at the front desk had NO idea where it was – even WITH the address and directions we printed from the website! Nonetheless, we decided to call a taxi. The taxi driver had a GPS which couldn’t find the exact address, either. So, she put in the street and doubtfully set out.

The GPS got us there quite handily, even if our trusty driver had no idea about where we were going. She asked if “Baha’i” was a restaurant. We smiled and tried to tell her it was our faith. We did see some signs along the way, so that helped a bit. Once we finally reached our destination and she saw the building, she seemed rather impressed. She asked, again, what it was, and I made the motion of praying and tried to tell her that everyone was welcome to come pray there. Who knows if she understood the words or meaning, but maybe she will be intrigued enough to come back some day.

We arrived ½ an hour before the visitor/information center reopened after lunch, so we decided to see if the actual House of Worship was open. It was, so we simply circumambulated this amazing building – both from the outside and the inside that surrounds the inner “sanctuary.” I apologize for my lack of knowledge about the proper terms, so hopefully you will get the idea. The building is round; with the very inside being a circular room with chairs set up for prayers. There are 9 entrances to this inner area from a walkway that goes completely around the building. Then, there are 9 entrances to the outside from there. It is seemingly simple, but also elegant.

We meandered down to the information center to meet the custodians at 2. They were both very nice and offered us coffee and water. Brian told them why we were there and what we were up to. Then we perused their bookstore, buying a few different items, including a picture book of Brendan’s favorite prayer and another prayer book with English, German and Arabic. After making our purchases, we headed back to the House of Worship to say some prayers.

I have to say it was a new experience to be in a place of meditation and prayers with only one other person. At least a place like that. It was cold, but peaceful and serene. And because it was empty except for Brian, I sang a few prayers just to hear the acoustics. Talk about cool. Focusing my mind through prayer and meditation this way was a really wonderful way to spend the first day of this adventure.

Once we were done there, we decided to take public transportation to Frankfurt itself. We walked, took a bus, rode a train, and then walked some more. We stopped for a Starbucks and then found our way to a place for dinner. Now, we are back at the hotel, exhausted but happy. We leave the hotel around 7:30 to move on to Addis.

Until next time,

Lori