Watch....

Hey everyone! Jim is a close friend of ours and sent this to us. You know our background with the military and we continue to have close ties with so many friends in the military! Read on....

Dear Friends,

Please tune in to your local PBS station Tuesday night, April 1st, at 8:00 pm (check your local listings) for the premiere of an amazing show I’ve had the privilege to work on over the past several months:

Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change

Tune in to PBS on April 1, 2009 at 8 p.m. to join Queen Latifah, John Mayer, and your Sesame Street friends for “Coming Home: Military Families Cope With Change.” This family television special tells the stories of military families coping with the challenges and impact of combat-related injuries—both visible (such as the loss of a limb) and invisible (such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury). Spend time with these families as they recount their heroic struggles and discover the remarkable resiliency that sets them on the path to finding a “new normal.” With help from Elmo, Rosita, and the Sesame Street friends, "Coming Home" gives voice to children as they play a central role in the family's adjustment process, and encourages them to be what they are: kids. The program also features coping strategies and powerful real stories aimed at helping these families and others find ways to be there for each other.

Join us as we salute the extraordinary courage of children, offer the general public ways to support service members in their communities, and provide a powerful glimpse into the lives of military families. We encourage children to watch “Coming Home” with a parent or caregiver so they can ask an adult any questions they might have.

Click on the following link to view the video teaser on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QoOlB

For more information about Sesame Workshop’s “Talk, Listen, Connect” initiative, providing support and resources for families experiencing deployment, multiple deployments, or changes due to combat-related injuries, click the following link:.

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/initiatives/emotion/tlc/

Thanks for watching!

Jim

Something's gonna change the world

I have wanted to share a video with you about two children in Uganda. I first saw it on a blog, Blessings from Ethiopia. It is difficult to watch but it is so descriptive of the plight of children in Africa. So please watch Sam and Esther. You can also see the Sam and Esther Follow Up Story. They are both about nine minutes long so make sure you have the time, you will want to watch.

The two amazing organizations in the video are Village 2 Village and the San Damiano Foundation. Check out their sites and see how you can help.

Thanks!

Thanks to all of you who responded to my desperate plea for an audience! I actually have some followers which I am totally excited about. Keep checking back for more updates! Declan has added some of his favorite songs to the player so check it out.

Go Vikings!

Just wanted to let you all know (the millions who follow my blog) that my alma mater, Cleveland State University, has just beaten Wake Forest in the NCAA basketball tournament! A decisive win that I managed to stay awake to see! Go Vikings!!!!!

Pictures of Declan

Declan got his picture taken with bunnies yesterday. You can view the pictures at www.bellaphotoonline.com. Go to online proofs and we are the King and Olschner family. Just Declan is under King but him and his 2 cousins together are under Olschner. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to Rich

Just a note that Rich's 40th birthday is coming up this Sunday! Feel free to write a comment, send him an ecard or email or give him a call! He spent the weekend a couple of weeks ago celebrating with some high school friends on a ski weekend (we won't mention it was in the 60s). He had a great time! This weekend we'll be celebrating with the family at home but it would be great for him to hear from people wishing him a happy birthday!!!!!

My first baby purchase!

I made my first baby purchase that just arrived. If you can't guess, it is the Africa clock. I read a post somewhere about someone's tips to make time pass as you wait for your child. The writer said that on the monthly anniversary of waiting, she did something for the baby, herself, as a couple, etc. Kind of celebrating the passing of time. So, this was my first dip into celebrating our child to come!

For the patient, even an egg will walk

This was a quote I read on a message board for our adoption agency. I thought it spoke volumes to this adoption process. It is all about patience....waiting....and more waiting. While I was doing all of the paperwork, I was working towards something, towards our child. Now...you just wait. It is a bit anticlimatic. And there isn't any real excitement building up towards it. Most people you see daily may or may not know you are adopting. They can't see you waiting. And for people you do know...what are they going to say..."how are you feeling these days?" "how is the waiting going?" It is just a strange feeling. You think about is the birthmom pregnant? Has she had the baby? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?

The one thing I am doing is reading. Right now, The History of Ethiopia. That is heavy material when it starts about 2000 B.C. Yes, 2000 B.C. I am finally into the 1900s. It is a fascinating country with history that is rich, exciting, and unique. The only African nation that has never been colonized for one. Many think the birthplace of man.

I am hoping to get involved in the Ethiopian community here. I was surprised to find that there is a large enough group here in Charlotte. We accidentally ran into an Ethiopian Orthodox church one day. Hopefully the church and group will be a good touchstone for us learn about Ethiopia and the people of Ethiopia.

Not sure why I rambled all of that out. This is such a different experience from being pregnant. I am glad we have Declan to keep us busy. The wait must be agonizing for a first time parent. We hope to learn all we can about adoption, interracial families, and Ethiopia before we bring our child home...that moment can't come soon enough.

Secure in his manhood

Just thought this picture was priceless!

Declan does love to dress up and Mary (our next door neighbor) just has stuff he doesn't have. He thought this was so much fun.

Snow day number 3

Here is the snow when it started Sunday night. It was really beautiful!

The kids thought the snow was quite tasty!

Mary and Declan sledding down the big hill (well, our front yards, it was perfect!).

The snowman we made. We had to change out the food features, the dogs kept eating them.

Here is the ice we love to talk about in the south!