Shabbat Shalom, #3

Internet was down Friday so I couldn't send this post....my apologies!

Today was a typically lovely day of hanging with Bami and friends.  Her chicken pock rash is worse than yesterday but still relatively minor compared to what I have seen in some of the other babies.  She has bumps on her body, her head, one on her palm, and one near her eye that may be irritating as she was rubbing that area a bit. (Picture those little hands balled up rubbing her eyes. Forgive me but it is precious!!)  She also has some diarrhea, which may or may not be related to the chicken pox, but no fever and, overall, she is holding up swimmingly. 

There is a super cool new mom around, Mollie, who lives in both Denver and Saudi Arabia and, in her free time, does triathlons.  She and her husband, Shawn, are teachers and they are adopting two beautiful sons.  To beat the hot, humid Saudi summers, they come to Colorado (Highlands Ranch) where they have a home and close family.  So, we are looking forward to getting together with the other Denver families.  So far there are 5 babies –all BIFTU BABIES!!!-- that are all coming HOME to Northwest Denver, PLUS Mollie and Shawns’s boys.

Shabbat dinner at Rick’s was fun and typical in that it included a fascinating mix of people, manna from heaven (i.e. Rick tossing the challah to each person,) wild hats and great energy.  I was delighted that Jennifer, Tom, Molly and Laura decided to join me, experiencing their first Shabbat.  Laura asked if this was typical—well, typical for a Jewish Shabbat dinner in Ethiopia, I guess!

In addition to the rituals of introductions, singing “If I had a Hammer,” “Shalom Alechem, motzi and Kiddush, Rick led us in a moment of silent prayer for healing the sick.  He also mentioned what a deep loss we are feeling with Noel’s passing last Thursday night.  As I write this, people are gathered in Denver at Noel’s funeral and my thoughts and heart are there. 

Peace to all. 

Shabbat Shalom from Addis,

--Jen