You were celebrated. And loved.

My E at referral at age 8 months. (The youngest known picture of her.)

My E at her 2nd birthday in Feb. (Amazes me sometimes that these pictures are the same child.)

I'm in the process (along with some other ET adoptive moms) of planning this year's culture camp. We had a meeting on Sunday, and we had invited some of the ladies from a nearby Ethiopian church. Two of the ladies from the church are not in fact Ethiopian, but a mother and daughter who have spent a lot of time in Ethiopia (both speaking Amharic and might as well be Ethiopian with everything they know about the culture and how much of their lives they've given to Ethiopia, etc...)

Anyway, we started talking about Ethiopian traditions and culture and how much more of an emphasis there is on the cycle of life in Ethiopia. Like how when a child is born, he or she is celebrated by the whole community-- everyone congratulations the ENTIRE family, not just the new mom and dad. Why? Because the family has gained a child. If someone dies, there is now another person to take their place. Children are adored, celebrated. Family stays and helps the new parents (new mom, really) for a good month, and the new mom is pampered. People celebrate the child in a way that we don't necessarily do in the United States.

It made me think about my E's birth. (I know "a lot" about R's birth in comparison so I don't have to infer as much there.) Did her family celebrate? Did everyone stay and help her birthmom as she adjusted to a new baby? When E cried, was she doted on by family members? Were her needs met? Was she adored? Loved?

Likewise, when she was relinquished, was she mourned? Did her birthfamily wail and cry for her as if she had died? Could you hear the cries from a quarter mile away? Do they think of her? Cry for her still? Miss her still? (How could they not?)

I want my E to know that even though we don't know much about the first part of her life in Ethiopia with her birthfamily, she was loved. Her birth was celebrated. She was wanted and cherished and when she left, she was missed.

E, I promise someday I will have more answers for you... for me... for us both. And I want her birthfamily in Ethiopia to know that she is still celebrated, loved, and cherished.