Thursday, March 28, 2013
Did he know it was his birthday?
Yesterday was Teddy's 7th birthday. He spent it at my parents house on Spring Break - playing in the snow and playing golf and basketball. But did he know it was his birthday? Sometimes parenting a deaf child with little language is rough. Yes I KNOW Tariku told him 10,000 times it was his birthday and yes I KNOW my parents told him 1,000,000 times he was 7 but does he know? Does he understand? Does he get that he is a year older? Does he understand that Tariku is now 8 and not 7? Unlike Tariku where we talk and talk about upcoming things we are not there with Teddy yet (I know we will be eventually) We can't talk to him about the changes of the past year. I know the time will come when all of these topics will be possible but today as a mom of a brand new 7 year old I wonder what did he like best about being 6, is he excited to be 7 and does he really know what a birthday is?
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Happy Birthday Tewdros Joshua -
Greetings -
March is not a slow month in the Hammons House! Just past Tariku's big day is another miracle - Teddy's birthday! Today Tewdros "Teddy" Joshua turns 7 - as I write this today I think about the boy I met 2 1/2 years ago 1/2 way around the world. The boy with no language and only one friend, the boy who trusted 1 person (and it was NOT me) - I think about my conversations with his birth mother - the woman who not only gave him life but would now give him a chance at life.
Today that boy speaks so well in American Sign Language, he has soooo many friends and is loved by so many people. So today we celebrate his 7th birthday! We celebrate the 7 years he has been on this planet. We celebrate with him all things that are blue, and Wii related! We celebrate his love of soccer and basketball and golf! His amazing laugh and his love for his papa!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEDDY! I am blessed and honored to be called your mom
March is not a slow month in the Hammons House! Just past Tariku's big day is another miracle - Teddy's birthday! Today Tewdros "Teddy" Joshua turns 7 - as I write this today I think about the boy I met 2 1/2 years ago 1/2 way around the world. The boy with no language and only one friend, the boy who trusted 1 person (and it was NOT me) - I think about my conversations with his birth mother - the woman who not only gave him life but would now give him a chance at life.
Today that boy speaks so well in American Sign Language, he has soooo many friends and is loved by so many people. So today we celebrate his 7th birthday! We celebrate the 7 years he has been on this planet. We celebrate with him all things that are blue, and Wii related! We celebrate his love of soccer and basketball and golf! His amazing laugh and his love for his papa!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEDDY! I am blessed and honored to be called your mom
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Happy Birthday Tariku James - The Well is on the Way
WOW oh WOW! What a week! Last week Wednesday Tariku and I were having a small argument over the fact that we had not yet built the well back in Ethiopia and as I write this a mere week and a day later the money has been raised and when Tariku wakes as an 8year old his dream to give his sisters water will come true! Over on our facebook page your will find a quick video we made last night about reaching our goal! I cannot begin to thank the hundreds of people that made this dream possible for Tariku - But there are a few that I want to take a moment and recongize for without them this event never would have gotten off the ground or happend!
1. - Kirsten Howard (aka Ben's Mom) - when I called her in a panic that I had committed to this crazy idea in a moment of weakness she jumped on board with her awesome graphic design skills and created the amazing shirts for the fundraiser and has been a huge behind the scenes cheerleader for me this past week!
2. - Mathews Team Sports in Franklin TN for going ABOVE and BEYOND with the printing of these shirts for us
3. - Lipscomb Elementary for embracing both Tariku and Teddy and allowing them to be the boys they are. As a school you have gone to great lengths to help Tariku see this dream come true and stood with him on this journey. We are blessed and humbled to call you our home
4. - Each and everyone of you that shared his story, prayed for this heart and his sisters, donated and will continue to pray as we see the well come to being. For the journey is only just beginning and we invite you to stay with us and see the story unfold!
Happy Happy Birthday my sweet Tariku - may your sisters someday know the difference you made for them and the heart you have for Africa. May you know how very proud I am that God has called you to be my son. Today while you travel with your papa to Wisconsin for Spring Break rest assured knowing that soon very very soon your sisters will have the same safe water to drink just like you!
1. - Kirsten Howard (aka Ben's Mom) - when I called her in a panic that I had committed to this crazy idea in a moment of weakness she jumped on board with her awesome graphic design skills and created the amazing shirts for the fundraiser and has been a huge behind the scenes cheerleader for me this past week!
2. - Mathews Team Sports in Franklin TN for going ABOVE and BEYOND with the printing of these shirts for us
3. - Lipscomb Elementary for embracing both Tariku and Teddy and allowing them to be the boys they are. As a school you have gone to great lengths to help Tariku see this dream come true and stood with him on this journey. We are blessed and humbled to call you our home
4. - Each and everyone of you that shared his story, prayed for this heart and his sisters, donated and will continue to pray as we see the well come to being. For the journey is only just beginning and we invite you to stay with us and see the story unfold!
Happy Happy Birthday my sweet Tariku - may your sisters someday know the difference you made for them and the heart you have for Africa. May you know how very proud I am that God has called you to be my son. Today while you travel with your papa to Wisconsin for Spring Break rest assured knowing that soon very very soon your sisters will have the same safe water to drink just like you!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
We have a village!
Greetings Friends -
Well as I write this late on Tuesday evening we are at 42.3% of our goal for the well! Earlier this evening Tariku asked to see the total and I showed him the page. He looked at me and said MAMA we have a village! The tears it brought to my eyes - the outpouring of love for this boys birthday wish has been amazing. And I want to thank each and every one of you for sharing his story and his heart with your friends and family. I humbly ask that you continue to share his story and the link for donations. For I hope and pray come Saturday morning when we wakes I can say Happy Birthday the well is on it's way!
Please feel free to share the following ~
http://hammonshouseunplugged.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Well-on-our-way-Water-for-my-sisters/421226924639020
Well as I write this late on Tuesday evening we are at 42.3% of our goal for the well! Earlier this evening Tariku asked to see the total and I showed him the page. He looked at me and said MAMA we have a village! The tears it brought to my eyes - the outpouring of love for this boys birthday wish has been amazing. And I want to thank each and every one of you for sharing his story and his heart with your friends and family. I humbly ask that you continue to share his story and the link for donations. For I hope and pray come Saturday morning when we wakes I can say Happy Birthday the well is on it's way!
Please feel free to share the following ~
http://hammonshouseunplugged.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Well-on-our-way-Water-for-my-sisters/421226924639020
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Tariku's Dream - Coming true thanks to so many of you
Greetings -
It is a gorgeous Sunday afternoon here in Middle Tn - The windows are open and the boys are at a friends playing for the day. It has been an incredible weekend. Yesterday Tariku was blessed beyond measure with the opportunity to spend the day at Polka Dots and Happy Thoughts raising awareness and money for Well on our way - Water for my sisters! The owners are an amazing couple Stacey and Chris Chatman - Stacey was actually Tariku's kindergarten teacher last year and she and I walked a journey together with him. This year she is walking a new journey and I am so thankful that Tariku is able to be a small part of it! Her fabulous husband picked Tariku from Teddy's soccer game and off they went! Tariku spent all day at the store sharing his story and helping his friends Ms. Stacey and Mr. Chris and at the end of the day he had raised just over $800.00!!! He could not have been prouder!! He also had so many friends from school stop in and see him and share their allowance with him. Here is a glimpse into his day! Many many thanks to all that came out and supported him! We could not walk this journey without you!
It is a gorgeous Sunday afternoon here in Middle Tn - The windows are open and the boys are at a friends playing for the day. It has been an incredible weekend. Yesterday Tariku was blessed beyond measure with the opportunity to spend the day at Polka Dots and Happy Thoughts raising awareness and money for Well on our way - Water for my sisters! The owners are an amazing couple Stacey and Chris Chatman - Stacey was actually Tariku's kindergarten teacher last year and she and I walked a journey together with him. This year she is walking a new journey and I am so thankful that Tariku is able to be a small part of it! Her fabulous husband picked Tariku from Teddy's soccer game and off they went! Tariku spent all day at the store sharing his story and helping his friends Ms. Stacey and Mr. Chris and at the end of the day he had raised just over $800.00!!! He could not have been prouder!! He also had so many friends from school stop in and see him and share their allowance with him. Here is a glimpse into his day! Many many thanks to all that came out and supported him! We could not walk this journey without you!
Tariku ready to head out with Mr. Chris
Tariku's donation jar at Polka Dots and Happy Thoughts
Friday, March 15, 2013
Pre-Order your shirts TODAY!!
Greetings -
The shirts are ready to pre-order!! I am going to place the first order on Tariku's birthday - March 23rd! Here is the info you need about the shirts to order!
All shirts will be $20 a piece - there are 2 options -
sizes are as follows -
Youth Sizes: XS(2-4), S(6-8), M(10-12), L(14-16), XL(18-20)
The shirts are ready to pre-order!! I am going to place the first order on Tariku's birthday - March 23rd! Here is the info you need about the shirts to order!
All shirts will be $20 a piece - there are 2 options -
sizes are as follows -
Youth Sizes: XS(2-4), S(6-8), M(10-12), L(14-16), XL(18-20)
S-4XL men
S-3XL women's
To place your order simply go to the donation button and make the donation of $20 a shirt and in the comment field write the size and color that you wish as well as your address if I need to mail to you. Please add $5.00 for shipping if you are outside of the Nashville area!
Thank you for supporting Tariku in making his birthday wish come true
Wishing you a MAGICAL day ~
Courtney
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
It's gonna take a village in AMERICA
Greetings -
Tariku said to me this morning mama it's gonna take a really big village to raise all this money for the water. And he is so right! But it's not just the money! It's the friends and family that are praying, spreading the word, holding fundraisers, and helping that create this village! Today I want to thank Kirsten Howard for being a huge building block in our foundation of our village. Kirsten's son Ben is in Teddy's class this year and she is a free lance graphic designer. Yesterday she offered to help design shirts and TODAY we have shirts designed and almost ready for pre-order. We know we could not do this without our village and for that we are grateful!!! Here is a sneak peek at the shirts and a bonus - bumper stickers!!! Take a look and let us know what you think! I will let you know the minute you can order!
Wishing you a MAGICAL day ~
Courtney
Tariku said to me this morning mama it's gonna take a really big village to raise all this money for the water. And he is so right! But it's not just the money! It's the friends and family that are praying, spreading the word, holding fundraisers, and helping that create this village! Today I want to thank Kirsten Howard for being a huge building block in our foundation of our village. Kirsten's son Ben is in Teddy's class this year and she is a free lance graphic designer. Yesterday she offered to help design shirts and TODAY we have shirts designed and almost ready for pre-order. We know we could not do this without our village and for that we are grateful!!! Here is a sneak peek at the shirts and a bonus - bumper stickers!!! Take a look and let us know what you think! I will let you know the minute you can order!
Wishing you a MAGICAL day ~
Courtney
Monday, March 11, 2013
Water for my sisters
Greetings -
For those that have followed our journey - you know that Tariku has wanted his sister's to have water in their village since the day he came home 2 and a 1/2 years ago! Well with the addition of Teddy and well life I put it on the back burner I am sorry to say. But no excuses I need to make this happen for him and his sisters. So our goal is to have his well funded by his 8th birthday on March 23rd 2013! Which is also the same day we passed court 3 years ago!!! So feel free to spread the word and pray for us and if you feel inclined to help us reach our goal of $5,000 we would appreciate it. We are going to partner with 147 million orphans to make this dream of Tariku's come true! We look forward to sharing this journey with you and we appreciate your prayers and well wishes. We know this is a lofty goal in a short amount of time but we know GOD has the plan.
Tariku comes from the Kembata region of Southern Ethiopia which is roughly 220 miles south of Addis Ababa. This is where his 2 sisters still remain with his Aunt to this day. This is where the well will go.
Stay tuned as we build a well in Ethiopia!
Wishing you a MAGICAL day ~
A very proud mama!
For those that have followed our journey - you know that Tariku has wanted his sister's to have water in their village since the day he came home 2 and a 1/2 years ago! Well with the addition of Teddy and well life I put it on the back burner I am sorry to say. But no excuses I need to make this happen for him and his sisters. So our goal is to have his well funded by his 8th birthday on March 23rd 2013! Which is also the same day we passed court 3 years ago!!! So feel free to spread the word and pray for us and if you feel inclined to help us reach our goal of $5,000 we would appreciate it. We are going to partner with 147 million orphans to make this dream of Tariku's come true! We look forward to sharing this journey with you and we appreciate your prayers and well wishes. We know this is a lofty goal in a short amount of time but we know GOD has the plan.
Tariku comes from the Kembata region of Southern Ethiopia which is roughly 220 miles south of Addis Ababa. This is where his 2 sisters still remain with his Aunt to this day. This is where the well will go.
Stay tuned as we build a well in Ethiopia!
Wishing you a MAGICAL day ~
A very proud mama!
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