Archive for the ‘Ethiopia’ Category

Ethiopia – The adoptions are final

As The Honorable Bernard C. Owens took the bench in his courtroom at Maricopa County Juvenile Court in Mesa, Brian and Keri deGuzman were trying to settle two energetic toddlers. Keri looked up at the judge uncertainly. “Can he have a cracker?” she asked, referring to her son Solomon, who was squirming on her lap. [...]

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Memories of Japan

I have a standing appointment each Tuesday morning at 9. Afterward, I typically stop by a nearby coffee shop to get a coffee and a bottle of water. Then I pull out my laptop and get to work. Though the location offers free wi-fi, I try to avoid using it. Internet connectivity breeds distractions. This [...]

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Ethiopia: The other side of the waiting

Two days after welcoming two beautiful babies into their family, Brian and Keri deGuzman returned to the foster home in Addis Ababa where their children had been living after the family’s adoption referral was made. They had gifts and donations for the staff and children, and a visit to make with a small boy who [...]

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Ethiopia: Is the window for adoptions closing?

I have Google alerts set up on the phrases “Ethiopian adoption” and “international adoption.” I did that as soon as I learned I would be traveling to Ethiopia with Valley couple Brian and Keri deGuzman as they welcomed two Ethiopian babies into their family. I wanted to keep abreast of what others were writing about [...]

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Another Ethiopian adoption story

As if I needed more reminders of Ethiopia… Illinois couple Carolyn and Kiel Twietmeyer talked to The Today Show’s Jenna Bush Hager about adopting six children from Africa, including two that are HIV positive. This wonderful story aired Monday.

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Ethiopia is calling

I had a dream that I was back at the palace in Addis Ababa, sitting in the office of Girma Wolde-Giorgi, the president of Ethiopia. I was waiting for the president to enter his spacious office so I could interview him for a story. I saw the same high ceilings, the same heavy curtains, the [...]

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An unexpectedly nostalgic afternoon

I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to share this picture. It was taken sometime in the middle of the night as an Ethiopian Airlines jet sped across the Atlantic Ocean in a hurry to reunite a family. And for many years to come, I imagine, that family will introduce me with this story: “Solomon [...]

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How to sell a book: Step 1? Be famous.

In late January I signed up to take a Writer’s Digest webinar called “3 Secrets to Selling Your Nonfiction Book.” A few days after I paid for the session, I was invited to observe an open heart surgery scheduled the same day at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center. It wasn’t a tough choice. The [...]

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Small world stories – weekend edition

On Friday night, I went to the movies with my cousin’s daughter Andrea, a junior at ASU. We went to see “No Strings Attached” at Harkins Scottsdale Fashion Square. It’s not like I was expecting it to be a great movie (although the characters were very endearing). But I think Natalie Portman is a wonderful [...]

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Breaking the block

Our blueline for the February magazine came to the office today. That’s always our last chance to proofread. Our last chance to make changes. Our last chance to catch the mistakes that inevitably slip past the earlier proofs. When you stare at pages for days on end it’s almost impossible to see where something is still [...]