Hi, Anna,

I shan't write much in this format, but will write to you in a personal email, instead.

I (everyone) loves your heartwarming stories. I wish there was someone I knew who was seriously looking into adoption and I would let you go to town on them. The deaf boy story was so sweet and I could picture the entire exchange with much love and appreciation for who you are. I can't tell you how proud I am everyday of all you are doing for those kids and how much it means to them to have someone like you there.

Your trip south sounds awesome. I am happy you can do some exploring there and hope it is VERY SAFE. I will defer to your common sense and smarts on this.

Keep up the blog. I know many people are loving the stories. I send your entries by email to lots of friends and family, knowing not everyone in my age group is down with blogging.

Keep up your relentless spirit in getting the sibs together, like I know you will. My money is on your success, regardless of any obstacles. I look forward to our weekly conversations. It is so good just to hear your voice.

Love you and miss you everyday.

Your Mom

Guess my earlier post didn't make it. Okay here goes, second attempt . . . .

I was praising your work on behalf of the siblings reunions. I think that that IS JUST HUGE!!! Also, we talked to Massa and Dadzo yesterday and they wanted me to tell you how proud they are of you and what you are doing. They said that you are one gutsy gal!

My previous message was stopped when I was suggesting that Mark and Eileen might want to take a trip south to organize a lifeguard crew at the local pool that you described.

Not much really going on here, just the usual whining, selfishness, what-about-me nonsense. Ho-hum. Nothing like the real work and good that you are doing.

Have a great trip to the national parks, Anna. Can't wait to see the pix.

Love, Marty

. . . I just got blown off the Message Board.

Probably Mark's doing. If my message didn't make the post, I'll roll it out again.

Love, Marty

tadiyas...salam!

Hello Anna, I found amharicdictionary.com so that it will be easier for us to communicate!

I miss you very much! It sounds like you are having an amazing time in Africa. I thought of you the other day when I was at the LA Zoo, since Africa was, as usual, the coolest part of the zoo. How overrated is Australian ecology? Am I right, ladies?

I'm proud that you were able to fend off the pickpocketer. I am curious about the techniques you are using- perhaps you have the Harley-Davidson Brand leather wallet with chain that hooks to your belt loop that I recieved for Christmas in third grade. Tight and practical.

The night out with the local music and poppers sounds like fun. Did you take the opportunity to introduce c-walking to the crowd, or was that already a common move?

Anyways, it sounds like you are doing an amazing job teaching and nurturing the kids at Layla. I'm sure they all adore you! Don't spend any time feeling homesick- you aren't missing a damn thing here right now, trust me. Plus, your time there will really fly by, so I hope you are seriously keeping a journal (Africa took a break from posting since her experiences are probably more in line with an episode of "sweet 16 exiled" than your time actually doing something meaningful.)

Keep enjoying yourself, working hard, and have a happy Columbus Day!

Love, Mark

Anna!

I am so happy to see that you're able to write about your experiences while you're there! You're so wonderful for doing what you're doing over there. I'm sad that you may not be back to see Rachel, Kristen, Fran, Melinda, me, etc. etc. present and graduate in December because I don't know when I will get to catch up with you next! When you get over jet lag and the shock of being back, we will talk. Be safe over there and know that the cohort misses you!

Tiff

Hey Anna!

I love your blog!! I can't believe all the incredible things that you are doing. I really miss you and can't wait to read more about all your amazing adventures.

Love,

Erin

P.S. Eugene is a little less funny without you here

Anna,

Can't wait till you write another missive. We want to hear more! Stay safe. I think about you all the time. I even have Ethiopian time on my phone so I can wonder about what you are doing at that moment (sleeping mostly, I am sure). Get those pictures downloaded, girl!

Love,

Mom

Anna, Hope this finds you well, and you are now free of lice.

We are all so proud of you and miss you.

Working on a few interesting stories including the Portland family who vanished 50 years ago.

I'm with Alex, what"s up with the math problem? I failed it twice before I got thru.

am meeting Jim November 1st at Cal to watch the Ducks play ,and visit your cousin Mary at school.

Love Always...Dad

Anna!!!

I am so glad I found your blog! I had been checking the one on blogspot rather frequently and was disappointed nothing new was ever posted! Now I know why...

Your experience sounds so amazing. What a wonderful thing you are doing. It is truly admirable. When I was in South Africa visiting a township, one of the men told me that the children in the township will remember seeing an American for the rest of their live- that that was a once in a lifetime chance for them. He told me that this was something I would remember but it would never leave the mark on me that it did on them. That really stood out for me and I am sure it is true for you as well, so just remember that!

As for the lice thing- Mar, El and I all had it at the same time and I remember Char and Tom getting us out on the deck and picking at our hair every night for 2 WEEKS!!! They would then put the lice/nits on scotch tape which my dad would later examine... too much info?! Anyway, hang in there (I am squirming writing about it).

Good luck and I am passing the blog on to the rest of the fam. I miss you!!! Let me know if I can send anything your way- for the kids or yourself!

Hi Anna!

I love your emails and blog. You are the best damn writer I've ever seen. You should make your expereince into a book when you return. I'm so proud of you. I've boasted about you to many and can't get over how incredible you are. Whenever someone starts boasting about their kid is doing this or doing that, I always pipe in and top that by telling them about you! Wish I could order out a nice turkey for you for Thansgiving...Cutting the head off the chicken may not be so bad...but pulling all those feathers....! I read your emails to the kids. They don't have any idea how fortunate they are, so your emails give them just a little perspective.

Wish I had exciting news to share. Life has settled in to school and homework and mundane stuff. So sorry you had the head lice thing--I just helped at the boys' school on health day but squirmed my way out of checking for head lice and just did the vision screening (your brother, Jake, failed miserably an needs new glasses AGAIN!)

Ellie is in the living room right now dancing around in her Princess Ballet leotard and singing a halloween song she learned in pre-school and all excited about her outing to the pumpkin patch on Monday. Michael has hauled all the halloween decorations out of strorage and has them strewn all over the house including his own little den of darkness going in the bedroom with bats and skeletons hanging around.

I'm so glad you've got at least one cool person to pal around with. Take tons of pictures. You are on the adventure of a lifetime and we are so, so proud of you!

Can't wait for your next installment on the blog!

Love,

Shannon

Anna Gianola!!! I just found out today that your blog was up and it was the best news I have heard in awhile! I have been dying to be able to have some sort of contact with you!

You have no idea how much you are missed in the good ol' FHS classes..... Sara and I have started a daily journal for you which I think you will find very interesting when you get back :) So far there have been a few notable things, I am sure you can guess who/what was involved.... just the usual, you know?

I am so excited to hear about all of your adventures, although I have to admit I threw up in my mouth a little when you were explaining the goats. But, I know it is all for a good cause. Congrats on the lice, I cannot wait to have to deal with that as Braden gets further into school. I'm sure it was a blast.

Speaking of Braden, he started Kindergarten which is going well. He has been asking about you lately because he knows that you are "in a place really far away helping babies." He actually thinks that you are on another planet, because that is the way his little mind processes geography! Of course, his main concern is Ramona. Who, by the way, I tried to steal from Alex today but was saddly told that she is being housed somewhere else!

Overall things are going good here, but like I said before, school is NOT the same without you. I am so excited for you to get back, not only to see you but to be able to hear all about your life changing adventure!

Please be careful, I want you home with all of your limbs!!! Give those little babies a kiss for me, I wish so badly that I could help them, too.

Miss you :) Love, Kristin

Dear Anna,

Just some motherly advice:

1. "i" before "e", except after "c"
2. Do not go to places where there have been bombings.
3. Are you covering your head before you go out? If not, please do so.

I'm hoping that you are able to post pictures so that Daddy will be able to have a segment interviewing you for November ratings. I have been trying to get people to adopt some of your kids. However, I have not had any luck to date. But, rest assured, if I find a live one, I will take no prisoners.

Sorry about the lice. It was bound to happen.

You haven't mentioned food lately. And I wondered how that is going and if you are having any GF bouts.

I liked the chicken with its head cut off story for Thanksgiving Dinner. We are thinking that we might just get ours with Freddie's, but we'll ask for it with it's head cut off in honor of you.

I am glad that you are enjoying your volunteer friends and that someone has your outrageous sense of humor. That is very unique.

Please send more stories about individual kids because we really love those.

Love, Moo