Hey Everyone!

Things are great in Augusta.  We are staying busy.  Here are a couple of things we have been up to.  Jason started writing his thesis in pursuit of his masters degree.  Since the Marine Corps will be moving us this summer, Kristen is getting our home ready to put on the market this spring.  Nate has started learning the fundamentals of wrestling at the gym we go to, and CJ loves digging in the dirt outside in this warm January weather (81 degrees on Monday).

C.J. after playing outside.

Nate after wrestling practice.  Friend Braden (back left), and C.J. (back right).

You are busy too, so we will keep this post short.  Did you know:

-There is an Adoption Tax Credit that is available to qualified adoptive families.  This tax credit is a helpful incentive to reduce the cost of adoption for families.  As mentioned in a previous post, the cost to adopt from Ghana, including travel, will reach about $30,000.  The mess we called the fiscal cliff put the Adoption Tax Credit on the cut-list.  Families in 2012 rushed to complete their adoption out of fear they would not receive any credit in 2013.  Fortunately, the world did not end and the Adoption Tax Credit remains available in 2013.  This gives families up to $12,970 as a non-refundable tax credit.

Also.....

-The travel section of The New York Times named Accra, Ghana as the fourth best place to travel to in 2013.  Here is what it says of travelling to Accra:

Accra, the capital of Ghana, has welcomed business travelers for years. Now tourists are streaming in, a byproduct of the fact that the country has Africa’s fastest-growing economy and is also one of its safest destinations. The Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel (with poolside bar and waiters on roller skates) opened in 2011, and the Marriott Accra — the chain’s first sub-Saharan offering — will feature a casino and upscale shopping when it opens in the spring. On Accra’s packed beaches, you’ll see everything from snake handlers to plantain peddlers. Head to the upscale neighborhood of Osu and hit the treehouse-inspired terrace at Buka for fine West African food. The best Ghanaian adventures start with a giant plate of tomato-smothered tilapia and banku — a fermented yeast paste that’s tastier than it sounds — washed down with local Star beer. — Karen Leigh

Have a great week!!!

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Part III: A Belly-Aching Funny Story

Hey everyone!

Now on to Part III.    As I considered what we would share for these three posts, I realized that Part II would naturally be sad.  Writing about your brothers death is not easy....not fun to read either.  So I thought it would be good to lighten things up for Part III.

In today's post, Jason's best friend Ryan Head will be the featured guest.  He and his wife Melissa serve as missionaries in Togo.  Today Ryan will be recounting the story of Rich's participation in our prune eating contest.  Ryan and I were known to find ways of competing against each other.  You know what I'm talking about....drinking a gallon of milk in an hour or less without throwing up (we both lost that one), etc.  In this case, Ryan and I had agreed upon prunes.  After the bet was set, we made our way to the local Piggly-Wiggly and picked up four cans of potent prunes.  Rich had decided to tag along and was on his way to "initiation."   Now onto this hilarious version of the story and its explosive result!

The Prune Eating Contest

There are some things you never forget: your wedding day, your first kiss, where you were when the towers were hit.  And then there’s the prune eating contest of ’03.  

There are moments of genius birthed outside the realm of reason, only later to be immortalized for its contributions to humanity.  The prune has invariably left its mark.

It was a calm autumn evening chez (French for "house of") Head.  The Pon boys were coming for dinner.  This would make your average meal maker whimper.  Mama Head didn’t bat an eye.  She made her famous sour cream enchiladas with refried beans and rice.  We ate to our hearts content and then some.  Pon, Rich, Beep, and Head were already moaning with overly satiated guts.  Then came out the canisters. 

Pon and Head had already planned this event, like many others.  The insides of the prune packages were already greased with black residue from these gastric cherry bombs, and what was to follow was sure to be dynamite!

One after another we gummed through the sweet, tarry mess.  With our stomachs already full, the thickness was tickling our gag reflexes.  So we ate some more.  

A little disheartened, no prunes resurfaced.  Little did we know, they were working their magic.

Mama Head, wiser than the four adolescents threatening to tarnish her dining room, suggested we go outside and walk down our meal.  

The cool night air was mildly refreshing as we made our way around the corner.  This might have helped some folks.  To Rich it was like giving sweet tea to a beached whale.  The boy was worse for wear.  When we were too far away to run back to the house he exclaimed, “I can’t take it anymore!”  He dropped his pants and undies in one fell swoop.  Not a second later his sphincter released a gooey heap down to the curb.  The poor lad couldn’t help the explosion much less his body’s reflex to urinate at the same time.  Distracted by his rectal misfire, his aim was a bit off and he peed directly into his pants around his ankles.  

Needless to say, the rest of us were painfully laughing at our ill-fated contestant.  Gripping our aching bellies, we were all but rolling in the street.  We at least knew that that would have been a bad idea.    

Rich then had to do the walk of shame back to the house.   The unfortunate precedent being the pulling up of his soupy shorts.  We got back to the house and told, through fits of laughter, the fruition of our exploits.  

Pon, Rich, and Beep piled into Pon’s car, some heads a little higher than others.  For days and weeks to come, the curb was stained black with the acidic filth.  Once the rains did their work, that small patch was actually cleaner than any other part.  I dare say it even glistened.  

When I remember Rich, my mind invariably goes back to moments like these.  This is how I choose to remember him.  He was a young man whose heart was more tender and caring than most.  Who knew that it would be the same heart that would shorten his days with us.  I love you Rich, and remember you fondly.  

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Part II: Struggle, Reflection, Reconnection

Friends and family,

One year ago today, my brother Rich passed away of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at the age of 21.  On that cold-sunny day, I (Jason) made my way into work for the first time since the new year began.  I was excited about the coming year.  I felt 2011 brought joy and success, and I anticipated the same in 2012.  Just a few hours later, I would be interrupted in a classroom by a stranger telling me that I needed to call my wife immediately.  It was an emergency.  I found the closest phone in an open-area, near a printer.  As soon as Kristen gave me the news, I grabbed my stuff and sprinted out of the building.  The following days and weeks were the most painful of my life.

Jason & Kristen's wedding, September 6, 2006.  (L-R Back) Barbara, Danny, Kristen, Jason, Ben.  (L-R Front) Tracy, Rich, Shirley (Grandma)

It has been a year of struggle, reflection, and reconnection.  Losing Rich meant an empty seat at the dinner table.  One less guy to watch sports with, or laugh with.  When your younger brother dies, you have to force your way through life.  That is the struggle.   Nothing is easy, but you keep going because Rich would say so.  So we did.  Always keeping in mind who Rich was, and considered how we could keep his spirit alive.  Extended friends and family surrounded us with love.  We reconnected with those friends and family and Rich was at the heart of that moment.  If I can speak on behalf of my family, I would say that in spite of losing Rich, we had joy in knowing that so many of you loved him.  Your demonstration of love will not be forgotten.  Thank you!

I would also like to dedicate this post to my Grandmother, Shirley Lane, who passed away on November 16, 2012.  Speaking of reconnection.  After Rich passed, my Grandmother travelled by car with her children and grandchildren from California to Tennessee.  At 77, that is no easy feat.  She was afraid to fly, so she drove.  With her first stop in Tennessee being the funeral home, Grandma and the family arrived on the same evening as Rich's viewing.  Her dedication to her grandchild meant she would get there at all costs, but the 40 hours of continuous travel had made her quite ill.  Though fatigued and sick, she was there with us.  As I stood with her in front of Rich she said, "When you miss him, just find a quiet place and think.  Talk to him.  He will be there."  Love you Grandma.

Grandma
November 8, 1934 to November 16, 2012

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Part I: Rich's Ghana Video's

Friends and family,

As we approach the day Jason's brother Rich passed, we wanted to do something that reminded us of him.  Considering we chose to adopt from Ghana because of Rich, we thought it would be fun to share some videos of him while he was in Ghana.  Rich was 18 in these videos.  His deep love for his host brother, Junior, is noticeable.  If you knew Rich, and there's something unique you remember about him, or something you enjoyed about his videos please leave a comment.  This is the first of a series of three posts, so check back over the next few days for more.  Happy New Year!

You can continue to follow our journey here:

Email us at: MakingLifeRICH@gmail.com

Our videos are here:  www.youtube.com/MakingLifeRICH

We stay connected here:  Facebook “Making Life RICH”