There are days when Ethiopian tradition blends so deeply with pure, familial joy that it is hard to hold back the emotion. That was exactly what our Meskel was like this year—one of Ethiopia’s most significant and vibrant holidays, which we spent together as the Barkot family.

We began this special time in prayer, attending Holy Mass together. Once the final liturgical hymns faded, the joyful celebration moved right to our girls’ home.

Inside, the aroma of roasting coffee beans welcomed us at the door. A true Ethiopian celebration simply cannot happen without the traditional coffee ceremony—fresh green grass strewn across the floor, setting the stage. Delicious traditional food and freshly baked bread filled the table, shared amidst the children’s loud laughter. Above all, the most precious part was simply being together—unhurried, safe, and close.

As if that were not enough excitement, this Meskel coincided with another wonderful milestone. We decided to combine celebrations and throw a big birthday party for four of our wonderful kids:

• Adisu – 14 years old,
• Ayelech – 13 years old,
• Shitu – 11 years old,
• and the youngest of the group, Biniam – 7 years old!

You can imagine the burst of energy as they blew out the candles on the birthday cake and unwrapped their gifts. We sang the traditional “Happy Birthday” together in three languages—Amharic, English, and Polish! Even as the melodies and words overlapped, the sentiment was unanimous: wishing these amazing young souls health, courage, and a bright future.

Looking at their beaming faces, cheeks smudged with cake frosting, and the spark in their eyes, I was reminded once again of the deep meaning behind what we build together here at Barkot. Thank you for walking beside us and supporting us through both the quiet everyday routines and these truly extraordinary moments.