Three Cups of Tea

I lived in a small village called New York on September 11th, 2001. A woman in my ward had chard business cards blow into her yard. I had a brief conversation with an angry man on his stoop about how all foreigners should be sent home. American hate was at a high during the months afterward. Maybe you saw a bumper sticker that read "Nuke them all and let Allah sort it out".
Greg Mortenson, Author of Three Cups of Tea was in Pakistan when he got word about the Towers. Working in a village to build schools for their children, he was moved by the village women who brought him eggs, (all they had to offer) to give to the women in the village of New York to help with their suffering.
"Three Cups of Tea, One man's Mission to promote Peace one school at a time" talks about the path that lead him to work so hard for Muslims on the other side of our planet. Balti, Pakistan, a small village in the shadow of the second largest mountain in the world, is where his journey began as a mountaineer. It transformed into a goal to build a school for their children who studied on the cold ground with out a teacher. But it continued on to a career of building more than 50 schools and talks about the sweet people who are so misunderstood by Americans. He meet so many honest people who only want a better life for their families. You will not be able to read this book and not view people differently. And Greg Mortenson wants you to read this book. He wants people to know that only a fair education will bring peace to this world. And Pakistan's aren't the only ones needing educating.
The book gets it's name from a saying that Haji Ali, Balti villiage leader told Greg on one of his many visits.
The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger
The second time you share tea with a Balti, you are an honored guest
The third time you share tea with you become family.
I wish I had more eloquence to give this book a proper review. You will just have to read it and fill in the details I can not.

Let us review

I went to my first Foster Care Review Board today. At this meeting a group of people waste little time and even less space going over each foster child's case to ensure that child is currently getting the best care possible. In a tiny room; Her case manager, her parents, foster mom-me, an officiator, and a panel of four neutral observers. (I'm not sure where these people came from, definitely a jury pool somewhere) We went around the room stating our connection to Ashley and why she is in care. It seemed so awkward to discuss everything with her parents in the room. On my turn, I wasn't quite sure what they needed to hear but I felt it was important that they know she had two teeth now. She is mastering crawling, loves her 'siblings', smiles at everyone, eats baby food wonderfully and loves to wear it in her hair. She sleeps through the night (blessed little girl), has had her 6 month shots and is the happiest baby ever.
Her parents talk of their progress and desire to get CPS out of their lives and have their daughter home with them.
And I know in the end, there will be heart break for someone.
Her parents thank me for taking such good care of her and express their desire to have me in her life after they get her back, and I smile and wonder how hard it would be to abruptly move to Mexico with her.
We still do not know how this will end. I want to inform the court that they need to make up their minds quickly before it becomes too painful for Ashley and I, but I know this will do no good. So we'll wait for the next court date. May. A great month for weddings, and severance.
Is it still worth it?
Yes.
My niece died when she was almost two and has already affected my life and others for good.
Can't 6 months with Ashley be likewise.