My People

Donovan and I wanted to have a piece of art created for Noemi to commemorate her joining our family--we've been planning this for over a year but we finally had it executed in time for her first Adoption Day. We met with print-maker and friend, Tim Hoover, as we have always enjoyed his fresh, punchy and smart work. We commissioned him to create a piece for Noemi that would express the meaning behind her name. We chose to name her Noemi (a form of Naomi) because Donovan and I felt drawn to the Biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. It is a story of commitment and sacrifice, love and dedication. Naomi leaves all that she knows to travel to a new land, all to be with the person she loves.

"Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge.
Your people will be my people and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried."
Ruth 1:16, 17

Donovan and I have this passage above our bed in the ketubah we had made for our wedding ceremony. We also had it inscribed in our wedding bands. We felt it only natural to extend the meaning of these verses to our daughter and the people of Ethiopia. When thinking about what to name her, we kept coming back to the idea of her name representing "your people will be my people." She has become ours and we have become hers--and with that union comes intentional commitiment to joining two peoples--two families--two cultures--two races. She left everything behind to be with us, and we are now indebted to her people for their sacrifice--the gift of her.

We pitched this concept to Tim, and this is what he created for Noemi...

Shazaam--you nailed it. Thanks, Tim, it couldn't be better. After years as the creator of a design agency, The Infantree, Tim is heading to MICA in Baltimore for graduate school this fall, but he will continue to work his magic with commissioned screen prints for anyone interested. He can be contacted by emailing him directly at timothyhoov@gmail.com. Come on--you know you wanna. He's gotta find a way to pay all of those school loans, eh?

Tim, in his studio with some of the screens he created to make the print.

The final product.

Honestly, what an amazing piece for Noemi to take with her as she grows and moves and makes relationships with new people in her life. We are mindful of the sacrifices you made to be our daughter, baby. Thanks, Tim, for commemorating it all for us.