The JOY of the Lord

We spent Christmas in Haiti blessing the children of Maison de Lumiere. It's always so special to see their faces when they receive a gift. I know our kids are a bit spoiled, but it's still great to see their faces. We have some new kids and I waited to see their face specifically. It just brings me so much JOY to see how happy they are. Christmas is not just about the gifts, but the act of receiving. I love to see the reactions on peoples faces when they see what I got them. It's the best!!

We went to the girls home first and then to the boys. After, we got to enjoy a meal all together. It made me happy to see everyone socializing and enjoying each other's company. I passed out the cards Maggie gave to me to pass out to the kids. Too bad they thought they were from me...haha!! I told them they weren't. They really appreicated them because she put photos in it. One of her girls, Cherline, read it and I knew she wished she was here. I do too.

The boys played soccer until sun up. Dude they are SO good at soccer. Even Sam tried to play with them and failed. Haha!! I love that Adeline and Christella can hold their own with the boys. Rock on girls!! I wish I could even attempt to play soccer. I just love watching them play!! Eventually we went back to the guest house and out of exhaustion went to bed. Merry Christmas!! :)

Monday I helped undecorate the guest house of Christmas decor. I organized/put away the stuff for the Christmas program. I could not believe how sweet the costumes are!! Someone made outfits...legit outfits for the program out of bed sheets!! Too bad I missed it this year :(

One of the highlights would be the feeding program that afternoon. We got to just hang out with sweet faces of the neighborhood. I had a little baby girl cling to me at the end and she didn't want to let go!! So precious!! Until next time :)

Joyeux Noel!!!!

Feliz Navidad & Merry Christmas!!!! :)

It has been great being back in Haiti. It's almost seems "normal" if that makes any sense. As we were driving to the guest house from the airport, I had a sense of "yes I know this place". And it has been a crazy two days to say the least. Christmas festivites galore and parties til dawn.

Yesterday for Christmas Eve I helped get the some of the staff gifts together. We went to hang out with the kids before church. I brought over UNO and played it with some of the boys. I still don't know who won that game. I gave up like after 10-15mins of playing...haha!! Plus Ti-Bo kept telling everyone what cards I had. Thanks dude. We tried to get all the kids together in their Christmas best for a photo before church. We asked them to be at the bens at 4pm. At about 4:30pm the little girls showed up all dolled up. Later at about 4:45pm the little boys showed up all hansome with their collared shirts. Trying to arrange a photo for them was caaaraayyzee!!!! SO cute though and I think we got a few good ones ;)

Chrismas Eve dinner was at the Manasseo's house and boy was that fantastic!! Grub a dub dub!! After visiting with everyone we came back and some of us watched "Soul Surfer". AWESOME movie by the way!!!! :)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!! :)

I am here!!

After a few hiccups in my journey I made it to Haiti....Yay!!!! :)

She's at it again!!

Well folks, it's that time again...I'm on my way to Haiti :)

God has blessed me with the opportunity to go to Haiti for the third Christmas in a row!! I don't know how long I will be able to do this, so I am thankful for the chance to go back. It has been a roller coaster ride of up's and down's deciding and figuring out if I could make this happen. I was eager to go. Then reality hit...it cost money to go to Haiti. I asked for information about when I could come. I had specific dates that I could go and if that didn't work out then I couldn't go. I heard back from Jessica and she gave me a green light (Sign #1). Now all I had to do was find the funds. I work full-time now so I figured I would just save up for it. I guess lots of people travel during Christmas. Thanks people.

I was surprised by the prices, but then again not really. It is Christmas time and I did have to wait a while before deciding if I could even go. I was able to figure out a plan with my parents. When we went to buy the tickets and wow it was at the cheapest I had seen!! (Sign #2) Talk about blessings!!

I help with the 5th grade Sunday school kids at my church and all the teachers know that I go to Haiti often. We were talking about what Christmas means two weeks ago. I raised my hand and told them that I was going to Haiti for Christmas and that I think about others during Christmas. After church I find out that someone anonymously donated to my trip. Can you believe it?!? I received a check...for $100!!!! (Sign #3) Did I mention that I didn't ask anyone for money?!? God is SO good :)

I was checking my mail this week and I got a Christmas card from my aunt. Every year she sends a Christmas card for their family and I expect it to come. I saw it and opened it like normal. To my surprise she included a check for my trip...$100!!!! (Sign #4) Again I did NOT ask anyone for money. I was so thankful and just amazed at how God works :)

Needless to say I am convinced that I am supposed to be going to Haiti this Christmas. Please be praying for me as I get ready to journey to my second home!! :) I can't wait to see the kids!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!

Me, Kurt, Maggie, Jamie, Alex, Loni

I forgot to mention, Alex visited California for Thanksgiving and we took him to Disneyland!!!! :)

Thankfulness

I read my friend Brooke's blog on Thankfulness and was inspired to do the same. She made a list of things she is thankful for. I am going to do the same :)

1. Jesus: He died for me and you.
2. Family: A wonderful set of parents that are always there for me and two brothers that make me laugh.
3. Friends: Love you ALL!! Whether you are here in the states or in Haiti...close by or a drive away.
4. Legs: I could not dance, walk, or run without them.
5. The intricate human body: how could I run for 30mins straight? Sounds crazy right?!? Let's hope I run my next 5K race within 35mins.
6. Breakfast: I can't say enough good things about eggs, bacon, and pancakes/french toast/waffles.
7. Iced Chai Bomb: Coffee and Chai on cold ice....thank you ma'am!!!!
8. Benefits: Who knew it would be SO exciting make a dentist appointment?!? These babies haven't been "cleaned" for a good 4 years.
9. Dance: Ballet, Flamenco, Tap, Jazz, Swing, Salsa, and Country Line dancing...I LOVE them all!!!!
10. Maggie: Life would just not be the same without her.
11. Laughter
12. Being Healthy: getting the chance to run a race although I don't really like to run.

More to come later... :)

10 years later...

We will never forget what happened that September day,

Watching the television was so unreal I didn't know what to say;

I was getting ready to go to school when I stopped to look,

"Was this for real?" my head I shook;

I was so confused I didn't know what to do,

The only thing to do was pray for each of you.

So I just wrote that little poem based on my experience, but I couldn't put the rest in poem form. I will jot down what I remember of that day.

I woke up and was getting ready for school. I had just graduated High School and was attending Cypress College. I believe it was a Tuesday and I had a History type of class that day. My routine was normal until I stepped into the living room. My parents had the news on. "Did you see what happened?" I thought what are you talking about I just woke up. As I watched the towers on fire I didn't realize how bad everything really was. I had never been to New York so I didn't know how important those towers were. Then watching the plane fly into the other tower...WHOA!! Now that was kind of scary. Why on earth would someone do that?!? The people on the news were just as shocked as we were. I thought I don't know anyone there do I...No thankfully. I decided to go to class despite all that was going on because I don't miss class. When I arrived I noticed a bunch of people huddled around a TV watching the news. It's the only thing on our minds. I believe the teacher let us go early. It was definitely a weird day. I went home and the news was still on. It was the only thing on. 

I was glad that we were going out that evening. It was my older brother's 21st birthday. He didn't know if we should go out anymore with everything going on. It was his birthday and we needed to still celebrate, no question. We went to the Olive Garden and tried to forget what was happening in the world. Who would have known that 9/11 would be such a significant date in history.  More events happened: the Towers falling, the Pentagon and the Pennsylvania crash. After a while I didn't want to watch it...it was too sad think about.

Looking back I still can't believe that it actually happened. But we must find the good in it and move on. God is SO good and He has a purpose for everything.

Haiti Summer Update

Wow...so I just realized that I haven't posted since I have been back. Actually I have been back for about two weeks now. Sorry for the delay :)

Haiti was AWESOME and we actually missed the hurricane. Bill, the missionary, prayed for the hurricane to pass us and it did!! Praise Jesus!! We made it up the mountain with little to no problems. I mean we did have the occasional "bump", but not nearly as bad as last year. Gotta love Haiti!! :)

Camp itself was just amazing and I know that God is moving in the hearts of the kids. We heard testimonies of some of the kids who I thought would never talk. We had a Haitian pastor, Junior, who was really good at relating with the kids. He did some of his sermons in Haitian Creole and I think that it was beneficial for the kids to hear it in their own language instead of translated into English. Although I was semi-lost some of the time, it was okay because we were there for the kids. I was impressed by how much I knew. I love learning their language and I pick up more each time I go!!

I had a group of little girls: Cendy 7, Daphne 5, Estaline 3, and Adnaika 2. Precious little girls and I LOVE them so much!!!!
Cendy is the poster child for Child Hope. She is cute but very hard to connect with if you haven't been before. I know her, but she is still a tough one. I love her and she did not want her picture taken so I tried to all the time :).
Daphne...oh Daph with the sass of a 15 year old. She is so awesome and boy don't tell her what to do. Actually she is a lot better with listening and obeying. She has her hair in long braids and she usually has it just really short. I think the braids added to her sass, but it's so cute :).
Estaline is 3 but looks like an 18 month old. She still wears diapers. Boy does she ever have some stinky poops!! She has some developmental delays and she has trouble walking sometimes. BUT she is so cute that everyone carries her all the time. She needs to walk to strengthen her legs. She also loves food :).
Adnaika is my sweet precious child!! ;) Well not really, but I felt like her mother. She is so happy most of the time and definitely tested my patience. She pretended to hit me several times, but I wouldn't have it. I also taught her the most awesome silly face!! Plus I put her to bed most nights and she is so cute.

These girls are so dear to me and it was very hard at times to deal with them. Our camp was up on the top of a mountain and we climbed up and down stairs all week. Now imagine carrying a 3 year old child while you walk up and down the stairs. Believe me I was tired the second day of camp. But it was all worth it in the end!!!! :)

My girls: I am holding Estaline, Erin holding Daphne, Ariana holding Adnaika, and Cendy standing in front <3

So this is just a glimpse into what happened at camp this year. Possibly more to come later...definitely more photos to come!!!!

Home in Haiti

It is SO great to be back in Haiti!!!! :) It has been quite a few days already and we are not even at camp yet...yikes!! We arrived yesterday and went right to the feeding program...well almost, I think we ate lunch first. Love those sweet kids from the neighborhood so much!! Then back for dinner and a meeting...wait we had meeting?!? Yes we did, even though some of us were extremely tired at the time. A bed never felt so sweet!!

Today I got woken up by Caroyln, the camp Mom, telling us to get up. Oh and we are having a meeting...like NOW!! Geez thanks for the warning...haha!! I finally woke up over french toast after the meeting. Let's see then some of us went to see all the different sites Child Hope has for example the Transition program house, the school, and the clinic. It's cool to see how much is being done for the future of Haiti. It may just all start here...with our kids!! :) After we took a tour of downtown...or in the city of Haiti. Yes there is still rubble all around, but it's off to the side. It was interesting to see the city because although I have been here several times, I have never been outside what I know. We saw the Palace that is still almost the same as in pictures seen right after the earthquake. It's going to take a long process. We are just getting started...Haiti needs prayer!! 

Oh and some of the kids were in a music concert!! Yes we saw from saxaphone to clairnet to recorders and guitars. Great fun...even though I was a bit tired at the end of the 2.5hr show. Clifford, Willie E, Gibson, Patrick, and Davidson are from the boys orphanage that I know and they were in it. As well and Chedline and Dienuite from the girls home. It was awesome to see the kids perform.

Tomorrow begins our journey to camp...a bit earlier than expected, but we hear there is a possible hurricane in our midst (Mom don't worry I will be fine). We will head out after breakfast. I am sad we will miss church, but we are better off tackling that mountain in the AM. Please keep us in your prayers!! Merci anpil :)

Haiti here I come!!!! :)

Well folks...it's that time again!! :) I am headed out to the lovely country of Haiti!!!! <3 I am SO EXCITED to be going back for the fifth time. God is good, All the time!! All the time, God is good!!

Haiti in TWO days!! Holla :)

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THESE KIDS!!!! :)

Me with Keso and Walgens

 Some sweet faces from the feeding program!!

I love Diene!! 

Estaline looks like a troll doll...haha!! Love her :) 

Two of my favorite girls: Chedline and Adeline!! Love <3

Daphers!! Sweet and Sassy :)

T-minus TWO days and I will be off to the beautiful country of Haiti!!!!!! 

What a DAY!!!!

I am SUPER exhausted from shopping pretty much ALL day today!! But the thing is I was shopping for Haiti ohhh yeahhh!!!! I am reminded that I don't really so much enjoy shopping. I know, yes, I am a girl and I should enjoy shopping but I don't. I usually know what I want and get it. None of this searching for then deciding if I want it. I mean when I go to the grocery store I spend at least 10mins looking at all of the different boxes of cereal. Nonsense I tell you...nonsense!! Since I was shopping was for Haiti I was excited at the get go :)

We started off at the 99 cent store hoping that they would have some journals there. I found coloring books instead. Office Depot was next because they were having a sale on pens...25 cents for a 10 pack!! Score :) Dollar Tree was calling our name so we headed there to search for journals. I believe that God was totally on our side today because we found the perfect little journals!! Spiral, small (but not too small), and with a sturdy cover. Nice. Off to Walmart for some other things for Lucas, Alicia, and Scotti :) I have NEVER been in a Walmart for such a long period of time. We searched for bandana's, lanyard's, Clif bars, and the sporting good worker. We waited 20 mins for the guy to tell us they only have five Clif bars. Can I just say that I went over and beyond to find the Clif bars Lucas asked for!! I bought out the five they had AND got a whole box at Trader Joe's. I am THAT good ;)

It's funny because I was mainly looking for more bandana's and lanyard's because we need more. I came home with two bandanas and no lanyards. Haha!! God did bless us with much more and I know that everything will work out :)

Hello Summer!!

I can't believe it's JULY already!!!! Summer is here and I have NOT been to the beach yet!!!! I have been super busy lately, but I will indeed see the sun as it shines so brightly on the ocean tops. I realize that I totally have missed the last two months with an update. I only updated the month of April in May...geez!! Watch out here come the photos :)

Dinner at Panda Inn, the colorful fortune cookies I liked :)

My fortune: "A tantalizing new prospect will come your way"

Mags & I went to Oregon for a dear friends wedding!! Off we go :)

Our first stop was "Pine State Biscuits" Mmmmm...SO GOOD!!!!

My delicious bacon, egg, & cheddar biscuit breakfast sandwich!! 

Candid of Maggie and her chicken cheddar biscuit breakfast!

Abbie is now MARRIED!!!! Love her <3

Josiah is Abbie's nephew...cute little pumpkin :)

Mags, me & Kendra at the wedding reception.

We went to a place called "Stepping Stone Cafe"

Kendra!! A part of the NRA ;)

Maggie ordered "Mancakes"...haha she ordered TWO.

The aftermath of "mancakes" left...she even shared them...SO BIG!! :)

Mags & I at the top of a butte in Bend :)

We were able to meet up with Amanda in Bend!!

We stopped at a cute little cupcake shop.

I got a chocolate chip coconut cupcake with toasted coconut frosting!!! Ahh YUM!!

Maggie got a traditional red velvet cupcake...also good!!

The wonderful inside of my cupcake :)

Bend, OR is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!! <3

Me, Amanda, and Mags

Haha!! We are crazy ;)

We drove to Bend from Portland...only 3 hours away. This was taken on our way back.

Our last stop was Voo Doo Doughnut!! I was SO excited to go here :)

Maggie's Oreo doughnut

Must love the bacon maple bar!!!! I did :)

Yes...good things DO come in pink boxes.

Bubble gum doughnut, lavender, fruit loops, and a cream filled moustache one

Just a glimpse of the month of May in my world!! You bet there is MORE to come :)

April update!!

Wow. I did not post anything in the month of April. My FAVORITE month ever!! How could I have missed that...I guess having too much fun :) My birthday and Maggie's birthday as well as Easter!! Here are just a few photos from the month.

We had my birthday party at John's Incredible Pizza!!

 Heather and Mags

 Kent and Kurt :)

 Pete...haha!! He is very tall.

 Jarvie!!! Steven that is ;)

 Mags and the birthday girl!! ;)

 Look Carolyn came!!!!!!!!!! :) SO happy about that!!!!

Adah and Steven came too ;)

 My crazy friends: Brian, Sarah and Jeff

 Not so sure about this picture, but it's funny :)

 Kent's got a fabulous dessert plate there!! Give me now!! :)

 Mags and Steven...haha!!

 Steven and Deja...me!!

 Carolyn and me!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

 Beautiful flowers from great friends!!

 Day of my birthday at work with the mail fairies!! :)

Chelsea, me, Sue and Scarlett

Sarah!!!!!!!!!! Love her <3 

My birthday dinner with family at Lucille's BBQ...yum!! 

 Brianne and Bryson love them to pieces!!

 Jessica, Mags and I!! Great photo girls!! :)

My brother Cameron and Bryson messing around. 

Mags is the best!! Love her!! 

 Jessica is one of my favorite people!!

 Bethany and Brianne...cousins!! Yay :)

 The parents and I!! Thanks for dinner and everything else :)

 Cameron and I!! :)

 Crazy photo with Bryson...haha I look ridiculous!!

Aunt Cyndee and Uncle Doug...so much fun with the fam!! 

Angel game!! Clydesdale horses and all!!

Onion rings are THE best!! :) 

Sunset behind the Angel stadium.

Crazy cloud formations outside my house...and Knott's in the background.

I LOVE April!!!! :)