So, apparently there is this guy named Harold Camping who says that Jesus is coming back today. I hadn't heard anything about this until a few weeks ago. Then as the 21st starting approaching I kept seeing more and more discussion about it. I wasn't really sure who Camping was so when I saw a retweet about him on I decided to read it. I was glad I did. Learned about Camping a bit and laughed a LOT.
One last post about the predicted May 21 rapture: "21 Things You Should Know about Harold Camping" bit.ly/m4AQC2
I sure hope that link works. Its totally worth the read. Check out the comments too for extra giggles! I'm posting this from my phone so if the link doesn't work I'll fix it tonight. I'm headed to Miami (that's Miam-UH...as in Oklahoma) for my nieces high school graduation. Which I'm dressed up for so if the rapture does happen today at least I'm not just hangin out in my sweats!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Weekend Watch {forgetting to be thankful}
I've started following Laura Parker on Twitter. She's a missionary living with her family in Thailand and I just really enjoy how real she is. I like to think we'd be friends if we ever met in real life.
So she's got her Weekend Watch going on where she posts a video and then encourages you to do the same. I have a video. I have an answer, or at least thoughts, to her question. I'm in!
After sharing that her family has been in Thailand for a year now and no one has gotten sick from the less-than-sanitary food that they get from the local market, Laura asks this question:
Dropped the ball on being thankful for something lately?
Um, yes.
I am thankful that I have four beautiful, healthy children who have all been blessed with unique personalities and talents. In the whirlwind of activities this month it's hard not to get caught up in it all and foget to enjoy it. Forget to be thankful that they are able to participate in them.
I am thankful that I had 19 wonderful years with my own Mom who 18 years ago today passed away from ovarian cancer. Thankful that she loved me so incredibly much and I never doubted that. Thankful that she was able to care for me. Remembering all my little friends in Haiti, many of whom have living parents who had to give them away because they couldn't provide the most basic needs. My mom didn't want to leave me and my siblings anymore than those mom's wanted to give their children away but they had no choice. As odd as it sounds, I'm thankful to know what it's like to not have my mom with me. If only in some small way to identify with the orphans that God has put on my heart.
I'm thankful for this busy season at work. Because it means I have work to do. Our house still hasn't sold and everything seems to be so expensive but I love what I do and apparently others do too because they keep hiring me. I get bogged down trying to figure out how on earth I'll ever get caught up when what I really should be doing is being thankful that at least I'm bogged down!
So yep. I'm thankful.
....for the constant whirlwind of activities
...for the aching in my heart at the loss of my mom
...for the slight panic that sets in when I see how long my to-do list is
I leave you with this. One of the songs my sweet Teagan sang at her voice recital Friday night. It was just a few years ago that she tried to sing a song for her Daddy in front of our family and another couple on his birthday. She got through the first line before she burst into tears from nerves. She's come a LONG way as you can tell. Friday night was scary, and she messed up several lines of the song but she did it. And for that...I'm thankful.
So she's got her Weekend Watch going on where she posts a video and then encourages you to do the same. I have a video. I have an answer, or at least thoughts, to her question. I'm in!
After sharing that her family has been in Thailand for a year now and no one has gotten sick from the less-than-sanitary food that they get from the local market, Laura asks this question:
Dropped the ball on being thankful for something lately?
Um, yes.
I am thankful that I have four beautiful, healthy children who have all been blessed with unique personalities and talents. In the whirlwind of activities this month it's hard not to get caught up in it all and foget to enjoy it. Forget to be thankful that they are able to participate in them.
I am thankful that I had 19 wonderful years with my own Mom who 18 years ago today passed away from ovarian cancer. Thankful that she loved me so incredibly much and I never doubted that. Thankful that she was able to care for me. Remembering all my little friends in Haiti, many of whom have living parents who had to give them away because they couldn't provide the most basic needs. My mom didn't want to leave me and my siblings anymore than those mom's wanted to give their children away but they had no choice. As odd as it sounds, I'm thankful to know what it's like to not have my mom with me. If only in some small way to identify with the orphans that God has put on my heart.
I'm thankful for this busy season at work. Because it means I have work to do. Our house still hasn't sold and everything seems to be so expensive but I love what I do and apparently others do too because they keep hiring me. I get bogged down trying to figure out how on earth I'll ever get caught up when what I really should be doing is being thankful that at least I'm bogged down!
So yep. I'm thankful.
....for the constant whirlwind of activities
...for the aching in my heart at the loss of my mom
...for the slight panic that sets in when I see how long my to-do list is
I leave you with this. One of the songs my sweet Teagan sang at her voice recital Friday night. It was just a few years ago that she tried to sing a song for her Daddy in front of our family and another couple on his birthday. She got through the first line before she burst into tears from nerves. She's come a LONG way as you can tell. Friday night was scary, and she messed up several lines of the song but she did it. And for that...I'm thankful.
Friday, May 13, 2011
May Madness
Yeah. I know generally it's March Madness with the whole NCAA basketball thing. However, in my life...it's May. Band concerts, voice recitals, choir performances, dance recitals. It's really just never ending.
And that's just my own personal family.
Add in the fact that it's time for all the seniors in town to be graduating and if they haven't already had their senior pictures done then they are scrambling to do it NOW...
Well, let's just say I've been busy.
I so desperately want to keep this blog current. It's just so hard!
Last night we had Sadie's penny arcade with her school, Eli's band concert, and then Sadie's short program for her dance recital. Tonight it was sending Eli off to the Believe Conference in Tulsa, Teagan's voice recital, and Sadie's first full dance recital for the year. Tomorrow it continues.
One of these days I'll blog more often. Promise. Until then....hope you survive the end of school year activities!
And that's just my own personal family.
Add in the fact that it's time for all the seniors in town to be graduating and if they haven't already had their senior pictures done then they are scrambling to do it NOW...
Well, let's just say I've been busy.
I so desperately want to keep this blog current. It's just so hard!
Last night we had Sadie's penny arcade with her school, Eli's band concert, and then Sadie's short program for her dance recital. Tonight it was sending Eli off to the Believe Conference in Tulsa, Teagan's voice recital, and Sadie's first full dance recital for the year. Tomorrow it continues.
One of these days I'll blog more often. Promise. Until then....hope you survive the end of school year activities!
Monday, April 25, 2011
My sweet Teagan
So honestly, I wanna talk about Haiti. But really. Can I do that every time I get on here? I don't think so. I don't know why. I guess because I just feel like this isn't the "I love Haiti" blog but honestly I do. More Haiti happenings in the (VERY) near future.
Here's the thing, I have this sweet little girl named Teagan. She might be addicted to candy. Actually, she totally is. For realz.
So her small group at church decided that they would all give something up for Lent.
When she came up to me at church on Ash Wednesday and said she had given up pop for Lent I wasn't that surprised. I figured her small group had all chosen something to give up and that's what she chose. Not a HUGE deal. But then, she says she gave up candy too.
Not that is a big deal. Seriously.
She was supposed to have Sunday as a "free" day. But she goofed up the first Friday and instead of giving up she moved her "free" day to Friday. That was impressive. It kinda kept getting more and more impressive.
"Mom, can we stop at the gas station to get a water?"
"No, but you can have a sip of my Diet Pepsi"
"I can't. It's not Friday."
Conversations like that were pretty much constant. I am SO proud of my Tea Pot for her sacrifice. At just 9 years old, she completely realizes what that means.
I'm sure I'll pay for a lot more dental work in her life, but for now I'm relishing in the fact that she's been sugar free for Lent. Way to go Teagan, we love you!
Here's the thing, I have this sweet little girl named Teagan. She might be addicted to candy. Actually, she totally is. For realz.
So her small group at church decided that they would all give something up for Lent.
When she came up to me at church on Ash Wednesday and said she had given up pop for Lent I wasn't that surprised. I figured her small group had all chosen something to give up and that's what she chose. Not a HUGE deal. But then, she says she gave up candy too.
Not that is a big deal. Seriously.
She was supposed to have Sunday as a "free" day. But she goofed up the first Friday and instead of giving up she moved her "free" day to Friday. That was impressive. It kinda kept getting more and more impressive.
"Mom, can we stop at the gas station to get a water?"
"No, but you can have a sip of my Diet Pepsi"
"I can't. It's not Friday."
Conversations like that were pretty much constant. I am SO proud of my Tea Pot for her sacrifice. At just 9 years old, she completely realizes what that means.
I'm sure I'll pay for a lot more dental work in her life, but for now I'm relishing in the fact that she's been sugar free for Lent. Way to go Teagan, we love you!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Home
Seems weird to be home. I missed my family so terribly while I was gone. But if it wasn't for them I really think I could have stayed in Haiti for much longer. Seriously.
I still have so many memories to share with you. (I say that like there are tons of you reading. Please start commenting so I know I'm not just talking to myself!) Things to tell you all about like our first day there and traveling around the city and visiting Hope Village. People to introduce you to like Enoch and Madame Blueberry and all the great GCOM people I got to know. The small little boy who still holds my heart while he is in Haiti and I'm home in Oklahoma.
Unfortunately, a lot of these stories have images that I feel need to go with them. It's just not the same without seeing the images. But duty calls and I'm back to the land of working non-stop so my time blogging and editing Haiti pictures is limited. Someday I'll find the time and the words to share all I experienced. At least a good part of it.
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to go to Haiti. As I said on Madi's birthday post, had this trip been planned the first week of April all along I don't know that I would have signed up. God knew I needed to be there. That I needed to be with the special group of people He put together to travel to Haiti. That I would somehow be able to make some small difference while I was there. And while I feel like I did, I can't help but mention the huge difference that was made in my life.
Haiti wrecked me. It really did. I don't look at things the same anymore. It's been an emotional week being back here and leaving all the sweet little faces that I came to know so well in Thomazeau. I pray that I never forget them. That I will always remember how incredibly blessed I am and that I will make "making a difference" a priority.
I still have so many memories to share with you. (I say that like there are tons of you reading. Please start commenting so I know I'm not just talking to myself!) Things to tell you all about like our first day there and traveling around the city and visiting Hope Village. People to introduce you to like Enoch and Madame Blueberry and all the great GCOM people I got to know. The small little boy who still holds my heart while he is in Haiti and I'm home in Oklahoma.
Unfortunately, a lot of these stories have images that I feel need to go with them. It's just not the same without seeing the images. But duty calls and I'm back to the land of working non-stop so my time blogging and editing Haiti pictures is limited. Someday I'll find the time and the words to share all I experienced. At least a good part of it.
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to go to Haiti. As I said on Madi's birthday post, had this trip been planned the first week of April all along I don't know that I would have signed up. God knew I needed to be there. That I needed to be with the special group of people He put together to travel to Haiti. That I would somehow be able to make some small difference while I was there. And while I feel like I did, I can't help but mention the huge difference that was made in my life.
Haiti wrecked me. It really did. I don't look at things the same anymore. It's been an emotional week being back here and leaving all the sweet little faces that I came to know so well in Thomazeau. I pray that I never forget them. That I will always remember how incredibly blessed I am and that I will make "making a difference" a priority.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
So much to say
When I found out that I would have some internet access while in Haiti this week I was so excited. I had these visions of updating my blog each night with a recap of that days activities. I'd have all my memories all contained in a nice little neat daily post.
Then I arrived in Haiti.
I now know how ridiculous that idea seems. I could blog until the cows come home and still not be able to express everything I have experienced while here. This has been such an amazing adventure of emotions.
It's hard to believe that the week is almost over. In ways it feels like we've been gone forever. In other ways it feels like we've only just begun. We've accomplished so much that will hopefully help the wonderful men, women and children at the Thomazeau orphanage. Yet there is so much still left to do.
I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. A part of my heart will definitely stay behind with all those sweet faces. I feel like I've gotten to know some of the kiddos so well that it will be like I'm leaving my own babies. I can't even imagine how that will feel. And some of their parents have already done just that. We learned today that many of them have parents who are still living. But they just can't care for them and so in an effort to give them a better life they give them away.
Can you even imagine?
A little bit of good news is that we've talked to Enoch who works with the orphanage and it looks as though private adoption in the near future may be a real possibility. My prayer tonight is that we can find home for all those sweet babies and make room for more children to come in off the street.
Then I arrived in Haiti.
I now know how ridiculous that idea seems. I could blog until the cows come home and still not be able to express everything I have experienced while here. This has been such an amazing adventure of emotions.
It's hard to believe that the week is almost over. In ways it feels like we've been gone forever. In other ways it feels like we've only just begun. We've accomplished so much that will hopefully help the wonderful men, women and children at the Thomazeau orphanage. Yet there is so much still left to do.
I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. A part of my heart will definitely stay behind with all those sweet faces. I feel like I've gotten to know some of the kiddos so well that it will be like I'm leaving my own babies. I can't even imagine how that will feel. And some of their parents have already done just that. We learned today that many of them have parents who are still living. But they just can't care for them and so in an effort to give them a better life they give them away.
Can you even imagine?
A little bit of good news is that we've talked to Enoch who works with the orphanage and it looks as though private adoption in the near future may be a real possibility. My prayer tonight is that we can find home for all those sweet babies and make room for more children to come in off the street.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Day 3, or maybe 2, or is it 4?
On the way home from the orphanage in the tap tap this afternoon I had to ask if today was Tuesday or Wednesday. Cause seriously. I had no idea. None. I did find out that today is in fact Tuesday, however I'd have to really think hard to figure out if it's Haiti day 3 or Haiti day 4 and so we'll just go with Tuesday.
We got up early this morning. Early. As in 5:00. A. M. people. AM. Some of you may be thinking that 5:00 isn't really that early but for this girl it is. I'd been up for an hour and 23 minutes when my normal weekday alarm went off. Generally, when that goes off I hit snooze. Then I hit snooze again. And finally at somewhere between 7 and 7:30 I get up. So see, 5:00 is early.
We planned to leave at 6:00 but since "this is Haiti" (aka TIH) we kind of did the hurry up and wait thing until about 7:30 when we finally left. About an hour later we pulled into the Thomazeau orphanage for the second day in a row. Little faces started peeking out of the door of their classrooms and before long we had a whole crew of kiddos jumping into our arms.
It's amazing how quickly the bonding has happened. While all the children crave and need the attention and love from all of us, it's already obvious that some of the kids have bonded with certain adults that are here. I love that! However, in the back of my mind I can't help but think about what Friday will be like when we have to leave for good. I pray that I will be able to come back and love on these kids again someday. I know it has to be so hard for them to bond with people and never see or hear from them again. I've had several children ask where Kelly was. Where is Tiffany? Where is so-and-so. Do I know them? In the end they come up with "different friend?". That seems to put them at ease. That perhaps I DO know them, but they were just unable to come at this time.
There are two different groups of children at the orphanage. One is a group that goes to school there and lives there and are true orphans. We call them the green kids. Because they wear green shirts. Aren't we creative?! Then there are the red kids (betcha can't guess what color they wear) who are local children who may have parents, may live with relatives or neighbors or older siblings but they have someone who can look after them to some extent. They are Compassion kids and so they have the funds to come to school at the orphanage. When all the children are there they number about 50 and things can get a little chaotic. They leave around noon or 1:00 and then it's a smaller group of about 20 children that we hang out with.
Today we made salvation bracelets with the large group and then had the opportunity to help serve them a hot meal. They don't normally get a hot meal every day. Or every week for that matter. This week we are hoping to do it every day. After lunch we played some and then handed out a sucker and small toy to each child. We learned yesterday that when we hand things out the kids will often come back and act like they didn't get one yet and then we see that their pockets are full of stuff. Hoarders could get some serious footage here.
So we came up with this amazing plan to put a little small x with a marker on their hands after we gave them something.
Um...not the best plan. They totally figured us out. It wasn't long before I started seeing familiar faces and small smudges of red. Little stinkers were wiping off their x's! They are some SMART little kiddos! Soon the red kids left and we had more playing, throwing balls around, posing for pictures, a little bit of "beauty salon" and then we took the green kids into a room (I use that term VERY loosely) to color.
I would have loved to stick around much longer but we had some sick sick adult men who needed to get home. The guys in our group have been just amazing. Yesterday they managed to mix and pour one concrete slab. Today they did another slab and a roof. Those are the MAIN projects they are working on but they are doing so much more as well. The Haiti sun is hot and running low on drinking water today got the best of a few of them. Everyone is fine now and resting at home.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow and praying that we are able to continue to bless these wonderful people and children that we are growing so fond of. Before then however, I think I'm gonna need a shower.
We got up early this morning. Early. As in 5:00. A. M. people. AM. Some of you may be thinking that 5:00 isn't really that early but for this girl it is. I'd been up for an hour and 23 minutes when my normal weekday alarm went off. Generally, when that goes off I hit snooze. Then I hit snooze again. And finally at somewhere between 7 and 7:30 I get up. So see, 5:00 is early.
We planned to leave at 6:00 but since "this is Haiti" (aka TIH) we kind of did the hurry up and wait thing until about 7:30 when we finally left. About an hour later we pulled into the Thomazeau orphanage for the second day in a row. Little faces started peeking out of the door of their classrooms and before long we had a whole crew of kiddos jumping into our arms.
It's amazing how quickly the bonding has happened. While all the children crave and need the attention and love from all of us, it's already obvious that some of the kids have bonded with certain adults that are here. I love that! However, in the back of my mind I can't help but think about what Friday will be like when we have to leave for good. I pray that I will be able to come back and love on these kids again someday. I know it has to be so hard for them to bond with people and never see or hear from them again. I've had several children ask where Kelly was. Where is Tiffany? Where is so-and-so. Do I know them? In the end they come up with "different friend?". That seems to put them at ease. That perhaps I DO know them, but they were just unable to come at this time.
There are two different groups of children at the orphanage. One is a group that goes to school there and lives there and are true orphans. We call them the green kids. Because they wear green shirts. Aren't we creative?! Then there are the red kids (betcha can't guess what color they wear) who are local children who may have parents, may live with relatives or neighbors or older siblings but they have someone who can look after them to some extent. They are Compassion kids and so they have the funds to come to school at the orphanage. When all the children are there they number about 50 and things can get a little chaotic. They leave around noon or 1:00 and then it's a smaller group of about 20 children that we hang out with.
Today we made salvation bracelets with the large group and then had the opportunity to help serve them a hot meal. They don't normally get a hot meal every day. Or every week for that matter. This week we are hoping to do it every day. After lunch we played some and then handed out a sucker and small toy to each child. We learned yesterday that when we hand things out the kids will often come back and act like they didn't get one yet and then we see that their pockets are full of stuff. Hoarders could get some serious footage here.
So we came up with this amazing plan to put a little small x with a marker on their hands after we gave them something.
Um...not the best plan. They totally figured us out. It wasn't long before I started seeing familiar faces and small smudges of red. Little stinkers were wiping off their x's! They are some SMART little kiddos! Soon the red kids left and we had more playing, throwing balls around, posing for pictures, a little bit of "beauty salon" and then we took the green kids into a room (I use that term VERY loosely) to color.
I would have loved to stick around much longer but we had some sick sick adult men who needed to get home. The guys in our group have been just amazing. Yesterday they managed to mix and pour one concrete slab. Today they did another slab and a roof. Those are the MAIN projects they are working on but they are doing so much more as well. The Haiti sun is hot and running low on drinking water today got the best of a few of them. Everyone is fine now and resting at home.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow and praying that we are able to continue to bless these wonderful people and children that we are growing so fond of. Before then however, I think I'm gonna need a shower.
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