Sorry 'Bout That...

I didn't mean to cause any panic... the title of that last post is some song lyrics that seemed to fit how things are going for us lately. Things may be tough (dashboard's melted) but good will come out of it if you look for it (we've still got the radio). [I probably should have thanked Modest Mouse for the lyric, but that may have caused even more confusion because I'd bet most of you haven't heard of them.]

I promised I'd share some of my thoughts... I've been doing a lot of thinking the last few weeks. With the big (ginormous, really) project I've had at work, that's about all I've been able to do besides that project!

But first, some pictures because I made you wait so long for an entry!

These two are from October 2008's trip. Aren't they exquisitely beautiful children?

Nathan's giggling while Daddy blows on his belly.....


Apparently we're not allowed to marry them to each other, but they still look cute sleeping by each other and pushing their hands into the other's face. (I don't think that nurse had any idea I'd still be getting laughs out of her comment months later)
Brent's doing his paragliding anniversary present this weekend. I was so busy the last month that I didn't tell you when our friend, Tia, brought him over a package of Depends - "just in case he needs them for the paragliding flight". It was awesomely funny.

We also had some great help from Brent's company - they allowed us to have another shipment of FMSC rice delivered to their facility. Since part of what they do for a business is shipments they have the big docks that allow tractor trailers to unload really easily which helped to save us a bundle in the shipping cost to get it here.

And we had a family member of one of the adopting families offer to pay for the freight - so a blessing all the way around!

We also have received some nice financial contributions to the orphanage. It's so wonderful to see people willing to stretch themselves to help "the least of these, their brethren". I hope these children can feel how much they're loved by so many people in America.

Oh, and, if you wouldn't mind.... the husband of the sweet woman who has made so many of the donations for the orphanage's Etsy store was just laid off. She's made literally hundreds of cards and donated them to the orphanage as well as other items. If you could add them to your prayers. They've been doing so much for these kids and helping us to answer our prayers of being able to raise funds to keep them fed and healthy. It would be nice to share some prayers with them that they'll be able to find employment quickly.

Only 40 days til the trip!! Can't wait to kiss those little cheeks!!

Better You Never Thought You'd Hear Those Words in America...

Someone at church today asked me how Brent was doing. I said that we were both doing well and then found myself saying, "The orphanage has been good for us."

I think I gave myself social whiplash with that one.... Bet you never thought you'd hear THOSE words in America.

It has been good for us to throw ourselves into fund raising and trying to find ways to "make a buck" but for the kids - not for us.

I spent most of the weekend getting stuff packaged and pictures taken, etc to update the Etsy store. Please send the info about the store out to anyone you know that may feel like helping out some orphans.

We're working hard to get another couple of pallets of food from Feed My Starving Children so we can load up all the luggage for everyone in our group. It's not JUST rice - they've added protein and vitamins and minerals and formulated it such that, even if they only eat this stuff once per day they'll get everything their little bodies need.

How crazy is it that we can deal with phrases like 'even if they only eat once per day". Haiti wouldn't know what to do with a "Super Value Meal" or a drive through or a vending machine or a Costco.... We're so blessed. So very, very, very, wastefully blessed.

We also have the lia sophia parties coming up in a couple of weeks with those proceeds going towards the generator.

We're hearing good things from the mom doing the "Pennies by the Inch" at her local elementary school.

Little by little - a paper at a time, a signature at a time, a form at a time, a penny at a time.... that's how things work in Haiti. That's how we're going to get our children home. That's how we're going to keep them fed and healthy until then.

Line upon line....