Today the kids and I took a short trip to see a couple of kids that recently came home from Haiti. Jeremy, Marcy, their 3 bio. boys Austin, Christian and Kaden and now Hope and Grace were all in town visiting family for the holidays. It is amazing to see kids once they are home...what a change it makes. It still amazes me to see children who have lived in an orphanage for a while acclimate to family life, being with a mom AND a dad and siblings in a country that is so different than what they are used to.
Hope and I said a few things in Creole to each other (which I think made her like me a little more....) and I kissed both on the foreheads. The girls remembered me and my 2 youngest kids from our trip last December, when Kai and Nikaya came home. Jeremy and Marcy went to Haiti to visit their girls while we were in Haiti, allowing them to get to know them before they were ready to come home. It is a time I will always remember fondly, but also with sadness. I KNOW that sadness of visiting and having to leave your child behind again....not a feeling I wish on anyone. The experience of getting to know your child a little before, making them real to yourself and you to them, is so priceless and really encourages the bonding once you return to get them.
After visiting, we headed out to see Curtis at work...a quick stop in to say HI and Happy New Year to everyone before the Holiday. We then left and went to eat an Early dinner. I ran into a family I have known for a while. They adopted from Dr. Bernard 14 years ago...the first 2 kids Dr. B every placed in the US. The oldest boy is now 16 years old and HANDSOME! I have not seen the family for several years and was floored when they walked in. Of course, seeing someone who was brown made my kids look, but my son Hunter immediately said "I think he looks Haitian.' YES! I told him....he could not believe it was true.
I spoke to the family some and gaped-mouth stared at Alex. What a handsome young man he has turned into! Tall, well spoken and such a cutie with his girlfriend...hehe
My kids were so excited to meet (Hunter has met them before but was younger and didn't remember) the first boy Dr. B placed. As I was leaving I called Dr. B to wish him Happy Birthday and was able to let him talk to Alex....I think he was truly blessed to talk to him. We had a bad phone connection plus it was loud at the restaurant and Dr. B was at the orphanage for the New Years Eve/Birthday Party so the conversation was short. We did however exchange numbers so they could talk in the future. I hope to make a connection for this boy so he can see where he is from and how many people love him and think of him often.
Well, off to celebrate the New Year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DR. BERNARD!!!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Food Issues, Dieting and Celiac
I decided to give a little update on me, the D Word: DIETING and how it goes....
I have been working as diligently as possible to keep from gaining any weight during the Holiday Season. I am still managing to keep the weight at 28lbs lost! I have encouraged Curtis to go along with me and he is down about 2lbs. He is excited to see how much he can lose as well. He is FAR from needing to lose as much as I do, but feels that some off the middle will help the overall picture of life. :-)
I am proud of the fact that I have maintained the loss even through Christmas. We have received candy, baked goods (which thankfully I cannot eat anyway) and more candy. This however is like supplying crack to a drug addict as anything chocolate is my addiction. I do not use the term addiction lightly here either. The big joke throughout my life has been that if you covered ANYTHING in chocolate I would probably eat it....probably true. hehe
I crave chocolate like an alcoholic would crave booze, a drug addict would crave their next fix. I have a personal NEED for chocolate. I tell ya, trying to break that addiction is hard. I joked about taping a piece of chocolate to my arm to lick whenever a fix was needed (like a cigarette patch) but decided that I would probably just eat my whole arm. I have decided the best way to defeat this addiction without going 100% cold turkey is to drink 1% milk with a little chocolate syrup in it. I allow myself this once a day...it has really helped. The chocolate craving is gone and I feel like I have given myself a treat as well.
To diet is not a good thing for me. I have so many restrictions in what I can and cannot eat due to my Celiac Disease, that denying myself anything else is not an option. I must also watch myself for the fact that I am a perfectionist/control freak at things and a past Bulimic/Anorexic. During my early teen years I would starve myself. When forced to eat I would either hide my food in a napkin or purge after the meal was over. It is hard to overcome that as well, and the urge to do this can be overwhelming and the control factor with it is overwhelming as well. I think it all has to go in with the addictive tendency in my life.
My segway here is the control freak in me and the lack of control my Celiac life gives me:
The other day I gave in to the kids and we had McDonald's. Something we have not done much lately due to money and watching what we eat. The kids had their kids meals and I had some fries and a chicken sandwich, no bread. WELL....as with anytime I eat out, I got something I was not supposed to eat and my Celiac went into overdrive. I ran, with 4 children in tow, from the back of a Target store to the front to make it to the restroom before becoming ill. Quite a feat that we ALL made it, I did not get sick in the middle of Target and the store didn't think I was running for the door with stolen merchandise..I was running like a thief with a load to steal too! ;-)
After I somewhat recovered, I ran into a friend of mine, who happens to have Celiac as well. She commented on the way I was looking and how the Holidays were going etc. When all of a sudden Kai says "we had to run to the potty so my mom wouldn't be sick in the store." NICE....Tell everyone there boy......
At least my friend is a fellow Celiac who knows what it is like and told me that while I continued shopping to holler for her and she would watch my kids where they stood so I didn't have to haul them all to the front again. hehe
I have been working as diligently as possible to keep from gaining any weight during the Holiday Season. I am still managing to keep the weight at 28lbs lost! I have encouraged Curtis to go along with me and he is down about 2lbs. He is excited to see how much he can lose as well. He is FAR from needing to lose as much as I do, but feels that some off the middle will help the overall picture of life. :-)
I am proud of the fact that I have maintained the loss even through Christmas. We have received candy, baked goods (which thankfully I cannot eat anyway) and more candy. This however is like supplying crack to a drug addict as anything chocolate is my addiction. I do not use the term addiction lightly here either. The big joke throughout my life has been that if you covered ANYTHING in chocolate I would probably eat it....probably true. hehe
I crave chocolate like an alcoholic would crave booze, a drug addict would crave their next fix. I have a personal NEED for chocolate. I tell ya, trying to break that addiction is hard. I joked about taping a piece of chocolate to my arm to lick whenever a fix was needed (like a cigarette patch) but decided that I would probably just eat my whole arm. I have decided the best way to defeat this addiction without going 100% cold turkey is to drink 1% milk with a little chocolate syrup in it. I allow myself this once a day...it has really helped. The chocolate craving is gone and I feel like I have given myself a treat as well.
To diet is not a good thing for me. I have so many restrictions in what I can and cannot eat due to my Celiac Disease, that denying myself anything else is not an option. I must also watch myself for the fact that I am a perfectionist/control freak at things and a past Bulimic/Anorexic. During my early teen years I would starve myself. When forced to eat I would either hide my food in a napkin or purge after the meal was over. It is hard to overcome that as well, and the urge to do this can be overwhelming and the control factor with it is overwhelming as well. I think it all has to go in with the addictive tendency in my life.
My segway here is the control freak in me and the lack of control my Celiac life gives me:
The other day I gave in to the kids and we had McDonald's. Something we have not done much lately due to money and watching what we eat. The kids had their kids meals and I had some fries and a chicken sandwich, no bread. WELL....as with anytime I eat out, I got something I was not supposed to eat and my Celiac went into overdrive. I ran, with 4 children in tow, from the back of a Target store to the front to make it to the restroom before becoming ill. Quite a feat that we ALL made it, I did not get sick in the middle of Target and the store didn't think I was running for the door with stolen merchandise..I was running like a thief with a load to steal too! ;-)
After I somewhat recovered, I ran into a friend of mine, who happens to have Celiac as well. She commented on the way I was looking and how the Holidays were going etc. When all of a sudden Kai says "we had to run to the potty so my mom wouldn't be sick in the store." NICE....Tell everyone there boy......
At least my friend is a fellow Celiac who knows what it is like and told me that while I continued shopping to holler for her and she would watch my kids where they stood so I didn't have to haul them all to the front again. hehe
New Years Eve
Any big plans for New Years Eve?
Us, we have been invited to a couple of different parties, however, they are adult only parties and kids are not to be included. :-(
We have decided, like we do every year at this time, to have a Family celebration for New Years Eve....come on, you KNOW we are party animals!!!
We are in the process of deciding which movies we will watch, and how much popcorn we will consume tomorrow night. :-) We always end up with at least 2 movies, mounds of candy and popcorn, soda or juice (tea for mommy) and enjoy each others company until the Little's (Kai and Nikaya) fall asleep and the rest of us welcome in the new year.
It should be a fun night with just us in the house with the pets.
We came to this idea because all of our kids LOVE family movie night.
The other day we received a gift from someone that contained popcorn. The popcorn was stored in the pantry. Hunter saw the popcorn on the shelf and declared
"Hey, is it family movie night? "
To which I replied.."No, why do you ask?"
Hunter "Because I see popcorn!"
Mom "Just because there is popcorn doesn't mean it is family movie night."
Hunter "YES IT DOES!"
To which all the kids replied "YES IT DOES!!!"
So, we have decided that New Years Eve will be Family movie night! ;-)
Here is hoping you have an enjoyable New Years eve as well.
I will post about how Family Movie Night went!!!
Us, we have been invited to a couple of different parties, however, they are adult only parties and kids are not to be included. :-(
We have decided, like we do every year at this time, to have a Family celebration for New Years Eve....come on, you KNOW we are party animals!!!
We are in the process of deciding which movies we will watch, and how much popcorn we will consume tomorrow night. :-) We always end up with at least 2 movies, mounds of candy and popcorn, soda or juice (tea for mommy) and enjoy each others company until the Little's (Kai and Nikaya) fall asleep and the rest of us welcome in the new year.
It should be a fun night with just us in the house with the pets.
We came to this idea because all of our kids LOVE family movie night.
The other day we received a gift from someone that contained popcorn. The popcorn was stored in the pantry. Hunter saw the popcorn on the shelf and declared
"Hey, is it family movie night? "
To which I replied.."No, why do you ask?"
Hunter "Because I see popcorn!"
Mom "Just because there is popcorn doesn't mean it is family movie night."
Hunter "YES IT DOES!"
To which all the kids replied "YES IT DOES!!!"
So, we have decided that New Years Eve will be Family movie night! ;-)
Here is hoping you have an enjoyable New Years eve as well.
I will post about how Family Movie Night went!!!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Man Cold
This is to funny NOT to share. For all the women out there, share THIS with your men and show them how they really are to live with! hehe
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Angels Of A Lower Flight
I just read the book "Angels of a Lower Flight" written by Susan Scott Krabacher.
I requested this book for Christmas and was thrilled when my mother found it for me. The book was released in October, but I had not gotten the chance to get it yet.
Was it a good book you ask?! YES....I read it all (320 pages worth) last night and today and finished a little bit ago. The book will make you laugh, cry and shout out in disgust at the very things Susie has seen in her trials in Haiti. It is a good depiction of Haiti, the people, the triumph, the corruption and all that goes on during a typical day in the life of Haiti; yet things still get done.
I like how she does not portray herself as a hero, that she shows her frustration of the things she sees and still has the determination to do what feels called to do. She tells it like it is, warts and all, including her own life and thoughts and tribulations....amazing.
There is no amount of writing here that can do justice to the book, you must read it for yourself..plain and simple
I have never met Susie, but have spoken to her, her hubby Joe and her Father Frank on the phone. They are all wonderful and kind and trying to do the right thing for the people of Haiti, most of all the children no one wants....the handicapped.
Please, take time to find and read the book:
ANGELS OF A LOWER FLIGHT
BY SUSIE SCOTT KRABACHER
I requested this book for Christmas and was thrilled when my mother found it for me. The book was released in October, but I had not gotten the chance to get it yet.
Was it a good book you ask?! YES....I read it all (320 pages worth) last night and today and finished a little bit ago. The book will make you laugh, cry and shout out in disgust at the very things Susie has seen in her trials in Haiti. It is a good depiction of Haiti, the people, the triumph, the corruption and all that goes on during a typical day in the life of Haiti; yet things still get done.
I like how she does not portray herself as a hero, that she shows her frustration of the things she sees and still has the determination to do what feels called to do. She tells it like it is, warts and all, including her own life and thoughts and tribulations....amazing.
There is no amount of writing here that can do justice to the book, you must read it for yourself..plain and simple
I have never met Susie, but have spoken to her, her hubby Joe and her Father Frank on the phone. They are all wonderful and kind and trying to do the right thing for the people of Haiti, most of all the children no one wants....the handicapped.
Please, take time to find and read the book:
ANGELS OF A LOWER FLIGHT
BY SUSIE SCOTT KRABACHER
Christmas Plans
Well, we survived Christmas! Kids are doing well (not getting along 100%...they are kids out of school ya know). Everyone is unwinding today just letting the whole 3 days sink in, relax etc.
On the 23rd we went to my hubbies family for our Christmas Eve with his side of the family. Lovely time. Not much I could eat due to my Celiac, but it was still good. I did enjoy a few things that were supposed to be ok, but I have paid for it dearly over the last 3 days...eeww... We exchanged gifts with family members and watched the BSU football game on TV. For those of you NOT in Idaho, BSU is our local college (Boise State University) and they ROCK at football. Last year they were undefeated and won the Fiesta Bowl. This year they made it all the way to the Hawaii Sheraton Bowl game. We lost 41-38. Sad, but hey...it is just a sport. Next year is a new year and they will try again. I think one of the things that caused our loss was several players had been booted from play and left at home for being naughty...shame.
The 24th we prepped everything and had everyone on my mothers side of the family at OUR house. YIKES. About 30 people came, some I have not seen for a while....it was great. We do not exchange gifts but just get together and eat chili (Yes...chili) and sweet and sour meatballs and visit about our year with each other. I love it even with all the hard work.
The 25th we do Christmas morning with our kids. This year they were tired enough they slept later than we had thought, a little later than 0 dark stupid. hehe
The kids opened their gifts and we ate a little breakfast and enjoyed each others company and got ready to go to Mammy and Pappy's house (my mom and dad) for lasagna.
Ok...side note, I know we do not eat typical Christmas fair around here, but I only get lasagna once a year and I LOVE this time of year because my parents make Gluten Free lasagna and I get my own pan!!!
Anyway, we enjoyed the company of my parents and my brother Eric, his wife Lyndsay and their kids Addie and Ariya. By the end of the evening, we were all on overload, had more gifts and food than we needed and ready to go home for some quiet. ( I use quiet as a relative term since I have 4 kids here...)
Today we relax, recoup and just enjoy the fact that we have no plans to go anywhere.
On the 23rd we went to my hubbies family for our Christmas Eve with his side of the family. Lovely time. Not much I could eat due to my Celiac, but it was still good. I did enjoy a few things that were supposed to be ok, but I have paid for it dearly over the last 3 days...eeww... We exchanged gifts with family members and watched the BSU football game on TV. For those of you NOT in Idaho, BSU is our local college (Boise State University) and they ROCK at football. Last year they were undefeated and won the Fiesta Bowl. This year they made it all the way to the Hawaii Sheraton Bowl game. We lost 41-38. Sad, but hey...it is just a sport. Next year is a new year and they will try again. I think one of the things that caused our loss was several players had been booted from play and left at home for being naughty...shame.
The 24th we prepped everything and had everyone on my mothers side of the family at OUR house. YIKES. About 30 people came, some I have not seen for a while....it was great. We do not exchange gifts but just get together and eat chili (Yes...chili) and sweet and sour meatballs and visit about our year with each other. I love it even with all the hard work.
The 25th we do Christmas morning with our kids. This year they were tired enough they slept later than we had thought, a little later than 0 dark stupid. hehe
The kids opened their gifts and we ate a little breakfast and enjoyed each others company and got ready to go to Mammy and Pappy's house (my mom and dad) for lasagna.
Ok...side note, I know we do not eat typical Christmas fair around here, but I only get lasagna once a year and I LOVE this time of year because my parents make Gluten Free lasagna and I get my own pan!!!
Anyway, we enjoyed the company of my parents and my brother Eric, his wife Lyndsay and their kids Addie and Ariya. By the end of the evening, we were all on overload, had more gifts and food than we needed and ready to go home for some quiet. ( I use quiet as a relative term since I have 4 kids here...)
Today we relax, recoup and just enjoy the fact that we have no plans to go anywhere.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
MERRY CHRISTMAS
I hope everyone out there is having a wonderful Christmas with their loved ones. May this be the last one the adoptive families spend without their new children, the enjoyable first holiday for those newly united with their kids.
Blessings to all....
Blessings to all....
Friday, December 21, 2007
At A Loss
I am going to breach a subject here that may get me in trouble.
I have been told by people that my myspace and blog are offensive due to my music choices, multiple piercings and other life choices I have made. I have never felt the need to censor myself and have always known that 'to know me is to love me'.
The last couple of days my Christianity and Professionalism has been called into question because someone saw my myspace and blog and thought them inappropriate. WHAT? Of course, these people need to remember that I write this stuff for ME, no one else.
What is all the judgment about. These people have never met me, spent time with me, talked in depth with me about my likes, dislikes and ideals..my hopes and dreams for myself, the world and my children....they SAW and HEARD something THEY didn't like and now I am not appropriate.
I have a dear Friend as well that has been called out for her choices in life. While they may not be as 'risque' as mine in areas, they are 'odd' according to some....enough that they called social services on her. Yep, read that right. She did NOT abuse her children, neglect them or deprive them of anything.....she was DIFFERENT! She is Large Christian family with children of another color who home schools...THE GALL...I felt pity for my choices but see how she is even more persecuted than I am. Both of us wear our differences on the outside, it tends to draw the people who are holier than thou and don't like it, to react.
My myspace has a picture of black hands holding a white child and asks the question...."WHY DOES IT MATTER?" I am asking all of you....Why does it? Who are YOU to determine what is right and wrong.. acceptable and unacceptable?
All I know, some true heroes did what they felt was right for them, their families and themselves and have been persecuted for it. To them I say THANK YOU and to those who continue to be DIFFERENT....ROCK ON!!!
I have been told by people that my myspace and blog are offensive due to my music choices, multiple piercings and other life choices I have made. I have never felt the need to censor myself and have always known that 'to know me is to love me'.
The last couple of days my Christianity and Professionalism has been called into question because someone saw my myspace and blog and thought them inappropriate. WHAT? Of course, these people need to remember that I write this stuff for ME, no one else.
What is all the judgment about. These people have never met me, spent time with me, talked in depth with me about my likes, dislikes and ideals..my hopes and dreams for myself, the world and my children....they SAW and HEARD something THEY didn't like and now I am not appropriate.
I have a dear Friend as well that has been called out for her choices in life. While they may not be as 'risque' as mine in areas, they are 'odd' according to some....enough that they called social services on her. Yep, read that right. She did NOT abuse her children, neglect them or deprive them of anything.....she was DIFFERENT! She is Large Christian family with children of another color who home schools...THE GALL...I felt pity for my choices but see how she is even more persecuted than I am. Both of us wear our differences on the outside, it tends to draw the people who are holier than thou and don't like it, to react.
My myspace has a picture of black hands holding a white child and asks the question...."WHY DOES IT MATTER?" I am asking all of you....Why does it? Who are YOU to determine what is right and wrong.. acceptable and unacceptable?
All I know, some true heroes did what they felt was right for them, their families and themselves and have been persecuted for it. To them I say THANK YOU and to those who continue to be DIFFERENT....ROCK ON!!!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
An Early B-Day Present...A Date with My Hubby
I was in pure Heaven last night. My in-laws took all 4 kids so hubby and I could have a childless night (I think the first time in about ever that we have been 100% kid free in YEARS!
Curt and I went to Outback Steakhouse and had a Chocolate Thunder from Down Under.....WONDERFUL Gluten Free Brownie dessert that is to die for. ;-)
We then went to an early show of 'I Am Legend' with Will Smith. Good show, not 100 % what I thought it was going to be like, but good anyway. We then trotted over to Shopko and did a little Christmas shopping for the family. We decided we were feeling spunky and the night was young so we went to the $2.00 theater and watched 'Resident Evil 3'.....scary as heck, but I love zombie flicks! We came home and watched 2 movies we had here to watch, 'Blades of Glory' and 'Bug'. 'Blades of Glory' is silly, Will Ferrell and Jon Heder are hilarious as men couple figure skaters. 'Bug' was the dumbest thing I have seen in a long time....what a waste of valuable time in my life. By the time we were done, it was 3:30am and we were bushed.
I slept for a while, got a message from Wendi that her plane was delayed so I got up and tried to get a hold of Haiti to let Samuel know when to pick her up. No one would answer so I emailed instead hoping that someone would check for it...YES...they did! I went back to sleep for a while and hubby and I got up and loafed around the house together, just hanging out in quiet....something we have not done in forever.
We picked the kids up this afternoon after a wonderful quiet time together. What a great few days early B-day present!!!!!!
Curt and I went to Outback Steakhouse and had a Chocolate Thunder from Down Under.....WONDERFUL Gluten Free Brownie dessert that is to die for. ;-)
We then went to an early show of 'I Am Legend' with Will Smith. Good show, not 100 % what I thought it was going to be like, but good anyway. We then trotted over to Shopko and did a little Christmas shopping for the family. We decided we were feeling spunky and the night was young so we went to the $2.00 theater and watched 'Resident Evil 3'.....scary as heck, but I love zombie flicks! We came home and watched 2 movies we had here to watch, 'Blades of Glory' and 'Bug'. 'Blades of Glory' is silly, Will Ferrell and Jon Heder are hilarious as men couple figure skaters. 'Bug' was the dumbest thing I have seen in a long time....what a waste of valuable time in my life. By the time we were done, it was 3:30am and we were bushed.
I slept for a while, got a message from Wendi that her plane was delayed so I got up and tried to get a hold of Haiti to let Samuel know when to pick her up. No one would answer so I emailed instead hoping that someone would check for it...YES...they did! I went back to sleep for a while and hubby and I got up and loafed around the house together, just hanging out in quiet....something we have not done in forever.
We picked the kids up this afternoon after a wonderful quiet time together. What a great few days early B-day present!!!!!!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Fight Update
Quick update on fights!
I have to say that the evening was fairly low in the bloody category. I had one fighter in a submission position and when he tried to get out, it snapped his ankle in half.....EEWW....he made a lovely trip via ambulance to the Hospital for the evening and his opponent went home with a win, but feeling bad that he had broke the other guys ankle......part of the sport when ya climb in the cage I guess.
Almost had one audience member thrown out for his mouth and language. One of the Medics and I were looking for a vial of pain med's that had fallen out and an intoxicated man in the audience hollered obscenities and names at me for 'being in his way...' I shot him a mean look and Security went to him and had a 'shut your mouth or else' speech. The guy came up to me after being surrounded by about 5 security people and apologized to me for his comment. I LOVE the way they take care of my safety at the fights...nothing worse than drunks, testosterone and fights...hehe I did have a couple of the fighters come up and ask me if I wanted them to take care of the guy for me....thanks, but I will file that request in the back of my mind for a later date! ;-P...Nice to know they have my back!
I have to say that the evening was fairly low in the bloody category. I had one fighter in a submission position and when he tried to get out, it snapped his ankle in half.....EEWW....he made a lovely trip via ambulance to the Hospital for the evening and his opponent went home with a win, but feeling bad that he had broke the other guys ankle......part of the sport when ya climb in the cage I guess.
Almost had one audience member thrown out for his mouth and language. One of the Medics and I were looking for a vial of pain med's that had fallen out and an intoxicated man in the audience hollered obscenities and names at me for 'being in his way...' I shot him a mean look and Security went to him and had a 'shut your mouth or else' speech. The guy came up to me after being surrounded by about 5 security people and apologized to me for his comment. I LOVE the way they take care of my safety at the fights...nothing worse than drunks, testosterone and fights...hehe I did have a couple of the fighters come up and ask me if I wanted them to take care of the guy for me....thanks, but I will file that request in the back of my mind for a later date! ;-P...Nice to know they have my back!
The Latest Ones Home
Below are photos of the kids that have just come home. I am so excited that they are spending their FIRST Christmas with their new families. By all reports, all the families are doing well, children are bonding and everyone is settling in to their new lives!
WELCOME HOME!
Hope Louna-In mommies arms December 2, 2007; Home December 6, 2007
Grace Haylee-In mommies arms December 2, 2007; Home December 6, 2007
WELCOME HOME!
Hope Louna-In mommies arms December 2, 2007; Home December 6, 2007Grace Haylee-In mommies arms December 2, 2007; Home December 6, 2007
Elliot Rose-Meeting mama December 16, 2007; Home December 18, 2007
Graceline Rose-In mamas arms December 3, 2007; Home December 8, 2007
Elliot Rose is Coming Home
One of my families is finally traveling to Haiti! It has been a long 2 1/2 to 3 year process for this family.....well worth the wait, but long none the less.
Elliot Rose (Rose Nancy) Will be home for Christmas! I am so happy to write that here, I cannot express it in words alone.
I will post photos of the kids next!
Elliot Rose (Rose Nancy) Will be home for Christmas! I am so happy to write that here, I cannot express it in words alone.
I will post photos of the kids next!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Fight Night
Tonight is Fight Night at the Qwest Arena in Boise. I will be ringside once again taking care of business. Should be between 10 and 12 fights tonight....hopefully not as eventful as last time. Pray for my ability to care for the guys and their wounds as I sit as Medic for the fighters and brave the boo's and nastiness I receive when I stop the action...always making friends, I am! :-P
Sunday, December 09, 2007
UNICEF and Haiti
I am going to jump on the bandwagon of many of my fellow adoption bloggers.....UNICEF.
I work with Haitian adoption, and have for about 8 years now. I have helped many children go to their forever families and have ached and rejoiced with the adoptive families as they rode the roller coaster that is Haitian adoption.
Until the last little bit, a Haitian adoption would take about 9-11 months to complete...any longer and you were the odd family that happened to hit a snag or two during the process.
NOW, families are waiting 2 years for their children, often times 10 months or so of this wait is AFTER the children are legally adopted by their American families. Adoptive families throw the names IBESR (Haitian Social Services) and MOI (Ministry of Interior) around like old pro's by the time they have finished their processes. These are two offices that seem to hang most families up. The IBESR problem seems to be coming to a close and files are being processed at about 6 months or so typically. MOI on the other hand has had its fair share of crap. First there was a couple of people asking for bribes....if you didn't bribe you didn't get files out. Now that those people are gone (arrested...PTL) UNICEF has stepped in to the office along with a new MOI Director, to take care of business. Well, for those of you that do not know, UNICEF is STAUNCHLY AGAINST International Adoption. Please read their page below where it states their position.
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_15011.html
I would love to agree with UNICEF. In a perfect world biological parents could love, feed, clothe and educate their children without interference or help of others. Haiti is FAR from perfect. In Haiti the majority of children are given up due to poverty and the hope that their child will have a better life and opportunity somewhere else. I tell you, to look in the eyes of your child's birth mother and father is something amazing and sad at the same time. To see people who know nothing about you, the place you are taking their child and hoping all the while that you will give them what they cannot. It is an extremely humbling experience.
I would challenge UNICEF to look outside their ignorant small box and step inside of Haiti and see what they could do to help with the true problems....Restavek's (Child slavery), Child Prostitution, Sweat Shops...etc...and clean up that MESS before they try to fix International adoption.
I work with Haitian adoption, and have for about 8 years now. I have helped many children go to their forever families and have ached and rejoiced with the adoptive families as they rode the roller coaster that is Haitian adoption.
Until the last little bit, a Haitian adoption would take about 9-11 months to complete...any longer and you were the odd family that happened to hit a snag or two during the process.
NOW, families are waiting 2 years for their children, often times 10 months or so of this wait is AFTER the children are legally adopted by their American families. Adoptive families throw the names IBESR (Haitian Social Services) and MOI (Ministry of Interior) around like old pro's by the time they have finished their processes. These are two offices that seem to hang most families up. The IBESR problem seems to be coming to a close and files are being processed at about 6 months or so typically. MOI on the other hand has had its fair share of crap. First there was a couple of people asking for bribes....if you didn't bribe you didn't get files out. Now that those people are gone (arrested...PTL) UNICEF has stepped in to the office along with a new MOI Director, to take care of business. Well, for those of you that do not know, UNICEF is STAUNCHLY AGAINST International Adoption. Please read their page below where it states their position.
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_15011.html
I would love to agree with UNICEF. In a perfect world biological parents could love, feed, clothe and educate their children without interference or help of others. Haiti is FAR from perfect. In Haiti the majority of children are given up due to poverty and the hope that their child will have a better life and opportunity somewhere else. I tell you, to look in the eyes of your child's birth mother and father is something amazing and sad at the same time. To see people who know nothing about you, the place you are taking their child and hoping all the while that you will give them what they cannot. It is an extremely humbling experience.
I would challenge UNICEF to look outside their ignorant small box and step inside of Haiti and see what they could do to help with the true problems....Restavek's (Child slavery), Child Prostitution, Sweat Shops...etc...and clean up that MESS before they try to fix International adoption.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Settling In
I spoke to Jeremy and Marcy and Tim and Beki today...they are all home and settling in well.
Blessings to them all and I KNOW they will have a Merry Christmas!
My next mission is getting Wendi to Haiti before Christmas.....I am going to do it if it kills me! Wendi and Her hubby Guy have been working on getting Rose Nancy home for about 3 years now...WAY TO LONG and it is about time Rose is home. Pray with me that she gets home for Christmas!
Blessings to them all and I KNOW they will have a Merry Christmas!
My next mission is getting Wendi to Haiti before Christmas.....I am going to do it if it kills me! Wendi and Her hubby Guy have been working on getting Rose Nancy home for about 3 years now...WAY TO LONG and it is about time Rose is home. Pray with me that she gets home for Christmas!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Almost Home
I have not spoken directly to Beki yet, but I have heard from her hubby Tim that she and Graci have made it to Dallas Ft. Worth en route to home! Trip was rough I think, alot of flight delays on the way home and some frustration at the Haitian airport....not that I've had ever heard of that before....but they are getting in about 12:35am....I am so glad they are on their way home for Christmas and cannot wait to talk to Beki about her trip, frustrations and happiness. What a feeling.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
YES!!!!!
I have so much to be excited about. I have one family in Miami WITH their 2 girls...WELCOME HOME LOUNA AND HAYLEE...CONGRAT'S JEREMY AND MARCY!!!
Beki will be entering the US with her little one tomorrow...stay tuned for the announcement of her arrival as well. I have another family that will be traveling in the next week or two as well....YES...it has been about a 3 year battle for this family and MORE than time for Rose to come home.
Also, I have been attending a church for about 2 months now. I have never felt more welcome and at home in a church ever in my life. Montana Avenue Baptist is a wonderful place. Our Pastor, Geoff Williams and his wife Beth are amazing. Both have such a heart for missions. Beth was raised in South America until the age of 16 as a Missionary child and her and Geoff lived and served in Colombia for 7 years. Pastor Williams served as the Head of Church Missions in California as well, traveling anywhere from South America to Togo, Africa. When I even hinted at the hopes of finding a church willing to go to Haiti and see the children, help and minister they were both overjoyed with the thought of it!!! Usually you get the "oh, why would we go to Haiti?" Like it is the single most hell on earth place to go to and not worthy of their presence. I am so excited for the option to teach them about my dreams in life and how to help my adopted country and to have them teach me how to be a better Christian.
I THINK I AM FINALLY HOME!!!!!
Beki will be entering the US with her little one tomorrow...stay tuned for the announcement of her arrival as well. I have another family that will be traveling in the next week or two as well....YES...it has been about a 3 year battle for this family and MORE than time for Rose to come home.
Also, I have been attending a church for about 2 months now. I have never felt more welcome and at home in a church ever in my life. Montana Avenue Baptist is a wonderful place. Our Pastor, Geoff Williams and his wife Beth are amazing. Both have such a heart for missions. Beth was raised in South America until the age of 16 as a Missionary child and her and Geoff lived and served in Colombia for 7 years. Pastor Williams served as the Head of Church Missions in California as well, traveling anywhere from South America to Togo, Africa. When I even hinted at the hopes of finding a church willing to go to Haiti and see the children, help and minister they were both overjoyed with the thought of it!!! Usually you get the "oh, why would we go to Haiti?" Like it is the single most hell on earth place to go to and not worthy of their presence. I am so excited for the option to teach them about my dreams in life and how to help my adopted country and to have them teach me how to be a better Christian.
I THINK I AM FINALLY HOME!!!!!
I Saw What I Saw...
This is a Sara Groves song and video. This song touches me as it reminds me of my trips to Haiti, the way Haiti makes me feel and expresses my love for my Adopted Country.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Update on Things
So far the two families I have in Country are doing well. Visas are in hand!! Marcy leaves Haiti tomorrow afternoon and Beki leaves Thursday afternoon....both with their new children. I am so excited for them and happy that they have finally come to the end of their journey. I often laugh when the families have traveled. During the process they ask me over and over..."are you sure this is going to happen, are you SURE that I will get these kids home?!" I always encourage..."Yes, they will come home, it will happen...in good timing...God's timing." After travel the families finally see the hopes and dreams they have had for so long finally come to fruition and they finally agree "I knew they would come home...." RIGHT...hehehe
Our new church is going well. All the kids love it, and I finally feel like I am not AS lost in Bible Study as I was before. I Will be glad when January hits and they have a new members class to go to as opposed to the regular one....definitely help in the lost category a little more.
They are having choir tryouts and I am THINKING about trying out. I love to sing, sang in school and sing all the time. However, I am new to the church and I am shy to just get up and sing my heart out.....it could sound like a bad karaoke bar if I do...very frightening...hehe
The kids have all enjoyed the Sunday school and Children's church as well as AWANA's...they LOVE IT! I am so glad to find somewhere that everyone seems warm and friendly and accept the kids regardless of color. I even convinced Curtis to try it once....the church never caught fire..he may return again someday. :-P
The church is fairly small, I like that. The Pastor seems to be a real funny, easy going guy. This last Sunday he gave announcements. He said he had to add to the ones already in the bulletin and added the following:
"Fasting meeting to be held on Sunday Dec. 9. Snacks to be served.... "
"Choir tryouts are coming up. If you enjoy singing, please try out, these guys can use all the help they can get."
HEHEHE.....everyone was laughing.
The Church also seems to be fairly mission minded. The Pastor and his wife lived in Columbia for several years and preached at a church there. The church is fairly interested in the kids and what I do for a calling and I may be able to get some of the women involved in a mission trip to NLL sometime....here is to hoping and praying for that.
OK...off to bed. I need to get some sleep. I will try to post some photos of the kids decorating the Christmas tree. Every year we let the kids do it and we take photos. They LOVE to tell everyone THEY decorated it. Of course, some of the tree has 100 ornaments and the other part is bald but hey....it is a special tree. This year was Kai and Nikaya's first time decorating a tree and they had a blast. Kai was dressed in his Spider man Halloween costume and Nikaya had freedom hair and a Cheerleader costume from Halloween on....good times, good times!
Our new church is going well. All the kids love it, and I finally feel like I am not AS lost in Bible Study as I was before. I Will be glad when January hits and they have a new members class to go to as opposed to the regular one....definitely help in the lost category a little more.
They are having choir tryouts and I am THINKING about trying out. I love to sing, sang in school and sing all the time. However, I am new to the church and I am shy to just get up and sing my heart out.....it could sound like a bad karaoke bar if I do...very frightening...hehe
The kids have all enjoyed the Sunday school and Children's church as well as AWANA's...they LOVE IT! I am so glad to find somewhere that everyone seems warm and friendly and accept the kids regardless of color. I even convinced Curtis to try it once....the church never caught fire..he may return again someday. :-P
The church is fairly small, I like that. The Pastor seems to be a real funny, easy going guy. This last Sunday he gave announcements. He said he had to add to the ones already in the bulletin and added the following:
"Fasting meeting to be held on Sunday Dec. 9. Snacks to be served.... "
"Choir tryouts are coming up. If you enjoy singing, please try out, these guys can use all the help they can get."
HEHEHE.....everyone was laughing.
The Church also seems to be fairly mission minded. The Pastor and his wife lived in Columbia for several years and preached at a church there. The church is fairly interested in the kids and what I do for a calling and I may be able to get some of the women involved in a mission trip to NLL sometime....here is to hoping and praying for that.
OK...off to bed. I need to get some sleep. I will try to post some photos of the kids decorating the Christmas tree. Every year we let the kids do it and we take photos. They LOVE to tell everyone THEY decorated it. Of course, some of the tree has 100 ornaments and the other part is bald but hey....it is a special tree. This year was Kai and Nikaya's first time decorating a tree and they had a blast. Kai was dressed in his Spider man Halloween costume and Nikaya had freedom hair and a Cheerleader costume from Halloween on....good times, good times!
A quick poem for you
This is from my Friend Pastor Rick. I love this guy...his thoughts are wonderful. Please enjoy!
From Pastor RickMyspace.com/ReachOutCenter
The following is based on real life events.
God is good... all the time.
You Will Have All You Need © 2001
I saw a little boy, he was cold and he was crying
I gave him the gloves my father gave to me
He looked up and stared, surprised someone cared
I told him don't worry, you will have all you need
I saw a little girl, she was hungry and she was crying
I gave her the lunch my mother packed for me
She looked up and stared, surprised someone cared
I told her don't worry, you will have all you need
I saw a young man, he was half naked and he was crying
I gave him some clothes I had just bought for me
He looked at me and stared, so grateful someone cared
I told him don't worry, you will have all you need
I saw a young woman, she was lonely and she was crying
I gave her a hug, like those given to me
She shook as she shared, surprised that I cared
I told her don't worry, she would have all that she needs
I saw an old man who fell, and he had been crying
I helped him up and bandaged his knee
He looked at me so scared, so tickled someone cared
I told him don't worry, he would have all he needs
There was an old woman, half blind, trembling and crying
I helped find her glasses so she could see
She looked through them with tears, as I comforted her fears
I told her don't worry, you will have all you need
Then I had a dream, I saw Jesus and He was crying
I asked if there was something I could do
He said thanks for showing you care, in my times of despair
And don't you worry, you will have all you need
But I said hey Jesus, when did I ever see you crying
Sick or half naked or begging for bread?
He said, you have blest me my son, unselfish things you have done
For what you've done unto these, you have done unto me
For what you've done unto these, you have done unto me.
What you've done unto these, you have done unto me.
Pastor RickMyspace.com/ReachOutCenter "You Will Have All You Need" © 2001
From Pastor RickMyspace.com/ReachOutCenter
The following is based on real life events.
God is good... all the time.
You Will Have All You Need © 2001
I saw a little boy, he was cold and he was crying
I gave him the gloves my father gave to me
He looked up and stared, surprised someone cared
I told him don't worry, you will have all you need
I saw a little girl, she was hungry and she was crying
I gave her the lunch my mother packed for me
She looked up and stared, surprised someone cared
I told her don't worry, you will have all you need
I saw a young man, he was half naked and he was crying
I gave him some clothes I had just bought for me
He looked at me and stared, so grateful someone cared
I told him don't worry, you will have all you need
I saw a young woman, she was lonely and she was crying
I gave her a hug, like those given to me
She shook as she shared, surprised that I cared
I told her don't worry, she would have all that she needs
I saw an old man who fell, and he had been crying
I helped him up and bandaged his knee
He looked at me so scared, so tickled someone cared
I told him don't worry, he would have all he needs
There was an old woman, half blind, trembling and crying
I helped find her glasses so she could see
She looked through them with tears, as I comforted her fears
I told her don't worry, you will have all you need
Then I had a dream, I saw Jesus and He was crying
I asked if there was something I could do
He said thanks for showing you care, in my times of despair
And don't you worry, you will have all you need
But I said hey Jesus, when did I ever see you crying
Sick or half naked or begging for bread?
He said, you have blest me my son, unselfish things you have done
For what you've done unto these, you have done unto me
For what you've done unto these, you have done unto me.
What you've done unto these, you have done unto me.
Pastor RickMyspace.com/ReachOutCenter "You Will Have All You Need" © 2001
Friday, November 30, 2007
Another One Down!!!
Another family will be completed before the Holidays!
Marcy is traveling to Haiti (to leave tomorrow and arrive in Haiti Sunday) for a Visa visit of Monday December 3rd, 2007...once again at the lovely time of 7am.....
This makes my SECOND family to travel for this next week!!!
CONGRATULATIONS JEREMY, MARCY, AUSTIN, CHRISTIAN, KADEN.....WELCOME HOME LOUNA (GRACE) AND HAYLEE (HOPE)!!!!!
Lots of love to the newly completed families.....I LOVE YOU ALL!
Marcy is traveling to Haiti (to leave tomorrow and arrive in Haiti Sunday) for a Visa visit of Monday December 3rd, 2007...once again at the lovely time of 7am.....
This makes my SECOND family to travel for this next week!!!
CONGRATULATIONS JEREMY, MARCY, AUSTIN, CHRISTIAN, KADEN.....WELCOME HOME LOUNA (GRACE) AND HAYLEE (HOPE)!!!!!
Lots of love to the newly completed families.....I LOVE YOU ALL!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
4 Minutes in Haiti
Wonderful video with scenes of daily Haitian life, sounds and sites...LOVE IT! Makes me miss Haiti so much!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Graci is coming home!
I am so excited I can barely write...type, whatever...
One of my adoptive mommies is getting to travel! Visa interview is Tuesday am (7am to be exact...eeww) and she will return with their new daughter Thursday! I am so excited. I have 2 more families on the cusp of travel and hope to post soon that they too have their appointments made and tickets bought.....Graci is coming home!!
Congratulations Tim, Beki and Jami.....Graci will be home for Christmas!
One of my adoptive mommies is getting to travel! Visa interview is Tuesday am (7am to be exact...eeww) and she will return with their new daughter Thursday! I am so excited. I have 2 more families on the cusp of travel and hope to post soon that they too have their appointments made and tickets bought.....Graci is coming home!!
Congratulations Tim, Beki and Jami.....Graci will be home for Christmas!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Prayers for a Friend
I have a prayer request for a friend.
This friend Mike is one of the fighters I have met during my ring side medic job and I just love the guy. He is a fierce competitor and very loyal to his friends. My prayer for him is this:
Mike is the ripe old age of 23 year old. He and his 21 year old girlfriend have been awaiting the arrival of a daughter this month. Well, the 23rd, Mike celebrated his birthday and the 24th his baby daughter was stillborn. I am so very sad for Mike and his girlfriend, I believe they looked forward to this baby as hope....she is now gone. Mike is not a religious guy, and I do not believe he is saved, however, that is not my call to make. I do know, that he is sad, lonely and in need of prayer as is Carrie, the mother of the baby.
I have sent him words of comfort, the only thing I can offer him, except for prayers. Pray for them to have clarification that the Lord loves them and their daughter, and that there is some reason, unknown to them, that he has taken their baby.
I always hated that saying "it was for the best, God knew what he was doing"....It never made it any easier, but for them I pray that they find some peace in the situation and come to know God through it all.
This friend Mike is one of the fighters I have met during my ring side medic job and I just love the guy. He is a fierce competitor and very loyal to his friends. My prayer for him is this:
Mike is the ripe old age of 23 year old. He and his 21 year old girlfriend have been awaiting the arrival of a daughter this month. Well, the 23rd, Mike celebrated his birthday and the 24th his baby daughter was stillborn. I am so very sad for Mike and his girlfriend, I believe they looked forward to this baby as hope....she is now gone. Mike is not a religious guy, and I do not believe he is saved, however, that is not my call to make. I do know, that he is sad, lonely and in need of prayer as is Carrie, the mother of the baby.
I have sent him words of comfort, the only thing I can offer him, except for prayers. Pray for them to have clarification that the Lord loves them and their daughter, and that there is some reason, unknown to them, that he has taken their baby.
I always hated that saying "it was for the best, God knew what he was doing"....It never made it any easier, but for them I pray that they find some peace in the situation and come to know God through it all.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Haiti Video...Great footage
Great Video that shows pic's of Haiti. Some video, some still shots, all great!!
Courtesy of Youtube and MBA's Without Borders in Haiti
Friday, November 23, 2007
Promoted to Angel
On November 12th I posted a video about a little boy named Henrius, in Haiti. He was suffering from Kwashiokor's, a severe form of Protein Malnutrition.
Wednesday November 21st in the morning, Henrius succumbed to his illness and has been promoted to angel status and into the arms of his waiting Savior.
Prayers to the Rescue Center in Haiti for their efforts (this death was very hard for Lori and Licia and the staff) as well as prayers for his birth family that had hoped for a better outcome.
Wednesday November 21st in the morning, Henrius succumbed to his illness and has been promoted to angel status and into the arms of his waiting Savior.
Prayers to the Rescue Center in Haiti for their efforts (this death was very hard for Lori and Licia and the staff) as well as prayers for his birth family that had hoped for a better outcome.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Weightless and Empty
This year as Thanksgiving comes up I have so much to be thankful for. This will be the first year Kai and Nikaya will get to spend with us as a family. December 13th will be 1 year home from Haiti...where did the time go??
I think of the families that are still waiting for their children to come home and the loss and sadness they have of missing another Holiday with those children and it makes me cry...I have been there. I think about the families so much that it effects my sleep, making it necessary for me to take med's to help me fall asleep or I would be up all hours of the night...thinking....scheming of ways to get them home faster...wishing and praying for things that it isn't my place to decide, but still I think about them.
There is a song by Sarah McLachlan called 'In the Arms of The Angel'. This song speaks to me and brings me to tears every time I hear it. Her words are below:
Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it ok
There's always some reason to feel not good enough?
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction,
oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty and weightless,
and maybe I'll find some peace tonight
In the arms of an Angel, fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room,
and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an Angel;
may you find some comfort here
So tired of the straight line,
and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting,
you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference,
escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness,
oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of an Angel,
far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room,
and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
In the arms of an Angel;
may you find some comfort here
I would love to be weightless and empty of worry and find the peace that would allow me to sleep.
Everywhere we (the adoption workers, the families and the adopted children) turn, there are vultures at our backs...the corruption is unimaginable.
The sweet madness and glorious sadness brings the families to their knees. I have lived thru that as well....4 times for myself.....it is such an arm aching and heart wrenching situation to be in.
I think of all of the kids and their families as I celebrate my children's First Thanksgiving home, and pray for them to be strong and that they truly know that someday this pain will all be a distant memory and a journey that they are Thankful they made and that I was blessed enough to be a part of.
I think of the families that are still waiting for their children to come home and the loss and sadness they have of missing another Holiday with those children and it makes me cry...I have been there. I think about the families so much that it effects my sleep, making it necessary for me to take med's to help me fall asleep or I would be up all hours of the night...thinking....scheming of ways to get them home faster...wishing and praying for things that it isn't my place to decide, but still I think about them.
There is a song by Sarah McLachlan called 'In the Arms of The Angel'. This song speaks to me and brings me to tears every time I hear it. Her words are below:
Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it ok
There's always some reason to feel not good enough?
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction,
oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty and weightless,
and maybe I'll find some peace tonight
In the arms of an Angel, fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room,
and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an Angel;
may you find some comfort here
So tired of the straight line,
and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting,
you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference,
escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness,
oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of an Angel,
far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room,
and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
In the arms of an Angel;
may you find some comfort here
I would love to be weightless and empty of worry and find the peace that would allow me to sleep.
Everywhere we (the adoption workers, the families and the adopted children) turn, there are vultures at our backs...the corruption is unimaginable.
The sweet madness and glorious sadness brings the families to their knees. I have lived thru that as well....4 times for myself.....it is such an arm aching and heart wrenching situation to be in.
I think of all of the kids and their families as I celebrate my children's First Thanksgiving home, and pray for them to be strong and that they truly know that someday this pain will all be a distant memory and a journey that they are Thankful they made and that I was blessed enough to be a part of.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
A Few Funnies
Got this from the blog of my friend Britney. LOVED it and had to share it with all of you!!!
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like".
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"
The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."
A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."
"Yes," the class said.
"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"
A little fellow shouted,
"Cause your feet ain't empty."
The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE . God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like".
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"
The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."
A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."
"Yes," the class said.
"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"
A little fellow shouted,
"Cause your feet ain't empty."
The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE . God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Titus 2 and Parenting
I took my 2nd Titus 2 class this last Sunday. I love that I have founbd a group that has so far fit for me and given us a place to possibly...eventually...call home church.
At my last Titus class we talked about Self Control and how to have it in everyday life with ourselves, people in our lives, our hubby and our children. I find that I struggle with the last one some times and I am not sure if it is because I am impatient, tired, grumpy selfish or all of the above. I explained the concept to my hubby (we are to practice the 'art' of self control at least 25 times this next month for homework. This really is harder than it sounds when you have 4 children aged 10, 7, 6, and 3. hehe
I explained to the kids that we are going to ALL practice our voices and words adn use them as if Jesus himself were standing behind you when you say them...to give you a little reminder to watch your tongue, tone and eye rolling.
Yestrerday, Hunter was yelling at Kai...the exchange went like this:
Hunter: "Kai, I am gonna hit you on the head when no one is looking!"
Me: "Hunter, what would you do and say if Jesus was standing behind you?"
Hunter: (Never taking his eyes off of Kai and never cracking a smile) "If Jesus was behind me I would still say it but I would whisper!"
Me: (inside myself of course..) hehehehe
We are still working on the concept.
:-P
At my last Titus class we talked about Self Control and how to have it in everyday life with ourselves, people in our lives, our hubby and our children. I find that I struggle with the last one some times and I am not sure if it is because I am impatient, tired, grumpy selfish or all of the above. I explained the concept to my hubby (we are to practice the 'art' of self control at least 25 times this next month for homework. This really is harder than it sounds when you have 4 children aged 10, 7, 6, and 3. hehe
I explained to the kids that we are going to ALL practice our voices and words adn use them as if Jesus himself were standing behind you when you say them...to give you a little reminder to watch your tongue, tone and eye rolling.
Yestrerday, Hunter was yelling at Kai...the exchange went like this:
Hunter: "Kai, I am gonna hit you on the head when no one is looking!"
Me: "Hunter, what would you do and say if Jesus was standing behind you?"
Hunter: (Never taking his eyes off of Kai and never cracking a smile) "If Jesus was behind me I would still say it but I would whisper!"
Me: (inside myself of course..) hehehehe
We are still working on the concept.
:-P
Monday, November 12, 2007
Rescue Center Video..Please Pray
This was filmed by one of my new friends in Haiti. She and her sister are wonderful and care for the many children in Cazale at their clinic. Please, pray for Henrius as he tries to survive....something they see everyday in MANY children.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Haiti Video of NLL and HFC
This video was posted by a group that went on a Mission Trip to New Life Link and Hope for the Children of Haiti (one of the Oprhanages in Haiti I work with.) Look, listen, see the beauty of the children...wish there was more!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Church
I am excited to return to our new church tomorrow. Kids are bathing tonight to get ready to go tomorrow morning since we must be there by 9:30am and it would not allow all of us to shower beforehand....not happening with me and 4 kids! ;-)
I have missed church the last 2 Sunday's due to either being ill or being out late working the previous night....what an excuse huh?! Anyway, tomorrow we are getting back into the swing of it and I will also be returning to the Titus 2 class tomorrow night..very excited for that!
I have missed church the last 2 Sunday's due to either being ill or being out late working the previous night....what an excuse huh?! Anyway, tomorrow we are getting back into the swing of it and I will also be returning to the Titus 2 class tomorrow night..very excited for that!
Kai and Nikaya-isms
Kai and Nikaya watch way to much WWE Wrestling with Hunter. We know this now because the other day they were playing in the living room rolling around and pretending to throw each other on the floor etc. Nikaya fell over after Kai got a good fake kick on her. She got up and said "Oh tay....fine, fine, fine..." and ripped her shirt off over her head and flexed her muscles Hulk style and said "Kai, you see my BIG muscles?" Kai replied "Oh yeah, see mine?" and ripped his shirt off over his head....maybe we need to monitor the TV viewing a little closer!! :-)
Hunter-isms
Hunter has had a few funnies in his day as well. Here are a couple that stand out:
Hunter talking to me in the store.
"Man mom, I cannot wait until I am old enough for my Bar mitsvah!"
"Hunter, you are Haitian and Baptist, NOT Jewish."
"Oh, no Bar mitsvah then?
"Uh...no...."
Us to Hunter:
"Hunter, eat all of your food on your plate..there are children starving all over the world, including your own country."
Hunter to us:
"But, if I eat all of my food I wont have room for dessert..."
Hunter talking to me in the store.
"Man mom, I cannot wait until I am old enough for my Bar mitsvah!"
"Hunter, you are Haitian and Baptist, NOT Jewish."
"Oh, no Bar mitsvah then?
"Uh...no...."
Us to Hunter:
"Hunter, eat all of your food on your plate..there are children starving all over the world, including your own country."
Hunter to us:
"But, if I eat all of my food I wont have room for dessert..."
Demi-isms
A few funnies that we have had the last few days:
Hunter talking about something he learned at school and how it was an Idiom....I said "Hunter, what is an idiom?" to which Demi replied "Gosh mom, even I know what an idiot is." :-)
Hunter was in his room dragging toys out of his toy box. He comes in and tells me that he has found all the toys WE have hid from him all this time...RIGHT...we hid them from him in his toy box...what a concept... Anyway, I told Hunter he had better clean his room when he was done digging so it didn't look like a CYCLONE hit it. Demi replied "to late, there already was a CYCLOPS in his room!" :-)
Hunter talking about something he learned at school and how it was an Idiom....I said "Hunter, what is an idiom?" to which Demi replied "Gosh mom, even I know what an idiot is." :-)
Hunter was in his room dragging toys out of his toy box. He comes in and tells me that he has found all the toys WE have hid from him all this time...RIGHT...we hid them from him in his toy box...what a concept... Anyway, I told Hunter he had better clean his room when he was done digging so it didn't look like a CYCLONE hit it. Demi replied "to late, there already was a CYCLOPS in his room!" :-)
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Fight Updates :-P
OK. I forgot to post about the MMA fights I went to and sat Ring Side Medic for. I have to say, these were good (I think they are all awesome, but these were exciting)
I had 1 REALLY bad eye cut. This guy had 3 Hematoma's around his eye. A Hematoma is a blood filled sack...He was bleeding so bad, but his corner begged me not to stop the fight reminding me that it was not bleeding INTO his eye and he could still fight. I decided to let him go 1 more round and told him if he was still bleeding that bad after the next round he was DONE! The guy thanked me and went out to fight the 2nd, but final round...knocking the other guy unconscious and winning the Title belt! Took me 5 butterflies to close his eye and 5 more after his shower. (I usually close the cut after they get out of the cage so they can shower and get the Vaseline off and cool off so the butterflies stick better and once they do that I re-butterfly them for good until the go to the hospital.)
One guy got his opponent in an arm bar and all of a sudden the guy on the ground SCREAMED! I run in and the guy who did the arm bar kept saying "I heard something pop...eewww..." I checked the guy and saw no visible injuries and had the Ambulance Crew come up to check him as well. We believe he popped a nerve in his arm, and sent him to have x-rays.
Big fight of the night was the second to last one. A guy who has held the Title for several years was fighting an up and comer. They were fighting good and hard and finally after 3 rounds the new guy got the Title holder in a choke hold and he tapped out....The new guy jumped for joy and his posse came into the cage to congratulate him and I went in to check the loser out to make sure he did not lose consciousness. All of a sudden someone ran into my arm and I almost fell down. I look up and HUGE fight of about 10 people is happening in the winners corner. YIKES...here came the Local Police, and 2 different Security services in to the ring. The Dr. helping me runs out and turns around to say "wow..what a mess" but he didn't see me....I am IN the middle of the fight pulling the fighters I know off of each other and checking all the blood...IT WAS EVERYWHERE! I had several cuts, scraped, bloody knuckles etc from the ones fighting. Come to find out, the kid who lost, his FATHER ran into the ring and sucker punched the kid who won...WHAT?! The father was arrested, the kid who lost was MORTIFIED that his father did that and the guy who won...he had a majorly cracked bridge in his mouth (he had taken his mouth piece out after his fight)all 4 front teeth were broken, bleeding and loose...what a bloody mess. When I was finished, my hubby was holding my arm because I was to stupid to get out of the cage during the fight...hehe...and he was terrified for me... and I was covered in blood. WHAT A NIGHT!!!!
Can't wait until Dec. for the next ones!
I had 1 REALLY bad eye cut. This guy had 3 Hematoma's around his eye. A Hematoma is a blood filled sack...He was bleeding so bad, but his corner begged me not to stop the fight reminding me that it was not bleeding INTO his eye and he could still fight. I decided to let him go 1 more round and told him if he was still bleeding that bad after the next round he was DONE! The guy thanked me and went out to fight the 2nd, but final round...knocking the other guy unconscious and winning the Title belt! Took me 5 butterflies to close his eye and 5 more after his shower. (I usually close the cut after they get out of the cage so they can shower and get the Vaseline off and cool off so the butterflies stick better and once they do that I re-butterfly them for good until the go to the hospital.)
One guy got his opponent in an arm bar and all of a sudden the guy on the ground SCREAMED! I run in and the guy who did the arm bar kept saying "I heard something pop...eewww..." I checked the guy and saw no visible injuries and had the Ambulance Crew come up to check him as well. We believe he popped a nerve in his arm, and sent him to have x-rays.
Big fight of the night was the second to last one. A guy who has held the Title for several years was fighting an up and comer. They were fighting good and hard and finally after 3 rounds the new guy got the Title holder in a choke hold and he tapped out....The new guy jumped for joy and his posse came into the cage to congratulate him and I went in to check the loser out to make sure he did not lose consciousness. All of a sudden someone ran into my arm and I almost fell down. I look up and HUGE fight of about 10 people is happening in the winners corner. YIKES...here came the Local Police, and 2 different Security services in to the ring. The Dr. helping me runs out and turns around to say "wow..what a mess" but he didn't see me....I am IN the middle of the fight pulling the fighters I know off of each other and checking all the blood...IT WAS EVERYWHERE! I had several cuts, scraped, bloody knuckles etc from the ones fighting. Come to find out, the kid who lost, his FATHER ran into the ring and sucker punched the kid who won...WHAT?! The father was arrested, the kid who lost was MORTIFIED that his father did that and the guy who won...he had a majorly cracked bridge in his mouth (he had taken his mouth piece out after his fight)all 4 front teeth were broken, bleeding and loose...what a bloody mess. When I was finished, my hubby was holding my arm because I was to stupid to get out of the cage during the fight...hehe...and he was terrified for me... and I was covered in blood. WHAT A NIGHT!!!!
Can't wait until Dec. for the next ones!
Monday, November 05, 2007
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Halloween
I have yet to post photos, but Halloween was fun. Hunter was a scary bleeding Grim Reaper, Demi was a Vampiress, Kai was Spiderman and Nikaya was a Cheerleader (of course). Curtis dressed up as Gandolf the Grey (from Lord of the Rings) and took them trick or treating to family and neighbors. All the kids had fun. Nikaya would say over and over again that Curtis was her daddy, but she would NOT hold his hand for anything, choosing instead to hold Tracey's (one of my bestest friend's). I stayed home for the first time in....ever...to pass out candy. I made my hair into a fohawk and put black lipstick and eye shadow on. Most of the neighborhood kids know me so they thought it was pretty great...they thought I should take that look to the street for everyday use. hehe
We were still able to start early enough to trick or treat and then be in bed by 9pm as usual. Than goodness or we would have had grumpy sugar drenched kids the next day.
We were still able to start early enough to trick or treat and then be in bed by 9pm as usual. Than goodness or we would have had grumpy sugar drenched kids the next day.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Mercy Me - I can Only Imagine
Ok...I am not a total heathen.:-P I love this group and song as well. It is hard for me to listen to this song and not cry. Abosolutely beautiful.
I have always thought this song represented the way you might feel when you meet the Lord himself. I had never thought of it as meeting someone you have loved and lost.
Great song...enjoy
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Fight night is Saturday 6pm. I always get excited to see the fighters in the cage...not everyone's cup of tea I know, but I love it.
There is about 13 fights scheduled...so 26 fighters to check pre-fight.....Fun times.
This will be the first time my hubby has gone to watch me do my thing...I am anxious for him to meet the fighters that I have gotten to know. They are a great group of guys and are a blast to hang with.
I will have quite a few people to go with me. My hubby, Eric (my brother, who usually goes), my uncle Ben may go with his Nephew so I can introduce his nephew to the fighters. He is an amateur boxer and would like to meet some cool guys he could train with and make some connections in the fight world, I am just glad I can help him where I can. Maybe he will remember me when he is a big fighter on Spike TV and take me along. :-P
I will post Sunday how the fights went...pray for an easy major injury free night, good referees and fighters to put on a good show for the crowd.
There is about 13 fights scheduled...so 26 fighters to check pre-fight.....Fun times.
This will be the first time my hubby has gone to watch me do my thing...I am anxious for him to meet the fighters that I have gotten to know. They are a great group of guys and are a blast to hang with.
I will have quite a few people to go with me. My hubby, Eric (my brother, who usually goes), my uncle Ben may go with his Nephew so I can introduce his nephew to the fighters. He is an amateur boxer and would like to meet some cool guys he could train with and make some connections in the fight world, I am just glad I can help him where I can. Maybe he will remember me when he is a big fighter on Spike TV and take me along. :-P
I will post Sunday how the fights went...pray for an easy major injury free night, good referees and fighters to put on a good show for the crowd.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Peek into my Life
Below I have posted 2 videos from my favorite band Linkin Park. LP has been around for quite a while. The second video (One Step Closer) is from their first CD Hybrid Theory. The last video (What I've Done) is from their most recent CD, Minutes to Midnight.
My hubby, children and I all love this band. They say alot to the way people feel in their lives. Each song (both drastically different) mean a lot to me. I hope you listen and TRY to enjoy my crazy taste in music. hehe
My hubby, children and I all love this band. They say alot to the way people feel in their lives. Each song (both drastically different) mean a lot to me. I hope you listen and TRY to enjoy my crazy taste in music. hehe
Linkin Park - What I've Done
Same band as below...LINKIN PARK. LP has been my favorite for years. The first video is from their first CD, this video is from their most recent one. If you ask my dad...they still suck...hehehe
Linkin Park- One Step Closer
My Favorite band of all time! (Along with my hubby and 4 Haitian children who are now headbangers!!) LINKIN PARK....a little insight into my life....hehehehe
I played this song for Dr. Bernard in Haiti one time....he laughed so hard..and for the first time in his life said he was SPEECHLESS!!! No one can EVER make that man speechless! :-P
I have a Cankle
Ok...I did my walk today with my foot sore before I went. I went 2.5 miles and WAMMO...that sucker is HUGE! I now have a gorgeous cankle. I put an ace wrap on it and need to have it
x-rayed eventually to make sure there is nothing more wrong with it. I am not sure if it is my Fibromyalgia or something much more. All I know...IS IT HURTS AND IT IS HUGE!!!
So, I may be off the walking a little bit...off to do sit ups, push ups etc...that can;t hurt the old cankle can it?
x-rayed eventually to make sure there is nothing more wrong with it. I am not sure if it is my Fibromyalgia or something much more. All I know...IS IT HURTS AND IT IS HUGE!!!
So, I may be off the walking a little bit...off to do sit ups, push ups etc...that can;t hurt the old cankle can it?
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Diet..UGH
Ok. I have yet to say that I am on a diet....I am going for the lifestyle change instead of diet...easier on the mind and body :-)
So far, I have lost 18lbs. I have noticed, hubby has noticed, not many others mention it other than they see me all over the neighborhood with my Mp3 and tennies walking all over the place. I can go as far as 4 miles, but I pay for it the next day with leg cramps and a swollen right ankle. Every since I dislocated all my toes on the right foot by kicking my coffee table my foot has NEVER been the same. Anyhoo....I pay for it dearly so I decided to stay safer with the 3 mile walk instead...still have pain, but that extra mile kills. :-P I have started to count calories just to see how many I am eating, and I am staying in a pretty good area for weight loss. I have cut out a lot of things and find that I don't miss them as much now that I have gotten over the withdrawls.
I will post progress later...maybe I will post a photo of me in my bikini....HEHEHEHEHE
OK....now that you have all left to vomit, I will say KIDDING!!!!
Blessings
So far, I have lost 18lbs. I have noticed, hubby has noticed, not many others mention it other than they see me all over the neighborhood with my Mp3 and tennies walking all over the place. I can go as far as 4 miles, but I pay for it the next day with leg cramps and a swollen right ankle. Every since I dislocated all my toes on the right foot by kicking my coffee table my foot has NEVER been the same. Anyhoo....I pay for it dearly so I decided to stay safer with the 3 mile walk instead...still have pain, but that extra mile kills. :-P I have started to count calories just to see how many I am eating, and I am staying in a pretty good area for weight loss. I have cut out a lot of things and find that I don't miss them as much now that I have gotten over the withdrawls.
I will post progress later...maybe I will post a photo of me in my bikini....HEHEHEHEHE
OK....now that you have all left to vomit, I will say KIDDING!!!!
Blessings
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
A Child Like Me....
I received this from the author, Lisa Schlitt. She has amazing adoption poetry. I will see if she has a website for those of you who want to get her stuff...WOW!
I wish I had a digital picture of the day I first met Kai. This poem is HIM. It takes me back to the day that I met him, in his stained shirt, scarred hand and eyes of a child that had been in the orphanage for a while without a family. He HAS this smile that lights up a room, EVERYONE says it. It is the thing that drew me to him first off. I read this and got tears in my eyes...this is my little Kai Ceus.....
A CHILD LIKE ME
With saddened eyes and head bent low,
It’s damaged goods most see,
With an unclear past and broken heart,
Who would want a child like me?
I watch you walk into the room,
From a distance I can see,
But dare I take a closer step?
Who would want a child like me?
And then I see you look my way,
You smile so tenderly,
But do I even dare to dream,
You would want a child like me?
And then as if I spoke out loud
You approach me cautiously,
I try so hard to just believe,
She will want a child like me.
But can I once let down my guard,
And trust that she will see,
Hiding beneath this old stained shirt,
Is a beautiful child like me?
My smile they say lights up a room,
I’ll be good as good can be,
“Oh Please Dear God, let her want,
A special child like me.”
I feel her hand reach out for mine,
And within her eyes I see,
A single, tiny, shining tear,
Could she want a child like me?
And when she holds me in her arms,
There’s no place I’d rather be,
For in my heart the truth is clear,
“The child she wants is ME!
Lisa J Schlitt©2007
I wish I had a digital picture of the day I first met Kai. This poem is HIM. It takes me back to the day that I met him, in his stained shirt, scarred hand and eyes of a child that had been in the orphanage for a while without a family. He HAS this smile that lights up a room, EVERYONE says it. It is the thing that drew me to him first off. I read this and got tears in my eyes...this is my little Kai Ceus.....
A CHILD LIKE ME
With saddened eyes and head bent low,
It’s damaged goods most see,
With an unclear past and broken heart,
Who would want a child like me?
I watch you walk into the room,
From a distance I can see,
But dare I take a closer step?
Who would want a child like me?
And then I see you look my way,
You smile so tenderly,
But do I even dare to dream,
You would want a child like me?
And then as if I spoke out loud
You approach me cautiously,
I try so hard to just believe,
She will want a child like me.
But can I once let down my guard,
And trust that she will see,
Hiding beneath this old stained shirt,
Is a beautiful child like me?
My smile they say lights up a room,
I’ll be good as good can be,
“Oh Please Dear God, let her want,
A special child like me.”
I feel her hand reach out for mine,
And within her eyes I see,
A single, tiny, shining tear,
Could she want a child like me?
And when she holds me in her arms,
There’s no place I’d rather be,
For in my heart the truth is clear,
“The child she wants is ME!
Lisa J Schlitt©2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Titus 2
The kdis and I have started to try a new church. It is the same church the children attned AWANA's at, they know people, are well received and have just started a children's church during the main sermon. Sunday was our first day to try it. I got the kids set in the classes they needed, along with Zach and Annie (my frined Tracey's two kids who I take to AWANA's as well)...the kids all call my van the God bus and get on it Wed. and now Sun. to take them to learn about God. :-)
Once I got everyone settled I asked where the adults go to Sunday school and they pointed me tot he meeting room. Well, it has been a LONG time since i have been in Sunday school, but I was SOOO LOST. The guy was talking about the history of the Bible and how it covers the Roman empire etc....WOW...not really what I wanted to learn. Afterwards, while my head was spinning, I ran into one of the gals in my neighborhood during fellowship time. Come to find out, I should be in the beginner class as I had gone to the Adult advanced portion. Whew....I thought I was an idiot!!! ;-P
The kids and I enjoyed the service and will probably attend again next week as well as AWANAS's on Wednesday.
I came home fed everyone lunch and then napped a little took my walk and showered and went back for Women's fellowship time. They are teaching a class called TITUS 2.
Titus 2 is a class led by the Pastor's wife and it is teaching from the Bible chapter of Titus Chapter 2 verses 3-5. She also uses a book, which she will be ordering all of us...I can't think of the name of it off the top of my head though. It was a great class on how to properly be your hubby's greatest fan. How God gave woman the role of HELPER of the family and the hubby, NOT the leader. Now, don't get me wrong...it is NOT about being a mindless droll without an opinion, but to help your hubbies in the daily calling of leader of the family. We are the encourager, the companion and cheerleader for our husbands and all that they do...this allows them to lead the family as they were called to do by God. It was interesting listening to her read from this book about how what a woman says can truly affect what her hubby does and how he reacts to it, even internally. It was truly amazing and I look forward to taking the class from here and getting involved in a hopefully wonderful ministry....we shall see how it goes.
Blessings
Once I got everyone settled I asked where the adults go to Sunday school and they pointed me tot he meeting room. Well, it has been a LONG time since i have been in Sunday school, but I was SOOO LOST. The guy was talking about the history of the Bible and how it covers the Roman empire etc....WOW...not really what I wanted to learn. Afterwards, while my head was spinning, I ran into one of the gals in my neighborhood during fellowship time. Come to find out, I should be in the beginner class as I had gone to the Adult advanced portion. Whew....I thought I was an idiot!!! ;-P
The kids and I enjoyed the service and will probably attend again next week as well as AWANAS's on Wednesday.
I came home fed everyone lunch and then napped a little took my walk and showered and went back for Women's fellowship time. They are teaching a class called TITUS 2.
Titus 2 is a class led by the Pastor's wife and it is teaching from the Bible chapter of Titus Chapter 2 verses 3-5. She also uses a book, which she will be ordering all of us...I can't think of the name of it off the top of my head though. It was a great class on how to properly be your hubby's greatest fan. How God gave woman the role of HELPER of the family and the hubby, NOT the leader. Now, don't get me wrong...it is NOT about being a mindless droll without an opinion, but to help your hubbies in the daily calling of leader of the family. We are the encourager, the companion and cheerleader for our husbands and all that they do...this allows them to lead the family as they were called to do by God. It was interesting listening to her read from this book about how what a woman says can truly affect what her hubby does and how he reacts to it, even internally. It was truly amazing and I look forward to taking the class from here and getting involved in a hopefully wonderful ministry....we shall see how it goes.
Blessings
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Matrix..What a Band!
Last night I had a lot of fun and sadness all at the same time.
I went to a local bar to watch a friend play drums in his band 'Matrix'. I have known Larry and his wife Paula since High School and I thought I would go and listen and enjoy people watching as I am not much of a drinker.
I have to say, I have never been a bar goer, and see why. I mean, when I walk in it isn't like I wouldn't fit in with all my piercings and tattoo, but the type of people I saw and the lives that they lead made me sad for them.
I saw people who were worn, 'rode hard and put away wet' they say. The women in their short skirts and the men eyeing them all the time.....they knew it. I saw the ones that the bartenders knew by name because this was their only hangout, their weekend (if not daily) routine.
I focused on one guy in particular. He stood out to me because I had recognized him. He looks exactly like a guy that fought at the XFS fights I worked last time. I knew it wasn't THE guy, but one of his family members, as they all looked alike...beautiful eyes, kind of grisly biker type with full beards and flat noses from to many breaks. He stumbled around the bar. If someone sat at his table he would get up and move to another one. He never spoke to anyone and would occasionally laugh at a joke that no one told but the voice in his head. I watched him drink beer after beer and retreat outside with some of the other patrons to partake in drug use I am sure. He would rummage thru his pockets on his cammo pants and pull out a handful of pills and put them in his mouth and swallow them with a swig of beer. His eyes were empty...his soul was empty. I felt so bad for him, thinking about how he and many like him only look forward to the next drink and drug, and it made me sad. I found myself saying a prayer for him and he is so lost in this world. I wonder if he passed away, what difference did he make in the world? It isn't to say that no one would miss him, but would anyone really notice?
I came home and told Curtis that I had a blast, the band was GREAT but the people I saw were sad. He reminded me why we don't go to bars and what did I think I was going to see. I guess I have just not thought much about it.
I think the look in the guys eyes will haunt me for a while, the look of lost. How I wanted to just bring him home and make him see that there is so much more to life than bars, booze and drugs. Of course, I think Curtis would draw the line at me bringing home odd drunks at all hours of the morning to save them. :-)
I went to a local bar to watch a friend play drums in his band 'Matrix'. I have known Larry and his wife Paula since High School and I thought I would go and listen and enjoy people watching as I am not much of a drinker.
I have to say, I have never been a bar goer, and see why. I mean, when I walk in it isn't like I wouldn't fit in with all my piercings and tattoo, but the type of people I saw and the lives that they lead made me sad for them.
I saw people who were worn, 'rode hard and put away wet' they say. The women in their short skirts and the men eyeing them all the time.....they knew it. I saw the ones that the bartenders knew by name because this was their only hangout, their weekend (if not daily) routine.
I focused on one guy in particular. He stood out to me because I had recognized him. He looks exactly like a guy that fought at the XFS fights I worked last time. I knew it wasn't THE guy, but one of his family members, as they all looked alike...beautiful eyes, kind of grisly biker type with full beards and flat noses from to many breaks. He stumbled around the bar. If someone sat at his table he would get up and move to another one. He never spoke to anyone and would occasionally laugh at a joke that no one told but the voice in his head. I watched him drink beer after beer and retreat outside with some of the other patrons to partake in drug use I am sure. He would rummage thru his pockets on his cammo pants and pull out a handful of pills and put them in his mouth and swallow them with a swig of beer. His eyes were empty...his soul was empty. I felt so bad for him, thinking about how he and many like him only look forward to the next drink and drug, and it made me sad. I found myself saying a prayer for him and he is so lost in this world. I wonder if he passed away, what difference did he make in the world? It isn't to say that no one would miss him, but would anyone really notice?
I came home and told Curtis that I had a blast, the band was GREAT but the people I saw were sad. He reminded me why we don't go to bars and what did I think I was going to see. I guess I have just not thought much about it.
I think the look in the guys eyes will haunt me for a while, the look of lost. How I wanted to just bring him home and make him see that there is so much more to life than bars, booze and drugs. Of course, I think Curtis would draw the line at me bringing home odd drunks at all hours of the morning to save them. :-)
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Home Again, Home Again..Jiggity Jig
We made it home Saturday night about 7pm. Not bad for getting to spend time with family. We are all tired and grumpy from being stuck in a van with each other. 3 hours to Walla Walla, stay the night (no sleep there since I LOVE talking to my cousin Shane and his wife Kendra). On the road again Friday am to Quincy (another 3 hours). Enjoyed seeing family there, some I have not seen since I was a child and some I have never met.
Grandma Goldie's funeral was nice. It was great to hear from others in the community about someone you love. I have always been a giver, money or food to strangers etc....now I know where I got it from....Grandma Goldie never knew a stranger and was known to feed anyone who ever needed food! ;-P
Friday we stayed at my Cousin Kym's house. LOVE it....she has 4 kids (all teens or young adults now, and 1 grand daughter Bella. Bella is 2 and LOVED to play with the Little's while the Big's like to play with the older kids. We didn't get back from the funeral, dinner and 3 hour drive until 10pm, but it was still nice to stay and visit. Had little sleep that night as well.....my Aunt Pam is a snorer!!! (hehehe....thought I would get ya Pam...) I don't sleep well anyway, someone else's house is always hard for me.
Ride home was great and I am glad to be home. The kids can run amok and get ready for school tomorrow. They had the gall to ask me this morning when we are going back and when the next road trip will be......YIKES!
I did not get to meet up with my Friend Julie...SORRY JULIE! I should hope to be back Nov. 10th for my Cousin Mandy's wedding....so unless you are in Haiti getting your boys we should get together...more time to plan.
Grandma Goldie's funeral was nice. It was great to hear from others in the community about someone you love. I have always been a giver, money or food to strangers etc....now I know where I got it from....Grandma Goldie never knew a stranger and was known to feed anyone who ever needed food! ;-P
Friday we stayed at my Cousin Kym's house. LOVE it....she has 4 kids (all teens or young adults now, and 1 grand daughter Bella. Bella is 2 and LOVED to play with the Little's while the Big's like to play with the older kids. We didn't get back from the funeral, dinner and 3 hour drive until 10pm, but it was still nice to stay and visit. Had little sleep that night as well.....my Aunt Pam is a snorer!!! (hehehe....thought I would get ya Pam...) I don't sleep well anyway, someone else's house is always hard for me.
Ride home was great and I am glad to be home. The kids can run amok and get ready for school tomorrow. They had the gall to ask me this morning when we are going back and when the next road trip will be......YIKES!
I did not get to meet up with my Friend Julie...SORRY JULIE! I should hope to be back Nov. 10th for my Cousin Mandy's wedding....so unless you are in Haiti getting your boys we should get together...more time to plan.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
3 Mile Mark
Today I hit the 3 mile mark. I walked 3 miles in one walk!!! I am so excited. I have been doing my 2.5 mile walk almost daily...whether inside on the treadmill (boring....) or outside in the big world (which I prefer). Today I kept walking and wanted to see what I could do. I really think I could have gone a little further, but didn't want to push myself... I knew I had kids and a hubby at home that wanted fed and wanted to be able to walk tomorrow...hehe I did my walk and then took the car to see how far I had gone....3 MILES!!!! Not bad for a fat chick! So far I have lost 16lbs!!! :-)
Oct. 6th I am taking Hunter, Demi and Kai for a 1 mile Harvest walk....it should be a blast! I am taking Nikaya if they let me push the stroller.....
Oct. 6th I am taking Hunter, Demi and Kai for a 1 mile Harvest walk....it should be a blast! I am taking Nikaya if they let me push the stroller.....
Newest Adventure
Getting ready to take an adventure. I am taking the 4 kids to Walla Walla, Washington for the night on Thursday, then to Quincy, Washington to a funeral on Friday and then to Cousin Shane and Kendra's in Milton Freewater, Oregon Friday night and home Saturday. My Great Grandma Goldie, a Wonderful old broad, passed away at the rip age of 91. She was hoping to make it as old as her father, who passed away at 108. It will be nice to see family again, but I hate that it has to be due to a funeral. The kids will see some family they have never met, and will see others they have only seen once or twice. It will be good to go and visit since I don't see many of them often due to distance.
I wonder if I am crazy....taking 4 kids by myself on a road trip. At least the one leg of the journey is 3 hours, then we have a 'sleep over' with cousins...then another 3 hour journey for a funeral. I am borrowing Tracey's portable DVD players so the kids have something to do and hopefully leave me be for the drive....I will let you know if my sanity survives when I get back.
Curtis will be enjoying life as a bachelor (with a house, cats, dogs, fish and turtle to feed), but alone none the less....TV to himself, computer all night long and NO NOISE. Maybe I should send HIM on the trip and I stay home.
Peace my peeps!
I wonder if I am crazy....taking 4 kids by myself on a road trip. At least the one leg of the journey is 3 hours, then we have a 'sleep over' with cousins...then another 3 hour journey for a funeral. I am borrowing Tracey's portable DVD players so the kids have something to do and hopefully leave me be for the drive....I will let you know if my sanity survives when I get back.
Curtis will be enjoying life as a bachelor (with a house, cats, dogs, fish and turtle to feed), but alone none the less....TV to himself, computer all night long and NO NOISE. Maybe I should send HIM on the trip and I stay home.
Peace my peeps!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
OOPPSS..Demi's Tooth
I noticed that I forgot to post about Demi and her tooth.
Labor day, Demi was taking a shower for school the next day. She was turning around and slid and fell in the shower. When she fell, her face landed on the lip of the shower where the floor meets the door. She jammed her right permanent tooth UP into her gums and almost into her sinus cavity.
I heard a thump, scream (from Demi) and a swear word (from my hubby). He started yelling for me to come help. I called my mommy (what you always do when you freak out) to see who she would call since the Dentist was not answering his phone and there was no emergency number given. I called the Dentist at his home and left him a message..hoping and praying that he would get it and call me back. Within 5 minutes he returned our call and said to meet him at his office.
At first we thought she had knocked her tooth out, but it was still in her mouth, but shoved way up into the gum line. It tore her gums, cut her lip open on the bottom and chewed her inner lip to shreds. The Dentist was so good to her. He numbed her up and had to use 3 different pliers to pull the tooth out. He put it back where it belongs and bonded it with a wire to her 4 other front teeth, in hopes that it will knit bone back to it and not be lost for good. This tooth lost was a permanent tooth and right in the front. It did not break the root, but broke the bone all around it disconnecting the tooth from the skull....yeah, it hurt that bad!!!
We will go back in the next couple of weeks to check the viability of the tooth in hopes it can be saved. If not, she will have to wear a retainer with a fake tooth on it until she is old enough for an implant.
Demi has done well with all of it, knowing that she is beautiful even if she doesn't have a front tooth!
Keep the prayers up for her tooth to be saved.
Labor day, Demi was taking a shower for school the next day. She was turning around and slid and fell in the shower. When she fell, her face landed on the lip of the shower where the floor meets the door. She jammed her right permanent tooth UP into her gums and almost into her sinus cavity.
I heard a thump, scream (from Demi) and a swear word (from my hubby). He started yelling for me to come help. I called my mommy (what you always do when you freak out) to see who she would call since the Dentist was not answering his phone and there was no emergency number given. I called the Dentist at his home and left him a message..hoping and praying that he would get it and call me back. Within 5 minutes he returned our call and said to meet him at his office.
At first we thought she had knocked her tooth out, but it was still in her mouth, but shoved way up into the gum line. It tore her gums, cut her lip open on the bottom and chewed her inner lip to shreds. The Dentist was so good to her. He numbed her up and had to use 3 different pliers to pull the tooth out. He put it back where it belongs and bonded it with a wire to her 4 other front teeth, in hopes that it will knit bone back to it and not be lost for good. This tooth lost was a permanent tooth and right in the front. It did not break the root, but broke the bone all around it disconnecting the tooth from the skull....yeah, it hurt that bad!!!
We will go back in the next couple of weeks to check the viability of the tooth in hopes it can be saved. If not, she will have to wear a retainer with a fake tooth on it until she is old enough for an implant.
Demi has done well with all of it, knowing that she is beautiful even if she doesn't have a front tooth!
Keep the prayers up for her tooth to be saved.
Dinner, Birthdays and Toes
Saturday Demi Roo had a sleep over with her friend Annie. Annie was celebrating her 8th B-day...HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE!!!
We went to dinner with Curt's Aunt Peggy and her ex-hubby Don. Don't get weird, her and Don are best friends and he is a great guy. We enjoyed getting to see them, especially since Don is heading off today, Wednesday, for his home country of Sri Lanka for 6 months. We had a great time guys and wish Don a safe trip home to see family. Peg-you need to call us if you get bored...I am always up for a movie!!!
Curt celebrated his 37th birthday September 5th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE HANDSOMEST HUBBY EVER!!! He turned 37...3 years until his mid life crisis he says!! :-P
During his lovely birthday weekend, he stubbed his little toe on his right foot and broke it..YOUCH!!! He is limping along nicely with a toe that is twice the size of normal and many shades of purple, green, yellow and blue. He is currently sporting sandals with socks to work (can you say SEXY) since his shoes do not fit. hehehe ( I promised Gimpy Joe I wouldn't laugh, but I cannot help it..)
Demi's mouth is healing up nicely, we go back in another week or so to see how the tooths viability is doing. We are hoping to see some bone growth going on and that the tooth can be saved! Keep up the prayers!
That is all that is happening with the Kovick clan for now...blessings to everyone out there
We went to dinner with Curt's Aunt Peggy and her ex-hubby Don. Don't get weird, her and Don are best friends and he is a great guy. We enjoyed getting to see them, especially since Don is heading off today, Wednesday, for his home country of Sri Lanka for 6 months. We had a great time guys and wish Don a safe trip home to see family. Peg-you need to call us if you get bored...I am always up for a movie!!!
Curt celebrated his 37th birthday September 5th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE HANDSOMEST HUBBY EVER!!! He turned 37...3 years until his mid life crisis he says!! :-P
During his lovely birthday weekend, he stubbed his little toe on his right foot and broke it..YOUCH!!! He is limping along nicely with a toe that is twice the size of normal and many shades of purple, green, yellow and blue. He is currently sporting sandals with socks to work (can you say SEXY) since his shoes do not fit. hehehe ( I promised Gimpy Joe I wouldn't laugh, but I cannot help it..)
Demi's mouth is healing up nicely, we go back in another week or so to see how the tooths viability is doing. We are hoping to see some bone growth going on and that the tooth can be saved! Keep up the prayers!
That is all that is happening with the Kovick clan for now...blessings to everyone out there
Saturday, September 08, 2007
XFS
Last night I got the gig of a lifetime....at least for me. hehe
I worked as Ring Side Medic for the XFS fights. This is a huge arena that houses many pro activities. This was an Amateur fight, however, meeting with the management and promotion team that runs the Pro fights puts me in good running for the job of Medic for their events. Needless to say, they liked my 'work' and the fighters are learning who I am...amateur and Pro. I am very excited to go and hang and watch the fights, a big hobby of mine, use my Medic skills and get to know a lot of people. I had several people come up to me from the audience later and tell me that they thought I did a great job and was very attentive to the fighters and their needs. The Judges are getting to know me and know that I know what I am doing.....YEAH! The fighters as well as the Judges know that I am willing to "be the bad guy" when it comes to calling a fight due to injury"...even when I am booed. I was booed last night by my largest crowd ever...around 1500-2000 people....I LOVE making new friends.hehe
Post more later on if I get the gig......for now it looks like I am doing another Medic job on Oct. 6th at a smaller venue and then possibly the larger venue again Oct. 27th!!!
I worked as Ring Side Medic for the XFS fights. This is a huge arena that houses many pro activities. This was an Amateur fight, however, meeting with the management and promotion team that runs the Pro fights puts me in good running for the job of Medic for their events. Needless to say, they liked my 'work' and the fighters are learning who I am...amateur and Pro. I am very excited to go and hang and watch the fights, a big hobby of mine, use my Medic skills and get to know a lot of people. I had several people come up to me from the audience later and tell me that they thought I did a great job and was very attentive to the fighters and their needs. The Judges are getting to know me and know that I know what I am doing.....YEAH! The fighters as well as the Judges know that I am willing to "be the bad guy" when it comes to calling a fight due to injury"...even when I am booed. I was booed last night by my largest crowd ever...around 1500-2000 people....I LOVE making new friends.hehe
Post more later on if I get the gig......for now it looks like I am doing another Medic job on Oct. 6th at a smaller venue and then possibly the larger venue again Oct. 27th!!!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Finding Peace in Times of Distress
One of my Myspace friends, Haitian Born, posted this. I found it very relevant to the spiritual warfare I have felt in the last few days. Warafe that has been directed at me, the Haitian adoption process, and to a Dear Friend of mine who has nothing to hide...
Finding Peace in Times of Distress
by Kay Arthur
When the hour is dark, when the situation is desperate, when we are humbled and brought very low, we finally begin looking and longing for God's peace. Trembling, we grope through the darkness, longing to know that all will be well.When the angel of Jehovah appeared to Gideon (Judges 6), he was crouching in the dark confines of a winepress, threshing wheat in secret to protect it-and himself-from the Midianite invaders. This was not a new way to thresh grain, it was cowardice. Listen to how the angel of the Lord addresses Gideon.The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." Then Gideon said to him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? ...the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." The LORD looked at him and said, "Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?" (Judges 6:12-14)At first Gideon questioned this angel of the Lord and complained about his circumstances. How could God really love Israel? How could God really care about Gideon when they were all in such distress, danger, and poverty?Gideon did not yet know to Whom he was speaking. This angel spoke as Jehovah Himself, and when Gideon finally realized he'd been discussing politics and religion with God-face to face-he was rightfully terrified:"Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face." The LORD said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. (Judges 6:22-24)When do we first encounter the name Jehovah-shalom? Where does God first reveal His name as The Lord is Peace?In the presence of a man who is desperately afraid....a man who is literally walled in by circumstances...a man who is worried and discouraged and has no peace in his heart.When Gideon's eyes were at last opened to see that the Lord had taken a personal interest in his situation, that God was present with him in the midst of all this darkness and fear, he worshiped the Lord by a new name-Jehovah-shalom, The Lord is Peace.In the days to come, the Lord was going to put Gideon in some very unpeaceful situations. In some ways Gideon would face more stresses and challenges than he had ever faced in his young life. Learning this business of being a "valiant warrior" wasn't going to be easy.But no matter what happened from this point on, Gideon could look back to an altar. He could look back at a moment in time when Jehovah-shalom said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear."Beloved, do you ever feel as if you're trying to thresh wheat in a winepress? Surrounded by an enemy who presses in on you and tries to steal every grain of peace and gladness out of your life? Do you ever begin to wonder where your God is in the midst of your hurt and worry?How rightly Gideon named that altar, The Lord is Peace. True peace cannot be found in any other place than in a right relationship with God.We cannot base our peace in the circumstances and situations of life. We must not let our peace be centered in another man or woman-no matter how dear they are to us.We dare not allow peace to depend on sunny skies, a full stomach, a balanced checkbook, a healthy body, or a harmonious home. I believe the Lord sometimes allows situations that strip away the shallow, surface peace on which we have come to depend. He allows us to be distressed and in turmoil and unable to find the answers we need from our husbands, wives, friends, or counselors.In those times, as with Gideon, we need to discover that God is Jehovah-shalom.As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "He Himself is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14). Once you really understand this and worship God as Jehovah-shalom, you can have peace no matter what storms sweep over the horizon.Jesus told His disciples this very thing in the last few hours before the Cross. These men were in terrible turmoil, and things were about to get much worse. Here is Jesus' promise:"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)Where do you run when you need peace? Is your first response to go looking for a person or to pick up the phone?Before you do, Beloved, run into the shelter of His name. When you find Him, you will find peace because...He is Peace.
Finding Peace in Times of Distress
by Kay Arthur
When the hour is dark, when the situation is desperate, when we are humbled and brought very low, we finally begin looking and longing for God's peace. Trembling, we grope through the darkness, longing to know that all will be well.When the angel of Jehovah appeared to Gideon (Judges 6), he was crouching in the dark confines of a winepress, threshing wheat in secret to protect it-and himself-from the Midianite invaders. This was not a new way to thresh grain, it was cowardice. Listen to how the angel of the Lord addresses Gideon.The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." Then Gideon said to him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? ...the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." The LORD looked at him and said, "Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?" (Judges 6:12-14)At first Gideon questioned this angel of the Lord and complained about his circumstances. How could God really love Israel? How could God really care about Gideon when they were all in such distress, danger, and poverty?Gideon did not yet know to Whom he was speaking. This angel spoke as Jehovah Himself, and when Gideon finally realized he'd been discussing politics and religion with God-face to face-he was rightfully terrified:"Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face." The LORD said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. (Judges 6:22-24)When do we first encounter the name Jehovah-shalom? Where does God first reveal His name as The Lord is Peace?In the presence of a man who is desperately afraid....a man who is literally walled in by circumstances...a man who is worried and discouraged and has no peace in his heart.When Gideon's eyes were at last opened to see that the Lord had taken a personal interest in his situation, that God was present with him in the midst of all this darkness and fear, he worshiped the Lord by a new name-Jehovah-shalom, The Lord is Peace.In the days to come, the Lord was going to put Gideon in some very unpeaceful situations. In some ways Gideon would face more stresses and challenges than he had ever faced in his young life. Learning this business of being a "valiant warrior" wasn't going to be easy.But no matter what happened from this point on, Gideon could look back to an altar. He could look back at a moment in time when Jehovah-shalom said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear."Beloved, do you ever feel as if you're trying to thresh wheat in a winepress? Surrounded by an enemy who presses in on you and tries to steal every grain of peace and gladness out of your life? Do you ever begin to wonder where your God is in the midst of your hurt and worry?How rightly Gideon named that altar, The Lord is Peace. True peace cannot be found in any other place than in a right relationship with God.We cannot base our peace in the circumstances and situations of life. We must not let our peace be centered in another man or woman-no matter how dear they are to us.We dare not allow peace to depend on sunny skies, a full stomach, a balanced checkbook, a healthy body, or a harmonious home. I believe the Lord sometimes allows situations that strip away the shallow, surface peace on which we have come to depend. He allows us to be distressed and in turmoil and unable to find the answers we need from our husbands, wives, friends, or counselors.In those times, as with Gideon, we need to discover that God is Jehovah-shalom.As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "He Himself is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14). Once you really understand this and worship God as Jehovah-shalom, you can have peace no matter what storms sweep over the horizon.Jesus told His disciples this very thing in the last few hours before the Cross. These men were in terrible turmoil, and things were about to get much worse. Here is Jesus' promise:"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)Where do you run when you need peace? Is your first response to go looking for a person or to pick up the phone?Before you do, Beloved, run into the shelter of His name. When you find Him, you will find peace because...He is Peace.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Full Time Student
Kai is soooo excited. Tomorrow he will start school full time!!! He qualified to be in the E.L.L. program (English Language Learners). This will help him with English, since it was not his first language spoken or heard, and will help him in the things he needs to know for school such as the ABC's, math, etc.
I think I am as excited as he is...he is boundless energy that needs something constructive to do during the day other than drive me crazy...I am glad it will be spent learning!!!
I think I am as excited as he is...he is boundless energy that needs something constructive to do during the day other than drive me crazy...I am glad it will be spent learning!!!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
They were doing what???
Last night was my night to sit ring side medic for the local fights. I was excited to arrive and see that they were taking place not in a ring, but a cage...like on UFC. Very cool to watch in person!!
Night was fairly quiet with banged up eyes, bloody noses and a few cuts, but nothing major...Praise God for that.
It was Harley Davidson night...Harley's everywhere....man, those are NICE bikes. They would start those things up and run them around the building and throw shirts from them, fighters would come in to the cage following behind the chopper with their posse of people.....very 'gangsta' hehe
The fighters have seen me enough, and if they haven't then their posse usually have and they all tell their fighters "you give this chick mad respect...she will fix your broken ass"...hehe..nice to know so many have my back. :-P
A local Police officer came over to me during the intermission. He said he and his other officer buddy had a bet going. When they saw the size of the fighters (most are AT LEAST 6 foot and 200lbs and up and usually very crazy with adrenaline and feeling bulletproof) they did not see how someone my size would be respected by the fighters if I called their fight to a stop or got in the ring with them to check them out....I am a 4'10" woman....not to scary. Well, I am used to dealing with a large world around me...they may be bigger, but not necessarily meaner. :-D
I had one fighter in particular who lost his fight and did not want to be checked out afterwards. He wanted to go back to his locker room and cuss, scream, spit and have a beer (not that he wasn't beginning to do these things already anyway). I called him several times to come back...nothing. Finally I walk into his posse of guys, grab his arm (which was as big as my thigh) and turn him around forcefully....I then reach up on my tiptoes and grab his head and pull his face to my level and explain that he would see me BEFORE and AFTER he stepped out of that ring or cage or he would NEVER go back in it EVER again....I swear I smiled when I said it...I promise. He calmed down quickly and apologized for his rudeness...he just needed my loving touch to remind him of his manners you see! ;-D
The cop then explained that after that...he had won the bet...they were both assured that I truly would have "kicked that felons ass"! hehe
It is a fun run of work and now have a gig that will pay me to go. I get fights about 1 time a month, 1 time every other month....not to bad. Fun, time away from the kids, grownups to talk to, and money to boot...not a bad deal.
I had a fighter came up to me last night and said "hey, I just wanted to give you a kiss because you fixed my cut eye and the hospital said you did an awesome job and I will have little scarring." He then kissed my cheek....very sweet. Another guy came over and said "yeah man, you remember me?" I am sorry to say I didn't....I smiled and told him I couldn't but if he laid down on the mat and bled a little it might actually come back to me! hehehehe
Goodnight!!!!
Night was fairly quiet with banged up eyes, bloody noses and a few cuts, but nothing major...Praise God for that.
It was Harley Davidson night...Harley's everywhere....man, those are NICE bikes. They would start those things up and run them around the building and throw shirts from them, fighters would come in to the cage following behind the chopper with their posse of people.....very 'gangsta' hehe
The fighters have seen me enough, and if they haven't then their posse usually have and they all tell their fighters "you give this chick mad respect...she will fix your broken ass"...hehe..nice to know so many have my back. :-P
A local Police officer came over to me during the intermission. He said he and his other officer buddy had a bet going. When they saw the size of the fighters (most are AT LEAST 6 foot and 200lbs and up and usually very crazy with adrenaline and feeling bulletproof) they did not see how someone my size would be respected by the fighters if I called their fight to a stop or got in the ring with them to check them out....I am a 4'10" woman....not to scary. Well, I am used to dealing with a large world around me...they may be bigger, but not necessarily meaner. :-D
I had one fighter in particular who lost his fight and did not want to be checked out afterwards. He wanted to go back to his locker room and cuss, scream, spit and have a beer (not that he wasn't beginning to do these things already anyway). I called him several times to come back...nothing. Finally I walk into his posse of guys, grab his arm (which was as big as my thigh) and turn him around forcefully....I then reach up on my tiptoes and grab his head and pull his face to my level and explain that he would see me BEFORE and AFTER he stepped out of that ring or cage or he would NEVER go back in it EVER again....I swear I smiled when I said it...I promise. He calmed down quickly and apologized for his rudeness...he just needed my loving touch to remind him of his manners you see! ;-D
The cop then explained that after that...he had won the bet...they were both assured that I truly would have "kicked that felons ass"! hehe
It is a fun run of work and now have a gig that will pay me to go. I get fights about 1 time a month, 1 time every other month....not to bad. Fun, time away from the kids, grownups to talk to, and money to boot...not a bad deal.
I had a fighter came up to me last night and said "hey, I just wanted to give you a kiss because you fixed my cut eye and the hospital said you did an awesome job and I will have little scarring." He then kissed my cheek....very sweet. Another guy came over and said "yeah man, you remember me?" I am sorry to say I didn't....I smiled and told him I couldn't but if he laid down on the mat and bled a little it might actually come back to me! hehehehe
Goodnight!!!!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
School Time Again
Well the last few days have been busy as the kids reenter school. I am excited to see them go, knowing that they love it and their teachers are wonderful. Hunter entered 5th grade...EEKK...where did the time go; Demi entered 2nd, and Kai entered Kindergarten. Now, to the older kids, school is old hat...to Kia, it was NEW. He went to school a the Orphanage in Haiti, but this is U.S. school, the first time away from mommy school, first time away from family school....He had been so excited, talking about it for weeks. The fact that HE was going to school, Nikaya and I would LEAVE and he would STAY. Well, the first day came and I tell ya, the look on his face when I waved goodbye after getting him settled in, was one of fear, excitment and disbelief that I was actaullty leaving. I mean, we had TALKED about it, but actually doing it was a different story. :-D
Needless to say, he LOVED school, his teacher and his fun activities. He was so excited that he wanted to go back after dinner, not waiting for the next day to arrive. hehe
He has been back, and Monday will mark the first day of him getting on the school bus to go to school (the first 3 days have been parent pick up and drop off until the kids are oriented). He is so stinking excited about riding the school bus that he can hardly stand himself. I will take and post pictures of him leaving on the bus...much to Kai's request you know! He wants to show Dr. B that he rides a BIG bus to school!!! :-D
Nikaya seemed lost without any siblings around, and got sick with some virus going around. She spent the last 2 days throwing up and sleeping on our couch in the bedroom just so I could make sure she was ok. Poor thing is whining about not being able to go to school, that he tummy hurts and that everyone has left her all by herself (I don't count you know!)
Also, Kai's first days of KDG. were marked by losing his top 2 front teeth....one yesterday, one today...the tooth fairy will be broke if he keeps it up. I will post pic's of his gap in the next day or so!
Needless to say, he LOVED school, his teacher and his fun activities. He was so excited that he wanted to go back after dinner, not waiting for the next day to arrive. hehe
He has been back, and Monday will mark the first day of him getting on the school bus to go to school (the first 3 days have been parent pick up and drop off until the kids are oriented). He is so stinking excited about riding the school bus that he can hardly stand himself. I will take and post pictures of him leaving on the bus...much to Kai's request you know! He wants to show Dr. B that he rides a BIG bus to school!!! :-D
Nikaya seemed lost without any siblings around, and got sick with some virus going around. She spent the last 2 days throwing up and sleeping on our couch in the bedroom just so I could make sure she was ok. Poor thing is whining about not being able to go to school, that he tummy hurts and that everyone has left her all by herself (I don't count you know!)
Also, Kai's first days of KDG. were marked by losing his top 2 front teeth....one yesterday, one today...the tooth fairy will be broke if he keeps it up. I will post pic's of his gap in the next day or so!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Real E-Bay Ad....Funny
A couple of friends of mine have past this around...sounds like a day at the grocery store for me...I only have 4!!!
I'm selling a bunch of Pokemon cards. Why? Because my kids sneakedthem into my shopping cart while at the grocery store and I ended upbuying them because I didn't notice they were there until we got home.How could I have possibly not noticed they were in my cart, you ask? Letme explain.You haven’t lived until you’ve gone grocery shopping with six kids intow. I would rather swim, covered in bait, through the English Channel,be a contestant on Fear Factor when they’re having pig brains for lunch,or do fourth grade math than to take my six kids to the grocery store.Because I absolutely detest grocery shopping, I tend to put it off aslong as possible. There comes a time, however, when you’re peering intoyour fridge and thinking, ‘Hmmm, what can I make with ketchup, Italiandressing, and half an onion,’ that you decide you cannot avoid going tothe grocery store any longer. Before beginning this most treacherous mission, I gather all the kids together and give them “The Lecture“.“The Lecture“ goes like this…MOM: “We have to go to the grocery store.”KIDS: “Whine whine whine whine whine.“MOM: “Hey, I don’t want to go either, but it’s either that or we’reeating cream of onion-ketchup soup and drinking Italian dressing fordinner tonight.”KIDS: “Whine whine whine whine whine.“MOM: “Now here are the rules: do not ask me for anything, do not poke thepackages of meat in the butcher section, do not test the laws of physicsand try to take out the bottom can in the pyramid shaped display, do notplay baseball with oranges in the produce section, and most importantly,do not try to leave your brother at the store. Again.”OK, the kids have been briefed. Time to go.Once at the store, we grab not one, but two shopping carts. I wear thebaby in a sling and the two little children sit in the carts while I pushone cart and my oldest son pushes the other one. My oldest daughter isnot allowed to push a cart. Ever. Why? Because the last time I let herpush the cart, she smashed into my ankles so many times, my feet had tobe amputated by the end of our shopping trip. This is not a good thing.You try running after a toddler with no feet sometime.At this point, a woman looks at our two carts and asks me, “Are they allyours?” I answer good naturedly, “Yep!“Oh my, you have your hands full.”“Yes, I do, but it‘s fun!” I say smiling. I’ve heard all this before. Infact, I hear it every time I go anywhere with my brood.We begin in the produce section where all these wonderfully, artisticallyarranged pyramids of fruit stand. There is something so irresistiblyappealing about the apple on the bottom of the pile, that a child cannothelp but try to touch it. Much like a bug to a zapper, the child is drawnto this piece of fruit. I turn around to the sounds of apples cascadingdown the display and onto the floor. Like Indiana Jones, there stands myson holding the all-consuming treasure that he just HAD to get and gazingat me with this dumbfounded look as if to say, “Did you see that??? Wow!I never thought that would happen!”I give the offending child an exasperated sigh and say, “Didn’t I tellyou, before we left, that I didn’t want you taking stuff from the bottomof the pile???”“No. You said that you didn’t want us to take a can from the bottom ofthe pile. You didn’t say anything about apples.”With superhuman effort, I resist the urge to send my child to the moonand instead focus on the positive - my child actually listened to me andremembered what I said!!! I make a mental note to be a little morespecific the next time I give the kids The Grocery Store Lecture.A little old man looks at all of us and says, “Are all of those yourkids?”Thinking about the apple incident, I reply, “Nope. They just startedfollowing me. I’ve never seen them before in my life.”OK, now onto the bakery section where everything smells so good, I’mtempted to fill my cart with cookies and call it a day. Being on aperpetual diet, I try to hurry past the assortment of pies, cakes,breads, and pastries that have my children drooling. At this point thechorus of “Can we gets” begins.“Can we get donuts?”“No.”“Can we get cupcakes?”“No.”“Can we get muffins?”“No.”“Can we get pie?”“No.”You’d think they’d catch on by this point, but no, they’re just gettingstarted.In the bakery, they’re giving away free samples of coffee cake and ofcourse, my kids all take one. The toddler decides he doesn’t like it andproceeds to spit it out in my hand. (That’s what moms do. We put ourhands in front of our children’s mouths so they can spit stuff into them.We’d rather carry around a handful of chewed up coffee cake, than to havethe child spit it out onto the floor. I’m not sure why this is, but askany mom and she’ll tell you the same.) Of course, there’s no garbage canaround, so I continue shopping one-handed while searching for someplaceto dispose of the regurgitated mess in my hand.In the meat department, a mother with one small baby asks me, “Wow! Areall six yours?”I answer her, “Yes, but I’m thinking of selling a couple of them.”(Still searching for a garbage can at this point.)Ok, after the meat department, my kids’ attention spans are spent.They’re done shopping at this point, but we aren’t even halfway throughthe store. This is about the time they like to start having shopping cartraces. And who may I thank for teaching them this fun pastime? My seventh“child”, also known as my husband. While I’m picking out loaves of bread,the kids are running down the aisle behind the carts in an effort to getus kicked out of the store. I put to stop to that just as my son is aboutto crash head on into a giant cardboard cut-out of a Keebler elf stackedwith packages of cookies.Ah! Yes! I find a small trash can by the coffee machine in the cerealaisle and finally dump out the squishy contents of my hand. Afterstanding in the cereal aisle for an hour and a half while the kidsperused the various cereals, comparing the marshmallow and cheap, plastictoy content of each box, I broke down and let them each pick out a box.At any given time, we have twenty open boxes of cereal in my house.As this is going on, my toddler is playing Houdini and maneuvering hislittle body out of the seat belt in an attempt to stand up in the cart.I’m amazed the kid made it to his second birthday without suffering abrain damaging head injury. In between trying to flip himself out of thecart, he sucks on the metal bars of the shopping cart. Mmmm, can you say“influenza”?The shopping trip continues much like this. I break up fights between thekids now and then and stoop down to pick up items that the toddler hasflung out of the cart. I desperately try to get everything on my listwithout adding too many other goodies to the carts.Somehow I manage to complete my shopping in under four hours and head forthe check-outs where my kids start in on a chorus of, “Can we havecandy?” What evil minded person decided it would be a good idea to put adisplay of candy in the check-out lanes, right at a child’s eye level?Obviously someone who has never been shopping with children.As I unload the carts, I notice many extra items that my kids havesneaked in the carts unbeknownst to me. I remove a box of Twinkies, apackage of cupcakes, a bag of candy, and a can of cat food (we don’t evenhave a cat!). I somehow missed the box of Pokemon cards however and endedup purchasing them unbeknownst to me. As I pay for my purchases, theclerk looks at me, indicates my kids, and asks, “Are they all yours?”Frustrated, exhausted from my trip, sick to my stomach from writing out acheck for $289.53, dreading unloading all the groceries and putting themaway and tired of hearing that question, I look at the clerk and answerher in my most sarcastic voice, “No. They’re not mine. I just go aroundthe neighborhood gathering up kids to take to the grocery store becauseit’s so much more fun that way.”So, up for auction is an opened (they ripped open the box on the way homefrom the store) package of Pokemon cards. There are 44 cards total.They're in perfect condition, as I took them away from the kiddos as soonas we got home from the store. Many of them say "Energy". I triedcarrying them around with me, but they didn't work. I definitely didn'thave any more energy than usual. One of them is shiny. There are a fewcreature-like things on many of them. One is called Pupitar. Hee heehee Pupitar! (Oh no! My kids' sense of humor is rubbing off on me!)Anyway, I don't there's anything special about any of these cards, butI'm very much not an authority on Pokemon cards. I just know that I'mnot letting my kids keep these as a reward for their sneakiness.Shipping is FREE on this item. Insurance is optional, but once I dropthe package at the post office, it is no longer my responsibility. Forexample, if my son decides to pour a bottle of glue into the envelope, ormy daughter spills a glass of juice on the package, that’s myresponsibility and I will fully refund your money. If, however, I takethe envelope to the post office and a disgruntled mail carrier sets fireto it, a pack of wild dogs rip into it, or a mail sorting machine shredsit, it’s out of my hands, so you may want to add insurance. I will leavefeedback for you as soon as I’ve received your payment. I will be happyto combine shipping on multiple items won within three days. This comesfrom a smoke-free, pet-free, child-filled home. Please ask me anyquestions before placing your bid. Happy bidding! :)On Aug-17-07 at 14:10:11 PDT, seller added the following information:Check out my other items!On Aug-21-07 at 13:37:48 PDT, seller added the following information:14,000 hits!!! Who would've thought? I just wanted to take a minuteand say "thank you" to all the people who have taken the time to write mea comment! I certainly appreciate it! It sure is a nice treat waking upto a full box of compliments! I'm trying to answer each comment, butthey're honestly coming in faster than I can type!Many of you have asked if I have a blog. I do. It'smom2my6pack.blogspot.comMany of you have suggested I write a book. I think I may just have togive that a try. If it ever comes to fruition, I'll post about it on myblog.And $40.00??? What are you guys nuts? There's nothing special aboutthese cards. Are you bidding on them thinking I'll be a famous authorsomeday? :::laughing like a crazy lady over that one::: I'll givewriting a shot, but from what I hear it isn't easy to get a bookpublished. I probably have a better chance of losing ten pounds (andthat ain't likely to happen!)Anyway, again I want to say thank you for reading and passing this on.You've all just made my week! :)On Aug-21-07 at 14:07:29 PDT, seller added the following information:Oh yes - I forgot (big surprise there!) to say that apparently I can onlypost 101 comments. There are a lot of witty, interesting comments I'dlike to put out there for everyone to read, but Ebay won't let me. :(On Aug-21-07 at 23:03:41 PDT, seller added the following information:I've had several people ask me how many watchers this auction has. As of1:00am, it has 865.
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