Sweet Emma

Emma is really developing her little personality. And her vocabulary is exploding! She is saying something new everyday! One of my favorite things she does is say "Tank You!" in the sweetest little sing song voice. I have to get it on video before she quits saying it! :) And she'll say it for any and all reasons. If I give her a sandwich at lunch: "Tank You!" If I change her diaper: "Tank You!" It's hysterical. She is at such a fun age.

She has really turned into a Momma's girl lately. But, she doesn't bat an eye when I leave the house. She just waves and grins big, "Bye!"

I wasn't happy at all with idea of having 4 kids, but I truly can't imagine my life without her. She is such a joy and a happy girl. (I almost wrote baby just then, but she's not a baby anymore. :( She is really turning into a little girl.)

A fun pic I took of her and her Daddy. Her personality shines through!

I'm still here!

OK, so I haven't blogged since we got back from Haiti. No good excuse. We flew back on Lance's 40th, and Hope's 4th birthday. That was Wednesday, then I pulled off a surprise party for him on Friday, had Hope's party Saturday morning, Luke turned 8 on Sunday and ALL the family came over for lunch and then on Tues he had 5 friends over for a sleepover. CRAZY week! Probably the busiest I've ever had.

Then I got behind in blogging and wanted to upload the pictures with every event and I was always too tired at night to tackle that project. And have you ever gotten so behind on something that you just pushed it to the back of your mind and felt guilty for not just getting it done??

Well, now to top it off, I can't find my camera that has all the pictures on it! Dang! So, I'm just going to pick up now and start talking about our day to day life again. I will blog all those events when I find the picture, but for now, it's the daily routine again!

Whew! I feel better all ready! So starting tomorrow, we'll be talking about the big kids taking swimming lessons. Tomorrow is their last day and I've been so proud of them!

Final Day

How can I wrap up in words what I have experienced this week? My emotions are all warped right now. The love I have for the Haitian people is intense. Despite their conditions, most have smiles on their face. As we drive through the streets, these white Americans in the back of the truck, we wave at the children and adults and so many smile and wave back. Everyone in the back would throw tennis balls or candy to the kids and it was so cute watching the children run to the prizes.

We went to 2 different orphanages about 15 minutes from our house. I cannot begin to describe them. My heart is broken. No child in this world should ever have to live like that. No child.

The first orphanage was deplorable. It looked like a construction zone. Piles of gravel, scaffolding, raw sewage, open concrete staircases, and all the children playing on all of it. Children that are naked from the waist down and shoeless, walking around in filth, utter filth. I wouldn't even let any children walk around at this place, but these 20+ children live in it.

But the smiles. One little boy in particular was the sweetest thing. As a matter of fact, his nickname from the American teams is "Sweet Boy." He repeats everything you say. He came over to me and raised his arms and wanted me to hold him. I did and then I gave him a kiss. He immediately kissed me back. I said, "sweet boy" and he repeated me. It was priceless. Everyone got pictures of him giving me kisses. Then he touched my necklace and I said, "necklace." He repeated, "neckwace." I will never forget "Sweet Boy." I pray for him. And the others like him.

We went to the top of the mountain that our house is one to an overlook point. We were able to view the entire city of PAP. It was beautiful. Despite the destruction. We were able to buy some local mementos from the trip, also. I met LuLu their. He was selling his wares and I asked him his name in Creole. His face lit up. "You speak Creole?!?!" I told him, I had just learned a few phrases. He was so excited that I had. He spoke perfect English. He wanted me to remember him and I told him that I would be back to Haiti. At one point, he walked past me smoking a cigarette and I told him not to do that, that smoking was bad for him. He immediately threw it on the ground and stomped on it, and grinned. It was so sweet. I told him that I would come and find him the next time I am in Haiti. He came to me as we were leaving and gave me a seashell with a painted Haitian scene on it. He told me, "this is for you." Such amazing people.

Part of my heart will forever be in Haiti.