Gratitude

i was thinking how Haitians are so grateful for what they have and how they don't loose faith because they live in poverty. and all of a sudden this song came on in the car. (it was one of those freaky but exciting God moments).

Send some rain, would You send some rain?

'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again

And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade

Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?

Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down

Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid

But maybe not, not today

Maybe You'll provide in other ways

And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You

With gratitude

For lessons learned in how to thirst for You

How to bless the very sun that warms our face

If You never send us rain
Daily bread, give us daily bread

Bless our bodies, keep our children fed

Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight

Wrap us up and warm us through

Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs

Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time

Or maybe not, not today

Maybe You'll provide in other ways

And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You

With gratitude...

i know i said i wasn't going to make another video for a while but i was thinking about making this video before i even knew how to.

again, i have absolutely no patients to fix the blurry pictures without throwing the laptop out the window!!

Pictures by: the members of the July 2007 Halos Medical Missions Team, stolen from blogs (sorry), and a couple by Mama Chechen (Gretchen) and Leesabet (Elisabeth "Lizzie")

Music by: Nichole Nordeman, song: Gratitude

Joyeux Noel!! -if thats how you spell it

-sorry the pictures are blurry but it was the 1st video thing-y i made and i spent forever on it and simply DON'T have the patients to fix it! :) -

The Closest We're Getting to a White Christmas:

Mwen renmen ou!!

Merry Christmas!

To Choose LIFE

there are 2 BIG reasons why i want to help others medically as a career. 1) i KNOW that it is what God wants, it is His Will. 2) i would get to contribute to the continuation of LIFE! how amazing?! i mean, to know that you were the person to let some one live longer, to be with their loved ones longer, to laugh more, to learn more, to walk by faith longer! not that i have accomplished that yet, but i want to.

last july at the clinic, i got to see a baby being born. it was live changing! as Lyndy (the baby) was approaching the earth, you could see God working. you could see, right in front of you, God creating another person to learn, follow, and teach His word. you could SEE God creating new life!!

i want to give the people of Haiti the medical help, who normally wouldn't have that option. this is the way He wants me to serve Him. by helping those in poverty extend their health.

i believe that life is God's, and ONLY God's. it is He who created it and if life is to end, then He is the ONLY one with the right to end it. (don't even get me start on abortions)!

(sorry this was kinda random, this whole topic has been floating around in my for a while now)

Why Am I Here, Lord?

its been kind of hard for me the last couple of days. As this season unfolds more and more, i realize that the chance for me to see your beautiful children again is diminishing. Which breaks me inside. i miss them all so much and wish to meet the handful of kids who i didn't get a chance to meet last July. i really do love your children. i really do long to see them. but the worst part is that my sadness hits me in overwhelming amounts at the most random times. i don't care how i get there, i can sit among the bagage in the plane for all i care! i miss my "peeps", cousins, friends, my twin, and my baby boy, Reece.

Lord,
please make it clear when You want me to return to Haiti. i don't understand why You would bring me there, let me fall in love with that place and bring me home to mourn over my miss for it. why do You want me here, in the States? why here? what good do i have to offer here? why not put me in the place i love the most, and get the most love, and were i am happiest? i don't understand. yes, i want more than anything to be in Your Will, and i want to walk by Faith. But why is Your will for me here? and why aren't the streets of Haiti my Faith Walk? i thank you for all that You have given me here but why don't You give me Haiti now, which is the only thing i ask of You? In your mysterious but loving name i pray, Amen.

Stepping out of your Comfort Zone

Comfort Zone:
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: an environment or situation in which a person feels secure or at ease; also figuratively, an established lifestyle in which a person feels comfortable as long as there is no drastic change

Due to events occurring in the last 2 weeks i feel that the Lord has been pulling me out of my comfort zone. I have been praying a lot lately, thinking a lot lately and asking Him for advice. Every time His answer always results in me doing something bold- or what is bold in my opinion. When being faced with a choice He leads me to the choice that may bring more joy to myself, others, and/or bring more glory to Him. And i honestly try to respond in the way that puts me in His Will. However that option is not always a choice i would choose if i were to remain in my comfort zone. But i find my self happier when choosing the BOLDER choice.

Most of us, as humans grow within our comfort zones. In that zone is where we develop into unique, different individuals. And as humans i believe that we are being called to step out of our comfort zones to: help others, meet and connect with new people, and to praise God.

Smiles For You!

For those of you who are going through rough times, here are some smiles to brighten your day!

Hey there, Neighbor!

Look at how cute they look? No they aren't being adopted as siblings but as neighbors, but they are still loving on each other. I have seen the siblings at the O act like this, but not neighbors. Well... maybe thats just me who hasn't really seen it. But it still made me smile to see Noah & Ellie like this!

New Pictures

Here are some pictures my mom took on her resent trip. PS- My mom finally posted, just letting you know since its been a while-- or more. :)


Annabella: Don't you just love my hair? My nanny did it!












Rebecca: Aren't you going to feed me???

Justin: You can't see me!














Jacob: So you're NOT going to hold me?!













Extreme Make-Over: Tylor Edition









Jonathan: Please, Chechen (Gretchen) let me take one picture! Just one!

Jonas, Noah, Reece, & Steven: We're ALL going to be neighbors!

And what am i suppose to do with this???

"Walk By Faith"

"Will I believe You when You say Your hand will guide my every way? Will I receive the words You say every moment of every day? Well, I will walk by faith even when I cannot see because, this broken road prepares Your will for me. Help me to rid my endless fears because, You've been so faithful for all my years. With the one breath You make me new. Your grace covers all I do. I'm broken but, I still see Your face. You've spoken pouring Your words of grace. Hallelujah!"
-Jeremy Camp

Live by Faith & God's will & what He says. Not by what is happening or what you see around you. Honestly, i think people would live a better life if everyone was blind! =-D

Spreading the Love for Hairwraps!

~I like them better on the little girls! But they're fun!~

I told Mia she looked like a little Haitian girl so she has been skipping around the house singing:

"I'm a little Haitian Girl,

Haitian Girl,

Haitian Girl,

I'm a little Haitian Girl,

So far away from Haiti!"

I Love you, Krotzers

Please pray for them all!

(Sorry rob's not in the picture) http://krotzers.blogspot.com/

50 years from now what will be remembered...

hate to break it to you but,
not many people, if any...

will remember if you had a pool,
or a flat screen TV.
no one will remember
your favorite haircut,
your chic shoes,
or your fall patio furniture set.

I'm not saying it is bad
to remember or have these things...
but we need to remember,
what will be remembered

most people will remember
how you made
life a little bit better,
for that one (or more) person...

~Many people will remember when you left your home in California to live with & care for orphan kids in a third-world-country

~Many people will remember how you opened a little more space in your family for a child who didn't have one.

~Many people will remember how you used your talents to improve a life of someone you didn't know, for no pay.

~Many people will remember how you started that organization for the children of Haiti and how it grew and grew into an orphanage, a school and now a medical clinic.

They'll remember,
Because that's what matters in life.

Lookin' American Enough For You?

Look at Belle in her jeans, iPod, and the big sunglasses! Don't worry Belle you'll be in America soon! :)

Jeremiah 29:11

"For i know the plans i have for you," declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I Need Them in My Arms Again!

In the words of Jordyn: "I Miss Them."
i need them. i miss them. i have a slide show of the kids as my screen saver that slides pictures all day long. I'll spend hours in my room & someone would come in & say: "Hey what are you doing?" or "Its time for dinner, what are you doing?" My answer is always the same: "Oh i am just checking my e-mail" When i only get about 6-14 e-mails per day! Which does not take that long to read & reply! But i am really watching the kids glide across my laptop! i also have a big corkboard of only a quarter of a quarter of the pictures i call my favorite hanging above my bed. it comes in waves, i always miss them but there are times i fall apart! i miss how the kids reach to hold your hand & never let it go! i miss their Hugs & Kisses, their smiles & laughs, their Haitian culture glowing out of them. what else is there to say. they love you, they really love you. and you can feel it in their step, their play, their smile, their soul.

There was a meeting for the nannies early one morning. I attended & held Daniel the whole time & he clung to me. he would of hung on to anyone who held him, he just liked being held. every baby does. but you could feel the appreciation even from a baby! i love that! but for now i also miss it

I am currently planing a trip with several options i just need to pick the appropriate time! i could go a couple times in Winter (which is acctually not far a way at all!), Spring, & of course Summer once again! I have to save up at least $175 of my plain ticket & i am almost half way there.

i'll see you all soon! i love you & miss you!

I Promise, Every Bit Of Help Counts!!!

So my cousin Olivia & her friend Brady had a cookie sale for TA's the other day! They were going to sell cookies for a goal of $20.00 for one bag of rice to feed YOUR CHILDREN! (sorry i felt i needed to emphasize that) By the end of their day they made a total of... (drum roll please)... $213.00!!! YAY! That can buy 10 bags of rice to feed 600 people!!! The O is desperate for money & food this month, this helped out A LOT!

Here are our helpers: Brady & Olivia!

It was hot out & a long day, but they kept working!

Plus they had some back up! :)

Lauren (my cousin), Brady, Rachel (cousin), Kendall, Olivia, Shelby

(in order... i think)

So all i can say now is that i hope these kids taught you a lesson today on how the Holy Spirit can enter into anyone, and work through them. You are not too old, too young, too weak, or too strong. ... Also i hope this inspires you to help out the O in its time of need. If these kids can help out... don't you at least think you can take one day out of your live to sell... well... cookies???

I promise we will take anything you give us! (Besides sweaters!) ;) We would thank God for your kindness in what ever for it is brought in!

Shakira's Tackle!

-Shakira- "So, you like my technique?"

-Keresten- "Just smile & we'll get through this!"

-Caleb-... well, who knows what is going through that boy's head right now! ;)

Haitian Slip-n-Slide!

So, one night at St. Joe's it was raining really hard & rained all in the theater room! Boys will be boys, & Rob & a few other guys started swinging Caleb & Harry across the flooded floor! We had our mission group meeting in that room a few minutes afterword & i just remember praying in toe-covering water! Ahh, good times, good Haiti Memories!

We Love Head Wear!

Bethany

This is the only kid i saw the time i went to Haiti a long time ago! i don't think she remembered me but i remembered her! How can't you?

Bethany was one of the very first kids at the "O". And yet with some confusion, she is still there! But she is very loved there! (just Ask You-you!) :)

Anyway. She is just too sweet! Some times i just like to watch her! i like to stand there and gaze at her! Her smile brightens my day! One day when i was working at the medical clinic she came & sat with me. She said "Bonjou" "Hello" to all of the patients. After a while i just had to laugh out loud! Bethany, Bethany was the one being so social! i was actually pretty proud! This isn't the Bethany i remembered! But we both have changed a lot!

And isn't she just so beautiful? I mean really beautiful! I never told i was going to take picture or told her to pose! I didn't want her to! She always looked perfect!I would look at her & pull out the camera fast & snap a picture! But i was glad she saw the camera because her smile brings the picture to life!

I love her so much! Please, seriously pray for Bethany! She deserves it, and you know it! ;)

I Can Only Imagine

(turn on your speakers if possible)

Mia, Hope, & Mr. Noah!

Lively, Mia. I miss her voice, you know. The one that just makes you smile & want to hug her to death?! I can't wait to hear her voice again! Remember when you first get to the "O" and all the kids come running to you & want you to hold them whether they have met you or not yet??? Well, Mia was the kid who ran to me! "Hello, my name is, Mia Grace Cundiff! What is your name?" "Hey Mia, my name is Elisabeth" "Lesabet?" "Hehe, Wi!" Then she did her big giggle & jumped into my arms! (a little sooner & faster than i expected!) But i wanted to tell her that i already knew her & i knew who her family was! And that i loved her for a long time now! But i thought that might get confusing for her! And she is such an awesome big sister! She also lead me up to the nursery & she would always go & hold Isaiah! Why Isaiah, i don't know! She loves Isaiah! It was so sweet! And Isaiah loves her, too! :) When her family came, though, she said she didn't love me anymore! :( But i wasn't mad or anything because i knew she was just saying that because her family was there. But the day i left she said she loved me & gave me a hug!

Humble, Hope. I love her, but i bet you already knew that! ;) For a sister to Mia i don't think that they are much alike. Hope is quiet... most of the time. And Mia is so energetic & at times just smack-down-crazy! :) Hope is a little girl with a big smile & a big laugh... if she wants to let it out! But i love them all the same!

Sweet, Noah. He is one of the sweetest boys at the "O". He is going to be a good brother to Mia & Hope! He loves them too! I mean all the kids kinda love on each other but they are so suttle about it. And Noah doesn't announce it to the world either but, he just is so SWEET to his sisters. Sensitive. Sweet Noah is sensitive! I love him, i really love him. He gave me hugs & kisses without shame. I love ya, Noah!