Missing Belle

Last night as i slept, it was February 23rd, I had just arrived at Three Angels & was stepping out of the TA van. The kids down stairs saw the van & came running out side to see who was here. Jonas lead the way. He was doing flips out the door, apparently he has moved on from cartwheels. Following him was Elmise, Samara, Tyler, Mia, Bryce, Shaki, and finally Belle. However, Belle wasn't yelling "Leesabet" or had a smile on her face like the others. But she pushed past everyone and landed in my arms. Belle was crying, hard. I still don't understand the reason of her tears but i took them as tears of joy. So i just held her tight and cried with her.

So, yes, i have been missing Belle terribly today. all day my thoughts were constantly on little Belle. Between my dream and the fact that she is turning TEN tomorrow, my miss for her has grown a great deal over the last 24 hours.

PS- Domi was saftly holding Jonathan close on the balcony, not over the balcony, saftly holding him & Jonathon's hair is now purple... i have the wierdest dreams!!

Without Darkness, What is Light?

i was lying awake last night in bed, when i noticed the light coming from the laundry room down the hall. the light was standing out in the darkness. and then i started to think of the hall way being completely lit up. there would be nothing to compare the light to. the light won't be extraordinary in any way. & what if the light wasn't there and there was complete darkness?? the darkness, again, wouldn't be extraordinary in any way because you wouldn't have anything to compare it to.

so i continued to process & elaborate on the topic of light and darkness. what if there was only Heaven without this Earth we stand on or hell?? how would we know that Heaven was the best possible place, if we couldn't compare it to Earth or hell?? or how would we know that hell is the worst place if we couldn't compare it to Heaven?? ... How would we understand that the LORD is the Almighty One & that the devil is the evil one?? how would we know that the evil one was not Almighty?

IT IS THE LIGHT THAT STANDS OUT IN THE DARKNESS, THAT MAKES GOD & HIS FOLLOWERS EXTRAORDINARY. you have to choose to be that light, to have it in you & to be transparent enough to let it shine. otherwise you are just another piece of darkness, watching the patch of light shining.

The Weekend to its Fullest

Last weekend we did one of my favorite things on earth: BOATING!! I love it!! the rush, wind in your hair, and now i'm legally old enough to not wear a life-vest!! :) It was a busy, fun weekend, thats for sure.

We fished,

(Michelle, now you know you are not alone in the category of Crazy Hair)

Went to the circus,

Laid down with the dogs,And made memories:

So, we're on the boat & we're flying with the wind. my aunt Casey & i are the smart ones & sit at the nose of the boat. there for when the boat goes fast the nose rises. the water splashing towards you does not hit the noses of the boat because it is raised so you don't get wet. the ones sitting in the middle of the boat, however, turn out looking like... well... like this:Also, I mastered the art of Tying a Cherry Stem in a Knot in Your Mouth!!

Yeah, it was an amazing weekend!!

Blog With A Purpose Award

Yesterday, Nikki awarded me with the Blogging with a purpose award. Thank you so much, Nikki!! This is what Nikki had to say: I first "met" Lizzie when stylizing her blog, and I am so glad I did! Her Mom is the co-founder of Three Angels Haiti and Lizzie has a passion for Haiti like I do for the DR. She is going back there really soon, and I can't wait to read all about it!

Now, i get the honor to pass the award along to 5 other bloggers that i think are blogging for a purpose.

Cara B: Just last month Cara returned from meeting her new daughter, Rebecca, in Haiti. Her love for this country, for her daughter, and for all the other kids at Three Angels is a love i wish more people would show. This love is bigger & rises above her fears of adoption. But bigger of these things are her Faith. She realizes that God will never forsake her, and she took a leap of faith for the sake of one child.

Hope & Rob: Last July Hope & Rob asked little Caleb & Isabel if they could become they're new (adoptive) parents, and they said 'Yes'! Unfortunately their adoption has found complications, like most do. The Krotzers' adoption isn't going anywhere fast, but Hope & Rob are keeping their faith. At this point most would be letting go of their faith, but they are holding on tighter. They have not stopped their adoption and don't plan to, because God has showed them that Caleb & Izzy are their children, and thats enough for Hope & Rob.

Megan Haug: Megan, too, has developed an amazing love for Haiti, and her faith and love for God stands out. She realizes that she is a "stumbling fool" where as God is the Almighty One. She enjoys studying God's word. In almost every single one of her posts Megan turns back to God one way or another, and i pray more would.

You-you: Angela (you-you) took the job as the house manger at Three Angels almost 2 years ago. Over that period of time she has loved on & cared for the children at TA as they wait for their forever families. She left her home in the US to live in a third world country and to give her life and time to orphans of Haiti. Now she has returned to her home in the states and is waiting for the new addition to her forever family.

Kathy: Kathy is adopting 3 children for Three Angels. Along with adopting baby Caleb (a different Caleb) and Sarama, she is adopting 5 year old Shakira, who has disabilities. Before the 3 can even get home Kathy is changing their lives! Shakira is beginning to walk on stairs better, talk more, starting to potty train, use utensils, and "is more thoughtful of what is going on around her". This wouldn't be the case if it wasn't for Randy & Kathy.

Jonas' Cartwheels

i can't wait! i can't wait to hear their small - yet powerful voices yelling "Leesabet! Leesabet!" i can't wait to have Mia on my hip and walk up the stairs & then down the stairs according to her directions. i can't wait to have Woody run into me whenever i step foot into the nursery. i can't wait to hold (baby) Daniel as he sleeps. i can't wait to sit next to Steven as he plays the piano. i can't wait to see Fritz's huge smile through my camera. i can't wait to have Matu on my lap. i can't wait to hold Spendy's face in my hands. i can't wait to follow Shakira around in circles outside while wondering if she really has a specific place in mind of where she is headed. i can't wait to watch Bethany "shake it" when ever the nannies are singing. i can't wait to see Belle lovingly interact with the babies. i can't wait to have Peterson hold not only my hand but my whole arm. i can't wait to love on Tyler. i can't wait to watch Jonas' cartwheels. and i can't wait to for everything else those kids have to offer me.

Blogs for a Cause by Nikki & AMAZING NEWS!!

i just spent $20 on my blog, and i have to say i feel great! As it says at the top, my blog was stylized by BlogsForACause. Nikki is going to the Dominican Republic this summer and is raising money for her trip. Basically she designs blogs and, in return receives $20. $5 of the 20 goes to the chosen charity of the month and $15 goes to her so she can go on a humanitarian trip to the Dominican. More details are on the Blog for a Cause blog.

i have saved up enough money to go my beloved Haiti. i figured that if i can go to the place i love, why not help someone else get to the place they love? so pulled together $20 and gave it to my mom (you need to pay with "the card").

well, i had a great time doing this. and not only am i getting a cute blog but i am left with a content feeling. i highly suggest it.

IN OTHER NEWS....
I AM GOING TO HAITI!!!! FEBRUARY 23!!!!! :):):):) AHH!!! ....STILL IN SHOCK!!!! (breathe, Liz, breathe)!! MY LOVING MOTHER & I WILL BE ACCOMPANYING THE MISSION GROUP THAT SHANNON IS LEADING!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! SEE YA SOON SHANNON!!! SEE YA SOON, HAITI!!!!