more pics thanks to michelle

Here are a few more really great pictures. A few highlights are:

We had another great day at the beach.


Kids got to play on the new teeter totter that was brought down by the group from Indiana.

Dylan found a new friend. "George" is very small lizard that really seems to like Dylan. He actually sits on his hand and doesn't try to get away. He is in a box on the porch right now. Dylan asked if we could take it home and I told him no, we are not allowed to take animals or lizards into the country. He then asked if we could take George to the vet and get a letter so they would let him come home with us! What a cute kid he is!!

I got my hair worked on a little more!! Needless to say getting it put in a very tight bun was slightly painful.

Some pictures from Haiti

Isaiah sleeping peacefully!!! Kynsley playing in the tunnel.

Dylan and Isaiah Dylan sleeping on Isaiah and Mommy during dance theater.



Isaiah in the tunnel. The 3 Amiga's!

FINALLY, the hair!! Chicola!!!!

Thanks for all the great pictures, Michelle!!!!

Our Second Weekend in Haiti

Yesterday we flew to Jacmel and spent the day on the beach. The kids had so much fun. We ate fish that they caught for us and lobster too!! It was amazing. We played soccer with a group of Jordanian UN Police Officer who were in Jacmel relaxing. Kynsley met a new friend, another Angela and played with her for hours.

Today we went to church. I was very blessed to have 4 of my 9 children with me!! Jimmy, Isaiah, Dylan and Kynsley all went.

Dylan took communion for the very first time. He accepted Jesus into his heart a few months ago and has not been to "big church" since. At our church they do not do communion in the children's service so he hasn't had the chance yet.

It was nice to see him take it so seriously. He talked to me after the service that it was good to remember how much Jesus did for us. My boy is certainly growing up.

Kynsley is having a rough day. She really misses her daddy and wants to go home. It's a good thing we have a group arriving tomorrow, they will help distract her until we leave next Monday.

Today, I'm sitting for 6-8 hours to get my hair done. I've never had extensions or anything like it so it should interesting to see if I like the finished product. Kynsley really wanted Mommy to have hair just like her so I'm giving it a try!!

Have a blessed Lord's day!!!

6 hours for beautiful hair!!!

Yep, that's right, Kynsley sat for 6 hours getting extensions put in her hair. It was quite the ordeal but very much worth it. She loves her braids!! And her beads!!! At one point we had 6 people helping finish because we were heading out to dinner and really needed to go. Her brothers even helped, Jimmy put the beads in and Dylan held the rubber bands until someone needed one.

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Easter Egg hunt at the "O"

We had an Easter egg hunt today. The kids all had a great time. Here are a few pictures!!

Hope enjoying her candy.



Shakira Jonas Dylan






Bryce Dylan and Kynsley Dylan, Kynsley and Isaiah



We still have Easter baskets for everyone and yummy cupcakes to enjoy.

It was a beautiful morning and a great way to spend the Lord's Day.

Happy Easter!! Christ is Risen!!

A lazy Saturday!!

Yep, we were all pretty lazy today. You-you and I both spent time reading and baking cupcakes for tomorrow, the big kids played and Isaiah spent the day sleeping, eating, and being really cute.

We did color eggs today. It was cute to see the kids expressions when the eggs changed colors. We are now waiting for everyone to fall asleep so we can put together "Easter baskets". But, of course, that's not happening since Steven and Dylan and Samendia and Kynsley are all in our room. It's time for mom to go down and talk firmly to them!!! The joy of motherhood.

Carsen~ Kynsley and Dylan spent some time today on the roof with George. He has avoided me but finally came over. I sent him up to "watch" the kids. It was good for him!! He then joined us for dinner. I think we finally have broken through to him. Thank goodness.

Here's some pictures from the day.

It's been another great day. Not much got done, it is a legal holiday in Haiti but we had a lot of fun!!

Steven and Dylan are now buds!! Steven has been teaching Dylan songs on the piano. They compared piano books and played together. They watched a movie together. Dylan has a really bad ear infection and wasn't feeling very good today so he really did not do all that much.

Kynsley, Angela, Mia and Semendia are now the 4 amigos (or should I say, kat zanmi yo). They jumped rope, played with play-doh, took baths (yes, my daughter bathed out back with the rest of the kids!!) and teased the boys together. They made quite a mess in our room that I will need to sort through in the morning. kynsley also got her hair done just like Semendia's.

Kynsley also had fun flying kites today. The boys at St. Joseph's helped her get her kite in the air. She was really the center of attention today!! And she loved every minute of it.

Isaiah was a sleepy boy. I guess we tired him out with all the attention he got yesterday. He went to St. Joseph's with us and slept while I talked to Daddy on the phone. When he woke up he watched the boys fly their kites. He also got his first diaper change from his big sister. She did a great job.

Today he slept on the floor of the apartment for quite awhile. He is such a sweetie!!!!

We are here!!!

We are having a great time. The kids love Isaiah!!

They took a nap today with him
!!!!!

Kynsley slept with Belle and Semendia last night, Mia was already asleep :(

Steven and Dylan are currently watching Star Wars 2 and Belle and Kynsley are coloring. It's been a good night.

We may have to watch that Cundiff kid though, he has quite the thing for my daughter. He was hugging and kissing her within a few minutes of being here. Uummm....

Here's a few pictures!!

Going to Haiti

As some of you have noticed the date of our trip to Haiti has changed. Dylan, Kynsley and I leave on Tuesday!! We will be in Haiti for 3 weeks. It has been really difficult to get things done for the adoption program not living in Haiti so we (Jody and I) decided it would be in every one's best interest for me to go to Haiti for awhile and find out what else I can do to make our program the best it can be.

Since Dylan and Kynsley were going with me originally they will also be staying 3 weeks. They are really excited about spending that much time there but they really have no idea what it is like to be in Haiti with no electricity, TV, video games, trips to Target or the movies. They are used to roaming our neighborhood on their bikes or scooters. They are used to going on errands with mom and hanging out with Dad. It will be hard on them, I'm sure. Please, pray for them and for the kids at home with Carsen. And for Carsen and Jody. It won't be easy but the entire family is willing to make the sacrifice.

I have no idea how often I will be able to update this blog, but I will try. Thanks for praying!!!

Recipes Needed!!!

I need a few good recipes that can be made ahead of time and frozen that reheat well and are easy to prepare. I'm trying to "put-up" (as my Grandma always said) a few things for Carsen to make while I'm in Haiti. She will be watching Landon and Sutton and going to school, so I'm trying to make it easy on her as possible!!

I have things like spaghetti sauce and taco meat but that's about it! Chicken doesn't usually reheat very well and I just don't make "casseroles" to know if they do or not. HELP!!!! Any and all recipes would be appreciated!!

What an amazing Lord's day

God is working miracles and I feel so overwhelmed by the blessings He has given to us. I have children who love and fear the Lord and desire to follow Him. I have a Godly husband who puts his family above himself. God has provided us with the means to go to Haiti often and a heart for a country we knew nothing about a few years ago. 9 amazing children to love. And our dossier is almost finished. Our church is sponsoring 2 missions trips to the "O" and already 17 people have signed up!! We serve a mighty God!!

Dylan, Kynsley and I have been memorizing scripture together before our trip. We made a paper chain for everyday until we go. It's hanging in our kitchen to show us everyday how much longer until we leave. Each night we take one link off the chain and read it. The next morning on the way to school we work on it again. I quiz the kids and they quiz me. Each ring also has a Creole word or phrase. So far we have memorized Isaiah 6:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Galatians 5:5, 1 Timothy 4:12, Psalm 140:12, Matthew 12:18, Psalm 33:20, Deuteronomy 4:29, Chronicles 16:10 and Habakkuk 3:18 "...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Today the Habakkuk verse really touched me. True joy only can come from Him. Are we not truly blessed to be called children of God??

Listening to God

Jody and I have had struggles with listening to God's call in our lives. We try to obey but often dismiss His calling because we assume it's our own desire and not Him calling us. Isaiah is a prime example of this. We fought the call to include him in our family. Yet, now we could not imagine him NOT being a part of our lives.

I'm struggling with another desire. Is it a calling from God or my own desires prompting these feelings?? I really want to move to Haiti. I know it sounds crazy, dangerous and downright ridiculous but it is a feeling I can't seem to let go of! BUT, is it of God??

We began searching for job opportunity's that would enable us to move to Haiti. Jody has 25 years of experience in law enforcement so an obvious place to start looking is in International Policing. We found 3 companies that the US State dept contracts with to handle what they refer to as Civilian Police Service over seas. 2 of these companies have openings for police officers from the US to serve in Haiti. BUT, is this the route God wishes us to take?? Is it safe to move to Haiti with 6 kids?? Where would they go to school?? What if they got sick?? What if there was another coup?? Where would we live?? How would we buy a car there?? Do we even need a car?? Could we adjust to life in a third world country?? What would happen if we hated it and wanted to go back to the US?? So many questions, so little answers!!

Please pray that Jody and I can hear the true calling God has for our lives! Pray that if Haiti is where He wants us, it will be made perfectly clear to us. Also, if it is not where we are meant to be that these feelings will be extinguished.

Parenting

I've decided that my parenting skills are outdated and antiquated and quite honestly, do not work! I'm using the same ol' technique of yelling, screaming, begging, spanking and grounding of my kids that my mom used. I'm not really sure why, it didn't work in the 60's, 70's and 80's on my brother and I, so why do I think it will work with my kids??

I've heard so much from friends who have kids who are respectful and responsible that they use a technique called "Parenting with Love and Logic". I finally bought the book yesterday. It is so good!! I'm already almost done with the book. I have never read a parenting book that made so much sense before.

The premise behind it is we must let our children learn to make their own decisions early on so they are able to make wise choices when we are not with them. They must learn that there are consequences (both good and bad) to every decision we make. One example they gave was about wearing a warm coat. We give them the choice to put it on or not. If they choose to not wear it and then are cold and complain we simply say, "I'm sure you are, I'm always cold without my coat in this weather". Nothing more! No lecture, no "I told you so". They will then learn that they need to wear the coat the next time. Of course, this goes against our natural instinct to "protect" them. Obviously, if they are going out for a 6 hour hike in the snow covered mountains we would not let them go out and get frost bite but if they are taught early on that they will be cold without their coat you won't have to!!

By teaching kids early-on about natural consequences the "Stakes" are lower. A ten minute car ride to run errands sitting in the car freezing is a much easier lesson then getting frostbite.

I've used the basic concept of choices already. Last night Shane (age 12) wanted to stay up to watch a movie that started at 10 p.m. When he asked me if he could, I simply said to him, "That's your choice, we will be leaving for church at the same time (8:45 a.m.) and you will need to be ready". I then said, "I'm going to bed now, I do not want to be grumpy tomorrow because I'm tired". I then went to bed. Shane woke up this morning very tired (he is still laying in bed and we need to leave in 30 minutes). He said to me, "I'm really tired, can I skip church." I simply responded with, "church is important and we will be leaving at 8:45". He then said, "I should have went to bed earlier!!". There was no lecturing needed, he figured it out all on his own!

This morning Sutton did not get her way so she began to throw a fit. Instead of saying, "be quiet" over and over again, I gave her a choice, she could stay in the kitchen quietly or go to her room and cry all she wanted. I asked her which she would prefer and she said "stay with you" and quit crying.

The thing I'm most worried about though is Jody thinks it all sounds ridiculous. He was raised that children should do as their parents say, period! He is convinced that our children will never make the right choice and we will have horrible kids. I know he is basing this on his experience with people who choose not to parent. He goes to calls at their houses all day long. They want the police to parent their children. I'm praying he will see the merits of this parenting style and give it a try! It says it will take one month for every year you have not parented this way. So for Shane it could take 12 months for him to understand that he is ultimately responsible for his own choices.

I'm totally ready to give it try but my husband...not so much!! I'm praying we can find a way to make it work so that the yelling and screaming and more importantly the repeating of things can end!