We Love You Grandpa

Thinking about Grandpa today.

I miss his big 'ol hands.

His gentle voice.

The way he would always take the opportunity to teach.

His freckles.

His strength.

His sentimental side.

(this marks our 500th post - how fitting)

Pucker Up

Memories

We had a wonderful vacation to Disney World last month! The boys are at such a fun age and it was magical to spend a week together just hanging out and enjoying each other without having to rush off to work or school! I took hundreds of pictures so it was hard to pick some favorites but wanted to share a few with you!

How cute is this?

Can you tell Adam is a big fan of Stitch?

Main Street USA

The fireworks were breathtaking!

So thankful for family!!!

Sending love to all of you!

Joy

Love visiting the Carlsons!

Faith and I have been having a GREAT time visiting this weekend! Here are a few pictures of the fun we have been having!

Found his way

I am glad to say that Ken found his way to and back from San Jose. He drove from the Minneapolis airport last night and arrived home just after 4 AM this morning. I was on pins and needles worrying about him going through the fog and was extremely thankful when he walked in the door.

Do you know the way to San Jose?

Ken is trying to get to San Jose, CA. This morning he was delayed in Green Bay for two hours because of fog. After finally boarding, the pilot announced that because of mechanical problems the flight was cancelled....... and there were no more open seats on the rest of the flights for the day. They booked him on a flight out of Minneapolis for tonight and that is where he is now headed....in the car. I hope he catches his flight out of there.

The Kitchen Files

Yesterday I received a lovely e-mail from my contractor with the 1st run of my cabinets!  Yippee.  It inspired me to put together a little Kitchen Filing System for the remodeling.  It was a lot of fun!

Bon Nuit Ami Mwen

Meet my little friend, Ketsia. She is the 50th child at the Children's home. She didn't have a stable enough family to go home to. Considering that the families that most of the kids' families would not be considered stable by American standards - her situation was quite dire. God, though, placed into the care of the staff at the children's home after they found her wandering the streets.  Bob and Vicki are currently taking great care of her in their home. She is approximately 4 years old. She wears a size 1; as in what a 1 year old would wear. She is malnourished. Her top teeth were so decayed they all had to be removed except the back two molars. This little girl has an unquenchable spirit.   She giggled with glee at her new home environment.  What a new world she was entering.  I spent many hours with her while I was in Haiti. She colored, played with stickers, bounced a ball, and got into all sorts of mischief. She was like a sponge though. I felt privileged to teach her all sorts of little things like how to play hopscotch, how to wipe her bottom, how to sing "waves of mercy", how to say "s'il vous plait", how to run out of the house if she feels it trembling, how to say "eskize mwen" before interrupting, how to eat 4 pieces of meat (chopped up of course) before she could eat a "bon bon", how to wash her hands properly (this became her favorite thing to do), how to brush her chompers with a toothbrush, how to play in a bucket of water for hours . . . I could go on . . . she was a sponge. Ketsia spoke 4 year old creole so it was an adventure trying to communicate. Sometimes she would get really frustrated. Sometimes I would get really frustrated. Ketsia had a widespread infection on her head. We were able to get her some antibiotics and some creams. Each night I would debride her head.  She would cry and Vicki would console her.  She wanted to look at every single gauze pad filled with pus & blood after is came off of her head.  I think somehow and someway it made her think, "at least I know why it hurts so bad."  I would blow up a medical glove and draw a face on it and Ketsia would grin ear to ear.  Vicki and I would offer her a peace offering of a jolly rancher after the whole ordeal and then she would be off to bed.  She would say "Mesi Tracy" in the most precious little voice.  I wish I had recorded it on video.  It warmed my heart.  I would often bring Ketsia to the salvage location and play with her there while I was packing up.  She wouldn't nap and I could see that she was really tired - so I found 3 of Vicki's scarves and decided to do like my Zulu friends - tie her on my back.  She absolutely LOVED it.  I think she liked the human contact.  She didn't feel alone.  The pink scarf in my New Locks post is one of those scarves that I would strap her on with.  Vicki made sure that I brought it home with me to remember.  Ketsia would play and sing and I knew exactly where she was.  She would eventually drift off to sleep and I would have to readjust the scarves to make sure she was secure. When the Haitians saw me they would say - "An African Sister".  That of course, made me grin from ear to ear.

For the record, Ketsia's eyelashes might be the curliest I have ever seen.  She'll never need to curl them or even put and ounce of mascara on those babies! 
Stay tuned for another post about Ketsia's obsession with "la machine"!!

New Locks

Honestly I feel a little bit guilty about getting a new haircut but I already had the appointment scheduled before my trip. I'm starting my transition to my summer hair colors. It was 50 degrees F here in Detroit. I wish I could have gone outside and enjoyed it!

This Isn't Camping.

Growing up in our family - you know that I really love to camp.
I loved when mom and dad would let Tim and I bring a tent to set up right next to the camper.  This, however, isn't camping.  The people of Haiti are living in tents.  They are living in tents because they have lost their homes.  But even moreso, they are living in tents because they are scared.  The Haitians saw their loved ones die beneath colapsed buildings.  They saw their own limbs amputated because of the tumbling concrete walls.  I can't even imagine the horror.  Bob & Vicki both described in vivid detail what it was like during the quake.  Bob was driving back from Petionville (on the mountain side of Port-Au-Prince)  and the buildings came crashing down into the street.  He was stuck in his vehicle for quite sometime because it was absolute gridlock.  He eventually decided to walk to the Children's home.  He came across a woman who had died and was naked.  He found something to cover her with.  He then helped pull people out of buildings.  He told us how he remembers the cries and moans from those trapped who he couldn't get to.  I think that would haunt me for a long time.  Vicki was at the Children's home when the trembling began.  She saw many of the kids running out of their rooms into the yard where they were cowering beneath the metal covered cabana of sorts.  She had to convince them to move to a place where they could see the sky.  As the hours rolled on she was trying to provide basic medical care to wounds and injuries far beyond her scope.  She said she just didn't know what to do when she saw a friend of theirs bring his little boy to the compound who had a large piece of wood stuck through his back.  In the first few days Bob and Vicki exhausted their supplies and their energy.  They ran out of water and food for the masses of people who began setting up their tents in and around the Salvation Army Compound.  Currently 20,000 people are living there.  A long term solution is being developed to help people move into homes and rebuild their confidence that they can be in a home again.

While I was in Haiti there were two "tremblings" that occured.  I only felt one of them in the middle of the night.  Two of the Haitian women living in the home were staying came running out of the building.  They were absolutely terrified.  They moved their mattresses to the porch and slept there the remaining days that I was in Haiti. 

My prayers for the Haitian people are that God can rebuild their confidence to live in a covered home, especially with the rainy season upon them.  That the large organizations in Haiti can expedite the design and building process to begin making the "3-year" homes which will get people back on their feet.  (I would love to be part of a team that builds some of these homes - perhaps this summer:))  That resources such as water, food, and work will be available in the new "neighborhoods" so that people will have incentive to move out of their tents and into a more stable living environment.  Would you pray with me these prayers?  Isaiah 49:8-20 God will be faithful to answer.  Love, T

So Sad Saturday will become Terrific Thursday

On Saturday morning I made it to my favorite spin class at LA Fitness and then headed off to Whole Foods so I could continue eating my Haitian diet (it's working by the way).  Anyhow - when I returned home I was putting the groceries away when I thought to myself, "I don't remember seeing any clouds in the sky.  Is it really raining?  That's really loud rain.  It sounds like it's in my house."  Well, the thought was a reality.  It was raining in my house because of the ice damns.  Oh my goodness.  Needless-to-say, I think the devil was mad I went down to Haiti.  After my attempt to squelch the problem, I called my contracter, Alan, who I just spent 2 weeks with in Haiti.  He helped me to calm down a bit and reminded me that this just might be a blessing in disguise.  The damage is not pretty but I have been faithfully paying my insurance since I bought the house.  It was time to make a claim.  On Tuesday I arrived home to find the restoration specailists making some lovely changes to my home.  So tomorrow (Thursday) I will be meeting with Alan to figure out the plan to fix the damage and since he'll already be making a mess, I am going to remodel the kitchen.  It is about 5 years overdue and as my Dad said, "This is a great catalyst" to getting it all done.  Here are a few pictures of what I came home too!

La Maison du Bonheur

La Maison du Bonheur is The Salvation Army's Children's Home in Port Au Prince, Haiti.  Fifty boys and girls live there who are either orphaned or are unable to live with their parents because of dire circumstances.  Thank God that all 50 children survived the earthquake.  Many of the older teenagers helped take care of injured people.  The children's home did not fall but it did experience significant damage and is going to have to be torn down for safety.  All but one of the children are currently living in a tent with family or friends.  The Salvation Army is helping provide food, shelter, and education while the children's home is rebuilt.  They actually are most likley to build 2 new children's homes; one for elementary and one for secondary students.  I think that is a great idea.  The one child who is not currently in the tent city is living with the couple who we helped during our time in Haiti.  Bob is the Director of Disaster Services in Haiti and Vicki is the Children's Home Director.  I'll post some pictures of little Ketsia in another post.  Anyhow, below you'll find some photos from within the children's home.  One of our big jobs was to salvage everything we could out of the home and the attached appartment where Bob and Vicki lived.  It was too difficult (time-wise and emotionally) for them to get everything out of the building.  It was a real privilege to serve this couple because we new that our service would permit them to continue the disaster relief instead of concentrating on salvage before the demolition. 

This is one of the doorways.  The bricks were ready to fall any minute.  There were several aftershocks or small quakes while we were there that could have sent this tumbling.  Can you say "hard hat"?

This is a view of the tent city from the children's home that was in and surrounding The Salvation Army Compound. 

Debris in the children's home.

Kitchen in the attached apartment.  See that piece of wood sticking down on the left?  I thought that I would just rip it off since it was in the way - NOT A GOOD IDEA.  The tiles started to fall and I stopped before the wall gave way.  (I was being careful Mom - I stopped - I didn't get hurt).  Anyhow - Alan proceeded to give me a stern talk about not pulling, tugging, or fixing anything.  I think he may have said "Don't even breathe on that!"  He also informed me that I was to no longer kick any doors that wouldn't easily open.  Good thinking.  That's what friends are for :)

This is actually one of my favorite photographs because it shows it "just as it was" right after the quake.  I think the color and composition tell a good story.

This was a typical sight all over the children's home - cracks and holes in the walls.  In Haiti almost all of the buildings are made of cement.  It really crumbles during the trembling of the quake. 

Destination Imagination

Saturday is a big day for the kids and me as we will be going to a competition for our Destination Imagination team. The boys are on a team of seven kids which I co-coach. We've been meeting twice a week after school since October. It's difficult to explain what Destination Imagination (DI) is -- it's problem solving, teamwork, creativity, imagination, acting and fun! There is an article on our school district's website about DI with a picture of the boys. So cool! Here's a link ... check it out! http://manitowocpublicschools.org/news.cfm?story=4489

This year our team's challenge was to find a news article from another country (ours is Indonesia) and tell the story in an eight minute skit (a new world record for releasing paper lanterns) ... during the skit they'll be putting weights on a structure they've built with only newspaper and glue that can weigh no more than 75 grams (equivalent to 15 nickels). Their test structures held almost 60 pounds! The more weight it holds, the more points they score : ) All the scenery and props must incorporate newspaper and all the props must fit into a box they've built and decorated. The team must come up with the ideas & solutions themselves without any help. It's amazing to see the solutions these kids come up with!
Both boys have been in DI since 1st grade and it's so much fun having them on the same team -- they work so well together!

I'll let you know how it goes -- the top 2 teams advance to the state competition. I'm crazy busy this week with last minute preparations and practice but so excited for the team, and especially Isaac and Adam!

Art award

March is Youth Art Month! The Manitowoc Public Schools celebrate by displaying hundreds of pieces of the K-12 student's work at our community's art museum. It's amazing to see all the talent! Both boys were honored this year to have a piece of their art chosen to be on display. I'll post pics soon of their art. Isaac was given a special award this year for outstanding achievement in art. Each art teacher chooses students to award this to! Here is Isaac receiving his award. That's his principal and the superintendant presenting the award. His art teacher Ms. Fisher is between them -- she's amazing!!! The wall behind them is displaying the art of the award winners. The room was packed with hundreds of students, families, teachers and administrators for the opening of Youth Art Month. We're so thankful the Manitowoc schools and community value the arts! Great job Isaac & Adam!

Happy Birthday Carol!

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday day to my Wonderful god mother! I love you and i hope that you have a great birthday! Enjoy Love Addy and Faith

Home

Hello Family & Friends,
Words cannot describe the trip to Haiti.  It was one of the most impactful missions I have ever been on.  Your prayers were felt and were most definitely effective.  The Hatian people are so wonderfully nice and so desperately in need.  It was such a privilege to be even a small part of helping these wonderful brothers and sisters.  I am hoping a praying that I will be able to return again this year.  The Salvation Army is at the helm for helping folks and it is truly evident that the money that is being donated is making its way directly to the people who need it in the form of food, shelter, and provision.  They are leading the way in terms of long term solutions which makes me so glad.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be posting pictures (they will be on facebook too - but I won't fill in all the details there) and retelling stories and thoughts from the trip.  I apologize for taking so long to get a post up - it has been extremely hectic since I have returned home including some home repairs that I have had to attend to right away (oh joy of joys) and a pile of the most odiferous laundry I have ever encountered.

Just a quick picture here of me and my teammates Alan (our leader) and Drew (one of my pastors) while we were at the Divisional Headquarters of the Salvation Army dropping off the box truck.

My birthday

We met Ryan, Joy, Isaac and Adam in Green Bay this evening to celebrate my birthday. We had fun visiting and we even got a good picture despite the fact that the cold wind was making our teeth chatter. I love being with them!

Just One Week

Well, we have just one more week in our condo in the city. We will then be moving into my aunt's townhouse until we close on our new home in the middle of May. It's bittersweet to leave, but I'm so excited to get settled as soon as possible.

The girls are doing well. Alaina has learned her shapes and colors and now we are working on letters and numbers. She's a little sponge! Addie is awake much more during the day, and likes to play with rattles on the floor.

I had my last post-op with my doctor and was finally cleared for exercise! I never thought I'd be so excited to get on a treadmill, but it feels great!

Sorry this note is so short, but it's hard to write with just one hand to type with ;) I'm feeding Addie as I write...haha

Here are some new pictures of the girls!

Love you all,
Emily Ann

Paul's Valentine Present done

Hello Everyone
I had told Addy that I would share the watercolor picture I was painting when it was done. I had decided that I would paint a picture of Dad for him for Father's day. Well I have a real hard time keep secrets and even harder time not giving a present when I have one to give. So Valentine came before Father's Day and I had to give it to him. With that long explanation here is what I did.

Busy

Hello All!
I think that it is funny that since Tracy has been gone the family blog has slowed down so much. We really enjoy reading about what is going on in everyones life. So dont forget to write!!
Faith and i have been busy beavers lately!! With being sick (we are finally getting better) school, and work its hard to get everything i want to get done, done. Even with the economy today we have been really picking up at work and we may have to hire another employee and that is great news!! There has been really great word of mouth given from our parents who are happy and pleased with everything going on at school.
As many of you may have heard, i have gone on a date a few times with this guy and his name is Joe. I met him on the internet and we have been talking for about a month. This news to some would be everday stuff, but for a single mom it is a big deal. Well at least for this single mom it is. Its funny to me since we have been talking it seems like i have know him for so much longer since all we have really done is talk. He reminds me of grandpa very loving and kind takes care of others before himself, and has the PATIENCE of a saint!! lol He was raised by great parents that taught him morals and values and his parents are still married. I didnt think that there were any nice guys left out there and im crossing my fingers that i found one!! Im not one to sit and talk about guys so i am just happy right now and hope for good things to come!! ok enough about that!!! lol
Faith has been very busy lately. Last night they had a family night at her school and we had pizza and made home made books. It was a lot of fun and its so nice to see her in her school setting and how she acts there. Since Faith goes to daycare with me we share a lot of time together and her "big girl school" is something i think she feels is just hers, it makes a difference on how she acts and behaves.
Well all is very well here and we are praying for Tracy and her safe return home and for GG to feel better everyday!
God bless
addy