Finally...pictures!

Lapli ap tonbe! (The rain is falling)

So, my plans to keep a well updated blog may be impeded by the bain of my internet existence..the rainy season!! The rain started 3 days ago, and getting a good internet connection is almost impossible when I have the time to try. It doesn't rain all day, but the internet goes down in the afternoon, and then maybe comes back on at night, so the last few days of blogging have not happened!! But when it rains, we have a small Lake Superior in the front yard...no joke, you have to wade through to the front gate!! And this will continue well into the summer...July/August, though not as intense.
Things have continued to be great!!! I've gotten into a routine and we're getting the kids into one...we sat down and planned the week out, and it's so nice cuz everyone knows what is happening for the most part, and there's less "planning by the seat of your pants".
There's a bit of a cold/earache thing going through the house, and things were a little crazy here today! But the kids are looking great, and it's so funny to see all those babies all toddling around

Interesting thing happened today...they opened the damn up the river and there were hundreds of people running past the orphange toward the river yelling "pwason" (fish), as the river was flooded with fish. We went out to take some pictures of the excitement at the prospect of free fish...we missed the fish but caught the excitment. And even got caught in the rain.

Cute story: David was working in his schoolbook and was learning how to draw different shapes to make different animals. He was attempting to draw a half circle, and suddenly said "Look, it's a sleeping 'D'!!"

I'll try and get some pics on here soon. I know many of you are wanting to see the kids!

Finally back in Haiti

So, the internet has been down, but that's been alright cuz I had a good excuse to not take the time to write! Anyway, we arrived on Tuesday and were blasted with the humid heat of my favorite place in the world. My bags were the first two on the carousel, and I thought it was too good to be true...which it was, as Angelique's one bag was among the last and her other never arrived at all! There must have been 70 people who had NO luggage arrive and you should have seen the tempers flaring!! And not having luggage in Haiti is a way bigger deal than anywhere else! One Haitian lady was crying as they had made her check her carry on as the plane was really full...so she really had nothing!!
We ran a few errands and waited for 6 more people who were arriving on a later flight(Judite's famliy, as well as David's mom for a visit), then headed up the mountain. For those of you who have been here, the road is not only graded almost the whole way, it's paved all the way to Terrier Rouge!! I couldn't believe it!! It only took 15 minutes to drive what used to take 1.5hrs!!
We arrived to much excitement and the welcome chanting of "Lowi(aka Lori), Lowi, Lowi!!" It was like music to my ears! Everyone has grown so much! All of the babies downstairs are walking and feeding themselves, and the older kids are all taller and their feet have grown excessively! Seriously, half the shoes I brought were too small!!
I've already settled back into things, and Minnie did a great job of keeping our routines going, which I am so thankful for! I've also noticed a marked improvement in many areas, notably their coloring skills, and cudos to Minnie for that as well!! A guy was here who fixed some wheelchairs, so now Jenny and Derson spend large amounts of their days sitting up, and we can easily roll them outside for some fresh air.
I didn't even recognize Levi and Evan they have grown so much, and Levi smiles and laughs so much it's unbelievable! We no longer think he is deaf, so that is a blessing!!
There are 2 new babies, as well as two others who are back who had been with a foster missionary family who had to go back to the states. Jamesky is a 5 month old little chubb who we are already signing football contracts for. Lineda is a beautiful little girl who is about the same age, who giggles about everthing and incessantly has her index finger in her mouth. Moise and Connelly are back with us, and though the transition back has been a little hard for them, they are doing well.
The workers here have been joking with me that I have lost so much of my color. They are amazed how quickly we "blanc" turn so white again. But, yesterday when I took all the visitors to the market, I remidied some of that!
Last night I sent another lizard through the fan! Those silly little things hide on things and then when you pick that thing up they jump, and for me they jump right into a high speed fan! This time I got guts all over me and had to get one of the guys to help me clean it up...too gross!!
We've also had 2 more ladies join us, bringing the group up to 15...so things are a little tight!! One of the ladies is the adoptive mom of chubby little Jessica, and they are heading home next week!

Anyway, it's so great to be back! And it's great to be refreshed and ready to really put my all into everything.

Divebombing Finches

So, apparently the airport in Denver has a problem with finches, at least I think from my limited bird knowledge they are finches! We were sitting in our terminal, and I noticed something flit across my vision. There above me was some little crazy bird, flitting here and there and everwhere. We were a little surprised at these airport inabitants, and there were many. It seemed to be a fairly normal thing, as few of the "staffy" type folk there reacted at all. Not even when they started divebombing! No joke! These little critters proceeded to spy out anything that resembled a tasty snack, and down from above they would dive! It was nuts! Humerous, but a little unnerving when I thought of the possibilities...as I sat in a ducked position for various reasons!

Anyway, we are well on our way now, currently sitting at Ft. Lauderdale airport, rudely awakened from our oh-so-comfortable sleep this morning by the AC. I know, I know, only 5 hours until I'll by crying for that same intrusive AC.

Interesting-though-not-so-happy news article

NPR: Author Struggles to Stay Removed from Slave Trade

Anyone up for a so-true-you-can't-believe-it read?

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's back to Haiti I Go!

Danae(Dede) and some of her family
Me and Danae

So, it's finally happening!!! I thought the day would never come!!On March 17th I'm heading back to my other home. Myself and another girl who is from Barrhead, Angelique Loitz, booked our tickets yesterday. I got the ok from my doctor last week, and until we leave I'm continuing to work with the great therapy folk at the hospital. They've been great...and for sure being a recent coworker has had its benefits! My thumb isn't bending a lot yet...at least not without help. But, this is normal I hear, and I just have to keep working at things!
I AM SO EXCITED!!!! It has been far too long since I've had the aroma of garbage assault my senses!! Too long since I've felt sweat trickle down my back(seriously, there was a 70degree difference on those -40 days!), and had trouble deciphering between sweat and humidity! Far, far too long since I've been awoken at 5:30 a.m. by 20 little voices calling "Lowi"(as they are apt to say my name)outside my door. I am so looking forward to being in the midst of it all again, despite the times I complain about the very same things!!
So much has happened since I've been gone...it's going to be so different with so many of my kids gone home to their forever families!!! I've seen 4 of them since being home this past 9 weeks,and it has been amazing to see how far they've come in such a short time!! My secret favorite(though it's not so secret I suppose) now lives in Edmonton, and I've seen him a few times! He was so surprised to see me the first time, but his little 2 year old eyes lit up and as usual he had my heart!! His family has been so great and have welcomed me as a part of Ethan's life, as have in fact a number of families. I remember when we got his passport in Haiti, I bawled, both happy he was finally getting to go home, and because I love him so much and was gonna miss him a ton! So, despite me not wanting to be in Canada all this time, it's been great to see the kids attaching to their families and I guess in reality gave me a chance to let go too!!

Ethan(Cliph) and his familyMe and my little buddyRosena(Naomi) and Fethnel and their mom