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One thing we really wanted to do as a group was spend some time in the little village behind Alex's House, praying with anyone who wanted it and handing out beans and rice. We did not have time to go buy the beans and rice so we ended up taking all our own extra food instead.
Carl (in the hat) had been to this house the last time he was in Haiti and had met the lady in white. She is blind.
This is their church.
This last photo is of Jan and Meldin. Meldin (I'm sure I'm not spelling that right) might have been 11-12 years old. She alternated her time between Jan and I. At one point she was holding my hand and walking with me. She pointed to my shoes and I said "shoes?" She nodded and then pointed at her own bare feet. There is no way my shoes would have fit her but that didn't stop me from feeling like taking them off right then and there and giving them to her.  I can't imagine what it must feel like to not be able to provide something as basic as a pair of shoes for my child.

Carl, surrounded, and giving away Jason's lunch. LOL You can see there is one little guy with nothing but a shirt on. That's the same little one that I posted a picture of in my last post~with the eyes you could jump into. He was not the only one with only a shirt on. And I have stacks of Joshua's outgrown clothes in my closet right now......
To say that Haiti and it's people have gotten a hold of my heart is a huge understatement.

beautiful

Haiti is hot.
So hot. 

And noisy.

Dirty
 

Crowded



Devastating


{a tent city set up after the earthquake}
{probably the only source of water nearby, used for everything}  

There is so little. 

But There is so much. 

FAITH



HOPE
 

LOVE
 

PEACE
 

JOY
 

BEAUTY
 
So much beauty. 

Our church as another group going in January.  I've only been home 3 days but I find myself sitting here trying to figure out a way to raise some money and convince my family I need to go again. {Don't worry Honey, you're going next.  :-)}

Haiti, part 1

Wow.  Our Super 7 team just got back from Haiti yesterday morning.  It was an amazing trip and there will hopefully be multiple posts coming with lots of pictures and details.  I just wanted to get some thoughts down now though.

As we were getting ready for the trip over the last several months, we had a plan in place for what we would be doing there.  It was a great plan.  We were excited about it.  It was exactly what we wanted to be doing.  Several things changed within the last few weeks before the trip - with the plans for the trip, within our church and with our team.  It wasn't what we expected.  We were supposed to be doing some light work to finish up details at the new property in the mornings and some community outreach/VBS/playing with the kids in the afternoons.  But things got delayed and the property was not ready for the kids to move into when planned.  So we learned that we would be working to get it ready for them to move in on Friday.  That was fine.  We changed our plans, gathered supplies and got ready to go.  But I don't think any of us was ready for just how hard we worked last week. Or how little time there would be for anything else. It wasn't what we planned.  Or expected. I know that was the case for myself.  But you know what?  The next time I got to Haiti and see those precious children at Alex's House, I can walk into the boy's cottage and see the conduit Jan, Karen and I put up to keep those babies safe.  It's not about me.  It's not about what I want.

It's about Jan being able to put these decorations up Friday morning to welcome 26 kids home.
It's about seeing their faces as they came through the gate for the first time (and seeing that huge smile on Bill's face).
This is what it's about. And I am so glad I got to be a part of it.

future firefighter?

Joe's sister, Becky, came over last Saturday to hang out with us.  Joshua and I went with her to drop something off at the fire station for her hubby.  Joshua loves going to the fire station and getting his own personal tour from Uncle JJ.  He asked a million questions and Uncle JJ answered every one of them.  Joshua also got to sit in all of the trucks, including the chief's truck.  That boy is not afraid to talk to anyone and ask for what he wants.  LOL

Maybe he'll be a firefighter like his uncle when he grows up

Some quick instruction
   

 He loved pretending to shoot me and Aunt Becky.

 

Uncle JJ and his boy.

15/52 movement

When I saw the theme for this week, I knew I would be doing a baseball photo. Matthew had a game on Thursday. They got their first win for the season and he had a great game.

Matthew sliding into home. He was safe.

That's the "official" photo for the week. But y'all know I can't post just one when it comes to baseball.

Waiting for his turn to bat.



He hit a single.

Then a triple.

He also played the whole game at 1st base and did an excellent job.

I want to thank everyone for the comments on my post Thursday. I honestly didn't expect to get much of a response at all and definitely not the one I did. I have read everyone's comments, several times, and appreciate each one. It means a lot that you all would take the time to respond like you did. If I could give each of you a great big hug, I would. Thank you.

Insta....Friday?

I blame my friend Shannon for this. I don't have an iphone so I've just been introduced to the world of instagram. I must admit I'm enjoying it. A lot. But Shannon is insisting that I participate in something called InstaFriday. So....here we go.


Last week was spring break for us and this was the morning after we got back from our trip to the mountains. And the morning after I downloaded Instagram ;-)


Joshua loves his new bike. He especially loves it if his brother will ride with him. They are having a bike race here. Matthew was kind enough to let his brother win.


Cloud. Cloud is very lazy. And amazingly good at posing for me.


I go to Joshua's school at least once a week. This week he had science for related arts and they have some ducklings. They were so very cute.


Wednesday, Em and Matthew have youth group so it was just Joshua and I waiting to pick Joe up from work.


Dinner!


It's baseball season here so that means we spend at least 2 nights a week at the ball field. This is from last night's game, which Matthew's team won. Matthew, batting.


Cloud, completely annoyed that I am bothering him so early in the morning.


It's a beautiful Friday afternoon here.

I am sparing you all and not posting all the shots I took.

the end

I thought about posting this on Facebook but it's safer here. Not many people come here anymore so it'll be mostly just me with my thoughts. I've also thought about not saying anything at all but I think it's something I need to get out.

I have been becoming increasingly frustrated and this morning decided I GIVE UP. What am I giving up? Photography. More specifically, the thought that I can/should have a business. Everyone and their brother has a "nice" camera and seems willing to do/give everything for $50. Some of them are good. Some....aren't. But I can't compete with that. My time away from my family is worth more than that. I have been working and practicing and learning for....years. And I am still learning. There is so much to know. I know I'm not the best or most creative but I don't think I'm horrible. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Oh well, at least I'll have nice pictures of my kids.

I know I'm not the first person to have these thoughts and complaints. I know this is common. And I want to make it clear that I'm not talking about anyone I actually know, either IRL or online. I'm talking about photographers here, where I live.

A couple months ago, Bill Howard was speaking at our church. Bill started Alex's House in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010. Our church has partnered with Bill and Alex's House and I'm very excited to be going to Haiti in September with a team from our church. Anyway, when Bill was speaking that Sunday, I was given an idea. I haven't told anyone about it and I've been dragging my feet about doing anything about it. It's not that I've rejected it. If it's what I'm supposed to do, I'm more than happy to do it. I have always told God that whatever gifts or talents He's given me, I am more than happy to give back and use for Him. I'm beginning to think that this frustration I'm feeling is Him pushing me.

I can't post without a picture. I think I've posted this one before but I don't have anything new and it's one of my favorites of all 3 of them.