HAITI--damage

I have been trying to decide how I want to blog about/document our trip to Haiti this year.  There were so many awesome aspects and so many different parts of each day (the day started at 5 and lasted until about 9), it's been tricky to think back on it all!  I have decided, though, to break it down into 4 blogs:  damage, work, haitians, fellowship.

Today's focus is on the damage done after the February 12th earthquake.  Granted, Haiti (both before and after) has experienced its fair share of poverty and destruction.  Some of the images look like Haiti even before the earthquake, however, there were areas where it was obvious the toll the quake had taken could be seen.  

Here's an overview of some of the damage we saw firsthand while there.

Part of the old church and building at Cite Soleil.

Wall's Guest House...completely gone, minus the pool and room beside it.  Sooooo sad.

Another view inside at Wall's...to show the massive cracks.

Church at Repatriote.  Where those posts are sticking up, all that used to be the sanctuary (or the whole inside of the church).  Completely gone...except for the back part of the building where they were holding a medical clinic.

What's left of the big church/chapel in Port au Prince...once a very recognizable landmark, now is just that, but in a much sadder, far less majestic way : (

A little hard to tell, but the one thing left standing...Jesus on the Cross.  Amazing.

And the main government building...crushed.

Keep praying for the Haiti and its people!  Thanks for looking at/reading all that :)

Tomorrow's focus:  WORK.

and we're back.

After an amazing, but long work week, ended with an extended two day stay in Miami...we are finally back from Haiti!

It was a great trip and I can't wait to post pictures (be prepared for an onslaught of pics!)

Oh, and for the record, I am NOT AT ALL a fan of American Airlines.  Just wanted to throw that out there ;)

TIME HAS ARRIVED

The time has arrived.  Our bags are packed and ready to go.  We are leaving EARLY tomorrow morning and flying out to HAITI!  I am a mixed bag of emotions--super excited to be going, anxious to leave, sad as to what we might find, and anticipating differences between this year and last (aka preparing for differences!)  I think it will be a great, hopefully fruitful trip.

There is a link to the Haiti blog on the right side of our blog--check it out! It should be updated (hopefully) regularly while we're there.

Please pray for our team.  Here are some specific prayer needs:

*strength and endurance (the kind that comes only from the Lord--we will need this both physically and spiritually!)
*health (given current Haiti conditions, health issues could and are likely to be iffy)
*that we would grow in the Lord and grow as a team (there are 30-some of us going!)
*that this would be a fruitful trip

Thanks for your prayers!

And I know all 5 of our blog followers will miss not having a post to read every day next week...haha ;) so, here are some precious Haiti pictures from last year to tide those of you over!

Be back next Saturday (and maybe I'll be back a lil tanner, too ;)

ninety-two.

On Saturday our awesome friend and adopted grandpa will turn 92.  Yes, that's right, Elton Earp will be NINETY-TWO!  That's CRAZY!  He is nearly a century old and has beyond the knowledge to show it.  Second to my own grandpa, I think he just might be one of the smartest men I know (oh, and my hubby ;)

Tonight we took him to Bullock's BBQ to celebrate.  We got the family meal and he topped it off with a banana pudding.  Special treat since he doesn't eat a ton of sugar (much like my own grandpa).

A shot while we were serenading him with our gorgeous voices, "Happy Birthday to youuuu..." (Clearly, he's amused to say the least)

Post dinner we captured a moment with the birthday boy.  There we are throwing up "9-2" while he is chillin' in the middle. He tried to hold up a hand and add more numbers to his age, but then we settled with 92. ;)

Elton, I am most certain you won't read this, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY and we hope you have many years more.  You are loved!

Project 365: March Recap

Ok, I have to be honest.  I have not faithfully followed Project 365 like I had intended to.  Granted, I am still taking lots of photos, but not EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.  I know, bad follow through.  Though it's not every day, it's nearly every day.  That counts for something, right? ;)

I do have folders on my computer for each month of pictures I take, however, so here are some March photos that never made it on the blog.  Enjoy!

Photo 1:  My new favorite shoes that feel like they've been my shoes for forever...they're that comfy and worn-in.
Photo 2:  Jas Ed Pa lookin' at me from the back porch.
Photo 3:  Baby bel playing hard core with her fav tennis ball.
Photo 4:  That, my friends, was the first sign of spring in Palmer yard! (this picture appeared earlier but is back because it makes me smile :)