New Photos

 

I uploaded these a few days ago and saved them as a draft until I could add more and publish. So, here are the photos (which i also added on facebook today) --some were taken just today.

We just got back from our church small group bible study.  It is nice to be able to meet outside of church with other christians. I just wanted to post that.  I am also thankful for God's timing and for the things He's doing in my life. It is obvious to me the work that's being done and how things are coming together, all in perfect timing.

Mirlene

Mirlene died.  She wasn't even at the rescue center that long... but she was 4, weighed 28 pounds, and died. I had been praying really hard for her on Thursday, all day long, so when I found out Friday night before date night that she had died, I was crushed.  I could hardly stop thinking about it.  It's just not fair. It's hard for me not to feel guilty for having a nice home with two beautiful healthy kids, when I know every second of the day someone there is in pain and hungry and dying.  It's just not fair. But at least she is not suffering anymore.

I guess they are getting ready to ship the container to the rescue center soon. Here is an email I received from Debbie who is in charge of collections. This is what she said:

Hi Kristen,

Zach called today from RHFH and he will be in Indiana on Tuesday. We need to finish packing and get the semi container to Haiti by April 20-22 so that he can try to get it through DUTY FREE by April 30th. It has to make it all the way through customs before that date. (could save $3,000 but can't guarantee because we have to get it THROUGH customs).

SO -- we must call in all orders and get them packed so we can organize the semi the second week. Last items needed are pallets of food, especially peanut butter. He may also be sending some of the pallets of medicine to Minnesota so that he can balance the trucks.

I'm going to start looking for shipping sponsorships. I'm still going to need to raise the $10,000 in case we don't get the container all the way through in time (can't predict everything that will happen). We have about $1,500 so far. People can get a tax deduction by going to www.haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com and sending money through paypal or directly to Indiana. It needs to be marked Minnesota shipping.
This is going to happen!!!!
Debbie

If you can help, IN ANY WAY, please.... it would mean so much to me.  I wish I had a ton of viewers so that my blog could help advertise. Even if you have a blog or facebook to help spread the word, I would be so greatful

Easter Cutouts

Today Kay Ellerbusch and I decorated some cute Easter cookies. I am really happy how they turned out. However, it's a little too much frosting for even my sweet tooth.  I'll still eat them!

I also posted these on facebook.

Busy

Busy busy busy seems to be a common theme in our house lately, and we haven't even started planting season yet.  On the weekends we have been working on spring cleaning.  I am proud to say that some of the projects I had on my list are being scratched off. Lots and lots of clutter and junk are being thrown out and things are starting to look a little cleaner.  I even washed some windows. Seeing all this snow melt is really making me excited for planting flowers and vegetables. Spring is here!

I have been working on a few different things around here.  One being Haiti of course. I put an 'ad' in the newspaper to tell the communities about ways to donate.  Go here for more details.  I am putting together an order for machetes for use of farming. Most haitians are traveling rural so we have the capacity to help the haitians help themselves! They need the tools for farming so they can farm... but they do not have the tools. I am putting in an order today or tomorrow so if you want to help, contact me. They are $8 for machetes. You can also donate through Walmart.com. Here are the details for that.

Here are some more pictures.  I think i will wait to post the pictures of the invitations I made for Maddy's birthday. I will tell you, though, it is strawberry shortcake themed.  Til later!

It's Late & I'm Tired

...so go to bed!    Yes, I probably should. It's 11 pm, and I am still up. Peter got back from curling a couple hours ago and he helped me clean up the kitchen, and then we just talked for a while. It was nice to spend time together just having good conversations.   Tonight I went on Here to Haiti's website because this lady named Debbie Woodward is collecting a container to ship to Haiti. She has been getting a lot of collections all over the US, and even different parts of the world for this container. Anyway, she picked up one of the items I bought for the kids at the Rescue Center and documents where these donations are coming from. I think that's a neat idea. You too, can donate through the walmart website. It's really easy to do, and if you click site to store, you dont pay for shipping and she will pick it up for you!  Go here for those instructions.

Last Sunday I took some 'easters' pictures of the kids. I have to edit these because the lighting was poor.  Here's what I have:

A slightly new space

Last year we had the priveledge to put together a shoe box for children who do not get gifts for Christmas. We gave two shoe boxes and dropped it off in Fargo pretty much the last day that it could be done. There was even a "tracker" so that you could have sent to your inbox where the shoe box went. I just got in the mail a newsletter of some snapshots of the kids who got gifts. So worth it!!

We also sponsor a couple children from Haiti, and sometimes we receive letters of pictures they've drawn, etc.  This time I received a letter from Jean (the boy I sponsor) and in the letter was this:

How great, that he can write his name, and write numbers!!  Without his sponsorship, he would not be able to go to school and learn to these things. For the little money it is per month to sponsor... this is also sooo worth it.

We did some cleaning this weekend. Well, all week. So much "spring cleaning" got done.  Our two main, deep closets got cleaned out, mopped, and neatly organized in a matter of a few hours of both peter and I going through old treasures. I found the wedding bin I had and i literally still had about 50 little bottles of bubbles from our wedding. Ok, can you say, "let go"? 

Bins were labeled and now theres lots of bare space to store more things. I couldnt fit the camera to take a picture of the other half of the closet but now our old winter jackets will be stored hanging and baby toys.

This is the picture of the new space I want to make my scrapbooking headquarters :)  It is messy right now, obviously, we took most of the trash to peters pickup but there's still a lot that we put in that corner. Just envision finishing the trim on the windows, cute curtains and the old sink you see there would have laminent on top and pushed to the opposite side, possibly a large cabinet, and my scrapbooking table would be under the window. The window would be slightly open to enjoy fresh air !

This is where I do my stuff, see? so dark.

Here are some other fun pictures: