there and back again

a title that would make any baggins proud. and, methinks, samwise gamgee as well.




on march 4, 2006 i posted my first blog post. i found this sign while wondering the streets of venice beach with my friend rocco. i was about to embark on a great journey and felt that one chapter of my life was closing while another was beginning. i believe since then i have written not mere chapters, but an entire book on this blog. i find it appropriate to close with this same picture. for surely, this is the end.

i have been informed that three angels will be looking for a couple to take over in the position as house manager. this fits the biblical picture of a family and i believe it is a good decision for the organization.

in light of this, i think it would be fairly ridiculous of me to go on posting on a blog whose address places me in haiti when clearly, i am not. and i cannot go on commenting as you-you . . . a nickname that in time will fade as many nicknames do.

some brief highlights:
* in the two years, two months and 12 days that i have been posting on well . . ., this is my 179th post. in contrast, the blog gretchen and i started for the children ran from october 2006 to december 2007 with a grand total of 205 posts!
* during this time i have watched children enter and exit the orphanage by many various means, i have seen transformed lives, i watched a complete miracle in the life of guerda (layla), i fell in love with countless children and haitian people, and i was blessed abundantly by Christ in meeting all of you: my incredible support system!
* i have had "visitors" on my blog from many many far reaching countries.
* i learned a new language
* i have started my own . . . "family."

i want to thank you for sharing with me in this journey. i don't yet know what the future holds, but as for myself, i will abide as i have always said in this: that i know Whom i have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which i've committed unto Him against that day!

i cannot lie: i'm scared. i'm sad. i miss my children everyday. but the Lord is greater than that which is in the world and i can rest in that.

goodbye.

it's time

noah when i first met him (march 2006)
noah when i last saw him (dec 2007)
mia when i first met her (march 2006)
mia when i left (dec 2007)
tiny little hope (march 2006)
school girl (dec 2007)
baby alixson (march 2006)
cupcake man (dec 2007)
itty bitty nancy (sept 2006)
bright eyed beauty (dec 2007)
oh my little steven on his second day (march 2006)
what a big guy! (dec 2007)
the day angela came in (may 2006)
grown up mama (dec 2007)

i have been praying these kids home since as early as march 2006 when i first arrived at the o! some of you have been praying a lot longer than that!!! and FINALLY it's getting down to coming home time!!! this is the home stretch and i cannot wait for them to slide into base! what a day of rejoicing that will be!!!

come quickly, kids, we're waiting for you!!!!

i want to thank you

this is a post for all of you. there are so many of you out there who have been so incredibly supportive of me in the past number of months. i have been amazed at Christ in you. i wish i could thank you properly. there are so many of you and i couldn't seem to find pictures of each of you. but i made this video to recognize you because you have truly been the body of Christ. you have taken on His grace and forgiveness in dealing with me as your sister and i have been blessed a thousand times over because of it. hopefully most of you will see yourself in at least one picture. some key people who are not pictured here are duane and doreen, teresa (except for a tiny shot behind the collins at the airport), kea, jim and deanna, abbie, jodi d, ron and tammi, steve and angie, michelle crawford, thane, nate, donald, and nancy and allen, not to mention numerous people at OEFC (but they don't read my blog). the visits, the letters, the phone calls, the PRAYERS that have been sent my way or heavenward respectively have been my sustenance. i want to thank you.