Happy 7 & 3/4 Birthday???

What is the only thing that our Isabelle wanted for her 8th birthday???? (which isn't until October 4th!!!)

A BOW - so she could hunt with her daddy! She is making some big promises for the fall hunting season - a 12pt Buck!!! (Dad's was a 10pt from last fall) She has been asking for this since before her last birthday - she just wasn't quite old enough. In order for her to hunt this fall, she needed to have her gift this summer so she can practice & be prepared for the season to begin in September.

Kevin & I told her he was taking her on a "special surprise date". She wanted to know so badly what she was doing, so we told her she was milking goats or cows, & maybe going to ride a buffalo. She was very confused & didn't find it all that amusing - WE DID!!!

They arrived at the shop, which is in the back of someone's home - so she was still clueless. She thought it was a stop along the way to their eventual "date spot". Well after arriving in the store, she still didn't get that it was for her - we do look at a lot of hunting things in our home, TV, & in stores - so it wasn't too big of a shocker to be at a bow store. When Kevin finally told her they were there for her - she lit up like a Christmas tree. She later told Kevin that it was the best surprise she's ever had. The grin on her face is priceless.

She has practiced everyday - she loves to try & perfect the target shooting! She will be a good little hunter. She loves to be outdoors. She loves to sit in the tree stand with her dad & see all kinds of birds & animals. She has such a sweet tender spirit for nature. From hunting to budding artist she is. Today she started an art class. She painted her 1st picture with acrylics. It was great. She is in a class with one other little girl her age & absolutely LOVES learning about real art, not just doing crafts. Our little girl is growing up & begin to have very strong interests, desires, & talents!!! Happy EARLY b-day big girl!!

Happy Birthday & Summer Fun

We arrived home from Haiti just in time to celebrate both my birthday & Kevin's. What fun!! The kids are doing some activities at the Library this summer & the activity on Kevin's birthday was cake decorating - how exciting!! They started with 2 cupcakes a piece, but the numbers were lower than expected - so they ended up getting to decorate 4 a piece - they were pumped. They thought it would be fun to put candles in them for dad - but neither wanted to share their masterpieces - (I think Kevin was okay with that - they were very decorated!)

Last weekend the Army Reserve base had a family day - there was face painting, pony rides, an obstacle course, guns, dog tags to be made, & all kinds of vehicles to look at. The kids thought it was really neat - until we had to wash off the face paint. It took 2 washings, actually scrubbings, to get it all off. After the 1st wash, JM looked like the incredible hulk because his eyebrows were stained green. I thought it was humorous - the kids weren't laughing!

Haiti Trip 2009

We are back - showered & adjusting to air conditioning! We had a great trip. . . I've written lots on http://artsfororphan.blogspot.com/ about the significance of our trip. Here I'll just share personal photos & funny stories. Check out the other site for more details.

Highlights of the trip:

1. 2 hour delay on our trip to Port Au Prince - we were boarded & ready to leave, but another passenger thought he'd try to take raw meat & ice in carry on suitcase - it leaked blood all over another passenger - HAZ-MAT had to come on & clean it all up before we could take off. YUCK!

2. Arriving at Isabelle's House of Hope the 1st night was one of those moments we will never forget. (Read more at Arts For Orphans blog)

3. Watching Isabelle play & laugh with the Haitian children, though they couldn't verbally communicate.
4. Flying on a 20 seater plane to Les Cayes, Haiti - & arriving their without my luggage! (let's just say, when it's 99degrees & you have no clothes - for myself or Isabelle - to put on the next day - you begin to feel pretty nasty) 5. After learning my luggage was still in Port au Prince, we joined up with our group who'd gone ahead of us to find out that the place we were staying had no power or running water. You guessed it, no clean clothes, no showers, no toilets, & no A/C. Needless to say it was a bit overwhelming for me at first - but the Lord quickly reminded me "it's just like camping, sort of!"

6. Showering in the dark with cups of water. Bathrooms & bags, that's all I'll say - a code of silence was issued!

7. Tarantulas & various other large spiders.

8. Children almost attacking us just to touch Isabelle - they were so intrigued by her.

9. Watching Isabelle - she was in her element. There was on surprise for her on this trip. She expected to see her home & know that more homes are needed. In her words "more kids need a place to live". Isabelle saw this sign in Chapel - she recognized that it said Jer 29:11 at the end. It says "God has your future planned." She told me that she knows God has something for each of the kids here. Her faith & expectancy is very challenging to us!

10. Laughing, crying & quickly becoming friends with 17 relative strangers.

11. Getting to know Rustin better . . . he travelled with us videoing & interviewing Isabelle about her experience. You're awesome Rustin! Thanks for all you do!!!

12. Meeting Micherline . . . she is 12 & we really connected. She made me a necklace & then the next day brought me a handwritten note, thanking me for loving her & praying for her. It was so sweet.

13. Beautiful sights of a tropical island . . . Isabelle watched this butterfly for 2 days. It stayed close by our housing area at Mission of Hope.

14. Sisters, Mandy & Joy, who made this trip extra special for Isabelle as they loved on & cared for her deeply! Thanks, you two! We love you!

15. Watching Isabelle work diligently on a poem she wanted to write about her trip to Haiti! It was too cute!16. Watching Isabelle sleep peacefully & with all the lights on as others were still getting ready for bed - many answered prayers for peaceful sleep were answered!

17. Getting to visit the clinic at Mission of Hope - how inspiring to see the care they have for each persons needs. This is the pharmacy . . . always great needs for Children's antibiotics.

18. The simplicity of love!

Haiti Preparations

We are just about ready to depart for Haiti. I will update this some, but if you're interested in our journey please click on "Arts For Orphans" on the right side of this blog. Arts For Orphans is truly how this journey began & it will hopefully be updated (if we have electricity) while we are away.

These are some of our friends who'll be making this journey with us! We had a packing party last night to prepare for the trip. Many more stories & picks at "Arts For Orphans". If you are unfamiliar with C3, the organization that we work with, you can click on their link as well to read & see videos!

We would appreciate your prayers as we embark on this God ordained journey!

May Fun!

May has been very fast & furious for us. Kevin has been working a lot & the kids & I have been travelling to see friends & family. We travelled to see one of my great friends & then to K.C. to visit my family. We also squeezed mother's day celebration in between! Our May celebrations rounded out with Memorial Day weekend fun. Here are some photos of all our fun.

I was in need of some good friend time, so I went to Arkansas to visit my college roommate. She has moved & has had a baby since I'd last seen her - so it was fun to see her home & her 2 kids (the recent baby is actually 1 now - it HAD been a long time!) There really is nothing like good time with a good friend - who knows you really well! Thanks Nicole for blessing us in so many ways & for letting us come visit on short notice! We had a ball. My kids are still asking when they get to see Cash & Exie Claire again. :)
The top pick is 1yr old Cash & this photo is Isabelle reading to Exie Claire & John Michael. Isabelle loves to read to little ones & Exie Claire loves to be read to - so it was a perfect match! They would have read more if we'd let them stay up! TOO CUTE!!!

MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATION

For mother's day, Isabelle requested that daddy pick out a beautiful flower at the nursery that I would love. He brought home this potted "fox glove" It was really pretty & Isabelle was very pleased with her surprise for me. She also wrote a very sweet note to accompany her gift. Kevin & his dad grilled us steaks & made a lovely dinner. John Michael was in charge of the salads - he was hilarious washing & tearing the lettuce. He enjoys being such a great helper!

Three generations . . .

MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION

For the weekend, Kevin & his 2 brothers took their dad to Arkansas for a guys weekend. It was a gift they'd given him for his 60th b-day. The boys had a great time, so great we have no photos to share because the camera was washed in the river on their canoe trip! :) The went golfing, bowling, hiking, & canoeing. . . FUN FUN FUN!! One of my sister-in-laws met in us Parsons for some fun of our own. Before Sarah & her son Jaden got here, Judy & I took the kids to a little known berry patch to pick strawberries. It was fun! We picked about 30lbs of strawberries. WOW is right!

We spent Saturday at Katy Days - the local celebration for Memorial Day weekend. It was so much fun. The kids got ot ride the train, get their faces painted, go to the petting zoo, & participate in the Pied Piper of Percussion Show - this last thing was great. As you can see from the photos above, it was a very interactive show - the kids learned about tambourines, maracas, & drums - they got to use each of the instruments as well. After each instrutment, a grand prize winner was chosen - Isabelle was chosen for the best maraca player & received a special princess maraca as her prize. She was pumped!!

WHEW . . .what a marathon of activities & the summer fun is just beginning. Check back for more updates. We'll be travelling to Haiti shortly & will have LOTS to share upon our return!

TURKEY #2

Since I write all the posts, I have the luxury of being able to brag about my husband. He has been working so hard & has been so pressed on every side over the last 4 months. Besides purchasing a new business, trying to learn it during its' busiest season of the year, he is also trying to keep our family together through very hard times. You can read March posts for info on the break-in, etc. I am so proud of his character through it all! He has been so faithful to God, to us, & to his work. I'm brimming over with joy & pride.

Well, yesterday it was our umpteenth day of rain, so the store closed early & he got to go to the place where his soul is revived - NATURE. The man can go on a hike in the woods or go for an afternoon hunt, & come back a different person. It is the place where he really connects to God. He needed the break & the chance for refreshment! He was excited to go for a turkey hunt & was only gone a short time, when the phone rang. After my quick "hello", he said "I got one! I'm comin' home." He was giddy, as were the kids. They couldn't wait for his return. It isn't quite as big as his first - but it was one none the less. He found a HUGE deer antler shed & little miss Izzy is one excited girl. She has asked for a bow for her birthday (not until October mind you) & is SO excited to go hunt with her daddy! She too is an outdoor girl & loves to be in God's creation. They are cut from the same mold!

Independence Nursery Open House

On Saturday the 25th, we had our first Open House at the Nursery all day. It was amazing. The weather was perfect - we seemed to find the least windy day & it wasn't raining! (That is an amazing fact, considering that it seems to have been 30-40mph wind or raining for the last 3 weeks.) The Lord certainly blessed us with the weather & the customers. We were swamped all day - a great blessing. We are so thankful that both our parents were able to come & help, too! THANK YOU!!! Here are some photos. Please come visit us when you are in the area!

Our snack table!
One of our greenhouses filled to the brim!

Kevin & one of our employees created these cool posts to hang our new signs . . .see the ones in the background?
We have lots of Radio Flyer wagons for people to fill & take to the register.