Our weekend

We had such a fun family weekend!! The kids are exhausted and well so are we!! I cannot believe we are having another snow storm where everything is cancelled. Amazing! However this time I am super glad that my sweet husband is home safe and sound!!

I would tell that I am downloading all of his wonderful Haiti pictures!! However he took NONE!! Yes that is right ZERO!! So when others start to download their pictures I will be borrowing a bunch! I know this is his 5th trip and he didn't want to take the same pictures over and over. However I would have like a few!! :)

That is what happens when you are married to the Team leader!!

We did take a few pictures and a video of our time at Splash Universe so I will be adding those to this post.

To start out Nathan's flight finally arrived at 2:40 pm on Thursday. Immiedately after we drove over to Dundee, Michigan to our hotel. It was a holiday inn express that was right next to Cabela's. It was a beautiful hotel and the waterpark is hooked right too it. For those of you that have been to Great wolf lodge it is about 1/2 half the size of it. It was perfect. The kids had a blast. It had 2 big slides, 3 smaller sides in the fort, a kiddie pool, a nice lazy river and then it had a famil spa that was just off of the lazy river where the kids had fun swimming around. This spa wasn't not a hot one. There was a hot tub just for adults and that was wonderful for just a little haven away while the kids were having a blast on the slides. All of the kids could go on the slides without us having to go with them so they had a ton of fun and didn't have to wait for a parent.

This was our living area

Four of the kids slept here. They also had their own TV!! It was like having their own room!

We had our own seperate room.

Caleb hanging out!

Hannah in front of the Lazy river.

I have a video too that I will work on uploading.

Too funny!!

This is just proof that God ALWAYS provides!!!!!!!


check this out Haiti team at airport

Both flights have left Miami and are on their way home!! Yeah!!!

Haiti team update

Here is the newest update:

Most of the Haiti team will be flying to GR tomorrow via Chicago at 2:00pm
Flight 4006 American.

Aaron Bonk, and The Gates family will be flying into GR tomorrow via Dallas at 3:05pm
Flight 3693 American

Thanks to everyone who prayed for them today.

this weather has been quite something.

Haiti team update

The team is in the air as we speak. They will arrive in Miami this afternoon.

Pray for them as they will have spend another night there.

American Airlines is rebooking the teams tickets. Of course they are doing it one a time so I will be getting 13 phone calls all together and I have to accept each one so pray for me to have patience to get through this!! LOL

This is the new flight data:

Thursday

1379 Leave Miami at 7:30 am Arrive in Dallas 9:45am
3693 Leave Dallas 11:40am arrive GR 3:05pm

It will be a happy day when they are finally home!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update on Haiti team

American airlines just called Diane and told her that the Miami to Chicago flight has been cancelled already. Not a good sign. Not sure what is going to happen but I will try to keep you all posted on what is going on.

New update:

Chicago to GR has just been cancelled as well. Will let you know anything new when it happens.

My husband is coming home today! Hopefully!

Please keep the Haiti team in prayer today as they head their way home!

Their flight is supposed to be in Grand Rapids around 11:25 pm.

Pray that even if we get a ton of snow that the flights are NOT cancelled or that the snow stops this afternoon or even early evening and that the winds stay somewhat calm.

I am trying NOT to worry as I know that God already knows the outcome of this day and I do completely trust Him and His wisdom.

I am just so anxious to see Nate again! Sounds like it was an awesome mission trip!!!!

Post cards from Tori!

I have had such a great time getting to know Tori. For those of you who do not know her she is 14 and she went to Haiti with us for the first time last August and I had a lot of fun getting to know her. You just never know what she is going to do or say next! I really miss having her here for me to tease!!

Well for those of you who read Diane's blog's you will know that Tori is her daughter and that she has been giving Diane one letter to ready a day.

I was so excited to find out that Tori also left me a postcard to read every day! Isn't that cool!!!

I just love them and its so nice to read one in the morning. thought I would share them with you here!!

enjoy!!

Nikolas

Nikolas was our first child adopted from Russia. He was 12 months old. I didn't have a chance to go through and scan some of his first pictures but I will try to get to some those soon.
Nikolas, Celia (neighbor) Heather
Nikolas- 18 months
Nikolas - 11

Hannah

The first 3 pictures are of Hannah in china. We do NOT have any picture of her under 5 years old.

Hannah - 7

Katie

The first 3 pictures are of Katie in Russia. We do not ave photos of her at a younger age than 4.

Katie age 9

Caleb

Here are pictures of Caleb. We do not seem to have as many of them for some reason.

Ryan (Caleb's best friend) Caleb

They are so adorbale here!!!
Caleb age 6 (soon to be 7)

Photo history Part 1 - Heather

My friend Cheri asked us to share old photos of our children!

What a great idea! I am going to start hear with Heather. for some reason I have the most pictures of her! Probably because even though she was our 2nd child she was our first newborn.
Heather and Arianna!!They were so cute together!!

Heather age 9

In the Air

The Haiti team is finally on the final phase of getting to Haiti! They should arrive around 9:25 am!

They had a small delay when American had to get a piece of luggage off the plane that belonged to a passenger that didn't show. Does that sound familiar to anyone that has gone before?!
It is becoming quite common! :)

Their first stop after arriving in Haiti is a trip to Barbencourt where they will be showing the Jesus film to the children there! What an exciting start to their trip!!

We had a great day off with the kids! The kids were so good for me and I am so thankful for them!

After today they should be able to post their own blogs at lighthousetrips. Keep checking back as they could post once or several times a day. You will probably be able to read some of their trip at the Livesays blog . Tara and Troy will usually post some of what the team is doing!

I am so excited for them to finally get there and start working for the Lord!!!

Psalm 96
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his [a] holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth.

Update

The team is on the ground in Miami and Nate said he cannot believe how warm it is there.

They were heading to their hotel and they were able to check their luggage for tomorrow! Sounds like it all arrived with them too! NOW that is a miracle!!! :)

I am now going to take a much needed rest. Not as much of a rest as Tammy and Diane as they had a very stressful drive! Thank to both of you for driving!! You are both so brave. I think we were up ALL night listening and watching the wind and the snow.

I cannot even tell you the hours that the 3 of us put into computer time and phone time with everything that went on! I am off to a HOT, HOT shower and then dinner with the kids! They have been SUPER good today and I am soooooooo proud of them!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again for all the prayers!!! We are also so thankful too becuase my friend Michelle and her Guatemala team is safe home and sound today too!!! Thank you, God!!!

Haiti team and weather!

Well for those living in Michigan the weather this morning has been something else. Ice, blowing winds, blizzard like conditions, lots of snow.

It is also the same day that my husband was to leave for Haiti. He is leading a team of 13.

They were VERY delayed this morning and they ended up missing their plane in Chicago.

However God is so good and Nate called me a few minutes ago with news that a flight was available in 30 minutes to Miami and he was VERY positive that they would make it and still make their flight to Haiti today!!!

Thanks to all those that have been praying!!! It is so appreciated!!!!

I will update more later!!!

New update:

Nate just called me and now they are NOT able to get on that flight. They are heading out right now to rebook their flights but figure unless a miracle occurs that they will be spending the night in Miami.

Caleb

Most people know Caleb as a very rambunctious little boy!!
that he is! I cannot believe how often I have to get after him to stop running, stop hitting, and stop headbutting people. Ugh! Especially at church. He is all boy.
He also has a very sweet side to him (okay he is a little spoiled and my youngest) Caleb was another child that doctors said we would never have! God is so good to us!!
Last night Caleb wrote me this note!! In case you cannot read it I will translate for you.

Dear, Mom. I love you sista. Caleb! Is that not the sweetest! Okay he wrote me this when he was supposed to be in bed. What can a mom do!!! He also put the special sticker on at the bottom!!

Not a good time for more snow.

Please pray for the Guatemala team that is flying into Detroit tonight and for those that are driving out to pick them up and for their safe trip home.

Also pray for the Haiti team that is supposed to be leaving tomorrow morning early.

I don't mind if we get winter weather but if it could just hold off a day that would be great!!!

This is what came to our email box this morning:


URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGENATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI345 AM EST TUE JAN 29 2008...

SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW AND VERY STRONG WINDS TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY....VERY STRONG WINDS AND SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CREATE VERYHAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. NEAR BLIZZARDCONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES TONIGHT ESPECIALLY NEAR AND WEST OFUS-131. TEMPERATURES WILL PLUMMET DURING THE MID TO LATE EVENINGHOURS AND OVERNIGHT. THE HIGH WINDS COULD RESULT IN SCATTERED POWEROUTAGES TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. ROADS COULD QUICKLY BECOME ICYTHIS EVENING AS THE MUCH COLDER AIR ADVECTS IN.MIZ037-038-043-291645-MASON-LAKE-OCEANA-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LUDINGTON...BALDWIN...HART345 AM EST TUE JAN 29 2008...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 12 PMEST WEDNESDAY...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A WINTERSTORM WARNING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE ANTICIPATEDTONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING AND WILL ALSO BE ACCOMPANIED BYVERY WINDY CONDITIONS. SNOW WILL DEVELOP BETWEEN 8 AND 10 PM WITH PERIODS OF MODERATE TOHEAVY SNOW ANTICIPATED LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL RESULT IN BLOWING AND DRIFTINGSNOW. SNOW WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.SNOW AND PLUMMETING TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL MAKE ROADS VERYSLIPPERY. BLOWING SNOW WILL RESULT IN NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY ATTIMES. EXPECT VERY HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS TONIGHT THROUGHWEDNESDAY MORNING. SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES ARE ALSO POSSIBLETONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS.A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSOPOSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

Refresh my soul is having a great giveaway!!!

Check out refresh my soul's blog she is having a great giveaway!!!

My First Giveaway!

Yes! A Starbucks gift card in a surprise amount and

..............A copy of my first published book, "Standing on God's Promises-A Devotional for Women."Spread the word. You have this whole week until Friday to enter.

Just leave a comment and tell her what you would do with these prizes if you were selected. On Saturday she will post the winner and get these out to you!

Too cool!!!! Hmm I can already taste that Mocha!! Yum!! LOL

Thanks Julie

My friend Julie game me this award today!! Thank you so much!!!! I think you have a loveable blog too!!!

I pass this one to Troy and Tara and to Tammy

Diane tagged me, I am supposed to list 6 non-important things/habits/quirks about me!Here are the rules:

1) Link to the person that tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog.

3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.

4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Here we go:

1. I love taking 2 HOT showers a day. It has to be VERY hot.

2. I read all the time. I mean all the time.

3. I hate driving. I do it all the time but I do not really enjoy it.

4. I talk ALOT!! I am not a very good writer but I can talk! :)

5. I totally love Flying. I would it every day if could.

.6. I can be very sarcastic!!

I am not sure who has been tagged yet so if you read this and haven't been tagged then count yourself as tagged.

this was a hard one. I could not think of anything to put down.

Three darling boys!!!

These boys are just too cute aren't they!! they were all looking
at a search and find book at church on Sunday! The two boys next
to Caleb belong to my friend Tammy.

Snow day!!

Snow days are great! I do enjoy having my kids home with me. Today though is extra special! LOL Pray for me as I have 9 children here today! Yep you read right! 9 kids!! My friend, Michelle, left for a mission trip to Guatemala this morning so I have her kids today too!! Which I am sooo happy to be able to help her out so she can do these mission trips!! It will help as my kids now have someone to play with. However there is soooooooo much more noise and my own kids are arguing like crazy and I think my head is going to explode!! :) Michelle's kids are great! Mine are driving me insane!! All I can say is "HELP"

What does your handwriting say about you!

I thought this was pretty funny! :)

What Your Handwriting Says About You

You are a fairly energetic person. You know how do pace yourself, and you deal well with stress. You are very extroverted and outgoing. You are loving, friendly, and supportive. However, you are also manipulative and controlling at times. You are balanced and grounded. You know how to get along well with others. You need a bit of space in your life, but you're not a recluse. You expect people to give you a small amount of privacy, and you respect their privacy as well. You are somewhat traditional, but you are also open to change. You listen to your head and your heart. You are a decent communicator. You eventually get your point across, but sometimes you leave things a bit ambiguous.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourhandwritingsayaboutyouquiz/">What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?

Awards!!

I was given to wonderful awards today!! Thank you Cheri!!!
I would Love to pass this award on too:

Tara
Diane
Kathy Friend

Storms force flight cancellations at Atlanta airport

My parents were supposed to leave this mornng for Guatemala. They were going on a 7 day mission trip with my Aunt and Uncle and 36 other people from another church.

My parents plane was supposed to leave at 7:00 and I got a call from them a little after 8am this morning that they were home! I knew they were flying to Atlanta first and there wasn't a blizzard here so I was stumped. They said that Atlanta had a snow storm so they closed the airport down. Actually I read reports and it sounds like they have about .4 inches of snow and it was icy.

Now they will try again at 3:00pm. However they will have to stay overnight tonigh in Atlanta and reach Guatemala tomrrow sometime during the day.

Pray that their flight gets to leave. I know how dissapointing it can be and they are looking so forward to this mission trip.

Statistics 101

Tuesday night at our Mission Mobilzation meeting I was asked by my good friend Sango to attend his Statistic class as our Local university where he is a professer! I thought why not! Sounds like fun. I talked my friend Diane into going with me!! This first picture says it all!! It was a lot of fun seeing Sango teach! He is a great teacher. However I am still unsure of what was taught! LOL The kids seem to really like him.





this first picture of Diane was really an accident but I thought that it it quite well with our understanding of Statistics going into Sango's class!!!

Sango and myself!!

Sango handed Diane and I a copy of this paper above. I took one look at it thought HUH??!!! Below is two pages of notes that I took. I cannot explain what it says however. There were a few things that actually made perfect sense! Thanks God for those couple of moments because they could only come from you!!! My brain and math do not mix well.
Are you following my notes Okay? Looks pretty simple

doesn't it!!!!

Sango with his students
I can now say I went to College!! Thanks Sango for allowing us to come visit your class for a day!!! You are a great teacher and it was fun getting to see what you do outside of church!!! God has given you a great gift!!!

Weird things

Okay Nate did his first of course and I have to follow his wierd things post. Oh boy.

ThanksTori and Jennifer for tagging me!! LOL

Lets see.....


1. I am NEVER without a book. Whether I am carrying one in my purse, car or bag I always have somthing with me to read. Its a sickness!

2. I LOVE flying! I love everything about it. I like sitting in airports just people watching. I never mind having long layovers.

3. I hate coffee. However, I love the smell. Makes no sense to me. However I do love Cappechino but I do not think of that as real coffee. It has to be from the gas station though. None of that "real" cappechino.

4. I hate coats. I hate wearing them. You will hardly ever see me with a coat on.

5. I spend time mapping out vacations and cruises on expedia tht I will never take! I just love doing the research and dreaming about it. I just love everything about traveling.

6. I have a love for foreign languages and would love to learn one but I had a spanish teacher tell to no take anymore language courses because I have what is called a language block. How so why would I have a total love for languages if I am not able to ever learn one? Weird.....

7. I love making copies at church. I know it sounds boring but for me it so relaxing! Good thing I practically live in the copy room at church!! I know weird...

I am tagging Cheri, Karla and Tammy

I'm wierd

Okay Tori, This is for you. Somehow even though I have tried to avoid this whole blogosphere thing I have still been tagged. I should know if I comment that makes me free game. So I have to come up with 7 wierd things about myself. That is hard as it is usually others who see the "wierd' aspect of oneselves, but as Tori told me today, everything I do is wierd so this should be easy!
1. I actually do what teenage kids tell me to do. wierd
2. I allow teenage kids to come along on mission trips. wierd
3. I allow teenage kids to take my picture and then use it for blackmail. wierd
4. I laugh when a teenage kid comes up with a joke. Potlucky wierd
5. Sometimes I would rather hang with teenagers than with adults. wierd
6. I parole disobiedient teenagers for good behavior. wierd
7. I stalk blogs to catch up on what is going on in peoples lives, even brainless teenagers who ramble for hours about things that no one can decifer. wierdest
There you go. I guess that was not so hard. By the way, feel free to tag me any time. That was fun! Love ya Tori!!
Nate out