Ayiti Cheri: Pati-1

Haiti!

Ah...one of my home sweet homes! The day after Christmas, Dan and I flew to Newark, NJ overnighted, then headed to Haiti the next day! We met up with Gene & Sherri and their 5 handsome sons! We had a wonderful week with them before they returned to the states. Dan and I stayed a couple more days for some added family time. The time was so jammed packed that I'll just use pictures to tell the tale!

At the CRP-the Cancer Redemptoin Project. Zach Bertch from Bluffton, IN is dealing with cancer and wanted to use his cancer as a tool to get the word out about needs in Haiti for Loving Shepherd Ministries. This site is the result of the word getting out! The site will have room for animals and Homes of Hope are already getting built! These homes will house many needy little children.

I think my bros LOVED having their buddies come and visit!

One of the Homes of Hope

What a fantastic view!

These children are going to be new residents to a Home of Home in Cavaillon, a town 20ish minutes from my parents. This was a beautiful service where the new parents and children are prayed for and brought together as a new family. 

We older kids enjoyed having our buddies around too!

Lots of riding around like so...

What a great couple of guys! :)

 

On Friday we went to the beach with Shane Shaw and his group of guys that work with him on LSM's Ranch. It was a New Year's celebration.

The brother-in-laws chomping on some sugar cane!

 

Best friends...:) It was so special to have them together again!

 

I got to hold Del and Jiray's (sp) baby Jidel! (sp?) what a cute chunk! :)

 

After that beach adventure we headed over to the Wrays camp to spend the rest of the day! My great friends Tim and Christie were visiting from Canada...it was SOOO good to see them again and get caught up!

Eric and Quinn

Tim showing us wind surfing is done...

 

  

Yay!

 

Dan trying! Good job babe!

 Sherri and Quinn...he has grown up so much!

What a lovely afternoon with some of my favorite people!

The Wray's camp

What a goober!

Oops...BOTH sets of keys got locked in the car! The guys worked on it for a while with no luck. Thankfully Mom remembered where another set was at our house and Chrisophe graciously drove them out to us!

After a delicious dinner by Debbie Wray we settle in for some blow dart war!

Get 'em Gener-Beaner!

 

Action!

 

Three against the rest: Dad, Tim and Rod!

 

Did I mention that I love this girl?!??!?!

We can always fit one more! (Just for the record...we weren't all in there! Mom drove the Suburban!)

Too cute!

The three oldest: Eric, Kirk, and Brock...I think they liked the Jeep...just saying...:)

My mommy :)

 

Good ol' sis time! Watching the guys work! 

 

 Work on the gazebo that is! Go boys go! 

 

They worked so hard and did a great job!! 

 

All that work deserves a beach day right?!?!

 Off we go! 

The other best friends...:) I think they enjoyed being together again!

Alisha...pro photographer!

Derek Alan...FULL of energy!

Eric! It was so fun being with him again!

Quinn and Gene busting through waves!

Dan's amazing Frisbee throw!

 

 :)

 The close of a beautiful day! Ah beach...I already miss thee...

Part two to come! (There are too many pictures!)

My dear, how I love you!

On December 13th, Dan and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary! (I'm a little behind, I know!)

And a fabulous anniversary it was...but how could it not be when you have a husband as wonderful as I have?!?!

We were both fortunate to have the day of our anniversary and the following one off from work.

On the day of, we went to Boulder, CO to the Celestial Seasonings plant for a tour! It was quite the lovely day...sparkling snow and lots of sunshine!

 

 Mr. SleepyTime himself

The plan was to go home and dress up a bit before going downtown to enjoy dinner on the town. But, on the way Dan said, "I don't feel like going all the way home to get dressed...lets just go downtown from here." "Ok." I said, feeling grungy and bit annoyed about not being able to freshen up. But downtown we went despite what I wanted. (It's our anniversary Tess, good grief, get over yourself and enjoy your time!)

Downtown we walked when suddenly Dan said, "Hey, I hear this hotel has a "hush-hush" restaurant upstiars...stay here while I see if it's legit." So I waited. "Uh huh...." I thought as I watched the lady at the desk hand Dan something. He came and got me and said, "Great! It's Italian!" But I was starting to put two and two together.

All decked out for Christmas!

This is what he got! A FABULOUS room on the 16th Street Mall! Nice one babe! And, to top it off, the day before, he dropped off a suitcase of clothes!

Houndstooth carpeting...cool right?!!?

 

The fantastic ceiling

So we freshened up and dressed up before enjoying a nice dinner!  What a dear.....

Oh, I failed to mention that the hotel gave us a completely complimentary breakfast at the Rialto Cafe that is attached to the hotel...YUM!

 

  Cappuccino...mmmmm

The next day we headed up to the mountains! Snow....snow....snow....BEAUTIFUL!

Yes folks, those are Bison! 

 

 

 

:)  

What a relaxing anniversary. It was wonderful to be together and just spend time deepening our relationship with each other. The old folks were right! Marriage does just keep getting better and better! I love you so much Dan...the Lord has blessed me more that I could ever deserve!