Skating for Haiti

Last week at church...an amazing young man named Luke told me that he had decided to ask his friends if they would give donations to Ayden's orphanage instead of buying him gifts for his 11th birthday party. This sweet boy and his beautiful family had a skating party this evening and every kiddo that walked through that door put a donation in the jar....

for Children of the Promise.Ayden was THRILLED to be invited...and couldn't believe he was going to get to try skating!Not only did these kids give to Haiti tonite...they lavished love on a 3 year old who had never seen skates in his life....and who will remember this night forever.

They patiently drug him around the rink until he finally got brave enough to try it on his own. A fun fun time was had by everyone attending....and let me tell you...these guys can do the limbo!

There were hotdogs for everyone!
Soda (Ayden and I decided this was probably the first time he has had a can of soda for himself...he really didn't quite know how to drink out of it!) and cupcakes!!

And two boys that will have a connection forever.

Thank you Luke..your generousity has touched more than just Haiti.

It has touched our hearts.

Ayden our Superman

Are You Listening (A Love Song for Haiti)

Sunday spotlight ~ OUR FAMILY

is complete again!
What fun it was to spend a few hours with our entire gang together....after 8 months.
Aaron had not met Alec. Nor had he met Korbyn.
So it was time for some introductions!
Korbyn was her smiley self for Uncle Aaron!
Ava LOVES her sister and brother-in-law....no doubt about that.
And everyone looked so good in their blue jeans and black shirts....of course Alec had to have his Thomas the Train shirt on (red & blue) under his black sweater - but we were able to come to a compromise and both of us were happy!

Ayden looked positively dapper in his uptown blue jeans and dressy black shoes...just like his big brother Sam.

And the "newlyweds" did seem like newlyweds....which is everything we could possibly hope for. (and the proud owners of a new car to be delivered next week!)Sam, Ali and Korbyn had their house looking amazing for our little family gathering around their beautiful Christmas tree (which had to be a short gathering because Friday night a HUGE drain pipe under the house decided to STOP draining.....we are still awaiting a professional opinion on what exactly has to be done)

So - we cleaned out the spare room and set up the porta crib.

(It is SO MUCH FUN having them here! Korbyn is a hoot! I may not let them go back home!)

They will probably be thoroughly ready to go home though - cause it is a bit CHAOTIC at our house...no matter how hard I try to simplify...it is just chaotic.

Chaotic but wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

This made me cry!!!

http://www.ketv.com/video/22364016/index.html

HE IS HOME!

SGT CLARK IS IN THE STATES!!!

We are all grinning from ear to ear!!! WOOHOO!!!

Sunday spotlight - Miss Ali

We are SO BLESSED to have Ali in our lives.

She is kind, gentle, sweet, funny, beautiful, talented, generous and a wonderful, wonderful mother to our gorgeous granddaughter. As you can also see...she could and probably should do some modeling. She is crazy photogenic. Ali and Sam and Korbyn

We are so proud of you.

No matter where life takes you...please know how very proud we are of you.

OK - really - who looks like this after countless hours in labor? And who never shed a tear the whole time? Ali was stoic...no screaming....no hyperventilating....barely any pain medication.
(I was impressed to say the least.....since I personally screamed, hyperventilated and begged for medication.!)

One of the most beautiful pregnant people I had ever seen in my life. Christmas 2007

Our noisy loud bunch didn't scare you away....thank goodness! I can't thank you enough for the countless times you have helped us with our 3 little people...they love you dearly!

Black walnut picking....Dating officially??

Prom 2007.

Not really "dating"....but even then I knew this girl was someone special in our son's life.

We love you Miss Ali.

He's got the whole world...in His hands

As I listened yesterday to Ayden sing his loudest, most beautiful rendition of this song in the backseat of my car...complete with "snapping of fingers"...it brought tears to my eyes. My beautiful little boy...sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have him in our lives...and in our home. And not in earthquake ravaged Haiti....struggling to survive. Ayden was one of the lucky ones...he was in a very nice orphanage with wonderful people taking care of him. He had plenty of food to eat...and if he was still there...he would have just felt some "shaking" but not the full extent of the earthquake because Cap Haitian is on the northern coast of Haiti. We know that everyone in Haiti struggles on a daily basis-on a good day. Shannon tells the stories of pitch blackness when the generator would shut down at night....and the intense heat...and the bugs.

It is hard to even fathom what Haiti feels like now.

I am so proud of my family and friends for reaching out and giving to Haiti. My sister has taken the lead in gathering supplies for Ayden's orphanage...Children of the Promise. The school that she works for has given generously and we are so excited to send our first shipment of supplies to Haiti this weekend. The orphanage is anticipating a heavy influx of children very very soon...and are so worried they will not have enough supplies to keep them fed and healthy. The orphanage is also working closely with the nearby community of Cap Haitian as they see more and more people flooding in to stay with relatives who barely have enough to feed their own families much less any additional people. We hope that we can help the orphanage reach more people with food and supplies in these next few critical months. If you feel led to give...I promise we have a secure process of sending needed food and supplies to people in need.

Ayden thanks you....I thank you.

My heart breaks for the people of Haiti as I watch them suffer even more than they could imagine possible. But my heart also is comforted in watching some of Haiti's children who had been caught in the red tape of adoption...being evacuated this weekend to their adoptive families here in the states. I have become friends with many of these families and I am so thankful that this crisis has resulted in at least a few children "coming home".

I heard someone say on the radio today....we can help Haiti....one child at a time.

Thank you to all of you....for helping Haiti....one child at a time.

Sunday spotlight - Aaron

I am so proud to spotlight my son-in-law this Sunday evening.

He is a very special man...who has shown just how special he is by constantly and continually keeping in touch with his wife these past months during his deployment. Sending her flowers, calling, texting, emailing...and sending wonderful cards to our family who he barely got to meet before he left.

Aaron - We are so anxious for your return and the celebration of your wedding in April. We look forward to getting to know you better...and watch you and Erin grow together as a couple. We had so much fun this weekend helping Erin prepare the house for your return...and get wedding stuff organized!
We love your sense of humor and have absolutely belly laughed at your very funny photo collection sent via email from Iraq -and thank goodness you can handle our rather unconventional family with such ease. These teeth I believe your wife actually bought for all the kids and Shelby was nice enough to include in one of your packages! Another of your very funny photos...one of many!

We are so very proud of you Aaron. But we are anxious for you to be home for good.

Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Well deserved...as we know you have served your country well.

Now - hurry home!