Just when you think life is settling down.

I finally finished unpacking from my Haiti trip.

I baked all the Christmas cookies my oven could handle.

I wrapped and handed out presents.

We enjoyed an amazing day celebrating with our family, thankful for the reason we celebrate!

Then came the after Christmas chaos. Finding homes for the new things in your house, throwing out wrapping paper whilst making sure nothing valuable is still IN the wrapping paper!

Then came New Years, which we spent with some great friends, playing games, listening to music and relaxing for the first time in weeks. We talked about the year that has passed, what we learned and what we still need to learn.

Oh and don't forget the kiss at midnight!

Absolutely perfect.

Then came January 1st. We slept in because we had been up "SOOO late" the night before.

(We managed to make it to 1:30am. A year ago, that was my daily bedtime!)

Then I got a phone call that made my heart stop and my world cease to turn.

My dad was having a heart attack.

We raced over to my parents house, gave my dad a quick kiss and off they went to the hospital.

Dad had a heart attack at 1030am. He got to the hospital just in time. 20 minutes after being hooked up to countless machines, a second heart attack started.

The doctors said that if he had still been in the car, or at home, it would have killed him.

They managed to stop the second one, and I say that with tears flowing down my face.

I am not ready to lose my dad.

I mean, who really is?

One of our closest friends lost his grandpa this week. They weren't ready either.

Yesterday they celebrated his life and honored the amazing man he was.

I didn't make it because I was at the hospital with my dad, celebrating that he still has life to live.

I am so thankful for Gods hand on my dads life.

This weekend has been a reminder that I have nothing apart from God. He alone sustains me and gives me breath. And in that, I am so thankful, because I know of His great love for me, for my dad, for you!

Dad will be in the hospital for a while still. We are waiting for tests and possibly surgery, but we are thrilled that he is being so well taken care of.

His heart is weak, but his smile is firmly in place and his faith is unwavering.

"For in him we live and move and have our being"

Acts 17:28.

There has been a serious lack of posts from me lately, and it seems that every time I get around to posting somethings, its mostly to apologize for NOT posting, so I refuse to apologize again! :)

Christmas 2010 was epic.

Andrew and I enjoyed a quiet morning together, drinking tea and exchanging gifts. We made our way to my parents place, where we enjoyed the time-honored tradition of eating Pringles and drinking egg-nog!

Our day was amazing, not only because Baileys was added to said egg-nog, but because it is special to be with the people you love most in this world.

I cherish the time I have with my family, they are an incredible bunch! An odd bunch, but incredible none the less!

And now, we are moving on from traditions and egg-nog to New Years!

I have so many things to be thankful for in 2010.

My amazing new husband and our blessed life together.

I travelled to 3 new countries this year, as well as see MY country! (Paraguay, not Canada)

I spent 5 precious weeks getting to know my Opa one last time.

I became the proud owner of a 1973 VW Bus!


I am also now in the process of becoming an unofficial auntie! (More about that soon!)

Seriously, I could go on and on about what 2010 has brought.

God has been faithful and good through it all, like He always is.

I cant wait to see what God is calling us to in 2011, I have a feeling there will be some amazing adventures! Cuz that's how He rolls!

"How was Haiti?"

That's, by FAR, the most common question Ive been asked over the past two weeks.

And honestly, I don't really know how to answer it!

"Good"

"Beautiful"

"Hard"

All of the above!

My time in Haiti is a time I will never forget.

Not an hour goes by that I don't think about the kids in the orphanage.

(Unless Im sleeping...then Im not thinking about anything!)

Their eyes and smiles are etched into my heart!

I think about something they said or did and I smile.

I think about the daily struggles they have and I cry.

I pray for them and hold them in my heart.

My trip to Haiti was amazing.

It was incredible to experience it with one of my best friends, to have her beside me.

That in itself was awesome!

Throw in a country that is beautiful and children that love without holding back and you have a trip that will be burned into my memory forever!

We were so blessed and protected our entire trip.

Our flights were (looong) good and went smoothly, we got all our luggage easily, and we settled in quickliy. Within 10 minutes of being at the orphanage, I was holding a little boy and my heart was gone!

We only had 10 days there and it FLEW by!

We built benches and painted a large balcony. We put together food bags and distributed it to the poor. We played games and sang songs. We danced and laughed. We cried and struggled.

I fell in love with Haiti and with the Haitian people.

They are incredible and no matter what the news says, Haiti is NOT dark and deadly.

Its a beautiful place, full of life and joy! God is moving and working and I am so blessed to have been there!

(I will post pictures and more stories soon, thanks for your patience!!)

Again, Im sorry I havent been posting lately.

Besides work and work, Ive also been working alot.

(In other words, I need a day off!)

And on that note, I have to make some dinner!

Have a happy day!

Quote of the week..3 weeks behind.

If we can accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people to not kill each other? Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.

-Mother Teresa

Hello lovelies!

My sincere apologies for the serious lack of posts lately.

I am back safe from Haiti and have left a large chunk of my heart there!

I will post some stories and pictures soon, as soon as I have a 2-minute gap in my life!

But for now, a sneak peek of some of the beautiful creatures who have my heart.

Be still my heart...

Quote of the week.

“You have a special place in the world. All you have to do is find it. Do not give up on yourself, on the truths you have realized. Do not give in to those who would crush your dreams like nutshells. And never turn away from forever love.”
-Ellen Hopkins

(Photo Unknown)

Enough said