MAIL day and MOVIE night

09.20.12

Addy woke up and one of the first things she asked me is if she could go to Papa'a house today.

KJ's bug bites are out of control!  She is just a magnet for any and every bug that can bite and leave a mark and it is an AWFUL combination b/c she is also the one who will scratch and dig them all open :(  Man, breaks my heart to see her legs all chewed up!

I plucked my eyebrows today for the first time in Haiti.  Not even b/c I really thought I had to...just never look in the mirror that often and caught a glimpse of myself...there are some things that you can only let go for so long...it had to be done :)

Gracie continues to say, "I know right"...instead of getting old though, I actually enjoy it.  It reminds me of friends back home...

We had another good day of school...

A glimpse at our "classroom" and everyone during spelling time :)

We haven't quite gotten used to the "breakfast pasta" that they serve here for the 10am meal...spaghetti basically with onions and hot dogs topping it...not sure if I will get used to it...

The girls were excited to pass out their friendship bracelets that Auntie Heather sent with them to their new friends

Addy loves hanging out with Jose and was eager to share a bracelet with him!  He is so good to her!  Quick to tell her hello and to play with her :)

A few pictures of Brooke and Christella...

Karys giving a friendship bracelet to her friend, Billy.

LEAH AND JOSH got engaged today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was a FABULOUSLY, EXCITING thing to focus on as we were anxiously awaiting MAIL DAY!!!

Everyone ran down to greet Rob and the goodies when he arrived back from the airport...we knew there were lots of boxes for us today and it was our FIRST time getting mail.  Mail really is like Christmas around here.  A gift that someone has given to you that you know they have put thought into, they know you need, and they know will bless you!

Gracie and Addy carried what they could up to our apartment

Rob got to handle the big loads :)

A picture of our goodness!!!!!  Thanks so much Mama Sal and Auntie Kris!!!!!

Gracie is all thumbs up as she opens and unpacks the boxes!

Toby dug right into the squeezable baby foods--something we can never have enough of right now!

Addy was so excited about all of the meals that Gma Sally sent...

Piling up all of the goodness on the kitchen table

We were ALL smiles throughout the entire time!

I am not sure, looking back, where Karys was during all of this....playing with the kiddos outside I think :)  But Addy and Gracie were so excited to step back and look at all we had been given!  This was SOOOO good for our spirits!  Food was such a struggle for us when we first came.  Now it was like we knew that no matter what we always had an option :)

The day just continued to get better and better for the girls!  Brooke planned a special night for them, a special surprise...

That turned out to be a NIGHT at the MOVIES!!!  She even made a list of the shows that were playing...

All of the girls brought their pillows :) and were still ALL SMILES!

She gave them each a movie ticket, complete with a tear off portion to use when entering the show...

And they all decided on a movie to attend :)

She went all out with signs and decorations!

And the door to her room was conveniently equipped with a little ticket office window!

Everyone got to hand their ticket through the window and then pass through

Toby even wanted to go :)

The girls ADORED IT!  She hung sheets from the ceiling and made a screen area as well!

What movie theatre is complete without snacks?!?!?

Hand made snack bags...

Addy is indeed sacked out in the middle of the bed...it was a late night showing for her :)

Toby and I stayed home and spent some time reading books!  He loves to read books!!!  Especially if they are about animals and trucks and big machinery!

As JOY as I found in my day today, I would say that today also was one of my hardest days in Haiti.  I was ready to pay the first person who would take me home as much as I needed to just for an hour.  I wrote in my journal about missing my relationships.  I wanted a coffee date, a run with my girlfriends, MY FAMILY and my sisters...I wanted to be with someone who knew me for me, the me I was before this transition, the me I have been trying to find here in Haiti...I would take an hour even and then agree to come back...Just was feeling very alone.  I wanted someone to care for me and just take the time to ask me if I was ok, or how my heart was...

I did get to talk to my mom on the phone for 9 minutes before the phone ran out of minutes and that was so good, but did make me cry more when it ended out of frustration for the methods of communicating from here.

God knew my need though, and my heart.  I had GREAT Facebook chats with my sisters Sarah and Shay...both ladies who know my heart and truly care for me!  I went to bed with peace.  Feeling a little beat up, but also feeling picked up from the pit I was sitting in and carried to a place to rest.  Tomorrow is a new day...