Happy Anniversary

I love him. I love him. I love him. 4 years ago yesterday, I was blessed to marry my best friend. We met when we were 15 years old on a mission trip to West Virginia, though we had technically gone to church together since third grade, I have no memories of him before then. In true Justin fashion, he met a girl on the mission trip and we soon started "dating" (though we were still too young to drive yet). From that time other than a few short bumps in the road, we've been together ever since. If you would have asked Justin at 15 years old, he would have told you that we would be together forever. It took me a little longer to come around, but I am glad he never gave up. Today he is still my best friend and I can't imagine going through life without him. Here are some pictures from our journey together. Other than hair styles, I can't say I've changed much! Justin on the other hand....

Shortly after the mission trip when we were 15 years old. What goofy teenagers.
Celebrating Justin's 16th birthday.

Mission trip #3 in 2000.

Senior pictures. Yes, we took a risk that we would possibly not be together later in life. I'm so glad we did though. It's neat to look back at all the photos we have growing up together.

Senior spring break trip with my family to the OBX. Oh such good memories!

Throw back prom with Harvest, some time while we were in college.

Engagement picture.January 21, 2006; one of the greatest days in our lives.

One of the next greatest days of our lives, Morganne's "birth"day. I can't imagine a better father for our girls.

We are so thankful and blessed. Life isn't easy but when you are going through it with your best friend, with God's guidance, it is truly enjoyable.

Prayers are being answered!!!

As it turns out, a friend of ours from High School- Jaime Koonley, is in Haiti right now and has been for a few months teaching in a school. She is now helping at HIS Home orphanage and this is a photo of two of the kids to come home taken just days ago!!! Livie- Rebee's daughter, and Joshua- Natalie and Craig's son. What a praise!

The kids may be coming home! There is now a movement by state and government officials to get the kids that were in the adoption process OUT of Haiti to make room for the hundreds of new orphans and needy caused by the quake. Our friends are on alert that they may have to drop everything and head to Miami to meet their children!!! What an incredible blessing!

When the earthquake happened I mentioned to Justin that with as horrible as this looked- and it is, don't get me wrong- I really thought that this could be a huge answer to prayer for so many. Our friends have been waiting for over 2 years for their children to come home, and there was really no end in sight to the Haitian government's delays on their paper work. I also think that as much as these surviving Haitian's have gone through, this is bringing aid, medicine, and attention to their situation like never before and once this is settled a bit, these people may indeed get more relief that they've had their entire lives. I had to laugh, and also get frustrated yesterday at some of the comments I've heard on the media and from friends explaining the Haitian situation. One news commentator, in his description of the situation said "it's horrible, people are filthy, they are burning trash on the streets, there are no restrooms, so they go where they can. You see people carrying machetes (sp?) and guns and riots are breaking out..." I had to laugh. It's normal in Haiti to see all of this outside of this crisis. I was pleased to hear one UN official of security say that actually the violence that he's seen is less than before the earthquake. Just some irony I guess....

Esperandieu's family has decided to come to the states until things have calmed. His wife and kids will be staying in IN with friends of ours beginning next week. We are excited to have them and are so thankful for their safety. Especially with the major aftershocks they are having. As it turned out the night of the earthquake Esperandieu is usually in a class in Port-au-Prince. Had he not have been taken to Trinidad for a CC seminar, he would have been there. The classroom collapsed and all of his classmates perished. His wife Dianne usually goes to the Market on Tuesday evenings. For some reason she was delayed. The Market also collapsed killing most inside. God's hand is in everything, even when we don't understand.

Please keep praying for the safety of the Haitians and for the Pierre family and the children's trip to IN- home!