I leave for Swazi tomorrow morning. AHHHHHH!
I'm really excited. Things are working out and getting done. I have packed & repacked my bag several times today trying to not exceed the 50 lbs. limit. So far, I have not quite got it all in there.
If you would join me in pray, I would greatly appreciate it. You can pray for me (any the team) in the following ways:
~ That I will actually get my bags packed tonight ;)
~ For safe travel (as well as on time/no delays)
~ Safety for my family while I am gone
~ That all our luggage would arrive on time and safe
~ That we would accomplish His goals while we are there
~ That each of us on the team will work together in harmony though we may be exhausted
~ That Ryan and the kids will be blessed while I am gone
~ That all on the trip will be healthy
~ That my family would be healthy while I'm gone (because everyone knows you want mommy when your sick)
I'm sure there are more things than just these but that's a head start.
Thank you all for all the ways you have blessed me so far with your donations, financial support, your love, your time and your prayers. I could not have made this trip happen without all of you!
Blessings...see you all in two weeks (or maybe just a bit more because I'll probably be a little jet lagged).
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
My sister is Awesome...
So my sister, Candy, came out to visit me this past week. She needed a break from her four kids, but what she didn't realize is how much I needed her! It was amazing. She came for a week, helped me clean my house and get ready for my trip to Swazi. She went to a thousand stores with me and helped me throw a big birthday bash for my girls.
We did get to do some sight seeing. We went to the Aquarium in Denver. We went to the top of Pike's Peak. We went to the Garden of the Gods. We took almost two thousand pictures and got some nice little souvenirs for her family.
It is so good to have her back in my life. I think my favorite part was sitting on the couch in my basement reading stupid celebrity magazines and commenting on their lives. I think it's the little things that make me feel close to my sister.
Another wonderful thing that came from her trip was getting to reunite with my dad. They had not talked in many years. She asked him if she could call him dad, he said yes. Their were lots of tears and it was so good. I feel like my family is whole again.
For those who do not know all the details, my parents were foster parents for years to my sister. Through a string of unfortunate events, she was put in another foster home after almost three years of being with us. I have always considered her my sister. We kept in touch on and off through the years and a few months ago she found me through the wonders of the internet. It had been over seven years since we talked and eleven years since we saw each other.
We hope to see each other more often. She's planning to bring her family on a camping trip with us this summer. I can't wait to see her again!
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| Haley & Candy with 2 dozen balloons in the car. |
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| 3 girls Swimming Luau Birthday Party! |
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| Me & my sister at the Aquarium. |
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| Candy, Haley & Megan at the Aquarium |
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| Top of Pike's Peak. Too bad there was so much smoke from the AZ fires. Candy is not taller than me, standing on her tip toes to be taller than Megan ;) |
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| Aunt Candy with her nephew & nieces. |
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| Garden of the Gods...oh & Candy is still NOT taller than me. |
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| Kids holding up Balanced Rock at the Garden of the Gods. |
It is so good to have her back in my life. I think my favorite part was sitting on the couch in my basement reading stupid celebrity magazines and commenting on their lives. I think it's the little things that make me feel close to my sister.
Another wonderful thing that came from her trip was getting to reunite with my dad. They had not talked in many years. She asked him if she could call him dad, he said yes. Their were lots of tears and it was so good. I feel like my family is whole again.
For those who do not know all the details, my parents were foster parents for years to my sister. Through a string of unfortunate events, she was put in another foster home after almost three years of being with us. I have always considered her my sister. We kept in touch on and off through the years and a few months ago she found me through the wonders of the internet. It had been over seven years since we talked and eleven years since we saw each other.
We hope to see each other more often. She's planning to bring her family on a camping trip with us this summer. I can't wait to see her again!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Breaking the Silence...
So for those who have followed my blog and love to read about our crazy lives, I am sure you have notice that there has been silence for a while. With exception to the few updated regarding my upcoming trip to Africa on June 9th, I have not written in months. It is now time to break that silence and share why I have been silent this long.
The past several months have been very trying on our family. There have been a lot of changes and we have been in a painful season. This season is by no means over, but I feel like it is time to open the doors just a bit. There are some of you who will read this post today and already know what is going on in our lives. I want to thank you for your love and support as well painfully try to find our way.
So here we go...
Dean has decided he no longer wishes to live with us. If you did not know all the details of our family, Dean is Ryan's step-son from his first marriage. Ryan has been raising him since Dean was three. After the divorce, Ryan and his ex-wife have had split, shared custody of both Dean and Cassidy. After Dean made this decision, though it was painful, there was something that told us to let him. Though we may have had a chance to fight for him in a lengthy court battle, biology has a strong say in court and we did not have that on our side.
After much prayer and amazing counsel, we have decided to allow Dean to make this decision and not fight him on it at this time. It has been terribly painful to have one less in our home and I still pray over Dean like I do all the other kids. I have never made a distinction in my heart or mind between biological kids and step kids. My heart tells me I have five kids and I love each of them as such.
It has also been hard on Megan, Alex and Haley. Because things did not end completely peacefully, they did not get so say goodbye to Dean. As of right now, Dean does not wish to be in relationship with them and we are honoring that. Cassidy of course still sees Dean when she is at her mom's house but I think it has been hard on her as well.
We knew when we decided to blend our families that there would be hardships. We knew that there would be pain that our kids would endure because of so many families being involved. We also knew there would be great joy to have a large blended family. There are so many wonderful things that have happened because we are a family. I thank God every day for putting this amazing family together. I know I could not have done a better job...ever. He is the director of our lives and has blessed our family in abundance the past several years.
OK...I felt all this had to be shared so we could move forward. I want to be able to share things happening in my life but have not because this is weighing on me. So hopefully this will help break that silence and allow me to move forward and share about my life.
If you have any questions, please direct them to me privately. I have shared all I can share at this point. I know many of you have missed Dean with us. I pray that God shows you the comfort He has shown us as we have grieved this.
I want to thank all the people who have been and are praying over us as we muddle through this. We covet your prayers and pray over all of you as well. Please continue to pray for us as we heal from this loss and as always, thank you for listening.
The past several months have been very trying on our family. There have been a lot of changes and we have been in a painful season. This season is by no means over, but I feel like it is time to open the doors just a bit. There are some of you who will read this post today and already know what is going on in our lives. I want to thank you for your love and support as well painfully try to find our way.
So here we go...
Dean has decided he no longer wishes to live with us. If you did not know all the details of our family, Dean is Ryan's step-son from his first marriage. Ryan has been raising him since Dean was three. After the divorce, Ryan and his ex-wife have had split, shared custody of both Dean and Cassidy. After Dean made this decision, though it was painful, there was something that told us to let him. Though we may have had a chance to fight for him in a lengthy court battle, biology has a strong say in court and we did not have that on our side.
After much prayer and amazing counsel, we have decided to allow Dean to make this decision and not fight him on it at this time. It has been terribly painful to have one less in our home and I still pray over Dean like I do all the other kids. I have never made a distinction in my heart or mind between biological kids and step kids. My heart tells me I have five kids and I love each of them as such.
It has also been hard on Megan, Alex and Haley. Because things did not end completely peacefully, they did not get so say goodbye to Dean. As of right now, Dean does not wish to be in relationship with them and we are honoring that. Cassidy of course still sees Dean when she is at her mom's house but I think it has been hard on her as well.
We knew when we decided to blend our families that there would be hardships. We knew that there would be pain that our kids would endure because of so many families being involved. We also knew there would be great joy to have a large blended family. There are so many wonderful things that have happened because we are a family. I thank God every day for putting this amazing family together. I know I could not have done a better job...ever. He is the director of our lives and has blessed our family in abundance the past several years.
OK...I felt all this had to be shared so we could move forward. I want to be able to share things happening in my life but have not because this is weighing on me. So hopefully this will help break that silence and allow me to move forward and share about my life.
If you have any questions, please direct them to me privately. I have shared all I can share at this point. I know many of you have missed Dean with us. I pray that God shows you the comfort He has shown us as we have grieved this.
I want to thank all the people who have been and are praying over us as we muddle through this. We covet your prayers and pray over all of you as well. Please continue to pray for us as we heal from this loss and as always, thank you for listening.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Swazi here I come...
So I thought I would do another financial update for those inquiring minds that have asked.
The plane ticket has been purchased! I am going to Swazi...
I have 7 days to raise the rest of the funds! My final payment is due Friday, May 13th!
Please continue to pray I hit my financial goal and pray for me while I am gone!
Thanks so much to those who have supported me in all the ways you have these past months as I have been preparing for this event. I covet your prayers and so does my family.
Support Chart Updated 5 7
For those who have donated, I have not "forgotten" you. I plan on sending thank you card with pictures from my trip. I hope to have them in the mail at the beginning of July. Thanks so much!
Renee
The plane ticket has been purchased! I am going to Swazi...
I have 7 days to raise the rest of the funds! My final payment is due Friday, May 13th!
Please continue to pray I hit my financial goal and pray for me while I am gone!
Thanks so much to those who have supported me in all the ways you have these past months as I have been preparing for this event. I covet your prayers and so does my family.
Support Chart Updated 5 7
For those who have donated, I have not "forgotten" you. I plan on sending thank you card with pictures from my trip. I hope to have them in the mail at the beginning of July. Thanks so much!
Renee
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Swazi Financial update...
So I have had several inquiries from friends and family as to how things are coming with my Swazi trip. I guess I had better do a little up date for inquiring minds...
As my letter stated, it will cost $3,750 and will need to be paid by May 13th to cover land and air costs for my trip June 9th-22nd.
I have had a few donations...this is where I stand as of right now!
Support Chart
Thanks so much to all who have donated, are considering donating, are praying over me and will be helping our family cover gaps while I am gone. This could not be possible without the amazing family of God that surrounds us! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
As my letter stated, it will cost $3,750 and will need to be paid by May 13th to cover land and air costs for my trip June 9th-22nd.
I have had a few donations...this is where I stand as of right now!
Support Chart
Thanks so much to all who have donated, are considering donating, are praying over me and will be helping our family cover gaps while I am gone. This could not be possible without the amazing family of God that surrounds us! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The internet reunites another family!
Many of you may already know this and some of you may not but many, many years ago, my parents were foster parents. For three and half blessed years, I had a sister, Candy. She was just a year younger than me and for a time we even shared a room.
Many may think that since my parents did not get to adopt her, and she moved to another foster home, that she isn't really family or really my sister. Well that couldn't be farther from the truth. She may not be my flesh and blood, but she is definitely my sister! I love her like a sister. I fought with her like a sister. And over the past several years since we lost touch, I missed her like a sister.
Just this week, she found my dad online. She called him up and he gave her my number. We talked on and off all day and even got to Skype (video call). I got to see her kids and she got to see a couple of my kids. We caught up of the past several years and were back being like sister again! We laughed. We were serious. Our kids laughed. We told old stories and said, "Remember when..." a thousand times!
I am so glad she found me! I have looked for her a thousand times...and after this week, it was just what I needed. So here's to the internet...it may have more information than we want sometimes but right now, I'm glad there was just enough information for my sister to find me.
Here's a few pictures from our childhood.
Many may think that since my parents did not get to adopt her, and she moved to another foster home, that she isn't really family or really my sister. Well that couldn't be farther from the truth. She may not be my flesh and blood, but she is definitely my sister! I love her like a sister. I fought with her like a sister. And over the past several years since we lost touch, I missed her like a sister.
Just this week, she found my dad online. She called him up and he gave her my number. We talked on and off all day and even got to Skype (video call). I got to see her kids and she got to see a couple of my kids. We caught up of the past several years and were back being like sister again! We laughed. We were serious. Our kids laughed. We told old stories and said, "Remember when..." a thousand times!
I am so glad she found me! I have looked for her a thousand times...and after this week, it was just what I needed. So here's to the internet...it may have more information than we want sometimes but right now, I'm glad there was just enough information for my sister to find me.
Here's a few pictures from our childhood.
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| Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa Harmon's |
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| Christmas at our home with Grandma & Grandpa Glenna |
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| One of our first visits...I still have that doll & her bear. |
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| We got Cabbage Patch Dolls this Christmas. |
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| Mom always curled our hair...I think it may have traumatized Candy. |
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| The Hilderbrands (my mom's sister's family) came to visit. |
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| Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa Glenna's...and yes Candy was bigger than me (even though I was older) and yes those are matching dresses. |
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| Going to a Luau, three generations in this picture. |
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| Some church family...I think this may have been her Surprise Birthday party. |
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| Us in our ugly old kitchen just before my parents remodeled it. |
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| My birthday dinner one year. |
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| Out for pizza! |
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| Fun with ice cream. |
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Day of Family Fun at the Park
Recently, Ryan & I took the family to the park for what we thought was going to be a morning of fun. But alas, as Colorado is, the weather was deceiving and though we thought it to be a "warm" February morning, the wind kick up and made it a bit colder than our wardrobe could handle. Never the less, the kids seemed to have fun and didn't want to leave despite their frozen appendages.
It was fun! I've been wanting to take the kids to the park for some fun and some fun family pics ever since I got my camera in November. Next time we'll go when it's a little warmer.
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| Our baby, looking a lot like the AmStaff in her when she runs. |
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| Cassidy in motion...look at her necklace stick straight out. |
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| Haley peaking through the play set at the park. |
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| So windy that Alex's hair was sticking straight up! |
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| Megan coming down the slide. |
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| Dean climbed under the play set...of course. |
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| Jumping! I love to get jumping pics! |
It was fun! I've been wanting to take the kids to the park for some fun and some fun family pics ever since I got my camera in November. Next time we'll go when it's a little warmer.
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