Containers And Roosters And Getaways, Oh My!

Container days are always kind of fun.  For me, anyway.  I always give a grocery list to Danny's mom of non perishables that we can't buy here and she will buy them, box them up, and get them to the distribution center.  It's so handy that the center where the containers go out of is right in Bluffton!  But then in between giving her the list and when the container actually gets here can be a good two months or longer.  So when it finally comes, it's like Christmas!  It holds mostly hospital supplies, but our precious boxes are tucked away in the middle of medical equipment and such.  I have never helped out with unloading until this last one.  And even then, I didn't unload.  I just stood there with a clipboard making checkmarks on a list as things came off the container.  And even then, there was another girl with the same list on a clipboard and I totally got distracted and confused and miscounted a whole bunch of stuff and she didn't.  I may be fired.

But I enjoyed seeing how it all goes down.  And so I snapped a few pictures for you.  The truck is backed up to the unloading dock and a group of men start hauling stuff off, stopping by the checklist people to see where it goes.

Some things take a little more effort than others to get to their designated spot.

Some boxes are loaded on gators to be dispersed around the hospital campus, whether to missionary houses or to the red door.  The red door is a magical, free-for-all pantry that gets restocked any time a container comes.  That's where I was headed to with my cute little passenger here:)

Once we get our boxes delivered to our house, the fun begins!  The grownups drool over the snacks that we've been out of for so long while the kids turn into little tornados opening up what we have deemed "the grandma box".  Since grandma is right in town and able to personally drop off our groceries, she also packs an extra box or two filled with goodies for the kids.  They are always giddy and jumping up and down like crazy until that box gets opened!

The following weekend we had a fun little experience!  Our cook had been telling us that she wanted to buy and cook a live chicken from the market for us.  Usually she just buys chicken legs in bulk quantity, but all the workers were trying to convince us that "country chickens" were better because they had more nutrients.  They're also about three times the cost of the chicken legs.  But we said go ahead, we'll try it once.

Well, for me it was fun to watch her butcher.  Not everyone in our household agreed.  It was a little different method that what I always saw my dad do with the turkeys, but fun nonetheless.  And as far as the meal, well, I think I'll pass on the extra nutrients next time in order to have meat I can actually chew.  It was so tough!  And yes, I realize that's a rooster which is probably most of the reason why.  But it was fun for her to do it and fun for us to try it once.

And then we had a getaway.  WoooooHooooooo!!!!!!!  We left the kids with Brandon and Katelyn for the night and headed to a little resort a couple hours from here.  It was relaxing and peaceful and right on the ocean which made for some great views.  After we checked in, we headed to the pool and on the way found the gym!  It gave us a good chuckle:)

We enjoyed supper at the restaurant that was at the hotel.

And we found a spot that had tons of hermit crabs, so the next morning we took some home to the kids.

So pretty and relaxing!

And so romantic with just the two of us.

Just kidding!!  Tanner doesn't believe in bottles so he came along.

The hotel looked like the Forbidden City!  That's our room right there with the towels hanging off the railing.

In the morning we woke up, stepped out on our balcony and saw a bunch of fishing boats!  In this particular instance, one man worked the net from the boat while the other looked to be keeping it untangled in the water.  Occasionally he would climb back into the boat to bail water back into the ocean:)

We went home then and showed the kids their new pets.  There were seven crabs!  They were pretty excited and we built a little habitat and all seven were affectionately named.

And by the next morning they were all dead.

Oops.

It was so good to getaway for a little bit, even if it was just 24 hours.  We so appreciate B and K for helping us make that happen!

Other than that, we just keep plugging away one day at a time.  It's starting to get really hot out.  We still have some days (like today actually) where it rains or is cloudy and we have some relief from the heat.  But in general, fans are being turned up higher and shower temperatures are being turned down lower.  We are going through ice faster than we were a month ago!  We are trying to cement some dates for our furlough this summer.  We are looking at early to mid July through August.  Some days that seems so far away still but other days I can't believe it's already time to make those plans!  I must have restaurants on my mind because the other night I dreamed I went to McDonald's!  However, McDonald's will have to wait just a little bit longer.

I hear Tanner.  He just woke up.  Unlike McDonald's he will not wait.  Farewell, friends.

Photography by Summer:

Komari and Selah are in country right now and we spent an afternoon decorating eggs together.

Colored Easter eggs just make me feel so cheery:)

The night before Easter we went down to Cayes for the afternoon and then spent the night.  Someone had sent eggs and candy so we had a little egg hunt (in the rain) which the kids loved.  

The Shrock's have recently moved to Cayes from Illinois and two out of five of their kids are close to Summer and Sawyer's age.  It's easy to mix up Sawyer and Nathaniel, especially from behind.  We love having a chance to let our kids play with them and the other kids in Cayes!

Sunrise service was the reason we spent the night.  That way we only had to get up at 5:15 instead of 4 something or other.

But it sure was pretty!  If the weather cooperates, the service is held on the roof of the Child Sponsorship building.  I, for one, was happy it didn't rain.  I mean, if I'm going to go to a sunrise service, I want to see a sunrise!

A couple different groups sang, Bonne Fin being one of them.  We sang "Across the Lands" by Keith and Krystin Getty.  Tucker was very attached to mommy that day.  It made holding sheet music in the breeze a little interesting.

We are reaching the point where Summer is starting to be able to read to her brothers.  It's slow going and probably a little painful for the listener, but it's great practice for her and they don't seem to mind.  Also Nathaniel was able to come up to the hospital one day when a group from Cayes came to work on a generator.

Summer's princess dress was laying on the floor one day and Tanner got himself all rolled up into it so it looked like he was wearing it!  This is his new scrunchy face.

But seriously...😍😍😍

One day I was trying to put Tanner to bed quietly in his room when the door opened and this creature started roaring at me.  So much for quiet!!

It's been cool and rainy here this week.  Probably cooler here than back home!  We are having supper guests tomorrow night and I'm planning to have chili.  So I sure hope it stays cool and rainy for one more day!  Just wait- I'll wake up in the morning to hot, sunny, 90 degree weather.  Cause that's my luck.

Until next time!

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Colossians 3:17

Day In, Day Out

Well we just keep on keeping on down here.  How 'bout you?  Back when I used to go to Jamaica every year, the team leader for many of those years always signed his letters "keep lookin' up".  I guess that's what all of us need to be doing, huh?

My parents headed home late last week and I did remember to get a picture before they left... after Tucker was already in bed.  It was so good to have them here!

After the Herrmann's left I snagged a few toys and books from their house, including these superhero capes.  Which I think maybe were actually the Nussbaum's!  The kids love wearing them and Summer figured out that when she swings with one on, it flies behind her and looks more authentic;)  Also for some reason I cannot change the size of this picture so it's smaller than all the rest.  Grrrrr.

Typically the kids all have to stay in their room until the alarm clock ball changes from red to green.  But one morning Summer and Sawyer were still sound asleep when Tucker woke up.  I think he's usually the waker upper of his older siblings but this particular morning I caught him in time.  I said he could come out but he had to be really quiet and look at books.  And he did!  It was a rare moment for him.  The quiet thing I mean.

Sometimes Trinity sends us cute pictures from school that make us say "awwwwww" and feel all warm and fuzzy about our kids.  Looks like this particular day they got to eat their snack on the roof!

Be like this guy.  Stand firm on the Word. 😁

We've had our sweet baby boy for half a year now!  Six months goes way faster with the fourth kid than it did the first.  Not sure how we're already at this point but we are!

In keeping with the goodbye trend, we bode farewell to Joan (on the left) last week.  She was visiting from Minnesota for a few months.  As a nurse, she was mostly helping out the the hospital, but she helped some with our kids too and did plenty other odds and ends jobs.  We are so glad we had the chance to get to know her!  Lydianne is on the right.  She is from Oregon and has been here since September.  I think she originally came to offer family support but things got rearranged and she has become a bit of a jack of all trades around here.  We get to keep her for now:)

It's not too often that an old friend rolls into town!  Christy was just down here for a week before she heads back to New York to finish up her residency.  She is a friend from waaaayyyy back when and it was great to catch up and have her love on our kids!

We also have Brandon and Katelyn down here, who I have yet to get a picture of.  They came in February and actually are back in the states right now for a wedding but are planning to return this week for another....... six weeks or so?  Idk for sure.  They are a young couple from our home church that we really didn't have any interaction with before.  But we have really enjoyed getting to know them and making a connection with them!  And they've been really helpful to have around so that doesn't hurt:)

Danny's family is in Florida right now for the annual Bertsch trip.  Last year when we had to cancel last minute it was so incredibly hard for me.  Sounds shallow, but I promise there is a little depth to why it was so hard, it's just kind of hard to explain.  This year we never had plans to make the trip so it's not as hard to miss out, but still a bummer.  Next year?  Oh man I hope we make it!!!  Pretty much I'll be eating fish tacos like three times a day to make up for missing two years!

I'm really struggling right now to figure out how to neatly wrap this up but it's just not coming to me!  Writer's block or something like that.  So???

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." Colossians 3:15

Saying Our Farewells

Saying goodbye.  It's kind of a trend around here these days...  But as long as we have people here, whether it be a long time or just a short visit, we'll take it!  We soaked up our time with Herrmann fam while they were here.

There were plenty of hikes to go around!

As well as a trip to the beach.

We haven't been there since last summer and it's one of those things where it's about 50/50 on whether or not it's worth it.  It's a lot of work to haul a bunch of little kids and all the things to the beach.  But we usually come back saying we were glad we went!

Naptime on the beach.  Kinda wish I coulda done that!

But really my favorite part of beach days is the food.  All the fresh lobster and shrimp you could want.  Sooooooo tasty!!!

It was such a hoot watching Weston and Tucker play together.  When we were together before we all went on furlough, they weren't really into each other.  But the giggles and goofy antics coming from the two of them this time around was hilarious!  Really loud at times, but hilarious:)

We have friends for life.

Just yesterday we had another sad farewell to Carrie.  She's another friend for life.  She has been an amazing friend, sister, co-worker, and auntie during our time here.  It's time for her to move on from her life here though, and she will be deeply missed.  The good news about Carrie is that she lives less than an hour away from our home base!  So we hope to see her on the regular in the future.

In between the goodbyes, my parents came for a visit and grandma had matching dinosaur apparel in tow!  Dad spent a couple days here before going to do some work in Cayes.  Mom has been just hanging out with us and dad is planning to come up for one more day this week before they head home on Thursday.  It's been so good to have them here!

Well, its supposed to be rest time right now but the sounds coming from the other end of the house indicate that it's pretty much over.  There's also sounds indicating that Tucker has finally figured out how to climb out of his bed by himself.  Shucks.  Oh and I just heard Tanner, too.  They're all up.  It's over.  Nooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time...

Country Eggs

Awhile back I had a lady come to the gate selling coffee.  I had never tried Haitian coffee before but I had heard it could put hair on your chest.  I decided to go ahead and buy it.  Not because I wanted to start sprouting extra body hair, but because I was curious how it really was and because the lady was nice and I wanted to help her.  I brewed the coffee, and as soon as I saw it in the pot I knew it wasn't gonna work for me.  I poured it into my cup and it was like mud.  I drank a few swallows, dumped the rest of the sludge down the drain, and gave the remaining ground coffee to my house ladies.  A couple weeks after that, the same lady came by the gate again asking if I wanted more coffee.  I had told her I would try it but didn't know if I liked it, so I informed her that no, I'm sorry, but I did not enjoy the coffee.  This time she also had a basket of pineapples and a few eggs.  I already had a couple pineapples sitting on my counter but said I could buy the eggs.  She gave me an outrageous price and I counteroffered with what I thought was a fair price based on what I pay for a dozen eggs in the store.  She was appalled and said "Oh, no.  These are more expensive because they're country eggs!"  Well, they were piddly little things and I wasn't in the mood to pay out the wazoo for a few eggs.  It's a known fact that I'm a pushover at the gate, but I do have my limits.  So I started walking away and she quickly agreed to the price I had given her.  I took them inside and our cook, who was working that day, said with much enthusiasm  "Oh!  You bought country eggs!!"  So then I felt bad because I probably did rip off the nice lady.  She hasn't been back yet!  She probably thinks I'm a stingy blan.

We took a little family walk last weekend, mostly just around the hospital campus.  There is an area on campus with housing for families of hospital patients and we saw one lady making juice.  The kids awkwardly stopped and stared but she loved showing them what she was doing!

A couple Sundays ago in church, this little guy decided to join us for services.  Cute as he is, he was quite the little rambunctious fellow.  We let him play some, but he really added to the chaos of an already chaotic church pew.  Nobody claimed him for a long time and he didn't seem to know where his mom was.  Finally when he started digging through my bag and pulling things out, a girl from across the aisle came and got him.  I don't think she was his mom though.  He showed up again last Sunday and we were pretty quick to just hand him off the the assistant pastor who was sitting by us at the time!

 

Tucker decided he wanted to wear this shirt caveman style.  No matter how many times we fixed it, he kept pulling his arm back out.  Sometimes changing clothes gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list and this was one of those times.  So for about three days (don't judge me) we had a little caveman walking around.

Danny ordered some window blinds for work and they came last week.  Sawyer was trying to figure out what blinds were and after Danny explained them to him, he decided he wanted blinds for his birthday.  And he also wants a rocket.

It's been fun watching Sawyer hone in on some of his skills lately.  His brain is really good for puzzles and patterns and such.  Someone gave us this toy and he is able to follow a picture pattern all by himself.  Summer has no desire to do such things and struggles more with puzzles.  But she could do crafts and write stories all the live long day.  Sawyer?  Give him some crayons and he'll be bored in less than five minutes.  I love seeing their unique gifts and personalities!

He's just so stinkin' sweet!

Herrmann's are here!!!!!!!  God has made it clear to them that they should officially leave Haiti and return to their home in the states.  They are here for just 10 days or so to pack up their house and say their goodbyes.  It's a bittersweet time to be together.  We love having them here so much, but them going home earlier than they had ever planned on is pretty tough.  They will take any prayers you are willing to offer on their behalf!  And while they are here, we are soaking it up.

And those country eggs?  They were alright.  Small eggs made up of mostly yolk and not much white but they tasted fine:)

Love you all!

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"  Philippians 1:6