Today was a hard day. I'm feeling pretty taxed in every way possible.I am emotionally drained. Visiting Keanan is hard. It is always a relief to see how well he is cared for. But it's also disheartening how uncomfortable he is with us. I know that it is normal, and even developmentally appropriate, that he isn't jumping into our arms. We showed up enthusiastic, excited and smothering, and he reacted. He wanted nothing to do with us. I know that this is a GOOD THING. It shows he is bonded to his . . .
Toys, Toys, Toys
We got the chance to deliver all the toys we brought for the orphanage. It was very fun. We brought trikes for the toddler house, and they were very excited. We also brought a simple tent from Ikea that seemed to be the biggest hit. The older boys loved the matchbox cars, and the kids were having so much fun that there were several tantrums when they had to stop playing to go eat dinner. The nannies were not amused.We also took lots of "pretend play" toys for the girl's house. They were loving . . .
The Paradox of Haiti
We have finally arrived in Haiti. It's really hard to describe Haiti. It is exactly like you see on tv, and nothing like you see on tv. It continues to be a country plagued by violence, political unrest, unemployment, hunger, and abject poverty. This has lead to a culture of dishonestly as a coping strategy, on large and small scales. There is a desperation that gives way to crime. There are kidnappings for ransom. People are robbed. Homes are guarded with armed men. You don't go out on the . . .
Delayed in Miami
Our flight from LAX left really late due to a mechanical issue. They could not get the plane door to close, so they ended up having a repairman come and nail the door shut while we sat on the runway for an hour. Things like that always inspire confidence. Anyways, we ended up arriving in Miami after the last flight to Haiti had left for the day. So we are spending a night at a hotel in Miami, and enjoying the beauty of sleeping with two children in one hotel room. Grr.We are pretty disappointed . . .
Packing Up!
We leave for Haiti in the wee hours tonight, and it feels like we've been packing for the last week. We are like santa's workshop over here. Our house was full of toys, clothes, and supplies for the orphanage. We filled four suitcases, and then still had some room, so Mark went to Target and bought four trikes to put in the last two suitcases! I can't wait for the kids to see them. We also have 10 lbs of Starbucks coffee for John and Beth, who run the orphanage. They deserve it! They work so . . .
Happy Mother’s Day!
We had a great mother's day today, despite the fact that we spent most of the day packing. We had lunch at Havana's, my favorite Cuban restaurant. Grandma and Grandpa joined us. . . .
Stressed
I'm finding myself a wee bit stressed about our upcoming trip to Haiti. I was distracted and travelling a lot over the past two weeks. Yesterday, I turned in grades at Vanguard and then launched a blog with my friends. Two big hurdles done, and now my brain is ready to think about our upcoming trip. The gravity of the situation is hitting me like a ton of bricks. The country is in a desperate state.I find myself worrying about some things that are a bit disturbing to think through:what if there . . .
How It All Went Down
Okay, so I guess I should elaborate on the Dreadlock Disaster. My cryptic post yesterday was all my could muster in the midst of my grief. Yeah, that's right, grief. Stop rolling your eyes. I'm not being overdramatic. I would never do that.So step one was that I tried to convince Jafta that we would just cut his dreadlocks shorter. That seemed like a win-win to me. I gave them a good trim, but I didn't have a clue what I was doing. The dreadlocks started getting puffy at the tip where I cut . . .
The Dreadlock Dilemma is now The Dreadlock Disaster
I don't even want to talk about it. I'll let the photo speak for itself . . . . . .
The Dreadlock Dilemma
Jafta has been asking me, with increasing fervor, to cut his dreadlocks off. He really wants a buzzcut like his friend Nate, and like his cousins Austin and Derek. I think that he is at an age where he is noticing the physical differences between he and most of his friends. His hair is a major difference, and he wants to look more like everybody else. I know that this is the right thing to do for him, but I am just wrestling with it. I know it sounds so shallow. It's just hair, right? But for . . .
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