Happy New Year!

Happy New Year...and Happy Independence Day to Haiti. :) We caught the ball dropping last night just in time, although the internet cut out the last 5 seconds of the countdown. (It went 10..9..8..7..6.....happy new year! oh well..) We spent the night playing games and hanging out with the Thede's and with a new couple that just came for the next three months, the Bailey's. We made pretzels and played with sparklers that Cory had gotten at the market for Eli and Anna. It was a good night! We were all (except maybe Miss Anna) very tired by the time we walked back home. The moon was full and made our little neck of the woods look simply beautiful. The sound of late night church services still singing in Creole and the outline of palm trees and mountains against the dark blue was awesome.

As you may know already, my grandpa passed away earlier this week. My parents and sister were able to spend the last day and a half with him and with the rest of the family, which we're so glad for. It's been very hard not being able to jump in the car or on a plane to be with them. We have been able to talk on the phone a bit and email which is good. I know this is part of being overseas and we will grow from it but it is not my favorite part that's for sure! I can't wait to visit my Grandma when we get home and give her a big hug. Please pray for her as she's going to try living on her own to start. Last year at this time Chris and I were just dreaming about all that 2009 was going to hold for us! We had just gotten engaged and had just been approved to go to Haiti together, and we were about to begin our last semester at IWU. It was a crazy year full of change. We've been married for 6 months now, 4 of which have been spent in Haiti. It's amazing to think back over all that we have been through. One thing we know from all of it is that God is faithful. We knew that was true and I'm sure said it and sang it, but now we know it so much more deeply.So there won't be any wedding magazines in my life this year (Chris is thankful for that one) but we are anticipating how we will experience God's goodness again, even when things are hard and we can't control our circumstances or surroundings. Bon Ane!!