Sunday morning I got up and was making breakfast when I heard a little voice outside my window. "Natasha?" It whispered. I looked out and saw "Rosie" (that's what I dubbed her since I can never remember her name). I knew that she wanted to come in but I decided that it would be better if kids didn't come in on Sunday mornings. There was another girl out with her so I decided to give them each a sheet of stickers instead.
I took the stickers outside and Rosie turned to go in the door behind me. I told her "no" and when she turned around she dropped what she had in her hand. It was a little bag of coffee. It broke and she started crying.
I felt bad then and helped her clean up the mess. I kept saying it was okay but she just kept crying. Finally, I figured out that the coffee was for her Mama and she was going to be in trouble. I decided to just give her the five gourds to buy some more. She smiled then and hurried out to get it.
Not two minutes later I heard screaming like I have never heard before. I mean, make your skin crawl, blood curdling screams. I stood up from my seat at the breakfast table just as I heard pounding on my door. I opened it to see Rosie crying and screaming hysterically, still hitting the screen door and her mother, standing on the steps to the porch with a switch in her hands.
It was awful. I didn't know what to do. Here this little girl is crying hysterically and is obviously going to get a whipping- but it's her mother! I still can hardly speak Creole so I had no way to find out what the problem was.
I kept thinking, "Was it the coffee? Good grief, she can buy more..."
But there wasn't much I could do but say, "Rosie, ale Mama." (go to your mama) Anything else would probably get her in more trouble later.
She went screaming down the porch (and got a nice switch on the way past her mother) and off the mission property.
Later we found out that her mother had sent her an hour before to get coffee AND she had told her not to go to the mission. So, yes, she probably needed a spanking.
A whipping? Not so much. But, that is the way things are here. Truthfully, her Mama, I think, is a lot nicer than some.
This morning I was doing the breakfast dishes when I looked out my back window to see three boys chasing our pig. It had gotten loose when they were taking it to the butcher shop and they were trying to catch it.
Oh, but that was funny to watch. I got some excellent pictures that I will have to post later. They finally caught her when Willy (a great little kid here at the mission) grabbed onto her tail and just hung on!
Then, after that, I got to watch how the Haitians butcher animals. It was interesting. They burn the hair off so they can save the hide. Apparently they like it in soups. ilck.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Haiti
There are some things that are marvelous about the La Colline valley in Haiti.
The first being: the mountains are splendid. I love stepping out of my house in the mornings on the way to the hospital and gazing at the circle of mountians that surround us. Whenever I feel homesick or lonely I just stare out my kitchen window at the beauty of this place...
The second being: our hospital just signed up for a goverment program that allows women to have their babies here free of charge. Which means there has been a great increase in babies being born here. My favorite thing to do in the morning is peak into the maternity room to see any new little ones!
The third being: the sound of the mornings. Some people have a hard time with the dull roar that awakens them in the morning here but I have come to love it. It is a mixture of donkeys and goats and cows and pigs and people and birds...
Now, I do have to say that when it's a goat right outside my window, I get little pleasure out of it. The sound tends to echo through the room. (and it also means that our goats are out AGAIN which is not a good thing)
But when the sound is more of a distant mingling of noises... I enjoy it.
These are but a few things... I'm sure I will have more in the days to come.
The first being: the mountains are splendid. I love stepping out of my house in the mornings on the way to the hospital and gazing at the circle of mountians that surround us. Whenever I feel homesick or lonely I just stare out my kitchen window at the beauty of this place...
The second being: our hospital just signed up for a goverment program that allows women to have their babies here free of charge. Which means there has been a great increase in babies being born here. My favorite thing to do in the morning is peak into the maternity room to see any new little ones!
The third being: the sound of the mornings. Some people have a hard time with the dull roar that awakens them in the morning here but I have come to love it. It is a mixture of donkeys and goats and cows and pigs and people and birds...
Now, I do have to say that when it's a goat right outside my window, I get little pleasure out of it. The sound tends to echo through the room. (and it also means that our goats are out AGAIN which is not a good thing)
But when the sound is more of a distant mingling of noises... I enjoy it.
These are but a few things... I'm sure I will have more in the days to come.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Precious Christmas Memory.
The twins got ballet dresses for Christmas. Giselle hasn't gone a full day without putting hers on for at least a few hours since...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Christmas gifts!
Finally figured out what to do for my nephews on my husband's side of the family. We don't have much money but I wanted to do a little something... so this is what I'm going to make them:
For how to go here:
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Waiting...
My car is in the shop getting snow tires put on (kind of last minute but when you're related to the owner, amazing things happen. *smiles*) So I thought I'd fill out a little quiz thing.
1. What time did you wake up this morning? 7am
2. Diamonds or Pearls? I have a diamond and I have a pearl. I love them both.
3. What is Your Favorite TV show? Probably... Andy Griffith.
4. What did you have for breakfast this morning? a bowl of fruit. I made eggs and sausage for my husband.
5. What is your middle name? Dawn
6. What foods do you dislike? anything that has chemically made sweeteners in it. They react somehow and leave a metalic taste in my mouth. ilck.
7. What is your favorite Cd at the moment? uhm... my "Christmas Belles" cd.
8. What kind of car do you drive? Either my Saab 900 or my husband's F350 SuperDuty
9. Favorite sandwhich? garlic, avocado and salt on Ezekiel bread.
10. What character quality do you despise? deceit
11. Favorite items of clothing? leggings. I think they look so cute with skirts.
12. If you could vacation anywhere in the world where would you go? I'd love to travel around Europe sometime. But probably not in this lifetime because my husband isn't even slightly interested.
13. Favorite brand of clothing? I don't care as long as they are soft and comfy.
14. Where would you retire to? the farm. I really love it there.
15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? I haven't had a good birthday in a long long time.
16. Favorite sport to watch? Probably soccer because I know the most about it.
17. When is your birthday? January 1st.
18. Are you a morning person or a night person? I used to be a morning person but my husband is a night person and I am slowly changing.
19. Shoe size? 6
20. Pets? My husband just told me that there are new kittens in the barn. Who knows where they came from... *laughs*
21. What did you want to be when you were little? I wanted to run my own orphanage.
22. How are you today? Okay. I have a bit of a cold.
23. Favorite candy? Babe Ruth. But I usually settle for a piece of dark chocolate.
24. Favorite flower? anything except carnations. Well, there are a few others that I don't particularly like but I don't think they ruin a bouquet the way a carnation does.
25. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Tomorrow. We're leaving to go to my Grandparents for thanksgiving.
26. What are you listening to right now? "He Is"
27. What did you last eat? apple salad
28. If you were a crayon what color would you be? No idea.
29. How is the weather right now? Just freezing so the snow is wet and sloppy. I think it's awfully pretty.
30. Who was the first person you spoke to on the phone today? My sister-in-law
31. Favorite soft drink? water
32. Favorite resturant? Well, I go to Cafe Z the most, as it is right in town. However, I think my favorite would be Olive Garden.
33. Real hair color? Depends on where I live. Up north it stays pretty dark brown. Down south it bleaches out pretty bright blond with deep red highlights. Weird. I know.
34. What was your favorite toy as a child? My mom's old doll "Susie" that she gave me when I was like 6. Most of it's hair was fallen out and the body was all floppy- but I loved that doll.
35. Summer or winter? both. and everything in between.
36. Chocolate hugs or kisses? I'm not actually big on chocolate. I only eat it to satisfy my sweet tooth.
37. Vanilla or Chocolate? Vanilla.
38. Coffee or tea? I have trained myself to like coffee with just creamer. However, I think I prefer tea.
39. When was the last time you cried? It's been awhile, actually. A week?
40. What did you do last night? Read the book "Forevermore".
41. What are you afraid of? Not many things. Driving big tractors when I'm not sure how might be high on the list. But my husband and I farm so guess what? I face my fears often.
42. Salty or sweet? salty
43. How many years on your current job? A wife? 1 year.
44. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.
45. How many keys on your keyring? 1
46.How many towns have you lived in? Uhm. Let me count... at least 7.
47. Do you make friends easily? For the most part.
48. Favorite fragrance? Body by Victoria Secret or Be Delicious by... ? I dunno.
49. Biggest pet peeve? gossip. it irks me.
50. Favorite verse? Right now? Romans 8. (the whole chapter.)
1. What time did you wake up this morning? 7am
2. Diamonds or Pearls? I have a diamond and I have a pearl. I love them both.
3. What is Your Favorite TV show? Probably... Andy Griffith.
4. What did you have for breakfast this morning? a bowl of fruit. I made eggs and sausage for my husband.
5. What is your middle name? Dawn
6. What foods do you dislike? anything that has chemically made sweeteners in it. They react somehow and leave a metalic taste in my mouth. ilck.
7. What is your favorite Cd at the moment? uhm... my "Christmas Belles" cd.
8. What kind of car do you drive? Either my Saab 900 or my husband's F350 SuperDuty
9. Favorite sandwhich? garlic, avocado and salt on Ezekiel bread.
10. What character quality do you despise? deceit
11. Favorite items of clothing? leggings. I think they look so cute with skirts.
12. If you could vacation anywhere in the world where would you go? I'd love to travel around Europe sometime. But probably not in this lifetime because my husband isn't even slightly interested.
13. Favorite brand of clothing? I don't care as long as they are soft and comfy.
14. Where would you retire to? the farm. I really love it there.
15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? I haven't had a good birthday in a long long time.
16. Favorite sport to watch? Probably soccer because I know the most about it.
17. When is your birthday? January 1st.
18. Are you a morning person or a night person? I used to be a morning person but my husband is a night person and I am slowly changing.
19. Shoe size? 6
20. Pets? My husband just told me that there are new kittens in the barn. Who knows where they came from... *laughs*
21. What did you want to be when you were little? I wanted to run my own orphanage.
22. How are you today? Okay. I have a bit of a cold.
23. Favorite candy? Babe Ruth. But I usually settle for a piece of dark chocolate.
24. Favorite flower? anything except carnations. Well, there are a few others that I don't particularly like but I don't think they ruin a bouquet the way a carnation does.
25. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Tomorrow. We're leaving to go to my Grandparents for thanksgiving.
26. What are you listening to right now? "He Is"
27. What did you last eat? apple salad
28. If you were a crayon what color would you be? No idea.
29. How is the weather right now? Just freezing so the snow is wet and sloppy. I think it's awfully pretty.
30. Who was the first person you spoke to on the phone today? My sister-in-law
31. Favorite soft drink? water
32. Favorite resturant? Well, I go to Cafe Z the most, as it is right in town. However, I think my favorite would be Olive Garden.
33. Real hair color? Depends on where I live. Up north it stays pretty dark brown. Down south it bleaches out pretty bright blond with deep red highlights. Weird. I know.
34. What was your favorite toy as a child? My mom's old doll "Susie" that she gave me when I was like 6. Most of it's hair was fallen out and the body was all floppy- but I loved that doll.
35. Summer or winter? both. and everything in between.
36. Chocolate hugs or kisses? I'm not actually big on chocolate. I only eat it to satisfy my sweet tooth.
37. Vanilla or Chocolate? Vanilla.
38. Coffee or tea? I have trained myself to like coffee with just creamer. However, I think I prefer tea.
39. When was the last time you cried? It's been awhile, actually. A week?
40. What did you do last night? Read the book "Forevermore".
41. What are you afraid of? Not many things. Driving big tractors when I'm not sure how might be high on the list. But my husband and I farm so guess what? I face my fears often.
42. Salty or sweet? salty
43. How many years on your current job? A wife? 1 year.
44. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.
45. How many keys on your keyring? 1
46.How many towns have you lived in? Uhm. Let me count... at least 7.
47. Do you make friends easily? For the most part.
48. Favorite fragrance? Body by Victoria Secret or Be Delicious by... ? I dunno.
49. Biggest pet peeve? gossip. it irks me.
50. Favorite verse? Right now? Romans 8. (the whole chapter.)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Latest Niece Quote
Brianna was talking to Aurora (3 yrs. old- twin) as she looked through the closet for something for her to wear. Everything was too small. (Mind you, Aurora is three inches taller than her twin sister) She looked at her and said, "No pants fit you, Miss Longlegs." To which Aurora replied, "Whatevs. I hate pants."
*sighs* What are we to do with that girl? (I know, put her in dresses. Which is what happened.)
*sighs* What are we to do with that girl? (I know, put her in dresses. Which is what happened.)
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