Monday, January 18, 2010

Hello folks!

It feels good to be writing again.

I just talked to Jen and got an update on her friends and relations in Haiti.

Her husband's family is doing ok, though his mother is stomach sick. They're not sure what's wrong with her but they're hoping to get some medication to help her out.

They got word on one of their other friends's families... this gal lives locally and there's been much worry about her family. Her mother and baby sister are fine but her older sister has been injured, broken bones, and is in hospital. Unfortunately its not the 'good' hospital and while we have friends down there working, it isn't safe for them to go in and get her out to take her to a better hospital.

There's no information on the abandoned baby ward yet... no one seems to know if that ward was in the hospital that collapsed or not.

Things here are going reasonably well. I wasn't feeling well yesterday so I didn't go to church. I woke up this morning with a sore throat and a headache but it seems to have abated. I'd really prefer to not get sick again!

Mom left yesterday for a two day course (for work) on the island. She's looking forward to tomorrow when dad goes to meet her. They're going onward to Qualicum to visit family Aunt Bev, Uncle Sandy and Aunt Jessie are all psyched to see them. Its been a while since they saw dad's aunt and uncle (Sandy and Jessie)... I think they'll have a great visit!

Jill is coming over tonight after supper. Not sure what kinds of shenanigans we'll get up to... might watch a movie.

Kristy just stopped over to drop off a fan I let them borrow this summer. She stayed for a cuppa tea and a visit. I love seeing her! She's great!

Am going to have another cup of tea and then attack my floors... they're in desperate need of a mop!

Talk to you soon!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Hello again!

Have had a quiet day today. Its been a nice break from the go-go-go of the last week or two.

The excitement of my day was when my door buzzed and someone asked for the apartment manager. I hate it when that happens - because I'm #102, they figure I'm in charge here! Not likely! They were just dropping off phone books, so I met them at the door and let them leave the books on the table in the lobby. Wasn't sure what else to do with them!

Jenny called at lunchtime! We had a great visit and I got to hear the kids playing in the background. Sure do miss them and their chaos! Jenny dreaded her hair! They're just 'baby' dreads but I think they're going to look fantastic on her. They look pretty good already! She told me that they have a resident rodent (a mouse) so we named her Henreeka. They figure its a girl because she's always eating Jenny's chocolate! haha.

I've been getting reading my friends updates about their family and loved-ones in Haiti. Sebastien, Michelle's good friend, is safe with his mom and aunt, Elie's family is alive though their house was destroyed along with the rest of the buildings in Port-au-Prince. Frank and Chad are safe and sound and have been going from place to place making sure that everyone they're affiliated with are safe. It sounds like all the kids are ok but that they're running out of food and clean water. The buildings are in a sad state, though. Someone mentioned that just about everyone is sleeping outside because the buildings aren't safe to be inside.

I talked to Jen about my idea to crochet blankets for Haiti and she thinks its a good idea if its a loose-weave blanket, like a granny square. Neither of us know how to get the blankets down to Haiti but I really feel called to do this, so I'm making them in faith that they'll get down there somehow at some point. Its going to take a while to make anyway with my hands being so sore anyway.

Melissa is coming over tonight so I tried a new recipe for granola bars and they seem to have turned out ok. I baked them and they're currently chilling in the fridge like the recipe says I'm s'posed to!

I should go wash a few dishes and think about what to make for supper. I think I'll make up the last summer squash that's left in my crisper. Yum.

Talk to you soon.




Thursday, January 14, 2010

Hey there folks.

Wow. Its been forever since I wrote here!

I just had a surprise visit from my friend Danielle! She's recently moved to Vancouver and was in Abbotsford so called me up to see if I was home and up for a visit. Of course, I said! We had a real hoot (as usual!). I met Danielle about 10 years ago at camp. Gosh, I can't believe its been that long ago. She's been busy with nursing (maternity) up north but I'm so thrilled she's in the valley now.

What's going on in Haiti is just gut wrenching! So many of my friends have lives wrapped up in Haiti that its hard to look at the worry in their face and the images on the news and not feel called to action. I don't know what that action will look like but I know many of my friends are booking their flights down there, and a one has already left. My friend Jen's husband is Haitian and I just read from Jen that they got ahold of his family and they're all ok. The buildings on their road have collapsed but they're alive, thankfully. Some of their neighbours have died, though, which just breaks my heart. I can't imagine living through something so devastating! The gal I work with, A, her parents are affiliated with a few orphanages in Haiti. There are so many unknowns... how are the orphans, how are the staff of those orphanages, how will they find food and clean water? The papers have reported close to half a million are suspected dead. In a country that is already so unstable, this can't bode well for them.

Like A's mom said, we serve a good God. He's already there and won't be going anywhere! In the meantime, I'm going to start making blankets for the children. What more can I do at this point? If anyone would like to join me in my blanket-making endevours... please feel free to knit or crochet 10" squares!

Talk to you soon!