The last 2 weeks have felt like a year.

If you are my friend on Facebook than you have seen these pictures, if not this is what my life has been like. Here is our new and improved family (missing the Howertons Northwest).
Saturday we all went to LAX to welcome Daddy Mark with his boy Kembert. What an amazing day! There are no words to thank our friends for all of the prayers and letters people had written our Mark and Kristen's account.
It is a wonderful ending and a wonderful beginning.
To see Kembert for the first time was so touching. I have seen pictures of this boy for years. I have prayed for him and wanted to have him here so bad. Kipp and I had talked to Tanner about him and Tan was so excited to meet him.
Waiting...
There were so many kids and friends at the airport. As the controlling mom that I am I mad my kids stay in their strollers as long as possible.
In the middle of these crazy weeks Kipp had a birthday! We went out with his parents and Kipp and I even had a date!
Happy Birthday baby! We went to dinner and a movie, just the 2 of us. I love this boy. Thirty-two looks good on you.
I had a police officer come to my school to talk to my students. They loved it! This is just 1/2 my class. She finished her presentation just as it started to rain. Perfect timing.
This girl is so close to walking!! She has 5 teeth and likes to point. Her birthday is a few weeks away and I can't believe she is almost 1. I love her more and more every day. She loves to play trains with Tanner and to play Little People. And by play, I mean eat. She can copy sounds that she hears. Right now she is saying ba-ba.
Seeing Kristen at the airport was such a blessing. I am so honored to have 3 amazing, Godly sister-in-laws. I was so scared for her when she was in Haiti during the earthquake. Hearing she was alright wasn't enough for me. I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. When I say her I was making the same noise I made when my kids were born. Moaning like a baby, crying and my heart was overflowing with joy!


While Kristen was gone we took India to Tanner's Gym class and she loved it. She was the only girl in the class. She is so different from Tanner. She is cautious and didn't want to fall or get hurt. Tanner is a bring-it-on kind of guy.

So I thought things had settled down. Saturday and Sunday I got sick. I was feeling better today so I went to work. Kipp went to work and Tanner and Peyton went to daycare. First Kipp called me because he had gotten sick at work and gone home. An hour later Tanner got sick and I had to leave work in the middle of the day to pick him up. If you want the stomach flu please stop by our house and say hi.

Waiting...Wanting...Finally he is here!

I am so happy to report that Kembert is in the US and he and Mark will be in LA today. I can't wait to see him. Tanner and I have been looking at pictures of him all morning. Tanner wants Kembert to come to our house to play. He is really excited and I don't think he really knows why. I just keep telling him that this is his new cousin and that is all he wants to know.

IN HIS ARMS http://yfrog.com/4esvljj0

A Long Week

Tuesday:
I was with Jafta, India, Tanner and Peyton at my mom's house when I found out that there had been an earthquake in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday. I talked to my friend Jen and she was telling me about it. I called Kipp and he said that he read on Facebook that Kristen was alright. Then I went on with my afternoon of hanging out with 4 little people that I love so much.

About an hour later we talked to Mark on the phone. He wanted the kids to stay at my parents house so he could go home and figure out what was happening. That night after dinner I took my kids home and put them to bed. That was when I got online and started watching the news. Kipp and I sat in our bed watching the news and tears just streamed down my face.

Wednesday:
I felt helpless. I brought pictures of Kristen, Karis and Keanan to school and asked my friends at work to pray for them. (Not my best teaching day). My parents brought Jafta and India by to have lunch with me at school. I felt like by loving Kristen's kids that I was loving her.

Thursday:
I took my kids up to Mark's house to play. A friend of Mark's helped me take all 4 kids to McDonalds for lunch and play time. We stayed there for 2 hours giving Mark a break at home. We took the kids back and I took India home with me. After naps we went to Tanner's My Gym class.
Circle Time Questions? What is your name and what is your favorite song?
Tanner-"My name is Tanner, my favorite song is ABCD."
India-"My name is India."
Tanner-:That's my girl."
India- "My favorite song is The Boys Are Back. Actually it's my brother's favorite song."
So cute. They had a great time playing together.
Home for baths and bedtime. I love combing and braiding India's long hair after bath. We put Tanner to sleep first. When I took India in his room to go to bed I asked her if she wanted a bear and she said that she wanted me to snuggle her. I did just that. I laid with her until she was asleep just rubbing her back and praying. She cried out at 4 and I just snuggled her again.

Friday:
Woke up and Kipp and I got 3 kids ready for the day and we were out of the house by 7:45. We dropped Kipp at work then we took India to preschool. Mark and I met up then dropped her in her class. That is when Mark told me that Kristen would be home TONIGHT! I have tried to have a happy face this week because I was with the kids so much. But after hearing that news I just held my brother and couldn't stop crying. I am so thankful that Kristen is coming home. She is such an amazing woman and such a great mother. I can't imange the reunion that will take place tonight. Thank you Jesus for bring this mother home. For bring this wife home to her husband.

As I read The Livesay's Haiti blog I am reminded of the prayer that needs to continue. This is far from over I know. Please keep praying.

Haiti

Hello friends. Th1ank you for your love for my family. Thank you for your prayers for Kristen. As many of you know Kristen and Karis are in Haiti and were there for the earthquake on Tuesday. I am not the best writer and right now my heart is just so sad. Please read Howertons OC and Howertons Northwest. My gifted sisters have expressed what is going on better than I could.

I am also praying for Mark. I know he just wants his family to be together and safe. I'm sure as a husband all you want to do is protect your family.