random photos & tidbits: moses, evan, marjorie, lydia, and more

All three of the boys under ten in this house got haircuts.  We were so entertained to learn that Moses loves the clippers and laughed his head off the entire time we were buzzing his hair.  It was priceless!

He has come alive this week and we've seen such improvement in his responsiveness. Our big plan not to become emotionally involved has officially been declared a FAIL! We're starting to accept the fact that no matter what decisions are made for Moses it will be painful and complicated  ...  Loving people tends to be that way.  (sigh) We're continuing with investigating leads and praying for direction and peace.

Isaac & Moses

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Aaron H. w/ Hudson, Lydie, Phoebe

Ryan & Melissa and Evan fanning them while they grill

Heartline recently filled a twelve week opening for a "designated driver" - not necessarily for the drunk missionaries to get home from the bars ... Just a designated person that does a lot of driving to and from the airport. 

Enter:  Evan

We knew before he got here that he was an upbeat guy.  Most of his emails had SO MANY!!exclamation points !!!!  =) and spazzy!!!! things in them!!! =)

Once he got here and we saw that he is a giant human being, and is just as animated as we assumed he would be, Paige declared that he reminded her of a real life version of Buddy the Elf.   Now we are trying to convince him to perform a few of Buddy's 2003 lines ...  

" We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.  ~ or ~  The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear. I'm singing/I'm in a store/and I'm siiiiiingiiiiing!/I'm in a store/and I'm siiiiiingiiiiing! ~ I just like to smile! Smiling's my favorite. "  

He has not obliged yet but we still have 11 weeks to work on him.

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Marjorie

The first day I laid eyes on Marjorie is one of the more vivid post-earthquake memories I have.  Jen and I had gone to "trade" patients with a organization called Merlin. There was lots of transporting that happened in those weeks. After I dropped Jen and Marjorie off at the Heartline field hospital I got back in my truck and melted down.  Without exaggeration - I had never met such a profoundly sad person.  She seemed like she had given up hope. It was one of the saddest things I remember from the weeks following the EQ.  The story doesn't end there. As you can see by looking at this photo, things changed.  John McHoul wrote about her here, please go read the latest developments in Marjorie's life.

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'Irene' passed to the north. It brought those of us in the PAP area a few hours of rain. The little girls love to get back to basics and play au natural in the rain. As with many recent rains, they made the most of the hurricane rain.

Lydia continues on in her tradition of being the neediest child in the house.  She holds tightly to her beloved title. Moses has given her a run for her money and even attempted to dethrone her ... But so far he's been unsuccessful. 

This morning Noah comforted Lydia while she dealt with the life-altering tragedy of not getting her way during coloring time with Phoebe.  Are you ready for this? It turns out Phoebe wanted to color something in her own coloring book a color that Lydia didn't think was the best choice. (Gasp) Phoebe would not hear Lydia out. That's some really tough stuff for Lydia to sort through, as I am sure you can imagine. 

It's been funny to watch how Moses' presence has caused Lydia to regress .... but not ha-ha funny.

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Late today we are off to visit old friends about 35 miles north in the village of LaDigue.  Our memories and experiences from that time are both bitter and sweet. We left there to move to the cement city three years ago this week. It should be fun to see everyone out there and get updates on their families and lives. Truthfully, I'm mostly excited to get to be with Troy for a few hours today and take a walk down memory lane - because in the words of Buddy the Elf: I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!!