Livesay [Haiti] Weblog

Linking You

2012-01-28T20:55:00.000-05:00

I've read (and can relate to) some insightful and super funny things that have been written recently. Links below ... 1. Sarah - On the topic of body image and our daughters: Here are the lies, my dears: You are only as good as you look. You are only lovable if you have a rock hard body. You can conquer your feelings of inadequacy by being skinny. Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.

babies setting records

2012-01-28T10:12:00.002-05:00

Stephanie, Beatrice, and Alline (in that order) gave birth to sons on Friday. Their coordinated efforts to deliver on the same day made for an exciting time. Add in Yveline's little girl born six minutes after she arrived early in the morning on Thursday and we set the following Heartline Maternity Center records: 4 births in 36 hours (36 hours and five minutes if you want to get

up to speed ...

2012-01-27T07:30:00.000-05:00

Things are nutty here. To review: Yveline delivered a boy at 4:25 am (Thursday) Thursday was regular prenatal day with lots of heavy situations and prayer needs. See this post. Stephanie delivered a 7lb boy at 4:30 am (this morning, Friday) Alline is here in active labor. This is her second child. Her water broke last night. She's 4cm right now and doing okay with labor. First

Alline in labor too ...

2012-01-27T03:15:00.000-05:00

Stephanie

2012-01-26T21:35:00.001-05:00

Laboring now .... please pray for Stephanie and tonight's team delivering her (Beth, Jen Tara) Briefly, sans great detail, some other facts and prayer needs tonight: one of the pregnant ladies today had bruises all over her stomach from being beaten one of the pregnant women is 16 and sleeps on the ground - we hope/think she will move to the Harbor House at least for a time one of the

speedy delivery

2012-01-26T09:29:00.000-05:00

3:56am - Yveline called us to say she was having horrible pain 4:00am - Once I was coherent I called Yveline back to confirm she was on her way in 4:19am -Yveline arrived at Maternity Center 4:25am - baby girl born - Melissa caught 5:00 am - baby nursing, all is well! Yveline has two sons already, this is her first girl and as she said this morning "her last child". Ready for a

Haitian Proverb

2012-01-25T19:17:00.000-05:00

~ou ka di konbyen ou genyen men ou pa ka di konbyen ou rete~ ~you can say how old you are, but you can't say how long you will live~

friendships born of creamy Jalapeño & song

2012-01-25T13:03:00.000-05:00

Beautiful babes X3 - Beth, Liz, & Fifi's daughter now named Elizabeth Robbie and Troy and their matching outfits Three weeks after the EQ we arrived in central Texas totally frazzled, more than half crazy, and quite a bit thinner to try to figure out how to : 1. Process the tragedy 2. Reconcile our faith to said tragedy 3. Reconnect with kids that had been traumatized and without us

Annual Recognition of Our Fave Dokte

2012-01-24T08:42:00.000-05:00

Jen grumbles when we do this every January. Happy Jen Halverson Day! This year we are celebrating on January 24th. She is out in Cazale today and won't be able to grumble at us to our faces. We ignore her relative discomfort in order to thank God each January and remember (because remembering what God did helps us remember He is with us now too) the way that God used Jen to spare Lydia's

no plan - still subject to change

2012-01-23T08:52:00.002-05:00

Lately I've been writing a lot of emails that include this sentence: "We're not sure if we can do that. Can we wait and see once the date is MUCH closer?" Day to day life here is too unpredictable to confidently make plans more than a day or two in advance. Even then, the plan you go to bed with for the coming day is rarely the way the coming day ends up looking. Back in the day I used

Marie Geronne

2012-01-23T07:17:00.000-05:00

We feel fiercely protective of this woman. She is our friend and one of the most trusted people in our lives. Too old to be my daughter, too young to be motherly ... Our relationship is totally unconventional and due to the cultures we're trying to bridge to understand one another, it is even awkward at times - but it is a deeply treasured relationship. We take care of each other. We

ti fi

2012-01-22T17:35:00.003-05:00

A seven pound, fifteen ounce little girl (ti fi) for Michelene today. Prayers for healing and protection are appreciated as Michelene lost a considerable amount of blood and will take a little longer to recover. Thank you for loving the women of Haiti and for supporting them with your thoughts and prayers. with a heart of gratitude, tara

babbling boys

2012-01-21T08:31:00.000-05:00

In our household the chatty Cathys are the boys in the family. Jen has always accused Troy of being one of the chattier guys she has ever known. It seems that Isaac and Noah are following in his footsteps. Yesterday Troy picked me up after I was finished at Women's Program and we headed up the hill with Noah, Isaac, and Lydia for a dentist appointment. We took three kids to the dentist

Linking you

2012-01-19T15:23:00.000-05:00

If you would, please take a moment to go to this link and read the gentle words of a friend regarding 'in-kind' donations. Mesi !

controversy & consequence

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

All parents of small children understand how totally annoying and utterly stupid the bickering that goes on between siblings can be. For the most part the things children choose to fight about are moronic and inconsequential. "She looked at me." "No! She looked at me first!" can divide sisters for an entire day. Sadly, I think grown-ups, even the kind wearing big-people-pants, tend to

reposting from the summer of '09

2012-01-18T08:45:00.000-05:00

We recently met up with a young woman that stayed with us in 2006. She shared how special it was to her as she spent her first week in Haiti with us before moving to the central part of the country for a two year assignment. It totally surprised us to learn that it meant something to her. It got us thinking about our ability to figure out "healthy boundaries" and how ambiguous that is. We

variety: spice of life ?

2012-01-17T07:40:00.001-05:00

Kerline and her baby girl got to go home after almost a week in the postpartum recovery room. Fifi had a quick easy DAYTIME birth. She has our undying gratitude for showing up ready to roll at 9am on a Monday and getting down to business. The quick births make you realize how much the long ones take out of you. They also make you want to jump up and down for joy. Lourdes Milla decided not to

Baby girl for Fifi !

2012-01-16T12:26:00.000-05:00

I have a dream today!

2012-01-16T07:59:00.001-05:00

..."I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith

a call to prayer

2012-01-14T21:30:00.000-05:00

Have you ever asked others to pray for you as you were going through a scary or uncertain time in your life? Have you ever interceded on behalf of someone a great distance away that you did not know? Here is your opportunity. We are asking you to pray for the ladies in Heartline's Prenatal Program. We'll update this post periodically and re-post it with new ladies that have joined the

Remembering, Two Years Ago Today

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

No other time in our lives is as vividly ingrained in our memories as the day and the days following the earthquake. We saw the very best and the very worst of humanity in those days. We felt the power of Christ in us. We saw that power exhibited in others. We witnessed crushing despair and miraculous provision. That one minute on a Tuesday afternoon in January 2010 not only cut many

Gran Sophia

2012-01-11T17:14:00.000-05:00

We recently learned that Sophia's Grandmother passed away. For those that began reading a long time ago, you may remember that Sophia's mother died shortly after giving birth to her and that her grandmother took care of her from birth. We met them in 2006 when Sophia was malnourished and ill and her grandmother came looking for help for Sophie. This woman probably didn't have much of a

Slow me down

2012-01-10T09:09:00.000-05:00

Song: By Robbie Seay Our prayer as we begin 2012 is exactly this. (Troy has declared this our 2012 theme song.) Slow us down Lord, slow us down. Help my heart to hear your sound. Speak into my life Lord speak now. Slow me down oh Lord, slow me down. Clear my mind. Bring me peace that I cannot find. Take my worthy thoughts, break my pride. Clear my

Kerline & an update

2012-01-09T07:40:00.002-05:00

*5:30 PM update - baby girl named Ann (6lbs 15ounces) arrived a while ago. Mom and baby are doing okay but will need to stay for a week of IV meds due to infection risks. Thank you for your prayers. This morning (Monday) Kerline is in labor. She is a first time Mom (36 yrs old). She is doing well and laboring courageously. Kerline's mother (a mom of 7 herself - Kerline is her second child)

Eight Reunited

2012-01-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

It was a blast having all the kids in one place. The little ones are pretty fond of the big ones. It was such a great way to start our year. Britt and Chris are safely back in Tejas ready to take on semester number two of grad school. When asked "What was your favorite thing about the vacation?" Paige - "Beach and everything except for my homework." Lydia- "Being at the restaurant

2012-01-05T17:44:00.006-05:00

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace, and brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

So far so bueno .... famous last words

2012-01-04T19:10:00.000-05:00

When one finds one self in a Spanish speaking country bordering a French and Kreyol speaking country on a rainy day, what does one do to add a little pizazz to their life? I'll tell you what one does. It's really quite simple actually. One travels to a gargantuan furniture store born in Agunnaryd, Sweden thanks to the courage of one Ingvar Kamprad. That's what one does. Of course. Because:

On love ...

2012-01-04T16:08:00.003-05:00

When 2012 starts like this ...

2012-01-03T08:43:00.006-05:00

It's probably gonna be all down hill from here. :) Happy New Year!

2011: The highs, the lows, the laughs, & the tears

2011-12-30T05:25:00.001-05:00

photo of the year ? January 2011: Our family returns together to Haiti on January 1 after many months away completing Phoebe's adoption. (Thanks to the amazing help of one Joanna T!) The Harbor House is officially named, replacing the ever so creative name "House for teen moms". The 1st anniversary of the earthquake - a day to grieve and remember together January 12, 2011 February 2011:

road tripping for morons

2011-12-28T16:59:00.002-05:00

When we made our plan to road trip to Santo Domingo we thought through about 1/8th of the logistics. In our defense we had some inaccurate information. Even so, we should probably have our parenting honor badges revoked. The good news is: We made it. We are here! The other news is: Troy and Tara separately experienced inordinately high levels of stress during the process of moving their

road trip!

2011-12-27T06:45:00.001-05:00

We're about to take off on our first ever family road-trip across the beautiful and mountainous island of Hispaniola. We went to the D.R. as a family one other time in 2007 but used a very scary little airplane to get there. This time around we're using our trusty old Hyundai truck and hoping for favor at the border. The paperwork to take a car across reminded us a little bit of the adoption

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T09:36:00.003-05:00

The Work of Christmas by Howard ThurmanWhen the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among brothers, To make music in the heart

incarnation

2011-12-21T11:10:00.002-05:00

Reposted with permission ... Originally posted at www.deeperstory.com by SARAH STYLES BESSEY on DECEMBER 14, 2011 Source: cheandfidel.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest If more women were pastors or preachers, we’d have a lot more sermons and books about the metaphors of birth and pregnancy connecting us to the story of God. (I am rather tired of sports and war metaphors.)The divinity of God

compiling statistics, loving women, thanking God

2011-12-20T17:30:00.001-05:00

As the last day of the year is quickly approaching, today I looked through the 70 files from 2011 that had been placed into the section of the drawer indicating that the woman was no longer pregnant. There are always 30 to 35 women pregnant that are in the Prenatal Program at any given time. In 2011 70 women completed a pregnancy (one way or another) within our

2011 Christmas Extravaganza!

2011-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

"God Sent His Son and Now You Know" - lyrics by Troy Livesay - This here's a tale for you ladies and fellas - Tryin to do what our culture tells usGo out and shop like you're super zealous - But don't forget our God is jealous--Ok smartie go to a party - It's Christmas time have you been nice or naughty?Have we forgotten the reason for the season? - It's about our God, not time for

Baby Book Entry 5:

2011-12-18T14:24:00.002-05:00

Posterity, this is for your sake. In May I wrote entry 4 and resolved to write the next "baby book" post with kid-focused details sometime in the month of August 2011. Eeeeeeeee. It is December. Ah well, you know what they always say, "late is better." They do say that, right? So, off we go... Detailing the lives of these children so someday they will know something about what they were

great news

2011-12-16T11:57:00.002-05:00

If you voted, shared, bugged your friends, voted again, bugged your friends more, bugged strangers.... THANK YOU! Heartline learned recently that we have received the FIRST PLACE grant award - 50K !!! Our gratitude and excitement over this is enormous! Thank you to Giving of Life and to each of you that participated in the voting. See this to see the news being delivered!

Let Go

2011-12-15T08:56:00.006-05:00

Ever so slowly over the last several years we let go of our things piece by piece. From renting our house to selling our house. From a giant storage area holding things we "need", to a smaller one, to using a tiny corner of borrowed space. From keeping almost everything to keeping "just a few things". Along with letting go of those possessions came lessons that Haiti teaches by force ...

it be a little bit day and a little bit night

2011-12-13T22:40:00.001-05:00

Remember Lydia's statement recently? She looked outside after asking "Do it be day out?" and said, "Oh, it be a little bit day and a little bit night." A few people wondered if there was a deeper theological meaning, if she was possibly revealing her unique and advanced understanding of the injustice and imbalance in our world at age four. Yes. Yes of course she was. Obviously. A little

O Holy Night

2011-12-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

Every direction you turn, the images of Christmas are evident. You need not look far to find beautiful and thoughtful displays, tastefully decorated homes with glowing trees, and rows and rows of symmetrical twinkling lights. Step into one of these homes and the warm fire will greet you as you breathe in fresh scents of pine, ginger, and cinnamon. It is beautiful and clean and pristine.

PAP -> Ausin, TX -> PAP

2011-12-07T12:10:00.016-05:00

When we leave our kids for five sleeps and depart by airplane to a far off land, this is how sad they are. While we made a quick trip to Austin to attend a fund raising event and also went north to Waco to visit our oldest daughter and our son-in-law, our friends the Hendrick Family hosted five of our kids. Troy made a flippant comment as we rolled toward the Port au Prince airport to fly

Christmas History ~ Year Four

2011-12-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

(2010) This was filmed in Waco, TX as we prepared to return to Haiti. We love the lyrics and song that Ross King wrote and allowed us to use. We liked our idea/concept but didn't have the skill required to make it quite as fancy as we'd hoped. Twelve days after we finished this and put it on YouTube there was an AMAZING version of "Nativity 2.0" that came out. Theirs is way better and is

Christmas History ~ Year Three

2011-12-05T20:00:00.002-05:00

(2009) This year will always and forever be my favorite year. There was something tender about this year. It felt like we had a tiny piece of Bethlehem in our back yard. The kids totally enjoyed every bit of the making of the video. The animals brought so many laughs. Troy was convinced we'd all gone crazy, but in the end as he fought to get the borrowed donkey back into a truck, I wasn't

Christmas History ~ Year Two

2011-12-04T19:00:00.000-05:00

(2008) The year Peanut the Mastiff played a donkey and our niece Annie played baby Jesus. Our next-door neighbors made a ton of background noise. Hope as pregnant Mary still makes us laugh. Britt and Chris sent amazing video from Waco, TX bringing great acting and gusto to the year's production.

Christmas History ~ Year One

2011-12-02T17:00:00.006-05:00

(2007) Very little time was spent getting anyone to cooperate. Nobody knew how to edit video very well. We were sitting at a certain uncomfortable angle in the one window where you could "borrow" the neighbors internet because we were only in the house for a few weeks before we would leave to head to back to Ayiti. The chaos of the video represents the chaos of our lives at that time.

Tradition

2011-12-01T19:00:00.005-05:00

tra·di·tion/trəˈdiSHən/ Noun: 1 a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) b : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable 2 : the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much."

2011-11-30T22:25:00.001-05:00

-Mother Theresa Today was one of those days that occur every so often wherein I walk around muttering under my breath and asking the good Lord why in the world He allowed such half-baked, unprepared, mentally deficient people to become the providers and authority figures over more than an average number of helpless children. No, really, why? As we pulled into our driveway late today I could

hear the angels sing

2011-11-30T09:20:00.000-05:00

By Rick Porter (Uncle Rick) Recycling this post is Christmas tradition. Hear the Angels Sing ( Dickinson County News, December 12, 2006) Perhaps it’s just the Ebenezer Scrooge in me, but I’m not much of a caroler. When pressed into participation I sing, but rarely with the gusto of those around me. And too often I sing in a rote way, not giving full attention to the words. There is however,

17

2011-11-30T05:00:00.001-05:00

We love YOU Paige ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! On this day 17 years ago a precious gift was placed in my arms. On a crisp Minnesota day, surrounded by my parents and sister, Paige Noelle entered the world shortly after 11am. I am deeply grateful that an unplanned pregnancy that started out as difficult and even shame-filled at times, turned into one of the very greatest blessings of my entire life.

Linking & Listening

2011-11-29T13:19:00.002-05:00

I'm home with three little people today instead of at Tuesday Women's Program. Noah had a rough night last night causing us to call for a sick day and keep him home. He's not quite sick enough at this very moment to warrant his being here. But as soon as he senses I am suggesting he read or do a little homework he suddenly feels quite near death. Funny how that works. We think he's currently

Baby News

2011-11-28T15:22:00.003-05:00

Dani delivered a healthy baby boy that she named Dudley last week. She labored well. The birth went very well. After she gave birth her blood pressure sky rocketed. Thankfully everything is back to normal now. She is pictured here with her mother. Heather says this grandma is totally on-board when it comes to breastfeeding. Dani and Dudley are doing well. We'll see them again tomorrow.

when a Mastiff doesn't want to move ...

2011-11-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

... you know it.

Giving Thanks ~ Haiti Style

2011-11-26T08:27:00.003-05:00

I'm a few days late checking in to report on the happenings of the fourth Thursday of November, Two-thousand and eleven. The table above is the spread that was laid before many short and long term Haiti visitors and residents on Thursday afternoon. Beth McHoul prepared not one, not two, not three, but FOUR turkeys. Who does that?!?! I've never made one.single.turkey. in my entire

~ blogiversary six ~

2011-11-23T06:08:00.001-05:00

It was six years ago this week I figured out what the heck a blog was and later published post number one - thanks to a friend's prompting. Having never kept a journal it was a little bit weird to go from keeping no record of anything to keeping a record on the stinkin' internet. At that time we were packing our belongings and moving forward into the great unknown. Predictably, having a blog

an iphone photo dump

2011-11-21T21:47:00.001-05:00

I took this photo for Jen, my favorite vegetarian more for Jen (mmm, bacon) Just outside of school one day - nothing like fresh morning air on a date with Troy happy ballerina Phoebe checking out a new baby at Heartline Joanne and Ricardo (Harbor House) subtle messages from children many things I don't understand about the world, now many plus one Geronne getting

2011-11-19T19:09:00.003-05:00

"The cross must be raised again at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am claiming that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on the town garbage heap, at a crossroads so cosmopolitan they had to write His title in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek ... At the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and

hold me god

2011-11-17T20:03:00.003-05:00

I've been sitting against a cement wall all day long. Waiting. Hoping to find out if there is a place for me in that house. I see other young mothers live here. I am pregnant. I don't have a place to sleep. People tell me that the house if full. People tell me the house is for younger mothers. People tell me I can't sit outside the gate waiting all day. They say I won't be able to have a spot

Transracial Adoption

2011-11-16T21:30:00.000-05:00

A Vision Test, By Amie Sexton Love is colorblind. Do I hear a resounding “AMEN!”??? You might regret it. There are two things you should know before jumping on this bandwagon. 1.) 99.9% of the time this statement is made by white people. If you hear an African American use this comment (without an excessive sarcastic drawl and much rolling of their eyes) you are the exception to the

13

2011-11-15T09:11:00.001-05:00

theoretically romantic Yesterday was our thirteenth wedding anniversary. Around 11am Troy called to lament that he couldn't think of anything fabulous to do to celebrate. So many of the options would involve driving in a lot of stress-making traffic and didn't seem worth the effort. We agreed that if we expected fabulous we'd be disappointed and instead we decided to expect nothing and be

exploring the options

2011-11-15T06:35:00.014-05:00

At some point or another the discussion about security takes place. It might happen five minutes, five days or five years after you've relocated. For some people it is more reactionary than it is precautionary. Others of us passively choose - by not choosing. Ridiculously high walls or just high walls? Razor wire or the far more decorative shards of glass? Motion lights or save on

dedication day

2011-11-13T22:42:00.000-05:00

This tangible picture of love and acceptance, forgiveness and redemption was a beautiful sight this morning. While I cannot emphatically speak to the condition of any heart except my own, I know I have seen changes and growth in many of these young ladies. Being a part of a larger body saying to them "You are loved" was moving for me, especially as a former teen mom myself. Each evening

Sunday Subjects

2011-11-13T07:42:00.000-05:00

Beth recently wrote a post about the fragility of life here and the difficulties so many women face. You can read it here. Saturday was a day to catch up and just be at home as a family (most of the day) - We called for a family meeting. Paige rolls her eyes a bit as Isaac prepares two thousand questions. Family meetings are not frequent; we shoot for quality over quantity. There were multiple

3 ladies ~ 3 prayers

2011-11-11T03:07:00.014-05:00

Leslie is expecting her third baby. She is 29 years old and currently mom to a four year old. Her second child died three days after birth a little less than a year ago. Leslie is due to deliver this baby around November 29th. She has had a very healthy pregnancy and is faithful to the program. Please be praying for Leslie and baby. Danie is due on December 3rd with her first baby. She is

one of us has something to say

2011-11-10T08:53:00.000-05:00

I don't have anything much to say right now - but Troy does. The other night Troy channeled his inner Adam Sandler in order to mock Paige and I for our current ridiculous behaviors. I printed Paige's practice SAT and cried. (He mocks.) I talk about Paige leaving for college; I cry. (He mocks.) Paige talks about leaving; she cries. (He mocks.) Paige whines about "how annoying these

the cost

2011-11-07T16:21:00.007-05:00

Inevitably moving away from friends and family means changed relationships. Try as hard as you possibly can; things will still change. We've hated that fact, fought against it, deeply grieved it, and attempted numerous times to make it untrue ... to no avail. When people ask "What is the hardest part about living in Haiti?" The answer is easy. It has nothing to do with illness, bugs, heat, or

saturday labor

2011-11-05T05:59:00.006-05:00

Edit to add at 4pm: At 2pm - Baby boy named Raphael arrived ... too crazy to explain in detail now -- but we watched God show up in a tangible and visible way and HE provided protection to little Raphael, who had his cord wrapped around his neck tightly two times. Thank-you Lord for your guidance during a confusing 12 hours of labor - thank you for the discernment you gifted Cookie and

random happenings = random posts

2011-11-04T22:00:00.004-05:00

Thanks America for sending all the very classiest t-shirts to Haiti. This one made us laugh at prenatal day yesterday. We've long since abandoned the "Kennedy" posts. It's kind of sad really, why did we bomb out on those? For posterity sake ... Kennedy One - And another - and another - and another - and another. Oh and one more. Today I saw itsy bitsy sperm under a microscope. That was

there is no such thing as birthday cholera

2011-11-03T21:00:00.002-05:00

Phoebe is BY FAR our least spazzy or excitable kid. She just doesn't get super worked up about much. I've kind of always wanted to show her Disney World for a moment and see if she shrugs that off too. All that to say, we worked hard to get her excited about her birthday and mostly succeeded. She got into the birthday spirit late day yesterday. On the way home from the b-day dinner we

Happy Birthday Phoebe Joy

2011-11-02T08:58:00.023-05:00

Five years ago today in a tiny house in Cite Soleil a fabulous little girl was born ... Our lives are (Phoebe) Joy - filled because of it. Five years have come and gone so quickly and our little girl isn't so little anymore. We love you Phoebe. Happy Birthday! We're blessed to be your parents and sisters and brothers. XOXODad & Mom In our first years in Haiti we lived outside of Port

common sense deployed elsewhere

2011-10-31T22:09:00.000-05:00