The Holidays Approach

Living in a climate that does not vary season to season makes it difficult for former Minnesotans to keep track of the seasons and the month, let alone the actual date. But, the other day we stopped to take a look at a calendar and - Whoa! We learned that Thanksgiving is two weeks away and Christmas is only six weeks away. Maybe you knew that???

Here are some things we thought once we figured that out ...

1. A really great way to support Haitian women and give a gift would be to do some shopping here: www.haitiancreations.com
   
2. Another really great way to support Haitian women would be to honor a friend by giving to this fund in their name: www.heartlinerunners.blogspot.com
3. A life-changing way to help Haitian children this Christmas might be to sign up to sponsor a child here: www.worldwidevillage.org
4. A helpful and great way to support missionaries over Christmas might be to pray for them and the family that they are separated from. There is a list of folks on the left side of this blog, when you go to their blogs they have lists too. Choose one to pray for through the sometimes lonely and challenging holiday season. Write to them, tell them you've got them covered until the New Year.
   

When we looked at the calendar we also realized that it is officially time to begin to plan for the Third Annual Livesay Christmas Production. Earlier this week, on November 9th, our first pre-production meeting was held.

We have begun to do casting and planning for this year's production. The tribe is EXCITED! Paige was quoted as saying, "How many more years until I am old enough to be behind the camera instead of in front of it?" See? That is what I am talking about. Such enthusiasm!

Isaac learned what his part is going to be this year and jumped up and down. Hope has rehearsing to do. Noah loves the costume planning. Lydie, Phoebe and Annie will work together this year - and by together I mean - they will fight while we try to get them to cooperate. What fun! We started talking about doing an actual set this year - the kids gave us their ideas and - we are officially in Christmas mode.

The quality of production only improves year to year ... the casting is known to include some of the greatest actors/actresses of our time- Tom Hanks, Phoebe Livesay, Gerard Depardieu, Marlo Thomas, Noah Livesay, Grace Kelly, Paige Porter, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Isaac Livesay ... Not to mention the Directors/Producers behind this year's presentation. Top notch ... Spielberg is jealous. An epic pairing ... We'll leave it at that.

In 2007 we were in MN on furlough and filmed this. Our actors were a little green that year, let's just be honest - they simply could not remember their lines. Embarrassing.

In 2008 there had been some personal growth for a few of the actors and that growth showed in their work. Others remained stagnant... and shall go unnamed.
----->

For us, the hardest part about being in Haiti at Christmas and Thanksgiving is the tradition we miss out on with our family and friends "at home". A lot of those traditions cannot really be duplicated in this location. Doing this fun thing with our kids is our new tradition and in three years it has come to mean something to them. If we cannot do the other things we were so comforted by each year, we need to create new things here in Haiti. All of this is simply to say, coming soon to a theater ... er, blog near you ... 2009 Christmas Extravaganza ... Watch for it mid-December.

The Onion

New York Marathon Winner Tests Positive For Performance-Enhancing Horse

November 5, 2009 | Onion Sports

NEW YORK—Officials from New York Road Runners stripped American Meb Keflezighi of his 2009 ING New York City Marathon victory Wednesday after a blood sample taken from his fetlock was found to contain high levels of performance-enhancing horse.

"Meb's fellow competitors voiced their doubts about him immediately after the event," NYRR president Mary Wittenberg said. "In addition to his remarkable speed, unusual race-day height, and distinctive 'clip-clop' gait, Keflezighi's frequent nickering caused the other runners to speculate that he may have been using a horse in some fashion."

Added Wittenberg, "Also, just before the start, he lifted up his tail and loudly deposited a 9-inch-high pile of steaming fecal matter on the pavement, an unusual occurrence even in the world of long-distance running."

Keflezighi finished the race in 48 minutes and 12 seconds, easily setting a new world record and defeating his nearest competitor by one hour and 20 minutes.

Course workers, spectators, and event sponsors have all presented damaging evidence pointing toward Keflezighi's use of equine enhancements. Volunteers working refreshment tables during the race said Keflezighi took water only twice—at miles nine and 17—consuming roughly 10 gallons each time, and was the only professional runner in the men's event to request an oat, carrot, and sugar lump station. In addition, a spokesman for Nike told reporters the company provided Keflezighi with six shoes for the marathon, four of which required special construction before being nailed onto his feet.

Hundreds of people who watched the race have also come forward with photographs showing Keflezighi mounted atop what experts now believe to be a 2-to-4-year-old chestnut-brown thoroughbred.

"Come to think of it, he was moving at a pace that didn't seem human," spectator Mark Rolland said. "And when the marathon was over, the American flag they tried to drape around him didn't even come close to fitting around his body."

"Last year he was just this small guy, but when he showed up to the starting line this year, his neck and head were noticeably thicker," said David Willey, editor in chief of Runner's World magazine. "He looked like he had put on at least a half ton of muscle."

The NYRR's Wittenberg said during a postrace press conference that if the evidence proves conclusively that Keflezighi used a horse to improve his speed and endurance, it would not only have a severe impact on his career, but could cast doubt on the whole culture of long-distance running.

"It may seem hard to believe this could happen, especially at this level," said Dr. Raymond Prentiss, a medical adviser for USA Track & Field. "But people are so eager to believe in man's ability to push the boundaries of achievement that they blind themselves to a competitor who looks a little too strong, runs a mile a few minutes faster, and stands a few hands taller than the competition."

"In Keflezighi's case, we ignored what his rapidly improving times, flowing mane, and shapely withers were trying to tell us until it was too late," Prentiss added. "The fact that he was spending an hour after each event currycombing should have been a major tip-off."

As of press time, Keflezighi is cooperating with the sanctioning bodies and has returned the $170,000 he was awarded for the victory. He has also surrendered his racing singlet and shorts, saddle, saddle blanket, and bridle for further inspection and testing by technical personnel. Officials with the World Marathon Majors series said that Keflezighi will likely be banned from future races, including Boston, Chicago, the 2010 Belmont Stakes, and Berlin.

In light of the discovery, marathon officials are taking a closer look at many of the entrants in this year's race, including British runner Paula Radcliffe, a former winner who placed a tearful fourth in the women's event after fracturing her cannon bone and had to be put down mere minutes after finishing.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

"Faith must be tested, because it can be turned into a personal possession only through conflict. What is your faith up against just now? The test will either prove that your faith is right, or it will kill it. "Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me." The final thing is confidence in Jesus. Believe steadfastly on Him and all you come up against will develop your faith."
-Oswald Chambers

I want my faith to be a personal possession. I want to live my life in a way that shows that I trust that God has a plan for me/us and even when I don't get it --- He gets it, and that is enough. I want to believe steadfastly on Him, I want my final confidence to rest only in Jesus. Today. Tomorrow. Next week. Next Year. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Birthday to our favorite four year old boy in Haiti ... Prayers and love for you on your birthday, and always ReyRey!

Music (wo) Man

Yesterday at lunch at John and Beth's house John tried hard to send a trombone home with us. He failed. We told the kids John would truly enjoy hearing it - so it was a much better idea to leave it at his house and go over to play it whenever they want.

Rest

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

(Yokes were put on the necks of animals, so that they could pull a plow or wagon. A yoke was a symbol of obedience and hard work.)

First Grade Musical 3

Hope is our aspiring singer/actress. She does this almost daily while we all sit outside of whatever room she is in giggling and enjoying her creativity. She LOVES musicals and LOVES to sing.

Boost Us

We are 60 days from Marathon race-weekend. The runners are plugging along with their training. Some train in 88 degree heat and humidity and others train in cool air that causes their sweat to turn into icicles. We're all training. We're all preparing.

We are so grateful to report that $4,086 have come in. We are thankful for each gift.

Right now we need to get serious about raising these funds. The cause is incredibly important and the women the program serves will benefit greatly. A match has been offered of $250. If $250 comes in by Sunday night at midnight - the donor will chip-in his $250.

We've been writing about the ladies and the program most days, please be sure to check www.heartlinerunners.blogspot.com for that. While you're there take our poll!

In Review:
IF the chip in meter says $4,336 by tomorrow night -- we get $250 more for the cause.

Growth & Healing

Pierre Gilles
Born March 2006
20.9 pounds to 25.08 pounds

Mirlande
Approximate age - 5 - suffering from Kwash*
25.96 pounds to 30.8 pounds

Milora
Born May 2006 ~ Suffered from severe Kwash*
From 23.1 pounds to 25.96 pouunds

Kensley
Born Feb 2007
From 20.02 pounds to 25.52

*Kwashiorkor is a form of malnutrition that is caused by a lack of protein in the diet.

Weekend Thoughts

*untrue

Kids
I woke up to those blasted roosters at about 4:30 this morning, I have been restless ever since. The three little girls all got up at 6am to start their day of bickering and one-upmanship. Annie loves to get started telling at the other two "NO LYDIE" and "NO BEE BEE" - thereby making an attempt at establishing herself as the big boss early in the day. Lydie pretty much snubs her and ignores it. Phoebe yells back. That yelling meant that the other three were up by 6:20. Six kids awake at 6:20 on a Saturday sleep-in morning. So awesome.*

Running
I had to make a mental switch in the marathon training. I was looking ahead too far at all the miles and started resenting it. My brain is now back to one run at a time, one day at a time. (It is something about being told I have to do a certain number of miles. I feel rebellious toward it after a while and just want to go as far as I feel like going.)

Yesterday we left around 6:30 for 12 miles on the road that runs past the U.S. Embassy and goes all the way to Route Freres. We leave together but we end up running at our own pace and not together for much of it. I was loving the run, being careful to make my water/Gatorade last all 12 miles because our water boy was not able to meet us. It was a good run up until mile 10. I have been getting bad cramps in the bottom of my feet on many of the long runs. I run with the cramps because walking does not really make them less severe at that point. It KILLS! When I got home I googled "runner with cramps in bottom of feet" and learned that I should increase my calcium and run on a better terrain. I'll write to the Ministry of Transportation and the Parks and Rec. Dept. and let them know what I need done.*

Lately there is a Rasta guy that I always see. Each time I run by him he says, "Hey can I run with you?" I say "sure". He then says "Okay, maybe next time." We've had this same exchange four times now. I am kind of hoping he never actually pulls up his dreadlocks to join me.

Last week we had an entertaining exchange with a guy near the Embassy. Running through that area is always a little bit intimidating. There are swarms of people waiting to get into the gate and lots of cars and trucks trying to park on the side of the road that we're running on. We almost need to run while swiveling our necks continuously back and forth to be sure someone is not trying to park on us. (No pedestrian right of way ... no friendliness toward runners.) As we came up on the Embassy a guy started running right next to me. It was obvious that he was not a threat, I was mellow ... Beth was right there with me. He started asking all sorts of questions about where we were running and how far we'd come. For some reason he thought we were headed downtown to the Palace. I said, "No, not running to the Palace." He asked where I lived, I gave the vaguest answer possible, "Port au Prince." He asked my name. I made the mistake of saying Tara, rather than Madame Troy. (Beth scolded me.) It was a pleasant enough exchange but then he asked if he could run with us frequently because he wants to be a cop and needs to get in shape and practice his English. I said, "Nah, we're not really looking for more running partners." His response ended our little time together, he said "Oh no, that's not good because you're sexy you know." I said "Oh NO, No, nooo - don't saaaay that!" I meant it like, come on man - don't go there. He heard it as me disagreeing with his "compliment" all together. He said, "No - really you are, you are!" Beth said if I had introduced myself as Madame Troy, he probably wouldn't have gone there. (Embassy traffic)

I doubt I'll ever get to a place where running in this city feels relaxing. But I am realizing that there is value to being out there on the street experiencing the real pulse of life. Riding around in a car with the windows rolled up lets you see the city, but you miss out on the grit and intensity of it. On my feet in the middle of the chaos I can experience much more. Smelling it, hearing it, and seeing it all at once is much different. Even now, after a year of being out there multiple times a week I'll frequently be caught off guard by my own tears as I pass by so much hurt and so much need.

Plans
We promise to post a batch of Medika Mamba graduates later today. We're interviewing a lady for a position at the guest house, painting, bringing the teens from our neighborhood to youth group, and breaking up baby fights this Saturday.

Have a good weekend.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14: 1-4

2am Wake Up Calls

2am to noon - our background "white" noise
60 some roosters next door - 0 people - 100s of icky birds
Why? Uh? Because we did something bad and deserve punishment???

Number one conversation at 3am every single night of the week:
Tara - "Troy, is that Lydie crying? Do you hear her?"
Troy- "No. It is the roosters. Go back to sleep."

It has been at least a year since I last griped and whined about this. If you'll just listen to this over and over again for about 10 hours as an act of solidarity we would feel supremely loved and understood. Whew, I feel much better again, thanks for listening.

Prenatal Thursdays, Love It!

Thursdays are by far my favorite day of the week. Prenatal day is so fun. The group of women we see each Thursday are so spunky and resilient and just a lot of fun to get to know.

They seem excited to come and we enjoy a chance to give them one-on-one attention. To think that many of these ladies have never received prenatal care, never had anyone fawn over them, never had quite so much attention .... well, it is fun to get to be able to do that for them. They love it. We love it.

We have three ladies ready to deliver at any moment. They all plan to deliver with us and all seem healthy and ready to do so. They have the phone number, they know to call. We're hoping we get one this weekend.

We told Joranne (pictured above with Paige) today that we ALL want to be at her birth - we're fighting over which three get to be in the room. She has been "a favorite" and so loved from the first day she entered the program. She is fun to be with, her smile is infectious and she has so much charisma. We're anxious to meet her little one soon.

Of Little Importance

(PG 13 warning - skip reading this to your 9 year old.)

• Started painting. Lydia and Phoebe were so flipped out excited about two orange walls - who knew 2 and 3 year olds have decorating opinions?

• This little boy cracked us up today when he appeared out of nowhere to show us his belly. Of course it was not a balloon but the always popular standby, a condom.

• Simone Pele is right next door to Cite Soleil and has a similar feel. It was a tiny bit TIH in that the first 23 ladies in the door were not the ones we were hoping or planning to see. But over time many of the 30 we THOUGHT we would be seeing showed up. It kept things interesting.
  

• One month post marathon, I had my best run of the last six months this morning. 8 miles, 78 minutes. For me, that is fast. Why can these good running days not appear on demand - when it matters? The only people to impress today were people who think I am mentally ill. Where is the fun in that? I want them to whisper to each other, "Hey, did you see how fast the white went by today? No? Well, it was because she was moving fast." Anyway, back to how awesome it was. I killed it. May it not wait six months to happen again. I guess this is what getting old does to a person.

• I told a lady on her 9th pregnancy that 9 is good, she should have the baby then call it quits. "Apre sa, ou fini" - she nodded in wholehearted agreement. Those famous Dungger, Dookals, D- something people came to mind right after I said that. I wonder what Haitian women would think of that family and TV show? (I have never seen the show, it started after I moved. But the whole thing is fascinating and maybe a little bit creepy to me.)
  

• An old man in the village we lived in for our first couple of years in Haiti once told us that November 21 is the date that the weather cools off. We've not forgotten his words and are looking forward to tropical paradise in just 17 days.

• Troy is currently listening to Phil Collins. Why would he do that?
  

Simone Pele Prentals

Troy trusted me with his precious camera today. That has never happened before.

These are a few of my favorites.

More later, time to feed "gourmet" hot-dogs and old bread to hungry little urchins.

If you like the work you see in these photos, go here to sponsor runner, Beth McHoul for her marathon to raise money for these ladies. We need your help!

Mache ki lwen

I love photos like this one. They give me such an opportunity to adjust my attitude. Did I have a hard day? Well ... I did not walk barefoot in rocks carrying corn down a mountain ... sooo maybe not such a bad day after-all.

Tomorrow is the first Wednesday of the month, this is the day that Heartline goes into a fairly rough area of town called Simon Pele to do a prenatal education class for the ladies in that community.

Pray with us for a day of successful teaching and learning and growing and loving.

G'Night.

National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month.

(click to link to Presidential Proclamation)

Adoption is not for everyone, but we really hope more people will earnestly consider it. It would be better if kids could stay with their family of origin, we agree that keeping families together should be the goal, but because it is not always possible - more folks need to step up and be a family to a child without one.

We can all at least give it some prayer and consideration. If adoption is not for you, maybe you could help fund the adoption of a friend or family member. If finances don't allow that, ask someone who has adopted how you can pray for them and their child(ren).

Thanks!

For adoption month, my sassy friend Kristin is offering a 25% discount on her tees and adoption tee's for kids. Enter the code word: Livesay to get your discount!

Go to: http://babybrewing.com/babies-and-kids/

Creole/Kreyol 101

There is something very humbling about being forced out of your comfort zone and into a new culture and language. I have such a new respect for immigrants to the USA. It takes a lot of guts to show up and try to navigate your way through life with little to no understanding of the language/culture.

I like to think my Creole has improved in the last year. Whether that is true or not ... Uh- we won't ask Troy or Paige. I am going to take some classes with the new missionaries to try to expand my vocabulary. Right now I do okay with getting the words in the right order but my vocab is far too limited. I will soon find out if my brain is too old to absorb new information. I have my suspicions.

Mainly, I can talk to Jeronne about all house and kid things and to the pregnant ladies about most of their common complaints. But put me into a traffic altercation - or buying something at the market - I am toast.

I have no idea why it is this way, but the little girls speak Creole far more often than English. The adorable language that Lydia, Phoebe and Annie all speak ... called "Crengliole".
They mix a sentence together with both languages - they mix it up different ways and keep it interesting. They always say "Merci" rather than thank you and "please" rather than souple.

• "M vle cracker" (I want a cracker)

• "Bo mwen this" (Give me this)

• "Ou fe dezod stop it" (You're being naughty - stop it)

• "Es kay ou gen pop Mama?" (Do you have pop?) - Minnesotans call Soda "pop" in case you don't know what pop is.

• "I want diri ak pwa" (I want rice and beans)

• "M' vle chita lap ou Mama" (I want to sit on your lap Mama)

"Vle sa" - is probably the most often used Creole combo of words - accompanied with pointing they say "vle sa/want that" about three hundred times a day. I would estimate that all three of them use 75% Creole and 25% English ... we're trying to get Annie switched over to more English in preparation for her family in Minnesota.

We have two stuffed monkey animals. One is Phoebe's and one is Lydie's. Lydie mixes up the word for monkey (makak) and the four letter swear word that rhymes with "it" (kaka) and sometimes says:

"M vle kaka mwen" (I want my #*%&) (She means I want my monkey.) We enjoy this mistake and yuck it up when she mixes it up ... Because we are dreadfully immature.

But, just the other day Lydie taught me something I did not know. She handed me her bowl when she was finished and said "Meh Mama" --- which just means "Here Mama". But I had not yet heard someone say that while handing something off ... now I realize the girls all say it to each other every time they pass a toy.

It's pretty bad when you learn your Creole from a two year old.

*Creole words are spelled in a variety of ways. "Meh" is spelled "Men" but pronounced the same way. Don't use this post as your spelling guide.

Sad News

Beth wrote a post about Jean-Peter here.

Happy Birthday to Our Girl!

Happy Birthday Phoebe!


Slide show removed ... for your sanity.


But if you missed it you can see it here:

http://tl7inhaiti.slide.com/

Spookey Pukey Weekend

The weekend went south on us. Painting did not happen. But puking and pooping did. Lydie put on quite a show Thursday when she barfed on Troy during a meeting he was having. He continued to talk while the people he was meeting with asked "What can we do?!!?" Troy, the experienced father of many said "Nothing, she's not done yet." He continued to talk.

Friday went well with zero pukes. We had our fun day out. All was well on the home-front. Maybe we were dumb to think it would start and stop with one kid. Yes, we were dumb.

Saturday morning we began dropping like flies. Tara, then Jeronne. At 6pm Noah got the distance award when his rice and beans traveled no less than six feet from his mouth.

Not to be deterred, he showered off, brushed the remnants from his teeth, and headed over to the Halloween Bash 2009 that Vivien threw. She planned and organized games, spooky foods, and scary decorations. There are a couple of things we kind of bomb out on living down here ... Halloween being one of them. Vivien came through big time and made it a fun night for all of the kids. Even the puker enjoyed a shortened time at the party.

In the night Phoebe 'tossed her cookies' and Tara took multiple trips to the bathroom. Sunrise Sunday came without much improvement for Noah, Tara, Jeronne and Phoebe. Troy woke up with almost no voice and a rumble in the bronx (his tummy). He had to lead worship at church - forced to rally.

At last count Phoebe is up to three pukes. Tara is still sick. Jeronne is still sick. Noah seems better. Troy and Paige seem like they are undecided. The clock ticks down to the next victim. My money is on Isaac. Hope and Annie seem poised to miss this round of illness, but we shall just see about that. Phoebe tonight, asleep in our room...on the floor. Peanut must have taught her that the tile is cooler.