Policy and other travel Nonsense

I never look decent when I travel. As a rule, comfort is first. Usually that means sweats, baseball hat and tennis shoes. Well, yesterday I wore heels and jeans. It was a big day. I wanted to look nice for Troy when he picked me up. This is important to the story because it plays into my shorter patience for all things ridiculous. I decided to take a day off from being the frumpy, baseball hat wearing, mom of a newborn. I thought heels might be the answer.


I like to think that my time in Haiti has made me a kinder, more patient Tara. As it turns out maybe that is only true in certain situations, yesterday I did not feel kind or patient in the Harlingen, TX airport.

We checked in at the counter where people were generally friendly. On past flights my boarding pass said, "lap passenger." In Harlingen they give you a separate green card that says "infant boarding pass." The lady at the counter told me to write the name of the baby and age on the green card. I will admit thinking, "huh - that is dumb - but whatever you say." I don't know why or how it ended up this way for me, but I generally question rules and rarely do something without figuring out why it needs to be done. I am a pain in the back-side of authority. Or so I have been told.

Paige, Lydie and I walked upstairs and went to clear security. The man at security looked at my boarding pass. He looked at Paige's boarding pass. He looked at the green infant card for Lyd. He got on his radio and said, "Maria, we have a problem. Please come over here." I said, "What is the problem?" He said he would tell me when Maria showed up. I stood on my heels and waited.

When Maria arrived she deemed it VERY VERY BAD that the green infant card did not say where the infant was going or on what airline. The kinder, gentler Tara left the building at that moment. I said, "Does it not stand to reason that the infant, who is WITH ME, might be going the SAME PLACE AS ME?" Maria said, "Well, it does not say that here on the infant boarding card." I said, "Do you have a lot of infants that travel alone?" Maria was not budging. She said, "It MUST say on this card where the infant is going, a flight number and a date." I again argued the point that since the infant belonged to ME it made a lot of sense that by default she would go the same place I was going. Maria said, "It must say on this card." I said, "Hand me a pen - I will write it on there for you." Maria was not amused. She said I had to go back downstairs to the ticket counter and have the airline write the necessary information on my green card. We tried to work it out another way, or, *I* tried ... But to no avail. Five minutes later I muttered something about it being ridiculous and walked back down to the ticket counter - In my high heels.

The lady down at the ticket counter rolled her eyes and told me that the TSA people were acting stupid and making stuff up. She claimed the green card never had that information on it. She scribbled the info down and sent me on my way.

Back upstairs I told them what the ticket lady had said. Yes, I told them only to be a jerk, but really I thought they should know that TWO people found them to be totally ridiculous. That is when Maria explained it all. She said, "It is our policy to know where the infant is going." Oooooh, okay, POLICY. That explains everything. Anytime someone uses the word "policy" you can pretty much guarantee it is nonsense. Policy is a a synonym for "rule that makes no sense."

I wanted to steal a line from Troy, but restrained myself. He likes to say, "Oh, is that your policy? Well let me tell you my policy. My policy has always been to ignore all other policies." (Especially when they are stupid.)

Flustered by the whole argument we finally got to finish going through the scanner thing. Everyone was satisfied that they had forced me into a pointless exercise of walking downstairs to add the words "MSP flight 438" onto a card for a child who would never leave my possession. As Lydia's car seat went through they backed it up and turned it upside down to re-scan it. Mom-variety-terrorists must hide things in the underside of car seats.

I stood at the end of the belt waiting for the rest of our things to come out when a nursing pad, and then another came out one by one. So much for shedding my frumpy image. They had been under Lyd's blanket in the car seat. A man working the belt picked them up and handed them to me. Paige giggled. Finally the car seat was deemed safe and we were free to walk to the gate. By this time I had stood in line and walked far more than I ever planned when I made the bold decision to wear heels. My feet were killing me.

We boarded the plane. The man who took the green infant card never even looked at it. OF COURSE he didn't look at it. It was probably his POLICY not to look at it.

I was cranky. I admit it. My feet hurt and all the nonsense had put me in a foul mood.

I sat down, I put Lydie's car seat next to me. She was sleeping soundly. I buckled her in. I kicked off my shoes and settled in. The flight attendant came to me and said, "That baby cannot stay in that seat, it is not FAA approved. You will need to take her out and put it in the overhead bin."

I HATE admitting that I said this, but I said, "Okay, you'll be sorry though." (Meaning, she was sleeping and we were going to need to wake her up and listen to her cry.) I am sure I could have been kicked off the plane right then for that implied threat. Thankfully she let it slide. I asked her (after Lydia was out of the seat) WHY the seat had been FAA approved on my flight down to Texas. Had the FAA changed the rules on Monday? I asked her why on previous flights no one had ever taken it away from me. She then told me it was not the right kind of seat, it was just a "carrier." I informed her that she could read the stickers on the side of the seat and learn that she was very wrong.

Later in the flight she came to tell me she was sorry. That she was indeed mistaken. I appreciated someone making some sense for once and told her it was not a problem and I was sorry I was impatient with her. We made up.

End of little story.

My new policy is NEVER wear heels to travel.

Sarcasm Anyone?

I found this highly entertaining and accurate - but mostly just enjoyed finding another sarcastic Christian writer...
-Troy

I'm Sure I Read that Somewhere

by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Faith Editor


There are six things which the Lord hates... Proverbs 6:16

Let's see what's on tap for me to do today...

Hmmm, probably not much need to pray; things are pretty good. I got it under control for now. Definitely don't need to read the Bible. 10,000 days into the journey a guy gets pretty tight with God. Knows his stuff. Remembers the Word fairly clearly. Gets pretty skilled at pointing out how others break the commandments and fail to trust the promises.

So I guess it'll be more of the same today:

• Denounce political candidate without same convictions as me.
• Complain about salary.
• Build tower of righteous anger because the definition of marriage should be so obvious.
• Get warm fuzzies while writing tithe check.
• Tell sad friend I'm praying for him (but not really). Then, call other friend to disparage sad friend for the misery he's caused himself.
• Rail against injustice. Stay firmly planted on seat.
• Marvel at idiots who give in to sinful addictions. While doing, let out the buckle on that size 42 belt and relax a bit.
• Bark at wife.
• Write uplifting devotional.
  

Wow, full day. But feels a lot like yesterday. Kinda rote. Well, that's just the cross I carry. Because after all, I happen to know a few things about the Word of God.

I know that there are "six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him." And I'm pretty sure those are: gay people, terrorists, atheists, liberals, SUV drivers, and the French.

Likewise, I'm sure I read that it's best to be unwilling to listen, first to speak, and quick to get angry (or righteously indignant. Take your pick. Both are good).

Read the rest here:

http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/Crosswalk%20Devo/11560939/

snow birds

Haitian children who LOVE LOVE LOVE the snow.

Doesn't Hope look like a smurf next to Ike?

Hear the Angels Sing

Last year we spent all holidays in Haiti. Coming from a cold snowy climate it felt nothing like Christmas to us. Christmas is not supposed to be all about Santa, Rudolph, or Frosty the Snowman, we know that of course. But, if you've celebrated Christmas in cold weather your whole life, it does not feel too Christmasish in the Caribbean.
To us: Cold = Christmas!
(And, yes we know that weather has nothing to do with the reason for the season either.)

The folks here in Southern Texas are busy putting up lights and trees. It is so strange to walk around in the 80 degree humid weather and see lighted trees in the windows. The people ringing the Salvation Army bells outside of Wal Mart are dripping sweat just from waving their wrists.

Troy and the kids called when it was snowing in MN on Saturday. Everyone was excited about it. Paige and I are anxious to see some snow when we get back to MN tomorrow. Seeing the snow will make it official for us; Christmas is just around the corner. ;)

Lydie B is starting to grow in visible spurts now. Her eating schedule is paying off. It seems like we've negotiated a little bit better deal, she is going three and four hours at night now - which is helping make me less psychotic.

Paige did awesome at church yesterday. Her Creole was a big hit. I thought that I did a bad job at the first service and a decent job at the second service. If there were eight services I might have time to polish up enough to present something cohesive and smart. This coming weekend we travel to the great state of Iowa, this time Troy and I will be together which will help ... we're better together. And what I mean by that is, he is better at speaking and I am better at watching him speak.

Last week, before Paige and I left for TX, we had a melt-down of sorts ... or maybe it was more of a blow-out than a melt-down. Whatever it was, we determined that Britt would like more time with us before she moves and we would like to figure out a way to do more than eat, sleep, snap at each other, and run run run. Once our trip to Iowa is complete we should have two weeks before heading back south where we can sort of lay-low and just be. Everyone agreed that this has been a time of shorter fuses and high stress. It was not as we imagined when we were looking forward to the furlough. A friend of ours calls it "the perfect storm" -- the conditions have been ripe for impatience to abound. A month apart, living in close quarters, managing multiple busy schedules, lack of privacy, concerns about leaving the mission/Haiti for so long, scabies, boils, staph infection, viral meningitis, two rounds of the stomach flu, house decisions/woes, money stresses, post-baby hormones, new baby duties, sleep deprivation, a kid leaving the nest ... you get the picture.

I wish we were strong enough to take it in stride with more class, more patience, more faith. We're being stretched a lot, and the Lord clearly thinks we have more growing to do. That point has not been lost on me.

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

By Rick Porter

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, one line of one verse of one carol that always captures my attention.

A story is told of a man seasonally employed to bring the presence of Santa to Christmas gatherings for businesses and schools. He was on his way to a gig, an office party, but had been asked to stop by the nursing home to make a quick visit to the residents. This was pro bono work, but if Santa won’t do it who will?

He quickly made his rounds with a “ho, ho, ho” to each room. Just before departing, he peeked into a darkened cubicle where an elderly man lay apparently asleep, curled on his bony side. Santa prepared to leave in a flash. But the man made a feeble beckoning gesture visible in the dim light of a tiny Christmas tree. The volunteer Santa approached. The man whispered something so faintly as to be inaudible. Santa moved his jolly old ear very close to the man’s dry mouth. “Forms are bending low,” the man said. Santa did not connect the phrase, assumed confusion, gave a patronizing pat, and hurried off to his paying job.

As he arrived at the office party, holiday music was filling the room. The words of an old carol floated from the ceiling speakers:

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

The song was “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” written as a poem in 1849 and put to music 10 years later. The essence of the song is that angels did not just appear and sing at the birth of Christ. They show up and serenade regularly and often.

Just when we are so burdened as to not hear, at the most difficult of times, when life’s loads crush and our forms bend, they minister most. Immanuel, meaning “God-with-us,” attends us as His invisible person, the Holy Spirit, and He is attended by angels. The heart of God is to meet us at life’s darkest intersections with comfort, encouragement, a touch of heaven, and a breath of hope. The old man in the nursing home wasn’t just complaining to Santa about his lot in life. He was acknowledging that in Santa’s visit, no matter how hurried, there was an angelic grace.

Whether or not you sing the carols this year, be encouraged to live the carols. For you, this season may not be one of happiness, good memories, or togetherness. You may be grieving, regretful, or lonely. Life’s road seems crushing and your form is bending low. That does not disqualify you from the true Christmas message. While others scurry in apparent happiness, the invitation to the crushed and the bent still stands:

Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

I posted this piece written by my Uncle last year. I have been thinking about it and wanted to post it again. I recognize that our struggles are not unique -- many of you reading are facing your own "perfect storm." My prayer for us, for our Haitian friends and neighbors, and for you this December ... That you might rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.

~Tara

thoughts from Oswald on Christian Perfection

Not as though I had already attained, either were
already perfect...

Philippians 3:1

It is a snare to imagine that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do; God's purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements is apt to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you go off on this idea of personal holiness, the dead-set of your life will not be for God, but for what you call the manifestation of God in your life.

"It can never be God's will that I should be sick." If it was God's will to bruise His own Son, why should He not bruise you? The thing that tells for God is not your relevant consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your real vital relation to Jesus Christ, and your abandonment to Him whether you are well or ill.

Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship to God which shows itself amid the irrelevancies of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that strikes you is the irrelevancy of the things you have to do, and the next thing that strikes you is the fact that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives are apt to leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary, by human effort and devotion we can reach the standard God wants. In a fallen world this can never be done.

I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in other lives, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God is not after perfecting me to be a specimen in His show-room; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He likes.

Live from Texas on Paige's 13th B-day

Older and wiser Paige and I are headed out for a day of fun together. We have our list of items needed before the trip home in January and we're determined to make headway. Most of the items are summer items, hopefully being in TX will make finding sandals for all the growing feet a little bit easier. She has been swimming and shopping, two of her favorite things. The temps are perfect, about 78 each day. Tonight Grandma is taking us all out for a birthday dinner.

Troy reports that yesterday was a breeze and the four little ones and Britt were all being cherubs for him. Dad is taking them to a Vikings game this weekend and Britt gets to go to a Wild hockey game. It is apparently about four degrees there. So sad we're missing that.

The other day Hope and Isaac were asked to share about Haiti in their Kindergarten class. They only have a few days of school left so the teacher wanted to give them a chance to tell their classmates about it. I asked them what they told the kids. Here are their responses.

Hope - I told them about the watermelon and the tomangos (mangos morphed with tomatoes - she cannot keep it straight) and the plantains. I told them we have a big house there.

Isaac- I told them that we live by three beaches and it is always hot there and we have a swing set.

I asked - Did you tell them anything about the kids in the feeding program or talk about how the people there live? Did you tell them that no one has electricity or running water?

Isaac- no
Hope- no

Isaac- But I did tell them that lots of the kids are naked sometimes.

I said- Oh, did the kids think that was funny or weird?

Isaac- No

I said- Oh. huh, that surprises me I wonder if they wanted to know why the kids are naked

Isaac- uh, yeah! - they KNOW mom (insert duh voice) they know the kids don't wear clothes because it is so hot. (more duh tone of voice)

It is very interesting to me how oblivious kids can be. I also think it is wonderful. They see what they want to see and for now the fruit, the beaches and the playground are all they need to see. If they don't dwell on the negative it is fine with me.

~~~~~~

Wanted:

Big old suitcases or duffel bags --- they don't need to have wheels - the lighter they are the more we can pack in them. If you have one that could easily be picked up (in twin cities) or mailed to us, please let us know. We would likely be too unorganized to get it back to you very soon so only offer things you can part with. We are happy to buy them from you.

We have 14 allowed pieces of luggage and lots of supplies to try and get back down there - we are actually looking for about 8 to 10 big bags.

Reporting on multiple things

2 - Cavities
0- Tears

Hope and Noah have to go back next week for their fillings. Advance Family Dental and Mom Livesay -- Thank you SO VERY much for your kindness and help. (Troy's mom holding Hope in second photo. The photo where the batteries died.)

Britt has moved into her own stage of mourning in recent days. I started crying a year ago, she waited until now. To each his own. :) She hates to think about leaving her siblings and especially feels sad that Lydie "won't know her." I know that our house in Haiti will never seem the same without Britt. We won't even pretend it is possible. BUT, I also know that God's grace is sufficient to get us through the adjustment period and it won't be too long and we'll be getting Britt from the PAP airport for her summer visit.

Jen checked baby Annie over and thinks she looks and sounds great. The miracle of what a mom does for a baby seems so much more real when you think about how sickly and ill Joceline was and how little she had in the way of food, medicine, or medical care. With all those strikes against her and living in a tiny cinder block house --- her body still protected baby Annie. It's crazy.

In other exciting news - my girl Paige is turning the big One Three 13 on Friday. How weird to have another teenager in the house. Last year I wrote about Paige's story here.

We are headed south later today and Paige will celebrate 13 at the very southern tip of Texas with her grandma Porter, her aunt Tina, and her mom. (Lydie too of course.) I talked Paige into speaking with me at Christ Harbor, the church we've been invited to share at on Sunday. I'm far from a confident public speaker, Paige does pretty well.

Troy and Britt will hold down the fort with the rest of the crew for a few days. I would expect exactly zero blog reports from them and I am guessing that Paige and I will kick back and play and not be near the computer very much either.

Invasion

Our best wishes go out to the good people at Advanced Family Dental. They need all the warm thoughts and patience they can get because 7 out of 9 of us are headed their way.

Troy's mom works there and has taken it upon herself to get the entire teeth-possessing portion of the family in for appointments TODAY. I believe from 2pm until closing time we will be taking over their office.

For some of us it has been a few years without a cleaning. We're hopeful that the cavity report will be nil.

A girl can hope.

Bullying - MK style

While most five and six year olds are teasing each other for predicatable things ---- like boogers or poo, mine are teasing each other about passports.
Overheard a few days ago-

Isaac- Phoebe gets to go back to Haiti with Dad. She is going first.

Hope- Yep, she does. I get to go with Mom though.

Isaac- Oh, who do I go with?

Hope- Well, you don't have a passport so you're not going.

Noah- WHAT????

Hope- Yeah Noah, you don't have one either. I guess you guys can't come.

That Hope is a beauty. She comes across like a little angel-child, soft spoken and sweet. It's all a ruse. She has a sassy mean side just like the boys. I suppose she has to in order to stay in the game with those two.
*Late edit - I must have been tired. Issac is not sassy or mean. Ever. So, I better fix that so as not to ruin his squeky clean rep. He is by far the nicest person in our family. :)

Introducing

Annie Grace

5 lbs 8 oz

18" long

Beth says Annie is doing well. Mom is doing fairly well too, still in the hospital. Thanks for praying for them both. We continue to pray for protection for them both and for Annie to grow big and strong so she can keep up with her big trucker cousin Phoebe. :) This is more confusing than Isaac can really grasp right now, so for now he just knows that he is related to this baby and that she will be a part of his family. Congrats Tina & Matt!

photos from thanksgiving day

Above, Dad & Mom and their Grandkid Posse. Below, The Cleary Family -Matt, Tina, Aidan and Porter

Continued Prayers for Joceline

Isaac's sweet little birthmother had her baby girl in Haiti last night. This is her 8th child.


She is in the hospital now and getting IV for dehydration. Please be praying for her and the baby today.

Joceline still wishes to place this baby for adoption. (Back story is available by clicking the link in the first sentence of this post.) Lord willing, Tina and Matt will adopt her. The baby would then not only be Ike's biological sister ... but his cousin by adoption!


We're hoping to introduce you to our newest family member soon.

What happens when Isaac is unsupervised and gets his hands on a camera - a small sampling

Photos are property of Isaac Livesay, Copyright 2007

When Children Pray ...

I usually cope with hard times by being sarcastic and making a joke of it all.

Yesterday was one of the most difficult days in my long and distinguished parenting career. By the end of the day I had three sick: Isaac,Noah, Phoebe. The night before I slept exactly 17 minutes between Noah's frequent vomiting and Lydia's frequent eating.

This morning I sat in a quiet spot waiting for the troops to wake up. Hope came out first, she said her throat hurts but she is still okay. Isaac appeared next with a joyous annoucement. He said, "Mama, I slept so much and my sickness is gone!" Then Noah came out, he was crying and he said, "I'm sad - I am still sick." (He looks terrible, judging from his appearance I would say he is diagnosing himself correctly.)

Hope said, "Oh Noah, I want to pray for you." She came over and set her hand on his back and prayed the sweetest prayer I have ever heard. I won't ever forget it.

She totally blessed me . Today is a new day. May God grant the sweet prayers of a child and may this family be healthy soon. Amen.

More Tunes

While I would really enjoy delighting you with detailed descriptions of all of the vomit I've cleaned up in the last 48 hours, I'm making a conscious (and kind) decision to spare you. Suffice it to say that I've found it necessary to hold a mirror under my nostrils to see if somehow someone vomited inside my nose. It's that bad.

Maybe you're bored with the songs, the lyrics, the things we do when we have nothing spiritually insightful or remotely wise or interesting to say. If so, sorry - becauses today we're serving more of that. Troy listens to this song and says things about the amazing "production value" --- I listen to it and think, 'how can a person come up with such crazy-good lyrics?'

I love the "I see" part, the references to Nate Saint and Mother Teresa and all the others are so good. I'm astonished by her song-writing talent.

We'll find you again when the vomiting ends and the mighty hunter returns , until then please enjoy the song ... or at least give it a chance. :)

~Tara (for the hunter, the pukers and the rest of the tribe)



When The Saints
by Sara Groves

lord i have a heavy burden of all i've seen and know
it's more than i can handle
but your word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones
and i can’t let it go

and when i'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

i think of paul and silas in the prison yard
i hear their song of freedom rising to the stars

and when the Saints go marching in
i want to be one of them

lord it's all that i can't carry and cannot leave behind
it all can overwhelm me
but when i think of all who've gone before and lived a faithful life
their courage compels me

and when i'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

i think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
i hear their song of freedom rising to the stars
i see the shepherd moses in the pharaohs court
i hear his call for freedom for the people of the Lord

chorus x2

i see the long quiet walk along the underground railroad
i see the slave awakening to the value of her soul
i see the young missionary and the angry spear
i see his family returning with no trace of fear
i see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
i see the sister standing by the dying man’s side
i see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
i see the man with a passion come kicking down that door

i see the man of sorrow and his long troubled road
i see the world on his shoulders and my easy load

chorus

Friday Fun

The two lovely ladies are gone. They set the alarm for 4am to get up and go shopping. Neither of them have anything they want to buy. They just wanted to see what all the hype is about. We've never gotten into the whole day after Thanksgiving shopping thing. Paige envisioned running into the store when the doors opened at 5am ... Like some sort of competition. She wondered if she would need to push old ladies and small children out of her way to get to the deals. I think they're both a little nuts but they have been planning this day for weeks. As excited as Paige was, I am hoping the early morning wake-up does not lead to short tempers and sisterly snapping/fighting in the late morning.

Troy is in Nebraska with Dad and Matt. Dad has taken the guys on a two day hunting trip. They are all giddy and excited to walk around in the cold for hours and shoot at birds.

I will have none of any of that nonsense. I am staying home and working my magic in the laundry room.

Happy Friday after Thanksgiving.

Don't assume a conspiracy when incompetence explains it all

Many moons ago (in May of this year) a fellow missionary asked about shipping something to my parents house. The idea was that when my Mom came to Haiti to see us in June, she would hand-carry it to Haiti for him - she would arrive in Haiti BEFORE the wife's birthday and the husband would then come to Lifeline to get the gift. Oh it was a beautiful plan.

He was VERY excited because this was a surprise for his wife. When a man takes time to think ahead and get a gift to a country with no mail system in time for his wife's birthday ... well --- come on -- that is nothing short of amazing. That man deserves a medal.

A day or two before Mom was to come down, the husband checked on the package. I in-turn wrote to check on the package. The news was not good. I told the husband, "I'm sorry, it never showed up at their house." I then emailed the parental unit AGAIN (and again) and asked "ANYTHING???" They assured me no such box ever arrived at their home. They called their mail carrier, they did what I asked --- but they stuck to the story ... NO BOX arrived here FOR YOU Tara!!! Sorry.

I had to tell the above-average-birthday-planning husband that it appeared his gift had been stolen from the mailbox because no one had seen it. It was a sad day. I felt bad. The husband felt disappointed. The wife learned that her husband had attempted to give her a super-great gift on time ... but that a thief in suburban Minnesota had ruined it. She even blogged about it here.

We all threw up our hands in frustration, complained about life being unfair, and moved on without the excellent and expensive birthday gift.

Today, fully six months later, I sat at my mom's dining room table working on some paperwork when she came down the stairs and said, "Look at this box I just found - it is unopened - I was looking for ink for my printer and found it --- What is this?"

I am pretty sure my jaw dropped to the floor.

That super-duper-good-planning husband took a wrong turn when he brought R & C Porter into the equation.

I would love to explain to the husband and wife WHAT IN THE HECK went wrong. I have spent considerable time trying to decide when the train left the track ... and I've got nothing. No one remembers it coming to the house, no one remembers moving it up to Mom's office where she found it tonight, no one remembers putting it into her storage cabinet behind her desk.

It should be no mystery to me why I feel crazy unorganized. I am the off-spring of people who don't remember things - really basic things. I come from people who can receive a package, carry it into their home, put it in a cabinet, and then have zero recollection of having done so. I am doomed.
`
To C. Rolling-
On May 18 your package arrived in Big Lake, MN. Since that time it has been sitting in a dark corner cabinet untouched. My entire family sits on a throne of lies. What can I say? I love them in spite of their Alzheimer's.

We're all going on record as incompetent package receiving agents. I am guilty by association.

I do not know if you bought your bride a new Ipod or not. I am awaiting your instruction to know what to do with it. Bring it back to Haiti on Jan 1? Ship it to someone responsible? Sell it and pay you back for it?

Let me know before I, or they, have a chance to lose it.

Credits-
Blog Title - a Quote - John Goodman

Wednesday Night's Haitian Babes Reunion

(Above L to R) Hope, Phoebe, Bekiana, Nadia - Bekiana was adopted from GLA and Nadia from COTP

Below is the beautiful Thimjon family - MN friends AND the winners of the Las Vegas contest - proud, excited owners of the new Sara Groves CD. Well, Nadia is not really all that excited.

The fabulous Vik Family- Troy's best friend from High School, Nikki also went to school with Troy, some of our very closest friends -- with their two kids Bekiana and Gabriel

We enjoyed a fun evening at the Vik's house. We brought a reduced group of kids that allowed for chit-chat and some catching up.

Second proud winner of CD - "Polly" from Missouri

Thanksgiving Greetings from our littlest Pilgrim

We're thankful for each one of you. We're thankful for our family. We're thankful for our friends.
We're thankful for our many, many blessings. We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

With much love from our family,
T & T and Tribe

Happy Thanksgiving from a couple of turkeys

These two turkeys were asked a few questions at school today. Their teacher recorded the answers.

Q. How do you cook a turkey?

Ike- First we get the turkey from the store. We bring it home and cook it in the oven on hot for 7 minutes. We also have chicken with the turkey. We eat our Thanksgiving dinner at the table.

Hope- First you go to the store to get it. Then you put it in the oven at 18 degrees for half an hour.

Q. What are you thankful for?

Hope- For birthdays.

Ike- I am thankful that we have Thanksgiving.

And no, we don't have chicken with our Turkey. The problem is, the boy does not know the difference between the two. Hope got sick in the cafeteria during lunch today. I asked her, "Where did you throw up?" She said, "In my hands, I did not want to get it on the floor."

She seems totally better right now. :) I have her training all the other kids to catch their vomit in their own hands. She's proof that it can be done! Puking in your hands also creates less laundry. (If we're eating turkey cooked somewhere between 7 and 30 minutes we might want to be ready to catch some vomit.)