In the US for a bit...

Well, it's been a while since I have posted.  But a lot has happened in that time, too.  I am going to post the email I sent out yesterday, but after that, I will post some photos and more news.  Please, if you have already read this, go to the later part and see some photos.

 Greetings from Wisconsin... mostly chilly and at times COLD!  I guess I just am not used to anything below 70 degrees.  But we are adapting.

We were scheduled to come stateside today (the 20th), but things changed.  I had mentioned before that I had not felt real well.  Dr. Steve decided that he wanted me to come out and get checked out sooner than we had planned.  So, we left on the 6th of May.  Had some major problems with airline flights, so ended up driving again.  This was not in the plans.  But it gave us a chance to touch base with our son in Tennessee anyway.  AND we were able to make our grandson's wedding here in Wisconsin, too.  More on that later.

Our daughter did great on getting not only our appointments set up with doctors, but contacted Bud and Sharon and we were able to stay here at the lake house again.  This is such an awesome place and such a blessing for us.  We know without a doubt that they will receive some extra blessings from the Lord for their service to others.  And they are a great couple, to boot.

We had both decided to do a major overhaul with doctors this time.  Haven't done that in a long while.  So, right now we are in the midst of a TON of tests and will find the results the first part of June.  Isn't it fantastic how God works things out?  AGAIN, He has put Christians in our path and we are happy that our doctors are Christians. 

I will be going in for my eye doctor appointment next week, and setting up for the cataract surgery.  So I was right in saying it is a complete overhaul. 

We have been pretty much "running in circles" since we got here.  Not only with doc appointments, but we went with a good friend, our son and his son, our daughter and her three sons to help at a food pantry.  The US Postal workers in the area did a food drive for the pantry.  We went the day they were delivering the food.  Helped unpack, sort and restock things.  It ended up being an all day thing, but we had a great time.  Met some really nice people and not only worked, but enjoyed our time there.  I will probably post some photos on the blog soon about that. 

Then came our grandson's wedding this last weekend.  My daughter and I did a couple of cakes for the rehearsal dinner.  (More pics on the blog).  And then the big day came.  Mike and Sarah had a very simple but very beautiful wedding and reception.  We really enjoyed the simplicity and beauty of it all.  Now they are off to Oshkosh to live, go to college and work.  Mike is in the National Guard.  Their wedding was supposed to be in June, but the Guard changed their two week of service to the time of that wedding date, so it was moved to May.  We thought we would miss it, but thankfully we were able to go.  A great couple, but we'll miss seeing them as much as we did last year. 

Our daughter's twins had a birthday this week, so it was off to another celebration with them.  We had a great time there, too.  All of this mixed in with doctor appointments has kept us really busy.

But, we are missing our "family" in Haiti, too.  We ended up "dumping" the care of Savanah on Vero again.  She has become quite the little "spitfire" and Vero has her hands full.  And of course, while we are gone, things there seem to keep falling apart.  Vero tries not to let us know when things go wrong, so as not to upset us.  But it all comes out.  Not much we can do from this end, but we can pray and try to find someone there to help her out. 

We had heard that the adoption process would probably finish up quickly while we were here, but haven't heard anything on that front.  It may require us to fly back to Haiti to sign papers since we are her official "parents" now.  But until we hear more news, that is on the back burner.  We have talked to Vero, Abbie and Savanah since we've been out, at least a couple of times.  It helps ease the "missing you" part of being here.  First question from Abbie, as always, is "WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME?"  She is a sweetie for sure.  And Savanah, just keeps yelling, "Granma, Granpa" when we talk to her. 

So, I guess I should close with some prayer requests.  First on the list is prayers for Vero as she has to deal with all of our situations on top of hers, and then with Savanah.  Next would be for a positive outcome on all of our tests.  And last, but very definitely NOT least, is for the Lord to continue to work in us and in Haiti.  We have seen some great things happening and we praise God for them.  Pray that His Spirit will be poured out in a huge and miraculous way in Haiti, AND in the US, too.

So, for now, we'll close and send our love and blessings on to everyone.  Remember to keep your eyes on Him and all He has done and will do in your lives.   BLESSING BEYOND MEASURE!!!!

 Okay, now on to some things I wanted to add.....
First, because we miss them, Savanah in her bed.  We took one side off, since she climbed over and out anyway.  But she still has her own bed. (But she can still reach out and find grandma when she wants.)

And then Abbie (with one of our other kiddo's babies).  We miss our little ones a lot.  We were supposed to be with Abbie for her 9th birthday on May 20th.  We haven't been there for her birthday since she was born.  But she had a good time and was happy.... just missing us, as we miss her.

 Next is a couple of pics of some of our oldest son's grandkids, our great grandkids..Three little angel boys... well, at least for the picture.

And then his latest addition, little Faith... isn't she precious?  Have yet to see them since they are on the other side of the state, but he keeps us posted with pics.

 Our son in Tennessee's twin  grandsons.  His daughter had twins.  Daddy is in service and mom is a cowgirl (of sorts)... LOVED this photo of them, even if it was a few months ago.  Our family keeps growing and growing... by leaps and bounds it seems.

 This was our trip to help the food pantry.   There is Dale and his son, Gregory (two outside guys standing up), and Christine and her 3 boys, ready to go to work.  They even gave Donny a job bagging 3 packaged milk sacks in zip lock bags. Being in a wheel chair doesn't stop a heart for helping others.  He sure enjoyed helping out, too.  The other pictures are of everyone working, sorting, stacking and boxing the items brought in.

 

 

 

 On to the cakes Christine and I made for the rehearsal dinner.  Mike is getting his pilots license and we had to put a plane on one of the cakes.

 Then came the wedding.  It was so nice.  And Sarah looked so lovely.  Instead of using unity candles, they used the combining of sands to represent their combined life together.

 

 And we had to get a photo of us with them, too.  

This last one is one item we hadn't mentioned in the email...guess so much going on that was forgotten.  Actually Peter (who came with us last year when we returned) is graduating the first part of June, but the church had their recognition day for grads and we didn't want to miss out on that.  He has a great future ahead of him, serving the Lord.  

 Well, that is our update for now, hopefully I'll be able to add more as our time here continues for a bit yet.  We just want you to remember to keep the Lord at the front and center of all  you do.  He IS our rock and our salvation and we need to cling to Him in all way and in all things.   Blessings!!!!!