Update!

The package has been found!!! It went on a coast-to-coast tour, through Oakland and then on to Memphis, but it is now back in the great state of Utah and on it's way to Ogden.

Thanks everyone for your concern. I am now breathing normally again. :)

Seriously, Memphis???

Missing...

One letter sized fedex envelope, bound for Ogden, rerouted to... wait for it.... Oakland! Yeah, I don't know why either...

What does it contain you wonder? Oh nothing much, just the original notarized acceptance of Collin's referral, the original paperwork needed to complete my home study, a sample package of the paperwork needed for my foreign dossier that will go to Haiti, and oh yeah, a check to pay for the translation of said documents into French. Just everything I've dropped everything for the last two weeks to get together.

If you happen to see it, please notify fedex, because although they have been very kind amidst my near emotional breakdown today, they have absolutely no idea where it is... Oh yeah, and could you notify me too? I'll be the whimpering mass hiding under the covers... :)

Really, I'm okay and I'm sure they will track it down tomorrow. Or else. :)

We Interupt Our Regularly Scheduled Program ...

Okay, so some of you already know, but for those of you who may not, I'm going to make it official. After a WHOLE LOT of fasting, praying, crying, pondering, praying some more, temple visiting, and one fabulous priesthood blessing I have made a decision. I am expanding my family by one adorable little Haitian baby. I'd like you all to meet Collin "Ollie" Andrew.

I imagine that if Ollie actually understood what just happened, his reaction would be something like this:












Or maybe this:













All I know is that if I were with him right now, my reaction would be this:














Now I know what a lot of you are thinking,(believe me, I've spent a good part of the last two weeks thinking it myself)and I love you all so much for your concern for me and my well being. I've had the opportunity to grow a whole lot closer to Heavenly Father over the past two weeks and, though the details are a little too tender to submit to blogland, I have absolutely no doubt that I am doing the right thing.

And so little Collin, we embark on this little journey together. Please take care of my heart until I see you again. I'm gonna need it back some day. But most importantly, I'm gonna need you!












Just you and me kid. Well, for now anyway. (Hey, this process takes almost two years, you never know what can happen in two years!) It's shaping up to be a pretty exciting next couple of years.

It's A Small World After All...

The first day we were in Haiti, we didn't go to the orphanage. There were some political protests in the plaza across the street and it was a little dangerous for us to venture out. Day number two was more of the same with an added twist. The employees at the hotel asked us to stay inside because the police had just fired tear gas on the protestors and there was "a little bit of gas in the air". Now I don't know much about tear gas, and I think I'd prefer to keep it that way. We stayed inside.

On Wednesday, I was able to join a group of amazing people going to the orphanage to drop off supplies and do a little work to improve the living conditions of the sweet little children living there. I had a little project to contribute myself. In retrospect, it probably wasn't much, but I hope it will bring a few smiles to some precious little faces. This is the wall before I got to it. Sorry Mr. Alien, but you are in my way.

This was the finished product. These are pictures of the children and some of their forever families. Sorry I can't get a tighter shot, but there are a few privacy issues I don't want to violate...

Most of this I did with an adorably plump (not sure how he managed to be plump in an orphanage) little boy on my hip. I tried to put him down, but he kept tapping on my knees, and it didn't take long for him to break down my resolve.

I hear the map fell down about 10 minutes after I put it up. Apparently that tacky clay stuff doesn't hold up so well in when subjected to blistering Haiti heat in the middle of June. But hey, neither do I! 1,002 uses for duct tape!

We were able to bring down some fans for the orphanage, so that when it actually has power, they can cool it down a bit. And by "we" I mean the real hero's and volunteers. I just rode in the van.

Stay tuned for the next installment. Things really got fun when we LEFT the orphanage...