Sunday, January 24, 2010

my pops.

Today is an extra special day... the birthday of my sweet, wonderful Daddy.

Happy, happy birthday to the best dad in the whole wide world. A patient, loving, kind man who is never too busy to talk to his girls. A daddy who willingly gets joins us on long shopping trips just so he can spend time with us. One of the greatest teachers I have ever had... whether the lesson is how to build an amazing Lego set, how to solve equations for algebra class or how to be a selfless friend and family member. I have learned so much from my wonderful dad. He is a man of the highest integrity and I admire him so very much.

So Pops, here's hoping the last few hours of your birthday are wonderful. Love you so very much and can't wait to see you soon!

The Simars out to dinner


Daddio, working our *amazing* rehearsal dinner video


Practicing our father-daughter dance


We bake pretty amazing apple pies




I know... he's not in this one... but it makes him smile :)

 

Monday, January 18, 2010

more ways to help.

Good morning lovely readers! I know that I have promised a Christmas and New Years update (maybe you'll get them by Valentine's ha!) but want to share with you something much more important. A few years ago one of my dear friends and former roommates, Holly, traveled to Haiti to work with an orphanage there. She came back with the most incredible stories to share about her experiences with the children and families she met there. Since then, Haiti has held a very special place in Holly's heart. Holly is heading back to Haiti today to help out at God's Littlest Angels Orphanage. Please read the following email that she sent to her friends and family. It has some great new ways to help, specifically concerning children at the orphanage, and includes some specific things that we can be praying for. I have highlighted specific prayer and aide requests. 


I am so proud of my friend for her bravery and selflessness as she travels to Haiti. Please keep her in your prayers.


Dear Family and Friends,

I received 3 emails on Thursday from various people at God’s Littlest Angels orphanage asking me if and when I can come and how long I can stay. They are in dire need of help there because many of their Haitian staff is missing. Being one of the larger orphanages, their gates are about to be flooded with newly orphaned children. I cannot explain how much my heart has been broken over the past few days over all the tragedies of this earthquake. I have no words. All I know is that God never said following him would be easy, he just said it would be worth it. It will be worth it. God has called me out of my comfort zone here in the US and to God’s Littlest Angels Orphanage to care for children in the most desperate of situations. I am not brave or strong, I have zero courage and I am terrified out of my mind…when I let the devil take hold of my thoughts. But Christ is my strength, my courage, and He alone will make me brave enough to do this.  He alone will carry me through this and He alone will replace fear with peace. On Christ alone, the solid rock, I stand. The safest place in the world to be is in God’s will so Haiti here I come!

To insure that the orphanage I am at continues to receive supplies please go to this website:

http://glahaiti.org/haiti_earthquake_relief

if that link doesn’t work go here:

http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/2010/01/12/earthquake-update-what-do-we-do/

You can mail funds to this US address:

God's Littlest Angels
2085 Crystal River Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80915


I am begging you…to please GIVE and please PRAY.

Something else very URGENT you can do to help:

Orphans already in the adoption process need to GET OUT of Haiti and home to their families in Europe, the US, and Canada so that the orphanages have room for the new orphans. Please, please contact your Senators…if we don’t get these kids out then our beds at the orphanage could be tied up for months without the ability to accept new orphans. Children will DIE.  Here is how you can do it:

Go to this site (click here or copy and paste the full link below), scroll to your state. You'll see links to your Senator. Go to their web page to urge them to help expedite Haitian adoptions:

link = 
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Please do these things for me and for Haiti. Also please pray for me. Here are the specific things I need prayer for:

-I need to feel peace, strength, courage, and wisdom.
-When I get to the orphanage I need to be strong and go to work...pray that I am able to stifle my emotions and be strong enough to serve these children.
-I will need a strong stomach when I arrive to Port-au-Prince
-Protection during travel and throughout my stay
-A continuous flow of food, water, and diesel to the orphanage
-That I am not fearful
-That I am used effectively**
-Please pray for my parents and close family…they are fearful too.


I will leave for Miami on Monday and GLA is chartering a flight to Haiti Tuesday morning. We are being escorted with protection to the orphanage. I will probably stay about 2 months.  I pray that God breaks your hearts for Haiti too. 20/20 did a great piece last night on how Haiti got to this desperate point and unfortunately the US is partly to blame. We supported tyrant rulers as they stole money for themselves and kept their people poor and we supported our own business interests, instead of the interests of hurting people. This makes me angry and it makes God angry and it is time we step in and make a real difference. Please DON’T FORGET Haiti’s crisis in a few weeks…it will take years to recover from this.

I love you all and will keep everyone updated on when I leave, when I get there, and throughout my stay. Please keep me in your prayers...please.

Also, please pass this information onto your friends and family. GLA needs all the help it can get and I need all the prayers I can get.

In Christ,
Holly




Thursday, January 7, 2010

a pretty good excuse.




Oh sweet blog, how I have missed you and all of my blog-world friends! I have tons to update on, everything from Christmas to NYE and probably more. Unfortunately I jumped right back into work when we returned from the holidays so there hasn't been much time for anything. My grand plan was to spend yesterday and today catching up. Catching up on laundry, housework, emails, this little blog... everything. 


My plans have been slightly altered since yesterday's news. At around 5:45 yesterday evening, we brought this little munchkin home to live with us.



Meet our new buddy Tucker (formerly Dom Perignon... yep, seriously. Such a classy dude!). We are so smitten with this little guy and are having the best time with him. We went back and forth on whether or not this was a good decision but so far haven't regretted it for a minute!



Just wanted to let you all know that we are still here and very, very well! Little Tucker is going to visit the vet today and we would all be very thankful for prayers that he is as healthy as he is happy!

(not my best picture I know... no one told me it would be a day for photographs and I was so not prepared ha!)


Until next time, we'll be playing, snuggling and hopefully continuing to have a great time with our new pal!