Hi. This post is from Bethany's mom.

Troy and I received one of our best Christmas presents on Friday.

We received Christmas cards from Manthania and Nicot in the mail!!!!!

There were new pictures of both of them and handprints and footprints.

It really touched our hearts. If we couldn't spend Christmas with them-the cards were GREAT!!

I realize that Manthania and Nicot didn't address the envelope and take the cards to the post office and they weren't even mailed from Haiti-BUT IT SURE FELT THAT WAY.

Thank you, thank you, thank you whoever had a hand in this!!!!

As Troy and I have been shopping for our other three children, I have to admit I have been a little sad thinking about the fact that I won't be able to spend the holiday with all of my children. I have been praying about it. I don't want to be even a little sad on Jesus' birthday. I want to be filled with the Joy and Hope that His birth brought to this world!!!

The cards from Manthania and Nicot are going to help me do that!

Thank you Lord for your birth and what it means in our lives. Thank you, also, for such thoughtful friends!!!

Love you all and Merry Christmas!!!!

The Story goes on!

I can't believe it. One year ago this week I was seeing Haiti for the first time. I was holding the children that I now love more than I can ever put into words for the first time! It doesn't seem like a year has gone by but it has. Yesterday the 11th was my birthday and I had intended to post this then but I got sidetracked and so now it is after midnight, o well. I just can't believe it has been a year since I shared magic popcorn, hehe, that You-You made, with some of the children that hold my heart. Most days I miss the children like crazy. I miss the feel of them in my arms, their laughter in my ears, and I just mis being with them. I miss Haiti like crazy, I miss everything about it and would pack up and leave tomorrow to go if I could. But today God reminded me that a year can fly by. Even though the day may be hard to get through the time will go quickly. Soon it will be my time to go, it will be my turn to help the children everday, to pray with, play with them, laugh with them and love with them. Until then I will remember that God has a plan bigger than mine and he knows and will help me each to see that the time will go by quickly until I can go home to Haiti. Thanks God for one more year, One more amazing year, a year in which I grew closes to you in more ways than I ever imagined!

One more year behind but so many more still to come. I can'tt wait till next year, maybe then You-You we can share some more birthday popcorn!

17 Letters

Ok it is now 12:14, by the time I post it will be later than that. Michelle I hope the volume on your computer is turned off, hehe. Well anyway I have been sitting here in my living room looking up at the Happy Thanksgiving sign my brother made earlier and hung up for tomorrow. It simply says happy thanks giving and then above each letter is a name.

Pop=our grandpa

Meme= our grandmother

Terryl=our great uncle

Troy

Cathy

Kristina

Todd

Bethany

Alyssa

Jessica

Kaleb

Megan

Lillie

Manthania

Jonas

Nicot

Ellie

They exact number of people that we have thanksgiving with each year is the same number of letters in the words Thanksgiving. And that is only 17 reasons why I am thankful. Looking at this simple sign has made me realize that I have more to be thankful for the number of people that will sit in my church on Christmas play sunday.

I do want to say that I am very thankful that Jesus is my best friend. He is amazing. He has placed a desire in my heart for a counrty and for children that a little over a year and a half ago I knew nothing about. He took a little girl who asked God to please call me to be anything but a missionary and turned her into a girl that could think of nothing else. Thank you Jesus for your compassion and never ending love. And thank you for playing more than 17 letters in my life. Thank you for the children like Daniel that hold mt heart. Thank you for holding me when I cry and giving me scripture to read. Thank you for dying so I could live, Live for you.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I hope that you all can find as many things to be thankful for as I have.

Love always in Christ.

The Entrance!?!?!

We finally made it!!!

We are now in IBESR. We have been for a few days and I haven't got to post about it yet. God has moved on behalf of us and our files and finally put us in IBESR. We don't know how but God does.

So my new favorite numbers are now 15923 and 15924.

With each passing day we are closer to the day Matu and Nicot will come home and our family will be together.

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us over the past year and four months. Please do not stop praying! We love you all.

The month in recap!

Since I can remember my best friends name was April. Our mothers were friends and so it was destined that we too would be best friends. We have been there for each other through the tough times but also through the fun times. We have been friends for so long and are families are so close you might as well consider as sisters. That is what she is to me, my sister, the person I share everything with. For everything we have in common, there is one thing that has always made us closer and that is our faith in God. God blessed April with finding a wonderful guy named Brooks. Well in July Brooks proposed, so for the last three months we have been planning and putting together the wedding of a lifetime. Last friday night on October 26, 2007 at seven o'clock my best friend got married. I am so so so happy for her. I do have to tell you that it was a very strange thing signing the marriage license, knowing that my best friend has a new best friend, her husband. But as I had realized before hand I didn't loose my best friend, I gained a new friend. Brooks is a good guy and is always fun to have around. April, I am so glad that God provided you with a great guy, a guy who not only loves you but loves God. I pray that God provides me with a guy that loves me as much as Brooks loves you and who also loves God. Congrats again and I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



And now back to everything that happened before the wedding. I went to Haiti, my forth trip. And as with every trip I loved every single minute of it. I got to see Steven and Belle see their Mom again. I got to see my Mom with her children for the first time. I got to love on the children who hold most of my heart. I also got to experience Mother Theresa's hospital and orphanage. God opened my eyes that day for sure. Everytime I am there I fall more in love. In love with the Country, the orphanage, the nannies, the workers, the boys at St. Joe, with God. My everyday is filled ith thought of how and when I can go back "home", to the place that is my life. I have only been away from there for a few weeks but it seems so much longer. I long to be back, I long for the children to yell Bet-tany. I long for them to want to sit on my lap, I long for them to fill the emptiness when I hold out my arms. I long for thier kisses and thier smiles. I long for hearing them sing. I long to talk to Angela again, I long to try and talk to the nannies. I long for Haiti.

There you go Megan I have finally posted. I am so glad you all haven't given up on me. I promise I will post some more pictures from my trip soon!

SISTERS!!!

Three sisters! I love them all.
The day Alyssa was born I am rumored to have ran down the hall at the hospital shouting, I have a little sister, do you want to come see. And though somtimes she doesn't think so I am so proud of the person she has become. She truely has God shining from her. She is beautiful both on the outside and the inside. She is the first sister God gave me and I thank him he made her patient and just the way he did because she puts up with me like no other person can.




Then there is Amber and although she may not share my last name she my sister. Her parents are my God parents. She is not only my sister but my friend. We share everything with each other. We love the same things and always like to be crazy and have fun. She is the sister that tells me everyday that she loves me and always is the one to put a smile on your face. She is full of life and love for everyone. I love being with her and her family they are so much of the person I am.




Then there is Manthania, or Matu as I and so many others call her. The sister that God choose for me. She is so much more than I could ever imagine. Her attitude is me all over again, and yet we are so different. We may be seperated by many miles but my love for is so strong that she is here in my heart. I can hear her laugh and see her smile. Somedays I sit and watch my videos of her and the kids over and over. I miss her dearly but someday she will be here and not just be the sister in my heart but the sister in my arms.

To my three sisters. The biological sister. The God sister. The Adopted sister. The one thing is we are all sisters, and better yet the three of you are my sisters. I could not have ask for any better sisters than the ones he can me. You have helped make me and mold me into the person I have become. We have shared the worst of times and the best of times and still somehow we make it through.

Alyssa thank you for always putting up with me. For knowing how dumb I can act and how nerdy I truely am and still letting me talk to you. Thank you for not only putting up with me at home but at church to. For being quiet to make up for my loudness. For being realistic and liking reality to balace my love for all things not realistic. For laughing with me, for crying with me, for being clumsy and sometimes as silly as me. Thank you for loving God! I love you so much.

Amber thanks for loving me for who I am. Thanks for baking cookies with me and letting me sleep in your room. For always making me laugh. For being my sister friend. For knowing the underlying meaning of the word maybe even on the internet. For making me feel that I am always wanted no matter the hour or what you have going on. Nowing that no matter how dumb we are we are going to have fun. I heart you my dear dear sister.

Matu Mwen renmen ou anpil anpil! Ou tre' espesyal. Ou bel, Ou bel, Ou bel, hehe, (I was going to do this all in creole but it is one in the morning and I took a night time tylonol cold, and so my creole sentence making skills are not working so well right now.) Anyway Matu, you have such a wonderful laugh and spirit, no matter what has happened to you in the past I know that you are loved by so many now. I am so glad God choose you to be in my family and you make our family complete. I am coming soon and we will have lots of fun with Mama, Papa, and Nicot. Mwen pa janm sispann renmen ou.

The Other kids in my life

Malaki, this little boy is the only boy I think could give Fritz a run for his money.

Sophie and I, I love her so much, even when she gets mad and talks to me in German.
Alec has the most amazing eyes, and when he smiles it can light up any day.




Sophie, Lily, and Malaki looking outside.

Sage Micheal Patrick Mullen, the boy who makes going to work everyday worth it.










For as much as sometimes I hate getting up in the morning, once I get there and get to see there faces it is worth it. Some of these children come from homes where love is pouring out, whether from parents, grandparents or something even from a foster parent who just got there adoption process started. Others come from homes that are not that good. Everyday though they come together and brighten the day of anyone who walks into the different rooms where they maybe located in the Childrens Learning Center. It amazes me how much the remind me of the children at Angel House. Little things they do will remind of the out pouring of love and joy I feel when I am in Haiti.
One more thing I can be thankful for... a job, for now, with wonderful children.

To See Again

You can see more than love in these eyes....

You see wanting...
strength

beauty

fun
Trouble with a capital T

Magic

But most of all you see Jesus and his endless love for them and us. You see through thier eyes and the eyes of the chilred around what it is to really and truely have the Joy of Jesus which is greater than anything!

Pre-party Preperations &Party Pictures

Katie and Aleah, they are the greatest!

And Non other that You-You making the birthday cakes! That's right she made two cakes.
The Happy Birthday Banner.
Hope celebrating with her friends.

Jefferson opening his birthday present from his Papa and Mama, he really liked the ball unfortantly the ball was popped by Waa-Waa later the same day.

I was given the task of taking pictures of the Party Preperations and the party itself. What were You-You and Anne thinking. For those of you who don't know we decided to have a birthday party to celebrate everyone's birthday. So there are the first few pictures there will be more coming soon along with other posts about the wonderful time I had in Haiti.

An Amazing week!

Noah and Garrett

Jonas
Jonas and Mitchell


Reece and Eddie



Manthania is getting so big

So thank you to all of you who prayed for me last week. It was another absolutly amazing experience. Imagine that me having a good time in Haiti. Haha. It was a whole different dynamic than the other trips I have been on. Being with my peers is wonderful especially when they are as into God as these people were. I really enjoyed meeting everyone especially my friends from California (which happens to be the best place ever because they have in and outs) haha. Well anyway the week surpassed all expecations and God was ever present. I am so glad God had it in his will to let me go last week. He had so many things to tach me and I am so glad that he choose the way he did to teach me. I am also glad that he worked in the lives of the people with me. God is amazing!

I hope you love the pictures there are many many more to come.

5 Days!!

So I arrive in Haiti this Sunday. I can't believe it is finally time to go back. I cannot wait to walk in the doors of Three Angels and see all the kids staring up at me. I can't wait for all the kisses and hugs that I will get and I cannot wait to be in the place that makes me the happiest.

In five days I will be back home, I will be in the place I know God wants me to be, and with the children I know he wants me to love. God is always working and I cannot wait to see what he has in store from me next week and what I can do to show Gods love to the people of Haiti.

Please God bless the trip that I will soon be taking. Let your spirit start working now in the lives of those going. Help us to accomplish everything and do it all for you. Prepare the hearts of the children and staff of Three Angels and also our heart so that our lives can be impacted in the best way possible. Mostly I just ask that your will be done on our trip. Thank you for the times that I have already been to see these amazing children and thank you for this trip too. Thank you for my call to be a missionary and the many things you have planned for me. I give this trip and all I do on it to you and your glory.

To my PAPA

My Papa Troy. The dad that I have and everyone else wants. I am so happy that God chose me and my four sisters and brothers to be yours. I love that you always encourage me and help me reach my goals. I love how all my friends ar jealous because I got a Dad who will always be a kid deep inside. This time last year you had three amazing children even though we sometimes take you forgranted. Now you have 5 kids. Can you believe how much our family is grown.

By this time next year you will have 5 kids who will forget to buy you fathers days instead of just three. haha. Like I said I could have never ask for a better Daddy. You have been there when I was happy, when won swim races, when the marching band had a good show, when I excelled in childrens quizzing. You have also been there when I was sick, when my heart has been broken, and when I was mad at my friends. Even when we would fight I knew deep down inside that you loved me. These past 19 years you have watched me drow from a little bitty girl that wanted to me the president, to a stubborn teenager that was only care was what I was going to do on friday night, to a young adult who wants to be a missionary. And know that I am grown up God decided that you get the chance to change to more lives. You know get watch Manthania and Isaac grow up. You get to teach them to ride a bike. You get to sing with Manthania and read her stories before she goes to bed. You get to teach Isaac to play baseball, and to drive a car.

Though Manthania and Isaac may not know it yet they have been blessed with the best Papa that anyone could ask for.

To our Papa Troy, we love you and cannot wait until we will all be here together and to share this Day together. Love you Always and Forever, Bethany, Alyssa, Kaleb, Manthania, and Isaac.

One in Three Meanings

There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going. -Beverly Sills

Life is too short
Grudes are a waste of perfect happiness
Laugh when you can
Apoligize when you should
And let go of what you can't change
Love deeply and forgive quickly
take chances, give everything
And have no regrets
Life is to short to be unhappy
You have to take the good with the bad
Smile when you're sad
Love what you got and
Always remember what you had
Always forgive and never forget
Learn from your mistakes but never regret
People change, and things go wrong
But always remember life goes on!!!

Challenge yourself to watch us you go about your day. Don't take forgranted the little blessings that God provides for us everyday.

7 things to know about me!

I know I know, It takes me forever to post even when I get tagged to do something. So here goes seven thing you might not know about me.

1. When I was a little girl I told God that I would do anything but be a missionary. Isn't that funny.

2. I love to read. My favorite time is sitting in my room playing instrumental music and reading aloud to myself. I will read anything, suggest and I will read it and I am not kidding you either.

3. I love walking on the beach in the mornings, even though I have only been to the beach twice in my life.

4. Disney should probably be my middle name, I love the movies and I love knowing all kinds of useless things. My Dad and I even went on a behind the scenes tour of the magic kingdom and I have to tell you it was the highlight of my trip.

5. I am a history buff, I love learning things that have happened in the past.

6. I do not want to birth any of my children, I want to adopt them.

7. I have given up dating. I have not given up getting married just dating. God will provide with the right guy and show that to me but I have to be patient and I am totally willing and for now Jesus can be my everything, not that he won't always be.

So there you go I hope you learned something interesting about me.

To add another!

I know it has been almost a month since my last post and most of you have given up on looking at my blog knowing that there won't be anything thier. A lot has happened since my last post. My mom and sister went to Haiti and then of course they got back from Haiti. Not ong after that my mom and dad told Alyssa, Kaleb, and I that we were going to have a little brother. As most of you know my little brother is none other than Nicot. So now there are seven members to my family and I could not be happier.

So now I am offically introducing to you for the first time Isaac Nicot Burnett!!!

Mia, Mia, Mia

I have to tell you all that this little girl is just awesome. In the short two weeks I have spent in Haiti she has certainly stole my heart. I can not wait until the day when I can go to the Cundiffs on a thursday morning and see her there smiling and enjoying her life with a wonderful family.

Ok so this post doesn't all have to do with Mia but a little bit later there will be more about her. Ok there is a little boy named Austin that attends my church. He is 11 years old but can I tell you he has quite a heart. I have mentioned him before when he gave my family a bucket of change that added up to over 500 dollars. At my church on Sundays I help with Childrens Church. As part of things I did I challenaged my older kids to get involved with missions. Well they decided that they were going to write letters to the children at Three Angels that go to school. I explained to them that the kids wouldn't be able to read them but they wanted to write the letters anyway. They have done a really good job and all but 4 have actually done it which I think is great. When I was helping them pick kids I tried to line them up so a boy was writing to a boy or a girl to a girl. Well he ended up with one odd pair. And so as you can guess Austin decided that he would write to Mia. But I have to tell you that he out did himself. He wrote her a really cute letter but he also decided (or more like his mom allowed him) to get her something a little extra. He actually got her a whole bag of stuff. He got her some clothes that Michelle I think you will love. He also got her three jump ropes and some glow necklaces that her and her friends can share. He got her a baby doll and braclets of every color so she would have one to waer with ever outfit she wore. (He actually told me the outfit part.) When I the kids and I picked out who they were going to write to Austin was so excited. He wanted to know everything he could about me and her adoptive family so he would know what to write to her about and then what to buy her.

Austin also gave my family some more change last night and when Dad and Kaleb totaled it it was almost 200 dollars.

Austin and his family also helped us buy a a teter toter that Mom and Alyssa are taking with them in Monday.

I just wanted to let you know how wonderful Austin and his family are. They truly are open to God and the things he wants them to do. I am glad to see the children of my church really opening thier hearts and caring for kids that live thousands of miles away in a third world country.

Parking

So lots of time has went by since I have updated and I still don't know if I know what to say. I have been struggling with alot of things. My life wasn't happening in the way and time I wanted it to. So instead of being patient and knowing that God had a plan I got angry and upset. I know that is wrong but I wasn't willing to give it up. Now that I have given it up I feel better but I still could use some prayers. I want to do what God has planned and I want to be patient and follow it.

So on a lighter note I went to Chiago for three days last week with my friend Kristin and a girl named Rachel that attends college with Kristin. It was a good trip and I kind of got to relax. OK not really cause I know I walked like ten miles at least a day. My feet hurt so bad. It was a fun trip though. We went and visited Wrigly field, ok this was for Kristin not me. I can't say I am a Cubs fan because I'm not but it was still cool to go to the field. We went shopping on Michigan Avenue on Thursday and that was fun. We went into the Hersheys Chocolate store (it took everything in me not to buy anything. We also went in a bunch of stores where we couldn't afford to buy anything. At two points in the day we decided to be kids again. We went into the American Girl Store and walked around all three levels. We also went to the disney store and though it isn't that kid like I got to purchase something for the little girl that I love so much. I got to buy her a swim suit and I have to tell you it is so cute. It is purple and has princess Jasmine on it. I also got her matching sunglasses because our Drama Queen needs the Hollywood look for a trip to the beach.

The parking for haitians only sign I also found in Chicago at Navy Pier abd I was so so excited. I also got my mom her own stand with a Haitian and American Flag sitting in it.

Now then, my sons, listen to me, blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instructions and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever find me finds life and recieves favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 8:32-35 NIV

My trip Home and back again

My second adventure home was wonderful, and I have fallen even more inlove with the children at Three Angels. I miss them so much. Here are some pictures of these wonderful children.


Carsen don't I look winderful in your shoes?

Glory and her Mama

Samara is a doll even when her hair isn't done.

I loved when John Baptist layed on my legs and eventually fell asleep.

Hey you! giggle giggle, Matu called me hey you all week long!

Benaldo loved his book from his Mama and Papa.

Fritx loved making faces so I could take pictures of him and this one was my favorite.

I love eating these bars they are so tasty.

My little smiley buddy Zeff has a family praise God! I miss your smile little man.

Jonas and Matu hugging each other after breakfast on thursday morning.

I had so much fun and well I just fell more in love with Haiti and the children everyday. I hope that the Lord will provide me with another trip soon. I got really spoiled going in December and then again in Febuary. I am homesick for a place that is not yet my home and for children that I have only been with in person for two weeks. Sounds craxy but I know that it isn't and I know its because God wants me to be there someday. The week was filled with some hardwork and great achievments. But it was also filled with meeting new friends and finding out more about old ones. I loved rooming with Laura and my new Grandma Paula, and Fritz, Nata, Angela, and of course Matu. I loved getting to meet Don and know the my buddy Zeff was going to be adopted by a wonderful family. I loved getting to know more about Derek and Tawnya. I love meeting Gail and her husband Jodi who is really a blast to have around. I loved seeing Shawn with his kids. I loved having Michelle thier again with me and I thank her for watching out for me. I loved getting to see Jimmy again. And of course I loved seeing You-You and having time to get to know her better. There is so much about these people I could tell you and I could go on forever with reasons why I love them but I won't. So there is a very small part of my trip to home and back again,