Bethany's Adventures

Some of the Boys

2008-12-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

Daniel spent part of the morning with Megan and I. He is getting so big and so handsome. And so so cute when he calls Nicot "Co".

I don't know what inspired Herman to make this face but I love it. He has so much energy, i mis him everyday .

And little Dave. I love those teeth and he is so cute and smiley.

Jeffy just keeps growing on me. I couldn't believe how big he is now. No matter how bi he gets, he still comes and gives me big hugs many times a day. He's my buddy.

Issac Nicot Burnit (yea i know it's spelled wrong but I just wanted to let you know how he says his name.) Even though this picture doesn't show it, he is such a big goober. I cn't wait to share more of the pictures so you can see what a big goober Issac Nicot really is.

Who's the best Monkey?

2008-11-29T21:48:00.000-08:00

I don't know why but every time that I try and get pics of Nata, she always makes faces at me. So of course we had to act like monkeys in this one.

Can you guess what happened next? Thats right everyone one decided to be a Monkey. First came Daniel.
Then came Steeve.

Of course Jonas had to join (most of the time he acts like a monkey though, haha) I love you Joe!

Then came along Fritz.

And who can forget Ti Moun and her cute little face.

This was an eveing of enjoyment and monke faces. Not long after these pictures Reggie came out ot join us. In the spirit of animals he led the kids in singing 'Who let the Dogs out' and let me tell you once they get started it is the longest version of who let the dogs out that I have ever heard.

The First Supper, puzzle pooker and Good Eight!

2008-11-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

This was the team and I right before we left to go to the airport, it was a sad day at least for me.

Reggie!!!!! He is amazing, Jimmy and Reggie taught us Haitian Casino and we taught Reggie Poker. The of course is my friend Megan but she is now known as the Queen of Puzzle Poker

And this is the !st Supper. Our team re-painted the dinning buildt tables, painted cabinets and much more. The Kids and the Nannies were very excited to have a new dinning area. This was the First meal, Dinner on Thrusday Nov. 13th.

2008-09-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Jeffy!!!!

I can't believe you are four already. You have grown up so much since I meet you in December 2006. I remember the first day I meet you and how you and I became a team. It was on that day that we took the last picture here on this page. Two years later we are still best friends. I can't wait for you to be home with your mama and papa. I miss you Jeffy and I love you!

HAPPY FORTH BIRTHDAY JEFFY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally

2008-08-29T19:30:00.001-07:00

One of the many faces of Nata! I love her energy it is amazing.

Caleb is getting so big but is still so happy.
Cara I had to share this one I took it on the last day after we were back at the "O", your boy cracks me up.
John tooks this picture, it is supposed to me as a haitian painting hints the wooden frame.
Jeffy, best friends for almost wo years!
This is a crew, Steeve, Sarmara, Nata, Matu, Samu, and Herman. No trouble here, hehe.

I This is Matu and John, at the beginning of the week she didn't like him but by the end they were best buds.

I know I have been back for over a month and I am just posting pictures it is shameful. O well at least I am posting them now. I hope you enjoy them there will be many more now that i have finally put them on my computer.

And O yea Happy Birthday Nicot! He turned three today! I love you little brother!

Trips and Proposals

2008-07-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

I got back from my 6th trip to Haiti last night. Like all my other trips it was one of the best times in my life. I got to know the gets even better this week and I miss them already. I don't have any pictures loaded into my computer yet but I will post as soon as I do.

On the way there my flights got all messed up and I had to fly in later than the team but was so so blessed to get to meet up with Mia, Hope and Michelle. It was great to see them on thier way home. Then the week started. I meet some amazing people who had so much love for the kids at Angel House. I got to learn new things about my siblings. I grew closer to God. We had a birthday party. I got to experience a haitian beach. I got to see Steven and Belle. I even got proposed to. I'm not kidding either. Though this was a proposal that was unexpected and not by someone i was in love with. The man sitting by me one the plane from Port -Au-Prince to Fort Lauderdale proposed marriage to me like three times. It was so funny but extremely akward, I mean I was stuck there was no way I could walk away I had to sit there. That is sure one flight I will never forget.

All in all it was a great week. I loved it and will always treasure my time in Haiti. I will post again as soon as I get mmy pictures loaded.

Pou Papa Troy

2008-05-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

Dad,

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!

I love you so much. And I know I should tell you that way more often than I do. I just wanted to let you know again that I love you. Thanks so much for being there for me as I grew up. I always thought I had the best dad. Thanks for always supporting my decisions and encouraging me to follow my heart. Thanks for understanding when I didn't think I was supposed to be in college last year and for understanding the reason why because I know that not all parents would do that. As I told Mom, the closer the day gets for me to go to live in Haiti the more excited I get. But the closer it get I realize just how real that is going to be. I know when I am there my Daddy isn't going to be there to fight my battles for me. I know you can't be there to reassure me that I am doing the right thing. I love you so so much.

I hope that by next year Nicot and I can spend your birthday with you and the rest of the family. Love you always, Bethany

Pou Mama Cathy!

2008-05-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

So today is of course Mother's Day and my Mom is again celebrating it without all her children. I am included in that because I am currently in Yorktown with my God-Family.

Mom,

I love you more than you will ever now. I am so glad that God called you and Dad to adopt Matu and Nicot. This is not only becuase it lead to me being called to be a missionary to Haiti but it also lead me to take a year off of school. The last year of my life I have learned so much. One of the best things I learned is that you can be one of my best friends. At times when I am at my lowest point you are there to help, cry with, and to pray with me and for me. You have taught me to listen for God and the importance of drawing closer to him everyday. I am so so glad that God's plan was for me to be your daughter. I don't know what I would do without you. I am so looking forward to the day when God tells me that its my turn to go to Haiti and fullfill his call on my life. But I know that especially after this past year that when that day comes I will also be sad because my mom won't be there with me.

I am praying along with Matu that we will get to be a family soon! I love you so so so much.

Bethany

The Questions

2008-05-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

I am: Going to post again soon.
I think: that this weekend is going to be just what i need
I know: that today is my God-Brother Bradens 17th Birthday
I want: To be in Haiti
I have: to finish my laundry so I can pack for my trip up north
I wish: I was at Three Angels
I hate: when people are mad at me
I miss: Matu and Nicot, all the kids at the O, and my friends that are away at college, and Sophie
I fear: always being alone
I feel: blah
I hear: J.D. talking on Scrubs
I smell: finger nail polish
I crave: a closer walk with Jesus
I search: for excuses to go to Haiti and stay
I wonder: When my turn will come
I regret: not always telling people how i feel
I love: My parents, my siblings, the TA's kids, my best friends, and JESUS!
I ache: to hold the TA's kids in my arms again
I care: the way I look.
I always: try to serve God and be the best friend I can
I am not: sure when my siblings will get to come home
I believe: That God will give me the desires of my heart as long as they are his desires too.
I dance: even though i am not very good at, ask Belle and Mia they will tell you how bad I am.
I sing: All the time, for no reason at all, I love singing!
I cry: a lot more than I used to.
I don't always: feel confident in my-self
I fight: thinking negative about everything
I write: all the time, in my journal, on my computer, all the time
I never: stop thinking about Haiti
I listen: to music a lot
I need: to clean my room and my car
I am happy about: Getting to go and visit my God-family this weekend

So there you have it. I will post again soon and by soon in mean sometime in the next week.

Home

2008-03-04T19:54:00.000-08:00

I love Spendy, he was so much bigger than I remembered, he is consistently in mt heart and prayers.

I could never get enough of Anchise's smile, this little girl is contangious.
My little buddy Daniel, I love this boy so much. He has such a wonderful and loving spirit. Him and Mati are awful good friends too! I have stories about them for a later post.

Reece and the red cup. I just love this picture, Reece is such a handsome boy and how could his smile not melt you.

Fritz, what can I say I love you too! Since Fritz had the chicken pox he couldn't go to school so me and him got to spend some time together while the non infected kids went to school. He is still the same entergetic boy but it makes me love him even more.

My trip was all in all way to short, but it was good. I enjoyed every moment with the kids. I tried to soak up as much Haiti as I could. Enough of Haiti to last me until I can go back. As much as you soak in though when you leave it hurts. It was hard for me to leave as it always is. When we got to the airport and on the plane and it actually soaked in that I would not be going back to the orphanage for a while I just wanted to fall apart it took everything in me not to cry. When we got to Miami, Lizzie noticed that there was a flight going back to Port Au Prince, I was so so tempted to go and exchange my ticket and go back. If Gretchen and Megan had not been there, I think Lizzie and I both would have been on that plane. But I am here, I know I have to wait. So I am going to cherish the time I was there and hold on to it. Part of holding on to it is sharing it with you. I know since it took me almost a week to post this it might seem unlikely but I promise more updates soon.

I did throughly enjoy every second of my trip and the time I got with my siblings and of course all the other children. I praise God for the blessings of all the time I have gotten to spend at my home, with the people I love and in the country that is part of my every breath.

Desires

2008-02-14T20:49:00.000-08:00

Alright so Kathy I am glad you got yours earlier this afternoon. It isn't yet 3, thank goodness but hey 11 is late when you have to be a work by seven. When I read these verses I knew I needed to share them. They are a group of verses that I know you all have read and I even talked about one of them on my last blog entry but they went right along with what we talked about today. But no matter who you are these verses I think are just so strong. These verses have got me through a lot. So here you go.

Pslams 37:1-9

Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your wway to the Lord;
trust in Him and He will do this.
He will make your righteousness shine like dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him,
do not fret when men succeed in thier ways,
When they carry out thier wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret -it only leads to evil.
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord will inhert the land.

Just a little food for thought. I hope those verses help you as much as they helped me.

I am so excited to that I only have seven more days until I get to leave the cold behind and go to the much nicer temperatures of Haiti!

Rays of Light

2008-01-20T20:43:00.000-08:00

Homesickness... it is the only way I know how to describe what I feel. A longing that reaches down to my very soul. A longing to just be there. To hold on to each one. To play kids games, to be taught by a little girl. To simply laugh and love with all the Gad has given me. To do the Lord's work. To dance. To get peed on. hear your name called over and over just so you will turn around. Some days I just don't know what to do with myself. I go through my day and do what I am supposed to but deep inside I feel like part of me is gone. My heart is not fully complete because a piece of it is not here with me. It belongs to the children of Haiti.

Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

This verse right now is the verse I think of often. God is so good and I know that his will is going to fullfilled but it is so hard to wait. He gives me so much.

He gives rays of sunshine.

He provides me with pictures of home, they are on my wll so I can see them when I wake up in the morning.

He has provided me with a job that in turn gives me money to fund my trips. Right now Feb.22 seems so far away, though I cannot wait to be back.

He gives me scriptures and he is there to hold me when I want to just cry and cry and cry.

Looking back and forward all at the same time

2008-01-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

First of all I hope everyone had a good Christ-mas and New Year.

Wow looking back at 2007 is crazy. So many things happened this year.
Here is a small look into how my life changed.

We added the 7th member, Nicot Issac, to our family.

I went to visit "my home" a.k.a Haiti three more times. In Febuary, August, and October. Each time reaffriming the the call God has placed in my life to be a missionary.

My best Friend April got married.

Life changed but it really just got better. I am so excited for what the next year holds. I know Gos is preparing me for change and I am ready for it. I am ready for my family to be together and I am ready for Haiti. I can't wait until Febuary, until Iget to see the kids again.

I make one goal for the next year simply to draw closer to God. I want to become closer and gain more understanding. I want to follow were he leads and be content with where he has me now.

I hope you can make the same goal as I did!

2007-12-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-12-11T22:17:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-21T22:14:00.001-08:00

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!?!?!

2007-11-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-10-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2007-09-15T22:10:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-08-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

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!!

2007-07-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-05-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-05-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-14T17:44:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

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

2007-02-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

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,

Silence

2007-01-30T17:38:00.000-08:00

Aren't these children the cutest things you have ever seen?So right now I should be writing a proposal for a paper I have to write in the future. But I find that I just cannot decide on a topic so instead I am sitting here writing this while talking on AIM to some friends and listening to my iTunes. I am getting so much done. I haven't ever written a formal propsal for a paper before and this paper is not a good one to start with. Truthfully I just want to get it done with so I can be one step closer to getting everything done so I can spend an entire week with the 30 kids I love more than anything in the world. I cannot wait to be there Friday can not come soon enough. I have so much I want to do next week, I don't think it will possible to do it all. I cannot wait to be with these kids and to hold and play with them. I am so greatful that God has showed me a love like I have for them and showed me that there is a plan for my future if I just follow him. Even though his plan may not happen in my timing it will happen when it needs to and Haiti and I will collide for a lot longer than a week. I love how God works its so crazy. I love the words to this song so I thought I would share.
God doesn't always call the equipped but
He will equip the called
He know everything that we need to make sense of it all
He'll work through our weakness
If we depend upon the Lord because
If he says to do it we will have his full support

I just love the words right there because they are true. We all have doubts about whether or not we are making the right decisions at time but I know that if I am doing what I believe God wants than he will help me through everything.

Please pray for me and the people who are traveling with me on this trip. I do have to tell you the reason why I titled this Silence. It isn't because for the next week there will be no silence it is because I have being trying to practice silence. I want to be able to just sit back and watch what God is doing and hear what he is saying. Silence before the storm, is what I like to think about my life. I need to enjoy all the silence and peace that God can give me so when storms come I can better handle them and know I can depend on him. So next week that will be the continuation on the silence a.k.a. the peace and happiness that I have before I come back here to the United States and have to get back to living life and going to school.

Haiti though not silent is my silence.

Food for Thought

2007-01-17T20:07:00.000-08:00

So I couldn't decide what to write on my blog because no profound thoughts have hit me in the last few days. haha. So I stole some quotes from other people and have decided to share them with you along with this amazing picture of Guerda.

Happiness is like Jam - You can't spread even a little without getting some on yourself.

Where God's love is, there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18
That is one of my very favorite scriptures.

Good Communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh
That quote is so true. No I don't drink coffee and I only have a few times but I know the affects that to much coffee can have. As far as communication I love talking to my friends and I don't mean the hi how are you kind of talks. I love the deep conversations about life and the bible.

Christian is a great noun but a poor adjective.
This is extremly true and I think to many people add christian into a list of traits about themselves instead of making it the center of thier life.

Don't place God as number one in your life. He should be YOUR LIFE!!!
- Nazarene Youth Conference '03
THere are no other words to say except for I love this quote alot.

Others believe it when they see it, Christians see it because they believe it.
- Nazarene Youth Conference '03
This quote reminds me of all the little miracles that have happened around me. Well in the last year I guess I should say big miracles. God is amazing but only if we look in the right spot. If we are looking for manna to fall from heaven we may miss something as simple as a friend handing us a bottle of water when we are thirsty. Miracles happen all the time just sometimes we are too preoccupied looking for big miracles that we miss the little ones that happen everyday.

There you go Food for thoughts, I hope that you enjoyed the quotes as much as I did. I love quotes and poems so I have a very big collection and I hope to share some more in the future.

Manthania and Mom

2007-01-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

Ok Sorry Mom if you don't like this picture but I do so I took the liberty of putting it on my blog

I like this picture because it is of my mom and my little sister. And if you haven't already guessed I am going to tell you all about my mom. First of all most kids will tell you that there mom has always been there for them. My mom was there even when I didn't want her. Just like most teenagers I went through the stage where I didn't want my mom to be anywhere I was and I argued with her all the time. My Sophmore year in high school the Jazz band that I was a part of took a trip to New Orleans. Inorder for me to let mom go she had to tell me that Mr.Barnett ask her to go, really she just wanted to go with me.

Anyway I really want to tell you about something else and that is how great my mom's love for God is. See when my mom went to Haiti in June she hadn't yet heard God's call to adopt Manthania and so that means my mom has yet to see and hold Manthania knowing that she is her mother. And yet my mom let me go instead of her in December. And she is letting me go again in 23 days knowing that God has laid Haiti and Three Angels on my heart. Yet she still isn't going and for now she is happy knowing that she is going in April. My mother is full of God and I am glad that she listens to him for direction, if she hadn't I may have not had the oppurtunity to go in Decmber. I hope that one day I can be just like her.

Thank you God for putting a wonderful example in front of me and thank you for being with my Mom and comforting her when she misses my sister. I hope that I can serve you with all the stregth that she does. Please God bless her and keep her strong when she doesn't think she can be. And as always bless Manthania and the other 29 kids that are with her, keep them safe and healthy. I Love you!

Katie!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-01-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

About four years ago I met this girl named Katie Friedman. When I met her she was really quiet and to tell you the truth we really didn't talk alot the first year we knew each other. My junior year changed that. See Katie and I were both invloved in the Swid District Impact team so really we only saw each other about once a month. My entire life I have been friends with Matt Upshaw and junior was a year that we were really good friends. The two of us did everything together and Impact was just one of them. At Impact Matt and I would hang out with Sondra Lynn, Phill Warren, and John Chambers, along with John came his girlfriend Katie. So the six of looked forward to our once a month visits more than anything. Durning junior year Katie and I became pretty close and I found out that she wanted to be a missionary. At that point in time I had no idea what I wanted to do with me life but still at that point missionary was not on my mind. I was still stuck more worried about the drama of high school. Senior year was just another year I get to spend waiting for the once a month trio to impact where Igot to spend time talking to Katie. There is no other way to put it other than she amazes me. On the three years that we have been good friends she has helped me more than anyone I know. I feel like the people I meet on Impact and especially her are the easiest to turn to and I often turn to them before my friends around here because of the bond that God created between us.

Late October or Early November was the last time I talked to Katie, it seems like we are real good friends right? But if you knew the two of us you know that how we work and that the next time we talk it for like 5 hours and then we have to talk again the next week for even longer. But this time we couldn't talk that long for other reasons. Before I went to Haiti all my thoughts were on getting to Haiti with all the stuff people had given to my family. Then I was in Haiti not the best time for 5 hour conversations on the phone, actually its not the best place for communication at all. When I got back I was so busy and once again was thinking of Haiti. On top of that Christmas came and then two days after christmas Katie left for Africa and she doesn't get back until the 13th of January. But I can't wait to get to hear about Africa and tell her all about Haiti. We share a special bond that lasts even if we don't see each other every day or even once a month. I know that if I ever need anyone that she will be there. I also know that God put her here as my friend for another reason. Everytime I am worried about the whole missionary thing she is there. She knows what I am feeling and always asures me that God is not going to test me more than I could bear and he isn't going to give me a call that I can't handle. Anyway I love you Katie and thanks for everthing you have done for me. I hope that Africa was amazing and I can't wait until you are home!

Recap of 2006

2006-12-30T22:23:00.000-08:00

I love the end of every year for the purpose I get to reflect what I have accoplished. And this year has been full of New experiences.
First of all in May I graduated High school. Yea that was so exciting. Truth be told though I sometimes miss it and the people that I got to see and talk to everyday that are now far away. But I can reflect on the experiences I had and the things I learned while I was in high school and apply them to my future.
In the summer I was head swim coach for a public swim team in Mt. Vernon and that was a lot of fun. It taught more responsiblility and how to work with people that you may not see eye to eye with. Haha, I know i have to get used to it.
Also durning the summer I got to go on IMPACT tour. IMPACT was a distirct choir that I was a part of. It was set up by the Southwest Indiana Nazarene churches. I was a part of it for three years and this years week long tour just added to my memories and the lessons that God has to teach you. I meet some amazing people who I have an awesome bond with only because of God. One girl whom I just love to pieces is Katie Friedmen. She is amazing and has taught me so much. She is currently doing Mission work in Africa and will be there for at least another week. I can not wait until she gets back. She wants to be a missionary, now I know why God made a strong connection between us so long ago. God is always at work on Impact tour. We had about 30 high school kids and three adult ladies on tour, so you can imagine some of the things that went on, lets just say that there was lots of excitment and boys playing with fire. Imagine that!
Not long after tour I went to church camp. Thats always a treat too. Being totally isolated from tv and the outside world for a week. I love everything about it. Just being able to sit under tress and talk to friends who are trying to serve God just like you and to be able to help each other is great. I have a few friends here at home that are christians and that is wonderful but sometimes you just need someone else. Church Camp another amazing week.
Then there was the day in July mom told me that we were adopting Manthania. By this point me and Alyssa had already knew. We had known for a few days. I also found out that day that Michelle trumps on the list of people to tell. Haha. Though it is the truth Mom told Michelle before she told me. Not that I really care I just wanted to share that with you all.
The day after Thanksgiving marked the day that I had been single for a year. Now I normally would not mention this but because of this some amazing events occured. See Matt (that was my boyfriend) and I dated for about three years. And I got pretty attached to him. I look back on it now and I don't even know how we lasted for three years. But because we broke up I started to focus more on myself and my spiritual life. I mean I always did my devotions and I felt like I was getting stuff out of them but at the same time I did a really bad job at listening to God and what he wanted to tell me. But over the course of this year I felt like I have done do much better. I have been more open to listening. Enoying the quiet and stillness that I didn't before. I feel like this year I have learned so much and that I am closer to God now than ever. So thats what I need a year to focus totally on me and God. To make sure that he was first and formost in my life. I needed this year to get everything squared away and to realize that God has a bigger plan for me than I did. He is so amazing!
Along with that I also made my first Trip to Haiti. Which as I have told you all before was amazing. It really has me captivated. I can not wait to be back there in one month and 2 days. WOW I can't even believe it. Its so wierd to think that I will be going back so soon. But I am so glad that God has put this love in my heart and has helped me find a way to go back to the children that I love so much.
So that was the year of 2006 in the life of Bethany. Of course that was the short version. I have so much else that happened but I don't want to bore you all too much, haha. If you read this far I am sorry it wasn't shorter. Writing this much was not the intent when I started. Actually I was hoping to be asleep by now but sometimes when I start talking or writing in this cause it hard to get me to stop. But I am not closing with this note.
I LOVE YOU and HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope this past year was great and the 2007 will be even better!
O.K. I lied I forgot one thing my New Years resolution, (which I normally don't make because I am not good at keeping them) To get closer to God live my life to the fullest possible measure. OK now I am finished.

The call back

2006-12-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

Life is full of choices all of us has to make. Desicions that will help us on our walk with God and that will help us herold the call he has for us to follow. It took me a long time to find my call and when I found it I was terrified. The one thing I had always ask not to be was what God called me to do. So I went to Haiti, in my mind I thought that I was prepared for what I was going to see and that I knew a lot of stuff. I mean I had so many people preparing for all different aspects. The second night of the trip I became pretty overwhelmed. I cried for a while that night. Seeing Haiti in person is something that is indescribable. I mean you can tell people that its a third world country and show them pictures. You can tell them that people will want to sell you things, that people will use the restroom on the side of the road. They can tell you that the people of Haiti only make a dollar a day or maybe $300 a year. But until you are there no matter how much you know you still don't understand. I realized that when I was crying into my dads shoulder. As the week went on it got easier for me but still once in a while I would find myself sheding a tear or too. I spent most of everyday playing the the children of the Orphanage. I lucked out in the aspect that we didn't really do a lot of work so I got to spend so much time playing with the kids. I got to jumprope and play with sidewalk chalk and best of all I got to hug all of them!!!

I love Matu, I am a little partial to her. But I love each and everyone of those kids. In Febuary I have a trip planned to go to Belize for two weeks. I have been looking forward to this trip for quite a while. When I first got back from Haiti I had no desire to go to Belize all I could think about was Haiti. Now I week later I have been praying about this and God has led me to the conclusion that I can go to Belize later that he has something else for me. He wants me to go back to Haiti. So the money that I was going to put toward my trip to Belize is going to going to pay for me to go back to Haiti. Hopefully with some luck I can get a good price on tickets and go back to the little country that holds so much of my heart and thoughts. I want to use all the gifts God has given me to help the children and the people of Haiti. I hope that one day in the future I can go and spend more than week of my time helping the children. Someday I hope to be a much bigger help but for now I will have to use the weeks I am there to help has much as I can.

So my call back to Haiti is one that I love. I loved every aspect of being down there and I can't wait to go back. Haiti is a lot more to me than the place where my sister was born, I care so much for that country and those children that I spent all week with that I don't even know if I can explain it!

My Haiti Adventure

2006-12-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

Matu, me and the cup

Steven and his shirt from Papa Shawn
My little buddy Jefferson or Zeff if you ask Noah!

Jonas and the serious look that you hardly ever see!

Nata and Fritz with Mama Laura and Papa Tom how cute all we need is Max and Zoe and that would make the family.

Ben and Bryce (Shaw) the cutest brothers ever!!!

You-You and I what else can I say except I love her.

Bethany and Bethany for some reason everyone thought this was so funny?

Angela wearing ribbons from her Mama!

Matu loved wearing Papa's sun glasses!

Nata, Fritz and I at wings of hope.

Angela spent one morning doing my hair she even put the ribbons her Mama gave her in my hair. This picture was of me and ,y hairstylist. Isn't my hair lovely?

Babaldo and I. Haha!!!

As you can see my trip went wonderfully. It was so amazing, I wish I could share all my pictures with you but there just isn't enough space. These children are amazing and even though I am at home my heart is in Haiti and I long to be back there. Playing with Matu, singing wityh LourdesMia, spinning tops with Bethany, holding Jefferson, watching Steven play the piano, seeing Jonas run in and out of you-you's room, and just knowing that everyday would be spent with these amazing children. Being back has been so hard and I often find my self crying and wanting to walk into the front door of the "O" and hear the children call out my name. Seeing Matu was so wonderful playing with her and hearing her laugh and say my name. I got to teach her who her Mama is and see her point at the picture as she learned. I just got to know her and her personality and I know now who perfect she is for my family. Not to mention how much she loved her Papa. IT was wonderful to see her giving him kisses and him holding her as she fell asleep at night. I have so much to share and tell you all. There will be much more to come but I wanted to give you just a little taste of my first Haiti experience. This is not the last trip either!!!

Love in Christ, Bethany

Manthania Here I come!!!

2006-12-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

1 John 4:18
Where God's Love is, there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear.

There you have it. I am not afraid and I will not be a afraid. There is nothing to be afraid of as long as I trust in God. Tomorrow morning I am flying out of evansville and starting my journey to Haiti. I am so excited. Since last thrusday there has been no fear only excitment. It is going to be amazing. While I am there I hope I can stick to the quote;
Yesterday is history...tomorrow is a mystery... Today is a gift that's why it's called the present.

I know its a silly quote but while I am there and when I get back I want to remember that. I often find that I take days forgranted. I need not do that. Each day is a gift from God and I shoudl cherish them. I know I will especially while I am down there. I never know what is going to happen tomorrow so I much live each as though it were my last.

I hope that you all have a wonderful week and be prepared for all the pictures and stories I will have about Manthania and all the other children.

I love you all.

Presents, Pierre, and Presence

2006-12-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

Today is exactly one week from the day I will arrive in Haiti and meet Manthania! Dad and I started packing sometime last week or so but tonight we got out last bag we are going to use as one of the four 50 pound bags to take to the orphanage. And so we started stuffing things into this last bag. Trying to make sure that everything people brought us was going down there with us. But after we packed the last bag we realized we still had the christmas presents we had bought for all the kids, we would have just stuck them in one of our carry ons but we couldn't because each present has a bottle of bubbles in it and there are around 31 presents! So we had to unpack and repack and unpack again. Finally we worked it out but we still had things left over. We had extra crib sheets and a few toys and one package of diapers and I still had to find a place for JoJo fanny pack and things. We also still have to put my dad and I snacks somewhere?? So dad and I carry things upstairs and start going through what room we have in our bags. We had to sacrifice something, but what? Our own clothes. No we aren't going with out them, haha. Both of us will just have to double up on shorts, though I think dad will more than I will. (shh!) Michelle if he stinks just don't tell him, will just let him think its alright. We got everything in somewhere though. My suitcase is bulging I almost had to sit on it to get it closed and my back pack is filled with lots of goodies. I have just enough room left for my ipod and journal and maybe a small book. I can't wait to get to give the kids thier christmas presents, and You-You and Jimmy too!!! And I can't wait to get to celebrate my 19th birthday thier yea yea yea! It is going to be so funny to see me with all this stuff trying to lug it up to the "O" i'm sure.

On the Manthania front we found out that Nathan talked to man from the town of Manthania who knew her family. Yes thats right we found someone who new she existed. He told us that her last name was Pierre (he couldn't remember what her first name was), he said that the whole Pierre family has died and that he assumed that she had died also but after i guess seeing a picture of her he knew that she was the little Pierre girl. Just a little something that we can tell her as she gets older. Besides that we are just waiting for a little more information from Gail to see just what to do next.

And my life, I know that at times I am slacker when it comes to doing my daily devotions but I try my best to remember but I get busy and then I stay up to late and by the time I get upstairs all I want to do is sleep. But I have been reading a devotional called " The faith Journey through Fantasy Lands" which takes different elements from Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Harry Potter and combines it with bibical stories. The part of the book I read last led me to the book of Esther, which is my favorite book of the bible. When I was looking through different side notes that my bible has it told me that no where in the book of Esther is the name or God mentioned and neither is the word pray, at least not in the NIV version. It just amazes me that in in a book in which his name is not written the God is so present. It also made me think of the movie resently "One Night with the King" It was totally awesomeand just brought more to my favorite book of the bible than I thought. It made me think deeper into each person in the story and showed me that there was so much more to Esther and the Kings relationship. I mean I knew it was there and that he must have loved her but it was just brought to life for me. And as I know Angela will agree with me Esther's outfits were awesome! All of this reminded me that God is there all the time even when I don't exactly feel overpowered with the holy spirit that he is still ever present. His presence is like the wind you can't see it but you can feel it, i guess that could be why the bible tells that faith is being sure of what we hope and certian of the things unseen.

The talk

2006-11-30T18:39:00.000-08:00

On the tuesday night before thanksgiving I got a chance to hang out with a group of my friends from highschool. It was so much fun. We ate dinner and then played like a million games of UNO and some rounds of mad gab, but a little before midnight we all crashed in Devons living room. We then all started talking about out lives and stuff. Patrick Tieken who has been my friend for a while now was adopted from South Korea. I had to ask some questions. I have spent a lot of reasearching the things that adopted children go through as they grow up. I ask him so many questions and lucking he was patient with me and actually loved to me all about it. Patrick was only about 15 or 16 months old when he was brought home by his parents so he has no memory of his life before he was brought home. When he started elementary school no one seemed to notice he was any different or that his parents looked different from him. Actually he said it was till third grade that any of the other children even asked. That was when he started to realize he didn't know very much about where he was from. So in 4th or 5th grade one I can't remember he got to do a media fair on South Korea. He found out about the city he was from and all kinds of interesting facts about the country he even found the national anthem and made it play in the background.

One thing that I made sure I ask him was whether or not he had ever looked for his parents and whether he thought he would ever go to South Korea and find them. He told me that he did sometimes wonder what his parents were like. He knows that if he wanted he could find his mother but there wasn't even a father listed of his birth certificate. He said that for now he was content with the parents he has. He said that his adoptive parents are his parents and that they have given him so much more than he could ask for. They love him and have always taken care of him. Patrick has a younger sister too that was adopted from the same city in South Korea that he was from. Patrick said that it doesn't really even feel like he was adopted, he its more like well, we have different hair colors and eye colors from our parents. He said it just as simple as that except for instead of differnt color eyes he has different color skin.

I ask him also if he ever got made fun of. He said yes that people did say things to him. He said as long as you tell the children at a young age as young as second grade that its ok if other kids make fun of them because they are loved. He said that knowing that helped him to get through time like that.

I just thought this conversation was a good one. I enjoy asking patrick questions about this kind of stuff because he has a view that I can't ever have.

I just glanced in at my clock and I have realized that in one hour and 37 minutes it will be one week until I leave to go Haiti!!!! I am no longer nervous about it either just excited to get to go and meet all the kids!!

Mumble and the Heart Song

2006-11-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

I haven't got a lot of time because I have to leave for play practice in less than an hour and I still have to do my hair and when my hair is wet and tangly like it is now it take a few minutes.haha. Anywho, O took my sister Alyssa, my little brother Kaleb and our cousin Hannah to the movies yesterday. And what did we see, none other than HAPPY FEET!!!! Yes I am a big Kid and I love all animated movies. I am a disney dork and I will admit. After all Disney is one of my favorite places on Earth. While I was watching Happy Feet it made me think of a quote that I had found and written in my journal of my favorite quotes and verses.

To love a person is to learn the song that's in thier heart and send it to them when they have forgotten.

I have no idea who wrote this quote but I do know that it holds great importance. See in the movie a little penguin is born his name is Mumble, and Mumble is different. The penguins in the movie find thier mate by singing to each other, you sing your heart song and then when you find the person who likes your heart song that is your mate. Well you find out early on in the film that Mumble can't sing. All the kids except for Gloria laugh at him and they tell him he isn't a penguin if he can't sing. It's very sad and I hope that I can never be like that to the people that are around me. In the end though Mumbles "happy feet" as they are refered too helped to save all the penguins.

This also put some thoughts about my sister into my head. I think each of us have a heart song, A song that is sung would tell our inner most fears and secrets. Though personally I think mine would be something funny and not very serious. But anyway. I love Manthania just as much as I love Alyssa and Kaleb and I have yet to meet her. I know that if Kaleb and Alyssa get hurt or lose themselves for a moment I want to help them gain back thier heart song. I know that when Manthania get here there will be struggles for her, but I hope that song that is in her right now in the "O" I hope that it can stay because that is who she is, and if she ever loses it I hope that I can help her find it and make it even better. Of course she isn't the only one coming to Indiana and I hope that each day I see Jonas, Noah, Steven, Angela, and Glory that I can help them keep thier heart song because it is theirs and it will change with them but there will always be a piece of it tied into there lives at the "O".

I can't wait I leave two weeks from yesterday to go to the "O" and meet all the children there. My heart song has truly changed because of these children.

The Start

2006-11-21T14:18:00.000-08:00

A blog.... The one place I can tell everyone what is going on in my life. So I'll start telling you all who I am.

My name is Bethany Burnett and I am 18 almost 19 years old. I go to Ivy Tech and am studing to be a preschool teacher. I go to Point Township Church of the Nazarene. I have always been very involved in my youth group and through that I have meet many teens through out southwest Indiana. All my life I have known that God had a plan for me and my life I just never knew exactly what it would be. As a kid I always wanted to do something with music but last year when it was time to decide what college to go to and what to declare as my major I had no idea what God wanted me to do. I prayed long and hard about it but still no answer came. I was so upset I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong not to get an answer. Now I know that it wasn't that I was doing something wrong it was that I wasn't supposed to find out until this school year started. Actually the journey began when my mom and sister commited to going to Haiti with Michelle Cundiff. So in June they packed thier bags and they went to Haiti to spend a week in an Orphanage. While they were there I was with the southwest Indiana district Nazarene Impact Chior. I was still praying for God's Guidance. It wasn't until three weeks after that when I first got to see my mom and my sister for the first time since they got back from the states. When talking to my sister that night she told me that she had read moms journal while they were in Arizona and that in almost every entry Mom mentioned a little girl named Manthania, she was at the "O" they had visited. Needless to say the next day Alyssa (thats my sister) and I had already decided that Manthania was no doubt going to be our little sister. A week later Mom and Dad finally told us that yes our guesses were right. And this is truly where I start.

Manthania was found walking all alone and was brought to the "O" somtime after that. She is so adorable. I love her so so much!!! I looked at pictures of her and all the other kids at the "O" and without every meeting them they became a part of me. I learned all the kids names and whether or not the had a forever family. I knew then that the love for these children was something that was given to me by God. But for the next few months I put it off and didn't think about what God wanted me to do in my future all I did was concentrate on what God wanted me to do right then. Finally though I had to admit it. God loves irony. see as a child the one thing I ask God was to please not ask me to be a missionary. If you know me I am a homebody. God put a string in my heart to help the children in other countries. He wants me to be a part time missionary and he wants me to work with the children. Of course Haiti is on the top of the list of places that I want to go for my missions and Three angels is a wonderful place for me to start. I hope that someday I can go and volunteer there. To be totally honest I am scared out of my mind about this but I know that God will be with me.

Ok now you know all about me and probably more than you really wanted to. This blog is going to be all about my spiritual journeys and will have a lot to do with Manthania and teh adoption. Actually my next blog will be all about that.

You all have probably read Angela, Michelle, and Kristina blogs and there you find a mothers perspective.

Here you will find the views of a sister, its a different view but I hope that my future posts will enlighten you and show you a better look into my everyday life.

Love in Christ,

Bethany