another way to help Haiti

<a href="http://aaronhale.bandcamp.com/track/got-a-lot-to-give">GOT A LOT TO GIVE by Aaron Hale</a>

This songwriter & singer has offered his newest single for download (set your own price) ALL proceeds go to help REAL HOPE FOR HAITI.
Check out Licia's blog here - RHFH Rescue Center

Check out this organization and see what this amazing family does! And download this song today! I just did, now it's your turn!

and check out more from this artist here Aaron Hale

10 by 10

IT’S 2010 — THE START OF A NEW DECADE, AND A TIME FOR CHANGE.

When you join the 10 by 10 challenge, you are joining a community of we thinkers around the world who are working to create a better global future. Take action on your commitments throughout the year, and watch as together we build a better world, 10 actions by 10 actions.

Now, thanks to the generous support of Aviva, your commitments will have an even greater impact. When you share your commitments on this website, Aviva will donate $10 on your behalf to a Free The Children community overseas. That means your actions will create change both here at home, and around the world. Simply by sharing your actions, we will be raising money $10 by $10 that will create great difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people. And, what started with you, will end up with we.

It’s as simple as that!

what are YOU waiting for??

Here are my 10 by 10 commitments to change for 2010

1. Turn off the lights
2. Drink water from a re-useable water bottle
3. Give a donation on someone’s behalf
4. Hug, hug, hug
5. Say thank you – in writing
6. Re-connect with an old friend
7. Hold the door
8. Look for local produce
9. Unplug appliances
10. Carry a re-useable bag

update

We still have not heard from any of Ronel's family or friends. I did hear back from the mission where I used to work and they are fine, there is some minor damage to the buildings there -- cracks in the walls and such that need to be repaired and they have a workteam with them right now who were going to be building an addition to one of the homes and are now focusing on repairs instead.

We are praying that Ronel's family in that same area are okay and have minimal damage to their homes as well. We are concerned about Ronel's siblings in Port-au-Prince and his father's family who live right near the epicenter.

We spent today praying and trying to get through to someone in Haiti, but so far we have not being able to get through on the phones. I did have a missionary friend say that her cell was back working but I think that the system is too overloaded for us to get through.

please keep praying.....

video on quake damage

Here's a video I found on the damage in Port-au-Prince.

This is just mind-boggling! I am so thankful that Ronel is here with me and not there but we continue to pray for all of those who are there in Haiti.

Earthquake in Haiti

This afternoon, just before 5pm EST, there was a major earthquake just off the coast of Haiti. From what I can find online it was a 7.3 earthquake with 2 major aftershocks of 5.8.

I have been able to find out that friends of mine that live in Haiti are okay, but we have not been able to reach any of Ronel's family and so are praying that everyone is okay. Most of Ronel's family is more in the middle of Haiti in the Artibonite Valley so hopefully they didn't get much of the effects of the quake. I have put in an email to the mission where I & Ronel both used to work to check on how they are and have asked if they could have someone check on Ronel's mom. Hopefully we will hear more news soon, in the meantime, please keep all the people of Haiti in your prayers!

Happy 2010 to you...

Ronel & I had a wonderful Christmas - we spent the morning with my "other" family (friends who have become like family) and then went to my brother's house for Christmas with my family. This year my grandma and cousin joined us (they both live out of town) so it was kind of nice to have them with us. It was so nice to be able to share that all with Ronel -- it was his first "Canadian" Christmas and I think it went well. Boxing Day we were up early and out of the house for some Boxing Day sales! We went to Talize (a thrift store in town) and they had 50% off everything used (they do sell some new items)and we scored. They have some great clothes and we found some items that still had the original tags on them, but they were in with the used items! Ronel & I both got quite a few items of clothing and some of them we paid barely anything for! Most of Ronel's clothes were all well known name brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, etc. We got him some really nice dress shirts and more pants. I got some skirts, and more "nice tops" - ones that I can wear with jeans and look nice or dress up with a skirt or dress pants. We spent almost all day at Talize - finding items took us about an hour then we spent most of our day trying on the items... they have a 5 item limit and were strictly enforcing it -- you could try on more but you had to get back in line. We didn't have a problem with it cause everyone had to do it. When we were finished we headed home to clean up and then headed over for our second turkey dinner!!! Our friends where we spent Christmas morning have their Christmas meal on Boxing Day so that Christmas day is one of relaxing... I actually quite enjoy it and it means I get two Turkey dinners each year!

Our vacation time (both of us didn't work Christmas Eve until today) was one spent together, enjoying each other's company, watching movies, relaxing and just being together. New Year's Eve we had plans to spend it with friends, but mid day Ronel asked if we could just stay home and so we did. We watched movies and just hung out. It was actually quite enjoyable and we even made it past midnight! (actually we made it quite a bit past midnight as we started a 2nd movie at 11:30 or so~ )

We are both looking forward to what 2010 has in store for us, and as I told one of Ronel's cousins - this year already looks better than last year because Ronel is here with me!

We wish you all a wonderful year filled with God's richest blessings for your life!