Tuesday, July 20, 2010

She's here!



My friend Tara and her husband brought Kami home from Ethiopia on Father's Day. We got to meet her at the airport! She is so full of personality. She is a doll and I get the honor of watching her while her mother goes back to work when school starts. I'm so excited and Kendall will have a playmate.

Karissa's masterpiece



Karissa and Jillian took an oil painting class this summer at Trinity and they had a great time and I got a great painting out of it!! She did a really good job and she's wanting to take it again next summer.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Karissa in Jamaica

She is loving Jamaica and she's been able to call several times. Mawmaw says that she races to the phone so she can tell me what new thing she has done. The first Sunday there the Minister (who grew up with Jason and Krista) introduced her to the congregation as Krista, he said he knew it was wrong as soon as it came out of his mouth but looking out in the crowd he said he was looking at Krista!

In church and pretty much anywhere in public Karissa is very reserved, but that's not the case in Jamaica. Mary said that she is doing things she's never seen her do before such as getting on stage singing and dancing. VBS was a hit with the kids and Karissa had a great time with them. She and pawpaw painted together which her asking him meant alot to him.

She has made friends with Jerry's daughter (the minister) Caden, who doesn't take to anyone. The story is that her grandmother was there for 2 weeks and she wouldn't even go to her but she has attached herself to Karissa.

She got to climb Dunn's river Falls with the team and got to go shopping with them. She told me she bought a painting for her room. She called me today to tell me that they just got back from taking the team to the airport. She is staying in Mary and Dennis' apartment and tonight Mel is coming over to visit. Mel is 6 months older than Karissa. She stayed in the US with her parents for a month with Jason's parents back when they both were 2 so now they are rekindling their friendship!! LOVE IT!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Jamaica Bound






Saying goodbye was hard and she said I was making her cry, but the best words from her father was that he was so proud of her and he loved her heart for people. I know Jason was really wanting to go with her too!

She was so excited this morning that she could hardly stand it. She's only a year older than her dad when he moved there in 87 and I'm excited for her because she gets to experience a little bit of where her dad lived. Karissa will be working on getting the church ready for dedication and the really neat part was that the last time she was there (she was 20 months old) we stood on the property when it was just a vision and now she is helping with the ending!

After the team leaves Karissa will stay with Dennis and Mary for the week and then Jason and I with the rest of the family will head there for 2 weeks. A grand total of a month in Jamaica for Karissa. Thank you to everyone that prayed and gave financially for her middle school trip-we are so grateful!