September Catch-Up

Here are some highlights from September:

Note: Since I was adding several pics, they are smaller than usual but if you click on any picture, you can view a full-size version.

Wedding Shower:

We started off the month of September by hosting a Wedding Shower for Phillip (David's Brother) and his fiancee, Christy. It was a fun evening of food with friends from VA, MD, DC, & NJ. It was a great opportunity for many of their friends to meet and get to know each other a bit before the wedding. We also had the chance to bless them with gifts and prayers as they entered the last month of preparation before their wedding day.

4yo Preschool- 1st Day of School:

Sept 13th was Sybella's 1st day of school (sorry no pictures of the boys...I don't know how I missed that!). She is in a 3-day a week program from 9am-Noon this year. She loves her preschool and we are so blessed that her BFF, Kylee, is in class with her again this year!

Sept 27th Haircut:

I have to admit, I thought that Sybella was past this stage...but, she cut her hair. I was shocked. She loves to use the scissors, she cuts paper almost daily, I just didn't think I would ever have to write another blog about Sybella taking scissors to her hair. I think she had just turned 2yo and I was pregnant with Cooper the first time she did this. This time it was particularly painful to me for several reasons:

1. I was standing RIGHT next to her. Seriously, I was about 12 inches away.

2. I was looking right at her and I couldn't react fast enough.

3. When she was 2, she didn't really know better, now she should.

4. When she was 2, she did very little damage. You couldn't even tell that she had cut it and I didn't do anything to 'fix' it.

5. This time, she had a bob on one side and long hair on the other side--- required a MAJOR hairstyle change. We cut her hair into a bob at the point where she had used the scissors. She ended up losing about 6-8 inches of length.

6. Sybella made her flowergirl debut, 12 days after her haircut, on Oct 9, in her Uncle Phillip & Aunt Christy's wedding (I had envisioned the dress with lots of long curls).

Ok, I wasn't thrilled to have Sybella switching to short hair (especially right before her flowergirl debut) but, I have to admit that this cut is cute!

Dominican Missionaries become Haitian Support

As many of you may know, Bud and Karen Simon, David's Parents, are missionaries to the Dominican Republic (DR). They are affiliated with Missionary Ventures International (MVI). Not only do they serve as missionaries but they are also MVI's Field Coordinators for the country.

While they are safe and healthy, as you may imagine, with the earthquake in Haiti, they have been very busy in the last week. In many cases, travel thru the Dominican has been the only, best, and/or most reliable way into Haiti.

Some of what they have done this week:

Karen: Manage their DR ministry responsibilities

Blog information for their friends, family, supporters, etc.

MVI Field Coordination: supplies, volunteers, & travel of MVI's Interventions to Island

Assist Haitian Field Director with Coordination (Infrastructure issues leave him often unreachable)

Fielding Phone Calls from volunteers & those wishing to donate/inquire or plan trips

Coordination with other missionaries, churches, and non-profits to prevent duplication of efforts. They have worked with YWAM, Convoy of Hope, Foursquare Church Denomination, World Vision, and many others this week. Tragedy has magnified the opportunities to bring the Body together to be HIS hands and feet.

Financial Support Raising and planning

Pray for Bud and the Haitian Team

Bud: Travel to Haiti, Leading a team of men, supplies, medications, and donations.

Worked 5 days in Haiti doing medical, search & rescue, evacuation of the dead, comfort the wounded/sick, encourage the mourning, and pray with the people.

Bud returned home to the DR early Wed (today) morning. He will do some work on the truck, re-pack and return to Haiti before the week is out.

WHAT can YOU do?

1. GIVE- Bud and Karen are uniquely positioned to be of a direct, immediate (and long-term), personal help, both to the people of Haiti and the teams of volunteers coming to assist them.

Unfortunately, a natural disaster was not in their budget planning for this year.

You may have already given to Haiti relief efforts and the economy may have hit you hard...I understand, but I suspect, you can give (sacrifice) more. Whether it's a latte ($4), a car payment ($400), or lots more ($4,000-40,000), ALL donations are needed and will go directly to the efforts in Haiti. No donation is too big or too small. Please don't hesitate, just give.

You may click on this link: MVI Donations ****Go down to Secure Online Donations, MAKE sure to select the 5th box, "Other" and type "Simon's- DR"

2. Pray- The people of Haiti need your prayers. The volunteers need your prayers. Bud and Karen need your prayers. The governments of Haiti and the Dominican need your prayers. The UN needs your prayers. The State Department, Homeland Security, Embassy staff, and many others need your prayers. The orphans need your prayers.

3. Read- Bud and Karen's Blog.

Thank you!