Fall? Autumn? Thanksgiving? Holiday Season?

November in Haiti...looks like this:

11/12/12 - Fellowship with friends visiting from NH & Sue Spinney

Quite deceiving, isn't it???

While it is our second round of holidays here in Haiti, we've yet to get our heads wrapped around it, and not sure if that will ever change. There are no leaves turning colors, falling off, raking, bright orange pumpkins, or apple pie smells. We don't have any family flying in for a feast, and aren't being bombarded by the steady stream of ads or wafting music signaling the countdown to Christmas either.

We're learning to interpret a new set of signals that the holidays are approaching here, & most of them are subtle:

Rather than changing leaves, we have changing weather, the temp has dropped at least 10 degrees at night now, so cold morning showers start to make you screech. Thus, heating water on the stove for bucket baths is on the rise. Hot tea seems like an appealing notion now too. Never mind that we bought watermelon on the way up the coast this week, note that rather than large orange pumpkins, the roadside stands seem to be overflowing with orange oranges...in fact all types of citrus (orange yellow & green) seem to be the fall harvest!

Our second annual Staff Appreciation/Thanksgiving celebration tradition is in order next weekend, which should get help get us in a grateful holiday spirit too.

With Christmas lights starting to pop up here & there at a few shops around Port Au Prince, it should be more obvious, but when in doubt about the season these ideas may help us with a festive mood:

Drop by DeliMart - they are always up on their holiday displays, complete with snoring black Santa on a folding chair! If still struggling - turn on the Christmas albums, reset laptop background to fireplace, snow scene or other holiday photo. Drink HOT chocolate. Watch video to wax reminiscent of the last Christmas tree that we cut on our property in TX. Shop online for a a few gifts. String up twinkle lights on railings, & decorate a palm tree. Last but not least, it's hard to miss the steady increase in street parties, near the guesthouse and around town. It should be pretty obvious that Christmas is near when DJ Benny's birthday arrives on Rue St Estime, Dec 19th - usually a BIG bash spilling on to Rebecca's birthday in the wee hours. If all else fails, let a Haitian dress you up like Santa and parade you around to cheer up the dark-skinned neighbor kids! (I'm sure that Jn Robert will be happy to oblige)

When NOTHING else works...post recent beach day pictures on blog & FB in hopes of enticing family or friends to come down & spend their holidays with you!!! :)

The signs may be different, but the meaning of the holidays are the same. There is much for us to be thankful for here, much to celebrate about life no matter where we are. God's LOVE is an abundant and undeserved GIFT...meant for everyone!

Free Time!! (day 2 - Wahoo Bay)

What is the single best way to wear out a pack of kids? In my opinion it's SWIMMING!

Not really knowing how to swim much sure didn't slow down this crowd! They splashed around like little fish all day long and then crashed into bed on the way home.

It was a gorgeous day at Wahoo Bay - we were all blessed to be treated to such an adventure by Pastor J and Seth Keyser via Haiti's Hope!!

Wahoo Bay Beach Resort

on the Cote de Arcadins

Mammi Martine posted this video recently of our time together as well:

Click here

Branden's Birthday Beach Bash...in Haiti

I was there the moment that this little guy came into the world...

but sadly, not able to be there for his (inconceivable)

10TH Birthday celebration!!!

Branden & "Grama Ruth" birthday bowling!!

We are SO proud of the amazing young man that our nephew, Branden is becoming. He is a really cool kid! We were blessed to have gotten to hang out with him (& his wonderful family) several times last year, before we moved over seas, thankfully. It's one of those hard things that we struggle with about this life...having to miss out on irretrievable precious moments with family & friends.

I (Rebecca) was actually scheduled to be in CA for a nursing strike last week & would have been able to spend it the way he had originally wanted to - together & at the BEACH! However, the strike was settled, so I stayed here, which wasn't overall a bad thing, except when it came to Branden...

Our dear friend, Jerilyn, was here this past week though, & blessed us all with a night up north at one of the beach resorts. While we would have LOVED to have the Birthday Boy here with us, the next best thing was to be thinking of him all day while we hung out at the beach! 

Branden, this was our party for you!!!! We all hope that one day you can come here for a beach adventure with us, too! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!

 (btw in case you all are wondering, NO, we haven't adopted a beautiful little Haitian girl - we are just enjoying the privilege of caring for Phoebe (3) while her mommy is in the US for a little while)

Emma would love to have sent you this, but it was still alive, so she saved it's life by throwing it back.

Tynan found a really cool gift that he thought you might like, too! 

They were alive as well, so he set them free - maybe they will still be there if you ever get to come visit? 

Just never EVER forget...that we LOVE you to the far side of the ocean & back, buddy! :)

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, Branden Elijah Butler!!