Brian is home!

Finally, I'm not a single parent anymore. This past week was the first time Brian and I had been apart for more than 12 hours since we were married. It was grueling! To top off my lonliness, my sister recommended that I watch a movie in which the husband dies... I watched it after Brian had been gone several days and you can probably guess how that went...

(Thanks Klaire)

No more tears - he's home safely from Haiti. It was not really the trip we were expecting. We both thought Haiti needed us... it doesn't. Of course it needs prayers, and other kinds of support - just not frontier missionaries. It is better to find this out now and not after we moved there. Plus, it is great for the country that the churches are growing and sending their own missionaries. That is a better setup for them anyway. But for us, we are back to square one.
We have a lot to think about but right now I'm just happy my family is all together again.

Home again

Malaki and I are home again. Waiting for Brian.
We had a great time visiting my family;
Malaki finally got to meet Roxie Crelia - his Great-Great-Grandmother.
Of course, she loved him and he loved her (and her white hair!).
I should have gotten a picture earlier in the visit when he wasn't so tired... oh well!

1/3

The most important third of my family is in Haiti.

Brian called me last night and let me know that he, Matt, Travis and David have arrived safely in Haiti. They had a rough time with flights (missed, delayed... ect) but finally arrived late yesterday evening. The accomodations are not fancy, but they are safe. (Good news to all of us back here!) They were planning on visiting an orphanage today in the capital city.

Please remember the men if your prayers. This trip will be physically and emotionally taxing. Also, please remember the wives and our kids. It's hard to be without our husbands or dads.

New Addition to the Phillips Family!

Gotcha!!

Meet Birdie Lou Phillips, our newest family member.
I like her (and that's saying a lot for me to really like an animal). Right now she's staying in Kahoka with family, but she'll come home soon.

Papa's Day

Happy late Father's to my dad. (who probably will not read this)

I'm thankful to have been my father's daughter for 23 years.
He has been a good example to me of how a father should treat his children and his wife.
He's pretty handy with duct tape, and hammers.
He can fix a classic car while wearing a suit, and
he never was too busy to eat lunch with his teenage daughter when she came to town.
I still have never doubted that he loves me.

And


Happy Father's Day to Brian. (who probably will read this)
I'm thankful for the way you take care of Malaki.
I'm learning how to be a better mom by watching you be a dad.
Thank you for praying for Malaki faithfully.
I know you love him.
Someday he will be able to post his own thank you. For now, I'll have to do it.

So, to my two favorite Dads,
I (we) love you both!

Good Morning Isaiah

For the first time in a while I got to read my bible before Malaki woke up. I was blessed by this entire chapter of Isaiah, but this is the short version; notice the contrast between God's righteousness and our lowliness:

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.”

Fear not, you worm Jacob,
you men of Israel!
I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;
your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 41:10,13-14

New Pictures!!!

In his car seat


First swim with Dad

Helping me with the laundry

Looking cute - his fave

Malaki - gotta love him!

Leave it to a mommy...

Today Malaki has been teaching me a few things. The way he interacts with me reminds me of why the bible directs us to be like little children. I love learning from him!

1. He can handle loud noises, crowds of people, strange foods... loud, strange
people, eating strange foods, as long as I am with him.

2. He wants to see me before he closes his eyes to sleep, and as soon as he opens them in the
morning.

3. He is eager to learn from me.

4. He is constantly growing.

5. He is totally dependent on me.

6. He wants whatever I give him.

7. He believes I will do what is good for him.

8. He struggles against me even when he knows I will win.

These reminders are good for me. I need to be more like Malaki in the way I react to my LORD and help Malaki fight against the tendencies we all have to resist what is good for us.

I'm thankful for the lesson.
Pretty cute teacher too...