Dear baby girl

Hi baby girl,
So it's not time for your weekly update, but I just wanted to write and let you know something while it was on my mind.  Your dad.... well he's really... ummm.... Superman.  I swear it.  He dresses up like an Art teacher and youth group leader and husband, but it's really just a disguise.  He has some kind of super powers.  I can barely keep it together with just my own teaching responsibilities, and in a day, he plans, teaches, and grades Art classes for 260 students, and his classes and projects are always amazing.  Yesterday amidst that, he got me lunch and came home and mopped the house and started laundry during his planning time.  After school, he asked me what I wanted for dinner, and when I said Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken (I was kidding), he said "I think I can do that" and went to the vegetable market and supermarket to get the ingredients then came home, cooked up a masterpiece, did like 9 loads of laundry (mind you, we don't have an American washing machine so this is no easy task), offered to help me with grading between loads, and did this until 11p.m. before coming to bed with a SMILE, wanting to kiss me and rub my sore aching back.  Today he was even more awesome than yesterday, if you can believe that.  So yeah, your mom married Superman, got pregnant with you, and I'm pretty sure we're going to live happily ever after.  And (in my opinion) he's way hotter than Clark Kent.  I don't think you'll ever find another guy that would measure up to your daddy, but I hope you find one who you love head over heels like I love your dad.  Okay that's all, I just wanted you to know that.   Love you baby girl!
Love,
Your momma
P.S.  Today you were baby Cristal in school, and yesterday you were baby Rosa Margarita... I wonder what you think of these names? :)

Dominican Art

Okay so we've been pretty busy here in Mr. DeYoung's class these past couple weeks, and I thought I'd show you a bit of what the kids have been up too. Most of this stuff I found online, if it wasn't for the world wide web I don't know what I'd do. I can't imagine what teaching was like without it back in the days of old.

We are starting to transition into some new projects for the high school, not sure where to go from here. We just finished up our lesson on the Chinese New Year, which was a great time. The kids had to research and write a one page paper on how the Chinese celebrate the new year on the other side of the world. In the research they were to include images of paper lanterns or lamp shades that the found online. This was a difficult project for some especially those who thought they could skip out on their research and start designing. There were a couple who decided to wait until the last minute and still a couple that have yet to turn anything in. For the most part I think the kids did alright. One of the students is still trying to make his lantern fly with hot air. We tried again today but still no luck. Our fuel source burns too quickly and not hot enough after trying a number of different things and turning the art room into a smoke room I think I might have a solution. However in the process we burned up some of the lantern so we will try to fix that tommarow and try one of my last solutions. Afterwards we talked a bit about their disappointments with their projects and where they think they went wrong and could've done better. We talked a little more in depth on the design process, and we hope to dive a little deeper with our next project which is Architecture of the world.

The 7th-8th graders have been working on sand paintings, using a type of media they are some what familiar with living on an island surrounded by water. These turned out really good. The 7th graders were given a little more stricter guide lines and had to make mandalas. The 8th and 9th were a little more laxed and could do whatever they would like to do with their sand.

The 6th graders made some Op-Art using line, and paper. They were to use color, line, and shading to attempt to show depth. These turned out great! Some of the best examples I handed back to the kids and never got a photo of, but these are really good too!

The 5th Graders are working on a water color/glue painting, which is not done yet, and I'm not sure if they will work yet so stay tuned

4th Graders have been making collages with magazine paper. Which I hope I will have enough glue to finish. The sand project took a ton of glue, and the school has still been sitting on their hands to get me supplies that I asked for last year! So running out of ideas fast. However I was thankful when I was given some construction paper yesterday from one of the admin. about 5 sheets of each color, if I divide that buy 200 students everyone might get a inch! ha haaa

3rd Grade has been working on their abstract names. Some turned out great. Others were bored with coloring in about 15min. These two wanted to move on and hand in a half finished project. I was soo pleased with them because while the others moved on with another project these kids stuck it out and I think they turned out great and it was worth the extra effort.

First and Second graders drew magnified ladybugs focusing on details, with the use of a grid to plot out their designs.

20 weeks

Baby Girl is the size of a banana!

Dear baby girl,

This past week has been a busy and pretty exciting one!  Let me tell you all about it... First of all, we found out that you are a GIRL.  To tell you the truth, I kinda knew it all along but played it off like I didn't.  Your grandma (my mom) also said she knew from that first phone call that she was going to have a granddaughter... and if you saw the votes that my class did, well somehow we all just knew.  I could not be happier.  I dream all the time of the AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL woman you are going to grow up to be.  To tell you the truth, it's all I think about at all lately.  I cannot wait to meet you.  And I know a lot of people who just can't wait to dress you up (the shopping has already begun :) And every day our Mr. Monkey winner in class (the recipient of a note from my stuffed monkey who comes to life at night to write notes about the kids' great achievements during that day) gets to name you for the day.  So far you've been Little Mermaid Baby on Friday, and today you were Baby Hannah Montana (the kids listen to let's get quiet for Baby Hannah Montana much better than for Mrs. DeYoung).  Today we even did Hannah Montana's "Hoedown Throwdown" as a class in honor of your name for the day - I'll teach you that dance someday, it's a fun one I used to do when I taught dance classes.  Baby girl, we are going to have a blast together.  I hope you like to dance as much as I do. :)

Well I have to tell you yesterday was a scary day because we almost lost you.... or should I say we could have lost you... but God had His hand on the situation the whole time.  We were on our way back from the beach (which I'll tell you all about ahorita - I wonder if you'll be fluent in Spanish by the time you can read this?) and we were taking the Caribe Tours bus down from Sosua to La Vega.  We hopped off the bus in La Vega ready to hop onto the one for Jarabacoa and the ticket lady said to us "You just missed it", so we took a publico (a car where everywhere sits on top of each other) to get to the guaguita (a 15 passenger van where we pack in like sardines) and we just missed that one too.  What bad luck, I thought to myself while wishing I was in that nice big yellow Caribe Tours bus that was happily chugging it's way up the mountain.  Well, we didn't get very far up in the mountain in our guaguita before we ran into dozens of police, ambulances, and huge crowds all over the road.  This is what happened to that bus I was wishing I could get on...

It ran right off the side of the mountain and after rolling several times, it landed in a tree.  We stopped on the side of the road and I asked the old woman sitting next to me if that was the same one that I had missed.  "Yes it was," she said, and chills ran down my spine.  Even if your dad and I had survived that fall, I don't know if you could have.  "I almost took that bus," I exclaimed to the lady, "I could have lost my baby".  That old lady turned to me and said "You better say thank you to God right now that you didn't take it - and start praying for all the people that did."  And baby girl, that is exactly what I did.  I have to tell you that sometimes we think things aren't going our way and we start to complain... but God is always behind all of it and is in control, so never stop trusting in Him.  He is working in everything, even when we can't see Him, and He has a plan through all of it - even the really hard parts.  When your Auntie Paola was pregnant with your cousin Ana Leah two years ago, she found herself in the middle of the Haiti earthquake that turned life on this island upside down... and God protected your cousin in the middle of that catastrophe.  And your future playmate Nissis was just a tiny little thing inside my friend Rebekah's belly last year when she got in a terrible motorcycle accident going down the mountain that the doctors said it would take a miracle for her baby to survive - but God gave her that miracle and she's a beautiful one that I got to see this afternoon at school.  I'm glad you are my little miracle too and that God was looking out for us when we missed that bus yesterday.

In other events, I felt our first earthquake last week.  It wasn't my first one, there have actually been over 100 of them in this past month, but it was the first one I really felt - I wonder if you felt it too.  I was laying down after coming home from school and felt the bed start moving back and forth.  I thought it was Santa cause she likes to sleep under there but I looked out the window and saw Santa outside.  Then I sat up and saw the dresser start moving back and forth.  And even though we have been going through earthquake training like crazy at school lately, I just kinda froze in that moment... and then it stopped.  There's been so much about earthquakes lately, I even dream about earthquakes - the other night I dreamt that we had one and my whole classroom split right down the middle - and instead of going in triangle positions, we jumped over the big crack and ran outside in attempts to save you and my kids... and then we all swam in a waterfall.  Pregnancy has been giving all kinds of crazy dreams.  I think the craziest one was when your dad turned into a spatula in my dream, and I gave him CPR to try to make him a human again. 

Speaking of dreams, I wonder what YOURS will be.  Not just the ones you have at night, but the ones you have for your future.  I hope that you always dream BIG.  I hope you let your imagination run wild and hang onto every last one of those dreams, and don't let go.  I hope you never settle for the path less traveled, pick the crazy adventures, go out and see the world, and change it every day for the better, in whatever way you choose to do that.  Be bold and passionate, and never let anyone ever tell you that you can't (that'd just be a big fat lie)... and like Winston Churchill said, Never ever ever ever ever ever ever give up.  Your dad and I will be behind you every step of the way and we love you and we believe in you.    

So like I was saying, since it was a 3 day weekend, we decided to head up to the beach!  First we went and visited with our Belgian friends Peter and Hilde (who gifted us with our dog Santa).  We saw Santa's mom Akira and dad Heriom.  It was funny to see how much Santa is just like her dad - that's where she gets all her looks and personality.  But she has her mom's stubborn streak and her mom's eyes too.  It makes me wonder what you will be like - if you will have your dad's sparkly green eyes or my blue ones.  If you will have his laid back, fun loving spirit or approach everything with intensity like I do.  It is fun to think about, but we already love you no matter what.

That night Peter and Hilde treated us to Thai food (which I LOVE and have not been able to have in ages) - and you were kicking like crazy after I ate the spicy bites.  I wonder if that means you like Thai food too?  

The next morning, it was rainy at the beach, so your dad and I decided to make lemonade out of lemons and play tourists in the souvenier shops... we couldn't help but pick some things out for you...      

What do you think of this typical Dominican dress?

How about these for the beach?

Maybe one of these to hang in your room?

We don't know if we'll let you wear this one...

We loved all these animal mobiles to hang over your crib (if you have one.. :)

Or maybe a seashell one like this?

Of course when your dad saw this seashell mobile, being the creative genius that he is, he walked up and down the beach filling his pockets with TONS of seashells, determined to make you a special one of his own.  Your dad is just awesome like that. 

When the rain cleared up, Peter and Hilde drove us to the middle of nowhere to this beach called Playa Magante.  It was deserted and so beautiful.  Someday we will have to take you there.  I wonder if you will love the beach as much as your mom and dad do?

This was the hotel we stayed in Sosua called Hotel Tropix.  It was really cute and I loved it... except for one little thing... or actually there were two.... tarantulas.  I've never been a big fan of them.  First one started racing toward me in the shower (I saw it but thought it was dead so got in anyways), then I ran out into the room and when I opened the backpack up to get dressed, out popped another one!  Your dad was brave enough to go get the tarantula out of the shower so I could finish, but by then the water was shut off.  Good thing I could just hop in the ocean!  These are the daily adventures of living on a Caribbean island.  Oh and I almost forgot, this where your dad got to feel your first kick!  He had been complaining about you not kicking for him, so he made up this silly song to sing to you about you kicking and you did!  He was happy.

We spent our nights chilling by the poolside, eating pizza in the moonlight (your dad's favorite food), and talking for hours (mostly about YOU) and gazing up at the stars.  Your dad took this picture of our hotel at night - isn't it pretty?

Oh, one last thing, I wanted to show you this picture of your dad on the school field trip last week pretending to be a Channel 5 News guy in Santo Domingo.  He's so funny. I know he's going to make you laugh every day like he makes me laugh.

Well I know this was a long one, but there's just so much I want to tell you every day.  Your dad and I love you SO much and can't wait to meet you in 20 more weeks!  We're half-way there now!!

Love,

Your momma

Help Our Kids Go to WyldLife Camp!!!!

Okay so I usually leave the blogging to my wife who is typically a way better writer than I am and who you would rather read if you had the option to choose. However I figured I should at least try to write a couple here and there myself. I don't mean to cut hers short since she just posted her new blog the other night, but WyldLife camp is coming up on us super fast.

What is WyldLife? WyldLife is a ministry that I have been a part of for the past couple years now. It is a middle school age ministry, sort of like what you would call a youth group in the states. It is a time for kids to get together once a week for what we call Club, where we play games, act out skits, listen to music, have outings and activities, and most importantly learn more about who Jesus is and why he is so cool.  Here's some photos of me having a good time with the kids at Club...

At camp last year pillow jousting, I was the horse

Christmas party club, with ghetto Santa, Santa's replacement

beach club, pullin out all the moves

What is Wyldlife Camp? Camp is a huge part of Wyldlife. It is the opportunity for kids to get out of their comfort zones, away from home, TV, computers, video games, parents, and the everyday struggles their lives bring them. Camp is a time to interact with other kids their age from surrounding schools, it is a time to get closer to God. 

Where is Camp? Wyldlife camp is up in the mountains here in Jarabacoa at a Younglife/Wyldlife facility.

Where do I come in? Okay well camp costs about 90$ US per person to send the kids to for the weekend. It's not cheap, I know.... We are still in the hole from last years camp which is good and bad. It was great that we had so many kids willing to go, and we were able to give them the opportunity to do so and had such an awesome turn out, we basically sent all the kids from 6th-8th grade last year, but like I said we are still in the hole. I don't think that many people will be able to go this year for the reason that we are unable to give out so many scholarships. I would please ask you to consider sending one of the students to camp and giving a scholarship to do so. If you can't afford to pay the entire scholarship, then maybe a part of a scholarship. Camp also costs the leaders $90 which is a little over 1/4 of our monthly salary here, so if you would like send a donation to help a leader like myself to go to camp to minister to these children that would be awesome as well.

Where's my money going? Well it will be multiplied at least by 2, your donation will go to serve as a donation to send a child or leader to camp. Your donation will not be just given to a kid to get a free ride to camp, the kids are doing a number of service projects to earn their scholarships for camp. Last week we went out in the community and picked up trash. If you have any idea how much trash is in this country you would know what a humbling experience this was for the kids.  The following week we are going to the old folks home in town to hand out cookies, play games, and be a blessing to the elderly in our community. Kids are also volunteering to minister and lead a club for the shoe shining kids in our community, where they will feed, plan out games and activities, and give a lesson; a huge blessing for the kids, and the leaders who consistently lead this program day in and day out.

Pictures of trash pick-up this past weekend

Enjoying the weather and good company

Two of 6+ bags collected by our group

Josue was sick and feeling lousy, but worked without ceasing  with a smile on his face....most of the time.... I think this was the dirty diaper he was picking up

How can I give? There are two different ways to to give to camp, which by the way is a tax write off. So if you work for a large company who needs to write off a bunch of tax money?

Send in check:

Please make it out to "Young Life" with "Scatterday X3109 DR camp scholarship" in the memo line. 

Check mailed to...

Young Life Service Center

P.O. Box 520

Colorado Springs, CO 80901

 Give Online: 

 https://giving.younglife.org/OnlineGivingChoice.aspx?gd=otg&np=1&GiftType=area&MissionUnitCode=X3109&MissionUnitName=Dominican%20Rep%20ScatterdayPlease make sure and click the "camp sponsorship" button when filling out the donation page.

If you can't give financially, please keep us in your prayers!  Thanks!

Dave

It's a....

Today was baby day and the kids came in with an item or article of clothing in pink or blue (over or under their uniforms), as well as a TON of first grader enthusiasm... 



These guys showed their blue....

A lot more showed their pink...

Mom wore this under her uniform

Dad wore this instead of his uniform (cause he's kinda a rebel like that)

The kids couldn't wait to get their hands on these cupcakes.... 1-2-3 BITE!



The girls were happy with the outcome!
Do you see the color of that frosting in the middle?

IT'S

A

GIRL!!!

(This poor little dude tried to fake a smile, but was pretty bummed out with the pink.  He was so confident that I think he even bought those new sunglasses for the occasion.  His mom told me the doctor could have been wrong. :) 

Can't wait to meet our baby girl in 20 more weeks! :)

Gender Reveal

This is what we did at school today....

I'm lucky we don't have curriculum standards in this country cause I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be anything about picking baby names and genders.  But I guess these are the advantages to the chaos that is teaching in the Dominican Republic.

Tomorow the kids are going to wear something blue or pink with their uniforms and I'm bringing in cupcakes with a surprise frosting color inside... we are in the middle of baking right now so better get back to it, can't leave poor Dave in the kitchen alone all night...

But, what do you think it is?  What are some of your favorite names? 

 I really love this list of girl names especially, I was thinking for a girl maybe Mermaid of the Sea DeYoung or Selena Gomez DeYoung or Hannah Montana DeYoung or even Starfish DeYoung.  Or we could go with Brando DeYoung for a boy... How do they come up with these?  First graders are so funny, we could write our own baby name book. :) 

And sorry I'm such a meany to make you wait, but will reveal manana!

(oh and if you are one of the few who already know, no spoiler comments please!) 

19 Weeks

Dressed up for "Sports Day" for OANSA (being a baseball player, Lizbeth insisted I lift my t-shirt for the photo cause she said you couldn't tell I was pregnant if I didn't, which I kinda doubt ;)

Our baby is the size of a large heirloom tomato!
So I've decided starting this week, I'm going to do my blog entries as letters to the baby that he/she can go back and read later... so here's goes my first shot:

Dear Baby,
Today we went on a walk with Santa and played Frisbee with her.  We wanted to get some pictures of Santa with my belly this week.  She has been really curious about you and it seems like you guys already have a connection and are hitting it off.  She is always nuzzling up against my belly and trying to sniff you - we always wonder what she hears and senses from you.  She is a bit of a spaz kinda dog, and drives me a little crazy sometimes (sometimes a lot), but I think you will love her anyways (we do).  Today we waited to take photos of us together until after we played Frisbee, which was a bad idea because she was pretty tired out by the time it was time for our photo shoot and she was not wanting to cooperate...

Trying to get her to pose with my belly



Your dad trying to be a bit more stern with her (it didn't work)



This was the best shot we got. :)  I know you can't see my belly well here but just wait...

 

cause here I am looking like an elephant taking up the whole picture!

Later on our walk we ran into some friends from our old neighborhood, Barrio Cristo Rey - this is Julisa, Luis David, and Davison (who are in my OANSA class at church).  They are all excited to meet you and love you already.  I can't tell you how much people love to touch, rub, kiss, and talk to my belly everywhere I go.  You are going to have lots of people who love you, in lots of countries too!

On our way home we had to stop at the new bakery in the new plaza they put up called "El Dulcetto".  I have been craving sweets, and lately fruity sweets, so we got Chinola (passion fruit) mousse and it was delicious.  We will have to take you there someday.  Last night I was craving pineapple, so your dad made homemade pineapple pizza (from scratch!) and pina coladas (without alcohol of course).  He rocks my world, especially in the kitchen.  You are going to love him.  Hopefully by the time you can read this, I will have learned to cook a few things, but your dad will always be the champion in the kitchen.  I know you will love everything he makes (you can see how fat he has already made me!).  Right now he is downstairs baking cookies as I write this.  I don't know how I ever got so lucky marrying a guy like your dad.

Last week at school, I taught my first graders the story of Noah's Ark and we made arks during centers.  Someday I will tell you the whole story and we can make arks out of paper plates, paint, glitter, and lots of little animals stuck inside like I did with my students - there is so much I can't wait to do together. 

After I took the photo, I realized this project isn't too impressive, and that my first graders need some serious work on their cutting skills - but it will be better next time around when I do it with you! :) (oh and all the other animals are hidden down inside)



On Friday night, I had a teen girls night at our house with the anti-trafficking organization that your dad and I volunteer for, and we read the story of Esther.  I can't wait to tell you that story too - what an amazing lady she was!  She trusted in the Lord and risked her life to save all her people from mass genocide.  All of us decided that night to live our lives to be more like her.  We all shared prayer requests and there are always things the girls share that break my heart.  One of the girls shared about her struggles with self-image and bulimia.  I hope you never forget that God created you to be perfect and beautiful in His eyes and that he doesn't make mistakes.  Don't let the world ever tell you to be someone that you're not.  During our prayer time, Lizbeth prayed for you and at the exact moment that she said "y el bebe de Kristina" you gave me a nice, swift.  It made me smile to know you are listening already - I think you are going to be one smart cookie.  Afterwards, we got pica pollo and tostones (fried chicken and fried plantains) which is considered a DELICACY here in the DR but you must not like them because they have made me nauseous ever since I got pregnant and I haven't really been able to eat them since.

Even though I love having you inside of me, it's not without it's aches and pains (but you are worth every one of them).  A couple weeks ago I pulled something in my back dumping out a bucket of laundry water and have been walking around like an old woman ever since.  By the way, by the time you are old enough to do laundry I'm pretty sure it will be with a much fancier machine than I've seen in my lifetime so far, and you won't be using a bucket for rinsing or anything else.  Sometimes I hate doing it, but I am glad that I am able to see the ways the rest of the world lives and that I can experience it firsthand.  I hope you are able to grab life by the reins and really see it and experience it for all that it's worth too - traveling and leaving your mark on the world.  I know you will. 

Being pregnant here in the DR has many advantages too though.  The people here have some really funny superstitions.  One of them is that if you deny any of your cravings, you will get a birthmark (they really think this is true).  Last week the gym teacher at school saw me looking at his Snickers bar that he got for his birthday and insisted that I take half for you.  I politely declined but he was very persistent, saying that if I didn't eat it, that you would be born with a birthmark.  Then he unzipped his coat and began showing me the five birthmarks he had and told me about the 5 foods that his mother didn't get to eat during her pregnancy.  People here are so funny sometimes.  A couple weeks ago when I ordered mango for my Yogen Fruz (you'll have to try that someday too, it's so good!) and they were out of it, the girl took an extra five minutes to find and cut up mango to put in my frozen yogurt.  I guess the Dominican people really don't want you to have any birthmarks.  But you might have lots of them if you are counting for all the American foods I deny myself everyday just by not being there.  There are so many restaurants I am going to take you to someday and you can try all my favorite dishes - since I think you are wanting them already and can't have them yet until we get stateside together. :)

Okay well that's all for now.  Oh one last thing, this week I get to finally find out if you're a boy or a girl!  So don't go hiding on me like last time or doing any tricks with your thumb.  I think I might have a feeling which you are but we'll have to wait and see.  I can't wait to see you up on that screen again. 

Oh and here's a photo of your dad's students' work from class.  He is an awesome Art teacher and artist.  Someday he can teach you how to draw and paint and all that fun stuff. :)


These are sand art projects he did with the kids - aren't they cool?  Your dad is such a creative guy.

I love you already and can't wait to meet you.

Love,
Your mom (that sounds so weird to write for the first time! :)

To others reading, here are some special items you can please pray for this week:

*Our pastor at church has something called Wagoners Mitosis, which is pretty serious, and has been getting chemotherapy every week.  He has been quite a trooper and is still coming to church and serving whole-heartedly but please pray for him and his health cause it can't be easy.

*Malcos, one of Glenn's foster sons that we have been volunteering with, left home to go back to the streets, which made us so sad.  Please pray for his safety and his future. (see him below with his dog Mistolina that Dave was helping him to train - so cute...)

Here's Pastor Jeff all dressed up for Sports Day at OANSA with his beautiful wife Traci!

*Dave is looking for scholarships to take his youth group kids to camp, this will be another blog post but please let us know if you'd be interested in sponsoring a child to go, and please pray that the kids are able to raise the money they need to go!

*And of course, please continue to pray for our baby too! :)