4 Trips + 1 Premier AP = Priceless Memories ~ WDW Plans posted!

[mommy2mrb]

before I post an update...have a story to share....

Friday night during the tour of BLB with Cherylann, she stated that the 2 courtyard areas (currently covered with gravel) they would eventually switch them to be covered with astro turf.....a warm rush of feelings washed over me and I though to myself "That's it, this is the specific project we were looking for to add something to BLB" so after thinking it over a bit, I pulled Len and Cherylann aside and told them my plans.....we had raised almost $2,000 from Jim's bday fundraiser in October, including a very nice donation from Jim's bosses and company...I pledged to make the astro turf project a reality, which they were so thankful for!

so when we got home I put a call into Mike's office and talked to his wife yesterday....the most amazing thing! Mike said that they will take care of doing all the work and shoulder the costs of the project....they are such wonderful people to do give such a gift to us and BLB! I then called Cherylann and she can't wait to share the news with Len! we are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives!

so in a small way the project Jim was there to do in Haiti will become a reality!

I forgot to add....they are going to name the area in Jim's memory " Jimmy's Play Place" my guy was always ready to play and was a big kid at heart!

 

[morgansmom2000]

 

[mommy2mrb]

Saturday we woke up early and headed down for breakfast of bagels, mangos, juice and Haitian coffee, which is strong, thankgoodness for creamer and sugar!

we then walked around and took more photos

our bathroom - we were staying in one of the nanny rooms - so amazing that they have running water, flushing toilets and showers

our beds - all the wood is reclaimed from the forms they used for all the cement work - they reused everything they could!

this is a partial shot of one of the courtyards...its the cutouts of the capital B when the astro turf will be put in

the "chapel" reflecting area in the other courtyard - the cross and pulpit are also created from reclaimed wood!

one of the stair cases - this one leads up to the roof

the kitchen and the wonderful ladies who cooked for us

this is the "break area" for the Britsinaries, beautiful view

two little boys whose mama's work in the kitchen - I never learned their names, but they were having fun playing with some of the toys

we then heard Cherylann call everyone down to the dining room to help unpack the 38 hockey duffle bags filled with items they brought in for BLB...including the blankets from our "hugs from Megan" project, toys, art supplies, sheets, towels, toilet paper, toothpaste & brushes, flipflops, shoes, socks, underwear, shower curtains, was so amazing every table was piled high with items people had donated....we sorted and put everything away so we could get ready for the dedication.

 

[mommy2mrb]

The dedication was so emotional and beautiful...their are many more photos of it on the Be Like Brit FB pages if you'd like to see them

the priests and pastors

a few crowd shots before we started - we had 70 in our group and think there was around 150 there from other missions, etc who attended

the speakers included US Rep Jim McGovern from MA, a gentleman from the Embassy, all of the clergymen and woman, Len and Cherylann

and this young girl who sang, such a beautiful voice and is the DD of Pastor Lex and his wife Renee who run a school at the bottom of the hill (Misson of Hope)

more in next post

 

[babynala]

Thank you for sharing your pictures and reports from your trip to Haiti. Have so many emotions just reading and seeing the pictures that I can not imagine all the feelings you and Megan have experienced during your travels.

How wonderful that you are creating a play place in Jim's honor. Lisa - you are an amazing person.

:cheer:

 

[mommy2mrb]

Len and Cherylann then awarded Pastor Lex and Renee with the Be Like Brit star award for all they've done to help BLB come true

and also to Gama and his wife Angela - Gama will be the director incharge of the building and maintenance

final blessings and prayers

singing Brit's favorite song "Oh Happy Day" was so moving

at this point Megan was in tears and not doing so well, I tried to keep her calm until the end of the dedication and then asked for Dr. Greg to come check her out...we got her into the clinic and cooled off when his wife Amalia (who is a nurse) came in and took Megan into her arms and comforted and rocked Megan, which was so sweet (their group Child in Hand will be running the clinic at BLB which will also be available for the villagers of Grand Goave to use also) they left us for awhile and I was able to get megan to eat some mango and water and we continued to rest in the clinic ...as megan felt better I went out to get some lunch they were serving after the dedication....fried chicken drumsticks, beans & rice, mangos and mac & cheese before heading back up to our room, Megan wasn't up to all of the noise and crowds, so unfortunately we didn't get to meet most of the other who attended.

after a good rest and refreshing cold water shower, we could tell most of the people had left so things were more quiet...also a number of people we had come down with had gone to visit the fishing village which Brit's group was to of gone to the day after the earthquake...we weren't up to that trip so stayed behind and made a couple new little friends

Phun Phun - mom works at BLB

ChrisLove hanging with Richie Gengal

and little Frances - she lost her daddy in the earthquake too and her uncle is now raising her, Robere will be working at BLB also

views of the front of BLB

more in next post

 

[mommy2mrb]

everyone was coming back from the fishing village, so we sat and visited for a couple hours

us with Len and Cherylann

and with Father Bob and Father John (the gengals priests)

the sunset

Cherylann and Bernie (son)

as night fell we headed down for dinner of a Haiti staple...beans and rice and chicken soup, which had veggies, potatoes, dumplings and was very good and off course mangos and bread along with more of the grapefruit juice, LOVED that

after dinner we sat around and shared stories of Brit growing up and her friends of their college life and parties....they are such good hearted kids, but boy they liked to party! it brought Brit to life for us! I also shared my thanks to everyone for all the love and support they gave Megan and I.

the ladies of the kitchen, we gave them a standing ovation for all the yummy food

and a special gift a friend of Cherylann's sister Jodi made

we continued to spend time talking to those around us before heading off to bed, was such a beautiful, emotional day...our last day in Haiti was approching and I knew the most emotional day for all.

 

[mommy2mrb]

x a million

Thank you for sharing your pictures and reports from your trip to Haiti. Have so many emotions just reading and seeing the pictures that I can not imagine all the feelings you and Megan have experienced during your travels.

How wonderful that you are creating a play place in Jim's honor. Lisa - you are an amazing person.

:cheer:

thank you Liz, yes it was hard, but filled with so much joy also!
it will be a wonderful area for the kids, not amazing, just determined to make a difference for these kids in Jim's honor and memory!

 

[lovethattink]

Very touching update and pictures.

Must have been quite a temperature shock for Megan. I remember her having trouble in October here with the heat. That combined with the emotions sure must have been tough on her.

 

[mommy2mrb]

Very touching update and pictures.

Must have been quite a temperature shock for Megan. I remember her having trouble in October here with the heat. That combined with the emotions sure must have been tough on her.

thanks tink ...yes it was...we just aren't used to the humidity which is at the lowest in Jan

 

[mommy2mrb]

Megan's feeling a bit better, so think we will head out later this afternoon to get a few groceries and flowers for Jim's grave, bring them out and then pick up chinese for dinner on the way home

 

[blessedmom4]

This morning, 2:30 in the AM my time: Lisa and I had been talking for about 35 minutes at this point and she tells me about Jimmy's Play Place and I got my God Chills...I KNEW Jim's employers were going to do this!

Lisa THANK YOU for calling this afternoon and telling me. Thank you for talking to me before you all went out and THANK YOU for sharing these amazing photos, this journey and your family with us all.

Three years ago tomorrow a horrible tragedy happened to you, Megan, your family and so many more. THANK YOU for helping to bring joy out of this. Jim would be very proud of you both and I am honored to know you.

I hope Megan is feeling MUCH BETTER!

 

[DisNorth]

Lisa, so glad you and Megan had a safe trip. It's neat seeing the photos, I can't image how it was for you to be there. Seeing poverty like that is difficult but the orphanage looks like such a lovely place!
I'm so happy to hear about Jim's play place, how great that you were able to secure funding for it.
Hope Megan is feeling better and you have a great weekend!

 

[mommy2mrb]

This morning, 2:30 in the AM my time: Lisa and I had been talking for about 35 minutes at this point and she tells me about Jimmy's Play Place and I got my God Chills...I KNEW Jim's employers were going to do this!

Lisa THANK YOU for calling this afternoon and telling me. Thank you for talking to me before you all went out and THANK YOU for sharing these amazing photos, this journey and your family with us all.

Three years ago tomorrow a horrible tragedy happened to you, Megan, your family and so many more. THANK YOU for helping to bring joy out of this. Jim would be very proud of you both and I am honored to know you.

I hope Megan is feeling MUCH BETTER!

it is so amazing the Ryan's are doing this for us and them also, know it will help us all heal even more!
thank you for your sweet words Judy and for being proud of us!
Megan is doing better, we got to the grocery store and brought flowers to Jim, then stopped for Chinese food....tomorrow think we will just stay home and be together

Lisa, so glad you and Megan had a safe trip. It's neat seeing the photos, I can't image how it was for you to be there. Seeing poverty like that is difficult but the orphanage looks like such a lovely place!
I'm so happy to hear about Jim's play place, how great that you were able to secure funding for it.
Hope Megan is feeling better and you have a great weekend!

Hi Tracy, the words I keep using are amazing and heartbreaking, the orphanage will be a Home for these children and is so happy and bright, just like Brit! Jimmy's play place will be so wonderful and know will be a great place for the kids to play, so thankful for Jim's boss and their continued love and support of us!
she is...thank you same to you!

 

[VBAndrea]

What a touching update. I am sorry this was so hard for Megan emotionally, but in seeing the pics of her playing with the little girl it looks like she was well cheered up. I get so teary eyed though when I hear how moving this trip was.

I am sorry Megan is sick, but glad she is feeling a bit better this afternoon. I will be praying for both of you and especially thinking of you tomorrow. I hope you get through the day reliving wonderful memories and the rebirth of Jim in the orphanage through Jimmy's Play Place -- how awesome is that!

 

[DMGeurts]

What an amazing and emotional update! It is just so inspiring to see such beauty, love, hope and togetherness come out of such tragedy... Not to mention all of the friendships and bonds that were formed.

An amazing building full of amazing people...

Thinking of both you and Megan today... Many prayers and hugs go out to both of you. We all love ya!

D~

 

[p00h4me]

I agree with everyone about what Jim's boss did to help make Jimmy's Play Place a reality for the children at BLB...so amazing! to you and Megan! Good to hear Megan is feeling better.

 

[mommy2mrb]

thank you Andrea, D and Gail for your sweet words.


we will be staying home today, just need to be the two of us, don't want to share today with my family...

Megan is still asleep, but was feeling so much better last night!

Jim gave me a wonderful gift...I slept from 9pm until 6am, feel so rested! can't remember the last time I've felt like this!


thank you everyone for all your prayers, support and love...we appreciate and love you all so much!

 

[angel's momma]

Thank you for sharing your trip Glad Megan is feeling better, and that you got some good rest. Continued prayers for your family.

 

[lovethattink]

Thought and prayers are with you today. Thankful for a good peaceful rest.