in, out, and on the way

(Keith, Casey, & Matt in Haiti)

(Haiti from the airplane)

(Matt teaching Hebrew in Creole)

This weekend has been very busy. Casey got home from Haiti on Friday, and is heading back out on Monday to Chicago. We had to do some last minute shopping for his trip, get him all packed, and now he is ready to go. Though, I am not ready for him to go, he just got back. Hopefully the week goes by fast and he will be right back with me.

As you all know, I have a new niece, Lily, on the way! Stacey is 9 months pregnant! Her due date is Dec. 26th. Stacey and Matt are both home for the next couple of months for Lily's delivery and to get all her paperwork ready to take her back to Haiti. Today is Stacey's baby shower in OH, and I am so sad I missed it:( On top of that, FedEx did not deliver my package for them on time! What can you do? I am excited and hope the next few weeks fly by. Please Keep Matt, Stacey, & Lily in your prayers. Casey and I are praying for a quick and not so painful delivery. Also, that Lily and Stacey are both healthy and strong through the whole thing. We love you guys!

thankful

I have So much to be thankful for. I have a wonderful husband that is ALWAYS there for me, a mother and father in law that love me just as much as I love them, I have a strong and supportive mother, I have a CrAzY, but great father, the best brother and sister's anyone could have ask for, two beautiful nieces, and a new one on the way. I have great friends, I am healthy, I had THE most beautiful baby in the world. I have a God that I know loves me and has blessed me to the fullest.

(The Santiago Family)

(The Ayars Family)

Thank you, that is all I can say.

far and away

So, it is the night before Thanksgiving and I am alone with my Deebers. My husband and the rest of the Ayars crew is in Haiti, with Matt. They will be having Thanksgiving dinner at the compound where Matt & Stacey live and then on a plane to Florida. I will be picking them up on Friday. I can't wait to see Casey! I miss him so much.

Now for me, I will be spending my thanksgiving with my family, the Santiago bunch. For everyone who knows me, you know my parents have been married for 32 years and are now in the process of a pretty ugly and rough divorce, sucks! My mom, dad, brother and sister in law, sisters, nieces and grandmom will all be under the same roof. It has been over a year since that has last happened. I have NO idea what to expect. Should be fun and interesting.

It is going to be a difficult holiday season for us, Brody should be here :( He should be crawling around, ripping the decorations off the tree and us chasing after him. I just keep telling myself he is in a better place and being well taken care of. I know it is also very difficult for Casey right now being away from me and knowing how I feel. Please keep our family in your prayers. Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be thankful for.

where we start

Casey and I have been married for 2 years now this past November. We have been together for almost 6 years, crazy how fast it goes by. It has been a wonderful, loving, crazy, and bittersweet ride. We experienced buying our first home, welcoming new family members, losing loved family members, and Living the Life...Ayars. We have great friends and family that are so supportive and always there for us. Especially when we needed them most this year. We were expecting our first child April 22, 2008, to our surprise it was January 3, 2008. We had our 1lb 15oz, 13.5 inch long baby boy, Brody Joseph Ayars. He hung on for so long, but his little body just couldn't take anymore. He is our little angel now. Life continues as we live, love, and grow through this experience.

We wanted to create this blog for family, friends, and ourselves as we grow and prepare for more of life to come and again, continue to live the life...Ayars!