The last time I signed into this blog was 586 days ago. Writing was such a key part of my ability to cope with stress and internal turmoil for so long. It feels good to brush off the cobwebs and sign into this dormant place again.It feels a little bit like walking into a coffee date with an old friend you haven't seen in years. Adam Grant said: "Writing isn't what you do after you have an idea. It's how you develop an inkling into an insight. Turning thoughts into words sharpens reasoning. What's fuzzy in your head is clear on the page. "I'm not a writer" shouldn't stop you fr ..read more

Today it is my joy and honor to share a story of healing and courageous recovery with you. Meet my co-midwife and friend, Mica. Today she is hopeful that in sharing her story she may encourage others that have suffered in shame or felt their lives were over.   Please feel free to share this with anyone you think may feel less alone or be encouraged by watching.   ..read more

Appointment dates available in MPLS/ST PAUL   July 17-19-20 and July 24-25-26-27   (July 18th is unavailable due to an already booked wedding) Isaac will be choosing a park in Minneapolis and a park in St Paul for each of the weekends. The first Sunday (19th) will be St Paul, the second Saturday (25th) will be Minneapolis.  On other dates Isaac is able to come to your location, the additional fee for that would be the cost of a Lyft or Uber to and from your chosen location from where he is staying in Minneapolis. To make an appointment and secure a place on Isaac ..read more

The day the calendar rolled over to May, did you marvel at how many years you spent getting through the first four months of 2020? We did.  I haven’t written here since before all the virus things began to happen. My last three entries were in February. Things are weird for everyone and the days are long and the months take years.   The kids started their 2019-2020 school year (THE ONE WE ARE STILL IN) back in Haiti in the month of August, fully anticipating that it would end in Haiti in the month of May. The two seniors were eager to get going, knowing that they had much to ac ..read more

Noah & Geronne today  While we did not approach many things the same way and the cultural divide was challenging and quite obvious at times, my long-time relationship with Geronne taught me a lot about myself and Haiti and human nature. I always felt weird having help in my house. I was embarrassed about it. I would get mad at how awkward it felt. I couldn't ever come to a peaceful way to feel about being the one that gets to afford to have a helper/housekeeper.   Geronne could never get why I would refuse help sometimes, it was too complicated to ever explain and our ..read more

I’m sure other people have written about this eloquently. That is not what will happen here. Today, I bring you another way to write about it.  sans eloquence  Over the last decade and a few spare years I watched and learned a lot in Haiti. I saw red-flags frequently.  I cannot speak to every red flag in every area in a single post. I can speak to just one today.   There is a problem.   It is not a small one. In missions, non-profit, and humanitarian work there is a large issue with people that need to be needed.   When they arrive to begin ..read more

When we made the decision to have the kids and I leave Haiti earlier than our June 2020 plan, I was a little bit pissy.  I didn't want to go - like at all. I did the single Mom thing for six years back in the 90's and didn't much enjoy it. The seven months we need to live in different countries (in order to do a good job and see the transition plans out)  is at the half way point TODAY. Last week during a poorly attended yet still so amazing 2am pity party, that I threw for me, myself, and I --  I figured out the exact halfway point between the date I left Haiti and the dat ..read more

Thank you for stopping here! We first began keeping statistics at The Heartline Maternity Center about three years after we added labor and delivery services. The first baby born at Heartline was born in September of 2009. By 2012 some statistics were being tracked.   In 2016 the stat-keeping and tracking got a lot better when we switched most of the record-keeping over to a digital system.   Any organization asking you for financial help should be able to tell you how they use the money. Beyond that, they should be able to somewhat objectively identify where there is room for i ..read more

The goal of this family tradition was two-fold.   ONE - for memories of our kids as they grew up in Haiti. All parents know this all speeds by so quickly.  TWO - to spread joy and maybe make you smile. We hope it brought you at least one laugh. We are INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL to each and every one of you that have supported or prayed for the work of Heartline Ministries in Haiti and the staff and participants and clients.  It is always humbling to meet people that say, "Hey, I've been praying for a Mom you shared about. Can you tell me how she is doing now?"   THA ..read more

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