Pumpkin Carvin'

Today we went to Turpin Farms to pick out pumpkins. We had a beautiful day! Tim commented that if Julia was our only child, this photo would make a great Christmas card.

Julia loves "horsies" as she calls them! She got to ride one and she loved this!

She also got to do the tower. Tim did it first but I had the camera with me and missed that photo =-(

Once back home we carved them. A Combes Family Tradition.

Mike's friend, Benjamin, is in the chair next to Tim. He's in Mike's men's Bible Study. He came up and had dinner with us.

One day later this week, I'll post photos of the completed pumpkins.

a battleground state

This election, I am feeling blessed to be living in Ohio. As most of you know, it's a very close race here and the two campaigns have been spending a lot of time and money. Until recently, I was clearly an undecided voter. A few weeks ago, Barack Obama was at a rally at a nearby park. I decided to attend. It was a great experience with over 15,000 people in attendance. I wasn't sure of the restrictions on bringing a camera, so I don't have any photos. I had a pretty good "standing position" and it was very exciting. I met some very nice people.
Two days ago, there was a McCain/Palin rally at Lunken Airport, which is less than 12 minutes from my house. I brought Tim with me, even though he is firmly in the "Obama" camp. I knew it would still be a good experience for him.

It was held in a hangar at the airport. Tim and I took positions outside along a fence. The secret service or security was on top with machine guns; interesting to watch. Below is Tim and you can see inside the hangar where the speeches were given.

Tim and I waited for over three hours for the rally to begin. I loved it!

The plane on the left (below) is a smaller one that says "McCain-Palin." I think this is the one that Sarah travels in. It arrived first with Gretchen Wilson and a hefty press corp. About 15-20 minutes later, the bigger plane arrived! It was so exciting!

Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin were the first to get off the plane! We had such a great view of the tarmac and all that goes on out there.

Below is Todd, John, Cindy and Sarah! They were waving to me (well, not really).

They walked across the tarmac and into the hangar for the rally. We could see them via a big screen while they gave their speeches. Everyone spoke, but Todd.

You can't really see, but the Palin's two youngest daughters were signing autographs in the shadows. They hung out and talked to other people while the speeches were given. After awhile, a young lady exited the jet with Trig in her arms and boarded the "Straight Talk Express" bus. Willow and Piper went on stage right at the end of the rallies.

I was so hoping that I would get to shake someones hand. John and Cindy McCain were making their way towards me. Secret Service finally reached where I was standing...making sure the floor was cleared and made me put my pen away!

I got to shake John McCain's hand and we looked each other in the eye! I also got to shake hands with Cindy. It was very thrilling. Oh, Tim got kinda bored and gave up his place along the fence and missed out on this chance.

Here he just past me. Sarah and Todd Palin did not make it to where I was standing. They waved, but that was all. Their family boarded the bus for Dayton. John and Cindy were off to Florida on the big jet.

No matter who wins, I want to support our next President. As my dad said today, we need to support him and get rid of the partisan politics and get our country on the right track.

Now, I just want this election to be all over.

Karen

Last Weekend

Last weekend, Kaitlyn and Nick were home. We had such a grand time (as Julia would say it). Below is Julia with her coach and a friend at the soccer game. (Julia on right) The morning started out rather chilly. Kaitlyn was prepared!
It was great having them home for the weekend.
It was our last weekend all together before Kaitlyn gets married in five weeks!!! YIKES!

My four kiddos!

The "fam"

This is a picture of our debris pile after Hurrican Ike came through.

Our pile actually grew after I snapped this photo!

Nickenson

Nickenson is a 17 year old Haitian that Kaitlyn met this summer. Nicky and Kaitlyn became fast friends. Almost from the first meeting, Kaitlyn felt a "big sister" type love for him. You see, Nicky would come to the orphanage almost every day because his friends work there. He is rather quiet and Kaitlyn didn't notice him the first month she was there. She got to know Nicky in June when Michael was in Haiti. Nicky is a kind young man. He helped Kaitlyn speak Creole and she helped him learn English. He is very patient and I see humility as a strong character trait.

Nicky's mom is pictured below. Her name is Marie and she is 38 years old. She works sometimes cleaning people's clothes but it hard to find a job. Nicky has two younger brothers, Spencer who is 12 and George who is 10. They do not go to school because their mom cannot afford it. I learned that Nicky's dad has another family and does not live with them. Nicky and his family live in a one room house with two mattresses and a tin roof. When it rains, they get wet. They share that home with his grandma (the mother of his father) and an aunt. So, you see, there are six people who share that one room. There is no kitchen, no bathroom, no electricity. He is one of Haiti's poor. Our entire family has been praying for Nicky and his family. He calls me "mama" and Mike "papa." We have been emailing Nicky very often and Kaitlyn has spoken to Nicky by phone. It might seem strange to most of you, but it is very common for Haitians to have a cell phone.

A blessing that has come to me from my August trip to Haiti is meeting Nicky. I have a "motherly" love for him. Nicky shared with us how sometimes he doesn't have hope that going to school and getting a good education will help him. He sees some of his close friends who are older and who have gone to school, still not able to find a job. We would very much like to help Nicky. We desire to bring him here to study and get a good education that he can take back to help his people of Haiti. We are not sure how this will work and are praying about it.

We took Nicky with us to the Hotel Ibolelee for the afternoon. We had lunch on a beautiful patio situated in the mountains near Petionville and then we were able to swim in their pool. We had such a fun day.

I feel I have a Haitian son. I desire to let him know that he is loved and that we care about him.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future."

what makes you smile?

photo credit Linda Tomala

This photo came up on my computer this morning and it made me smile. I thought I would share it!

I really don't have much else to report. Our weekend was spent watching Julia play soccer and then church on Sunday. Julia and I went on a long walk to the Farmer's Market. She used her own money and know what she bought???? Two tomatoes! The whole way home she kept kissing her tomatoes and expressing her love to them! She refuses to eat them. I hope she knows they will not last forever.

Tim auditioned for a commercial last week. He played the part of a "bad used car salesman." We haven't heard anything back so we assume he must not have gotten the part. It's been a fun "hobby" for him/us.

Julia had an appointment at Cincinnati Children's Hospital last Thursday. Routine visit which included an echo cardiogram and an office visit. She loves the attention she receives whenever we go for a doctor/hospital visit. The news is good in that there is no change. Her next visit won't be until next July, so that was another piece of good news. Dr. Hirsch is impressed that she is playing soccer.

Nick went to Univ. of Michigan to visit Kaitlyn last Sunday. Kaitlyn shared a "slice of life" at her church. This is a cool part of their church service. Each time someone gets up and shares what God is doing or has done in their life. Some of the stories that I've heard are amazing and I feel these people show bravery in sharing them. I know others can learn from them. Kaitlyn shared about her heart for Haiti and our "adopted" son Nicky. (Some day I will post about him.) Kait and Nick are coming home the weekend of the 18th and we are all looking forward to that visit. I miss my "big kids."

Well, I guess for thinking I didn't have much to say, I've said alot! Hope to get a photo up soon of our HUGE debris pile in the front yard. The city of Anderson picked it up today, free of charge. HURRAY!

Love to all!
Karen