Slapdashary

Bon Fet Katouche

2007-09-14T18:53:00.000-05:00

Jonas -

I know I talked to you on the phone today. It was so great to hear your little voice say "I love you papa Tob." I miss you so much little buddy, and I am sorry I was not with you today to celebrate your birthday. I pray that you had a great party, and I am so excited that this will be the last birthday we will be apart. You are growing up so quickly, and I am so blessed by, even at 3 yrs old what a brilliant servant heart you have. My handsome little man, bright eyed and full of joy. God has an amazing plan for you. Know how very much I miss you, how much I love you! Happy Birthday!!!!!

I Love You!!

"Papa Tob"

Check It Out!!

2007-09-05T20:44:00.001-05:00

http://vpstudiodesigns.blogspot.com/

Hello Sports Fans!!!

2007-09-05T19:36:00.000-05:00

I come from a family that likes to collect "stuff", and well when it all comes down to it getting my little man, and Ellie Bellie home come before my stuff. So I have a few items that I am selling and thought I'd let you all know just in case you have a friend or family member that might be interested. All three pieces are autographed by the player and come with certificates. So here are the items and what I am asking:
Larry Bird - Game Worn - Framed Celtics Jeresy - $600
Dan Marino - Miami Dolphins Helmet - $700
Joe Dimaggio - Baseball - $800

So please feel free to pass the word and direct any questions to me : toddaburnett@yahoo.com

Weeds

2007-07-06T19:31:00.000-05:00

God's kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up too.

The farmhands came to the farmer and said Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn't it?

Where did the thistles come from?

He answered, some enemy did this.

The farmhands asked, Should we weed out the thistles?

He said, No, if you weed the thistles, you'll pull up the wheat, too.

Let them grow together until harvest time.

Then I'll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.

Matthew 13:24-30 The Message

There have been things as of recent days that have truly grieved my spirit.

I have been praying that God would give me His words to express an issue I believed needs to be addressed, and today while reading through some parables of Jesus I came across the one about weeds.
You see I feel as though the enemy has been sowing thistles through the wheat of our adoptions for the past couple of days.

I think that in our humanness we allow ourselves to get distracted by the thistles, instead of focusing on the harvest that will come.

I pray that as we continue on this leg of our journey through life, and our children come home, that we will simply let the weeds do their thing and stay firmly fixed on the harvest that WILL come as promised by the One and Only who is faithful to complete it.

Amazed Again.......

2007-06-23T17:58:00.000-05:00

One thing of the many things that always amazes me about the people of Haiti is their brilliant talent to paint. The detail, the depth, the beauty that they convey through their art leaves me breathless and teary eyed at times.... and this week was one of those amazing moments. My beautiful and creative wife had planned a surprise for me for fathers day. While on here trip to Haiti in April she had commissioned a painting be done of Jonas based on a photo I had taken of him in December when I was there. Words can't begin to express all the emotion that I had when I received this brilliant painting of my son, and the thoughtfulness and love of my wife. So I had to share it with you all. The original photo, and the beautiful watercolor painting created through the eyes of a Haitian boy by the name of Emilson. Thank you for giving of your time and gift, and Thank you to all who help make this possible You truly are a blessing to us!!

Fathers Day...

2007-06-17T21:02:00.000-05:00

All day long people have been wishing me a Happy Fathers Day. My Dad came and took Me and my brother Troy to lunch for Fathers Day. Kristina and the girls gave me gifts, and cards for Fathers Day. BUT.... there are 5 VERY Amazing things that without them this day would not have been possible... you see without Gods blessing of my 5 AMAZING children I would not get to celebrate this day as a father.... Thank you Jessica, Megan, Lillie, Jonas and Ellie for being the very reason I get to enjoy this day as a Father....Daddy....Papa. I love you all!! Next year we will ALL celebrate it together!!

I miss you my son.....

2007-06-11T22:21:00.001-05:00

Jonas-

As I sat here tonight I was reading comments on Mommy's blog and I ran across a comment Carsen left. It said this:
Carsen said...
Hey Kristina! I just wanted to tell you that your kids are precious! When I saw Jonas for the first time, I said how are you? He answered, "When is papa Todd coming?" He misses his Daddy! Ellie has become my little shadow. She is happy and gentle. Quite the pair you've got!

I miss you too Katouche - terribly I miss you. There is not a moment that goes by that you are not in my thoughts and Prayers. Every time a see a new picture you seem to have grown so much. I can't wait to come and get you, to hold you, and bring you home to be with Mommy, me and your sisters. I can't wait for the day that the seven of us have everyday together. You, me, mommy, Jessica, Megan, Lillie, and Ellie. I know it must seem like a long time since I have been there because I know how long it has been for me. I love you so much Jonas! You are an amazing little boy, and I know that God has a brilliant plan for your life. Even though I am not there at this moment please know that you are in every beat my heart takes and we have a life time a father son moments to enjoy.... I will come soon buddy.... I promise.... Daddy Loves you!!! Catch my my hugs.

Love

Daddy

Windows

2007-06-11T22:04:00.000-05:00

I Love Ice Cream!!

2007-05-27T23:44:00.000-05:00

Ice Cream Anyone?

Desperate

2007-05-13T01:25:00.000-05:00

Above Image Logo courtsey of Desperation Church; Liberty MO.
Art Modifications by: Todd Burnett 2007

Desperate:
Webster defines it as: Reckless or violent because of despair ( great grief or torment) nearly hopeless; grave; extreme, great.

Ok…now let’s take the word desperate and apply it to how we pursue a relationship with Jesus.

Luke 19:3 (The Message) reads: “He desperately wanted to see Jesus.”

Do you?

Do I?

Do any of us?

Pursue Jesus recklessly?

Violently?

Extremely?

Desperately?

How do you get when you want something so much that you are willing to do anything to achieve it?

Does Jesus not deserve us pursuing Him so much more than any earthly thing we pursue?

Have you ever been in a situation where you lost your breath?
You know what I mean, like having the wind knocked completely out of you or almost drowning.

Do you remember how you felt?
Do you remember how desperately you needed air?
That first breath?
How the panic set in and maybe even for a moment you thought you might die?

Is that how you seek after Jesus?

Do you seek after Him so desperately as though you are grasping for air?
And without that breath of air filling deep into your lungs you will just die?

I want to be desperate for Jesus……….. and today that’s my prayer for each of you.

God didn’t create us to sit with the wind knocked out of us.

He created us to have a relationship with his son, our life’s breath…..Jesus.

Be reckless…

Be extreme...

Be desperate....for Jesus.

Being the hands and feet of Jesus

2007-03-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

Thought for the day:

Romans 10: 13-15

for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

I pray that this verse will lead you all to take time to really pray and study as to the deepths of what is being said. How so amazing it would be if we all would truly be the hands and feet of Jesus in its purest form.

2007-03-05T23:22:00.000-06:00

Have any of you noticed that as you look around the small box you live in, how people today have this image of God as just being "out there" somewhere. Like He is in some far distant place. Like He simple created us and just left us here hanging until the end of the line is seen. I have been reading alot lately, and I am in awe by how amazing our God truly is. I was reading in Psalms today and just had to share. So please try to follow along with my random thought...

Psalms 139:7-12 reads:

Where can I go from your spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say "surly the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day
for darkness is as light to you.

How brilliant are those words. That our God is ever-present. That he is a God of here and now. That no matter where we are or where we go that we live in a world smothered in God. Drenched in God. As close as our next breath. In every place, in every moment. How simply brilliant is that. So why do we make it so complex?

Through the Eyes...

2007-02-17T23:02:00.000-06:00

Through the eyes of the world
I am weak
I am incapable
I am a loser
I am uncommitted
I am unable to think on my own
I am unable to change
I am stupid
I am untrustworthy
I am untruthful
I am unfaithful
I am uncompassionate
I am unloving
I am unwilling
I am in denial
I am lost
I am hiding in the darkness of my own sin
I am bound by the moral decay of my own mind
I am condemned
I am unforgiven

Through the eyes of Christ
I am made clean
I am made in HIS image
I am sanctified
I am not condemned
I am a new man
I am loved unconditionally
I am made strong by HIS power
I am perfect
I am holy
I am blameless
I am righteous
I am justified
I am filled with true hope
I am covered by HIS grace
I am blessed
I am not as I was, but as HE created me to be
I am rooted in HIM
I am covered by HIS blood
I am indwelt by HIS spirit
I am not bound by the words of man
I am bound to HIM forever through HIS death and resurrection
I am forgiven

Boundaries

2007-02-17T22:54:00.000-06:00

I received this via email this week - Thought it was amazing so I had to find picture for it and pass it along. Enjoy!

Oceans and mountains have definition of depth and width.
God gave boundaries to everything He establishes, creating a tapestry much like earth’s topography. His people join together to produce the “big picture” -- knowing their part, esteeming every part.
To define the boundaries of our purpose is to acknowledge purpose does not originate from personal logic, but from a divine plan in which we are joined to divine excellence and thereby reflect the very power of God.
We carry the fragrance of His power as we step into the day with His hand upon our lives. Today we will not go everywhere, but we will go somewhere. Supernatural power will company us, lining the path as though saying to us: this is the way, come this way.
His presence and power will keep us, both from harm and from careless wandering that might take us outside our boundary.
Sensitivity to His leading is the reason we come to an opening along the path and determine the opening is not ours.
Count the cost before building.
Define the boundaries.
Write the vision.
Make it plain.
If you see the vision you can write it. If you write it you can read it. If you can read it, you can believe and develop faith for it.
If you have faith for it, you can do it.
Write the new vision.
Define the boundaries.

Love you Katouche!!....Apita!!!

2007-02-04T21:20:00.000-06:00

2007-02-03T16:19:00.000-06:00

Grace

I know that it has been awhile since my last post, and I know that some of you have been asking for something new. Thank you bearing with me, as there have been things going on that I needed to take time to goto the Lord with. One thing I have been re-reminded of over the last couple of weeks is that HE and HE alone is where my value and worth come from. HIS grace and HIS mercy alone. HIS strength, HIS power, HIS might, and most of all HIS LOVE is all I need. The video I posted is a fovorite song... I have shead many tears with this song the last week or so.....Like Phil said in the intro.. I pray it will be your prayer too! Peace....and GRACE.....Todd

"I'm ready for my close up!"

2007-01-16T16:26:00.000-06:00

"Katouche"

2007-01-10T22:37:00.000-06:00

Sometimes pictures say so much more than words..........................

Libete pa lib

2007-01-03T22:45:00.000-06:00

Okay let me start by saying it is my best attempt at getting my point across in Kreyol, and I hope it comes at least close. This is a picture that I took during the Dance Theatre at St Josephs. It was an amazing night and I knew when I took this photograph I had to do something with it. Let it be a reminder that "Libete pa lib"...Freedoms not free.

Beautiful Sounds Never Forgotten

2007-01-02T23:20:00.000-06:00

I was sitting here tonight waiting to check my email and do my daily blog catching up and I heard it.... complete silence. At that moment I felt a little sadness come over me. Sad you see because at that moment I realized there were sounds I was missing.
Those sounds were the amazing sounds of Haiti. You see every night while I was there, and after I had tucked in Katouche and prayed with him, I would journey to the roof of St Joseph and I would lay there on the roof and submerce myself in the brilliance of Gods stary night and just listen. Listen to the sounds of the Haitian people laughing as they sat in the darkness of the night and played games on their roof tops. Listen to others blast music of their culture from battery operated radios as they too laugh and enjoy the time with friends. Listen to dogs bark, roosters crow, children play. These were some of the most wonderful sounds I have ever heard, and tonight in the silence of my room...I miss those sounds.
I also miss the sound of a little voice at 6:00 AM saying "Papa", and hearing him beckon me with "Come on papa" as he takes my hand and wants to lead me on another Jonas adventure.
I miss the way that little hand fits perfectly in mine.
I miss those big brown eyes and the mischievous little smile, and the way his little arms fit just perfectly around my neck when I carry him,
and I miss how completely at peace he is when we just ARE.
Isn't it cool to just BE!?

Email From A Friend....

2007-01-01T22:00:00.000-06:00

I received the following in a email from Elias (You-You's Brother) and it really meant a great deal to me, so I thought I'd share it. I added a picture I took while I was in Haiti that I started calling "Dreaming of Home" before I ever left.......I keep telling myself it won't be long now.
Thanks E!!!!

I was reading your wife's blog and I remembered this story. I don't think I've ever told it to you:I believe it was after you left that we started decorating forChristmas. There were a few boxes of green and red plastic ballssitting on top of the piano and earlier in the day some of the kids(Jonas included) had tried to climb up and grab them and play withthem. They were told the balls were not for playing with.
Later on I was downstairs again and Jonas was crying and pointing toward theboxes of balls on top of the piano and I told him, "No, Jonas, youcan't have those." But...well first of all he didn't understand me:)...but he insisted and went over there himself and climbed up. Iwas about to pull him down and tell him "No" again when I realized hewasn't headed for the balls.
On top of the boxes of balls was thelaminated sheet of pictures of your family. That's what he was after.Crying, he picked it up and brought it over to me to show me. I, ofcourse, changed my attitude from one of "about to discipline" to "inawe of the understanding this kid has about who his family will soon be" and how he missed you and treasured this, now bent and worn,picture of his family whom he will soon be with. What a great kid.
Thought you might want to hear that.
Elias

Joyeux Noel !

2006-12-25T10:42:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Jesus!...... Merry Christmas everyone!
Today I know will be an amazing day. Full of beautiful memories, and I know, since they have already started, many tears. It seems as though everything is reminding me of my "Little Man" today. It started with a gift I received from my girls and Jo-Jo that my Mom had gotten for them to give to me. As most of your know Jonas's bedroom is going to be Snoopy. His bedding came this week all decked out in blue, yellow, and white with a big Snoopy dressed as Joe Cool. Anyway back to the gift. It was a tee shirt and lounge pants all blue with Joe Cool all over. Needless to say I cried, and cried. I just sat there and hugged them as though he was right there in my arms. I miss him desperately today. I picked up his Santa hat eariler and cried again.
God is so amazing how long before the begining of time he placed in my heart a love so big that I just feel like I could explode. I praise my Savior today that this will be the first, and last Christmas that WE (the Evansville Haiti Crew) will spend without our kids.

I have to share with you a Christmas card that Lillie made at school for Kristina and I. It read as follows:

Dear Mom and Dad,

You have been a good mom and dad. When you told me you were adopting Jonas I was so happy. I'm glad that daddy got to see Jonas. Thank you for pushing me on the swing. I like snuggling with you after we pray.

Love,
Lillie 2006

and yes...I cried when I read it and again just now as I shared it with you. We are so blessed with three beautiful daughters. They amaze me everyday with their hearts, and their love for people. I can wait until we can all go to Haiti together.

Let today be a day filled with the Joy of Christ. Let us always look for the brilliance of Christ in all things, especially in the midst of the world we live.

So from katouche and his sisters along with Kristina and I...........lots of Love!

2006-12-23T12:08:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had a time in your life that you just wanted to be loved? Just a time when you wanted to know that someone...anyone...cared about you? One of the things I believe God revealed to me most during my week in Haiti was that this is a country of the most beautiful people on the planet. A people group that just wants to know that someone cares. To just be loved.
I saw some really amazing things. Homes that when photographed look somewhat like an unfinished set from Lord of the Rings, but looking closer you begin to see families on the roofs of these unfinished homes. Children playing on the roofs of this concrete jungle. Homes built like compounds, surrounded by walls with broken bottles cemented to the tops of the walls to keep people out.

People on the streets. I wish that I could really put into words what life is like on the streets of Haiti each day. People lining the streets selling just about anything they can to provide for themselves and their families. Women caring buckets of water on their heads to sell by the cup to others on the street. People wearing live chickens, tied together by rope, around their necks like a nice fashion accessory, Selling them to whoever would buy. Men rummaging through mounds of trash on the sidewalks looking for food as a stray dog ,that looks as though it hasn't had a meal since birth, urinates on that same mound of trash. Children just wandering the streets because their parents can't afford for them to go to school....and yet... in the midst of all this, what we would consider beyond chaos, and despair there is more joy from these beautiful people than I have ever experienced in my life. In the midst of shear poverty they are happy...joyful...and giving. They have servants hearts like I have never seen.

God has forever connected me to the hearts of these people.
So amazing...so beautiful...so brilliant.....and just longing to be loved.
I pray that as you seek Gods will in your life, that you would keep your heart open to where He might lead. As a good friend recently wrote let God write the story of your life. (Thanks Shawn) I pray that as this year comes to a close and a new one begins, that God starts a new chapter in the story of your life, and that it is a great adventure.

Two Amazing Souls

2006-12-21T21:22:00.000-06:00

I took this amazing journey last week. I went to this beautiful country and met some of the most wonderful people there. Two of which are pictured here....... You-You and E. Thanks for all you do to make a difference in the world around you.
I love you guys!, and yeah...I'm gonna plastificate this picture!

Before the sunrise

2006-12-18T23:01:00.000-06:00

Most people start a story at the beginning, but those of you who know me know I very rarely do anything the way I am supposed to "so sayth the world" so why would my journey to Haiti stories be any diffenent. So this one begins where I will call the morning after arrival, and will be titled...Before the sunrise.

"Papa" I hear this little voice say. At that moment I look over the edge of the top bunk to the floor below.
"Papa come on" the little voice says again as I climb down from the bunk and take his little hand as he leads me out the door to the sitting area just outside the room we stayed in.
"Papa come on" he said again as he lead me to the couch. As I sit he climbs up and lays partly on my lap. I rub his belly as he smiles up at me. He wiggles and rolls over. I rub his back.
He gets up. Takes two steps. "Papa come on" he says again. "No Papa stay here" I reply back.
He climbs back p on the couch lays on his belly and pulls up the back of his Scooby Doo PJ top to let me know he wanted his back rubbed again. As I sit rubbing his back I hear that little voice again. So soft and quiet I have to lean down to hear it clearly. "Papa Jo Jo" he is saying over and over as I rub his back.
What an amazing moment that was. To have that quiet and completely amazing moment with my son. This became our morning ritual for the next four days...before the sunrise.

2006-07-22T22:04:00.000-05:00