A Birthday Celebration

Mama labored many hours and late through the night to get the birthday dress ready.

The final product! Very fitting, no pun intended :-)

Sophie is ready for the celebration too.

We thought it best to have Daniella's friends from Children's Church (Savanna-La-Mar Wesleyan Holiness) share in the occasion with her. Daniella enjoyed it very much. Here, Sis Arlyne Scott, one of the teachers, is giving direction to Daniella on how to cut the cake. Loydian, Daniella's best friend at church, is helping. Mama and Sophie are watching.

Babouchka Maria made the trip from Russia to share in the celebration.

The famous "blowing of the birthday candles."

About fifty children were in attendance for church. They made a great choir in singing "Happy Birthday to Daniella!"

Of course, Sophie shares the spotlight with big sister. It is ice cream time.

To the question: "How old are you now?" Daniella raised her hand and showed 4 fingers. School is working :-).

She is four dreaming sixteen. I am already dreading sixteen!

CWC Graduation in Pictures

Awarding of Diplomas.
CWC's choir sang under the direction of Maestro Guenson Charlot

Leadership Training Institute graduates with their teacher, Reverend Mavis Johnson.

Diploma in Theology graduates

Happy Birthday Daniella!!!!

June 7, 2005: Daniella Marie Joseph, Sleeping Beauty. A blessing to hold, a joy to behold.

2006: Already a seasoned traveler. By the time Daniella was one year old, she has seen Jamaica, Russia, Germany, Haiti, and USA.

2007: A new reality. Sophie's arrival changed things in many ways. She was in awe of Sophie from day one.

2008: Stability.

2009: Responsibility. I know, she is still too young for this big word. But Daniella has taken up the role of big sister and is playing it very well. In this picture, she and Sophie are on their way to Children's church.


It is very fitting that the 100th post of Josephs' Journal be devoted to wish Happy Birthday to Daniella.
Daniella and Sophie have been the greatest means through which we have witnessed and experienced God's faithfulness in our lives as a family. It seems like only yesterday Lara and I were walking around Wilmore praying and hoping that gravity would move the process along, and praying that God would grant Lara a safe delivery. Four years later, I am up, around the same time we drove to the hospital, reminiscing on God's goodness and keeping Lara company as she diligently labors on completing Daniella's birthday dress.
Daniella has made our joy and made our life complete. With Sophie, our cup runs over. God has been good to us.

April and May Highlights

Starting from bottom to top:
Highlight # 1: Daniella is happily displaying her 3rd place finish medal that she won at her school's Sports Day competition.
Highlight # 2: The college held a Seder celebration during the Easter season. Larisa led the liturgy. It was a wonderful time of worship and reflection.
Highlight # 3: It is promotion time! We have been going, going, going, and going this past semester in terms of promoting the college and getting CWC's name out there. This picture was taken at a Career's Day event held at the Petersfield High School.
Highlight # 4: May is synonymous with graduation. This year's graduating class had seven students. From left to right: Shakika Fraser (Valedictorian), Alton Stephenson, Carolyn Walters (Salutatorian), Dalton Mahbeir, Dwight Vernon, Jason Dixon, and Nakia Sergeon. We had a wonderful celebration. Of course this is always a time filled with mixed feelings. While we celebrated the achievements of the graduates it was sad to see them go. They have all touched our lives, and we consider ourselves blessed to have been able to contribute to their spiritual and academic development (among other things).
Highlight # 5: God granted us the privilege to have had two great neighbors this past semester. Guenson and Claudia were a great blessing to us. Guenson and I (Abson) have known each other since Haiti from the good old (High School) days of attending Music camp at the Universite Chretienne du Nord d'Haiti (Christian University of Northern Haiti). Guenson and Claudia got married in December 2008 and spent a semester teaching at CWC. They are both CWC alumni. Graduation night was their last one on campus, so we are left with no neighbors for a while. Friends are friends forever, so we will surely see them again.