“And as the dawn breaks and the clouds clear, in an open space, together we will run.”
-Steffany Frizzell
Suzanne and I hit another estate sale Friday morning. Two, actually. The first one was in Deer Creek, a neighborhood about 15 minutes from ours. I’m still giddy about the ($20) painting I found in the kitchen…
…and the ($3) purse I found in one of the bedrooms…
…but what I really want to tell you about is my chicken. I found him on a card table in the screened-in porch.
I knew he would be for sale that day, because I saw a photo of him listed on the EstateSales.net site a few days before. There was a sticker that read “$8” stuck to his chest, and I was absolutely smitten with his (inexpensive) farm-style self. I texted Suzanne about Mission: Chicken on Thursday night, and when I woke up on Friday, this was the first picture that popped up in my Instagram feed:
One of the fellow adoptive mamas in our Three Angels group had posted it. She and her husband have since flown back home to Ohio, but at the time, they were in Haiti meeting their daughter, who also lives at our son’s orphanage. I quickly left her this comment on the photo…
…and then I raced to get ready, and dashed over to the estate sale house to meet up with Suzanne. When I saw that Insta-photo, I was REALLY determined to get that chicken! 😀 By the time I arrived at the house, a long line had formed up the sidewalk that led straight to the front door. Suzanne joined me in line a few minutes later, and we both noticed there was a much shorter line over on the side of the house, near the garage. Right as the clock struck 9am, we decided to scoot over to the shorter line, in hopes that it would be a quicker route to the screened-in porch…wherever that was. As we all moved forward, (fighting the urge to run- ha!) some folks decided to stop and check out what was for sale in the garage, but Suzanne and I kept walking toward the rear of the house. When we turned the back corner, we spotted the porch. A few people had already overflowed into it from inside the house. Those estate sale shoppers are fast! I did a quick scan of the floor (because that’s where I had seen the chicken in the photo on EstateSales.net), but he was nowhere to be found. I circled back around and scanned the top of the table next to the door we came in through. There he was! Right on top, next to an identical chicken that was painted bright red. By this time, there were several more people in the porch with us, so it was a bit of a challenge to get to the my chicken without bumping into someone. And isn’t it funny how when you’ve got your heart set on something like that, you’re positive that everyone else around you is there to scoop up the same thing? LOL! 😀
Suzanne and I met up with her mom at estate sale #2 a little later that morning. I found the perfect ($14) like-new rug for Sweet P’s bathroom, and Suzanne picked up an awesome old console table for her entry way. I can’t wait to show it to you. We need to modify it a little, and then after we decorate around it I’ll post some pics.
When we were done wandering around that house, we walked out to Suzanne’s mom’s car. We were loading some things into the back when my phone started ringing. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw the word Lifeline lit up on the screen. It didn’t surprise me because we usually hear from our caseworker (Meredith) on Fridays. For 62 Fridays, she has had to call (or email) and tell us that there hasn’t been much movement with our son’s paperwork. Updates on Fridays have been tough for the past 434 days, and I know reaching out couldn’t have been easy for Meredith either.
She asked me if Kevin was with me. I told her “no, I’m at an estate sale with my friend, Suzanne and her mom“. I rambled on and about how much fun we were having, and about how much I was hooked on estate sales now, yada yada yada. Anything to keep the conversation light-hearted so she didn’t have to feel bad about giving me another “no movement” update…and to protect my heart from possibly having to hear another one, I guess. She giggled about my estate sale ramblings, and then asked if there was any way to get Kevin on the phone. That’s when I felt my brain-brakes come to a screeching halt. “Oh! There’s an UPDATE-update? Like, a REAL update?“, I asked. “Yes. There’s a real update“, she replied, with a smile, I could tell. I wanted to hear it right then and there, so I told her she could just tell me and that I would call Kevin and share it with him as soon as we hung up.
Y’all.
We got the last signature.
THEY WANT US TO FLY TO HAITI AND BOND WITH OUR BOY!!!
My legs turned to spaghetti as the words came out of Meredith’s mouth. I dropped down to the curb and slammed my left hand over my mouth. Tears streamed as I half-listened to Meredith for the next minute or so- my brain-brakes in wide open mode at this point…a thousand thoughts racing every which way inside my head: “Is this really happening? Am I really getting THE phone call? I can’t wait to tell Kevin! I have to board a plane again. I get to hold my baby! The date my Grandma showed was 2-26…will we be there then?”
I called Kevin as soon as I hung up, and when I got home, we hugged and danced and cried and smiled our faces off. 🙂
I’m not exactly sure when we’ll travel yet, but it’s looking like late February. Can you believe it?
It won’t be long now, Sonny boy. The dawn is breaking, the clouds are clearing…and SOON, in an open space, TOGETHER we will run.
So excited for you guys and your boy!!! Praise God for His perfect timing and open doors!
Oh my gosh!!! My eyes started filling with tears before I was even to the good part, just knowing what was coming. I’m so excited for ya’ll it has been a long time and now you will finally be able to hold that precious boy. I know your arms will be aching until you’re able to get over there and give him a big ol’ hug.
I am beyond excited for you. Been following ‘the story’ but never commented. In tears and so thrilled for you. Can’t wait to see pics from the trip! Squeeee! : )
I saw that instagram post and commented that it was the best news I’d heard that day! I correct myself… best news EVER!!!! Yay! Karen
PRAISE THE LORD!
That is so awesomely wonderful, Layla and Kevin!! I know you will have a great and blessed trip! Can’t wait to see the pics!
God is God..so happy for you all.
Layla and Kevin, as I had my quiet time and praying for you all this morning, a peace came over me. Then I read your post and I can hardly believe what I read. I am beyond excited for you all. Praying traveling mercies for you both. What an exciting time for all.
Oh Layla,
I’m so happy for you guys!! I feel the tears coming. I can’t wait to see pics of you guys with your son. I whispered a prayer that God will give you all the strength to continue to wait on Him. God is good!
So very happy for you, but especially for Sweet Pea. He has been waiting even longer for the love of a mama and daddy. Like everyone else, I’ll be anxiously awaiting the updates to your story. Safe travels!
I am sitting here this morning with tears of joy running down my face….I am so very happy that the lord has deemed it time for you to meet Sweetpea!!! Hugs and love!!!
Congratulations!!!
Tears of joy streaming down my face and my heart is so full for you, Kevin, and your son I can hardly catch my breath.
and SOON, in an open space, TOGETHER we will run.
~what a beautiful visual!
So excited for your joy. It is joy unspeakable!
SO MANY prayers answered! We all rejoice with you, Layla and Kevin. We will be with you in spirit on your journey. Blessings, blessings to all three of you!
So, how can I help? Do you need some miles? …..
Tears of happiness, excitement for you, praise to God, and YIPPEEEEEE!!!!!! It won’t be long until you have that boy in your arms!!!
God is so good! As I read this (on Feb. 2 – one day after your posting) it is my own son’s 28th birthday – happy tears were shed this morning as I posted a picture on FB of him at just about the age of your Sonny boy (beside a picture of him all grown up, with his own baby girl) and now I’m again shedding happy tears just to think that you and Kevin will soon be actually holding your own sweet boy! Thank you for sharing this incredible journey. Continued prayers as you soon make your way across the many miles that your heart has already traveled so often.
Congrats! Exciting news. I have been following your adoption journey. After you get to meet him, what are the next steps? I feel like it’s been such a long process I can’t remember.
At last! Hallelujah!!!
So very happy for you! God Bless
I saw your post on IG but reading your post here makes my heart burst open with happiness for you!!!!!!
So excited, and happy for you!!!!!!
Praise God! So exciting!!
Filled with joy for you and Kevin that you will soon have your beautiful son in your arms. All of us have prayed and watched over your family on this long journey and soon you and your son will be together for a lifetime of love.
Patti
Really happy for you! I’m not familiar with this process, how long do you get to stay to bond with him?? And then what happens after the bonding trip? I hope it means you get to bring him home soon!
Absolute. Tears. Of. Joy.
I’ve been reading your blog for years, and today I am crying at my desk I am so happy for you and Kevin. Hallelujah!
Oh, what a blessing from God. Your news is wonderful and has made my day!
What a blessing your Sweet P is. I am so excited for your adventure. Congratulations!
Yay Layla!!! This is soooo exciting! Congrats! xoxo
So excited! Can’t wait for your family to be together!!
oh, you make me cry… 🙂 i am so hoping that he gets to come home with you soon.. i cant imagine any other people that are more deserving and more loving. i am saying a special prayer for you and sonny boy… layla i hope this all comes together real soon. 🙂
I do not know you, but I just cried happy tears for you. From one adoptive mama to another, I know what it feels like to know your child is there waiting for you in the world. You will scoop him up soon and never let him go and it will be worth all those phone calls that said, “No news.”
Praying for you and Sweet Pea…
I’m so happy for you!!!
So happy for you both! Now, I need to get a kleenex…
Oooh, I’m crying (not a good thing to do at work)! But so happy for your good news!
Winner! Winner! Chicken dinner!!! Praise The Lord!!! Praying for all three of you!
Yippee!! Been praying in Kansas for you for months. I’m mom to two boys now 16 and 17 from Russia. Greatest gifts in my life. So very excited for you and God’s perfect timing!
I am so happy for you two! I just wish the whole system moved faster so you would have had him with you sooner.
Tears and goosebumps and smiles and laughs. You just got me with all of them with this update! 🙂 So, so happy for your family!!
No words…….just tears……
So happy for all of you!
I’m so happy for your little family! I’m crying tears of joy for you.
I raced over here from Instagram because I knew this was going to be awesome news. I have the chills Layla!!! SO excited for you!!!!
Tears in my eyes!!! Whooowhoooo! I knew it, I just knew it! Congrats!
Tears of Joy for you in Minneapolis, MN – I have been anonomously reading and loving your blog for quite awhile so I could not help but to be so excited with you! God is so Good!
so happy for you both!! brought tears to my eyes!
Tears of happiness are flowing down my cheeks. I am so happy for the three of you. Congratulations 🙂
What a great update! SO very happy for you both. This is just wonderful news 🙂
Crying happy happy tears right now for you and Kevin and that sweet baby who is waiting for you.