“He laughed again, and I knew in that instant it was a sound I wouldn’t want to live without.”
-Wendy Delsol
The sound of his laugh has always been like chicken soup for my soul, but I realized today that he has another reaction that I wouldn’t want to live without.
It happens every time he watches a “gotcha day” video.
In case you aren’t familiar, gotcha day videos document the day a child comes home with his or her forever family. I watched a beautiful one this afternoon. The family in it was celebrating the successful homecoming of two precious kiddos from Haiti, and you know I was quick to click on that. 😉
I watched it first by myself, on the computer upstairs, and then I raced downstairs to show it to Kevin.
And this is how it always goes…
He pushes play, and begins to watch the story unfold, and then whoosh! His face and neck flush rosy-red, and the biggest smile blooms!
It starts on his face, and always ends on mine. And then…happy tears…his…trigger mine.
That reaction.
I wouldn’t want to live without that, y’all.
And after 327 mysterious and dimly-lit days of waiting and wishing we could meet our son, that reaction is like daylight in my mind. 🙂
PS- Here’s a link to the video if you’d like to watch too… Homecoming
…and I snapped the photos in this post at my friend Kathy’s house. Those are the pumpkins we got at the Farmer’s Market a couple of weeks ago, and I thought it would be fun to share what we did with them here today. Don’t you love how Evan softened the spaces in between them, with leaves from around the yard? So pretty, and such a great idea if you’re having people over! 😀
I tear up just reading your post!!!!
I’ll watch the video when I have time to sit and cry!!!!! Cuz I know I will cry too.
Really counting the days til your new son comes home. Each day , past, is one closer to having him. Sweet Pea will really belong to all of us….all your extended family.
P.S. Can we please have an update on Katie????? I miss hearing about her and think of her often.
You will *definitely* cry, Ter’e! 😀
Miss Katie is doing just great (thank you for asking!)…she already went on a trip with her to church to Chattanooga. Can you believe that? 😀 #PTL
That is awesome!!
Crying at 5:40 am but it’s happy tears! What a precious video. Those little babies know who their mama and daddy are. That’s the best!
I bet you do love seeing that look on Kevin’s face. There’s nothing better than knowing you both want the same thing so much. You are in it together. Can’t wait for your baby to arrive!
Thank you, Stacey. 🙂 I can’t wait for Sonny boy to be home so he can experience his (earthly) daddy’s love, too!
The video made me cry very happy tears. For the family is now complete. God has powers we mere humans will never have. His plan is always perfect.
I can not wait till we see that one video, staring your family. I know everyone here, from the far reaches of our country, will be crying and doing our happy dance for y’all. It will be soon, so keep the faith and enjoy your journey!
Many blessings to all, Hope
Thank you, Hope. 🙂 I love that you said “mere humans” and “His plan”…that is such a good way to put it. Helps keep things in Perspective!
Now we are all crying! Can’t wait to hug on your sweet Pea!! Praying everyday day for him.
I love you Jenny Walker!!! XO
I too have happy tears! Love certainly transcends many things. Your day will come too. Wishing you all the very best.
Thank you, Marisa. 🙂 I appreciate your kind comment so much! XO
These videos get me every single time. I’ve witnessed some gotcha days in person, it is truly like watching a newborn being brought into the world. Same emotion! And on another note: would love to see YOUR fall front porch too!:) ~ Kim
Oh, I agree with you Kim! Gotcha Days in person are so Miraculous!! 😀
(I haven’t done any decorating on our porch yet…still needs to be cleaned and painted before I will feel inspired to do that- LOL!)
Oh Layla. I cried when I watched. I can’t wait until I’m watching the homecoming of your little Sweet P.
Evan did it again! That is a gorgeous entrance to the home–magnificent! And your post is so beautiful in words. I love what you have shared. Thank you and God Bless two of the most patient and giving souls I may know of. You are both too dear and have such an amazing relationship and joy for life. Those who know you are blessed. Internet and real life. 🙂
Okay, you’ve got me blubbering here!!! Sweetest thing! I can’t wait to see your video of when Sweet P comes home!!!
Tears are streaming down my face as I write this. What a beautiful video! Just can’t WAIT for your gotcha day video! You guys are being so very patient. Thanks for letting us all share in your story. Love you guys!
Ok, where and when did Katie go? This is Katie, the model and Katie with the amazing proposal that you and Kevin helped with?
Maryjane
from MB, Canada
No, Ter’e was asking about my mother-in-law Katie. 🙂 She had brain surgery a couple of months ago, but she is doing great now!
Thank you for sharing. Today I am celebrating the 16th birthday of my daughter that we “got” 15 years, 3 months ago! I can remember the feeling that it would never happen and now it’s been almost 16 years! This morning I gave her the pearl earrings that I bought her when we travelled to China all those years ago to get her. I am kind of weepy today over it all and your video just added fuel to the fire!
I was tearing up just reading your post, but holy cow. How emotional was that video! So happy for that family and hoping that you will soon have that same experience. Ever since high school I’ve wanted to adopt a Chinese baby girl. I’ve visited that country a few times and will be going back again next year. Reading about your process makes me want to look into adoption even more. It’s interesting what our future holds!
Sara
I have watched the video twice and CRYING!! I’m thankful to go to a church where there are many adopted children and see what a blessing they are to their new families! I pray the Lord will bless this wonderful family. Thank you so much for sharing.
I CAN’T wait to watch your “Gotcha Video!” <3
Precious. Simply precious.
Thank you, Kelley Kay! XO
God is so good.
His timing is perfect.
I cannot wait to see your ‘gotcha day video’ and praise Him for being faithful to you and Kevin.
It’s coming. I just know it.
Thank you, Melissa! 😀 I feel like it’s just a matter of time now too. I can’t wait to share the news with you when we get the green flag to go!!
(PS- I mailed you a package today!) XO
Wow, Layla! That is one beautiful Homecoming video! I can’t wait to cry happy tears for you guys and your sweet p. Thanks for sharing it all with us.
We’ve only watched our daughter’s gotcha video once. It was so raw and emotional for all three of us we haven’t watched it again since.
Whenever I check your blog I hope I will see that you are going to Haiti to meet your sweet P
Layla, crying buckets! Thank you so much for sharing this. Both of my 20-something married children are going to adopt. One is in the process now. I can’t wait to see my first grandbabies come home!!!!
God bless you and your precious family!
I cried so much and now I need a nap!
Dear Layla,
So wonderful that God reminded me about you and Kevin waiting for your sweet p, this morning..and then I read this and my, and your other readers hearts yearned for this day to come ..come soon…
I really enjoyed the opening quote but the one where you said ” it started out on my face and ended up on his”..so beautiful.
My son Matthew will be 26 on the 20th, and I find myself wanting to look at photos of those “little boy days” ..Can’t wait for you both to have those ..God bless.
Layla I can’t wait until you get to post your gotcha video…you and your husband
are such sweet people. I feel blessed to have found your blog.
Could I ask where you found those wonderful baskets for your mums?
Thank you, Michelle! 😀
You are so sweet to leave me this comment!
Let me check with Kathy about those baskets…
A lovely display on the porch and steps. I can just imagine you and your hubby watching those “Gotcha” videos together, so happy for those brought together by love and knowing that your day is coming. Praying for peace for you all as God continues to pave the way. His timing is perfect.
Bawling….happy, happy tears of course. What a special, marvelous family.
I cannot wait for your video to be the one I am watching……….
As we know……..God will provide the right time for it to happen. I just hope it’s soon. 😉
Thank you for sharing this with us, too……………
xoxoxoxoxo
Hi Layla,
As a bio mom to 4 and a foster mom to 2, my heart yearns for you to hold your Sweet P. Thank you for sharing this beautiful video. There truly is goodness in our word!
Thank you, Tracie. I appreciate your encouragement so much! XO
What a great video! What an amazing & loving family. Those two kiddos are so full of love and it looks like there joining a family with just as much. Those two kiddos look like they give the best hugs, the big squeeze type, the ones you never want to let go of. I have tears of happiness for them and can’t wait for your video of when you bring your sweet pea home. Another blessed family by God!!!
What a blessing :-)!!!
Tears Flowing ♥
God Bless You ♥
I read your post on adoption. I was adopted. Because of my wonderful parents I have never felt less than, I have always felt I had more. This is strange because Mom and Dad were far from rich, when they brought me home they did not even have inside pumbing. We had more love , more attention, just more of the things that are really important. My younger sister was also adopted, we are nothing yet everything alike. She is tall and thin, with beautiful olive complexion, dark hair and eyes. I’m between red and dishwater blond, with blue eyes and light skin. I have always been chunky( my whole life). My sister was the cheerleader and prom queen. I was the wild child who loved art and reading. Yet people have commented “we can tell you are sisters, you’re just alike”. Our alikeness we get from Mom & Dad. Our love of people and family. Our willingness to help strangers. Our values. When I was 10 years old I was ask in school to write a report on My Hero. It had to be about someone who had made a difference. Someone I would like to be like. I wrote about my Dad. How his knees were damaged in World War 2. How even though he was in pain every day he just kept going and working, never complaining. He was a heavy equipment mechanic, who worked on a cement floor, lifting heavy equipment and tools. He was on his feet all day long, and when he got home he would go to the farm and work there, then come home milk the cows, eat supper and go to bed. He would get up way before the sun and milk cows, feed animals and even work on the farm before he went to work. He was told by the doctor he should go on disability an stop working or he would be in a wheelchair in few years. He just said ,” Disability won’t get my family what they need to live on. He was still walking at 80 years old. Even though my dad worked so many hours my sister and I always felt he had time for us. He would take us with him to the farm, out to the milking barn. He was always so much fun. I was worried about what the doctor had told him about working on his knees so he did a hand stand and went down the sidewalk, walking in his hands. He said see if my knees give out I’ll go on my hands. Dad not only had time for us but for his community and church. One day He ask me to hold his crutches while he loaded the lawn mower to mow a neighbors lawn. She was a widow and needed help. I ask why someone else couldn’t mow her lawn, someone who didn’t need crutches. Dad just said he was glad to do the job.
My mother also believed in service, she was in every church and community org. yet still worked out side the home. She was a wonderful cook. There was never a funeral or community event that she did not bring food to. Mom’s big day off was Sat. She would get up early and mix up rolls and set them to rise then make a big pot of soup. when the rolls and soup was finished she would put more than half of it in quart mason jars and pack 6 rolls with each jar. Then she would begin her rounds. One of the ladies she would visit couldn’t get in the tub by herself, so mom would help her bath the put her hair in rollers and leave with a grocery list. She would come back later in the day with he groceries and stay long enough to comb out her hair for church the next day. She had about 8 ladies she helped each Sat.( her day off). All had a jar of her soup and rolls when she left. On Sunday she would stop and pick up the ones that could not get to church on their own. I know many kids complain because their mom was not as involved in their lives as they would like. That was not the case with my mom. She was home room mother, 4-H leader, Primary teacher, ect. One day I ask her if she couldn’t let one of the other mothers take a turn. Mom just said I waited a long time to get you and I want to enjoy you. When I was about 21 years old my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor involving the pituitary. I said to her it was to bad that they had not found this when she was younger, because then she maybe could have given birth. I will always remember the look on her face when she said ” I did have children, Two of the most beautiful girls in the world.
My dad also excepted us as his daughters 100%. When we were toddlers dad had been told that children needed to know they were adopted, at an early age. So when ask who we were,dad taught me to say I’m Jim Sampson’s sweet adopted daughter Sheila. And that’s who I still am Jim Sampson’s sweet adopted daughter. No Identity crisis here, I know who I am and who I will always be proud to be.
After I was married and had growing kids of my own my dad had two very serious heart attacks. I traveled to be at his bedside and of course there were tears. But dad being dad said “don’t cry dolly, if this is my time I have had the best life.I am so grateful for my life but most of all for my wonderful girls. I have been so blessed.” Later I heard the saying” The richest person is not the person who has the most but the one who requires the least to be happy” this was my parents. They had little in the way of material thing, but were willing to give so much