This was the sky in Alabama last Friday night…June 13th, 2014…
…the night Gary and Amanda flew back from Haiti with their twin boys…
It was almost midnight by the time they landed in Birmingham, but we were all SO excited to be there to welcome them home!
We waited and waited…and then…they appeared!
Gasps and cheers filled the air as the doors opened and Gary and Amanda came out holding their sons!
Their daughters ran to greet them first…
…and it was one of the sweetest things I have ever witnessed.
Big sisters, loving on their new little brothers…
…and little brothers loving their new big sisters…
I just clutched my hubby and soaked up every extraordinary second. 🙂
Bet’cha know who we’re looking at in those last two pics, don’t you? Yep. Amanda captured some video footage of Sweet P looking at the photo book we sent with her. 🙂
I was all smiles while watching it, but when she pulled me in for a hug and shared sweet-somethings about my boy…I just lost it, y’all.
I’ll never, ever forget that moment.
I am so ready to go meet my boy.
*sigh*
***
Around 12:30am, we all bowed our head in prayer…
I’ll never forget that one either. What a precious and powerful experience!
***
It was such an incredible night from start to finish. To FINALLY see those boys right here in Alabama after keeping up with them on the Three Angels Facebook page for the past year was surreal!
Congratulations, Knotts family! We love you and we’re so glad you and your FOUR kids are just right up the road! 😀
And HUGE thanks to Hello Baby for doing such a beautiful job of capturing this night for keeps! I hope we get to see you (and your camera!) in that exact same spot again REAL soon! 😉
PS- Here’s a short video I captured of the kiddos meeting for the first time that night if you’d like to watch! #GrabATissue 🙂
Gosh, Layla…….I can’t watch the video…..as I am already bawling. i’ll have to watch it tomorrow.
I can, however, offer the Knott’s Family a hearty CONGRATULATIONS on the adoption of their two boys. Can you just imagine what must be going thru their little heads? Oh the sights they will see —the love they must feel.
Bless their hearts.
What a beautiful post. I can must see and feel all the love, coming thru in photographs.
Soon, this will be you and Kev. God Bless your hearts!
Thank you for sharing. I rejoice with them. I am praying that the Junkin family will be able to have a scene just like that in the near future. My nephew, Payt and his wife, Heather, have been in the adoption process for 3 years. We can’t wait to meet Rowen face to face. Instead of big sisters like these, he will be coming home to little brothers. I know how difficult it is to wait upon The Lord but we totally trust His timing even when we don’t understand it. Blessings on you as you wait your arrival. Keep posting.
Bringing home our adopted son was the most emotional day of our lives. It was the most emotionally draining experience, the waiting and hoping, but that all disappears when you have them in your arms, finally yours, finally home. I remember the absolute and overwhelming joy that just burst out of us and over everyone on the plane ride home! Wishing you a speedy end to your wait for your ‘Sweet P’
My heart is overwhelmed and my eyes are all shiny with tears. What a beautiful arrival captured in photos! Haiti is so dear to my heart and is our church’s main focus when it comes to missions. God bless the Knotts family!
Hi Layla,
I realize that you have no idea who I am, I have been following your blog for a while and I just have to say that the day you get to bring home your baby, I will be bursting with joy for you both!
I hope it is soon and thank you for the wonderful blog.
Kind regards,
Felicia.
I know this is going to sound NUTS….BUT… I have this book and love it. I read it and start face reading all the time now. 🙂 It actually does work….as insane as that sounds…. and since all you really have right now for your baby is a picture of his face….I thought it might be something interesting for you. 🙂 So excited for you and hope the time passes quickly so you can meet your Sweet P in person and bring him home. 😉 http://www.amazon.com/The-Wisdom-Your-Childs-Face/dp/1401925340
I have been at the airport to witness the homecoming of family and friends through adoption. And just like I did in person, I cried just as hard reading this post! There is something so beautiful and magical about witnessing children meet their family!! Much like witnessing a birth of a baby…..God Bless the Knotts Family and sooooo cannot wait to read the post “Our Gotcha Day” from you and Kevin!! ~Kim
What amazing pictures to capture what must be one of the most joyful moments in the Knott family’s life. That family picture at the end is more precious than words! My heart is just so happy for them. Thank you for sharing, and we will be looking forward to seeing pictures of Sweet P someday really soon!
Absolutely beautiful! Ugly tears :). God bless!!
Completely overwhelmed by this touching story. What an absolute beautiful moment. Nothing like a good cry first thing in the morning as I read this. Congratulations to them, and cannot wait to hear more on your story!
Tears of pure joy. Cannot wait to read the story of your family of 3!
I always knew how special adoption is, and how awesome it is for 2 people to make a selfless decision to welcome children into their home, and be a parent to them. One thing I never knew, was how beautiful it was. Thank you for sharing this, and looking forward on seeing you with your sweet boy.
aaaaand now I’m tearing up in my office, lol :). What a wonderful night to be a part of!
Tears!!!
What a joyful sight this is!
Many years ago, I used to sponsor Korean adoptees as they came into SeaTac either into their new parents arms or to accompany to their next flight or keep them overnight until their next flight to their new homes. This was through Holt Agency in Portland Oregon. I still see several of those kids and one childs family kept me up to date on her until she was well into college. God works out things in miraculous ways. We see that in these fabulous pictures.
I cried as I read this, and then I said aloud, “Oh if only Alvin Holmes could have been there.” I think maybe someone should send him a link to your blog.
How precious that love knows no boundaries……especially not race or nationality.
Praying for ya’ll and Sweet P!
Wow!! Tears of joy flooding my face!!!!!!!! What a wonderful thing!!
Just think, Sweet P will still be close to friends from Haiti!!!! Isn’t God great!?!?!? I loved seeing your face as you looked at the photo of Sweet P.
Can’t wait to see the post that says you and Kevin are headed to Haiti!!!!
So beautiful! Layla, you just look like you are about to burst. I can only imagine how hard it is to wait. So happy for the Knotts family, and praying you guys will be there with your boy soon!!
I am sitting here bawl-eyed looking at these incredible pictures. What a joyous occasion. Your day will come, and I am praying it will be soon.
Blessings to you and yours,
OMGosh! Pure tears of joy…what a way to start my day. What a moment.
Kevin & Layla – tears of joy for the Knotts family are flowing and prayers for you both as the time gets closer for Sweet P to be home!
This is just an awesome post for so many reasons and I LOVE that in the middle of her journey to bring her boys home she took the time to bring a piece of your boy’s life to you. That was the photo that started the waterworks for me!
Praying for you and Kevin and overjoyed for the Knotts!!
Tears streaming from my face with joy for this family and yours. Sweet p will be waiting at the gates to greet you soon. Much love to you both.
Tears… what a precious moment, what a beautiful family. Congratulations to them! I don’t know you, but I also shed some tears for you, how hard it must be to wait such a long time for your little one. May God bless you today with strength and joy. Can’t wait for the post of your very own Gotcha Day…
Oh, my goodness! This is so beautiful! While we were in a Haitian orphanage last month, we got to witness a “forever family” moment and it was such an honor! Thanks for sharing this!
Happy tears right here at my desk at work. Can’t WAIT until your day comes. CANNOT WAIT. 🙂
Blessings and much happiness to all! I can’t wait to see the post and video of your own homecoming with your little Sweet P.
Love and Faith,
Julie
That was awesome to have a group of people there to greet/meet them at the airport. I love the pics with the sisters meeting their brothers! Glad you got to see some recent pics of your son—-I know you already think of him as your son.
I seriously have to stop reading these adoption posts at work. Mascara runs are SSSOOO not attractive. But who cares, right? Good things still happen in a world filled with some pretty bad things.
Thank you for spreading joy today.
So sweet. I love the transition of boys looking overwhelmed at first and then smiling and hugging their new sisters.
I cannot wait to see you and hubby coming home with your sweet P!!! Every day I excitedly click on your blog to see if there are any updates.
Your expression in the photo of you guys watching your son is so precious and loving, but- wow- your husband’s expression makes my heart tingle – pure love – he can’t take his eyes off his baby. You will travel soon – I believe it! Thank you for sharing your journey.
Just BEAUTIFUL! You gave me happy tears….can’t wait for you to bring your son home
ohmyheart! praise the lord!
so thrilled for the knotts family. love and best wishes to all.
It melts my heart. I’m so happy for them, but SO ready to meet the newest members of our family!!!
Thanks for the morning cry. What a beautiful life you live and lead. To see such wonder …thank you for sharing. Such a wonderful story and so happy for the Knotts family!
So happy for them! Those boys are so precious (and their daughters too!)…and it won’t be long for you now. Can’t wait to see your pictures. 🙂
WOW! You should have a disclaimer for those of us dropping in to visit with you at the office (on coffee break). ….T-E-A-R-S. Holy crow!
So touching. High five to the photographer. Captured beautifully.
Layla and Kevin I think we are all waiting WITH you and looking forward to celebrating your “Gotch ya Day”.
Those little boys handled it so well. I would have thought they might be a little scared. However other than some tight grips on new Mom and Dad, they seemed quite open to this. They must have had some great preparation and explanation to help them adjust.
Congrats to the Knott family.
Peace and blessings,
Maryjane
I’m sobbing over here. All happy tears of course. Congratulations to your friends on their new additions. Adoption is beautiful.
No words seem to express, just tears and a lump in my throat. I have been following you like so many others in “blogland” – looking forward to sharing in your gotcha day!
what a beautiful thing to be a part of!!!! Please you all!
I mean to say “Bless you all!!!””
Oh my word! You should’ve started that post with #grabatissue So beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Sniff sniff! What a BEAUTIFUL thing to experience! Thanks for sharing ! That was one of the most BEAUTIFUL things I have ever seen! Can’t wait for your Gotcha Day!
Wow what an amazing post! I got the chills reading it and couldn’t help but cry. What a truly beautiful sight to see. Congratulations to the Knott’s family on their now family of four!! yay! What a beautiful family they are!
I cant wait for the day you do the same with your Sweet P. Sending love your way, and prayers that you will be back in that spot very soon with your little one. It will be such a beautiful day for the two of you! Looking forward to it.
Thanks for the sweet post! I love following your blog! (You don’t probably know me but I follow your blog and comment a lot, and I always comment on your instagram pics) @tomandash 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I have errands to run and I’m a blubbering idiot! I lost it too when you said she pulled you in and shared Sweet P looking at your photo book. That did me in. So happy for this family and now more anxious than ever for your turn! I have chills just thinking about it.
I’m sure everyone meant well, but how overwhelming this must have been for these two little boys. They look in shock. Best wishes and good luck to all. What a transition those little ones have to face.
What an amazing moment. Thank you so much for sharing. I dare someone to read this and not get emotional 🙂 This makes me extra excited and antsy for you guys!
There’s aren’t enough Kleenex in my house!!! My heart is so moved for them and for you. So very glad you were there to witness as friends because you know exactly how THEY will feel when YOU get your little Sweet P!!! Now, to go dry my eyes and try to think of anything else today besides this miracle moment in time!
Amazing! This is just so, so special! Thank you for sharing such an awesome thing. You’re next and we all can’t wait 🙂 xo
Wonderful and so excited for you all to meet your little one too!
Congratulations!!
Couldn’t even see all the beautiful photo thru the tears!