“We do not create our destiny; we participate in its unfolding.”
―David Richo
Did I ever tell y’all about our newest neighbors? They moved into the house directly behind us last summer and you won’t believe where they lived before that: Haiti!
Yep. They relocated to Haiti in June of 2010 to launch a new phase of their ministry- Pathfinder Ministries. In 2011, they became co-directors of the Children’s Hope education initiative in Jacmel and area directors for Children’s Hope in Jeremie/Anse Du Clerc. They led the construction of two orphanages and oversaw the operation of 8 schools. They also led Bible studies, preached in local churches, and taught English to local Haitians, so you can imagine how excited we were when we found out they were moving into the house across the alley! I mean, what are the odds, ya know? And what a gift to have neighbors that speak our son’s native language right in our backyard!
And speaking of our little love, I put together a video of some of my favorite i-phone clips to share here today. I hope it makes you smile too! 😀
And if you left a comment on my previous post- thank you so much for leaving me such kind and encouraging words to find! You will never know how much I appreciate and cherish them…and you!
Oh those are SOOOO wonderful! and that sweet first hug to Kevin/Papa! A-Dor-a-BLE!!! thank you so much for sharing this. I’m anxiously awaiting news of when you can travel to Haiti and pick up your Sonny. Sonny is what my grandmother called my uncle his whole life. 🙂
Tears of joy for you all this morning, How you will bless each others’ lives!!! And the story about the neighbors? Well, what else could we expect? We’ve been praying for God to direct this path for you all. Can’t wait to get him here!!
WOW! Thank you Layla and Kevin for sharing this journey. At times I think we all held our breath with you and could feel the highs and lows of waiting with you. So happy for you and “Sweet P”. Thank you for enriching and blessing our lives with your faith and letting us be a part of Sonny’s life.
Love to you all,
Jackie
SO precious – I’m just bawling!!! Thanks for sharing your sweet son with us!
So precious! Thank you for sharing!
Oh the sweetness!!! When Steevenson came down the steps and wrapped his arms around Kevin’s neck -I DIED!!! The sting hit my eyes and heart!! What a Sweet P ♡♡♡♡♡ Rejoicing with you in NJ!!
Tears of happiness and joy for your beautiful family! I love to see good news and God’s grace in our world. Wishing you all the best on your journey.
Oh my, I cried through the whole video this morning with my coffee. God is great!
How can you to not cry at watching your first meeting with your boy?! Thank you for sharing your life so openly. Seeing God work through your family is inspiring. You’ve given me many reminders/reflections on patience, God’s timing, and unconditional love. Continued prayers and best wishes!
Such a heartwarming video of you and your son! I truly enjoyed sharing in your joy!
I cried through that whole video. If I had a job I’d have to take off work the day you show your hovercoming because I’d be a mess.
I was watching the video with my baby and 3 year old and he was laughing and said, “Is that his mommy? ” and then I cried more!
So lovely and uplifting! And now I have to repair my face!!!!!!
Tears of JOY for all of you!!!! I’ve been so blessed following your journey!
Wow! Precious moments!
Those really touch my heart! You are going to be molding him into one very special person! He already is special of course, but your influence in his life will give him a world undreamed of in the orphanage!
Love it so much!!!
Thank you for sharing Layla….so happy for all of you❤️
Having the love of a child is the best gift ever. It’s our gems, our most prized possession.
The unconditional love we have for our child is God’s heart in us. His gift to us.
Sharing, nurturing and experiencing a child’s pure joy and laughter sometimes is indescribable.
Cheers to all the days of your lives together.
I totally would love to smooch and hug Sweet Pea all day long. I know you will do it for me.
I think maybe label this as NSFW as I sit here with the happiest of mascara stained tears falling uncontrollably. Thank You for sharing your journey. You are a beautiful family. I was listening to Simon and Garfunkel’, The Obvious Child and smiling because you have your son (nick)named Sonny. Hoping he comes home soon
oh my goodness! Lots of happy tears over here! — I lost it when he said ‘papa’ to the phone… so beautiful. You guys are amazing parents and I’m so excited for you!
Oh my goodness! I cried like a baby watching this! It is pure joy. So happy for all of you. That part where he says I love you.. Oh my!
What beautiful video you’ve captured! Tears of joy streaming down my face the whole time! So thrilled and delighted for you all.
Not good to cry so much before work. So sweet. However, I’ll have to send you and Oregon State shirt for him to wear in a picture. Congratulations!
Such sweetness! My heart is in such a hurry for you to go there and bring him home. I can’t wait for that announcement!
Ugly cry! Oh Layla and Kevin (yes, I’m on a first name basis with you!) THIS just made my day (and even more). I can just FEEL the love and excitement through this computer screen! I’m so very happy and thrilled that you guys are now able to finally show the world your precious SUNNY (OK, Steevenson). He is just the happiest, cutest little on! I feel privileged to have seen your first moments with your baby boy. How he RAN to Kevin was just tear inducing! Heaven on earth! So, so exciting to see this dream of yours unfolding in pictures of his entire face now!
Joy, Joy, Joy! How awesome to hear that God has been working things together for your good, and how blessed I feel to read these updates. God is good. Steeveson has had a calling on him, since birth, and how lucky you are to be a part of that!
Crying for you this morning after watching pure love! He’s so precious and look how much he’s grown! Can’t wait for you to get him home. He loves you so. ♥
Wet eyes. So so beautiful!
What a treasure and a joy! He truly has a joyed filled smile and what a sense of humor!
I can only imagine the joy he will bring you the rest of your lives!
Thank you for sharing and yes it brought tears of joy just watching him interact with both of you! Congratulations Mama!
So precious. This footage made me cry. ? Blessings to you guys! ??
I know you have waited such a long time to show these videos. Just made my morning! Won’t be long now! He really loves music and dancing! That’s wonderful!
He is absolutely darling, and it made my day to see how the three of you light each other up! Beyond excited for your family to take its next steps together! 🙂
Oh my goodness, such a beautiful way to start the morning. I have followed your journey and this gave me happy tears and goosebumps. May God bless your family and continue to watch over your journey to bring him home.
You can never, ever stop blogging because we all want to see this beautiful little boy grow up..
That’s precious! It’s wonderful to see so much happiness!
I was on my way to church when your other post came, and I prayed for all of you…such happy prayers! And today my tears are joyful, too! Thank you, Layla, for letting us be a part of your family and for sharing your love with us. You are a treasure! May God continue to bless all of you with His love and so many blessings. What a lucky boy Steevenson is, and his Mama and Papa and very lucky, too! God is so good!
He is beyond adorable! Thanks so much for sharing your sweet son with us!
Tears of pure joy stream down my face as I watch you and your son. God’s hand is all over this journey and it is exciting to get to watch a miracle unfold.
Wonderful! A lot of tears of joy shed for the Palmer family this morning. A wonderful start to another beautiful days. What a lucky, blessed little boy and such lucky, blessed parents. My heart is singing!
Well, I cried 🙂 How hard it must have been to leave him. But you keep inching closer and closer! It will be soon now……………
Wow, still with tears in my eyes. What a wonderful gift God has given you two. My prayers are with you and your Sonny boy.
Tears of joy for you and Kevin and your precious boy Sonny!! He is just so precious and adorable!! He seems very bright and like a natural with the guitar — can’t wait to hear him play with Kevin someday! The Lord is so gracious. Your little boy is so blessed to have you for his parents… and you are so blessed to have him. I know it has been a long wait! My young children are always asking about updates on your family — we will keep praying for a quick reunion. Rejoicing with your family today!!!
God is so good and your son is precious beyond words.
Yes, that did make me smile, but made me t ear up at the same time. Congratulations for the new addition to the family. You guys are perfect!!! (Akso, I love the caption at the top of your page…”We do not create our destiny; We participate in its unfolding.”)
The waterworks are going now!!! I’m so incredibly happy for you. I’ve followed your journey for a long time. I can’t wait to see what else God has in store for y’all!!!!
PS How amazing that God placed a family with a ministry to Haiti literally in your backyard!! What a testimony of God’s kindness.
As I began to watch my daughter asked what I was looking at. I tried to say “This is Layla & Kevin meeting their son for the first time” but I just couldn’t get it out for choking up with happy tears!
I’ve been following your blog for many years and I have been praying for you and this adoption process. Seeing your boy with you in these videos is just so wonderful. There are no words!
I can not wait to hear the news of when you can bring him home!
How can you not love that child. He is the pot of gold at the end of a very large rainbow.
So glad for you! He is adorable. Looking forward to more videos from the US! Hope you can get him soon!
Awwww!! You made my eyes water this morning with that. Oh the joy that floods my soul 🙂 What a blessing he will be to you, and you will be to him. I can’t WAIT to see the video of your bringing him home :)! Blessings from Missouri!