“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!
Tears streaming down my face! So happy for you and your family! My God richly bless you as you journey together and may your little boy join you at home soon!
He is adorable and all boy!! You make a lovely, warm, wonderful family. I am praying for you!!
OMG Layla…what a joy he is! Blessing to you and your new family…God speed in bringing him into your home quickly!
Well I needed a good cry! So happy for you.
Could hardly watch. Tears. Joy.
Ditto! *sniff, sniff*
Without words right now…
Karla in CA
The tears are flowing! I have loved following your journey and it is so beautiful to see you all together! He is honestly just the sweetest! Thank you for allowing us to share in your joy and your life!
Oh….no words, just happy tears. So, so happy for you. I can’t wait to see Sonny come home. Congratulations!!!!
Agh, that is adorable! Do you play this all day long?
Oh Layla, he is completely adorable. I am so very happy for all of you. Can’t wait for you to bring him home!
Just watched the video clips – so precious! The news about your neighbors in back is but another blessing from God. Our Father carefully orchestrates the most minute details in ways a human might attempt, but never can get exactly the way God plans it for a reason. And sometimes we will not understand God’s timing and reasons, but He does……Layla, thank you for sharing precious Sonny with us.
This brought tears to my eyes. What a blessing you all are to be in his life!
I would have loved being able to actually see the video when I played it but it was kinda hard through my tears of joy. Can’t wait to meet this little angel!
I love you, Karen! 😀
Layla, thank you so much for sharing this sweet, heart-warming video. Crying happy tears for you, your husband and precious Steevenson! I love coming back here to check for updates, and get goosebumps every time I read one of your miraculous 2-26 stories. God bless you and your husband for what you do for children like Steevenson and other families who are adopting. I love that you design and sell t-shirts to help support them. The “Don’t Quit your Day Dream” tee is one of my favorite t-shirts to wear. Keep spreading the love through your endearing stories here, as well as your design tips 😉 because those are always good, too! Best wishes to you guys!
Not only did it bring a smile to my face but also tears to my eyes. God bless your new little family. I wish we were neighbors so I could hug your little Sonny too.
Such a sweet little boy. You are going to enjoy sharing his life with yours.
Thank you so much for posting the video! He is a treasure! We’ve been following your journey all these years and our hearts are so full of rejoicing! God is so good! Looking forward to seeing Him operate and complete your family in His perfect time. May He continue to uphold you while you wait for Sonny to be ‘home’.
I have been reading your blog since the very first start to your adoption Journey. I have happy crocodile tears running down my face 🙂 Our God is an awesome God! So happy for your new little family
Ohhh my goodness, I’m all choked up. Thank you for sharing such an intimate new part of your life. You and Kevin walking down the street, for what I assume might be your first time meeting your new family, instantly made the tears start streaming down my face. Your excitement was pure joy to watch. Thank you, thank you, thank you and all my best and blessings to you all.
oh my gosh, no words, thank you for sharing your sweet boy with us, my heart is so happy for all of you, crying tears of happiness for your special family <3 he had me literally laughing out loud, he's so incredibly cute… congratulations!
Ahhh, tears!!! I know it’s been such a long journey for you and Kevin! So excited to follow along and see you bring your boy home soon!
All the happy tears. Your story is my favorite. Thank you for sharing it with us.
So precious!!! I am thrilled for y’all! What a beautiful family.
Love, absolutely love!!! Ugly joyful tears
That was beautiful to watch! I’ve been following you for many years and to see that your little family is so close to being together just makes my heart so happy!!
What joy this has brought to my day…I cried and cried all good tears and much love to your little family
How BLESSED you are! What a wonderful family you have! The long journey was certainly worth every step
Well I too must have need a “good” cry. He is so cute and so happy. I am so glad that he is your son because it looks to me that you and your hubby are the best parents for this wee sweet boy. And so nice that someone who speaks his first language will be near to help all of you if you need it. Although it seems you are already a family. Hugs and love from the south west of Canada to all you dwell at The Lettered Cottage. xoxoxoxox
What a beautiful family! So excited that your son will be home in Alabama soon! 🙂
I got ready for the day and then sat down to check email. One look at your sweet Sonny and I knew I’d have to re-do my eye make up. Oh happy tears! Oh happy, happiest of days!
Tears of joy! So Beautiful and sweet. I was waiting for a clip where he says “machine” when playing with the cars!! I love it and that’s what my brain says when I come across a little toy car. MA-chine!!
Can’t wait for him to come home.
There is nothing that compares to the first time you see your child face to face! I had tears streaming downy cheeks the entire time I watched your video. Memories of our “gotcha Days” in China came flooding back!!! He is more precious than diamonds!
So so sweet. Such a joy to see God answering yours and my prayers for you in such a delightful way.
Sooo very happy for you. As a mother of 4 adopted children.
Well done! Sharyl
Only. God.
I laughed, I cried, you’ve all become a part of me. xo
Precious!!!!! I’m beyond excited for you both and can’t wait to hear of all the great things to come! God is FAITHFUL!
❤️ He is Adorable! Congrats to you all!
So beautiful!! I can’t wait until he’s in your arms forever! You both are so blessed!~from an adoptee =)
I’m literally crying with happiness for you. Steevenson is absolutely adorable and you’re just all so lucky to have found each other. I’m so excited to follow along with your next chapter xx
What a precious gift you have received!!
I’ve been following your blog for a couple years – waiting for this day. And I’m so excited for you!! May God bless your new little family!
Hey Layla
He is adorable. I can’t wait for you to be able to bring him home! Hey, I was curious and went and checked your adoption timeline and noticed you’ve got the year wrong on that final date for the adoption decree. You’d have noticed at some point 😉 How long until you can bring that cutie home?
Oh, I’m so very happy for the three of you! The wait was log but now the journey of love truly begins! Isn’t our God so very good! I can’t wait to watch this wonderful time with Sweet P unfold! May God in His goodness, keep you all in the palm of His loving hands!
Love, Love, Love seeing you all together. Just beautiful!! xxx
Beautiful! Absolutely Beautiful!
God is great! Many blessings to you! He seems like he has such a happy little heart❤️❤️
What a beautiful video montage! Tears of happiness to the three of you.
He is so perfect. And so absolutely beautiful.
I am filled with joy for you and Kevin…and of course your beautiful son. This made me smile and cry at the same time. A Family is born…….what miracles God gives us!!! Blessings to you all xoxo
I cried. He filled this old heart with joy. So happy for you.
Tears and more tears. Oh how beautiful God’s story is! I’m so thrilled for all three of you.
He is so cute…..just ADORABLE!!!!!!!