“I will be seeing you soon, and it will be better than anything else.”
-J.D. Salinger
Our besties (Matt and Tacy) got their son Gregory’s visa appointment email today (praise the Lord!) so we will officially BOTH be able to pick up our kiddos together in a couple of weeks!!!
We are completely over-the-moon excited that God worked things out this way, and the thought of the boys going to their medical and visa appointments together is so comforting to us. The boys are only a year apart, and I’m sure (minus the needles- eek!) it will be a very exciting day for them because they looooove (and rarely get to ride in) “machins”. Mah-sheens = vehicles, in Haitian Kreyòl.
Which reminds me, since the school the boys go to is 100% French (Sonny has gone for 3 full years now) and the nannies at the orphanage speak 100% Haitian Kreyòl, it might be a bit challenging to communicate with them over the next few months. Fortunately, we know *some* Kreyòl, Tacy knows A LOT of Kreyòl, and the boys know several words & phrases in English- so I’m sure we’ll all be able to piece some things together. 🙂
We are so, so close to booking our plane tickets, y’all. Like, literally within a week from booking tickets, and two weeks from traveling to Haiti!!!
We will be seeing you soon boys…and it will be better than anything else. 🙂
Congratulations to both of your lovely families! This is such great and exciting news!
Even though I don’t know you personally, I find myself thinking of you and praying for you numerous times during the day. I am so happy for you … Remembering when our granddaughter from Guatemala came home to our family. All I can say is, “Oh my goodness, HALLELUJAH!” THank you, Jesus!
Those pictures are wonderful! Your little Sonny just radiates joy from every pore doesn’t he?
Thank you for taking the time for updates, you know we are all thinking of you and your family as we count the days until an “He’s home!” Pops up in our inboxes!
Lump in my throat…congratulations!
I am adopted so your story is very special to me. Love doesn’t get any better or sweeter than this. The best of luck, remember, eyes communicate more than words ever will.
So excited for you all! In approximately four weeks I look forward to welcoming my first grandchild…a grandson, so I will be celebrating with you all at about the same time! I can’t wait! I’ll be thinking of you all and praying for a smooth transition and safe trip for you all. God Bless!
Side note Layla
In my excitement to post I didn’t read my message till it posted. How many times can someone use the phrase “you all” in a couple sentences? Quite a few it seems. 🙂 And I’m from Canada, and nary an “eh” to be seen.
Take care, and I truly wish “all of you” the best with your sweet little boys.
So excited for you all! Do Matt & Tacy live close by so Sonny & Gregory will still be able to get together on a regular basis? Tacy can help with the communication too if necessary. No words are needed to express your love for each other…..your smiles and eyes say it all. Keep the updates coming if you can….know it’s a busy time but we are all on this journey with you and cannot wait until Sonny is home. ???
Thank you, Gina! No, the Riehms live in California. BUT- we do see each other at least twice a year (they have family in Nashville), and we already have our first Palmer/Riehm trip planned for this November! 😀
Is there an Alliance Francais near you? They might be able to match you with a French speaker who could come and help translate for those first few months. Or does your local high school teach French? maybe a student could come be your mother’s helper each day after school. French is pretty easy to learn, so even a sophomore or junior should be able to speak well enough to help him out. It will be so frustrating for a child who is used to being understood otherwise.
Yes! there is an Alliance Francaise in Birmingham!!! http://www.afbirmingham.org
…and Prattville high school teaches French. You should contact them and ask for the contact details for a student. That would make the world of difference for Sonny as he adjusts. Even just being able to chatter away on weekends or something.
Layla – praying for you as you prepare to bring your precious boy home! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Remember that love in any language speaks volumes!
I am so excited for all of you! How exciting!
Prayers that the rest of the journey is quick and wonderful!
Thank you so much, Maggie!
I would be caught between being too excited to sleep at night and knowing that if I could just fall asleep it would be one day closer. ❤️
Gives me goosebumps!!!!
Cannot wait till both of these adorable boys land in the USA!!
Thank you, Colleen! 😀
Over the moon with happies! ?❤️???✈️❗️
I wondered if his little friend got good news too, so glad he will have company!
When he gets here, will he enter school, or will you keep him close and get him acclimated first?
I honestly don’t know how you can get thru your days – I don’t think I could accomplish a thing with my head so full of anticipation! Praying the time swiftly passes until you land in Haiti!
Hi, Marianne! Sonny won’t attend school right off the bat. We will spend several months bonding (learning what a parent is and how to BE a parent!), teaching him English and exploring this new “world”. 🙂
So exciting! Hopefully, your friends live close by so the boys can be close.
Thank you, Debbie. No, the Riehms live in California- but we do see them at least twice a year. We’ve already got our first (Chattanooga!) trip planned together in November! 🙂
PRAYING!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Marsha! 😀
So many hearts and prayers are with you all. Thank you for always keeping us in the loop of love.
Jackie
I have such a lump in my throat for all of you. Can you just put yourself inside Sonny’s little body, to feel what HE is feeling. So thankful this is all coming together………just makes me tear up. Hey, crying while reading TLC is a normal thing!!!
God bless your hearts!!!!!
Wonderful news!! So happy for you all!! ?
Congratulations. Praying all goes well.
Oh my gosh it is so close to the BIG day! We are all cheering you and Kevin to the finish line! My heart is bursting to see the first pictures of Sweet Pea’s journey HOME. I cannot even imagine what will go through his mind when he gets on a plane, when he sees his new home, his own bedroom! There will be a lot of adjustments and a lot of learning and it won’t all be perfect but it will all work out.
This is nothing short of a miracle. To think that God looked down and saw you and Kevin, and little Sweet P, thousands of miles away, and He brought you together. That sweet friend is a miracle. God is the God of miracles. Praying blessings on you and Kevin and your families and on little Sweet P. May God go before you these next few weeks and make every crooked place straight as you go through the final stretch of this season of your lives. I wish I lived close enough to just stand down the street behind a bush and watch you drive up and bring him into your home :)!!! Blessings blessings blessings from Missouri!!!
This is just wonderful news! I’m so happy that you’re journey is almost to the finish line and then another journey begins!
As for the language barrier, my BIL and SIL adopted three sibling from Russia 12 years ago. Those three kids didn’t know a word of English or have any schooling prior to the adoption. Upon arrival, their school district in small town Minnesota helped immensely with learning a new language. But, the kids learned most of their language from just daily life in their home and (gasp) from the TV… PBS.
Safe travels and can’t wait to see pics of your gotcha day!
God is so good! So many prayers answered! You know we are all rejoicing with you, Kevin and Layla. Much love to all of you during these happy, special days!
So so so happy for you! You are blessed but Sweet P is more blessed to have you both as parents. Praying!
I’m crying. I’m absolutely crying (at my desk) …with joy and excitement for you (all 3 of you)!!!
I’m sending you hugs! Wow, almost at the next step in your adventure. Holy crow!!!
Lots “up” in my life too right now, so here’s hoping we all get good news together.
I’m sending you the biggest hugs, and wishing I could throw my arms around you and jump up and down at the same time as we cry and laugh at the same time. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like we’re “just e-friends”.
huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugs and prayers, eh?
(there you go Wendy, I managed to get in an eh for all us Canadians) 😉
Layla and Kevin…this post gave me goosebumps! Cannot wait to hear all about it. Praying for you all!
You and Kevin will have no trouble sweet Layla “learning to be a parent”. Ya’ll know how to hug and kiss and pray with that baby. The rest is just details. 🙂
I want to buy t-shirts from Pike Road Southern….I think you said in the last post that that’s paying for the airfare, right? I hope you sell thousands of shirts! I sent Kevin an e-mail about the sizes, but haven’t heard back. I know today’s the last day, so please ask him to check his e-mail. 🙂
Blessings to you all!
The day for picking him up is just around the corner! Wow this little boy is so blessed! He will change your lives in so many ways and you will love it!! Saying prayers for all of you and that Sonny will love his new home and surroundings!
Love how God works in the details – the two boys taking these first steps together warms my heart not to mention their two mamas ☺. Continued prayers!
So very excited for you all!
Layla: I have been following your blog for years! I wanted to let you know, as you have probably already heard, that the children will pick up English very quickly. Two of our grandchildren were adopted from Ukraine and they spoke Russian. It was just a few months before they were speaking English very well. Just a few months. The first few months were full of adjustments and challenges and were not easy, but they arrived in September and when they returned to school after Christmas they were singing Christmas carols and speaking in full English sentences! Have fun!
This is such fantastic news! Beyond thrilled that your family will be all together so soon!
I can hardly contain the joy I feel for your families…I can only imagine how you feel! 🙂
I have been a faithful follower of your blog for a couple of years now and I can’t believe this is finally happening. Super congrats! And P.S. don’t stress about the parenting thing. Y’all will be great at it!!
Double the joy..double the fun..God bless
My heart is so happy. I love spending time with both these boys when I visit Haiti and have been praying for them and you over the past few years. May God bless your travel and I will continue praying for transition time when they are HOME!
I love that you have shared your happy news! May the next 3 weeks fly by as you prepare for Sonny’s homecoming!
Hugs to all of you from a fellow adoptee (although not internationally) =)
God is so good!
What an exciting time for all of you!!! Little Sonny boy is so blessed already to have you and Kevin!! Can’t wait to see him home for good ❤
I declare and decree traveling mercies and the protection of Psalm 91 over you, Kevin and Gregory’s parents in the next coming weeks and months. I am over the moon for you. I remember when your word of the year was June, but I am sure you will come to LOVE AUGUST.
God’s Blessing
Nikki
Remember to ask them what “do you need to go to the bathroom”? Is…. When my husband and I brought our boys from Russia home – we forgot to ask and we were… Well my husband was ? Getting up and down every 10 minutes thinking they had to go… NOT a fun 15 or so hour flight :). Also, if you’re thinking of Benadryl for him during the flight… Practice with it BEFORE leaving for home – didn’t do that and it had the EXACT opposite effect on them!! ? What an adventure you’re going to have bringing him home and living life through his eyes when he gets here! Microwave popcorn? THE BEST reaction ever!!!! ??. Gods blessings!!
Jolynn
Oh we learned that one when we met Sonny last February…PEE PEE! 😀 LOL!
And we aren’t planning on bringing any Benadryl. It has the exact opposite effect on me too! 😀
Loved your perspective, Jolynn! Great comment!
Layla, my husband and I talk about you, Kevin and little Sonny every day! We tear up a lot around here thinking of you. Internet friendships are weird but wonderful.
Have a safe trip. Take care.
What exciting news!!! So happy for you all! I talk of you a lot to my husband, and we are praying.
Love and prayers!
So excited for all of you. God is so good. But you have been faithful and patient. Thank you for sharing your journey and letting us go along for the ride.
So so pleased for you all!!!
It will truly be better than anything else..!!!!
Much love from New Zealand xoxo?
So happy for you. I have been following your story for many months and I so happy that it has a happy ending. That is one lucky little boy! May God bless continue to bless you all
Hi Layla, This reminds me of my friend getting her 3 yr old from China 10 years ago. He spoke no English but within one year he was speaking very good (sic) English…probably better than me ha! So happy for your family
This is sooooo exciting! What great news! Prayers for your family!
So happy for all of you after your very long wait. I’m a little teary thinking about all the joy ahead for you!