Winter, winter at our house…and summer, summer just three hours down the interstate:
(Steevenson and my Uncle Rick, who was visiting from Minnesota)
And speaking of that little cutie…Steevenson has been home for 17 months, y’all. SEVENTEEN MONTHS. 😳 Talk about time flying! Zoooom! 💨
The Haitian adoption process may be longer than a lot of others (mostly because they are a developing country with fewer resources & staff), but at 17 months into our process, we knew exactly who our baby was. We knew his face and his name…and that he was going to be our son.
17 months later, we had already been invited to visit and bond with him twice and had a third trip in the works. Our plane tickets were already purchased and we celebrated his birthday with him a month later.
17 months after that, he had already been home for seven months. He already had been speaking English for five months and he had already been in pre-school for four months. We had (clunkily) settled into our new norm, and life felt a whole lot lovelier because we got through a really scary thing together.
I often hear from folks who message me saying they would, “love to take a couple Haitian babies home if the process was easier and didn’t take so long”.
I’m always compelled to share with them that those are actually two really important reasons why someone may want to pray even more specifically about adopting a child from Haiti if they are serious about international adoption. Here’s why:
At the beginning of our journey to Steevenson, we learned that Haiti is often immediately crossed off most people’s “international adoption options” list only because the process is often more lengthy and unstable compared to others. Obviously, God calls us all in different directions, and for some, the length and stability of a program is a crucial and key deciding factor for various reasons, but man did that info bum me out. But at the same time, man did God get my attention with it! 😀
I get it though. There are SO many countries and kiddos to pray about when you’re researching and praying about all the options in the beginning. And, of course, we want to love and care for our child as *soon* as we possibly can. Thankfully, God is there to guide us as we go, no matter how long or short the process, but since I do get so many messages from folks who say they would “love to adopt a child from Haiti”, but don’t because “it takes too long”, I just felt compelled to encourage those of you who might truly be feeling called to the road less traveled. It may be bumpier, curvier and stretch out waaay past your comfort zone (or even your “patience zone”), but it may also lead to your baby…and he or she is definitely worth the wild ride!
It’s really just a blip any way. Because looking back at a Haiti adoption adventure, time truly does fly…and looking forward, there’s a son or daughter looking back through time for you.
And take it from me, that lengthier, more mysterious time line ain’t got nothin’ on your determination to find your family…and as you travel through time to do it, all you have to do is turn back around to see right through it.
Layla
Your words convey such love and conviction about Sonny and the path that led you to today. You are each so lucky to have found one another.
I sure do feel lucky, Stacey! 😀
Those beach pictures are to die for. That little man on that white beach in front of that gigantic blue ocean, oh my. It makes me want to print and frame them and hang them up and he’s not even mine! I’m tellin’ ya. They swept me off of my feet. You are truly family. Made my day!
Oh, loved the bedroom pics and that spread that looks like ticking? YES!
Thank you, Rebecca! 😀 The water looked incredible that day and we created such fun memories!
And, yes, it’s an old Pottery Barn quilt and I’m so glad I grabbed it back then. I love the stripes and pin tuck detailing!
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful thought in an earlier post:
“Here’s…to answering much of the longing in the world by living like we all belong to each other.”
You unexpectedly and perfectly spoke straight to my heart. Thanks and love to you and your family.
Are you writing a book, Layla? I would encourage you to do so!
I would love to write a book and I can’t tell you how thankful I am for your encouragement, friend! 😀
I also think a book written by you would be a BLESSED read!!
I’ll be 1st in line 😊
Sending you a great big e-hug this afternoon, Diana! 😀
When you want a baby bad enough, it is very, very worth it!!! The time is just a “blink” in the happy life your family has now.
Amen, sister! 😀
I get so excited when I see a new post from you! Thank you for sharing your beautiful FAMILY with us – Sonny is a Joy to this little family in North Carolina!
I wish that we had adopted as well as having our biological kids. Now, too old. Just love seeing how everything is coming together for you guys.
Lovely post. I ADORE that picture of Steevenson in front of that red barn. Actually I love all the pictures of Steevenson. Pure joy emanates from that precious handsome face.
Inspiring words for all. So wonderful to see your little family:)
Lalya,
I want you to know that every time I hear the word ‘Haiti’ that I think of your family. I followed your adoption journey faithfully and was happy for your ‘Gotcha Day’. It pained me greatly to hear discouraging words about Haiti in the new recently – but at the same time I thought about your great story. There are no words that could be spoken to make me feel differently about Haiti or your story.
Your friend in Nashville,
Susan
Oh, Layla. You brighten my day every day! I have followed your blog for a long time. I recently joined IG, and your posts and insta-stories are so touching. I have little in common with you….no adoption, adult child, even our decorating styles differ. But you give me so many God moments and smiles. Bless you. And keep on doing what you’re doing to reach people and build on that.
God bless!🙌🏻
I love your story and “felt” along with you as we were going through our journey to adopt through foster care. It, too, is a looong process and can be so risky as you put your whole heart into a child with the chance they may not stay with you. I know many people avoid this route because of this reason. But I can tell you it is so worth it and I now have a wonderful 6 year old boy who made me his “forever mama!” It took us 4+ years! God was faithfully with us all along the way!
I can only imagine the work God did preparing your hearts and lives to mesh with Steevenson’s during those long months. His timing is perfect. Your story told in book form will be a blessing to many 💛
Thank you. Love and thanks.
Dear Layla,
you are right, of course, but I can understand those who are not willing to do this long journey. The problem is that the children in Haiti are staying way to long in the orphanage – which means lots of traumas and troubles – just because adoption takes so long. It’s never easy to adopt a child, but the younger the child the less traumata it has. It’s a sad fact.
I love reading your blog and hearing about your wonderful Steevenson.
Lots of love to you
Carin
Thank you, Carin. 🙂 And a lot of your comment actually reinforced my thoughts on the importance of not crossing kiddos off the list *only* because takes longer to bring them home. Makes me weep when I think about our Steevenson (or anyone for that matter) being crossed off someone’s list because he or she *may* have experienced more “trauma or trouble” than another child. And it seems to me, the quicker you start the process to bring your baby home, the quicker they can begin healing, ya know? And unfortunately your comment about “the younger the child, the less trauma it has” just isn’t true. There are plenty of younger babies that come home with more “trauma and troubles” than some of the children who come home when they’re much older. We know several, as a matter of fact. But again, I think if God calls us to our kiddos from hard places/hard backgrounds, He ultimately just wants us to find them and make them family.
I’m not trying to be confrontational…I’m truly just thinking through some things out loud. Thank you for joining the conversation! I feel like it’s so important to think and talk about this kind of stuff! 🙂
Layla, as much as I love your blog and all the decorating ideas you give, the things I find myself looking forward to the most are the wonderful posts about you and your family’s journey to become three instead of two. The smile on Steevenson’s face never fails to brighten my day–even in the middle of this awful flu season! Please, please, please continue to post stories about him and your experiences at becoming a family. It is an inspiration to us all, and we could all use a little soul nourishment from time to time.
Thank you for leaving me such an encouraging comment to find, Debby! Made my whole day! 😀
I love the beach photos but I have to comment on your house photo, too. It looks so pretty with new paint color! Thanks for sharing all of the photos. 🙂
Thank you, Beth! The paint color is called Simply White and it’s by Benjamin Moore! 🙂
So many lovely changes at your house! Why don’t you post about them anymore? I love your style and really miss your little updates😊
Thanks, Sandra. And I do blog about them whenever we have one to share. They’re fewer and farther between now that my priorities have expanded. 🙂
Hi Layla, thank you for the post and beautiful pictures. Completely off topic, but I was wondering about the lights over you bar in the kitchen. They are so perfect. Would you share where you got them?
Thank you,
Nikki
Hi! They’re from Pottery Barn! 🙂
Thank you! Have a wonderful evening 🙂
Dear Layla,
What a beautiful story! My heart smiles reading all this and I applaud your efforts to encourage people to go the road less traveled!
Such a handsome son you have!!!
Amazing style, amazing photography skills! I love the green painting over the bed – did you paint it?
Love from California,
K.
Please please let me know where you got that apainting with green trees <3