- The excited squeals of the kids at New Hope as we pulled through the gate for the first time in 5 months.
- Holding Kristina and Osvaldo, New Hope's new babies. Their chubby cheeks, their squishy lil chins, their pouty lil lips, their big eyes, their toothless grins, their powdery smell. They are two works of God's art. Perfect in every way.
- Changing Kristina and having her pee all over the place. Lisa and Nilsen just laughed away as I scrambled to avoid a bigger mess!
- Having a handful of the kids at Feeding Hope call me by name...that was a first!
- Kenny's smile...and the way he ran up to hold my hand when he saw me.
- The bump-bah-da-bumpy ride to Saut D'eau.
- Our own personal machete-wielding "policeman."
- My two personal tour guides. Two young boys who each held a hand, showed me which way to go, snapped photos and led us through the falls at Saut D'eau.
- The boy racing us on his horse...and Laney's disapproving face.
- Sweet Francois just wanting to be close to me...a hand on my arm or leg, his hand in mine, his arm around me. Whatever he could get and even if he had to share with another kid. He just loves to be loved.
- Edgard, Jr's hugs...he just latches on and stays there with his head resting on me. Such a sweet boy.
- I say this on every trip...but the way Reness looks at me. I catch his eyes across the room and smile and his serious expression just melts into the most beautiful smile you can imagine...big eyes with beautiful curly eyelashes just batting at me from across the room. There's something special about the way our hearts connect.
- The way the 4 older children at New Hope help out. Wood, Vialy, Edilson and Medjina take such good care of their younger siblings.
- Vialy singing "One More Time" to the babies to make them smile.
- Seeing the way Maciane has blossomed...from a timid, scared, frowny two year-old to a boisterous, silly, open and loving three year-old.
- Ou Watay?
- Laney and her S&S.
- Seeing the way the New Hope community well is being dug. Wow...totally amazed. So far. They're at 88 feet...all by hand with buckets and chisels.
- Finally meeting Talya and seeing firsthand why her mama says she's the coolest!
- Watching the New Hope kids experience a swimming pool...for many, it was their first time ever.
- Asking the kids their favorite part of the pool day...in order, they said swimming, the sandwich and pool toys! We made PB&J and they all opened them up and ate them like Oreos...filling first!
- The good bench and the towel bench.
- Paul and the thunder. Good thing I was there to protect him!
- The sheet...shower curtain/seat cushion/picnic blanket/sunblock.
- "You're so pretty."
- Getting caught in the rain in the back of the tap-tap...and the plastic bag hat.
- Cooking for New Hope. It's exhausting what those women do every day. They are nothing short of amazing.
- The moto ride to 87....wowee! Most beautiful beaches I've ever laid eyes on.
- Paul and the empty selfie stick..."selfieeee!"
- The walk through Montrouis with children from Feeding Hope. One of my favorite Haiti experiences ever...seeing where they live, meeting their familes, hearing their stories.
- BINGO!
- Watching the kids try to figure Talya out. Is she blan? Is she becoming blan?
- Silly card games on the patio.
- Rat cat.
- Haitian rain storms...
- Meeting the kids at Voices of the Children Orphanage. It's been 24 hours and my heart is still in knots over it.
- Watching Baz, Paul and Jude with the kids. They are such amazing men and I'm so proud to call them friends.
- Baz's love for life. He truly makes everything fun and makes the best out of every situation...more than anyone I've ever met. He's so full of life.
- Paul's love for his community. Everything he does, every little decision he makes is about making his community a better place. There's not one selfish bone in his body.
- April's partnership. Working on such big projects, melding ideas, planning together is not always easy, but with April it's always just as it should be. We get each other. We work through the kinks. We are sisters from different parents and I'm so blessed by her friendship.
- Hearing the kids at New Hope sing us the goodbye song...I hate it and love it all at the same time.
- This feeling I get every time I leave Haiti. Feeling so full and so empty. So happy and so sad. So torn between two places, two realities. So blessed to be a part of all of it and so thankful for all of the big and small moments in my life that have led me to this point. I truly don't know what I did to deserve such an amazing position in life.
- Holding Kristina and Osvaldo, New Hope's new babies. Their chubby cheeks, their squishy lil chins, their pouty lil lips, their big eyes, their toothless grins, their powdery smell. They are two works of God's art. Perfect in every way.
- Changing Kristina and having her pee all over the place. Lisa and Nilsen just laughed away as I scrambled to avoid a bigger mess!
- Having a handful of the kids at Feeding Hope call me by name...that was a first!
- Kenny's smile...and the way he ran up to hold my hand when he saw me.
- The bump-bah-da-bumpy ride to Saut D'eau.
- Our own personal machete-wielding "policeman."
- My two personal tour guides. Two young boys who each held a hand, showed me which way to go, snapped photos and led us through the falls at Saut D'eau.
- The boy racing us on his horse...and Laney's disapproving face.
- Sweet Francois just wanting to be close to me...a hand on my arm or leg, his hand in mine, his arm around me. Whatever he could get and even if he had to share with another kid. He just loves to be loved.
- Edgard, Jr's hugs...he just latches on and stays there with his head resting on me. Such a sweet boy.
- I say this on every trip...but the way Reness looks at me. I catch his eyes across the room and smile and his serious expression just melts into the most beautiful smile you can imagine...big eyes with beautiful curly eyelashes just batting at me from across the room. There's something special about the way our hearts connect.
- The way the 4 older children at New Hope help out. Wood, Vialy, Edilson and Medjina take such good care of their younger siblings.
- Vialy singing "One More Time" to the babies to make them smile.
- Seeing the way Maciane has blossomed...from a timid, scared, frowny two year-old to a boisterous, silly, open and loving three year-old.
- Ou Watay?
- Laney and her S&S.
- Seeing the way the New Hope community well is being dug. Wow...totally amazed. So far. They're at 88 feet...all by hand with buckets and chisels.
- Finally meeting Talya and seeing firsthand why her mama says she's the coolest!
- Watching the New Hope kids experience a swimming pool...for many, it was their first time ever.
- Asking the kids their favorite part of the pool day...in order, they said swimming, the sandwich and pool toys! We made PB&J and they all opened them up and ate them like Oreos...filling first!
- The good bench and the towel bench.
- Paul and the thunder. Good thing I was there to protect him!
- The sheet...shower curtain/seat cushion/picnic blanket/sunblock.
- "You're so pretty."
- Getting caught in the rain in the back of the tap-tap...and the plastic bag hat.
- Cooking for New Hope. It's exhausting what those women do every day. They are nothing short of amazing.
- The moto ride to 87....wowee! Most beautiful beaches I've ever laid eyes on.
- Paul and the empty selfie stick..."selfieeee!"
- The walk through Montrouis with children from Feeding Hope. One of my favorite Haiti experiences ever...seeing where they live, meeting their familes, hearing their stories.
- BINGO!
- Watching the kids try to figure Talya out. Is she blan? Is she becoming blan?
- Silly card games on the patio.
- Rat cat.
- Haitian rain storms...
- Meeting the kids at Voices of the Children Orphanage. It's been 24 hours and my heart is still in knots over it.
- Watching Baz, Paul and Jude with the kids. They are such amazing men and I'm so proud to call them friends.
- Baz's love for life. He truly makes everything fun and makes the best out of every situation...more than anyone I've ever met. He's so full of life.
- Paul's love for his community. Everything he does, every little decision he makes is about making his community a better place. There's not one selfish bone in his body.
- April's partnership. Working on such big projects, melding ideas, planning together is not always easy, but with April it's always just as it should be. We get each other. We work through the kinks. We are sisters from different parents and I'm so blessed by her friendship.
- Hearing the kids at New Hope sing us the goodbye song...I hate it and love it all at the same time.
- This feeling I get every time I leave Haiti. Feeling so full and so empty. So happy and so sad. So torn between two places, two realities. So blessed to be a part of all of it and so thankful for all of the big and small moments in my life that have led me to this point. I truly don't know what I did to deserve such an amazing position in life.