- Nilsen's beautiful smile and the way he flashed it a little bigger when I touched his face and said "souri bel!"
- Watching Laney experiencing the REAL Haiti for the first time. I'm so proud that I was part of the team that showed her that.
- Baz, Laney and Simeon singing along to "What Does the Fox Say?"
- "You're beaaautiful...you're beautiful, it's true!"
- "Congrats!"
- The way Paul, Baz and Jude laugh...tche, tche, tche.
- Meeting and spending a few days with Melissa and her team. They were so much fun and I was so happy they got to take part in some projects at New Hope.
- Spending the week with Dianna and her team. They were such awesome, sweet, fun girls and I'm so glad they got to meet our sweet kiddos at New Hope and help with some of our projects. I love how Haiti always brings new friends into my life.
- Late night chats with April. With the amount of time we spend in our "real lives" messaging, texting and emailing each other, it's so nice to sit face to face and talk. God surely blessed me by bringing her friendship into my life.
- How Edgard proudly took April and I to the garden and had us each pick a watermelon to serve with lunch.
- How Lisa brought April and I into her bedroom on the last day and proudly presented us each with a knitted potholder to say thank you.
- How Edgard met our bus on the way out of town to bring us containers of Haitian coffee...and how April and I both busted out crying again seeing him and knowing that the kids were just up the street.
- The way all the little boys at New Hope wrapped their arms around my waist with a big smile every time I arrived.
- The fact that little Maciane was not afraid of us this trip and that I even got a few smiles out of her.
- How the kids at House of Hope came running up the driveway yelling my name the first time we visited. That never gets old.
- The moment at the beach with all of the New Hope kids where April and I were standing side by side in the water with 2 or 3 kids hanging on each of us and every kid was running around, swimming, splashing, giggling....and I thought "Wow...we did this. They are so happy." That moment made me so proud.
- How Francois and Isaac always wanted to stand right next to me with their hand in mine or their arms around my waist. It made my heart melt.
- How Nilsen kept his arm around me the entire ride to beach and every time I looked down at him he just flashed me his beautiful lil smile.
- The way the New Hope kids take care of each other. The older kids look out for the younger kids. The younger kids look up to the older kids. Everyone makes sure that everyone is included and when something is passed out, they make sure every one of their siblings gets it...true sibling or not.
- How when we interviewed the kids and asked who their best friend was, they all said one of their "siblings."
- "Ale le june! Ale Brassssil!"
- Baz saying "Krrrristin and Aprrrril!"
- Laney asking who wanted to be on her team for the second game of Pictionary...cricket, cricket, cricket....
- Seeing Feeding Hope again. I'm so proud of April and Paul for their passion and work on this project. It amazes me and they are helping SO many people. It's "big deal" kind of stuff...and I love being able to experience it with them both.
- Seeing one of my Haitian pen pals meet her American pen pal face to face. She came all dressed up in a cute dress and they made bracelets together, played on an iPad and snuck up to check out the view from the roof.
- Lisa and Edgard's hearts. I'm so proud to be helping them help the kids at New Hope. They are amazing and just watching them with the kids makes my heart smile.
- The sense of purpose this trip gave me. I may not be able to help everybody but I can help one or 10 or 20. The family at New Hope inspires me and I feel lucky that God chose April and I to help them.
- How hard it was to leave the kids at New Hope. Haiti goodbyes are always hard but this one went to a whole new level. My heart broke into a million little pieces as the kids held tightly onto my hands and asked if I'd be back tomorrow. Driving away was excruciating.
- What it feels like to have two amazing, passionate, inspiring partners. I don't know what I did to deserve Paul and April. We have one brain in three bodies and that's something so special and rare.
- Watching Laney experiencing the REAL Haiti for the first time. I'm so proud that I was part of the team that showed her that.
- Baz, Laney and Simeon singing along to "What Does the Fox Say?"
- "You're beaaautiful...you're beautiful, it's true!"
- "Congrats!"
- The way Paul, Baz and Jude laugh...tche, tche, tche.
- Meeting and spending a few days with Melissa and her team. They were so much fun and I was so happy they got to take part in some projects at New Hope.
- Spending the week with Dianna and her team. They were such awesome, sweet, fun girls and I'm so glad they got to meet our sweet kiddos at New Hope and help with some of our projects. I love how Haiti always brings new friends into my life.
- Late night chats with April. With the amount of time we spend in our "real lives" messaging, texting and emailing each other, it's so nice to sit face to face and talk. God surely blessed me by bringing her friendship into my life.
- How Edgard proudly took April and I to the garden and had us each pick a watermelon to serve with lunch.
- How Lisa brought April and I into her bedroom on the last day and proudly presented us each with a knitted potholder to say thank you.
- How Edgard met our bus on the way out of town to bring us containers of Haitian coffee...and how April and I both busted out crying again seeing him and knowing that the kids were just up the street.
- The way all the little boys at New Hope wrapped their arms around my waist with a big smile every time I arrived.
- The fact that little Maciane was not afraid of us this trip and that I even got a few smiles out of her.
- How the kids at House of Hope came running up the driveway yelling my name the first time we visited. That never gets old.
- The moment at the beach with all of the New Hope kids where April and I were standing side by side in the water with 2 or 3 kids hanging on each of us and every kid was running around, swimming, splashing, giggling....and I thought "Wow...we did this. They are so happy." That moment made me so proud.
- How Francois and Isaac always wanted to stand right next to me with their hand in mine or their arms around my waist. It made my heart melt.
- How Nilsen kept his arm around me the entire ride to beach and every time I looked down at him he just flashed me his beautiful lil smile.
- The way the New Hope kids take care of each other. The older kids look out for the younger kids. The younger kids look up to the older kids. Everyone makes sure that everyone is included and when something is passed out, they make sure every one of their siblings gets it...true sibling or not.
- How when we interviewed the kids and asked who their best friend was, they all said one of their "siblings."
- "Ale le june! Ale Brassssil!"
- Baz saying "Krrrristin and Aprrrril!"
- Laney asking who wanted to be on her team for the second game of Pictionary...cricket, cricket, cricket....
- Seeing Feeding Hope again. I'm so proud of April and Paul for their passion and work on this project. It amazes me and they are helping SO many people. It's "big deal" kind of stuff...and I love being able to experience it with them both.
- Seeing one of my Haitian pen pals meet her American pen pal face to face. She came all dressed up in a cute dress and they made bracelets together, played on an iPad and snuck up to check out the view from the roof.
- Lisa and Edgard's hearts. I'm so proud to be helping them help the kids at New Hope. They are amazing and just watching them with the kids makes my heart smile.
- The sense of purpose this trip gave me. I may not be able to help everybody but I can help one or 10 or 20. The family at New Hope inspires me and I feel lucky that God chose April and I to help them.
- How hard it was to leave the kids at New Hope. Haiti goodbyes are always hard but this one went to a whole new level. My heart broke into a million little pieces as the kids held tightly onto my hands and asked if I'd be back tomorrow. Driving away was excruciating.
- What it feels like to have two amazing, passionate, inspiring partners. I don't know what I did to deserve Paul and April. We have one brain in three bodies and that's something so special and rare.