Laughter, Tears & Full Hearts

It has been a long day! We had to be at the Port-au-Prince airport at 6am. My day started out by getting sick. Standing in a long line breaking out in cold sweats and feeling as if I was going to pass out is not ideal! While we were in the immigration line, Lacey followed suite and became sick too. We think we drank bad water, but whatever the reason, being sick during travel is not fun and makes the long day even longer. We are finally on our last flight. We are all anxious to be home. We are bored with airplanes and a little agitated to be on this last flight. With nothing else to do, I pull out my tablet and look at pictures from our trip. Laughter, tears and full hearts…
 
Looking at the pictures calms me, the smiles in the pictures make me smile! The pictures make me happy! Seeing the happy faces of these children we love brings me joy! They bring happy tears but also sad tears because I miss my kids so much! Looking thru the pictures I can hear Christy’s infectious laugh! I see Dobbins trying to hide his missing front teeth while giggling! I hear Junior’s deep voice! I laugh as I see Samantha and her ever changing facial expressions and actions. I even hear Yumeka’s constant whining! Laughter, tears and full hearts…
 
We started our trip by receiving a very generous donation with the request to make this the best Christmas the children have had. We also took advantage of a one-time reprieve on luggage limitations!  Lacey and I had fun shopping, not sure Zane had as much fun! One store was crazy busy and we grabbed what we needed and headed out. Pretty sure the other store thought we were crazy with our cart full of nerf guns, Barbie dolls, transformers, Legos, necklaces, bracelets, baby dolls, and more! Every time we saw something we could buy, the more excited we became! We bought everything picturing how happy the kids would be! Laughter, tears and full hearts…
 
Because of health and scheduling conflicts, I had not been to Haiti in 2 years. I was eager to see my babies and my second home again. We had delays and did not arrive in Port-au-Prince until 10pm. It was nice at first because we were able to rush thru the airport. The airport workers were tired and a little cranky. I understood, I was too! The lady who checked our bag tags was ready to be home and looked as if she wanted to hurt us for being so late. She had probably been there all day and we were the last flight and 3 hours late. I don’t know what made me say it, because I was only thinking of getting to a hotel and going to sleep, I smiled and told her Happy New Year. She looked and smiled ear to ear, told me thank you and patted me on the back. While we were going thru the last line to leave the airport, I turned to ask Zane something and saw this lady still turned towards us and smiling! I’m not sure why that made her so happy, but it made me smile! Because we were so late, there was not a lot of people at the airport and the city was strangely quiet, weird but peaceful. One baggage handler came over to us and asked if we remembered him. He then told us he has seen Lacey grow from a baby to a young lady. Sitting and waiting for our car was a moment of reflection and years passing before my eyes. Laughter, tears, and full hearts…
After 2 years I was anxious and excited to see the kids. The smiles and laughter as we arrive, they are just as excited to see and hug us! Oh it is so good to see them, to hear them and to hug them! Mama Clotide came rushing over and started crying. Because of my leg injury, she did not think I could walk or would ever be back to Haiti. She clapped every time I took a step. Prospere kept hugging me. To have their support and love filled me with joy! Laughter, tears, and full hearts…
 
New Year’s Day is a day of celebration and independence in Haiti. They eat Soup Joumou all day. On the way to the home we passed by President Martelly and his motorcade. Gonaives is the birthplace of Haiti’s independence, almost every year the President comes there to give his New Year’s speech. Inside that motorcade was a special policeman who serves on the Presidential Police Force. His name is Berthony and he grew up at the Jesus Loves Me Home. We are so proud of him! We went to the home and watched the kids eat their soup and had a small bowl ourselves. The kids were all excited to show Lacey what was left of their Christmas cow, the head and legs, Lacey wasn’t so excited! Ha-ha Playing with the children, hugs upon hugs, teasing, laughing…make for a good day! We finished up our day by filling bags full of toys! It took over 2 hours! Laughter, tears, and full hearts…
 
I’m not sure what January 2 is called in Haiti, if it even has a name. To my understanding it is continuing the independence celebration with a big feast! Clotide prepared more beef and goat, along with rice and plantain and a slaw. Instead of Pepsis this year, the kids wanted something accurately called, “Candy Juice”! You know the popsicles you buy in the plastic tube and have to freeze? That’s pretty much what Candy Juice is, only in a 16-24oz bottle!! Clotide brought us a plateful of food. Zane has never had Clotide’s cooking, he now declares her the best chef in Haiti! The kids had decorated the dining area with streamers and balloons! We sang Christmas songs! I always laugh when they sing “dashing thru the snow”! 1. Because most of them have no clue what snow is. 2. Francius Joseph (one of our original orphans) is there and for as long as I can remember has sung out loudly “dashing thru the sand” since he knows sand and not snow! Lacey started handing out gifts! The kids wait until everyone has their gifts before they open! At first it was quiet and everyone waiting patiently, the more bags handed out the louder it became and I spied several not able to help themselves and peeking in their bags. Smiles grew and chattering louder! I looked over to the older boys, they didn’t care if they received anything or not, they were watching the little kids with joy! Finally, all the little ones had their bags, chaos erupted, laughter ensued, happy chatter all over with the kids looking at their toys and looking to see what everyone else had received. They all took off to play. Lacey gave out gifts to the older kids and for the first time in a long time, Prospere and Clotide. Clotide and Prospere had tears in their eyes and gratitude in their hearts! There were so many hugs and kisses that day. One child or another would come running in to show us what they had received or to ask us for help. The nerf guns were the hit of the year! I do think the older boys are a little jealous over those!  We stayed until dark, because we did not want the day to end. Laughter, tears, and full hearts…
 
Samantha (pronounced Sam-ah-tah) has been with us off and on since she was 18 months old. Her mother has an illness, something with the liver, she becomes very ill and cannot take care of Sama. Sama will live with us and go back to her Mom when she feels better. Sama was a mean toddler, she hit, bit, screamed. She grew into a funny preschooler. She is so funny, but has an attitude. She is almost 8 now.  Really there is no way to describe our Sama! We love her!  Sama loves us, she loves Prospere & Clotide, she loves her friends at the Jesus Loves Me Home, but of course she would rather be with her Mama. The first of November Sama’s mom came to see her. Sama was ready to go home, but that is not why her Mom came to see her. Her Mom came to tell her goodbye, she was not getting better this time and she did not have long to live. Poor Samantha! Clotide said Sama cried every day for a month! Oh how my heart broke for this child! When we arrived that first day I could tell Sama was more subdued, but she still wanted to play. She quickly warmed up and almost back to her normal self. She had attached herself to Zane! Samantha does not reject hugs, but doesn’t initiate them either, she’s not a snuggler. Thirty minutes after we gave out gifts and things were quietening down, Sama came over to me and laid her head on my chest and then she hugged me as tight as she could! She caught me off guard and I looked down at her as she was looking up at me. My heart melted and broke at the same time. Sama had tears in her eyes and could barely speak. In a hushed voice, in English, she said “Thank You”. She squeezed my hand, said thank you again, gave me another hug, then ran off. The look on her face at that moment told a story of uncertainty but also one of love and things would be ok. Zane came over a minute later and said, “Oh Samantha”! He proceeded to tell me that Sama had come over to him and the same story. Then Lacey came over saying the same thing. Our sweet, ornery Samantha had made our Christmas complete! Laughter, tears and full hearts…
 
Christy, the baby the police found on the streets and brought to us, is a mess! Oh that girl! She had my heart when she was brought to us, but now I am in complete love with that child! Zane already told me that I could not steal his baby! When we got out of the car, Christy went to Zane. She gave me a sideways glance and sized me up. She started giggling and climbed on me. From that moment, she was stolen! I became her playground! She would climb all over me and most of the time would get herself perched up around my neck. She would grab my face, laugh, and then kiss me. She did this over and over and over. She would talk away to me. She was telling me all kinds of stories! We bought whistles and she jabbed hers right in my mouth. Good thing I’m not as concerned with germs; her whistle was full of her spit that went right in my mouth!  She loved Zane and Lacey too! Christy is a very smart 2 years old! I’m so thankful for this, with her history she could very well have a lot of problems! Not only would she repeat what we said in English, she understood what she was saying. She prays adult like prayers. She wore me out! One day after many hours of Christy climbing on me, I looked over at Mama Clotide, my respect for her grew 10 fold. Christy loves “mimis” (cats in Kreyol), we brought her a stuffed cat. When Zane gave it to her, she hugged and kissed it for 10 minutes! She came to show me and made me kiss her mimi. She looked at me and said “I love you Mama Lori”! Laughter, tears and full hearts…
 
Clotide went to the market to buy kitchen supplies and clothes. When Jetro pulled the truck in, the kids started clapping and chattering and running to help. They were as excited for these things as they were their toys! They helped Clotide unload and were excited to see everything she had bought. They all went back to playing. Clotide had bought peas while at market. Prospere brought them out to ??shuck??. Although the kids were playing, they saw him doing this and ran to help. They were not asked to help, they did this on their own and they were happy to be helping! Prospere was talking to them and telling them stories as they were helping. Laughter, tears, and full hearts…
 
We met new friends on this trip: Bradley, Ronel & Joseph! We, including Junior and Jetro, all had dinner one night. Despite a language barrier, we had a great time and had a lot of laughs. We learned so much about each one. Laughter, tears and full hearts…
 
On the personal side, it was so good to share this trip as a family! With Lacey away at college, we do not get a lot of one on one time anymore, so spending this time together was really nice. At one point I looked up to seeing her struggling to carry 3 babies and laughing the whole time. Another time I saw her snuggling a sleeping Aniece! I still see her rough housing with the boys and making the girls feel so special by painting their nails and telling them constantly that them were pretty. My heart grew as her love, compassion, caring, and maturity grew and shined even brighter. One favorite moment was when she was sitting with the older boys, her friends since birth! They had borrowed the nerf guns and were trying to shoot a bottle off the table, so Lacey grabbed a gun. Bradley, Jetro’s best friend, shook his head and told her she couldn’t hit it because she was a GIRL! Oh the look she gave me! That mischievous, determined, “uh-oh someone is in trouble” look came out. She let Bradley shoot and miss several times, she aimed and knocked it off on first try! That’s my girl! Bradley was grinning ear to ear, buried his head, and then humbly congratulated her! This was Zane’s first time to celebrate with the kids during their holidays. To see him relax and enjoy the time was great! He didn’t have to rush around and take care of a million things, also a new experience for him. He was able to help the kids open their gifts and to play with them. We really did not want to leave! We had a great trip and will cherish this Christmas with our kids for a very long time. Laughter, tears, and full hearts…

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