Angels in My Dreams

I had a dream last night that I was back in Haiti, back at God's Littlest Angels and holding my babies again. They were bigger and chubbier and beautiful. I kissed them and hugged them and smelled them again.

It was heavenly.

Before and After

A conversation I had today got me thinking about how far I've come in my life, particularly in the last six years. And, since the children of Haiti are ever-present in my heart, mind, and soul I immediately linked my journey to theirs. In a way they are the same, in another way they are so different.
Sometimes we don't know how broken we are until we are healed.
That is my story.
I didn't know how broken I was, until I began to heal. I didn't realize how far I've come until today, when I revisited my "before."
These children have been broken and are healing, but their journey has been painfully, glaringly obvious. They could not hide their ribs, sunken cheeks, lifeless eyes, and weak limbs. They could not hide their devastation - they had to heal in front of the world.
Like me, these children did heal, they did change, they did persevere. It tears at my heart to see their "before" pictures because I want to think of them only as "afters." We can't ignore their journey, or the journey of the thousands of others that are struggling to heal at this moment.
Everyone has a "before" and an "after."
For some of us, it's a journey of character.
For others, it's a journey of survival.

              Before                        After                                                   

Please don't forget them.

I can't.

~Emily

"God is closest to those with broken hearts..."

I've been back from Haiti for more than two weeks and still...when I look at my pictures my heart aches for these children. These babies that wrapped their little fingers around mine and nestled their soft curly hair into my neck. These babies who loved me simply because I held them, because I loved them too. I can't explain how empty my arms are without them. Before I went to Haiti, I didn't realize this space in my heart existed until those children placed their love there and now that I am home, I am not sure how to fill it again.
God is still moving mountains in my heart, two weeks later. Big changes are occurring, and a new future is emerging for me. Change is never easy - my heart is breaking and healing at the same time. God is so good.
~Emily

Things I Learned in Haiti

Here are some things I learned in Haiti...some serious, some not so much:

~Termites leave dust behind, that's how you know they're there.
~Plantains are good with brown sugar on top.
~You can see if pants will fit without trying them on by wrapping the waist band around your neck.
~If you are baking mac & cheese and don't have bread crumbs for the top, corn flakes will work.
~Pretend sneezing is hilarious to a baby!
~Hit a cabinet door before you open it to make the critters scatter.
~Gastrolyte is your friend if you're dehydrated.
~Cold showers aren't as bad as they sound.
~Bed bugs really do exist.
~Love at first sight exists too.
~I'm not the only one in the world who loves Seventh Heaven.
~You can fry toast in a pan if your toaster is broken.
~Adding vanilla to powdered milk makes it taste sooo much better!
~You can make french toast with cloves instead of cinnamon if you have to.
~Being the minority is a truly unique experience.
~There is MUCH love in the world.
~Your heart can be broken and healed at the same time.
~I am blessed to have a family.

:)
Emily

Video Slideshow

I have put together a slideshow (complete with music!) of my time in Haiti. I tried to email it to everyone but it didn't work (it said it was too big) so I had to remove the kids' real names and post it on here. If you are dying to know their real names I'll be happy to share them with you, just leave your email address in the comments section or email me! Hope you enjoy. It makes me cry every time I watch it!
Love, Emily