I am giddy. Keanan is on his way. He is flying on a C-17 from Port-Au-Prince to Orlando. Mark flew to Orlando this morning on faith, and we are so glad he is there to meet him.
So many feelings tonight. I am so excited, and yet my heart is heavy for my little boy, who will be leaving his dear caretakers and friends who have been his family for his whole life. I sit here in anticipation, but also wondering what this experience is like for him.
I desperately wish I could be there. Mark is with my mom and my sister, who live in Orlando. How amazing for them to be a part of this. I am thrilled for the other families we have walked this journey with, too.
If you can, say a prayer tonight for the seven children from Heartline who did not get their papers today and had to be left behind. They need to come home soon.
Oh my gosh! I'm crying right now. My heart is just beaming for you and your family. I'm so glad he's coming home and that he finally gets to be with your family. I don't what else to say. I'm just so happy for you. God Bless
Besides the one email on FB, I don't even know you but I have been praying for you guys for a long time. This past week has had me weeping to the Lord for your family (and all of Haiti). Now I am praising the Lord for his goodness and faithfulness and thanking him for the LOVE Keenan is going to experience as one of your children. You have worked so hard for him! I will continue to pray for the road ahead – that he transitions well and feels how welcome and loved he is in this new world…
Congratulations! My prayers are with your family as you bring your little one home and for those left in Haiti as they await news.
Linked to you from Joy's Hope. My husband and I feel called to adopt at some point, and my heart is SO FULL of joy at your post!!! Praying for a sweet time of bonding and perfect peace for your family in this time of transition. Also praying for healing as you process the events you have seen these past few weeks!
I read often but comment rarely but WOW how amazing to read this!! I am thrilled for you and your family. I have been checking your blog often to see if there were news and it is wonderful to read this. Yay!!
Congratulations to you and the entire Howerton clan (Congratulations pastor Mike!!!)…come visit Seattle someday soon so we can all meet your precious little man! GOD IS SO GOOD!!!
So excited for your family, and praying for those left behind.
I know you have had ample pre-adoption education, but I'm reminded of one of the classes we took. The instructor (an adoptee, and an adoptive mom) likened the newly adopted child of any age to a newborn. The whole world is new and foreign to them. Praying for an easy transition for your new little one.
Your story is amazing! I am on pins and needles waiting to hear how your reunion is. I don't know you at all, yet I am so happy for you. Just imagine what your little boy is going to feel like the first night he spends in his HOME. How blessed is he. You are saving him. How awesome is that. He doesn't even know how wonderful his life is going to be going forward and he has wonderful people like you to thank. I am so very truly happy for you all! God Bless you all!!
AMAZING. Praise God for you bringing your boy home…and we'll keep praying for the others.
Praying for your family as you prepare for YOUR BOY!! I understand the feelings of sadness…praying for a joyful reunion for you!
So very happy for you, Kristen! I've been following your story through Mike's and Jodie's facebook updates. I'm praying for a smooth transition for Keanan and a lovely time of bonding for all of you. God bless you guys. We'll continue to pray for the other kids and all of the Haitian people! Blessings to you,Sarah Hager
Out of Haiti and into a wonderful, wonderful life. I was routed to your blog a day after the earthquake while you were still in Haiti (I came through a convoluted route that started with Clickin' Moms) and I've been checking back daily, sending you good thoughts, writing letters to our senators, hoping and praying that this day would come. I came in on the tail end, the fairy tale ending for your family, and I think I'm just as happy as you are! I can only imagine how well you'll sleep with your entire family home, safe, under one roof. Thank you for your inspiration. All the best.
So happy for you… like many others I was routed to your blog and have been checking and praying daily for you. I am so excited that you get to have your family together again. Blessings and safety to you all.
Crying. Out loud. With hugs sobs. I don't generally make noise when I cry. Thrilled and praying.
So excited!!!! I have been checking on this all day….you would think it is my child coming home 🙂 Praying for an easy transition!!
I am so happy for you! I have been reading your blog since the earthquake, pulling for you guys!
Sending you and your family good thoughts tonight!
So very, very happy for you all. Tomorrow is indeed going to be a good day.
Praying…what an emotional roller coaster. God is good. My boys got to Orlando on Monday night….we got there on Tuesday night, back home on Weds. It's amazing.
Ahhh!!! I am so excited for you. Everyday this week my husband has been asking me "Is Keanan home yet?". I know we are just blog followers but we are so happy for you tonight!!! Praying for a safe trip HOME for him and Mark (and for the other Heartline kids to get here)!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!!
So excited for you! Praise God for turning tragedy into a blessing for you and these kids. Praying for the ones left behind. May their journey home be expedited, too!
Very happy for you and your family, Kristen 🙂 I hope the wait is also over for the other families longing for their child to be home.
i saw your blog posted on fb by a mutual friend on the day of the earthquake. i have been following ever since. our family has been praying for your family and we all cheered and cried tonight when we heard this news. we are so happy your boy is coming home. praise God!!!
I heard about your family through the Sharmans and have been praying and checking your Twitter…so so grateful to God for the happy news! So sad for the seven left behind and will be praying diligently for them to be able to join their families, too. I pray the transition goes well for you all!
Wow! Kristen I've never met you, in fact I didnt even know about your story until about a month ago when I found it through a link of a link from Jamie Ivey's blog whose story I've been following since I got to see Aaron Ivey perform at a college conference as a sophomore 3 yrs ago.
But I have been praying for all of you, for each one of your precious little boys. I have been checking all of your blogs multiple times a day for any news and I have goose bumps reading your post. Praise God! He truly does work in glorious and mysterious ways! Your family and especially Keanan will continue to be in my prayers for his safe arrival home and an easy transition.
God Bless!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
SO amazing….SO wonderful!
Jumping for joy (yep…I got out of bed!)
Oh Kristen! Amen and amen! I can't wait to see your first complete family photo. What unspeakable joy for the Howerton's tonight!
From our Howerton family in Romania to yours….a big congratulations and Praise the Lord. Triumph out of tragedy. I will pray for the transition period.
Reading those tweets and can't sleep til I hear news..and I don't even know you! Just can't imagaine how you must feel. Blessings to you all.
So excited! What a blessing!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! So exciting! GOD is so good!!
Oh my goodness! I saw your post title, paused and took a breath-what exciting news! Saying lots of prayers for all of you, Keenan's homecoming, and for the children at Heartline.
Suzi & I have been checking every day… Amazing! We're so excited for your family… You're in our prayers!
I just heard about your story from a dear friend of mine a few hours ago. I just want to let you know that i think what your family is doing is beautiful. My family and I will be praying that you get your little boy home safe! Keenan will be in our prayers, along with all the children at Heartline, and your whole family.
So, so happy for your family to finally be together. This is just incredible.
Praise God! I am so pleased to hear your family is being reunited!
Praise the Lord! It's been so great to read Jen Haliburton's status updates on Facebook. What an amazing answer to prayer!
kristen, i read this, and not even knowing you, burst into tears. praise God, who can bring good things even out of the most painful circumstances. so happy for you!