An Small Update From China!

Bloggers!!!!!! It is so good to be on Internet! We are in Zhengzhou, China, where it is hard to be on the Internet where we're at.....this is on an iPad right now so i cannot type much. But I just wanted to send a short update! This is our third day with our sweet Sophia Grace...she is such a joy. I'm so happy that we are finally together again and that she is with us, safe and sound! Yesterday was a hard day for all of us, while on the road for a long time, but she is doing better today....way better. We would definitely appreciate your prayers for us for the next week and a half, all of us! On another note, zhengzhou is awwweesommmeee!!! And we took a road trip to Luoyang yesterday which was fun. The way there wasn't though haha, it was long to drive. But we ate at a duck restaurant which I ate at last year with my Show Hope group and it was awesome, I was happy that my parents got to experience it. It was delicious! We also got to visit the orphanage that Sophie lived at for a couple of months and we also visited Maria's Big House Of Hope! That was good for me. My parents had the blessing of experiencing that kind of hope for the first time....it was good to see the babies that I knew last year, for Sophie's old Nannies to see her with her new family, I was happy to see workers and nurses and very special friends, Abby and Dan, who became my good friends in China last year! It was good to see them...so refreshing. Sophie's nannies were so happy to see her, it was joyful! We took a walk down the street to McDonald's here in Zhengzhou, this evening! It was very interesting and beautiful! Sophie loves to ride in her stroller, she is perfectly content with riding and watching everything. Next week, we will be in Guanzhou, so hopefully we will have Internet by ourselves and I can upload pictures and write more, I have a lot to say and many pictures to share! More stories to come hopefully! Please keep the prayers coming! Thank you all!! :) -Emily

Today Marks A Year

  Today marks a year. One full year since I've seen my sister, held her in my very own arms, kiss her chubby cheeks, rubbed her dark, textured hair....shared smiles and tears with her.....it been a year.
  My heart hurts so badly because I want her here....I have wanted her here ever since I first start praying to God for her...before I knew her. It has been such a long, hard journey...roller coasters...whirlwinds...it's been a crazy year, a crazy life, for that matter. But, in all of this,, I've learned that God promises good to those who wait..who wait on HIM and for HIS plans for us.
  Just an hour ago, Mom and I were in Sophie's room again, beginning to pack, when the mailman came to our home with a package... I walked out to greet him, took the package, walked back inside just to find out that our visas had come! Each passport for all 3 of us had come all ready to use. My heart raced with joy and tears started to form in my eyes when I realized.......today is the 12th. Of June. Today marks a year.

  I read back in my journal of this day last year, and I know that I've shared the exact stories from this day. But, I still can't get over the very last thing I wrote that day.... "Today, while I was rubbing her face and dark, textured hair... I accidentally called her Sophie."
  No accident. That's God.
  Also, I remember the promise that I made to her exactly a year ago... As she sat there with her mouth hung open, flipping my bracelets at me, I whispered a promise...that I would try my absolute hardest to come back to her.

  Today is  a very significant day in my life. And 6 more days until I get to see that precious face again!!!!!!!! I can hardly wait... I still cannot fathom God's goodness. So so good.

  Thank you for your prayers, everyone! God is providing and we are doing well with our preparing. :) So excited for this adventure!!!
  -Emily

GOOD NEWS!

 Eh-ehm. Ladies and gentlemen… I would like everyone’s attention, please. I have an announcement to make! In case you didn’t already know this, I would like for you to know that my God is wonderful! He has strategically planned out our adoption and carefully organized each detail. I am extremely happy tp announce that my parents and I are leaving for CHINA NEXT FRIDAY!!!!!!!!! We will have our Sophie in our arms on June 18th!

 Today is special for many reasons, as you already know the obvious one. But, what you might not know is today marks an entire year since I met my sweet sister, Sophia Grace. One year ago, I had no idea that a year from then, I would be rejoicing with my family over an email telling me that I was going BACK to get her.  I know I wanted to, though!
 God has performed huge miracles since a year ago. I can’t even believe that it’s been that long ago…  But, even though we were NOT matched before I met her, even though my family hadn’t even considered international adoption before then,  even though I only knew her name and that was all….I knew that I had to go back and get her.
 I can remember walking in her room at MBHOH….seeing her run right up to me….I can remember the way she looked at me curiously and never took her eyes off of me. I can remember June 6, 2011 so well… My entire world flipped around.
 As soon as I left her room after spending time with her, I ran up to where I slept and where all of my things were, I pulled out my journal and since I was in a hurry, all I wrote was this, “I found her. I found my sister. June 6, 2011” God is crazy awesome.

 The next day, I sent an email to my parents, telling them about “Franky.” After sharing our moments together and about her personality and everything, I wrote, “Pray for Franky. And really be considering adopting her. I know it can work.”

  I have chills. Tears of happiness. In twelve days, I will see her precious face again. She will meet her Mommy and Daddy. I can’t fathom how real this is…it still feels like a dream.

Prayer Requests:
 Please keep our family in your prayers. Pray for travel safety. Pray for health for all 4 of us while we are in China. Pray that Sophia bonds with and adjusts to us well. Pray that we get everything we need there securely. Pray for the boys as they stay home (Caleb, Samuel, and Isaac << we are now officially calling our little guys by their new names!). Pray that they will stay safe while still here and that everyone will bond well once we’re all together. Also, the biggest one right now, pray that money comes in. We are still in need of money…a scary amount for needed in a week…. It is scary but God has brought us this far and I know that He will provide. Pray that we will keep our faith!!

 Thank you all…SO MUCH….for loving my family so well. We appreciate all of the prayers!

Emily