Adoption Video

 Check out this video made by Big Sister, Emily, of the Edwards Family's adoption story! Share with your friends and keep those prayers coming!

Love to all!
-Emily

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY958NsGFG4

A Complete Family

Hellooo, Bloggers!

 I'm terribly sorry for the lack of updating. I hope that all of the pictures in the last blog made up for it! haha
 Well, it's day 11 here at home with our WHOLE family. :) We're doing well...it's very hard, for Sophie....for both of the little boys...for all of us. I think it's very shocking for me because I didn't expect it to be this hard. It's going to take a long while for us to be settled in together. But, we'll get there. God brought us this far, He won't leave things the way they are. I have hope that God is working right now and that we will see it later. But for a week and a half, we're doing well.
 We're seeing improvements every day in Sophia! I think she likes her home...she is experiencing a lot of new things - it's a good thing she's adventerous! I think she likes us, too! We have seen so many smiles in her...she's so happy. She's so silly and goofy and crazy and LOUD and she's learning to be sweet and she always keeps us laughing (and running!).
 We have been at home for the most part, it's better for the kids....but if you see us out in public, it probably looks like a circus. I'm not kidding when I say that the attention is ALWAYS on us..we get so many looks! And usually leave the place with some kind of snacks or something spilled or messed up. Eating out is a no for us anymore. ;)
 Though my family has become quite insane, I say this with all honesty in my heart- I wouldn't want it any other way.

 We appreciate all prayers. We are in much need of them. There's a lot more going on that's more personal and carrying burdens makes the walk very weary very fast. Please pray for us as we continue this journey as a family, that we will gain strength and joy. Please pray that God will heal the wounds so deep in the hearts of the little ones in our family. And pray that we will find peace along the way. Thank you all so much.

 Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
 -Emily

Day 5 As A Family - Pictures!

 Day 5 back in America! We are doing very well! Adjusting...getting used to America's time again (jetlag has been so hard!)...Sophie is meeting all of these new people....we are doing well! We need lots of prayer though, we have a long journey ahead and will need all the prayer we can get. Sophia has come so far in these 3 weeks since we've had her in our arms, already though! But, settling in with three little kids is hard, as you would imagine. Samuel, Isaac, and Sophia all get along, but like I said, we have a long road ahead. We'll get there, though!

 I have lots of pictures to share! We had an incredible time in China, definitely a once in a lifetime experience! I am so happy that my parents got to experience China, but, we were all very happy to be back in America! So happy to have our WHOLE family together....I've been saying that over and over this week! So happy.
 With 3 ornery children, family pictures are definitely a struggle...haha, so though we haven't had complete family picture yet, that will come!

Rob and Rachel waiting in Newark to leave for China!

China!

In Beijing

Wal-Mart was insane! haha

"There she is! There she is! That's her, there she is!!"



There she is :)



Sophia Grace!!

Momma's first time holding her baby girl!

Sophia and her Daddy :)

Hearts so full....

Such a sweet reunion! So happy to have her in my arms again. I have found myself in finding my sister.

Together!!

She loves mirrors!

Rob, Rachel, with their adoption ceritificate!

Rob and Sophie at the Luoyang orphanage - where she stayed from February-June.

Sophie's "EMPTY" crib!

Maria's Big House of Hope!

Emily, Sophie, and Rachel in the Jungle Book Room!

Sophie with a very sweet and special Nanny!
When I (Emily) left MBHOH last year, I said goodbye to Sophie and I started crying.
This Nanny started speaking to me in Chinese, and though I couldn't understand what she was saying,
I knew by the look on her face that she was wondering why I was so sad.
We didn't speak each other's language, so I tried acting out the reason why I was sad. haha.
I told her, "I will miss her....I....will....miss...her....I WILL MISS HER..." and I finally said, "Wo Ai Ni," (which means I Love You) and I patted Sophie's back. And I contiued with, "I am going to miss her."
She understood so clearly then.
It was wonderful to go back and right as I walked into their room, she gave me a big hug and started saying something in Chinese. A translator then came up and told me, "She's saying she remembers you!"

It is so evident that the Nannies there are in love with the babies at MBHOH
and care so much for them. So thankful for their hearts!

This is on MBHOH's roof. AKA: my favorite place on earth.
This is the exact spot where I heard God's voice so clearly...
This is where God confirmed to me that Sophie is my sister. This place takes my breath away!

So thankful for our visit to MBHOH!

Me, with friends, Abby and Dan, whom I met last year in China! Wonderful people!

Mom and Sophie doing laundry!

Miss Hollywood!!

China requires that you wear swimming caps......

Hahahahaha.

Mom and Sophie playing with stickers!

Sophie loves her shoes! In all sizes!

First doctor's check up

We went on a river cruise in Guangzhou - it was amazing!!

So happy :)

Canton Tower, (the Rainbow Tower) - the second largest building in the world!
In Guangzhou, China

We had a great time at the Guangzhou Zoo!

"Little Sister" :)

so sweet....

This is the "Sophie look." She's so rotten! Haha

"Goodbye, China..."

Sophie enjoying the airplanes :)



Leaving Hong Kong for HOME!



Momma's Girl!



First look at America!



Our amazing friends with their tshirts made up waiting at the airport!
Sad news - our flights got messed up from Chicago to Indianapolis, so we didn't get to see these guys in person.
But they all wore their shirts the following Sunday as we welcomed Sophie home :)

First meeting with big brother, Caleb!

Sophia's very own bedroom :)



Sophia at HOME :)

Sophie with her brothers, Sam, and Isaac!