For a Time Such as This...

Medical Mission to Honduras

2009-03-03T16:44:00.000-08:00

Both big and little Dr. Fahy recently returned from a week in Sula, Honduras, serving as part of a medical mission team with Evagelistic International Ministries.

The country is a mix of natural beauty and extreme poverty. The patients we cared for were very appreciative of the medical care they received.

Here are some glimpses of our experience:

Patients come to be seen and have their surgery on the very day that they are first seen (literally, "same day" surgery). They wait for hours on empty stomachs for remedies to ailments that they have lived with for months to years.

Although many aspects of care have been modernized, some of the equipment is outdated and in disrepair. In addition, the working up of patients and the layout are much different than in the U.S. There is much less privacy than we are used to in our medical facilities.

Harrison enjoyed working with other students (Kate, David, Allison, and Kristina).

Harper finds a home....

2009-01-21T19:43:00.000-08:00

We got a new puppy!

But first things first. Please pray for sweet Emily. On 1/23/09 Emily will be undergoing a procedure in Birmingham to close a small, persistent blood vessel that usually closes at birth. The problem is called a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus), and the procedure involves running a small catheter up through the artery in her leg to the problem vessel and then closing it with a very small coil.

So please join us in prayer for an effective, uncomplicated procedure with a quick recovery. We love Emily so much. She has been entrusted to us by The Lord, and we want only His best for her!

This past weekend we added Harper to our family. He is a sweet little Golden-Doodle, and he has already grafted into our organized chaos.

Our dear friends from Norfolk Virginia, The McCormicks, flew in and got their new puppy, Scout. He's a Schnoodle. The two of them played so well together. Parting is such sweet sorrow...

This is a picture of Christine before her trip to the psychiatrist....

Christmas and New Years with Emily!!!

2009-01-02T13:11:00.001-08:00

Just like most of you, Christmas at our home is an incredibly joyous and busy time!! We were especially joyful this season with the addition of sweet Emily to our Christmas and New Years celebrations.

Emily was as excited as can be on Christmas morning. We celebrated the birth of our Savior and Lord with gift giving, feasting, and a birthday cake for Jesus later that day. Although the events of the day may have been a bit confusing for Emily, she was full of excitement, and she has really come to love blowing out birthday candles.

After Christmas, we packed up and traveled to Naples, Florida to visit "Nan" and "Papa George". We had a great time visiting with Nan at her place on Gulf Shore Boulevard. We went to the beach during the day, swam in the pool, and returned to the beach on New Year's Eve to watch the fireworks.

The girls loved staying in hotels during our travels, while the boys enjoyed staying at their Papa George's home in Huntington Lakes. We celebrated Papa George's 76th birthday, and, once again, Emily enjoyed blowing out the candles....

Another very fun part of our trip was the day at The Naples Waterpark. Everyone had a great time swimming in the many pools and going down the various waterslides!! Emily loves to swim and relax in sun. Needless to say, her late grandmother "Mimi" would be very proud!

Traveling, Visiting, Thanksgiving, and Skiing!!

2008-12-04T17:28:00.000-08:00

Life continues to be quite busy. What a great trip to Virginia for Thanksgiving!! It was great to see so many friends and relatives. Here is a random assortment of the many pictures that captured our fun trip....

Breakfast with cousins. Emily met Hunter and Owen for the first time!

A day in Mamont Park with the Carrolls...

P. F. Changs--yum--no MSG please.....

Someone in this picture just turned 44....

Hopefully hair curling doesn't become a part of Harrison's daily grooming routine....

H&H had so much fun together...

Uncle Dave cookin' up his famous breakfast sandwiches.... Can anyone recommend a good cardiologist?

Brett Favre has nothin' on Mary Kate Hester.....

Cousins together again...

Coloring cousins...

So good to see Aunt Kass who met Emily for the first time!

What a crew! Who feeds all these kids?!

Lots of snow on Snowshoe Mountain!!

This image gives new meaning to the term "frozen smile".

Enjoying a beautiful Fall weekend.....

2008-11-16T09:58:00.001-08:00

We enjoyed a beautiful, crisp Fall day today! Dad got the camera out, and the pictures tell the rest of the story.....

Mei Mei goes to Boston

2008-11-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

Caroline recently flew with her Daddy to Boston to visit friends and relatives. They had an awesome time visiting with everyone!

While away, Daddy and Caroline were missed by all, and Emily especially missed her big sister.

Below is a video of Caroline taking off with all the excitement and a few second thoughts once up in the air.....

Finally...We Post Some New Pictures and An Update....

2008-11-09T19:27:00.000-08:00

We, the backslidden bloggers (lol), have received some hate mail...please don't hate us because we are not faithfully updating like we promised (and hoped). I don't have any good excuse for not blogging! I want to be able to cover the last 3 months and that just isn't possible. So, I will post some pictures from the past months and strive to do better!

We have been amazed by how well Emily is fitting into our crazy family. She has a very spunky personality and she lights up a room with her smile. Each of her siblings have become new and fun playmates (each with their own special flair). We are witnessing Emily "mothering" her babies and showing them tender love. Her attachment to us is growing with each passing day. All of our prayers are being answered regarding her bonding. Thank you Lord. We have visited our share of physicians since our return from China. It looks like Emily will undergo a cardiovascular procedure (closure of a patent ductus arteriosis) done in the cath lab sometime in the beginning of the year. Next week we will see a pediatric hand specialist at UAB for an evaluation. We are so thankful that we can provide her with great medical care in this country.

We do have 5 other children that deserve some equal "air time." It has been a busy fall with 4 of them playing soccer, and Conner playing football. Our days have been spent on the soccer field, and in the bleachers cheering them all on. Even though at times it has been hectic, I love the opportunity to watch them all be challenged through athletics. It is a joy to sit on the sidelines and be their number one cheerleader.

School has been busy as well. We are so thankful that God provided a wonderful teacher, Miss Alice, to help me home school the boys this year. Alice is so understanding of "life happening" in the midst of "doing school". Emily enjoys sitting at the school table for bible reading and prayer each morning. She puts her hands together when she hears the word pray! Caroline is loving her K4 class. She is working hard writing all of her letters and beginning to blend sounds.

We have had several guests come and visit this fall. We so appreciate everyone who has stood with us through our adoption journey...we are so blessed!

Hopefully the updates will be more frequent...sit back and enjoy the pictorial update!! Below are a few more snapshots of our gang....

One month from Gotcha Day!!!

2008-08-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

OK, we're busted.... We have not updated our blog in 2 1/2 wks. Yes, life has been a bit hectic around the Fahy household. We have had our "re-entry" challenges (a two week pile of mail and emails, "reeling in" our 4 children that stayed here in the states, getting Emily settled, starting football, beginning our homeschooling year....you get the picture).

Anyway, we wanted to share some recent photos of our sweet little Emily with you. She is doing SO well!! She loves her brothers and sister, and she is acclimating to her new life with us. We are blessed to have her as our daughter!

We promise to update our blog more frequently and fill you in on all of the happenings in the lives of Harrison, Caroline, Mason, Emily, Conner, and Tyler....

We're Coming Home!!!

2008-08-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

Our journey is coming to an end.

Our journey is just beginning....

Passports, Visas...Citizenship!!!!

2008-08-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

Emily is learning very quickly how to strike a pose for the camera!!

She loves her stroller; when she's ready to go she gets her shoes on and hops into the stroller!!

She is even trying her hand with the camera...say cheese!!!

We've had several rainy days - the hotel room begins to feel a bit small. Harrison was excited when he met some "cool friends" today.

Emily on her way to the swearing in at the US Consulate.

She loves her Baba!

Emily will be a U.S. citizen upon clearing customs in LA! We went to the U.S. Consulate today for the swearing in ceremony. It was awesome to be in a room with 50 other adoptive families all awaiting the "final step" in a very long process. It was not a big production...but you could feel the emotions. I wept as the official had us take our oaths and gave us instructions on our children's citizenship. I can't begin to describe what emotions went through my mind. She has been ours for almost 2 weeks and now both China and the United States say she is ours!!! This is an amazing feeling. She also has a U.S. visa in her Chinese passport. This will allow her to enter the United States and once she is through customs, she will be an American. Her Chinese passport will no longer be valid.

We are beginning to pack, and take some final pictures. We went to our favorite Italian place for dinner tonight with some new friends. It is difficult to say goodbye to China. I am so greatful for the good and perfect gift they have allowed us to adopt into our family.

We are thankful for all of our family and friends who have supported us on this journey. Stay tuned for a final post from China tomorrow....

Pearls, paperwork, and a physical....

2008-08-06T03:42:00.000-07:00

As we begin to wind up our time in China and prepare for our trip back to the U.S. with the newest addition to our family, we are completing all the requirements here in Guangzhou, including lots of paperwork, Emily's physical exam, and a whole lot of shopping!!!!

We are very happy to report that everything is complete, and tomorrow we go to The U.S. Consulate for Emily's oath taking!!

This place was organized chaos...lots of screaming babies!

"This should be fun... Why are these people in white coats

looking at me like that?"

More pokes and prodding.... When will they be through??

The doctor reviewing Emily's hands.

Emily wasn't in the mood to show off her dexterity and abilities.

We are still amazed by what this girl can do without thumbs!

"How many trees have we killed throughout this paperchase?"

They actually walk the streets with these large baskets!

The peaches looked amazing - figs I could live without.

Could they be any cuter? The bond is getting deeper!

Watermelon anyone?? I think this would be a great

summer job for Harrison in Monroeville!

The pearl market was amazing...I have never seen so many pearls. We would have been totally lost if we didn't have our personal shopper, Ann, with us. She is "Ann" from The Red Thread website. She is totally worth her money...she knows the best venders in all the various markets.

That's my kind of necklace!!!

We have been having lots of rain from the storm pushing through Hong Kong. The rainy days in the hotel room make me very ready to be home. I miss the children so much, and am anxious to have them meet Emily. But at the same time, it is a bit bittersweet. This time in China has been amazing. When will we ever spend 2 weeks alone with Emily and Harrison. She has needed this time so very much. My prayer now is that she able to find her place in our family and our home. She is doing better with each passing day. We have our moments, but all in all she is a pure delight.

The Other Side Of The Story....

2008-08-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

IF EMILY WAN YE COULD TELL HER SIDE...

Looking back it's all a blur, but I'm trying to piece the details together as best I can....

It all began with a lot of shouting, and then I was being carried off. As it turns out, Shen Yanzhen and Ai Li had found me at the gate of The Welfare Institute of Wannian County. Apparently they thought I needed to go to the clinic, so we went. They kept looking at my hands and telling me that I'm pretty; I really wasn't sure what all the commotion was about, but I went along with them--after all they kept telling me that I'm pretty....

Into the clinic we went where a lot of people poked and prodded. Some were shaking their heads and rolling their eyes, and some just smiled, looked at my hands, and patted my head. Soon they were taking pictures of me and writing things down.

As time went by I ended up in "The Special Place" with a lot of other children, mostly girls, and we spent a lot of time playing by ourselves because there were a lot of us and only a few adults. I figured out early on that I would have to make my own way.

Something deep inside me told me that it shouldn't be this way, and I wondered if I had a mother somewhere who would come soon to bring me home and take care of me. It began to click that someone, probably my mommy, had left me at the welfare institute's gate to be found by someone else. I wondered why she left me at the gate. Didn't she care about me? Didn't she love me? Didn't she want me? Something told me that the circumstances were beyond her control, and that leaving me at the gate was not as easy as it appeared. In fact, it probably caused her great pain. I think she did love me, and would miss me terribly. I think she wanted the best for me. After all, she left me at a place where I would be found...maybe she even hid nearby and waited to make sure I was found....

Anyhow, The Special Place was now my home, and I decided I better just get used to it. Although I was small, I wasn't going to let anyone push me around. No specific person was able to stay by my side, and there was a part of me that decided that I needed to maintain a tough exterior. I really wished I had that special someone who would be there for me all the time, but there were so many of us. I kept my guard up.

After a while I couldn't imagine life outside of The Special Place. I figured this is where I would grow up and spend the rest of my life. Maybe this is where everyone grows up (?). But occasionally a few of my friends would leave, and I'd never see them again. Where did they go? Would I go there too? Is it better there? I felt that there may be a better place than The Special Place.

Then one day the adults brought me a package with a blanket, some toys, and some pictures of people I'd never seen. Someone said "Mama" and another mentioned "Baba," but I wasn't really sure what that meant, and nothing really came of it...

Half of my life went by.

Then one day some of the adults from The Special Place loaded me into a truck, and we began a long journey on bumpy roads. I threw up. We arrived at a huge city with lots of traffic and noise. We pulled up to a very tall building, much taller than The Special Place. We took the elevator up to the eleventh floor. I was eating one of my favorite snacks. Mrs. Ye, the director of The Special Place, a new lady named Mrs. Shirley, one of my friends, and a few other adults were with me. We walked around the corner and into a room.

Suddenly, there was excitement and everyone began to speak loudly. Waiting in the room were two adults and one older child. They spoke a different language, and they looked different. They spoke to Mrs. Shirley and Mrs. Ye in the different language. They were smiling and staring at me. They were looking at my hands, my skin, my hair, my clothes. They showed me some new toys and started playing with me....

Wait a minute! Something's going on here! Is Mrs. Ye preparing to leave...without me!? Hey, where is everyone going? Who are these people? Who is this new lady, Mrs. Shirley? She's the only one left here that speaks Chinese, but I don't know her or these new people!! OK, don't panic. Just stay in one place and pretend to enjoy playing with the new toys. Oh wait, they have snacks...maybe these people aren't that bad after all. But I'm still going to stand in the same place...for a few hours. Wait, now my only Chinese counterpart, Mrs. Shirley, is leaving. Now what...? These new people that I'm being left with look as confused as me....

Who are these people, and why are they trying so hard to play with me and make me happy? OK, I'll just continue to stand in the same place and show no emotion. Soon this will be over, and I'll be back in the truck with Mrs. Ye, heading back to The Special Place. Hold on...if that's the case then why are they putting me in a bath tub? Oh, I don't like the looks of this at all.... Actually, this bath isn't all that bad, but who are these people!?

That first night with my kidnappers, I showed little emotion. I had gotten very good at keeping my guard up. I thought I would wake up, and this dream would be over. But when I woke up to a greeting that sounded like a sick donkey "Ni Hao! Ni Hao!," there they were again, those people who couldn't speak Chinese if their lives depended on it.

Even though their attempts at Chinese were lacking, I sensed that they cared about me. They dressed me, fed me, and bathed me. None of this I minded, but then they told me it was time to go to sleep, and this I did not, do not, will not ever like. So now it was time to put my foot down. Now it was time to cry, shriek, wail, and scream bloody murder! No sleep for me...that is until I (yawn) fall asleep standing up....

I really wasn't used to all the attention that they were giving me, and while a part of me wanted to receive it another part of me just wanted to push them away. I had fun playing games with them, but I began striking out at them, occasionally hitting and biting. I continued to sense that these kidnappers (who happen to reside in five star hotels with marble floors, high ceilings, and fancy furnishings) really do care about me even with all of these antics....

Something inside of me began to soften up, and I wasn't sure if this was safe. I'd always stood my ground. What if these new people turn on me? What if I push too hard, and they send me back to The Special Place?--I don't think I want to go back there now. What if I push too hard, and they leave me at a gate somewhere?

Something inside me began to soften up, and something inside me told me that I could trust these new people who were calling themselves Mama, Baba, and Ger Ger. Could these be the people I had heard about half a lifetime ago? Had they been thinking about me all this time? What or who had led them to come to me?

Their approach to me told me that I couldn't do anything to make them love me more or make them love me less. A hardness in me began to rapidly melt away in the face of their seemingly unconditional love for me. I began to trust them more and more, and decided I'd like very much to stay with them. It seems that they want the very best for me....

These new people also speak of a God who loves me. All of this is new and quite confusing, but I really feel that I can trust them. Maybe someday all of this will make more sense to me.

I've decided I'm going to stay with these new people--just don't tell me when I have to go to bed....

Hanging out with Emily in Guangzhou....

2008-08-03T07:07:00.000-07:00

It's been one week since we first met Emily, and we can't imagine life without her as a part of our family.... We so look forward to bringing her home to meet Conner, Tyler, Mason, and Caroline! Every day Emily's interaction with us is more and more natural, and she even went to bed a little better last night....

Our precious little insomniac....

2008-08-02T02:53:00.000-07:00

We mentioned in an earlier blog post that it's not uncommon for an adopted toddler to have sleep issues. Emily does eventually fall asleep and sleep quite well once she's "down for the count," but it's her extreme aversion to the idea of sleep that is such a challenge. So, she's really not an insomniac but rather an "insomniphobe."

Others who have gone before us as adoptive parents have shared their stories, and we know that Emily will eventually settle into a routine.

In the meantime, this girl does not like to go to bed! She cries, screams, wails, and cries a river.... It is very disconcerting to see her this way, and we appreciate your prayers as we ask for wisdom as to the best approach.

As you can see, once she eventually falls asleep (which often is sitting or standing up), she's like a little angel, and once asleep, she really does sleep well....

Today we arrived uneventfully in Guangzhou! We'll keep you posted....

Farewell Nanchang....

2008-08-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that one leg of our China trip is coming to an end. How can so much happen in so little time? We can hardly remember a day without our sweet Emily Wan Ye......

This was a day of unwinding for us after no shortage of hustling around to arrive here and complete all the required paperwork. We went to the beautiful park for a stroll.

Although at times Emily does get that look in her eyes that says, "You're not going to leave me, are you?" most of the time she is giggling and very playful. The aggressive behavior that we saw previously has lessened, and now she welcomes our hugs and touch.

This afternoon we received Emily's completed Chinese passport! Tomorrow we fly to Guangzhou to the South for the next leg of our journey. We will get Emily's visa next week at The U.S. Consulate so she can travel home!!

Our guide, Shirley, has been invaluable to our survival. She has taken us to a number of restaurants and on quite a few tours that we would never have been able to navigate without her.

This evening we took a walk around the square in Nanchang to say goodbye to the capital city of little Ling Wan Ye's home province. (Note the square's monument (bottom image)--The date 8/1/1927 happens to be the beginning of The Nanchang Uprising--a momentous aspect of The Chinese Revolution). OK, history lesson is over....

So tonight we ventured out to the square WITHOUT our guide Shirley, and when we went into KFC so that Harrison could eat some Western fare, we were LOST without our translator--clearly we thought that after a week here we would suddenly be fluent in Chinese... Anyway, after speaking to the cashier really slowly and loudly in English (thinking it might come through to her as Chinese), we basically took whatever ended up on the tray with a smile! After a good laugh, we strolled and reflected on this past week and how God has grown our faith, leading us to Nanchang to welcome Emily into our family.

Once again we want to thank all of you who are bringing us before The Lord in prayer--we can assure you that we are blessed by your prayers for us! This has been an exciting adventure, and we will do our best to keep everyone up to date! Good night.....

A rainy-day trip to China's countryside....

2008-07-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

Notice the little child's legs hanging down. It's two to four

people on the same bike in China....

If you don't get out of the way you may be struck by the

truck or the part that is falling off....

Lots of rice fields.

Men's room on the right. Women's on the left. No thanks,

I'll wait 'til we're back at the hotel

Water buffalo.

The First Days in Review....

2008-07-31T06:09:00.000-07:00

The days have begun to run together...so I thought I had better capture some of the specifics before they are no longer etched with crisp detail in my memory. The details of these first few days are very important for Emily's lifebook. And I don't want to forget anything! (so this might be a very long post) Jeff has done a great job of capturing the week in photos. I am thankful for digital images because I can't begin to say how many "rolls" of film we have used already.

Our days of travel went extremely well. We had no delays and arrived in Nanchang a few minutes early. The worst part was having to begin my education of the use of "squatty" potties. The ones in the airport do not look anything like the "pretty" one we showed in a recent post. Our guide Shirley met us at the airport and has been helping us each step of the way. She is a very young looking 38. Her english is very good, and she loves her job and her country. She has shown us around Nanchang and taken steps to make sure that we have knowledge of Emily's province.

As you all know, upon arrival, we learned that we would be united with Emily in just a few short hours. The emotions that I felt can hardly be explained. My only complaint was that we would not be getting a nights rest before the big event. Fast forward to 4:30p.m. when Shirley knocked on the door and introduced us to our daughter for the very first time. (see "Gotcha Day" video) In walked a very shy, scared, broken, dirty, and hollow little girl. Her eyes were glossed over and she didn't move from "her spot" for several hours. We talked briefly to the director and her assistant about Emily. They didn't seem to have lots of details about her daily life. And some of what she said didn't match the recent update that we had received. I was so relieved that she didn't scream when they left. Shirley tried very hard to help us break the ice. Thankfully it didn't take long for her to bond with her favorite red phone. She slowly began to let her guard down bit by bit. Harrison did a great job of trying to make her smile and laugh during those first few hours.

By the end of the night, we were able to give her a bath (which she really needed). Her skin and scalp were full of heat rash bumps and small ulcers. It was amazing to see how after one long bath and some of Jeff's special lotion she was already looking and smelling better. We were also able to cut her fingernails. Her feet were so dirty that we still are working on some of the dirt under her nails. She enjoyed some noodles before bed and fell asleep sitting up at around 9p.m.

We were all so thankful that she slept through the night....only wish we were able to as well??!! The jet lag is still hindering our ability to sleep past the early hours of the morning. Emily did great and didn't cry when she saw us in the morning.

The next day was busy with several official meetings and by the end of the day Ling Wan Ye was our adopted daughter in the eyes of the Chinese government. We were thrilled. She is everything my heart has ever thought she would be. God has truly blessed us with an amazing gift!

She is going to fit in with the Fahy family because the girl likes to eat! I'm not sure she has ever been given enough to eat so this is a new experience for her. We have yet to find a food that she doesn't like. We think she will be stiff competition for Conner in the eating department. She is painfully thin so each calorie consumed is of benefit.

Her bonding has had many facets to it. At times she reverts back to the shell of a little girl that walked in our door. She will have tears well up for no "real" reason. She doesn't cry much except when we try to get her to go to sleep. She is very independent (which isn't a desired goal in toddler adoption). We are trying to have her realize/learn that she can depend on us rather than being so self sufficient. She has shown some aggression toward us in the form of biting, hitting and pulling of hair. We are working on helping her to understand "gentle" and to let her know that we will still be around even if she acts up.

The days are extremely hot in Nanchang so we were relieved to see rain in the forecast. However, it has put a damper on some of our sight seeing activities. We spend most of the afternoon and evening hanging out at our hotel. We had hoped to be able to take Emily swimming to help pass the time. The first two days the pool was closed and then yesterday it was too cold for her. I want her first swimming experience to be a positive one so we hope to swim at The White Swan. She does look very cute in her 24 month suit (which is way to big)!

Harrison and Jeff have been able to work out some and spend some time hanging out in the sauna. It has been good for them both. At times the long hours in the hotel have been a bit dull for Harrison so this is a good diversion. Emily has not been a good nap taker these past few days. She fights going to sleep to the extreme of falling asleep standing up the other day!!!!

We have been able to eat one great Chinese meal with Shirley. The food at our hotel is okay, but the choices have gotten a bit slim after 5 days. We are thankful for the the breakfast buffet that has several options for those of us that don't want to eat really "strange" items. (feel free to ask me later how I define "strange")

Our days in Nanchang are coming to a close. It makes me sad to say goodbye to our daughters finding province, her language, and her "people". I am so thankful to have been able to experience this for me and for her in the future. We decided not to visit her orphanage because it would have been 6 hours in the van and she gets sick from the bumpy roads. We were able to go to the countryside and see very similar conditions (without the long drive). We do have a few pictures of her SWI from our camera we sent to her several months ago.

Please pray that Emily will continue to attach to me (Christine). This afternoon and evening she showed some signs of preferring Jeff over me. This not what we want to happen, and will be working hard at establishing the connection again tomorrow. Either way it is a bit stressful for us all. Overall, we are thrilled at her progress. She is making strides each day. Her cute personality is shinning through. Everywhere we go we are told how beautiful she is and how lovely her big eyes are. (big eyes are a wanted trait in China) She is also showing us how smart she is by learning new english words every day. As of today, (Thursday night) she can say ball, car, nose, eye, Baba, all done, ear and duck. We are impressed!! The other astonishing thing is her total dexterity with her hands. Her lack of thumbs is really a non-issue. She can do many things that I'm not sure Caroline can do as quickly or as easily. She can unscrew a water bottle top quicker than I can!!! No one notices her missing thumbs at all. She is amazing to watch!!!

Overall, our hearts are knitted together already. We clearly see God' s hand at work telling His story through our lives. When you all get to meet her you will see what a precious gift we have been given. We remain humbled....

Thanks to everyone who actually made it through this long entry. I will try and do better capturing the details on a daily basis. We so appreciate your love and support through this entire adoption process. Your prayers have been felt across the miles. A special request is to continue to pray for our 4 wonderful children we have left at home. We miss them all so much, and hate that they have to wait to meet little Emily. Thanks to those who have been serving our family by caring for them so well. We appreciate you more than words can every express. You are an important part of this adoption journey. Good night...

The Adventures of Emily Wan Ye

2008-07-31T00:59:00.000-07:00

I don't like riding in the van....

My cool new shades....

First Family Picture - missing our four at home!

So many choices for my new dress...

Trying on and being measured....

Royalty in the making....

I love my bath each night....

Getting my special cream by Baba...

Stealing my water bottle...

Look how I can hold things...

Harrison is a great big brother....

I love my Baba....

The Many Faces of China.....

2008-07-30T05:13:00.000-07:00

Lunch with Emily Wan Ye in Nanchang.....

2008-07-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

Out on the town in Nanchang,,,,

2008-07-28T22:37:00.001-07:00

So much can happen in less than 24 hours......

2008-07-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

OK, here we go with a bunch of pictures, but make sure you scroll down and watch the video of Harrison and Emily Wan Ye playing..... She's coming out of her shell!!!

Playing with Ger Ger (big brother in Chinese)

2008-07-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

It seems she's really starting to warm up to us.....

The Latest from Nanchang....

2008-07-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

We're just about 15 hours into this new relationship, and although at first it seemed like someone had nailed Emily's feet in place (she literally stood in the same place for hours), she slowly grew a little more comfortable with us and our very broken Chinese phrases.

It came as no surprise that she was desperately in need of a bath and some fresh clothes. She cried when it was time to go to sleep and a little in the night.

At times she looks a bit confused and frightened (kidnapped), but she seems to sense our love and care for her, and she has managed to crack a few smiles. She is becoming more interactive, and her dexterity with four fingers is amazing.

This has been challenging and has required a fair amount of effort. We are constantly reminded of the great lengths that God has gone to in order to adopt us as sons and daughters....

Gotcha Day!!! 7/27/08

2008-07-27T06:07:00.000-07:00

We're speechless.....and she's already warming up to her new family!

CHANGE OF PLANS....

2008-07-26T22:59:00.000-07:00

As it turns out we are going to be united with Emily today, Sunday 7/27/08 at 4:30 PM (Nanchang Time)!!!

So as you read this on Sunday morning there, we have Emily!!!

Please pray for her transition as she warms up to us, and please pray for our stamina after a long trip (we had counted on a day to recover before meeting her, but oh well...). We are filled with a myriad of emotions mixed with a healthy dose of jet lag.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. The time has finally arrived.....

We're in China!!!

2008-07-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

We left the airport in Pensacola on Friday, and began the long trip to Nanchang, posing for one last family photo before we add Emily!

We made the most of our travels and enjoyed the fellowship.

Each leg of our trip went smoothly.

Upon arriving in Nanchang we gave a big thumbs up that we are soon going to be united with our sweet little Emily!!

Getting ready for mei mei (little sister in Chinese)...

2008-07-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

As we put the finishing touches on packing and head for China tomorrow, all of the kids are excitedly preparing for the arrival of their new sister, Emily!

Caroline is especially excited about another girl in the house. Emily and Caroline will be sharing a bedroom, and Caroline assures us, "Emily can sleep in my bed if she's scared...."

In the AM we're off to Nanchang!!!

Packing is a such a drag....

2008-07-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

OK, I admit it. I really

don't like packing......

Can't we just find some way to beam ourselves there?

Prayer Time

2008-07-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight we gathered at our pastor's home for prayer. As the time to leave for China draws nearer we are humbled by the opportunity and challenge that awaits us. We so appreciate the prayers of our friends and family....

Although so many things are in place for the trip, there are still details both here and in China that have yet to be hammered out. So tonight, and many times prior to tonight, we surrendered all of these concerns to our Heavenly Father, for we know that no detail escapes Him.....

Off to bed....

2008-07-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

As we finish up an honest night's work I think of little Emily who has very little understanding of what is about to take place. We received a recent picture of her, and she looks so sweet and happy. She's in foster care, and although she lives in an impoverished setting, by all reports she is well cared for.

The Lord has impressed on my heart that although we will be able to offer her many more creature comforts and a more prosperous future in this world, the only thing of truly lasting value that we have to offer her is unconditional love and the gospel.

Yes, we can buy her nicer clothes, and yes, she will grow up in a nicer dwelling, but these things will pass away. Our desire is to reach, nurture, and protect her precious heart for God's glory....

Emily's Ba Ba

The Countdown Begins.....

2008-07-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

OK, this thing is really happening..... We are sitting at the kitchen table with a long punch list and a lot of paperwork. In 4 days we'll be boarding a plane to L.A. and then on to Guangzhou, China! Yes, it's a bit overwhelming, but it is also so exciting. The adorable little girl we have been praying for over the past year is at the other end of these travels to places that I have trouble pronouncing.... In just about a week we'll be united with Emily, and I will be her Ba Ba (Father in Chinese) Yes, it's challenging. Yes it's overwhelming. But, without a doubt I am confident that this is God's leading for our family!

OK, now back to the punch list.....

Emily's Ba Ba