Your Carolina Show with Kimberly Kelly

We had a wonderful opportunity to share about the Adoption Options Weekend on Your Carolina Show. It was an exercise in concentration to stay on message as the girls enjoyed their brand new toy balls Kimberly gave them just as our segment started. They light up when you hit them on a hard surface. Thus all the banging on the glass top table. Notice Kirby when she spots herself on the large off set TV monitor - pretty funny.
The following day we had a wonderful event which allowed those who were seeking to find out how they may be able to answer the call of the Gospel to care for the orphan. Thanks to all of the different ministries who where there to help in their specific area of expertise. We pray for those who attended that the Lord would clarify their call and their obedience to follow.

Some Days are Longer Than 24 Hours

We made it home and it never felt so good. We proved that not every day is limited to 24 hours. We started our journey home Thursday morning at 6 AM and arrived home 29 hours later on the same day around 11:30 PM….. Katie Kay did great on the long trip but we are still trying to adjust to the 12 hour difference in our sleep schedule. We are making slight improvements each day.

David III was able to fly home for the weekend so we had a couple of days with our whole new family together - what an overwhelming blessing. A special thank you for all those who prayed for us, it was so evident the Lord was and continues to be at work in bringing Katie Kay into our forever family. Above all, we are humbled and forever grateful to our Lord and Savior for allowing us the privilege of  being Katie Kay's family.

Katie Kay playing on the airplane during the flight home

America's newest citizen - Newark Liberty Airport

Kirby is finally a big sister !

Kirby loves her new sister and is a big help.

James reading a book to his new sister

Nathan and Katie Kay sharing pizza - where's Mom?

Kirby was very glad to have her biggest brother home
with a clean shave!

The four most beautiful girls in the world !

Thank you God for granting us the desires of our heart !

Headed Your Way

We arrived here two weeks ago full of anticipation and excitement not knowing exactly what the Lord had in store for us but trusting in His promises and loving kindness. We leave early in the morning with so much more than we can here with, a little bundle of God's grace; Katie Kay. We can hardly wait to unite our family and let everyone experience the same joy and blessing we have been privilege since we first embraced this precious little girl.

A special thanks to our wonderful "big children" who have been so wonderful through the whole process. Mom and Dad love each one of you very, very much. And to grandparents and friends who have done so much while we have been away, so much more than we even know about -- Thank You! To Kirby, Mommy and Daddy are fixing to"get on the plane and fly and fly to bring your baby sister home from China!" We love you and will see you tomorrow !!!

Let's go HOME !

Consulate Appointment and Shopping

Monday we had our appointment at the American Consulate. This was our last official appointment here in China. Now all the paper work is in place for Katie Kay to become an American citizen upon landing in the US! The consulate is just an office building, we are not allowed to take any pictures. We do have a swearing in, along with the other families who are there at the same time. The oath asks us if all of our paper work is true. I started crying, just thinking of all the paper work we had done finally coming together. The Yorks were there with us and we were so glad to get to share the moment together.

Katie Kay all dressed up for her appointment at the consulate

Riding the subway was a great experience. It was very clean and nice. 

David and Beth are great shoppers!!

This is a cab ride that we will never forget. The picture can not capture the smell ,the heat and how  small this van was.

Saying goodbye for now to the York's
See you on the other side of the world!

We went shopping today on Shamain Island. This is our favorite store.

Lunch at Lucy's and then Katie Kay was ready to get out of the heat.

Swimming with dad was a great end of the day.

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What a Difference a Week Makes

Today was the day that we knew was coming. The day when Katie Kay felt comfortable enough to relax and trust us enough to allow us to see her cute, playful and fun side of her personality. We started early by Skyping with Laura Sims, James, Nathan and Kirby. The others had met Katie Kay via Skype last week on Gotcha Day but this was the first time we had seen or talk with Kirby. It was very sweet to watch our oldest daughter with our 2 1/2 yr old daughter on the other side of the world, introduce and interact with their new baby sister. Technology is great but God is so much greater !

Katie Kay laughed, teased, played and amazed us all day today. It's amazing what a difference a week makes in the lives of these precious children when they receive the unconditional love and full attention  from parents that we all long for. Here are a few pictures we where able to take that captures just a little of the joy and blessings we received today.

"This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" - Psalm 118:24

Good morning - What's for breakfast ?

Why don't you get me dressed and take me to the great big park across the street?

I'm not sure if we enjoyed people watching at the park more than the people at the park enjoyed watching us ?

 Hey Dad wouldn't it be great if you took me to the pool for my first swim after getting so hot at the park?

Mom, what time is Molly coming over to play and make sure I have a really cute hair bow - please.

I really love your hair bow Molly.

It's so pretty, can I just touch it?

I have an idea; let's play pirates and you be the pirate, OK?

I'm sorry Molly - will you please come play another day?

These are two incredibly precious girls who we hope will grow up to be good friends and allow us to share this miraculous story they have in common - A story that only God could write….

David

Saturday - Finding friends

We are in Guangzhou, where we will complete all of the paperwork required by the USA. We are so glad to be here with friends. We have finally caught up with the York's and gotten to meet their sweet Molly. We met lots of other families at breakfast with their new children, all with unique yet similar stories. We then went for our medical exam so she can be cleared to leave the country. Lots more families all completing adoptions of precious children. Its overwhelming to see how GOD places the perfect child in each family. Everyones child just fits them. 

At the medical exam with the sweet nurses who pose over and over for pictures. 

Katie Kay playing with our wonderful guide Amy.

Its hard to get pictures of all 3 of us when its only been the 3 of us.  This is in the Nanchang airport. 

She is a precious child and we thank God for sending her to us!!!

Half Way Home

It feels good to be clean !

Mom & Dad have been telling me about
all my brothers and sisters
and we have "a 6 child policy" - WoW!

"How many hair bows did you bring Mom? "

Spectacular water and light show each night in downtown Nanchang

Enjoying watching the show

Katie Kay has the most beautiful eyes and already knows how to use them !

Enjoying the sights and breeze from the #1 Pavilion in China,-
The Tengwang Pavilion

Cutie Pie

It pays to be cute or else you might end up as lunch...

Thought I was ordering 2 chicken sandwich combos dinners last night -
Instead I ordered 2 kids meals by mistake but we got 2 really cool toys.
 No wonder it only cost $7.14 (US) and why all the young KFC employees were laughing so hard. Too funny !

DaDa finally got to hold his newest princess today for the first time.
It wasn't for long but we're making progress and it sure felt good !

We catch a flight to Guangzhou at 2 pm tomorrow after we are issued Katie Kay's Chinese passport. There we will complete her medical exams and our US consulate appointment which includes our swearing in ceremony later next week. We will also meet up with our good friends the York's and meet Molly for the first time. It's hard to believe how much our lives and families have changed in the last week since we saw them last. You can follow their current journey to adopt Molly in the Gansu Provence on their blog by clicking Here .

****A very special "we love you" to our children who are patiently waiting for us back home. We love you and miss you very, very much. Please give Kirby an extra big hug and kiss from us and tell her that soon we will be getting on that airplane and fly and fly and fly, bringing her sister home…. We think of all of you often but especially Kirby this week while we have been in Jiangxi, seeing all the beautiful little children is a constant reminder….           Dad & Mom