We were so blessed a couple weeks ago by a visit to First Baptist Church in Murphysboro Illinois.  Their orphan ministry (A Gift of Hope) invited us to come and share Piper's story and speak about the plight of orphans in China.  We felt God's presence so strongly there and were incredibly humbled by their generosity.  We were blown away by these people who felt so passionately about orphans and who entrusted us to parent 1 very special little girl, Piper Jia Yu.  Thank you ....A Gift of Hope, for partnering with our family to bring Piper home!  We can't wait to come back and show her off to all of you!!

The family

The YUMMY pancake breakfast to raise money for more orphans

Benji made lots of new friends

Singing with Nicolette; I'm so blessed to call her my friend.  Did you notice Piper on the big screen? We had a slide show during our song.

Part of the AMAZING Gift of Hope team

Presentation of the donation.  Dennis and I are holding back the tears.

Can't hold them back any longer.  Full of thanksgiving!!!



Words cannot express the gratitude we feel to all of you who have prayed and donated to help bring our angel home. The outpouring of love and well wishes for our daughter is amazing!! Friends from all over the world have pitched in to help this one little girl have a chance at life. Long lost high school friends, co-workers from years ago, parents of babies I used to work (ok, play) with, other adoptive families, friends in China, and family members have all helped reunite us with our daughter. We are almost half way to our goal!!!

You are all a very important part of this journey and we consider you a part of Jia Yu's extended family.  It gives me goose bumps to think this little girl, who was abandoned and left on a stool on a busy road in China, with no home and no family, is soon going to have a home and an enormous family (you all) full of love, life and happiness.  Thank you so much for you love and support.  We can't wait for you to meet her!!