Day 1

We are on our way today!!  We decided to drive to Chicago and leave from there (it was a $1000 cheaper than flying out of Grand Rapids).  We got there in plenty of time and they gave us better seats than we originally had so it turned out to be a good flight (if 12 hours in the air can be good).  We arrived in Beijing a little late but there was a driver waiting for us.  We got to bed at 2:00am (2:00pm US time) and had to get up early to catch a flight to Zhengzhou.  It wasn't too hard to get up since we were so excited to get to our daughter's province!!

It's Finally Happening!!

The time is finally upon us!  We are leaving July 8th to be reunited with our daughter.  October 31, 2009...I remember that day so well.  It was the last day we spent with Piper.  I spent the whole day holding her...letting go only to let Emily, Dennis and Benji get a few hugs in.  Lots of tears were shed and such uncertainty filled us after she left.  We sent a letter with her, along with a bracelet, pictures of our time together, and Emily's baby blanket that she selflessly gave Piper.  At that moment we honestly didn't know if we would be given the honor of parenting her but wanted her to have some memories of our time together, no matter where life took her. 

We are so thankful that God chose us!!!   What a looooong journey but Piper Jia Yu, you are so worth the wait my beautiful girl!  We are so glad that God kept you safe and healthy and in the loving care of the Swallows Nest nannies while we were apart.  We will see you soon!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Dearest Birth Mothers,

If it were not for you, I would not have the pleasure of celebrating Mother's Day with Benji and soon, Piper.  I cannot describe the feelings of love and gratitude I have for your selfless gift of love.  I pray this day finds you at peace with your decision and God gives you a sense that your babies are doing wonderfully and are an absolute blessing to so many in their lives.  Happy Mother's Day birth mothers!  May you remember the day your babies were born, the sweet smell of their skin and the warmth of their snugly little bodies.  We love you and pray for you daily.

Thank you Vanderbilt

God wants this little girl home with us!  We were blessed again unexpectedly by a donation to our adoption fund.  The staff at Emily and Benji's school, Vanderbilt Charter Academy, http://vanderbilt.heritageacademies.com/, pay money to wear jeans on Fridays and then donate the money to a charity.  Well, this time we were the recipients!  This school has been a blessing to us in so many ways!  Thank you Vanderbilt Charter Academy!!!

Such a Sweetheart

We just got these new pictures.  Isn't she the sweetest thing ever?!



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!!

New pictures!!

She's sitting up now!!  Her report that was sent says she is so happy all of the time.  We can't wait to see that smile in person and kiss those cheeks.