How much more does our Father love us?

I am not one who loves to travel or has aspirations to see the world. I don't have a desire to try a lot of different foods. I don't like going from comfortable to the uncomfortable. I cling to comforts. I am the type that orders the same thing off the menu, often too afraid I will be dissapointed if I go out on a limb. What am I doing here in China? Nothing against China, it just isn't home. Home is where I can find comfort and familiarity. I am so reminded that although not a perfect comparison or parallel, I am here for love. I loved this little girl, Lily, before I had even met her. I didn't come to bring a little girl into our family that was perfect in every way. I knew it wouldn't be all bliss. There would be difficult moments, times of sorrow, nights without much sleep, and unfamiliarity. God planted a seed in my heart a long time ago, knowing one day he would unite me with this sweet little orphan and I would have to leave my comforts to go and get her. Oh what the Father has done for us. He sent his perfect and Holy Son down from his magnificent throne to come to a fallen world to be among us sinners to save us and bring us to our forever home. He loved us that much. A deeper more passionate love than we can even fathom. I am humbled every day by that awesome fact. What an indescribable joy it is to be uncomfortable in this foreign land, knowing that God has entrusted me to raise one of His precious children. To teach her about the ultimate sacrifice He made for her by sending His Son and to teach her that we are all adopted into God's family...with that all being said...We are ready to come home...I'm missing some of my comforts...just sayin'

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10

Our Precious Little Lily Photo Gallery

Lily and Mommy on the bus coming back to the Hotel on Forever Family Day

Lily's first moments in the hotel on Forever Family Day

Daddy and Lily

Mommy and Lily huggin it out

Leaving the Passport Office

Sweet Lily

Noodles Inc.

Lily at Breakfast

Lily and Ryan

Lily and Megan

Cool Shades

She's got her Daddy's moves

Playing with Megan's toys

All Tuckered Out

Painter's on Tour

After the Great Wall, Rocky, our tour guide, had a few other things planned. We did a Hutong Tour. We got to ride in rickshaws to visit a family and see how they lived. This is a very old part of Beijing and we learned alot about how families live. Each room in the family home is significant and is set up based on very old customs. The Grandparents have a very special place in the family and have the most spacious and best living quarters. Our guide for the tour was awesome. His name was victor. See him below in the blue coat. He was so enthusiastic and really made us feel welcome. Rocky our tour guide and the very nice lady who lived in the home we visited is on the left.

After the Hutong Tour we went to the Tea House. We really enjoyed relaxing and trying all the different teas. Our hostess told us about each tea and showed us around the Tea House. We found some great Tea to buy.

Great Wall of China

We had trouble connecting to the internet the first couple of nights so let's go back and catch up!

On Sunday we visited the Great Wall. The steps to climb the wall were much steeper than we thought and they still had some ice and snow on them. It was very cold at least until we started to climb the stairs. We warmed up really quickly. Here is a picture of our family including Heather, our Pastor's daughter, who has been such a huge help to our family.
(Thanks Heather!)

Heather,Emily,Megan,and Tiffany. Tiffany,who joined us for the first part our journey, works at All God's Children, our adoption agency out of Oregon. It was great having her on our trip. She helped us out so much and we really enjoyed getting to know her. Thanks Tiffany!

A Dad's View

What an awesome morning! At 8:30am we headed to the orphanage to meet Lily for the first time. As we passed through the gate, it was very surreal. The day had finally come. After more than 15 months, it was finally time. In the reception area we met another family who was waiting to meet their daughter. They are from North Carolina and their daughter was about the same age as Lily. After more paperwork, they brought Lily in. She was holding a chocolate snack cake in one hand and a cookie in the other. We could tell right away that this girl loved her sweets. Stephanie held her in her lap and she was very calm, at least until we tried to take the little chocolate cake out of her hands for a minute. That didn't work at all. She was not happy. After a few moments of crying we distracted her and it was time to leave. We got everyone bundled up and headed for the bus. Tianjin is very cold right now. Lily did great on the bus trip back to the hotel, laughing and throwing her head back. The kid took turns playing peek-a-boo and making funny faces. It was an awesome morning. We are taking the rest of the day to stay close to our room and the hotel to spend time with Lily. Lily seems to be bonding quickly with Stephanie. She is already calling her Momma and running into her arms. It is so precious! God is so good!

A Dad's View

What an awesome morning! At 8:30am we headed to the orphanage to meet Lily for the first time. As we passed through the gate, it was very surreal. The day had finally come. After more than 15 months, it was finally time. In the reception area we met another family who was waiting to meet their daughter. They are from North Carolina and their daughter was about the same age as Lily. After more paperwork, they brought Lily in. She was holding a chocolate snack cake in one hand and a cookie in the other. We could tell right away that this girl loved her sweets. Stephanie held her in her lap and she was very calm, at least until we tried to take the little chocolate cake out of her hands for a minute. That didn\'t work at all. She was not happy. After a few moments of crying we distracted her and it was time to leave. We got everyone bundled up and headed for the bus. Tianjin is very cold right now. Lily did great on the bus trip back to the hotel, laughing and throwing her head back. The kid took turns playing peek-a-boo and making funny faces. It was an awesome morning. We are taking the rest of the day to stay close to our room and the hotel to spend time with Lily. Lily seems to be bonding quickly with Stephanie. She is already calling her Momma and running into her arms. It is so precious! God is so good!

In Tianjin

We made it!!

Tomorrow is the big day! We are going to the orphanage at 9:00 to finally meet Lily! We are very excited. Hope to post more with pictures soon!