Beijing day 1

We arrived in Beijing late last night to spend a couple days getting acclimated to the time change. We were able to get a few hours sleep, and then we both woke up early, explored the area with a run, and then went sight seeing with another family. We were able to see the summer palace and part of the Olympic park. 

We also went to a local tea house and then finished our day with a dumpling dinner. 

China bound!

Today we get on a plane to China. I hugged my little girls goodbye. Anna was the most calm and collected I have ever seen her. She relaxed into our prayer time this morning, and seemed to just have a look of readiness for the days ahead. I will miss them so much. But knowing they are with our wonderful parents and knowing the amazing sisters they will be makes my heart incredibly content in our decision. 

My arms are aching to hold our son. The feeling is palpable. I am praying for patience as we will be spending the first 2 days sight seeing and acclimating to the time change before we see him. I want to enjoy the country, be content with where I am, but I know I am going to be counting down the minutes until we hold our little boy. 

China, here we come.

Leaving on a jet plane (in 2 weeks!)

In 2 weeks I will be boarding a plane to go get my son. I have longed for him for so long. I am filled with excitement to see him. My heart also is breaking for what he is about to go through. He has already been through so much in his little life. He listened to his birth mother's heartbeat and voice for nine months and for reasons unknown he was separated from her. Next were the orphanage nannies. Then his foster family. And now, a couple he has never seen before will take him to an entirely new place. A different time, different sights and smells. And I grieve for what he will endure in the next few weeks. I know he will overcome this. And I will do everything in my power to fiercely protect him to allow him to trust again. To love. 

We are so grateful for the prayers and support of family and friends in this process. Know that we covet your love so much. In this time of transition, we will go through a little isolation mode.  This is commonly referred to as "cocooning" and you can google it if you need more info. But basically, for a couple months we will be our son's only caregivers. We will be the ones to hold him, feed him, change him. I won't be getting out much, and we probably won't take him around other kids much. We want to make sure he knows we are his safe place, that he's not living in constant fear of being taken away from someone else. We love you all and are so thankful for your prayers and understanding.

Waiting for news...

Mamas, you know that feeling when you're 37 weeks pregnant and every day you wake up wondering how far away until you get to hold your little one in your arms? That feeling where you try to keep your mind on the present but your heart is just racing to get to that day to touch your baby's fingers and kiss their head. I'm there. Asher, I can't wait to meet you. To hold you. To introduce you to your sisters who love you so much already. 

Today we reach our last "step" in this long process of adoption. Now we wait for the phone call. Two words- travel approval. As soon as we get that phone call we get to actually know that date that we will hold our precious son in our arms. 

We love you kiddo, and we're coming.

1 step closer!

Friday we received our letter of acceptance from China! What does this mean? According to the Chinese government, we are now the parents of Asher Jiang Bryan. Now instead of waiting, the next few weeks are a flurry of paperwork and visits to fed ex to get US immigration stuff in order, then travel! Hopefully as early as mid September. Also, this gives us the freedom to communicate with Asher's foster family- we are so grateful to them for raising him in a home so far instead of an institution. In the next couple days he should be receiving a little care package, including a letter to his foster parents and a little picture album so he can learn our faces over the next few weeks. 

We are so excited to see him soon!

9 weeks!

9 weeks since we said "yes" to our beautiful baby boy. Guys the wait is so hard. I look at his picture every day. When I am putting my girls to bed he is just starting his day. I think about what he is doing. What his life is like. Is he loved? I pray every day that he feels God's love and knows that he will be home soon. 

Hopefully we will receive our official approval from china in about a month.  Then it's another 3 months until immigration approvals come so we can bring him home!

I would love your prayers and encouragement as I am feeling impatient these days. Thank you.

Waiting...

We are about 6 weeks through what we hope will be about a 3 month wait to receive our official approval from china to adopt our beautiful little boy. After that is another 10-14 weeks of immigration paperwork until the US approves for him to come home! This is the worst part for me, knowing every day is a day I don't get to hold my son and tell him I love him. We're hoping once the china approval happens to be able to communicate with his foster family and hopefully see more pictures. Until then, I have to keep busy, and every opportunity to help someone in need just speaks to me right now.  

Anna hosted a lemonade stand for an orphanage in Ethiopia through a national lemonade stand day another bloggers daughter started called Lemonade for the Least of These. Y'all, our friends and neighbors were so generous, we raised $161 in just an hour and a half! I don't know about you, but I don't know if I even broke even at our lemonade stands growing up.

Several of you have asked how to help with our adoption. Everyone's been so generous, I would love for you to take a look at the Love Without Boundaries organization. You can follow them on Facebook or lovewithoutboundaries.com.  They are the most amazing people who have a heart for helping kids with medical needs who are orphans in china. Through sponsorships and fundraisers they raise money for kids who need surgeries or medical care before they can find their forever home.  

I saw on their page today that they are starting a backpack drive for kiddos in our child's province today. It's a very rural area, and most kids have to walk a long way to school, carrying their books in plastic bags or wrapped in a towel. For just $15 you can donate some backpacks so the kids can make it to school ok. The average income in this area is $200 per year.  The website is http://www.lwbcommunity.org/a-backpack-of-ones-own if you want to help. 

Thanks so much for your prayers and support and I hope to give more updates soon!