We Are Home!!!

We got home around midnight on the 22nd. Everything is a blur...

We had an incredible time in China. Things went far better than we ever dreamed.

For 2 years (exactly) I have been loving and praying for Ashlyn. I have followed your adoption journey's and tried to envision how our story would play out. Throughout this process I have been excited, hopeful, impatient, sometimes frustrated, tearful, and even scared to death.

I will continue to post about our time in China in segments. But for now I will just say this...

We are in awe. We are in complete AWE of what God has done, and what He continues to do.

Our girls have done miraculously well.

We have been carried to China and back on the wings of your prayers. You are amazing and our God is AWESOME.

THANK YOU to everyone who has given to our fund.

You have no idea what a blessing you are to us.

Our story is truly a miraculous one and I can not wait to let you in on the details.

I am so anxious to share the details and proclaim all that God has done.

Because He is mighty and so worthy of praise.

To Him alone be the glory...

Gotcha Day with Abby came on the 10th. She was very elusive at first... crying and wouldn't let us hold her. Then Alex pulled out his phone and the rest is history:)

Daddy: trying to get in on a little of the action:)

She wouldn't give me the time of day... Until we all walked out of the building. Then she became an instant momma's girl.

Our Guangzhou travel group and Miko, our guide. Loved these families!!!

The first night with Abby. She did great!!!

One of many van rides:) She'd always run straight to the back and jump up in between Alex and Ansley. The she'd fall asleep.

Gotcha day for Ashlyn was the on the 12th in Chongqing. This was photo was taken on our first night with Ashlyn. This is a night I will never forget. We all laughed so much I thought I would pee my pants. Ansley and Alex kept reenacting scenes from Napoleon Dynamite. Ashlyn was so giggly too. In this picture, I had reached down to put my arm through hers like her and Ansley were doing, and she took my arm out and instead put hers through mine. Then she looked up at me with the sweetest smile. I will never forget this moment.

My favorite picture of the entire trip. She and Ansley were instant friends. I'll share more about this later...

The Chongqing Zoo. We are all wearing our TRIBE shirts. "Tribe" is the theme of our church.

And here is some of our "TRIBE", welcoming us home. We were so excited to see them there so late at night. LOVE these people!!!

Christmas morning... The most special ever...

Christmas night at my Mom's.

Thank you for journeying along. Everyone is doing really well. Ashlyn has definitely had some sad moments, but all in all she has a great attitude. I can tell she is really trying hard. Christmas was crazy, even though we kept it as low key as possible. These girls have been drenched in love... love from so many people who have waited with anticipation to meet them. Sweet freinds have stopped by to bring meals and hug them and family members have doted and showered them with love. I am sure it is somewhat overwhelming, but I told Ashlyn, "These people love you and they have been waiting eagerly for you to get here." She just nods her head, smiles, and whispers "oh..." We downloaded a great app called "Say hi" and it's how we communicate with her most of the time. We have had some really great talks... even though it's me doing 99% of the communicating. Both of our girls are silent. Abby is non-verbal, although Matt and Averleigh taught her "peek-a-boo" and have started to try to teach her to say her name now instead of peek-a-boo. She's working on it:) Ashlyn's speech is impaired by her cleft issues. Bless her heart, she can not even say her name. In time this will come.
Many things will come in time. But we are thankful for today. We are thankful that God has woven our hearts together. Abby is amazing. She is so stinkin' smart. She is as sweet as she can be. I worried that she may be aggressive, but she is not AT ALL.

Ok... Gotta go get dinner going...

I'll be back soon...

Blessings,
Rebecca