3-2-1 China!

We are one step closer to our beloved Lily!

This week we counted down no. 3 on the countdown to travel approval from China. We received the approval on our I-800 application.  About 3 weeks ago we submitted this bundle of paperwork and forms in order to bring Lily back to the U.S. as a citizen of our country.  How wonderful it was to write in "Lily Mei-Ling Brandt" for the first official time in the designated box for her name :).  At the same time questions flooded my heart.  Will she like it?  Will it be hard for her to make the transition to an American name?  Will she feel like she's giving up part of her identity?  I can't even imagine what it would be like at the tender age of 7 to leave everything you know.  Everything.  She will join a new family, travel to a new country, and take on a new name.  It will take an astounding amount of hope, courage, and simple trust to step into this new world.  As it all begins to unfold before her, as she learns she was designed for this family with five boys and a mom and dad and begins to feel loved and at home, it is my hope and prayer Lily will come to identify herself with the One who created her, the One who made her as beautiful as the lily of the valley, both inside and out.

Count no. 2 around the corner!


Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine!   Is. 43:1

Welcome!

Welcome!  Our family invites you to journey with us on this next stretch of our adoption story to bring home our precious Lily.  We began this journey about six years ago as we moved forward in faith to bring home a little sister and daughter.  Many prayers and a giant file box of paperwork later we are now busting with joy and oh so eager to meet her and love on her.

Lily first captured our hearts on Aug 25, 2011 when her photos and referral landed in our email.  The past month has been filled with filing requests for approval to adopt, waiting for China's green light, and more paperwork that pushes us ever closer to bringing Lily home!  The paperwork is now finished. We will apply for our visas, and wait, wait, wait some more for it all to be processed before receiving our approval to travel.