Sunday Post

Today (6am Beijing time) we skyped with the boys and my parents. The boys looked great and my parents were hanging in there! Joshua teared up once he realized who we were which made me completely lose it and i had to let Joe do all the talking bc I was crying too hard. I knew i would miss my babies but I didnt realize how much it would truly hurt. I am ready to get my Libby and get back to being a Momma!!

The Lord has blessed us with an amazing travel group which makes it a little easier being so far from home. We stuffed our faces at the breakfast buffet then headed out to do a little exploring on our own. It is about a 15minute walk from our hotel to the Forbidden City which was HUGE and packed at 9am Sunday morning. The culture and the history is unreal. From the Forbidden City we walked to Tienanmen's Square which made Time Square look like a small town. Joe and I had so much fun just wandering around Beijing just soaking up the culture. Joe got quite a few cat calls from the ladies which was hilarious. As you can tell in one of the picture I took of Joe in Tienanmen's Square he stands out just a little from the crowd --- about by 2 or 3 feet! We are packing up this afternoon and flying out to Taiyuan at 5pm tonight. I am ready to get my baby girl! I cant believe this is libby xiao's last night to go to bed without a Mommy and Daddy. To think that when Joe and I go to sleep we will be sleeping in the same province as our daughter...gosh GOD IS GOOD. Please pray for Libby Xiao and what tomorrow holds for her - its is bittersweet for us. Pray for the transition to go well for God to fill us will peace, compassion and to be able to some how give Libby the understanding that we will never leave her. We know that Libby Xiao has been apart of our family plan long before Joe and I ever met so whatever hurdles we face tomorrow God is in control and will guides us through it. Thanks for your prayers and everyone who is loving on my babies at home it means more than you will ever know.

PS - also pretty happy to hear that Alabama lost : ) WAR EAGLE

Day in Beijing

We have had a full day in beijing and so tired/jet lagged so the post will be short! We got a notebook full of information and 6 new pictures of libby xiao this morning - which just makes it so hard being so close to her but still so far away. She is so freakin cute! We fly out to her Province SHanxi tomorrow at 5:00pm which I am really look forward too. Beijing is so packed with people its insane and the pollution is unreal. They say they only really get to see the sun or stars about 22 days a year due to the smog and heavy pollution. The driving here will give you an ulcer----no rules, no lanes!

We did the Great Wall today which was such an amazing moment in life to be surround by such beauty. We got to see the Birds Nest from the Summer Olympics. I think the most amzing part so far is just being with others who are adopting little chinese babies. Its fun to share our passion with others and get to see forever families being made. Its 5pm here and i think we are about to go to bed.

WE MADE IT

After flying out of Nashville oct 7th at 1:00pm, we finally landed in Beijing Oct 8th at 11:42pm. It was neat because we flew with 2 other families who are adopting from China as well so that was fun to have people to talk too. The flight was not too bad and we got some sleep. It was a very odd feeling landing in China - knowing that after all these months of talking about this trip and libby xiao that we were finally landing in her home country.

I didn't sleep very well once we got to the hotel (which is VERY nice) i think once my head hit the pillow my mind went into overdrive (thoughts of my boys at home to libby etc) So i know today will be a LONG day and I will be ready to crash early. We have a meeting at 9am with the other 20 families that are adopting through Holt and then we are after with another couple to see the Great Wall. We will post later today with pics.

Packed and Ready

We are packed and ready to fly out tomorrow. We are so excited and very ready to start this journey - the To Do list are finally done and now it is just time to love on our little boys. Joe and I have been blown away by how people are praying for us, it is so deeply appreciated. We both feel a sense of calmness and confidence that the Lord has already sent the Holy Spirit ahead of us and paved the way to Libby. We have been humbled beyond what we could have ever imagined by people's generous donations and love. We met our financial goal and we are forever grateful to each of you that donated.
It is truly a dream come true to type the following words : that Dang, Xiao Xiao (Elizabeth Xiao Mabry) will have only 4 more nights to sleep as an orphan...in 4 days she will no longer belong to the Republic of China but she will forever belong to our family. Her last name will be Mabry and she will be Daughter of the King and will wear a crown that can never be taken away. i mean can I get an AMEN people.......!!!! I cannot wait to give her the freedom and a world of possibilities. To look into her eyes and heart and tell her she can dream and how what was impossible to reach --now it can come true.

Please pray for a safe UNEVENTFUL travel tomorrow. Also, pray for Libby Xiao to prepare to attach to us on Monday. Pray that Holy Spirit would fill Joe and I will unconditional love and compassion to her as we love her through the pain and unknowns. We truly hope to be "the light in world" in China - that our attitudes and presence would reveal to those around us that we are followers of Jesus. We pray for health and protection for all of us. And most importantly please pray that God would send his angels around each one of our precious boys during the next 17days to protect them physically and emotionally during these hard days to come. Thank you so much for everything - you truly could have never done this without each of you!

Hopefully the next time we read a post from us it will be from CHINA!!!!!

ONE WEEK...FOR REAL?!?!?!

One week from TODAY we will be on our way to China!!! Seriously ..... I am speechless, all over the board with my emotions and not even sure what I should be working on right now! I cant believe in 10 days I will meet my daughter for the first time --- WOW my daughter crazy. We are packed and ready to go. Please be praying for our boys my oldest is already pretty sad about us leaving and that just breaks my heart. So if you think about it please cover my boys' hearts in prayer that God would prepare their hearts for the goodbye on thursday morning and 16 days we will be part (the longest we have been apart is 3 days and 2 nights). Also, obiviously for sweet Libby Xiao - girl needs us I mean just look at this pitful picture (the awful t-shirt just about sends me over the edge and makes me want to fly tonight and immediately put her in a smocked dress or anything but the trucker flap/playboy tshirt! hahaha).

A MONTH FROM TODAY....

"We witness a miracle each time a child enters a life But those who must make their journey home across time and miles, Growing in the hearts of those waiting to love them, carried on the wings of destiny, And placed among us by God's own hands"

We will be a family of 6 - 4 kids ages 5, 4 , 3 and 2 year old yikes! One month from today we will be returning HOME after a very long journey in China with our baby girl. We are can't wait to leave in 2 weeks and start this trip. I am praying constantly for our daughter and daydreaming about all the fun we are going to have with her. Our lists are getting crossed off and smaller every day! I am in MAJOR nesting mode which is driving Joe crazy with all of my projects (he does not understand how cleaning closets, cabinets and garage as anything to do with bring Libby Xiao home ha!)

lonely...

"God sets the lonely in families" Psalms 68:6 perfect way to describe our night. We are so blessed with amazing neighbors and we had a little get together with them tonight. As I sat back thanked the Lord for our friendships and the giggles of the kids (11 kids all 5 and under) I couldn't help but have a "lonely" feeling - we were missing someone- our little baby girl. While watching the little girls run and laugh I can't help but wondered about my own little girl. Its crazy to think that in a month we will be home and be a complete family unit PRAISE THE LORD.
I cant wait to see what kind of personality she will have - I am hoping for a little spunky kinda bossy spirit - Lord knows my boys need a little woman in their life to guide them ha! Will she like to swing or prefer the slide? Will she be shy or life of the party? I just cant wait to learn every little detail about her. I am excited to brush her hair back and wipe the sweat from her little brow after a good chasing game with her brothers and friends. Give her healing kisses for all of her bumps and bruises. I am ready to not miss another single moment in her life...ever! I cant wait for her to look to me not only for love and reassurance but also for her to know that I am permnant and I will never leave her. This journey has already been such a blessing and I cant wait for the ride to really start....we are getting close to travel woooooop woooooooppppp!