Exciting Days Ahead...

THE WAIT IS OVER!!!!

 We're packing and getting things in order to travel to meet Lilly and Levi and bring them home. This has been a long journey. We first saw Lilly's face in January. We felt God's prompting although we didn't know how it would happen. In time, we felt the call to bring home Levi as well. God has done immeasurable more than we could ask or imagine. He gave us this call and it was not without being in complete control of the outcome. He is faithful. We cannot wait to wrap our arms around Lilly and Levi and show the Father's love to them.

We would love to share what the days after arriving home will look like for our family. We have spent hours studying, taking courses, watching videos and reading to prepare for this (and our previous) adoption. There are some things that are crucial in helping Levi and Lilly adjust. The first is that for a time we will limit contact and interaction with others. It is vital that Lilly and Levi begin to understand that Matt and I are their new parents and caretakers. They have had numerous people taking care of them in and out of their lives.  To help their bonding and attaching, we will be the ones meeting all their basic needs such as feeding, holding them, changing them, etc.  There will be some interaction that will be necessary such as doctor visits, but it will be limited within the first few weeks.  They need to be able to see Mom and/or Dad at all times for the first few months.

We will also spend some time "cocooning". We will take some time and stay at home. This helps them establish that our home is their new home. Everything they will be experiencing is new...new people, new language, new home, new food. We want to keep them from being too overwhelmed and help them feel secure.

We've been trying to help our children understand what this experience could be like. We've been dreaming of meeting Lilly and Levi for months. They, on the other hand, may not know that we're even coming for them. They will be stripped of everything they know and left with people that don't speak their language, don't look like them and that they don't know. That is scary. There is typically a grieving that takes place with children when they're adopted and we're trying to brace for that especially since Lilly and Levi are older. If you see us regularly, we ask that you are gracious to these blessings and what they're walking through. Please be patient with our family as well as we adjust.

We are so thankful to all who have been a part of this story. It has been amazing to watch the body of Christ come together to care for these two orphans who will soon be orphans no more!

*If you'd like to see pictures and updates from our trip to China, make sure and join the "Longing for Lilly and Levi" Facebook page.  There is video of Lilly and Levi too on the FB page!!*