Nanjing City

We arrived in Nanjing City, Esther's home.  It's a beautiful place filled with a lot of Chinese heritage. Ten different dynasties had their kingdoms here.  As we walked around tonight, I kept thinking of Esther and how she may be feeling right now... From fear to excitement... I'm sure she has mixed emotions.  Please pray for us all as we meet tomorrow and become family. I just want to meet her where she is and begin the process of healing brokenness and loneliness like many of us have never known.   Only Jesus can heal those dark places for her but I know He has brought us here to welcome her as our  daughter.  I love how He writes our stories so much better than we ever could.  I never dreamed we would be here adopting two older girls.  One year ago, I wasn't there, but today I'm so ready to love these two girls and be their mom.  I'm so thankful for a husband who heard the call and was very patient with me as I sought The Lord.  Thank you Jesus God allowed His spirit to speak to me clearly as well.  I wouldn't trade this for nothing.  I feel certain it will be hard but I know that I know HE will give us what we need to do it.   HE is faithful and sovereign.  

                                      

                                     

                                               It's always fun visiting Walmart in China.

"For I know the plans that I have for you, declares The Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Fare Well to Shanghai

Shanghai is very westernized and a lot like NewYork city. 

Feels almost like you are in America and very expensive.

We didn't stand out that much and there were foreigners every where.

Josie was getting very upset with everyone asking her if she was adopted. Our guide tried to explain but to no avail.  

Finally she decided on her own that she would just tell people we are her biological parents. Honesty is huge for me... BUT... Right now with the language barrier and Josie's sensitive emotions,... It's hard to explain it all to her. She gets very sad because she knows they then know she was once an orphan. Oh my dear Josie... You are no longer an orphan. You are our precious child.  Pray for us as we continue to deal with questions and stares.  I always want to teach my children honesty.  Josie is no exception; however, I'm giving a little grace as we finish this journey in China. In America, people ask the same questions. I know the questions are innocent and asked out of curiosity, but I do wish they would consider what they are asking in front of our children.  Their hearts are so tender.

Josie is such a sweet smart girl!

She is really bonding to all of us.

She allows me to dress her and fix her hair.

She sleeps with us each night and has to be touching us both!

When we were ready to leave Shanghai, she asked to call her foster mom.

I could tell she was sad but would not cry {said her foster mom would be upset}.

I'm sure the grief will kick in once we are home and I will be ready to help her work through every bit of it!!!

Here are a few more photos for you~

 Josie and our sweet guide Maggie~

Please be in prayer for us as we wait to meet Esther very soon!

Orphanage visit

Wednesday we visited the orphanage.  Josie did so well.  When we pulled up she immediately yelled out "no!", but once we explained again that mommy and daddy wanted to visit to see where she once lived.  She was okay.  Sometimes visiting is an important part of closure for the child; we felt this was crucial for Josie since she is older.  We hope to do the same once we have Esther next week.  I purposefully took a picture of Greg walking Josie into the orphanage and then another walking out.  Thank you Jesus she is no longer an orphan.  I love this sweet girl and am so humbled God chose us to be her parents.  

Oh my heart…Greg, Brady and I all wish we could have take just a few of these children in our bags.  There were around 500 children in the orphanage and then another 500 were placed into foster homes around Shanghai.  Each. one. broke. our. hearts. The director gave me permission to take pictures just in case it helps to unite even one of these precious gems into a family.  

                                                             Greg and Josie walking in

                                             Josie's bed when she lived in the orphanage.

                                                             

                Josie with her best friend who is being adopted by an American family as well.  I sure hope we can keep these two connected.  

                                                    Walking out!!  No longer an orphan!!

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this; to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world".  

Meeting Josie

Gotcha Josie Wei!!

The past few days have been a whirlwind.  I will keep this post short and sweet as I have tried to blog several times and each time I have lost everything.  
Monday, we met our sweet Zhao Wei Miao… aka Josephine Wei Franks.  We call her Josie.  God blessed us BIG with this precious little treasure.  We are all in love…. yes… even her big brother Brady.  They have already made such a neat connection.  She adores him.  
Tuesday, March 11th, was our official "gotcha" adoption day.  She was so excited!  It was really cool to see her jump up and down when our Lifeline guide told her all that was happening.  Ruthey and Grey had no idea what was really going on when we had gotcha day with them, but Josie is old enough to understand.  Such joy!!  She couldn't wait to get back to hotel and call her foster parents, foster sister, English teacher and Chinese teacher.  We had no idea what she was saying but her facial expressions and the jubilation in her voice told us she was happy.  I will admit, I was a little nervous about her calling, but it was the sweetest moment.  Greg and I both felt her calling them was an important part of the day.  
Today, we visit the orphanage.  This is sometimes very hard.  Pray for all of us.  

Here we go again!

Here we go again…
We are waiting with great anticipation for that next phone call from Emily, our Lifeline social worker, telling us we have Travel Approval. Once Travel Approval is given, we will book flights and leave within a couple of weeks (maybe less). We are beside ourselves with excitement.  
Their room is almost finished.  If you know me, I'm never finished decorating… so I'm pretty sure I will be painting something else or sewing until we leave.  
Please pray for their hearts.  Pray for our family as we add two more.  We know this is what the Lord has called us to and we know we must obey. 

Esther Lynn Xiangnan Franks (13)

Josephine Wei Franks (9)