We are so excited about the calling that God has laid on our hearts to adopt a little girl from China. When I was in high school, God laid orphans on my heart, specifically in China. My heart was so broken for those children that I wanted to help any way I could. For many years, our family has been able to sponsor children through Compassion International. This has been an amazing opportunity to teach our children about orphans and how God adopted us into his family.

A couple of years ago, Patrick began doing a study on Adoption and how God adopts us into his family. He began reading a book on Adoption and I began to see his heart soften and his love grow for orphans. He has always known my heart and my desire to adopt, but his heart just wasn't there yet. In 2014, we started seriously talking about adoption and what it would mean for our family. With Braxton's stomach condition, we were unsure if we would be able to go through with it and bring home a child that may have other needs on top of what we were already dealing with.

In the meantime, I researched like crazy! Anything that I could get my hands on to read or study, I was learning all I could about adoption. Finally, one Sunday afternoon, Patrick gave his blessing and said we could move on with the process! Braxton received a good report from the doctor and his GERD and Gastroparesis was improving. So, we were ready to hit the ground running and figure out what we needed to do next. I was so excited and scared. Scared of the costs specifically, but I knew God would provide everything we needed. All we had to do was say "yes."

On March 4, 2015, our application was submitted to AAC, Adoption and Family Network. On March 9, 2015, we received an email stating that our application was approved! On May 27, 2015, our homestudy was approved by Hopscotch and sent to AAC.

There are a few things that we would ask of you. First and foremost, for your prayers. Please pray for our family and for guidance during this process. Please pray for our boys, Conner and Braxton, as they prepare for a sister. Please pray for the finances to be available when they are needed. Please pray for our sweet girl. Pray that she is loved, cared for, warm, fed, and healthy. Pray that she may feel peace that only God can give her. Please pray for her parents as they gave her up in hopes that she may get the help she needs that they couldn't provide.

Secondly, please pray about financially supporting us. For every $10 that is donated, your name will be placed on the back of a puzzle piece. Once all of the pieces have been purchased, the puzzle will be framed between two pieces of glass and hung in "Baby Girl's" room. We will be able to show "Baby Girl" all of the people who prayed for her and supported us to help bring her home from China.

We are excited to share this journey with all of you. Please help us bring "Baby Girl" home to her forever family!