Thinking of Rhylan and Pre-Travel Emotions

Excitement, edge of your seat nail-biting nervousness, sadness, regret, and the constant feeling of butterflies in the stomach are some of the emotions/feelings I have had lately.  Time cannot go fast enough and yet it is going waaaay too fast!!  So much to do before we leave and SO much packing!!! We are so excited to get her and what once felt like a dream we are realizing is going to become a reality.  Nervousness because we wonder how she will react/bond etc.  We have been planning for her for so long, but she has not been planning for us.  We will soon turn her world upside down COMPLETELY!!!  Regret for having to do that and a deep sadness when I think of her birth mother.
Please pray that we can get/stay healthy.  Right now 2 travelers in our family are sick! I found this poem today and it made me think of Rhylan so far away and so unaware of how her life is about to change.  PLEASE PRAY FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR HER!!! 
How Could You Know?
As you lay sleeping far away as still as you could be....
How could you know the joy today this photo brings to me?
A few short weeks and you'll be mine, and "I" will soon be "We."
How could you know the love I feel? It's something you can't see.
So have sweet dreams, my precious babe.
Sleep well and tenderly.  Some say that you're the lucky one.  How could you know it's me (us).
--Kris Laughlin

Henan Province

Henan province is located in south-central China.  The name Henan translated means "south of the river" and this province lies south of China's Yellow River. The weather seems very similar to what we experience here in Indiana, cold winters and warm summers!The capital city is Zhengzhou which is where we will be staying while in Henan province.  It is the third most populous province in China with over 94 million people.  To put that in perspective if Henan was a country by itself it would be the 12th most populous in the world. (I am definitely trying to impress this fact upon Braden and Cameron... NOT THE PLACE TO WONDER OFF!!!) Henan is considered to be one of the less developed areas in China and many there make their living in agriculture (Rhylan should feel right at home out in the middle of farmland ha!)  The Sanmenxia SWI is the orphanage in the Henan province where Rhylan currently lives.  We will meet her at the Zhengzhou Civil Affairs building on Monday, January 13th!!  She will come on a bullet train with her nanny and Yang Na, the director of the orphanage. 

A Priceless Christmas Gift!!!

On December 24th we received the BEST gift  and it was totally unexpected......an updated photo of our little Rhylan!!!  We have a travel countdown and can't wait to meet her!!!

A post from Jen and Jan

We are so thankful for Jan!  She has held our hands through this journey and even started our blog!!  Thank you Jan!! We love you and are so thankful that you allowed God to use you!!

Jan's post: for me, your journey got a swift kick at the homeschool convention :)  God was (once again) working behind the scenes and creating a beautiful tapestry ... all with the purpose of bringing Him glory and a little girl to her home.  i am so happy to follow you to China!