Bethany in a Beijing art factory / gallery where we bought jewelry & stuff. Bethany was still getting over jet-lag.











Barry & Bethany at The Great Wall, pouring rain, freezing cold, soaking wet.












The Great Wall of China is just outside of Beijing. It's a stair-master of a workout.












Rickshaw rides through the streets of Beijing. YES, this was shot from inside the rickshaw. It's all about the experience.












Barry & Bethany in a Beijing City Village













Barry with our Beijing guide Joy. We are pretty sure that is not her Chinese name : )

Sept 15, 2010

Getting ready to take off from Atlanta Airport to Seattle, then to Beijing.

Day 1 of Travel

The Britts are writing this from the plane between ATL and Seattle. Bethany was SO excited when we arrived at the Atlanta airport - we think it REALLY hit her at a new level - in a good way.

I could see her face was just beaming. I've had this feeling that she's in for more joy than she can possibly imagine. I think she's starting to experience that now.

We have a long way to go - another 15 hours until we reach Beijing. It's gonna be a Long Hard Ride, but, the family is together - well, almost, we're on our way to get the new 4th member now.

That feeling

You know that feeling you get when you first fall in love? Well, not that one, but the one you get when you realize, oh my gosh, I'm now falling DEEPER in love. And, your body is like warm and tingly and there's just this Light of Joy above you....??

I entered that JUST now when I put the high chair together : ) ~ Tell me there is no GOD, I DARE you ~

We're ecstatic, 2 days till departure.

Sisters

Bethany and Ava,
The two of you have never met, but I've seen the Love you will share - in my thoughts,
prayers and dreams.
And, it is amazing. So awesome, that there are no words from any language that can explain
the joy that awaits you both.

It's so big, it's a journey -
as far as eternity.

So, I can't wait for the first step, when the two of you meet.

Sisters you are, Sisters you will be -
Forever now, no matter what,
for eternity.

Love,
daddy

Nursery Before and AFTER!! ~ Tree painted by Margaret Livingston

Official Travel Dates Announced ~

September 15 - 30, 2010!

We received our Chinese Visas today ; )

Getting ready ~ getting ready.

Ava's 1st Birthday

Nursery & Some Shower Pics

How Ava is doing

Yes, that's what we are going to call her, "Ava". We will have to reveal the full name at a later date for security reasons.

The report on her is awesome, again not revealing too much, let's just say she is a seemingly healthy, happy baby who laughs out loud, sucks her fingers when she sleeps (which is A LOT), and, enjoys playing outside.

They play music for her, and her favorite toy is a toy drum... ; )

The orphanage workers take great care of her and everything is well documented. More like being in a day care than an institution; we're impressed by their care and thoroughness. Stay tuned, more to come!

This is funny

When we first announced the adoption in 2006 to some of our family, Bethany's cousin Morgan was much younger at the time. When Morgan was told by her Mom Jen that we were going to get a little girl from China, Morgan asked, "how will we understand her if she is Chinese?"

Kid you not.

But ah, the wisdom of children ~ something to which we should all strive.

~Barry

What's in a Name?

We will not post her Chinese name for privacy reasons, but it is VERY interesting that she was named after an ancient Chinese musician / poet / writer!

There are other similarities between that person and me (Barry / Daddy) that are staggering. It's a Divine connection.

We went to the agency today and accepted the referral, besides, who could resist this face!

She's 15 pounds, 7 months old now (the picture was taken about 2 months ago), she sits up by herself and is very energetic.

Best of all, she already laughs out loud!

Wednesday February 3, 2010

We are excited that we get to go and see pictures of our new daughter this morning!

Last night, we prayed that her current caregivers in the orphanage would take special care of her, our new daughter, sister, who we already love as our own. But for now, she is on the other side of the world, but still already, our own.

We're adopting a little girl from China!!!

It's been nearly four years ago that we began the process of adoption to add a baby girl to our family. In April of 2006, we logged in our paperwork. Through the long process, we wondered if it would happen. TODAY, we go our referral, the journey begins here as the Britts go from 3 to 4.