Our Family

Our adoption journey really began in the fall of 2005, when we were given the news that having another biological child was not likely. We had been blessed with our daughter Brynn in August 2003, and here we were, 2 ½ years after she was born knowing we were not done growing our family or parenting another child. Instead of pursuing many more expensive procedures, Jason asked me one day if I was open to adoption. I answered him quickly—“I am open”. He then asked me to answer on the count of 3 if I felt led to domestic or international adoption. He counted to 3 and we both said “international” at the same time. I have to tell you that adopting from China had long been a theme or a topic that came up in my family. We knew a baby that had been adopted from China when my sisters and I were growing up, and we have always talked about her. Someone was going to adopt a baby girl from China in my family; I just didn’t know it would be ME! The first information meeting we attended was in January 2006. We were told the process would be just about 12 months. Our dossier was completed 9 months later, and our official Log In date was 9/18/2006 (Jason’s birthday)! Meanwhile Brynn was now 3 and we were prepared to have our girls about 2-3 years apart. We knew it would be busy but we were ready. Little did we know the process would end up being almost 7 years from the date of our first information meeting with Great Wall China Adoption Agency. Although we felt called to adopt from China, we had some moments of frustration with the painstaking wait. We always found our center back in God’s perfect timing and trusted in that. Brynn has been so excited to be a big sister and a few years ago, she would have been too young to make the trip to China. Now, she gets to be a part of it and welcome her little sister the moment we meet her on her Gotcha Day. Libby will be part of a close knit family that has been excited to meet her! She will have fun with her cousins Maddie (21), Chloe (13), Liam (11) and Colin (9). Aunt Robin and Aunt Leslie (Dana’s sisters) are married to Bill and Bruce, and we all hang out a lot and have lived in the same city for over 10 years. Recently, Robin, Bill, Liam and Colin moved to Seattle but we visit often! Libby has 2 Grandma’s that love her already! Connie (Dana’s Mom) goes by “Mimi” and she lives about 30 minutes away and Jackie (Jason’s Mom) goes by “Grandma” and she lives in Florida. She spends time with us every summer and we try to visit her when we can. “Papa” (Jason’s Dad) is Bruce and he lives in Michigan and Florida with his wife Patti and they will have a blast meeting Libby and spending time with her. Uncle Jim and Aunt Kristen (Jason’s brother and wife) live in Florida too, so we don’t see each other often! We will have to change that! We cannot wait for Libby to meet, not only our family, but our warm, supportive and caring friends in our community. We are surrounded by people who have cheered us on during this long wait and cannot wait to watch the journey and welcome us home! There is a lot of love in this family, and extended family, and we are ready to dish it out Miss Libby! We cannot wait to have you in our family, forever…. “Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone, But still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, you didn’t grow under my heart but in it.” ~Fleur Conkling Hollinger

Mom and Dad full of love and ready for you to come home! Mom with Aunt Leslie, Aunt Robin and Mimi at a baby shower honoring you Libby! Your big sister just weeks before we left for China! Your Dad--a HUGE football fan! Get Ready!

Mimi with your big sister Brynn (upper center)
and your cousins Colin, Liam, Chloe and Maddie


Grandma and Brynn baking in the kitchen.
Lots of fun baking in your future.


Big sister Brynn (9 years old) all ready
to go out and play in some snow. It will be fun!


Mom and Dad

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