Love at First Sight

Our little man waits for us in the Guangdong province of Southern China. He was born on April 1, 2007. When we first saw his picture on Amie’s brother’s birthday, February 21, we instantly fell in love. We prayed diligently to see if it was God’s will that we would become Johnathan’s family. Through a series of unmistakable and undeservedly generous signs, God revealed to us that this was indeed the son we had prayed for. Once we got the confirmation from Him, we took the leap of faith and have never looked back.

A Special Name

We are told Johnathan’s orphanage chose the name Xian He for him because Xian means “virtuous” and He means “total.” His caretakers desired for him to be a useful member of society. We have chosen Johnathan for him because it means Gift of God. And a gift of God he truly is. We chose the middle name Joseph after two amazing women of God in our lives, Amie’s mom and her sister, who both share the middle name Jo. Joseph, not incidentally, means, “God shall add another son.” We love that our little man has a special connection to both of Amie’s siblings and her mom.

Our Little Man

Johnathan enjoys playing with his neighboring crib mates, showing off his one-handed crib stand, tipping back bottles with the rising and setting of the sun, lifting baby free weights (see above pic), hanging out in leisure clothes, and playing it cool – always wearing a stoic expression so as not to give away his soft smiley side that we know is hiding under there. He is always ready to share a toy, is secure enough to sport a comb-over, and is an aficionado of gangsta’ froggies (see shirt in picture below). He is cuteness personified. He is pure L.O.V.E.

We praise God constantly for the blessing of Johnathan. We adore our little man and anxiously await for the day we get to wrap our arms (all 16 of them) around him – for the chance to pinch those sweet little cheeks, to hear him giggle, for the opportunity to put a smile on his face, and to look into his big beautiful brown eyes and tell him that we love him. And I can’t wait for the day when he gives us the “look”…the look that tells us he knows we are his forever family!

Our Timeline

2/21 Saw Johnathan’s picture and fell in love.

3/04 Officially matched by agency

3/25 Agency sent off LOI

5/13 PA

5/16 DTC

5/29 LID

8/27 LOA

10/01 TA!!!



Acts 2: 28 “You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence.”