Welcome! We
feel so blessed that we are on this journey! God laid the
idea of adoption on our hearts after a Steven Curtis Chapman
concert in November 2004. Actually, he laid it on the hearts
of Abby and Andrew. Dan and I had decided five years prior
that we could officially give all of our baby stuff away.
God then laughed! He led us to this adoption decision as a
family a few months after the concert. We began the
paperchase in June 2005. After seeing the list of the
necessary paperwork, I thought why would this take four to
six months to complete. How naïve! Six months later, our
paperwork was finally completed, stamped, notarized, signed,
approved, overnighted, authenticated, etc. Our Log-in-Date
(our official date that China had us in their system) was
December 22, 2005! Then the wait began! We thank our family
and friends for all of the support and prayers during this
time!
I know reading about other adopting families during this
process helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Here is a brief synopsis of our family.
We can’t wait to bring Kayla home to Cincinnati, Ohio! Dan
is a VP of Marketing for a pharmaceutical company. He loves to
run, kayak, and sing. He is the worship leader for our
church. It is a contemporary, United Methodist church. Dan
and I met our first day at college, Miami University in
Oxford, Ohio. We dated for five years and then married. We
just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary this year!
Where did that time go?
Abby is now 11! She is in 6th grade. She is an excellent
student and enjoys reading/writing. She is our drama queen!
She loves to sing and has been in so many musicals that I’m
losing count. She and Dan have actually had the opportunity
to be in two musicals together, “Joseph and the Amazing,
Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Annie”. It is always so much fun
to watch her!
Drew is our athlete! He is 8 and loves whatever sport is in
season. Right now he is the quarterback for his football
team. I love watching him play any sport! He is also an
excellent student but goes to school for the friends! He
keeps us laughing!
I have been a stay at home mom. I have loved every minute. I
do sub about two days a week and occasionally do some
commercials now that the kids are in school all day. I will
be staying home with Kayla when she comes home! Besides my
family, my favorite thing is my Bible Study. We are a group
of girls that have been meeting for about 11 years. I also
love singing with Dan & the band at church and helping lead
the children’s ministry. I can’t forget to mention Tigger!
She is our Wire-haired Fox Terrier. The kids joke that she
is actually my favorite child!
We feel very blessed and can’t wait to add Kayla Anne to our
family. (Kayla- after my mom’s middle name Kay and Anne-
after Dan’s mom’s middle name) We are blessed to live by my
family and just a couple of hours from Dan’s family. Another
blessing has been our Group 244 Swap Group! This is a group
of friends that will be traveling with us to China to adopt
as well. Each month we have exchanged gifts that we can use
when we bring our girls home. It has been so much fun buying
and receiving bibs, bows, books, etc! Please keep these
families in your prayers as well as Kayla. Thank you and God
bless!
We are excited to have you all follow us on this journey!
In Him,
Dan, Amy, Abby, and Drew
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
-lyrics to a song by
Chris Tomlin |
Dan, Amy, Abby, and Drew
waiting patiently for Kayla
Abby and Drew in Hilton Head
Drew and Mommy
Dan (Daddy Warbucks) and Abby (Kate the orphan)
Amy's parents(Chief and Grammie) and
Dan's parents (PaPa and Jem) |
