We're home, praise God!

Okay...I know I'm gonna miss something. This post can't be as good as the one I just typed out...and LOST! Arrrggggghhhhh! Obviously, I am sorely in need of some sanctification (as if I would not be!) I must grow in patience. So, deep breath....let's try that again:


That last day in Guangzhou was nice...we took those famous red couch photos in the lobby of the White Swan Hotel, our home for 2 weeks. We packed the last few items, slept a short time, woke at 4:30 am for a 5:45am departure to the airport. We made it through check in, security, customs, departure of immigration/visitors (whatever that part was called) and after one last security check we boarded the plane. Our flight to Tokyo was almost 4 hours and then we passed through the airport in Japan (security again) and boarded THAT plane. We enjoyed a LONG flight (over 11 hours)...ate some airplane meals, napped a bit and arrived safely in Detroit. After passing through customs, we were welcomed...all six of us to the US...our new daughter is officially a US citizen.

We spent some time "freshening up" in the Detroit airport, ate a bite or two and then waited to board our plane to Memphis, the last stop before the last plane home to Niceville. Of course, God had other things in mind. We would be delayed....and would miss our connection in Memphis. We ended up staying overnight there (put up in a hotel by Northwest) and finally, close to 48 hours after we started, we were greeted at the airport in Niceville by our parents (mine and Jim's!!!) and MANY dear friends from our church! There must have been at least 45 folks waiting for us, balloons, cameras and gifts in hand, hugs and kisses to spare. What a joyous reunion it was! Thank you, dear friends for your wonderful support!

We drove home with our folks and were welcomed into our home, clean and completely stocked with good food, welcome signs and sweet little notes stashed EVERYWHERE, that we'll surely be finding for months to come! Our sweet caregroup and church family really blessed us by preparing our home so well (thanks especially to Kendra, Jessica, Berry's and countless others, I'm sure) and for providing us with such great food (thanks, Caregroup...and friends!) Sunday was a real treat, as Emmy Xiang was welcomed into our fellowship and we spent some time praising our most wonderful God. Thanks be to Him alone for the blessing of a new daughter, for three other precious gifts from Him, for family, for friends, and all good things, but most of all for the gift of His Son and the Eternal Salvation provided only by trusting in His Righteousness. This is the miracle of Christmas, I am reminded by His Word.

With Christmas day gone, our dear family all back secure in their homes and we've put *most* things away, we now begin to settle into life back home at the Brown's.

Please keep us in your prayers, as the transition for Emmy Xiang and for us has just begun. We've been blessed beyond belief with such a smooth one so far, and, by God's grace, we'll continue to seek His ways as we live life together as a family in the body of Christ. Thank you for following our journey to the newest Brown daughter...but stay tuned for happenings of us all. We'll continue to update as often as possible, and will certainly post more pictures as we have time to go through them and post.

Rejoice with us, praise our good and kind God for His riches have been graciously poured upon our most undeserving heads. May YOU, too, experience His forgiveness, His kindness and receive His joy.

Love to you, from us...