Life as a Malone

Dearest Desi,

While it is still fresh on our minds, we want to record every detail of when we first met you. I may or may not have some tears in my eyes as I type this because I am listening to you chatter in Chinese behind me in the living room. That is a reason for joy.

I arrived at the airport at 7:00 p.m. Friday night, a full hour before the flight ended up landing. About 30 minutes later your Dad arrived with Jordan and Jenna. They had a slight car seat catastrophe and he was in diva dad mode from being unable to get it in the car. After two weeks without mom, it was the cherry on top :)

So many friends came to see you. Some of my closest friends from school including Kelly, Jill, Aubree, Hannah, Lauren, and Katelyn came. Plus a TON of other adoptive families. There was quite a crowd to greet you.

As we waited it was only expected there would be lots of excitement. Jenna began to have an emotional breakdown from anxiousness but luckily our friend Jill bought her a strawberry smoothie and all was well. Once we got her settled down though something happened in Jordan's life that we have yet to figure out and she came running through the airport crying. High school life is dramatic.

And where was our dad in all this? Pacing the airport. Just walking. After two weeks on his own we think he just needed some time. Lots of time.

Finally we saw that the flight had landed. The three of us stood together staring at the screen for what felt like eternity. Tears started flowing. Then, it happened. You and our mom walked across the screen. Lots of tear. Lots of excitement. Cameras were ready.

Suddenly you appeared at the top of the escalator. We ran over and as we watched you and our mom ride down emotions took over all of us. Jenna began sobbing uncontrollably. Our mom, after the adventure of a lifetime in China by herself, couldn't control her tears either.

We were finally together. For probably a minute at the bottom of the escalator the six of us stood together, crying, hugging, and basking in the joy of being together. A family finally complete. After a long journey, the Lord had brought us together for the first time.

The rest is somewhat blurry. There were lots of attempted pictures, but you were not overly excited to see all of us. It had been a long flight and you were exhausted. At one point though you needed to go to the bathroom and when you came out you were giggling and carrying on! It was quite amazing. We were able to play with you some after that. Where was dad during all of this? Searching for the luggage. We pray for him a lot, living life with now 5 women. Brave man. Such a brave man.

Once we all made it home from the airport we played until 11:00 p.m. that night. You laughed so much-it was like we had always been sisters. Always been a family. The Lord is just so good.

Yesterday you met both sets of grandparents and we made our first Sonic run. Ice cream is your jam for sure. Today you went to church for the first time! You'll never believe who showed up. SANTA! Yes, just 36 hours after making your America debut you met the man himself.

I am trying to think of how to describe my feelings right now. It just puts me in awe to think of how blessed my life is. You bring each of us such joy. Your laughter and smiles are like kisses from heaven. Listening to you sing your Chinese nursery rhymes beats any award winning singers. This journey we have started together as a family is better than I believe any of us could have ever imagined. You fit perfectly. God had His hand in every bit of your adoption and He is now blessing our family more than we thought possible.

It always catches me off guard when people say how lucky you are that we adopted you. Or how it's such a great thing our family decided to adopt. For me...we didn't make a decision. We were called to do it. The Lord has asked all followers to care for the orphans. We are the lucky ones. We are the blessed ones. We are the undeserving ones of such a precious angel like you. Adoption was never an option for us. It was something we were going to do whether it seemed possible or not. And let me tell you, there were a million times it seemed impossible.

Saying all of this, things aren't perfect (though they are so very close). You haven't really taken to our dad yet-but we know this will take time. And you are still not completely bonded with our mom. But you do love Jordan, Jenna, and I so much. Jenna is struggling a little bit with not being the baby anymore. For 7 years she has lived the glorified "baby" life so it may take some time for her to get used to it.

That's the best thing though. We have all the time in the world. Because you are home now Desi.

Forever.

Love,

Devan, Jordan, and Jenna :)

First time we saw you on the airport screen!

Falling asleep in my arms :)

You and Jenna love bathtime!

You liked the ice cream A LOT!

Welcome Home Desi

Welcome home Desi. Welcome home.

Finally.

Dearest Desi,

Today is the day. With a million and one emotions running through me, I sit here knowing in less than 12 hours, our family's life will be forever changed.

It's been a long journey. A journey of ten years. Getting Jenna home seemed like a miracle and for the past four or more years we have been working on bringing another little girl home. Yet today, that chapter of our lives closes. It's a bit scary. But most of all, it's a reason for joy and praise.

You are spending your last two hours on the plane right now. You will land in Chicago about 11:00 a.m. As soon as you step foot off the plane, you will be an American citizen. Congratulations :) I would say that's a big deal.

I keep thinking about tonight Desi and how it will feel the moment our family is united together for the first time. My heart can't really handle it. It reminds me of how anxious the Lord must be for His children to finally be united with Him. I can't wait til the day when we can hear the chorus of angels in heaven singing His praises. I'm filled with anticipation for this because of the small speck of joy I know I'm feeling compared to the joy they will have.

It has been a very long journey Desi. But at 7:42 p.m. tonight a new chapter of all of our lives will begin. And we can't wait.

The next time we update the blog, it will finally be a picture of us. I love the sound of that. Us. A family. Together at last.

Get ready little Desi. It's time for the adventure to begin.

Devan, Jordan, and Jenna

The Final 36 Hours

Dearest Desi,

So I didn't keep the blog quite as updated as I would have liked to while our mom was in China getting you. But the wonderful news is that once you left Lanzhou and got to Guangzhou, the two of you bonded so well. You are laughing, smiling, playing, and unfortunately stealing from every store you go into! Who knew we were getting ourselves an adorable little thief :) I guess we have some teaching to do about not taking shoes from the store.

Right now you are asleep in Hong Kong, spending your final night in China. Tomorrow you will wake up and get on a plane bound for Arkansas. And you will be home. In less than 36 hours we will be meeting you for the very first time.

A million times I have thought about the moment when we first meet you. We have the rest of our lives to be sisters, and yet there will be that one moment where I think time will stop. The four daughters will be together for the first time. I can already feel the Lord pouring His blessings into that moment. The tears are flowing as I imagine our first hug, our first exchange of smiles, the first time we hold hands and walk together as sisters.

It's going to be wonderful Desi. We can't promise perfection, but we can promise more love than you can imagine.

Enjoy this final night in China Desi. I'm so thankful for the country that has given me two precious sisters. But tomorrow, please come home. We have so many adventures to go on. So many memories to make. And so much love to share.

It's time to come home.

With all our love,

Devan, Jordan, and Jenna

How He Loves Us

Dearest Desi,

You and our mom have left Lanzhou and made it to the next city, Guangzhou. You apparently were a little antsy on the plane ride but you two made it! Our mom is working very hard to bond with you, but you are making it a little difficult. We expected the bonding process to take a while of course, but it is still hard. Leaving Lanzhou was a good step for the two of you though. In Guangzhou though the pollution is not as bad and there are lots of American families and more people speak English! Our mom is much happier, she had gotten very discouraged by the end of your time in Lanzhou. But now we are moving closer and closer to you coming home!!! Only 6 more days. 6 very short days :)

I was recently inspired by a friend here at Ouachita to compare your adoption to how the Lord has adopted us into His family. She couldn't have been more right. As followers of Christ, we were orphaned. We had no hope, no future, no one to love us. And yet He chose to love us.

Desi, the similarities are overwhelming. Our mom said that when she tries to talk to you sometimes, you turn your head away and refuse to listen. How many times in my life has the Lord tried to tell me something, and yet I have turned my head. I refused to listen to Him. I have ignored and rejected Him so many times. Praise the Lord though, for He is persistent. So persistent.

Our mom only wants the best for you. She has so much love to give to you. She would do anything for you. And she will be persistent as well.

The Lord's love for us is just like our mom's love for you-except even more. He only wants our best. His greatest desire is to love His children. And yet we reject Him. We refuse to accept His love. We think that we know best and that we can do better on our own. We seem to have no idea that this love He is dying, literally dying, to pour into us, is better than anything we could ever imagine. The life He has laid out for us is better than anything we could ever think of. Yet so many times we have told Him no.

I know that someday soon you will realize the love our mom is trying to give you, and soon the love we will be giving you, is for your best. We want to love you, care for you, and give you the best life possible. You have been adopted into our family, just as Christ has adopted us into His. And it will be our goal daily to remember all the Lord has to give us and accept it, as well as be gracious to Him for adopting us.

Only a few more days Desi and you will be home. Yet this is not our forever home. We are destined for better things. We are destined for an eternity united with the Lord in heaven. It's hard for me to imagine that life could be better than this, the excitement and joy and love that my heart has been filled with in these past few days. But it will be. And that is something to be joyful about.

Enjoy these few days in Guangzhou! We hear you are in love with your squeaky shoes. We will try to love them as well.

All our love,

Devan, Jordan, and Jenna

P.S. You are beautiful. And we love you.

Your first plane ride!

Eating a biscuit :)

We love the silly faces!

Getting ready for your physical!

Girl-you only weigh 30 lbs.

The same doctor that gave Jenna her exam

The most beautiful little girl :)