Well, the awaited day has come and the hour appointed by God from the foundation of the world has come to pass. Libi Faith Jia Qi is an Arnold. What an emotional day this has been. It started out very peaceful, breakfast with our new friends talking about the day, to walking around aimlessly in Fuzhou trying to kill some time. We had a small time of prayer and devotional with the Braniff's, then with no warning a whirlwind of activity occurred.
Our travel coordinator came in and said that Libi was downstairs. We quickly grabbed our stuff and took off to the 3rd floor of the hotel in the conference room. Amy got ahead of me, as I was running behind her trying to get the camera re-wound and hand it off to Rob (Braniff). She went into the room ahead of me, and as we walked in it was like an out of body experience. We have seen nothing but pictures and a small amount of video of her, and here she was live and in the flesh. It was so incredibly peaceful though as Amy took her. She was little stiff at first, but quickly settled in to her and was peaceful.
Both her nanny from New Day and her nanny from the Fujian orphanage were there, and they were quite emotional. Clearly, they both love her dearly. We were able to get them and the Orphanage officials before we left.
We stripped her down to her diaper, and just played with her. Seeing what she feels like, how she smells, and what she can do. That turned into the Baba Arnold boot camp. After a little while she got a little frustrated with me for pushing her too hard. So we just sat and watched her.
She is a precious gift from God. The appointed time has come and past. We are incredibly grateful. Thank you to all who have prayed
16 comments:
Yeah, we are the 1st to respond and see little LibiFaith! How our hearts are bursting with joy for all of you. I have tears in my eyes as I imagine your 1st time of holding her. What JOY! Congratulations on your baby girl. Maybe one day you can come to Australia and introduce her to us! Love you guys,
The Munn's
We are so thrilled that you have your little girl in your arms!!! What an incredible experience! I was up with Lena at 4:30 and just held her tight and thanked God again for giving her to us when we didn't think we were going to have a child. And as I held her I prayed for you and was hoping that you had Libi in your arms by then! Enjoy every minute as you get to know her! I am praying that she bonds with you in an incredible way very quickly! We will continue to pray!
Marilyn, Ed and Lena
SHE's IN YOUR ARMS!!!! Oh and she's so beautiful. I love the pictures of her SMILING at Brad. And she does look alot like an Arnold - so much like Jacob in the picture of them together. And what a delight to FINALLY see a headband and bow in her hair! She is absolutely beautiful!!
When we talked this morning, I was just trying to soak in every bit of her. We are amazed and blown away by the goodness of God in her life and in yours. And now when I look at the pictures the flood of tears come!!! Beautiful and Amazing are the two words that keep coming to my mind. It's hard to type anything coherent, because of lack of being able to express the depth of joy and delight I feel in finally seeing her in your arms.
I cannot wait to see pictures of Amy feeding her a bottle! Brad, can you work on that one for me? Maybe some video of that precious squeal too!
We are praying for peace and continued joy for you all! I am praying for Libi's health for the rest of your travels as well.
And now that you have her, I have just one thing to say - GET ON THAT PLANE!!!
Love you all, Sherry :)
Oh,my tears are streaming down my face! We are in awe for you and so very thankful. She is yours, Arnolds and we are rejoicing with you. SB was up at 2am and I was praying for you-knowing that you either had her or were just about to. Peace,peace, peace I was praying. Oh, how sweet she looks in your arms and that smile-what a gift!!
Can you believe it? I still look at Sarah Beth and am mesmerized! Thank you Jesus for leading us to our daughters! It is a gift too wonderful for words.
She looks like Jacob sitting in his lap. This made Chad and I chuckle. Loved seeing her fit so perfectly in your arms, Mama and smile up at her Daddy. The picture of her little foot and the one of her lying on the bed in her diaper are precious. Oh, I cannot wait to see her in person. Hurry up, friends. We long for you to be home!
Happy Mother's Day.
We love you,Libi Faith.
Melissa
welcome, libi faith!! you are so beautiful...a perfect creation. what an amazing family God has blessed you with. i am anxious to meet you (i'm sure you will be in pink from head to toe...with a hair bow...) and learn all about you.
our God is a God of miracles and the one true deliverer. i praise Him for you and your amazing family. hurry home! XO lynne s.
OH My GOoDNESS! What a precious! Adorable! Gorgeous! HAPPY! Libi Faith ARNOLD! She just FITS!! Perfectly!!
I was crying & laughing as I watched the pictures....Selah just kept saying.."Mommy, that is Libi Faith!!Mommy that is Ms Amy WITH Libi Faith!!They in China??"( you must read this in Selah~speak!!)" Awwww she so coot"!
CONGRATULATIONS Arnold family!!
Oh what joy!!
A day much anticipated is realized! And now the days are FULL of oppurtunity...promises yet to be fulfilled!!
Praise God I am in AWE of Him! (and Miss libi Faith Jia Qi ARNOLD!)
Jacob, she LOOKS like YOU!!
Brad, the unspoken trust Libi has lying back SMILING in YOUR able arms!!
Amy, you are simply glowing!
Oooo I can hardly wait to mooch on her!!
Enjoy EACH moment!
Libi Faith you are a doll!!!!!!!!!
Love you MUCH!
hello fellow citizens!i love looking at those pictures.Libi is so cute!i can't wait till she comes home to Zachary Lane.love you all!
love,
brooklyn
Okay, so I've been glued to the pictures all morning....I just keep watching them over and over and over again. Trying to soak up all the details of her and everyone's expressions! She is absolutely precious!!! I love her faces (and those thighs!!)! Brad, I love her smiling at you - I hope you got the furrowed brow look though too you wanted! :o) Jacob, she looks so content in your arms. She does look like you!! Amy, she is so precious in your arms! She fits so perfectly! So content!! How often did we pray for that and our God who has been so generous continues to shower you with blessings!! Love the one where she's holding your hair - Malea does that to me. I love it!
I can't describe the joy we all feel for you. Everyone here in the Shaw house is so excited for you and is so glad we finally see her in your arms!
Our God is amazing and has amazing things in store for Libi Faith and the rest of the Arnolds. He has already touched so many through her little life. I can't wait to see what else He does through her. Enjoy your time getting to know your angel. Please post a video soon!! We love you all!!! Irene
PS from Barton... Irene's note above was a little boring until I told her to punch it up with a few more exclamation points...
Amy,
I started crying just seeing that first picture of you praying. Libi-Faith's will cherish that picture for generations to come.
And then I totally lost it seeing Libi Faith in your, Brad and Jacob's arms. She is so perfect in every way. Those lips. Those eyes. That sweet, sweet spirit. She looks so happy to be with her family. She knows she's where she should be.
And she looks big! I bet you have a good eater on your hands. Praise God.
Your first sentence said it all. From the beginning of time, God has ordained this day, and I feel so honored to be a "witness".
Much love and prayers,
Christy S
I'm SO exxcited for you guys! God has been so good to us, I mean he's blessing us with this gorgeous baby! It's so surreal for me to see her in your arms. When we looked at the pictures of her on New Day Creations it just seemed like a fantasy. Now you actually have her! I can't wait to meet her and see her for myself. Enjoy the rest of your time there and Happy Mothers Day!
Hi Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and Jacob,
We miss you so much! I hope you're having a great time! I saw the pictures of Libi. She's so adorable! I'm so glad you're adopting her.
PS. Mrs. Arnold, tell your husband to bring me back some sushi! - Nicholas
Oh what a Mother's Day, Mrs. Arnold!! A day of such joy- for your precious girl is in your arms!! Congratulations. I'm SOO happy for you guys!!
She looks so cute in her pink bow. That's a good thing because you have quite the collection! :)
God is so faithful and good. She's amazing, beautiful, and precious.
Molly :)
Brad – From the smile on her face – she has you figured out already! She already knows she can get what ever she wants by just smiling (just like her Mom) at you!
I also want you to know you are making the rest of us husbands look pretty bad! Getting your wife a little girl on Moms day – how can the rest of us compete with that!!!!
Praise to the Most High God who has answered your prayers and delivered Libi Faith to you and your family! To God be the Glory!
Remember what the Psalmist says:
“Children are a heritage from the LORD,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one's youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.” Psalms 127-3-5
We will continue to pray to the All Powerful Creator, the Lord God for your journey and safe return. Just as Daniel in his prayer in Daniel 9 – we will pray not because we are worthy or righteous, but because of HIS GREAT MERCY!
The Lord has blessed you, Amy, Jacob, Joel, and Jack with this new little girl – Halleluiah! May all the Praise be to the Lord Almighty!!!!
Kevin
Wow! All the faith, the waiting, the planning, the packing, the praying...and she is in your arms at last! The pictures and your blog posts are beautiful. She is a treasure. I love that she looks so at ease, so confident in the arms of her family. Can not wait to meet her in person! Keep the pictures and posts coming!
God is Amazing! Praise the Lord for adoption, for this faithfulness, and for Libi Faith!
Brad and Amy,
Happy Mother's Day to you!!! We are so excited for you and so happy to see your daily accounts. Libi is cuter than ever and what a blessing that she is interacting like she is!! Liked the hair idea too! Can't wait to meet your precious little bundle SOON! God is SO faithful! Safe travels--Mitch and Carla
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