There Is Someone We Would Like for You to Meet....

After what seems like an eternity, we would like to
introduce you to our daughter, Mary Sophia Rigby.

Sophie is 13 months old and in foster care in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, China. Her birthday is August 23, 2008. Her chinese name is Li Ji Xing (pronounced Lee Jee Shing). They tell us that Li comes from book of family names. Ji means auspicious and happy. Xing means happiness. They hope that she would be auspicious and happy, grow happily and have a happy and perfect life. When she was in the orphanage, the caretakers called her Xingxing (pronounce Shing Shing).

Following is what they tell us about Sophie:
Li Ji Xing is physically strong and healthy and she seldom gets sick. She is lively and outgoing personalities. She always smiles when she meets with other people and she is a lovely child. She can now pull herself up to a standing position. She can crawl quickly. She is very lively. She loves to play with her foster brother. She touches his body with small toys or grabs his clothes and babble to him loudly. She loves colorful toys. She especially like to shake the bells. She giggles when she hears the sound of the bell. Li Ji Xing is very attached to her foster mother. Whenever she sees her foster mother, she reaches out her hands, wanting to be held. If she sees the foster mother is holding the foster brother, she will yell because she is jealous. Li Ji Xing loves outdoor activities. Every afternoon after nap she demands to go outside to play. "

Sounds like she has quite the personality, huh? We are so looking forward to bringing her home and hope to travel in January or February. Thank you to all of you who have prayed for us and with us during these last 3 years. Our prayers have truly been answered.

Please continue to pray for us and for Sophie, that she will attach and bond quickly and that we will be in tune to her needs and provide the security and trust that she needs.

The next step in this process now is for us to receive our Letter of Acceptance (LOA). I hope it comes as quickly as our preapproval did!