Bringing Home Britt-Welcome Home

I must apologize in advance for all the pictures.  Picture overload is coming!

After being in China for a little over two weeks, there’s no way to explain just how ready we were to be home!  We could text friends and family but it still felt like such a separation.  We knew some people would be at the airport waiting to greet us, but we weren’t expecting this welcome.

Seriously, my heart burst when I saw this crew.

Two grandmas waiting patiently.  🙂

When we got off the flight, we had to get our bags, go through customs and immigration so it took an extra hour and a half.  Our people were just waiting!

Check out the cute signs…





This made me LOL.  You better believe Nixon Slaughter LOVED this one.




And FINALLY, WE MADE IT!

This crew knows how to welcome you home.



Miss Madeley came running down the ramp to greet us shouting, “BRITT!  BRITT!”.  It was precious.








Shay surprised me!  She had a Boston trip planned with her parents and I was not expecting her to be at the airport.  But this girl missed the Red Sox game and changed her flight to welcome us home.  Such a sweet surprise and such a great friend she is!







See?  Nixon loved it!  🙂














And I want you guys to see real life…my sweet friend, Lori, was fanning me as I fanned myself because I was sweating.  hahaha! #keepinitreal















So many precious friends came to the airport.  Melted my heart.

Seriously, the best girl friends a girl could ask for.

The Shull crew had on the cutest shirts.  🙂

What a special picture.  I’m so blessed to have these mama friends in my life.





Tab’s family came in to meet Miss Britt.  They were so sweet to drive in.

I was still in shock Shay had surprised me!  I was expecting to FaceTime her!  haha!

My parents were also super sweet to drive down from Missouri to meet our girl.

We left the airport exhausted, starving, probably a little smelly, and all so very thankful.  Thankful we serve a big God who found the perfect addition to our family and orchestrated the entire process.  Thankful for friends and family who love us so much and showed us in big ways once we arrived.  And so very thankful to live in a country where we have such amazing freedoms. 

Thank you to EVERYONE who came to welcome us home, texted us, messaged us, e-mailed us, and most importantly prayed for us!  We could feel the love!  XO

*And a big thanks to Narci for taking our welcome home pictures! 

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40 Comments

  1. 7.5.17
    Christina said:

    Wiping tears off my cheeks! So beautiful. Love that you have friends so supportive they'll even fan you! Ha!

    Thanks for sharing!

  2. 7.5.17
    Alexis said:

    What a homecoming! Thank you for sharing it!! I cannot get through an entire post about your journey to bring Britt home without crying!!!

  3. 7.5.17
    Elspeth Mizner said:

    So sweet! You truly have the best friends!! Love all the pictures!! Such wonderful memories!

  4. 7.5.17
    Becky said:

    So sweet! How did you guys decide on the name? I always like to find out how people pick first and middle names 😉

  5. 7.5.17
    Sally Hepworth said:

    Well, how perfectly precious. Congratulations on the divine new addition to your family.

  6. 7.5.17
    Leslie said:

    What an amazing way to be welcomed home after such an amazing trip! I've been following your 'Bringing Home Britt' journey and it makes me so excited for my future. Adoption has always been something that I wanted to do, and seeing all of these powerful posts, reassures me of my thoughts that I've had for so long! I'm over the moon for you, Slaughter Family!

    I was finally able to update my blog after a small hiatus. It's updated with my plan for this Saturday, which is definitely one of the most amazing/crazy things I'll ever do in my life! XOXO, Leslie (With Love from Ga)

  7. 7.5.17
    Meagan @ The Clanahan Fam said:

    Oh, what JOY in these pictures! I have some tears this morning for sure 🙂 Hugs!

  8. 7.5.17
    angie said:

    This post is so beautiful! I am fierce about my girlfriends and seeing all of your friends show up is the best! Also, Kensington and Ebby Lee in the background of photos, hugging, following their mamas in the best of girlfriends! So incredibly sweet! Loving these posts about Britt!

    http://www.angiegillikin.com

  9. 7.5.17
    Britt Hensley said:

    I mean…this whole post is just pure sweetness! I LOVE Smith's sign..how funny!

  10. 7.5.17
    Sarah Shaneyfelt said:

    This is so special! Britt will love looking at these pictures one day, and you'll always cherish looking back at them! She's the perfect addition to your family!
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

  11. 7.5.17
    Eileen said:

    Such beautiful pictures of such a special moment.

  12. 7.5.17
    Kathy Lang said:

    What amazing pictures of the special welcome home your family and Britt will have to treasure forever!

  13. 7.5.17
    Unknown said:

    I have loved all of these posts! They give me goosebumps. Britt is one lucky and special girl. I think adoption is amazing!! I can't wait to continue to follow your journey.

  14. 7.5.17
    brookerichardson said:

    What an amazing day! Walking through those big doors never felt so good. Love getting to walk through this journey with you friend!

  15. 7.5.17
    9thand5th said:

    I definitely shouldn't have read this at work. Tears running down my face. Such a sweet, sweet moment. Congratulations and all the love to your beautiful family!!

  16. 7.5.17
    Unknown said:

    So precious! Thank you for sharing your journey with us all. God is SO good!

  17. 7.5.17
    Paula said:

    Oh Smith & Biden. 😁😁😁😁

    What a sweet sweet welcome home! 😍😍😍

    • 7.5.17
      Paula said:

      Nixen…stupid autocorrect. 🤣🤣🤣

  18. 7.5.17
    Janet said:

    These homecoming posts always give me happy tears. It is a beautiful thing that God has called your family to become Britt's family.

  19. 7.5.17
    Narci said:

    I was so happy to see you walk through those doors, friend! We love you guys, big! Xoxo

  20. 7.5.17
    Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} said:

    What a wonderful night! So happy to be a part of welcoming your girl home! We already love Miss Britt! I love her little eye wink the most. 😉

  21. 7.5.17
    Bailey Bryant said:

    This is by far my favorite Britt post to date! That sweet baby went from being in an orphanage, to the arms of her of family, to an army of people ready to love her. God is SO GOOD!

  22. 7.5.17
    Darcy said:

    Love, love this post! It is obvious that your family is surrounded by BIG love, and that you return that love to others. Congratulations on being a family of six!

  23. 7.5.17
    Unknown said:

    This post had me crying at my desk. Such a beautiful journey and what a beautiful group of ladies that you get to call friends. <3

  24. 7.5.17
    daniellem02 said:

    Wow that is so nice to be so supported!!!

  25. 7.5.17
    Mix and Match Mama said:

    I'm in tears! Erika, these pictures are PRICELESS! Why am I crying?! Ha! Loved this post so much!!!!

  26. 7.5.17
    Toni :O) said:

    Such an amazing journey. So fun to read it all. You are a blessed family indeed.

  27. 7.5.17
    Shelly @ The Queen in Between said:

    I'm totally tearing up reading this! And cracking the heck up at Smiths poster!! hahaha
    So happy for your family Erika. Thanks for letting us all be part of the process!

  28. 7.5.17
    Unknown said:

    I have loved you sharing little Britt's story and I can't wait to see how she becomes a part of your lives!

  29. 7.5.17
    Luann said:

    Crying…what an amazing welcome home!

  30. 7.5.17
    Megan said:

    Best post ever!!!!!!

  31. 7.5.17
    Katie {The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life} said:

    Love, love, love this!!! Your sweet family is now complete!!

  32. 7.6.17
    Ashley said:

    Erika, you are such an inspiration! God has slowly been placing adoption on my heart and this post just brought it all together for me! As I pray for my future family, please know I'm praying for your sweet family!

  33. 7.6.17
    Unknown said:

    Congratulations m❤️mma of 4!!!

  34. 7.6.17
    Whitney Pegram said:

    Oh my heart!! All the feels! ❤

  35. 7.7.17
    V @ X-tremely V said:

    I have absolutely loved reading all your posts about bringing Britt home, but this was hands down my favorite! I teared up as I read how wonderful and caring all your friends and family are 🙂 What a great group of people to help raise Britt with you!

  36. 7.8.17
    Laurel said:

    You shoes look cute AND comfy! Are they plain black canvas Vans?

  37. 7.11.17
    Terra Heck said:

    Wow, Britt's got quite the fan club! It's great that you have people who are so supportive.

  38. 7.12.17
    Simple Purposeful Living said:

    Love that Shay surprised you! I remember greeting our nephew at the airport! It was such a fun and special celebration! Xoxo erin

  39. 7.24.17
    Erin said:

    Just binge-read all your posts and can't stop crying happy tears (and sad ones for those sweet foster parents that loved on your baby girl all those months). What a blessing you are to Britt. I appreciate your honesty about hitting the brick wall and just wanting to be home to start your new normal. Also crying over that sweet and amazing welcome home you all received! God has blessed you with awesome friends and family!