Thursday, February 18, 2010
#18
So far, it seems like we are moving up the wait list rather quickly! This feels so different than the China wait... Baby girl, we love you!!!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Two Giant Steps for the Ryan Family!
Today's update brought the sweet news that we moved up TWO spots - that makes us #19 on the baby girl list! Wow!!!
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Joy of Reading!
One thing that has really blessed me during our adoption process is reading!! At first I read general books about adoption - the transition of the children, the adjustments of families, the health concerns, etc.
But what I have loved the most is reading novels about China and now Ethiopia. I have mostly read biographical novels. About China I devoured "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China" by Jung Chang. It is a long book beginning in the time of the Grandmother's life and tells the stories of three women from three generations and all that they lived through in the history of China. So fascinating and heart-breaking. I learned so much about China and it's women.
"The Lost Daughters of China" by Karin Evans is a very popular book for people adopting from China. It tells the authors story of her adoption as well as some of the back ground in the the orphan crisis in China. It was very helpful for me to read someone's story in detail. The ups and downs and everything in between!
Now, of course, I am diving in to books about Ethiopia. I started with, "Without You There is No Me"by Melissa Faye Greene. This is an amazing true story of a woman in Ethiopia who lost her own daughter and in the face of deep depression began bringin orphaned children in to her home. This evolved in to one of the first orphanages in Ethiopia to take in children with HIV/AIDS. It is a beautiful story filled with hope and heartbreak.
I just finished a book called, "The Hospital by the River" by Catherine Hamlin. I learned more about the recent history of Ethiopia through the story of this Australian ob/gyn and her husband (also an ob/gyn) who lived most of their lives in Addis Ababa curing thousands of women from childbirth injuries which left them incontinent - and therefore alienated from their communities. Theirs is a powerful story of their love for the Lord and the mother's of Ethiopia. There is also a DVD documentary on their work called, "A Walk to Beautiful"!!
Yesterday I ordered three more books, "From Ashes to Africa" by Josh Bottomly - a story of their Ethiopian adoption, "Fields of the Fatherless" by Tom Davis - a book about the world's orphans and God's heart for adoption, and "Black Baby, White Hands" by Jaiya John - a black man adopted by a white family and his story... I'll let you know what I think of them.
Just thought I would share these precious stories because they have really helped me learn so much about the world, what God is doing, and how I can pray! Happy Reading!
But what I have loved the most is reading novels about China and now Ethiopia. I have mostly read biographical novels. About China I devoured "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China" by Jung Chang. It is a long book beginning in the time of the Grandmother's life and tells the stories of three women from three generations and all that they lived through in the history of China. So fascinating and heart-breaking. I learned so much about China and it's women.
"The Lost Daughters of China" by Karin Evans is a very popular book for people adopting from China. It tells the authors story of her adoption as well as some of the back ground in the the orphan crisis in China. It was very helpful for me to read someone's story in detail. The ups and downs and everything in between!
Now, of course, I am diving in to books about Ethiopia. I started with, "Without You There is No Me"by Melissa Faye Greene. This is an amazing true story of a woman in Ethiopia who lost her own daughter and in the face of deep depression began bringin orphaned children in to her home. This evolved in to one of the first orphanages in Ethiopia to take in children with HIV/AIDS. It is a beautiful story filled with hope and heartbreak.
I just finished a book called, "The Hospital by the River" by Catherine Hamlin. I learned more about the recent history of Ethiopia through the story of this Australian ob/gyn and her husband (also an ob/gyn) who lived most of their lives in Addis Ababa curing thousands of women from childbirth injuries which left them incontinent - and therefore alienated from their communities. Theirs is a powerful story of their love for the Lord and the mother's of Ethiopia. There is also a DVD documentary on their work called, "A Walk to Beautiful"!!
Yesterday I ordered three more books, "From Ashes to Africa" by Josh Bottomly - a story of their Ethiopian adoption, "Fields of the Fatherless" by Tom Davis - a book about the world's orphans and God's heart for adoption, and "Black Baby, White Hands" by Jaiya John - a black man adopted by a white family and his story... I'll let you know what I think of them.
Just thought I would share these precious stories because they have really helped me learn so much about the world, what God is doing, and how I can pray! Happy Reading!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Thoughts on bringing two babies home...
Last night at church, for the first time in this 4+ years process, I had that same feeling I had when I was pregnant - worshipping the Lord, thanking Him for what He's done, and praising Him for the baby on the way... Last night I REALLY felt like there IS a baby - two on the way! It's sinking in!!
Ryan and I are in the process of deciding if we bring two or one child/baby home. Last night as we talked we realized that maybe th the Lord has had this process take longer than we thought it would so that Sarah and Nathan would be at ages where it would be possible to have two younger kids added to the family. We NEVER thought of adopting two when Sarah was younger. But now that she is five, it seems really natural to have a toddler and a baby fit right in.
We will never really understand the Lord's ways, but we are trying to soak up all the lessons He has for us along the way. This recent thought reassures us that He has been with us all along and has been rejoicing in the beautiful plan He has for our family!
Ryan and I are in the process of deciding if we bring two or one child/baby home. Last night as we talked we realized that maybe th the Lord has had this process take longer than we thought it would so that Sarah and Nathan would be at ages where it would be possible to have two younger kids added to the family. We NEVER thought of adopting two when Sarah was younger. But now that she is five, it seems really natural to have a toddler and a baby fit right in.
We will never really understand the Lord's ways, but we are trying to soak up all the lessons He has for us along the way. This recent thought reassures us that He has been with us all along and has been rejoicing in the beautiful plan He has for our family!
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