Going back to Africa this August!

There are lots of reason not to go. The timing isn't perfect. I have two babies who need their mommy. I'm starting back as a teacher in late August. It's risky. Yes, I know all of those reasons are valid. However, God keeps telling me to go. So, it's pretty simple. I'm going!
I am happy to share that I will be leading a Visiting Orphans Mission Trip to Uganda and Kenya in early August! Just 8 months away. The itinerary is not set yet but I will be working with VO this week to put it together. All of the details will fall in place but for now I am looking for 10-12 FUN, LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, ADVENTUROUS people to join my team.

Katie Davis' book, Kisses by Katie, was just one of the reasons my heart pulled back to the orphans of Africa. Below is the paragraph that I have read over and over again with such conviction. I have read it to my hubby, mother and best friend. It helps the people closes to me understand why I must go and why I must serve!
"People often ask if I think my life is dangerous, if I am afraid. I am much more afraid of remaining comfortable. Matthew 10:28 tells us not to fear things that can destroy the body but things that can destroy the soul. I am surrounded by things that can destroy the body. I interact almost daily with people who have deadly diseases, and many times I am the only person who can help them. I live in a country with one of the wolds's longest running wars taking place just a few hours away. Uncertainty is everywhere. But I am living in the midst of the uncertainty and risk, amid things that can and do bring physical destructions, because I am running from things that can destroy my soul: complacency, comfort, and ignorance. I am much more terrified of living a comfortable life in a self-service society and failing to follow Jesus than I am of any illness or tragedy." -Katie Davis' Kisses by Katie Introduction

Picture from Katie's Blog: http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/
I have always loved this verse!
Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" This is exactly how I feel. I am willing and able, so please God, send me!

Often I look into the eyes of Easton and Preston and it takes my breath away. They are absolutely beautiful children and have blessed my life beyond belief. The fact is that my children could have been children growing up in an orphanage. Easton was in an orphanage with no one to rock him, to hold his bottle or to sing to him. It breaks my heart. Typing those words instantly fill my eyes with tears. It hurts to know that he was an orphan. It hurts to think about the 163 Million orphans that do not have someone to hold them, feed them, and sing to them. For 10 days in August, I will be THAT PERSON to any child that I can get my arms around. This is why I am going because I am needed.
This is a picture of the cribs in Easton's orphanage:

If you have any interest in serving beside me please email me at Ryanashlie@aol.com

In Christ,

Merry Christmas!!!

Free Christmas card contest!!

Check out my Facebook page! Just share the picture and comment to be entered into a drawing for 50 free custom photo cards.

Gina Roots is a dear adoption friend who is designing custom Christmas photo cards to raise money for her African mission trip. She and her husband are leading a trip to Uganda and Kenya to love on orphans this summer. Gina has 2 adopted children from Ethiopia and 3 biological children. Her family was a mentor family for Ryan and I through our adoption journey. Please consider usifng her this Holiday season.

Children's HopeChest Child Sponsorship

These are the faces of 10 beautiful children in Ethiopia that I am matching with Sponsors. I have partnered with Children's Hopechest, a trustworthy organization, making a huge impact on the lives of children living in poverty. Children's Hopechest has partnered with the Kechene School, located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where children in the community can come to connect with the staff, have a safe place to play, to receive schooling, and physical, medical, spiritual and emotional support. Ryan and I sponsor a seven year old girl, named Tadeleche, who comes to the Kechene Care Point. My long-term goal is to go to the Kechene Care point to meet all of the children and serve to meet their needs. I have a personal friend who is traveling to Ethiopia to deliver care packages to the sponsored children. She will hand deliver a t-shirt with bubbles, stickers, toothpaste and toothbrush wrapped inside, to our sponsored child. I write Tadeleche a monthly letter and we are anxiously awaiting to hear from her. My hope is to be able to hug her one day and tell her that we love her and have been praying for her.
I am hoping to find 10 people who are willing to be sponsors. A sponsorship cost $34 per month. Perhaps, this Holiday season you and your family can include this in your charitable giving? Perhaps, you have been waiting for an opportunity like this. Perhaps, you start a sponsorship today and then travel with me to Ethiopia to meet your sponsored child one day....There are so many possibilities and I hope you will consider them.

If you are interested in sponsoring please respond and I will give you all of the details! Also, please feel free to share this with friends or family who might be interested.
Thank you for your time!
Love you all,

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Article!

We are so excited to share the article that the Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine published this month.
We are thankful that they are featuring our story of adoption.
Happy National Adoption Month Everyone!
Love,

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine!

Photographs by Steve Poisall, The Gallery Studios, Tampa (813) 254-9575 (800) 317-2479

I was honored when I received a call from Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine asking me to be their November Women Extraordinaire. Although I do not find myself "extraordinaire", I graciously accepted their offer. The month of November is National Adoption Awareness month and the magazine editor was given our blog by a sorority sister of mine. Honestly, I will pretty much do anything to advocate for orphans and adoption. I have prayed for ways to share our wonderful miracle of adoption and I believe this is just one way that God has opened a door for us to share. Bottom line is that ADOPTION ROCKS and I want everyone to know it! I'm excited to see the November issue when it hits stands next week! I'll be sure to come back and share the link.

Check out my facebook status for the link to the behind the scene photos and a couple of the professional photos that didn't make the magazine.

With Love Always,

Footage of our darling baby boys!

I am catching up on some post that I never published today!!!
I'm in the mood for blogging! Let's hope this last!!
Thanks for following our story!

Our family blog is basically the boys scrap book!
Here are some videos from the last few months:

1 year ago....

I can't help but to open up my I-photo and browse through the pictures that were imported 1 year ago. 1 year ago I remember spending a lot of time at the Yebsabi Guest House in Ethiopia. I was there alone, 6 months pregnant, caring for our 4 month old baby Easton. About this time I was completely stressed because my Visa had expired and I was given 10 days to leave Ethiopia. We prayed that I would leave, with Easton in my arms, to travel home. My US Embassy appointment wasn't scheduled for another 2 weeks but we knew this "problem" was just apart of God's plan. Each day I was becoming more and more lonely and homesick. I had been in Ethiopia for over 60 days and although my Husband, Mom, Dad and best friend had come during June and July, I was by myself for the month of August. The Lord worked a miracle and Easton and I had an Embassy Appointment on August 19th. We traveled home the next day. Here are some of my precious pictures from a year ago in Ethiopia~







Remembering the days in Ethiopia make me hug Easton just a little tighter and kiss him a few more times today.