HOME STUDY COMPLETE

It's been awhile since I'ved updated our progress.  Last week we recieved our completed home study, in our hands, hot off the press:)  This allowed us to file our I-800, which is an application to the US to make an international adoption.  It also allows us to apply for some grants to help fund and lessen the burden of an international adoption.  Most grant applications require a completed home study.  Unfortunatley many grants take 2-4 months before you are notified of receiving a grant.  When the I-800 approval comes back, we can send all our certified paperwork for the final sealing process in Washington DC.  When that comes back, we'll be ready to have our Dossier reviewed by our adoption agency.  So, even though it seems quiet, there is a lot of waiting right now, there is a lot of paperwork still going on.  We continue to anticipate what life will be like as we add to the family.  We are attempting to prepare the house by making slow steps toward finishing the basement too.

Even though this process feels like it's forever, we stand faithful waiting for the right time for each piece to come together.  Psalms 33:20 Our soul waits for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

                                      $390 Left to Raise for Quilt Fundraiser

We are in the last days of our Quilt Fundraiser.  If you have been wanting to be included in this memory quilt/Fundraiser for our Adoption, we are in the last days.  This Fundraiser Ends WED. June 5th.   You still have time to find piece of fabric to send us.  Thank you so much to all those who have jumped on board already and thank you to those who are still considering it!  We have raised $610 of the $1000.00!!!!!   We feel so blessed.  Thank you!  We have been reviewing our Home Study and should have the completed, ready to move forward version very soon!

OUR FIRST FUNDRAISER...

FUNDRAISER END DATE! (HALF WAY THERE) 
 Thanks to all who have supported us through the Quilt Fundraiser.  We are just over half way to our first goal.  The Quilt Fundraiser will END JUNE 5th, in two weeks.  If you've been wanting to take part in making a memory Quilt for our next child coming to us from China, you still have time.  Please consider helping us reach or first goal of $1000.00 towards our adoption.  If you have questions please feel free to message me.

OUR FIRST FUNDRAISER...

GOAL: $10 per square

WHAT:     "100 Good Wishes Quilt"

WHAT CAN I DO? Send Drew and Aimee THREE THINGS:

          1. A piece of fabric (10"X10" minimum) of your choice

          2. Write something in a note for our child to be: a quote,     poem, scripture, saying, a wish for them

          3. Include a check (to Drew and Aimee) to support our International Adoption Efforts (this is NOT a tax deductible donation)

Please send donation of these THREE things to:

  Facebook Message either Aimee Hotmer Ryan or Drew Ryan for our physical address
                    OR email us at: aimee.ryan01@gmail.com

*Aimee will place all the notes in a scrpbook and put together the quilt before leaving for China.

What is a 100 Good Wishes Quilt?

In northern China there is a centuries old tradition of creating a "Bai-Jia-Bei" otherwise known  as a "100 Good Wishes Quilt" to welcome and celebrate a new life into the family.

One hundred family and friends donate a piece of fabric along with a written wish for the child-to-be. The wish can be anything: a quote, a poem, a saying, a verse or a simple wish from the heart.A quilt for them is made from the pieces of fabric and the wishes are placed in a scrapbook for the child to one day read. A small sample of the fabric is attached to the wish card so that the child can match the wish in her album with the square on her quilt

It is said that the luck, energy and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed to the quilt will surround the child when she is wrapped in it. The quilt is passed down from generation to generation.

                                 QUILT SQUARES

So excited..... came home today to THREE NOTES of encouragement for our adoption and TWO fabric squares for the quilt!  

 We finished our last home study meeting this week and will have a copy of the completed version in a few weeks.  Each step is bringing us closer to finding our son and brining him home.  Thank you friends and family for your support.  It's not too late, if you would like to be part of the 100 GOOD WISHES QUILT/FUNDRAIER, please see the page to the side for details.  This is a way to let the newest Ryan see he was being thought of and loved on way before he even came to our home.  

Still paper chasing,

Aimee

SO Blessed to have the support of friends and family as we continue towards China. A great friend of our family who is a talented photographer took our family pictures.......


HOME STUDY PHOTOS by
      Raquel Hubbard of All Angel Photography
 www.allanglesphotography.com/

WHY CHINA

“Why China?” I was asked as I shared my news with a stranger, in the library.  I didn’t just tap him on the shoulder and say “Hey, we’re adopting from China!”  He actually started the questions.  I was looking in the video section with the kids.  I happen to walk past a documentary of France.  I thought there might be one for China and I stopped to investigate.  As I did, this man walked by.  He said, “Oh, are you going to learn French?”  “No, I was just curious if they also had something for China” I said.  Now, this guy didn’t even work at the library J  He naturally asked if I was going to travel there.  And then I said it.  I told a stranger, one of the most exciting things that is going on in my life, “Well, we will be traveling to China when we adopt, sometime next year.”   “WHY CHINA, WHY NOT HERE?” he plainly asks me.  We’ve been asked that question so it wasn’t new, but usually I am more prepared and anticipating it.  I attempted to explain that our desire to adopt wasn’t out of a need to grow our family.  But out of a faith passion.  There are certainly children here, in the US that need forever homes.  But we’ve been led down a different path.  We know that children that live in orphanages have physical and mental delays in growth ONLY due to the fact that they are institutionalized.  So we are drawn to chose a child from a country where they are predominately in orphanages and not foster care.  China offers an extended age for adoptors (over 45), unlike many countries.  And China also offers the chance to get your child in one trip of 10-15 days.  Many countries require 2-3 trips.  And with China, the adoption is final before you leave.  It’s been a tried and true experience for years.  So, that is why we chose China.  And what I really wanted to say, but thought I might back down on, I did say.  I told him that our faith compels us to desire to follow after God’s example.  To father the fatherless.  That adoption might not be for everyone, but caring for the less fortunate in tangible ways, is something we can all do.  That adoption is God’s story, and we want to be a part of it.  Well, he smiled real big and said “That’s great, I’m glad you feel that way, best of luck to you.”  And I smiled, and thought, but didn’t say: Awe, thanks, I don’t need luck, I’ve got God J But I appreciated the chance to tell a little bit of our story.  I anticipate we will have many more episodes of questions when we arrive home with someone who looks different than us.  And the opportunities to affirm our child in our family will be many.  And by the Grace of God, we are all adopted into His family.  So I can speak from experience.

OUR FIRST FUNDRAISER...

Where we are:  We continue completing paperwork and sending away for important papers.  We have Home Study visits scheduled. I wanted to combine creating a quilt for our new family member (as I did for our first three), but in an EXCITING and memorable way!  We have had some friends ask how they can finacially help us at this time.  Well, this is our start......

  OUR FIRST FUNDRAISER...
$10 per Square

WHAT:     "100 Good Wishes Quilt"

WHAT CAN I DO? Send Drew and Aimee THREE THINGS:

          1. A piece of fabric (10"X10" minimum) of your choice

          2. Write something in a note for our child to be: a quote,     poem, scripture, saying, a wish for them

          3. Include a check (to Drew and Aimee) to support our International Adoption Efforts (this is NOT a tax deductible donation)

Please send donation of these THREE things to:

Facebook Message Aimee Hotmer Ryan or Drew Ryan for our physical address OR
aimee.ryan01@gmail.com

*Aimee will place all the notes in a scrpbook and put together the quilt before leaving for China.

What is a 100 Good Wishes Quilt?

In northern China there is a centuries old tradition of creating a "Bai-Jia-Bei" otherwise known  as a "100 Good Wishes Quilt" to welcome and celebrate a new life into the family.

One hundred family and friends donate a piece of fabric along with a written wish for the child-to-be. The wish can be anything: a quote, a poem, a saying, a verse or a simple wish from the heart.A quilt for theld is made from the pieces of fabric and the wishes are placed in a scrapbook for the child to one day read. A small sample of the fabric is attached to the wish card so that the child can match the wish in her album with the square on her quilt

It is said that the luck, energy and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed to the quilt will surround the child when she is wrapped in it. The quilt is passed down from generation to generation.