grace, garrison & goodbye
December 29, 2014
hypospadias, Kam
If you were to judge my punctuality solely on the basis of my No Hands But Ours posts, you’d be led to believe that I fail to do anything on time! I’m really pretty darn punctual actually but somehow, not here. Still, I’m sure that my last post for NHBO has just been put off …Read More
He was here
December 26, 2014
adoption realities, Kelly
It’s his first Christmas home, his first Christmas with a family. It will take but a few minutes for him to learn that ripping pretty paper leads to special treasures. I’m sure his little Christmas jammies, sticky candy cane lips and fingers, and the smile that fills his face will speak of only delight. We …Read More
Chosen for a Heaven – Sized Gift
December 24, 2014
Christmas, Rebecca
Mary and Joseph’s road to parenthood was out of the ordinary. Their path to family was different from that of their Nazarene neighbors. God’s request of them was heaven sized, yet as simple as parenting a child. They were asked to make space in their lives, in their hearts, and in Mary’ s womb, for …Read More
find my family: Ridge
December 24, 2014
Family Found
Update: My family has found me! Ridge is a sweet little guy who was born in July of 2013, he is so young! He came into care as an infant, and was found to have a club foot (left) with toe deformities, and some finger deformities of both hands. His club foot seems to be …Read More
What happened when Mary showed Jesus’ adoption file to Joseph
December 22, 2014
a father's perspective, Christmas, Dads, Mike, reluctant husband
Let me paint a picture for you. A wife comes to her husband and explains that she wants to have a child. He responds that he is not sure about the timing, but he is willing to try… or at least practice a lot. But then she explains that this isn’t that kind of child. …Read More
All I Want for Christmas
December 22, 2014
Family Found
I’d like to share a story about a little boy. A boy who was “almost” my son. A boy who has been waiting for over 2 years for a family to choose him. To be his forever. You see, when he was 2 his paperwork was filed. And we read his file and saw his …Read More
Joseph’s Heart
December 21, 2014
Christmas, Desiree
I seriously love Christmas. I love the lights. I love the giving. I love the awe. The awe of God’s promise fulfilled through Mary and her baby, and the total miracle of it all. But my heart goes out to Joseph…because I want to be the forever parent I think he was. He was chosen …Read More
40 fundraising families. And a challenge for you.
December 20, 2014
affording adoption, fundraisers, fundraising for adoption, Kristi, Stefanie, the little light project
Last week we shared the organizations working on behalf of the fatherless in China. 19 incredible organizations that I hope you’ve had a chance to read about and consider how you might partner with one. Today we are featuring fundraising families. 40 of them. Whew. The too-many-to-count hours spent compiling and formatting the information for …Read More
Unspeakable Joy: adopting a child with complex special needs
December 19, 2014
cognitive delay, Family Stories, hypothyroidism, non-verbal
Sometimes life takes us places we never expected to go and in those places God writes a story we never thought would be ours. — Renee Swope I never viewed myself as “special needs” parent. Our biological daughter was born healthy and our adopted son has a complex heart condition. I believed special needs to …Read More
Even If They Are From A Good Orphanage…
December 16, 2014
adoption realities, Jean, older child adoption
They need a family… When we adopted Ben we knew he was from a nice orphanage, much different than many of our other children. We also knew he had a foster family for many years. Once he was home we found out he had been with them for 6 of his 7.5 years. From Ben’s …Read More
find my family: Tony
December 16, 2014
Family Found
Tony was born at the end of August of 2009. He has bright eyes and a “cleverish” mouth according to his caregivers. He is a clever (which in China means bright and smart) and skilled child who is very sensible. He shares his toys and will pick up toys for the other children and comfort …Read More
The Grinch Can Steal Christmas Because Jesus is All I Need
December 15, 2014
Andrea Y., Christmas
I love Christmas. I confess I play Christmas hymns year round. They are hymns people. Hymns. They work all the time — January through December. It’s truly my most favorite! I also confess I decorate well before Thanksgiving. If you follow me on Instagram — I was totally annoying you with my holiday decorating mid-November. …Read More
the little light project – ways to shine your light this Christmas
December 15, 2014
Rebecca, Stefanie, the little light project
A few weeks ago we asked for your help. We launched the little light project, with a desire to illuminate organizations that are working on behalf of the fatherless in China. We were thrilled with the response. So many hard-working, orphan-loving organizations that are – day-in and day-out – loving the least of these. Please …Read More
find my family: Devin
December 14, 2014
Family Found
Beautiful Devin will be turning five next month. She is newly designated to Madison Adoption Associates. She has a $1,000 special focus grant. Other grants may be available based on the adoptive family circumstances. Grants are awarded as agency fee reductions. Devin is diagnosed with post-op congenital heart disease- VSD and she is profoundly deaf. …Read More
hanging on to language
December 13, 2014
Chinese Language, Hannah
Language. It’s not something that any of us can really ignore, is it? When my first two little sisters came home they weren’t even a year old, and so our words were not nearly as important as our tone… it didn’t matter that our Chinese was very non-existant. We taught some sign language to make …Read More
find my family: Seth
December 12, 2014
Family Found
Precious Seth was born October of 2010 and is listed as having a sensitive special need, and an abnormal screening. His file, which can be requested by an agency, provides clarity on this amazingly sweet little guy’s needs. Seth is a handsome little boy with a sweet demeanor. He is described as shy but is …Read More
the little light project – adoption fundraisers
December 10, 2014
fundraising for adoption, Stefanie, the little light project
Last week Rebecca shared about the little light project, our effort here at No Hands But Ours to shine a light on those working on behalf of the fatherless in China. We asked for your help in finding organizations to feature in an upcoming post – and the response was fantastic. Thank you. We are …Read More
Best Friends Hoping to be Adopted Together!
December 10, 2014
Family Found
Boy do we have a treat for you today! Best friends so close that the agency they are listed with is advocating they be adopted together as brothers! “H” and “Y” are often found together playing chess and both enjoy art. They have high aspirations when they grow up and wish to be a chemist …Read More
we have a winner…
December 9, 2014
Carrie, giveaways
We have selected a winner from our Scarlet Threads Giveaway. Congratulations to Lora, commenter #19, you have won a complete collection of Scarlet Thread’s Chinese character Christmas ornaments. Contact us via comment or email so we can get your ornaments on their merry way! If you would like to purchase a set for yourself, or …Read More
Calling Him.
December 8, 2014
Jennifer
I’ve been thinking about His names this Christmas season and how He has a multitude of them; for a first, middle and last name simply cannot contain His glory. And how He must know the agony and delight of deciding on a name, a name to contain the essence of someone starting so small. So …Read More
A Beautiful Mess
December 7, 2014
adoption realities, Amy, Attachment
“Imagine the exhaustion of Christmas, Thanksgiving, a wedding, a funeral, and childbirth in one day, and that would almost be Gotcha Day.” This is how I recently described Gotcha Day on a friend’s facebook feed, mostly for the benefit of their family and friends to get a perspective beyond the dramatic and romanticized “Gotcha Day” …Read More
find my family: Christopher
December 6, 2014
Family Found
He’s sweet. He’s adorable. He’s four years old. And he’s blind. At nine months of age this child was brought to the orphanage and was blessed with a wonderful nanny who is responsible for the amazing little boy that he is today. He does not exhibit any of the typical body rocking/hand flapping traits that …Read More
Willow: adopting a child with complex heart defects
December 5, 2014
ASD, complex heart defect, Family Stories, TGA, VSD
We are all transformed. Every day that goes by, I know that more clearly in my heart and mind than the day before. We have only been home with Willow for five months. My husband and I married right out of college, and we waited a while before deciding we wanted to have children. He’s …Read More
the name game
December 5, 2014
adoption realities, Tara
My sister is due to have her first baby pretty much anytime within the next couple of weeks. Needless to say, there is much excitement in our home as the kids anticipate the arrival of their new baby cousin! Not to mention, every time they see something intended to be used or worn by a …Read More
I’m Ready to Adopt, Now What? Getting Started
December 2, 2014
Agencies, Amy A., I'm Ready to Adopt
Welcome to our newest contributing blogger, Amy Abell. A few months ago, Amy shared a most helpful, well-laid out, easy-to-follow series on fundraising for adoption. So when we were planning a sharing about the “How To-s” of adoption, we asked her if she would share once more. And again, she managed to lay out a …Read More
The Art of Celebration (And a Chinese Christmas Ornament Giveaway!)
December 1, 2014
Carrie, Chinese Culture, giveaways
*You won’t want to miss the giveaway details at the end of this post* We just celebrated our daughter’s first birthday in our family… and now we are headed into our first Christmas, first Chinese New Year, and first all-around hectic holiday season with our wide-eyed and curious 2 year old. It’s been 8 months …Read More