Living into Hope

July 31, 2015 ADHD, autism, cl/cp, Developmental System, Family Stories, July 2015 Feature - Craniofacial, speech delay 0 Comments

Today’s post finishes out our feature this month on craniofacial needs. So grateful for all the moms who willingly shared about parenting a child with a craniofacial need – you can find all the posts in this series here. If you would like to share your family story, just complete this short form and we will be in touch …Read More

Going to China: the Long Flight Home

July 31, 2015 China trip, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China!, Rebecca 0 Comments

The China trip looms large in our adoptive parent hearts and minds. We daydream about Gotcha Day, pray for the moment we can snuggle in the hotel with our little love, hope for that once in a lifetime walk along the Great Wall, plan for an afternoon spent shopping in Guangzhou, and imagine ourselves eating …Read More

Contributor Q and A: Moments!

July 30, 2015 China trip, Contributor Q and A, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China! 0 Comments

At some point on your China trip, something silly, something embarrassing, or something crazy will happen. You are away from home, out of your comfort zone, adopting a new to you child, and traveling in a unique culture. You can bank on some family giggles. The No Hands But Ours contributors have accrued their share …Read More

Waiting Child: Ethan

July 30, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

Ethan is a handsome boy, who is 4 years old. He is listed with Hawaii International Child. He was found abandoned when he was 3 years old, and brought to the orphanage. They found him to be in good health, with the exception of low muscle tension in his legs. The doctor diagnosed him with …Read More

Waiting Child: Kim

July 28, 2015 Family Stories 0 Comments

Kim is a precious and beautiful girl who is 6 years old. She is designated special focus to Lifeline through an Orphanage Partnership. Her special need is listed as abnormal bone development. This little girl is absolutely precious! She is a polite and loves to greet others! She can walk unassisted, go up and down …Read More

Going to China: Carry-On Only

July 27, 2015 China trip, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China!, packing list, prepping for China, travel tips 0 Comments

Being that my husband is in the airline industry, we have been a family that takes full advantage of the flight benefits. Therefore, since we fly stand-by, we hardly ever check bags – because one is never totally quite sure IF we will get on the said flight until the last minute – major bummer if your …Read More

#ohChina

July 27, 2015 China trip, Chinese Culture, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China!, Kelly 9 Comments

China. Whether you’ve been there and back again 10 times or are anxiously awaiting that call telling you it’s time to call your travel agent, you can feel very much a foreigner in a foreign land. As we’ve been those foreigners, there are a few things I’ve learned along the way that may be helpful …Read More

Contributor Q and A: “I Wish I’d…”

July 26, 2015 China trip, Contributor Q and A, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China! 0 Comments

With more than 50 adoption trips behind us collectively, our contributor team reflects on their journeys and what they might have done differently. The consensus? Less worrying, less formal touring and more soaking up authentic daily life in China. And, we wish we’d bought a few more coffee mugs!   I wish I’d spent more time… Desireé: Visit your …Read More

Waiting to Be Chosen: Jenny

July 26, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

Is this precious little one your daughter? Jenny is simply adorable and has waited far too long for her family. Her orphanage fee has been waived and she has a growing grant on Reece’s Rainbow.  Jenny, born March 2008, is a cutie with a big smile from a well-run orphanage. Her update says she is sociable, easy going, …Read More

Going to China: Hao Chi

July 25, 2015 China trip, Chinese Culture, Hannah, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China! 1 Comments

Hao chi (好吃) is how someone in China is going to affirm, “This is yummy!” It’s pronounced “how chur” and all you have to do is add a “ma?” to the end to make it a sentence. Chinese food. Either you love it or you hate it, right? And then maybe you love the food, …Read More

488 Days

July 25, 2015 Carrie 3 Comments

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. – Ephesians 3:18, NLT On a crystal clear night with no humidity, you can almost feel the planet spinning. Staring up at one of the blackest skies and the brightest …Read More

Find My Family: Tommie

July 24, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

Sweet Tommie really needs a family, let us tell you a bit more about him! Tommie turned 5 years old in May and has beta thalassemia major. He receives transfusions every two months, which is not as frequently as he would receive in the US or how often he needs to be able to grown …Read More

Microtia. What?

July 23, 2015 BAHA, Craniofacial, Family Stories, hearing loss, hemifacial microsomia, July 2015 Feature - Craniofacial, microtia, Sensory System, speech therapy, velopharyngeal Insufficiency 6 Comments

“My ear hurts mommy.” “Which ear honey? Do both ears hurt?” “No, silly. This one doesn’t hurt. It’s not open. It’s teeny tiny.” Olivia was 3 and this was the first time that I knew of that she noticed that her right ear didn’t match the left. We had never made a big deal out …Read More

Beyond Ourselves

July 23, 2015 adopting two at once, adoption realities, China trip, Gotcha Day, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China!, Rebecca 7 Comments

It’s the pinnacle of the adoption journey. We build a beautiful image of what gotcha day will be, and hold hard to that as we wait. Much preparation goes into readiness for caring for the child we’ve seen only in pictures. We study bonding techniques and possible reactions, and pack and repack little backpacks. But …Read More

Contributor Q and A: Gotcha!

July 22, 2015 China trip, Contributor Q and A, Gotcha Day, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China! 0 Comments

In this edition of our Contributor Q and A, we share gotcha tips, feelings on orphanage visits and ideas on how to get through meetings and tours with transitioning kids.   What is one thing you were most glad you had along with you for gotcha?   Liberty: Snacks, bottle because he was super thirsty, …Read More

Unhindered Jumping

July 21, 2015 adopting as a single mom, Desiree, Down syndrome, working mom 0 Comments

We have recently hit the developmental milestone of JUMPING in our household. I knew this would come at some point and we’ve been practicing for a couple of years, but his legs have finally seemed to figure it out… and now they won’t stop! He jumps on the bed. Jumps on the couch. Jumps off …Read More

Going to China: Gotcha Day 101

July 20, 2015 China trip, Gotcha Day, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China! 2 Comments

It’s 3:00AM and I’m laying in bed staring up at the ceiling. My mind is reeling and way too excited to sleep. I am mentally checking off my list of every question that I could think of to ask the caregiver and going over each item I have laid out and prepared for this special …Read More

Waiting to be Chosen: Hamilton

July 20, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

Hamilton was born February of 2012 and is a smart little boy with a bright smile, who doesn’t let anything slow him down! He is diagnosed with arthrogryposis which mainly affects his arms, so he uses his toes for many things, like playing the keyboard or holding his bottle. In a recent update it shows …Read More

A Less Than Stellar Guide

July 19, 2015 China trip, Katie 1 Comments

We arrived in Zhengzhou late our first night and saw our names on a sign and waiting for us was a man and a woman. I wasn’t sure which one was our guide, I assumed it was the stylish looking lady. As we stepped closer to our guides the overwhelming smell of alcohol side slapped …Read More

Cleft Was Not on the List

July 18, 2015 adopting later in life, cl/cp, Craniofacial, Family Stories, July 2015 Feature - Craniofacial 0 Comments

“You must really like cleft,” my mother said to me after we accepted the referral of our second son with cleft. Like cleft? No one likes cleft. Cleft is a birth defect that causes facial deformation, creates the need for painful surgeries and can wreak havoc on eating, sleeping and breathing. No one likes cleft. …Read More

Two. Together.

July 17, 2015 adopting as first time parents, adopting two at once, cl/cp, Family Stories, heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot, virtual twinning 0 Comments

Two together. Twinning. First time parents. In the beginning, these were not words or phrases that I would have put together in any combination in regards to adoption and expect success. And yet, my husband and I did them all. (And you’re reading this on an adoption advocacy site, so you know know I am …Read More

Contributor Q and A: General Travel

July 16, 2015 China trip, Contributor Q and A, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China! 1 Comments

Continuing on through our month long series, in this round of our Contributor Q and A, our blog authors share some of their collective China travel experiences and wisdom. They share which provinces they travelled to, lament about lack of sleep and reflect on memories at favorite tourist sites. Also included are travel tips such as helpful Smartphone …Read More

Orphanage vs. Foster Care … What’s Best?

July 15, 2015 foster care, Jean, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China!, orphanage realities 2 Comments

We have experienced both options with our children from China. When first starting our adoption journeys I had the impression that one was better than the other. Foster care was better and I should want my child to be in foster care; but somehow, as we found our children the most important thing was that …Read More

urgent medical waiting child: Emery

July 14, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

10 year old Emery is such a cutie! He’s been waiting for a family for far too long and he desperately needs a family to see him and to bring him home! Emery is diagnosed with beta thalassemia major. He needs blood transfusions approximately every 2-3 weeks and daily chelation medication to rid his body …Read More

The Sweetest of Blessings

July 13, 2015 coloboma, Family Stories, frontonasal dysplasia, hypertelorism, July 2015 Feature - Craniofacial 0 Comments

We were a family of six. We had two girls and two boys. Life was good. We felt complete. In 2007 the Lord called us to adopt. What a sweet journey of trust and faith it has been! Our first adoption was of our now 9 year old daughter, Karleigh Mei, 6.5 years ago in …Read More

Contributor Q and A: Packing!

July 13, 2015 China trip, Contributor Q and A, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China!, packing list 0 Comments

Oh, the packing. Some of us do it last minute. Some of us make packing list spreadsheets. Whether you glide into the airport with just a carry-on, or arrive with a trunk full of jumbo suitcases, packing is an essential aspect of your China bound prep. Our No Hands But Ours contributors had fun reflecting …Read More

find my family: Hank

July 12, 2015 Family Found 0 Comments

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! I could eat this little guy up, he is so precious! Hank is a “sunny and active” 5 year old boy with a ready smile. He loves playing with other children, singing and listening to music, and watching cartoons. He knows the names of everyday items, can count, communicate …Read More

When it all hits the fan in China…

July 11, 2015 Amy, China trip, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China! 3 Comments

I’m a planner. I plan ahead. I troubleshoot before there is trouble to even shoot. Clearly, setting out on the journey of adoption is like shock therapy, am I right? If this is true, you would think I’d be cured by now. Before we went to China to bring home our daughter Grace, I had …Read More

I’m Ready to Adopt: Choosing an Agency (Part 10)

July 10, 2015 Agencies, choosing a China adoption agency, Guest Series, I'm Ready to Adopt 1 Comments

Today we’re finishing our I’m Ready To Adopt series with the final post by Kelly – who blogs at Mine In China – on How To Choose An Agency. You can find links to the previous nine posts here. So grateful to Kelly for this insightful and well-researched series, such an excellent resource for adopting families!   Finding Your Priorities and Choosing Your …Read More

Going to China: Visiting the Orphanage

July 9, 2015 Amy A., China trip, July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China!, orphanage realities 1 Comments

For the past 3 years, I have been a member of numerous Facebook groups specific to adoption. One question that arises time and time again is whether or not a family should visit their new child’s orphanage during their trip to China. This is an important question to ask, but because experiences vary greatly, everyone …Read More

July Fundraising Family: Meet The Melendezes

July 8, 2015 2015 Featured Fundraising Families, fundraisers, fundraising for adoption 0 Comments

No Hands But Ours is committed to encouraging, informing and supporting families as they pursue adoption through the special needs program in China. In an effort to be more purposeful in supporting in-process families as they stretch financially to adopt, we are now featuring one fundraising family per month. If you would like your family …Read More

Going to China: Preparing a Heart

July 7, 2015 July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China! 3 Comments

I see you adoptive momma, readying yourself for a trip to the other side. You’re standing there in the travel size isle in Target. Lists falling from your handbag. You are sweating and it’s 68 degrees in here. I want to run over and hug you (actually I may). I want to bring some calm …Read More

Her Journey.

July 7, 2015 Education, Family Stories, IEP, July 2015 Feature - Craniofacial, Nicole, public school, speech delay, speech therapy 0 Comments

I recently looked back at my blog archives and noticed that I hadn’t blogged about Sunshine’s cleft journey in over a year! Although that is representative of surgeries, it surely isn’t representative of all the work she’s been doing. My sweet girl has been putting forth so much effort in speech therapy. So although the …Read More

Prayer Mama

July 5, 2015 epidermolysis bullosa, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan, Whitney 2 Comments

There are adoptive families of all sorts. Families who adopt and have biological children. Families who have only adopted children. Families who adopt more than one over several years. Families who adopt two at the same time. Families who adopt only one. Families who knew from the start that they would adopt one day, and …Read More

Urgent Medical Need: Kenneth

July 4, 2015 Family Found 2 Comments

Kenneth is such a sweet and responsible 8-year-old boy! WACAP staff met him at a recent Journey of Hope Camp and were so impressed by him even though he was nervous meeting a foreigner for the first time. Kenneth was found when he was 6 months old, and he currently lives with a foster family …Read More

The Long Journey Home

July 3, 2015 China trip, Jennifer 0 Comments

Or Why My Family Is Banned From the Hong Kong Airport Hotel Indefinitely. I can remember spending so much time and thought in anticipation of the journey to China. I imagined every possible scenario and packed accordingly. Checked with those who had gone before. Prepared my heart for any response or encounter I could imagine. Double checked and packed …Read More

it’s my birthday and I want to do something wonderful. join me.

July 3, 2015 orphan ministry, Stefanie 0 Comments

This is a post from my personal blog. But I’m sharing here because it’s my birthday, and you’re my friends, too. And I think you have as much of a heart for the fatherless as I do. So welcome to a little birthday party, friend. I love it when it’s my birthday, because I get …Read More

I’m Ready to Adopt: Choosing an Agency (Part 9)

July 2, 2015 Agencies, choosing a China adoption agency, Guest Series, I'm Ready to Adopt 0 Comments

Today we’re back with our I’m Ready To Adopt series with the ninth in a 10 post mini-series by Kelly – who blogs at Mine In China – on How To Choose An Agency. You can find links to the previous posts here.   Grants, Fundraising, and Understanding the Business Side of Agencies   Finances are an important consideration for many parents. Few …Read More

what we’re reading: 7.2.15

July 2, 2015 Liberty, What We're Reading 1 Comments

It is our pleasure to bring you another episode of What We’re Reading. We have a long list of traveling family blogs to share with you. These people are becoming lovingly acquainted with the heat of summer in Guangzhou and other regions of China, Lord bless them all! Thank you to everyone who shared their …Read More

The China Trip: a Tip a Day

July 1, 2015 Amy A., July/August 2015 Feature - Going to China!, travel tips 0 Comments

As much as I hate to see the end of our June feature, I can’t wait to begin our July/August Feature: Going to China! We will cover all things China-trip related: packing, traveling, gotcha day, orphanage care vs. foster care and setting realistic expectations. We’ll even have some fun Q and A posts from the NHBO contributor team. …Read More

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