October 23, 2008 11:31 AM
my new granddaughter
First I want to thank all of you who prayed for my daughter Samantha, SIL Kip and their five children as they went through the process of being united with the youngest member of their family.
I am convinced that adoption is a process whereby God delivers children to the parents He has planned for them - and that sometimes there is a partnership involved in His plans: one set of parents for the nature, another set for the nurture.
Once Sam and Kip decided to offer themselves as parents for a baby from Guatemala, the road was not smooth. The first baby they were going to adopt died a few months after their trip to meet her. The next two they went down to meet were blessed to have their birth mothers change their minds and keep them. Samantha began to wonder if that was really god's mission for their involvement. And though she trusted He had a plan, it was an emotionaly roller coaster.
When Guatemala adoption laws changed, it did begin to seem helpless. And yet, here we are at the end of the journey with a beautiful baby girl named Lily as part of our family. I am so proud of the Walravens for not being satisfied with a comfortable life, but wanting to share in a life-changing way.
The youngest Walraven was seven, so it's a sudden shift back to nightly wake-up calls, backpacks, and babyproofing. But worth every sacrifice.
Look how beautiful little Lily is:
Posted in Adoption, Family, My life | Permalink
Comments
What a beautiful, precious baby girl!
Your family has been so very Blest by adoption. It is so special to watch how God builds families with the love and generosity of people who are just open and willing to live in His Will.
God Bless Samantha and Kip and the children that will have so much fun with this new little person.
I love the name Lily, I have a granddaughter named Lilly myself!
Posted by: Jennifer | October 23, 2008 12:11 PM
What a beauty! PTL for his provision and PTL for your dd's open heart. I love adoption. I have a brother through adoption, since my parents were unable to have any other children after me. I love him so much and he's my brother, whether by blood or not.
Love Samantha(NOT Barbara's daughter. My mom just had a similar taste in names)
Posted by: Samantha | October 23, 2008 12:16 PM
She's adorable! What a tremendous gift from God. Thanks for sharing your joy with us.
Rejoicing with you,
Beth
Posted by: Elizabeth M Thompson | October 23, 2008 1:36 PM
Lovely, lovely. All around lovely.
Posted by: Stretch Mark Mama | October 23, 2008 1:51 PM
Congratulations on new grandbaby, Lily!! What a sweet baby girl. God bless all of you as you welcome her as one of your own!
Love,
Libby
Posted by: Libby | October 23, 2008 2:01 PM
Hi Barbara,
I just wanted to pass along a couple of articles. It's Michael and Debi Pearls criticism of Patriarch/VF.
Knowing your past conversations with J. Chancey, thought you might be interested.
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/articles/child-training/parent-child-relations/article-display/archive////cloistered-homeschool-syndrome/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPID%5D=3&cHash=27c55c0e8d
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/articles/child-training/teens/article-display/archive////patriarchal-dysfunctional-families-part-2/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPID%5D=7
Posted by: Milehimama | October 23, 2008 2:05 PM
She's *beautiful*!
CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS to *all*!
Posted by: Kari | October 23, 2008 2:07 PM
Congratulations! She's adorable! God bless!
(Oh, I really appreciate all of your election information. Thanks for taking the time to blog about it!)
Posted by: Pam | October 23, 2008 2:43 PM
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
What a precious baby girl! Congratulations to you and your family!
Posted by: AZtwinmommy | October 23, 2008 3:43 PM
Oh what joy to see this journey end this way. I couldn't bear to read some of the post you would share because after the first baby died, I cried for your daughter for several days. I think parents who choose adoption have a strength that I do not possess. I couldn't handle the disappointment when it wouldn't turn out well. I do hope that Samantha allows you to post little tidbits of her journey. I am fascinated with how children come out of their shell and transform when they realize they are with their forever family. Lily is beautiful and her eyes seem much older than her little body. I hope she falls right in with Samantha and Kips family, growing to love them as much as they have always loved her.
Posted by: Mrs. Damian Garcia | October 23, 2008 3:58 PM
OHHHHHHHH she is so gorgeous! Congrats, grandma! Congrats to the whole family!
Barbara wrote:
I am so proud of the Walravens for not being satisfied with a comfortable life, but wanting to share in a life-changing way.
:) Me too!
Posted by: Lisa | October 23, 2008 5:32 PM
What a beautiful little girl!! Thank you for sharing about this. My heart has recently opened to adoption and I'm sometimes giddy about it like when I first found out I was pregnant with my girls. I didn't have that desire really at all until a few months ago.
Posted by: Addie | October 23, 2008 5:48 PM
Oh I am so happy for you all! What a beautiful new addition to your family. Doesn't God just give the most beautiful gifts!?
I first felt called to adopt when I was about 10 years old. Hubby and I continue to pray about it and it's painful to hear God say wait - even though He's filling our home biologically right now. But it's so encouraging to hear of other families going through the waiting and being blessed!
Posted by: Shannon M | October 23, 2008 6:26 PM
Sometimes, when I read something that particularly touches me, I fancy I can actually *feel* my heart physically expanding.
Reading this post was one of those moments. I can't imagine how YOU must feel Barbara, to see your grown daughter and her family loving and welcoming this little soul.
Do you sometimes feel like your heart can hardly contain such big feelings? What an incredible legacy you will be leaving behind at the end of your journey here on earth!
*sniff* I have to go and blow my nose now.
Posted by: Clare | October 23, 2008 6:42 PM
She looks so huggable! Praise God and congratulations to all of you.
Posted by: Elissa | October 23, 2008 8:06 PM
She is beautiful! Congratulations to the entire, extended family.
Posted by: Holly | October 23, 2008 9:13 PM
congratulations!! she is beautiful!
Posted by: Momma | October 23, 2008 9:33 PM
JOY!!!
Congratulations to all.
How wonderful for Samantha and family to open their hearts, over and over again--willing to be vunerable, in order to love and welcome another.
My oldest daughter is "Lillie". There is something wonderful about that name--something genteel. There seems to be an unusual sweetness and kindness in girls that we've meet with this name.
Blessings for all as you continue to love and enjoy your families.
Posted by: von | October 23, 2008 9:36 PM
Congratulations on the new addition to your family and Lily is a beautiful name! As a mom by birth and adoption, I know the amazing JOY. GOD is so good!!
Posted by: Karen | October 23, 2008 10:31 PM
How wonderful. I will be praying for an easy transition.
I can't believe how much your daughter looks like you. You both have an aura of wisdom. Maybe it is those perfectly arched eyebrows. ;)
Posted by: paigeu | October 24, 2008 12:31 AM
She's lovely! Congratulations to you all!
Posted by: Margaret | October 24, 2008 6:29 AM
Lily is a beautiful child. What a blessed child!
Shannon in Austin
Posted by: Shannon Best | October 24, 2008 3:33 PM
So this is the face I've been praying for for so long now. Home at last. A blessing on your head, Sweet Lily. What a lucky girlie you are. Sending lots of love! Oh, and your hair is looking beautiful, Momma C!:)
Posted by: Greta | October 24, 2008 4:11 PM
Thank you for sharing Barbara. Great pics. Looks like a very happy big sister there.
I think people adopt for many different reasons, for my parents it was because they were unable to have children.
feliz día, amante de familia, increíbles vida!
Posted by: Jodi | October 25, 2008 11:53 AM
