- went to Stephen’s best friends wedding & the ring bearer was from Ethiopia {never met anyone from ethiopia before}. His mom & I became friends (she is a photog too!) and she was the first one to tell me about the adoption process. She told me all about the different requirements that each country has, and told me about several adoption agencies.
- also at the wedding we reconnected with friends who just got back from living in Africa (they were in peace core), we also met a girl who grew up in china where her parents ran a christian orphanage {so many people with heart for adoption/africa}
- after the wedding on the way to family vaca, I looked up Gladney on my phone. read all about all the countries & their requirements.
- remembered a post from a photog from San Antonio’s blog that said they were adopting from Ethiopia & then went to her adoption blog and read every. single. post. ordered books she reccomended from my phone (thanks amazon!) – Jenn is now one of my great friends!
- remembered my good friend from high school, Alison, talked about on her facebook starting process to adopt from Ethiopia….contacted her
- got back from trip & went straight to bachelorette party for my good friend Jordan and sat across the table from her soon to be sister in law, Meme, who told me that she sold jewelry on the side to raise $ for the team she leads to China every year with Visiting Orphans because she wants to adopt from China one day (tears!)
- lots of contact with above people about adoption!
- read on facebook that my fave humanitarian photographer, Esther Havens, was speaking at a conference in Austin (Together for Adoption!) about how to tell a story – decided I wanted to go. Found out later it was an adoption conference! Was telling my good friend, Alison Brown, about it at lunch one day & she told me that her family was looking to adopt & her mom was going to the conference. Her mom happened to be my boss’ sister in law. I called her immediately. We met up in Austin in October to go to conference together. (Holly is now one of my great friends & mentors and they are waiting to get matched with a baby/or two from Uganda!)
- Stephen came to conference the 2nd day – god laid it on his heart through the Holy Spirit after the prayed about it, he was in. we started research! October 17th we sent in our first paperwork! whew!
Hey, I'm Wynne!
Hi, friend! First, I truly am so giddy that you are here. I want you to know I 100% believe in you and all the ways you are growing towards living a more intentional life. I can’t wait to get to know you and your story, and I genuinely hope you are encouraged from our time together here.
A little about me, I’m a type 7 on the enneagram, a total extrovert + people lover, entrepreneur, connector, storyteller, people gatherer, and passionate wife, mama + friend. I feel most alive when I’m exploring new places and surrounded by people I love. Give me a day in the outdoors disconnected from wifi, and I am a happy girl. I run on oat milk lattes, Jesus, gratitude journaling and kitchen dance parties with my three kids.
Welcome, come on in!
I <3 adoption.
I really enjoyed reading your adoption story!
http://www.rebeccabany.com
Wow! I love how you tell this story! I am adopted, so I love hearing stories about adoption. I am Holly Brown’s sister-in-law, Allison’s aunt, etc.