Spotlight Saturday - A Happy Utah Family Hoping to Adopt Again

Please take a moment to get to know Ryan and Helen and their adorable little toddler, Emily.

You can find out more about them and contact them by visiting their adoption blog:

http://ryanhelenandemily.blogspot.com

Update: Congratulations to Ryan & Helen! They adopted a girl in July!

We met in the Fall of 1998. Helen was a senior in college, and competing on the women’s volleyball team. Ryan was a first year law student. Over the next several years we kept in touch. Helen served a full-time mission and started graduate school in Utah and Ryan started practicing law in California. Despite living in different states, we began dating and eventually fell in love. We were married a year later in December 2003.

Shortly after our wedding, Ryan was offered a job in Salt Lake City. We were thrilled to move close to most of Helen’s family, and we bought a house only one block away from one of Ryan’s older sisters. The house, a 1960’s rambler, needed some work, but we chose it because of its beautiful and convenient location.

After a couple of years and many doctors’ appointments, we learned that we will most likely never conceive children. Although it was sad, adoption was an easy choice for us. Helen has a sister who was adopted and we both have cousins who were adopted, so we knew how inspired adoptions are.

In October 2007, we were placed with a beautiful newborn and named her Emily. She has been an extraordinary blessing in our home and in our extended families. We adore her and thank Heavenly Father each day for her birth parents who selected us. We have an open relationship with them and have been blessed by their continued interest and support in Emily’s life. We love taking lots of photos and video of her milestones to share with them.

Ryan’s job as an attorney allows Helen to stay home with Emily. Helen loves getting to spend the whole day with Emily at home or out with friends and family. Emily goes to swimming lessons once a week, music class once a week, and frequently meet friends for lunch or a play date. In the summer Helen and Emily enjoy "cousin days". Each week they meet Emily's grandma, aunts and cousins to visit a zoo, museum, park, or pool.

Before Emily was born, we adopted two cats from the animal shelter. They are quirky, but we love them. Emily especially loves the cats and is learning how to pet them and play with them.