Lifted From The Water

After I graduated from Baylor last May, I took a job working for a boutique marketing company here in Corpus. The day I was hired was one of Ashley Rippke's last days, if not her last (I can't quite remember). I had only met her for a brief second, but she seemed like a sweet girl and I was a little bummed that I wouldn't have the chance to get to know her. You see, Ashley and her husband, Nate, had decided to pack up their lives in Corpus and move to Nashville to pursue their freelance design careers elsewhere.

Although we've only ever met face-to-face once, Ashley and I are friends on Facebook and have followed each others lives a little bit over the last year. She has answered many of my wedding invitation questions (check out her AMAZING work here) and I've enjoyed reading her cute blog about grocery shopping/budgeting, Tight Bites. Ashley and Nate are pretty much this awesome Christian, artsy, adventurous couple that I admire. :)

And towards the end of last year, just before I started to believe that this couple couldn't be any more amazing, I learned that they were beginning the process of adoption. Ashley and Nate have decided to adopt a baby internationally; from Ethiopia to be exact. I could attempt to tell their story, but I won't be able to do it justice. If you are interested in adoption, babies, Ethiopia, God's love, or cute, artsy couples, please check out their new adoption blog here. Reading the name of this blog for the first time gave me goosebumps. I'm so blessed to "know" this couple and to be able to read about their adoption journey as they wait for their first little one. So excited for you, Ashley and Nate!!

 {Ethiopia, where the Rippke's baby lives!}

Ever since we started dating, Luke and I have talked about adoption. This has always been something that has intrigued Luke. Although I understand that this is not everyone's opinion, Luke likes to say, "Why would we be selfish and bring a baby into this world when there are so many babies with no one that loves them? WE could love them." I can totally see his point and I love his incredible heart, but I guess I won't really know how I feel about it until we're a little more ready to have a baby. Until then, I think that the Rippke's journey through adoption will open my eyes to this process and huge, life-altering decision. I can't wait to see how God chooses to grow mine and Luke's family in the future!

{Sweet little prayers from South Africa. From my trip back in May 2009. I think I could love adopting internationally}