Ruthie and Stephen
We are so thankful that you are taking some time to get to know us. We have been praying for another child to become part of our family and we want to thank you for choosing adoption for your child. We have both known we wanted to adopt for many years. I have an adopted sister and was able to see the blessings and joy adoption can bring from a very young age, which inspired me to want to adopt when I was older. We also believe that God has called us to adoption and we consider it our joy to obey that calling. Last year we adopted our first son, Levi. It was such an amazing experience that we decided to expand our family once more through adoption.
Stephen and I met six years ago at a concert. He thought I was cute and I thought he was strange (he was one of the crazy people dancing at the front by the stage). We started hanging out with the same group of people and I just saw Stephen as my crazy friend. He of course still thought I was cute.
After a while I gave in to his charms and we started dating in May of 2005. We dated for four years so Stephen and I could finish college. When he asked me to marry him, I was so shocked and overjoyed that I said "I guess?!?!... No, I mean YES!!!" We married in June of 2009. 
The day was casual, fun, and joyous and we couldn't help but dance and smile all day long. Stephen and I are best friends and have supported each other through college and many ups and downs and have grown into a strong and happy couple. We are a Christian couple whose faith is the foundation for our lives. We spent our first wedding anniversary on a mission trip to Guinea, West Africa, sweating and serving Jesus. It is our goal to raise our children to love God and love others and to live their lives honoring God.
Stephen
Stephen is 27 years old and has his Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies. He went to college to become a teacher. While volunteering and helping out at church, he became more and more involved in the Jr. High Ministry and in missions. Today, he serves as a missions pastor and Jr. High leader at our church. Our family spends a lot of our time going to our Jr. Highers' sporting events, having the kids over to play games and helping the kids with everyday life issues like homework and bullying at school. Stephen loves to sing and play the guitar and he leads worship on Wednesday nights at our church. He has also written silly and sweet songs for me and Levi. Stephen was raised by two loving parents and has one sister and two brothers. He was an active kid who even from a young age loved helping out at church and hanging out with people. He is very outgoing and friendly, and I have realized that we can't go anywhere in town without meeting someone Stephen knows and stopping to have a chat with them. He does a great job planning activities for Levi and the kids in our youth group like play days to the snow, playing catch in the park and when their schools have a fog delay, he takes them for breakfast and hanging out before school. He is great with kids and has a heart to encourage them, love them, and point them to Jesus.
Ruthie
Ruthie is 25 years old and is a registered nurse. I have known since Jr. High that I wanted to be a nurse and I started college right after graduating from high school. I am a semi-stay at home mom and I only work two days a week and on the days I work Stephen or my sister watches Levi at our home. Levi and I spend allot of time with the youth at our church and he has lots of "big brothers and sisters". I also enjoy cooking, reading, painting and making fun things for Levi. I have always been very crafty and I enjoy pretty much anything that can be sewn, drawn, painted and created. As a child, I was a total tomboy and spent much of my time playing street hockey with my big brothers or playing with my dad's tools and taking things apart. I grew up in a huge and happy family: two brothers and six sisters and we all shared one bathroom! Needless to say, I work well with others in tight spaces and I have perfected the art of the five minute shower! 
My parents saw adoption as a blessing; they adopted and birthed children and raised them all in a healthy happy family. My family often didn't have very much money but my mom was very creative and spent many hours playing with and teaching her children. I often say, "If someone said I had turned into my mother, I would take that as the best compliment ever!" I love kids and even volunteered at the Jamison Center (a facility for children removed from their homes and awaiting foster homes) throughout high school and college. Even though I enjoy just playing with kids, I also find great joy in pointing them to Jesus and encouraging them in their walk with the Lord.
Levi turned 6 months old on January 4th and he is already a very social little guy. He loves all the kids at church and whenever he is in the nursery with other kids and babies, he "talks" and laughs with them the whole time. Even when his older cousin or other kids steal his toys he still laughs and thinks it's funny! He is such a good natured baby and has been an angel from the start.
Stephen and I live in a 3 bedroom home with a large fenced in backyard. We bought a house with an open floor plan because Stephen and I both enjoy cooking and hanging out with friends and family in our home. Our home is in a nice neighborhood with great school district and it is located just around the corner from two parks. We have decorated our home with lots of pictures of the fun times we have had together as a family, the mission trips we have been on, and the kids from our youth group. Stephen and I manage our home as a team effort and on our days off we take care of Levi, clean house, work in the yard and run all our errands together. We enjoy working along side each other and getting the job done quicker because we do it together.
We are so excited at the opportunity to expand our family and we are already praying for the child we are expectantly waiting and hoping for. Please know that if you choose us, we will love and care for your child with all of our hearts.
With love and prayers,
Stephen Ruthie and Levi
A Center for Family Building • Law Office of Ted R. Youmans
Phone 714-408-2900 • fax 714-876-0061 • www.center4familybuilding.com
