August 1, 2004

Caring for and serving families in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama,  Mississippi,
Florida, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana 

Chloe is incredible.  Every single prayer we prayed for her was answered.  An amazing testimony to our wonderful Lord.  I could just tell you story after story of how great it is going.  She is bonding with us and came right to us.  She is sleeping 12 hours each night, eating tons of food, is happy, loves to play and loves her brother & sister.   She seems to know I am Mommy and right now prefers me above all else.  :)  Just love that part.  It's back to the business of trying to cook, do laundry, and bathe other children all while holding Chloe!  Oh, the joys of motherhood.  (Did notice that my right hip has begun to stick out all the time even when I'm not holding her.) This has been an incredible experience.  Thanks for all the help.  Anna was wonderful in China.  What a sweet spirit.  So loving and gentle.  I cried when we left and she was crying too!     

It is so amazing to be here in China.  The hotel we are in is wonderful and our guides have taken care of everything for us. We have visited Yuelu Academe, an embroidery factory, a village - and actually walked through the rice patties, Orange Island, and a primary school.  Changsha is a very interesting city. 

 
Thank you all for your support and guidance through the adoption process! Just wanted to send you a few pictures of Ali Zhen!  She is a doll!  She is adjusting tremendously - better than I could ever have imagined!  Thanks again for all you have done - I totally love this little girl!

Kellie McGary

Well, we have been home from China 4 weeks now.  It's hard to believe a month has passed by so quickly.  Abby has adjusted so well to everything. She continues to amaze us with her laughter, smiles, and outgoing personality.  She is trying to walk with us holding her hands, and when not trying to walk, riding on her little car throughout the house.  She went to
the pediatrician yesterday, and has gained a pound since our first visit. (22lbs.)   I wonder what I did with my free time before this "little one" arrived.  When she is awake and playing, it is all about Abby.  Abby will
brighten even your bad days!!!!

We are in China now with our daughter.  Yesterday we went to the store and a Chinese woman wanted to hold her, she turned her head away and clung to me (I cried-that let me know that since Monday, we have bonded).  She is more beautiful than her pictures showed.  Peggy-the CHI representative is wonderful and told us that our baby looks like our family.  Everyone said how pretty she is-we think so too.  This is the best experience anyone could go through.  We bought clothes for her orphanage and plan to donate more in the future.  Having a great time here.  The people are accommodating and have done everything to make our stay comfortable.  Thank you much for all your help and the rest of the people you have working for CHI in China.  All were wonderful to us.  It is so sad to see the beautitful children that are in the orphanage.  Every child deserves a home is the way we feel. 

 (Reprinted from Commericalappeal.com)

As her 4-year-old brother, Alex Gould, celebrated his birthday on July 3, his baby sister, Kaylee Gould, also had something to celebrate.

"It is her first Fourth of July as an American citizen," said Jan Gould, 7-month-old Kaylee's mother. Jan explained that last month she and her husband, David Gould, adopted Kaylee from Russia just as they did with Alex four years ago.

Alex thinks the parade is for his birthday," said his mother.  "We are so blessed,'' David said.

 

We heard Zoe laugh for the first time about a week after we were home. Such a lovely sound. She is a joy and great fun, unless she is mad. She is a strong and strong-willed child. And of course, we think she is very smart.

Thanks for helping us get our adorable daughter.

I just wanted to send you a picture of Valentina, which we took, while in Russia.  We have not been able to stop thinking about her.  I hope we will be able to bring her home soon. 

Thank you again for all the help you gave me while I was putting together our dossier.  And for getting it to St. Louis so quickly.  The timing must have been just right, since we were called us pretty quickly about Valentina.

 Hope you are having a great summer. 

Just wanted to send you an update from our first trip.  We arrived in Moscow on Sunday June 13th.  We stayed at the Rossia hotel across from Red Square.  Our room had a view of Red Square so we took many photos looking out the window.  Olga gave us a tour of Moscow on Monday before we left for Kaliningrad.  She is a wonderful tour guide.  She gave us so much history and took us to a small store to buy gifts for home.  We left that afternoon for Kaliningrad and stayed at the Turtle hotel.  It was really nice.  We met several families who were making their second trip (a CHI couple from Georgia) and a couple from California who had adopted a 6 year old girl three years ago named Julia.  Julia wanted to come back and visit her orphanage.   

On Tuesday morning we met with the Minister of Education in Kaliningrad.  He was a very nice man and gave us as much information as he had and a 13 month boy.  He told us to take our time and follow our hearts.  Before we left he told me to have a happy labor. 

He had picked out a beautiful baby for us.  When we first saw his picture we thought he had brown hair.  When we got to the orphanage and met him he had on several layers of clothes and a hat.  We took off the hat and to our surprise he had blonde hair and his eyes are blue.  He looks a lot like Steve.  The Director of the Orphanage, the doctor, nurses, even another couple all made comments that he looked like Steve. 

It was love at first site.  We emailed his medical information to Vanderbilt and they confirmed our feelings that he was as healthy as could be based on his surroundings.  He is starting to walk and he jabbers.  We took video and pictures every day and it is amazing how much he changed while we were there.  Leaving him was the hardest thing that we ever had to do. 

We go back on July 13th and our court date is July 19th.  We will be back on July 24th.  We can't wait to bring him home!!!  

Thanks for all your help.  We will keep you posted of our second trip! 

www.ournashvillehome.com/pictures

Since Vietnam closed, over a year and a half ago, there has been little noticeable progress in restarting the adoption program.  If you would like to write letters to the US State Department encouraging them to help quickly restart and reopen adoptions in Vietnam, please write to:

Maura Harty

Assistant Secretary

Bureau of Consular Affairs

United States Department of State

2201 C. St. NW

Washington, DC  20520

Fax:202-647-9622

Operation Hope was a wonderful success again this year!  Thanks to all of the families who made this possible!!

EDITOR”S NOTE:  The Reiss family with their newest additions of two older girls, who participated in Operation Hope this Summer.

Sixteen families who adopted from China through Children's Hope International gathered in Nashville the last weekend of June for a reunion.   The families all traveled to China together to adopt girls, ages 8 months - 18 months old in April 2002.

About a year ago the travel group decided to have a reunion and Nashville was selected for the first bi-annual reunion.  Three families live in the Nashville area and hosted the group of people who live all over the United States.  58 people attended the reunion weekend.  It was a fun-filled, memorable weekend with the three year olds, siblings, parents and two grandmothers.  Everyone enjoyed a Chinese meal, a bus tour of Nashville, a picnic at the park (complete with face painting, a magician and balloon artist), afternoon of fun music and physical activity at My Gym, and a closing dinner at a "Southern Meat and Three" restaurant.

Plans are already underway for Reunion 2006 in San Diego!!  

If you are traveling to China soon, you can carry a suitcase of new or gently used clothing to be given to our Beijing coordinators for use in orphanages throughout China.  This won't create a problem with the "one suitcase" rule because you won't carry it during your in-country travels. 

This can be a personal gift or the result of a community project - perhaps a baby shower for the kids who still wait.  The need is great for gifts of this kind.  You can always stop by the office and also take a box of donations as well.  (Don’t forget to donate your items for others who are traveling to take!)

HELPFUL HINT:  Pack the clothing in a strong bag within a large duffle.  You can hand off the clothing bag to our Beijing staff and still have an empty duffle to bring home all your souvenirs.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  NO MATTER THE COUTNRY YOU TRAVEL TO, DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED!!

Please make sure that you are receiving our quarterly printed newsletters in your mail!! If not, please email Cindy@childrenshopeint.org to get on the mailing list!!

And, we also have a monthly e-letter from our national office.  If you are not receiving this link and would like to, please email Gloria@childrenshopeint.org. and ask her to put your email address on the list!

We want to stay connected with you!! 

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Chick-fil-A of Thoroughbred Square in Franklin, Tennessee is partnering with Children’s Hope International to raise money for the Children’s Hope Humanitarian Aid Foundation. Chick-fil-A will donate 10% of the total nightly sales between the hours of 5-8 p.m., if 50 people come in to represent Children’s Hope International.  Don’t forget to let Chick-fil-A know that you are with Children’s Hope International!  Bring the whole family and enjoy a wonderful meal, face painting and a special appearance by the Chick-fil-A Cow!  All funds raised will go to children in China in need of surgery for Cleft lip/Cleft palate.

 When : AUGUST 19, 2004

5 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Where : Chick-fil-A of

Throuroghbred Square

3063 Mallory Lane

Franklin, Tennessee 37067

(In Cool Springs, across the street from Lowes) 

We are currently looking for corporate sponsors for many of our humanitarian aid efforts.  If you think your company would be interested in helping the CHI Foundation bring hope, health and healing to children, please contact Caroline@childrenshopeint.org so we can send them a packet of materials on corporate sponsorship!

Please join us for free information meetings:

For more information, please go to http://www.childrenshope.com/southeast/index.htm

August 1, Birmingham, AL

Vestavia Hills Public Library, 1112 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, AL

2-4 PM 

August 2, Huntsville, AL

First Baptist Church, 600 Governor’s Drive, Room 242

6:30-8:30 PM 

August 10, Brentwood, TN

Children’s Hope Office, 7003 Chadwick Dr, Suite 350

6:30-8:30 PM 

August 13             Parent Education Meeting         6:30-8:30 PM                                    Woodmont Hills

August 14             Dossier Class                            8:30 AM                                             Woodmont Hills, RM 201

                             Travel Class                              10:00 -12:00 Noon                             Woodmont Hills

                             Pre-Adopt Class #1                   12:30-6:00 PM                                   Woodmont Hills

August 16             Home Study Group                    6:30-8:30 PM                                    Children’s Hope   

August 19             Thankful Thursday (Humanitarian Aid)    5-8 PM                                Chick-Fil-A             

 
It is amaing that Summer is almost over, and school will start this month!!  Time has really flown by….but don’t let time continue to fly by as you think about adoption!!  A child waits for you right now!!  A recent survey of women 18-44 years of age, revealed that almost 10 million married women have considered adoption, but only 2 % have actually taken steps!  Don’t let that happen to you….we are here today to help!!

We don't want to burden you with a lot of information, but we do want to help you if you are looking for a way to adopt. If not, please let us know and we will regretfully remove your name from our newsletter.   E-mail me at my address below with any question you have.  I would love to hear from you. 

 Brenda

 Southeastern U.S.
 Brenda Barker, Director
 7003 Chadwick Dr. Suite 350
 Brentwood, TN  37027
 615-309-8109   Fax: 615-309-8483

  Brenda@ChildrensHope.com
   Also serving the following states: TN, KY, GA, AL, AR, MS, FL, TX and LA