|
| |
|
|
|
July
1, 2003 |
|
Caring for and serving families in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi,
Florida, Texas, and Louisiana |
|
|
|
|
|
THE
BARNHART FAMILY,
BIRMINGHAM,
AL |
|
|
|
Words simply
cannot express our thanks for all of your prayers and kind thoughts and
messages. It truly has sustained us in what was the adventure of a
lifetime (at least so far!). We are doing well and so very thankful to be
home. It wasn't that we did not enjoy being in China but it was trying
with an active 2 year in very nice hotels, eating out every meal! We got
to know the sidewalks outside the restaurants well as Jonathan ran up and
down and up and down:)
There were
so many answered prayers -most of all Jonathan is a delight, sweet, funny
and active. Developmentally he looks great - his only challenges are that
he is small (we are working to fatten him up) and that he has an
expressive language delay (even in Chinese). We are signing and speaking
and using all the speech tricks I know. Two things that Barnhart
household is good at is gaining weight and talking!! We think we caught a
glimpse of his weight gain problem in that everyone in China thought he
was big for two! Really - the man at the passport office was concerned he
was the wrong child because he was so big; so they were not focusing on
eating as much as we are now. Three cheers for pediasure and that
Jonathan has a sweet tooth.
Overall
Jonathan is adapting really well - I am sure in large part to his foster
mother preparations and his genuinely pleasant disposition. He has been
sleeping through the
night
since we got home with only 1-2 episodes of night time mournful
crying. Every day is better.
Other
highlights -
Jonathan was
able to stay with his foster mother until the morning we received him -
praise God! And she had received everything we sent through the mail. She
gave us back the pictures (they had clearly been looked at), the stuffed
dog we sent (which smells like his old home - something that calms him
here) and she took pictures with a disposable camera of his home for us.
He arrived
healthy and has stayed healthy - actually all of us are in remarkably good
health!
We were
able to learn a lot about his province and the orphanage / foster care
center there. We connected really well with our local guide who was a
Uigher women who taught us a lot about Uigher culture in the area. And we
were able to link up with an American friend of our good friends the Chens
who works in the area - so we fell connected and feel like we can maintain
connection with our son’s
first home. |
|
|
|
|
THE
PEAVY FAMILY, HOUSTON, TX |
|
|
|
 I
thought you would like to see our family at Easter. The children are more
wonderful than I ever imagined! Thank you for being our "Guardian Angel"
and helping to bring these little angels home to us.
David and I
hope all is well with you and your family. Have a wonderful summer.
Blessings.
(Editor’s
Note: The Peavy children were featured as waiting children in one of our
earlier newsletters! Glad they are home!) |
|
|
|
THE CULLINAN
FAMILY, PENNSYLVANIA
|
|
|
|
I
have a few
minutes. Amanda is in the next room. She asked for privacy while she
paints. I wonder what my Picasso will make this time
-
All is well here. We are finally over winter
- I
hope! Life continues to be busy. Amanda is in the midst of her recitals
the next few weeks. This summer she will be in a local play and I am
becoming a soccer mom. Who would have thought. Work is fulfilling and
going well. Amanda just came back. She is reading this over my
shoulder. She wants you to know that she is reading so well. Her
kindergarten has them reading at the end of first grade level. I am
amazed. She goes around telling everyone that she can read. I wanted to
take a few minutes to get in touch with you today. It was your support
that made all of this happen. Thanks. Jeanne and Amanda
(Editor’s Note: Amanda was adopted from China over 5 years ago!) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCAA announced on their web-site the Resumption of sending Referrals and
Travel Approvals. The Re-opening
begins
as of July 24.
No specific mention of actual Referral mailing date, though.
So we hope to be calling and faxing you all in the very near future with
Referrals. |
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATION
HOPE, SOUTHEAST
|
|
|
|
We are
delighted to host 10 children who will arrive on July 11 for a three week
stay in Kentucky, Memphis and Nashville! What a wonderful three weeks
this will be for the families and children. We will be featuring these
children in our next newsletter. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We
can’t believe it either, but it’s 2004 Children’s Hope International
Calendar time! You’ve got until August 15, 2003 to get your favorite photo
of your precious child to us to be included in our 2004 CHI calendar!
Please check our website at
http://www.childrenshopeint.org/Adoption/Adoption%20Calendar.htm
for more details. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please
join us in welcoming:
Carrie Mullis
has just joined our staff as a social worker doing home studies and also
working with families adopting from Colombia, India, Guatemala, and
Vietnam. Carrie received her Masters Degree in Social Work from the
University of Tennessee. (To read more, please click
here)
Lisa
Lee
is
working as our receptionist and setting up the information meetings and
getting the information packets to families! (To read more, please click
here) |
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING INFORMATION MEETINGS |
|
|
|
Please join us for free information meetings:
Tuesday, July 1
Mahon
Library, 1306-9th, (behind Lubbock Memorial Civic Center),
Lubbock, Texas
6:30-8:30 PM
Tuesday,
July 1
First
Evangelical Church D.L. Moody Room
735
Ridgelake Blvd. Memphis, TN
38120
6:30-8:30
PM
Thursday,
July 3
NorthPark
Presbyterian Church, Meeting Room: Fellowship Hall
9555 N
Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas
6:30-8:30 PM
Sunday, July
6
Fort Worth
First Church of the Nazarene,
2001 E. Main
St., Crowley, Texas
3:00-5:00 PM
Tuesday, July 8
CHI Office,
7003 Chadwick Drive, Suite 350, Brentwood, TN
6:30-8:30 PM
Thursday,
July 17
Ed Necco &
Associates, Inc., 125 Eagle Nest Drive, Paducah, KY
6:30-8:30 PM
Thursday,
July 24
Trinity
Presbyterian Church, 1020 North Rutherford Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN
6:30-8:30 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 11
Op Hope Children
Arrive
July 12 Op Hope Families Receive Children
Barker’s Home
July 14 Home Study
Group 6:30-8:30
PM Children’s Hope
July 18 Russian Family Pool Party
3:00-5:00 PM Barker’s Home
July 25 Parent Education Seminar
6:30-8:30 PM
Children’s
Hope
July 19
Dossier
Class
8:30 AM
Children’s
Hope
Travel
Class
10:00 -12:00
Noon
Children’s Hope
July 19 Chinese Zoo Day
10:00 AM
Nashville Zoo
July 19 Operation Hope Picnic
5:00-7:00 PM TBA
July 27
Operation
Hope Reception
3:00-5:00
PM
Woodmont Hills Church |
|
|
|
|
A MESSAGE FROM BRENDA BARKER |
|
|
|
This is an
exciting month for us, welcoming 10 children into our lives and hearts
through Operation Hope! It has also been exciting with China reopening
and many families receiving referrals and travel approvals….and we don’t
want you to be left out of all of this excitement! There is no better
time than NOW to join in all of the fun, life-changing excitement of
adopting a child!
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, MS, FL, TX and LA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
