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June
1, 2004 |
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Caring for and serving families in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi,
Florida, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana |
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Save the Date - June 23, 7:00 p.m.!
Children's Hope International is proud to announce that the
Grammy-nominated
BERING STRAIT will hold a concert to benefit CHI's Operation Hope program.
For details on the concert please go to
http://www.childrenshope.com/southeast/
News%20and%20New%20Arrivals/Bering%20Strait%20Concert.htm
As most of you know, Operation Hope is designed to help school-age
Russian orphans find their forever families. What is going to happen to
the older orphans if they are not adopted? In Russia, they will be
graduate from their orphanages at the age of 16 or 17. The vast majority
of them will find themselves in the streets, with no housing and no skills
to make a living. A major Russian newspaper recently wrote that one third
of the orphanage graduates either die by the time they turn 30, or end up
in prison. A child without a family is sentenced to a hopeless and dismal
future.
Operation Hope started in 2000, and, over these years, brought 104
children ages 7 - 16 to the US to spend their summer vacation with host
families who were seriously interested in adopting them. As a result, 98
children found a new and bright future with their American Moms and Dads.
In Nashville area alone, 30 older children were adopted through Operation
Hope.
In the summer of 2004, 11 Russian orphans will arrive in Nashville through
Operation Hope to be hosted by local families.
CHI is very grateful to Bering Strait for offering to hold this benefit
concert. Operation Hope is expensive - CHI spends anywhere between $1,200
to $1,600 per child to be brought to the US, so help is really
appreciated! The result is more than rewarding - what can be better than
to contribute to a child's happiness and secure her future!
If you are unable to attend the concert, you can still participate by
sending a donation for this worthy cause to:
Children's Hope International
7003 Chadwick Drive, Suite 350
Brentwood, TN 37027
Please make the checks payable to Children's Hope Foundation and write
"Operation Hope" in the Memo line.
To learn more about Bering Strait, please
visit their website at
www.beringstraitonline.com |
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THE PINGSTON FAMILY, TN (Russia) |
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 It
was November 17, 2003, the day we had been waiting for, when we finally
heard the judge say…”and her new birth certificate will read, Tatyana
Grace Pingston”.
It has been five months since we
received custody of Tatyana (following a long ten day wait in Chelyabinsk)
and we would have never thought in a million years how awesome this
chaotic life, we call parenthood, could be. In these past five months we
have experienced all the joys of seeing this precious child of ours become
her own busy little self. We have celebrated her first birthday and
watched her reach all her milestones in a rapid sequence to quickly catch
up, and then some. Today Tatyana is a beautiful, inquisitive, and very
busy thirteen month old, who has eyes that twinkle, a sweet smile and a
laugh that can light up a room.
Our lives have been so blessed and
enriched by our beautiful daughter. No words can describe how it feels
when she lays her head on us and then gives us a big smile and kiss, or
the joy to see her face light up and hear her say “hi da-da” when she sees
her daddy walk in the room. It just does not get any better than this.
The road was rocky and there were
many uncertainties along the way, (right up until the judge gave her
decision), but in the end, once again God’s plan is always perfect. Thank
you Children’s Hope, (from Brenda and Natalia in Brentwood to St. Louis
and to Moscow and Chelyabinsk region), for bringing our family together.
You have made our dreams come true. May God bless you as He has blessed
our family. |
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THE WAINSCOTT FAMILY, FL (Russia) |
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Just wanted to send you a couple of pictures of Zoe Elizabeth! She's just
a doll!
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THE VANCIL FAMILY, KY (Russia) |
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God has blessed us so very much. We are so thankful for everything He has
done for us!
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THE WEAVER FAMILY, TX (China) |
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I had a great
trip and Emilee is doing wonderful.
The first day was a whirlwind of paperwork and then the babies arrived.
Ten little cuties all dressed alike in orange or gold corduroy
outfits...on top of the layers. I saw who I was sure was Emilee but it
was Alisa another cutie with big ears! Emilee was all smiles and didn't
cry a bit when I first held her. We all sat around in awe of our new
daughters.
The director and the aunties came to our rooms one by one to give us
anything that was left with the child and to ask us questions and to let
us ask. I showed then pictures I had brought of big sister Sarah and they
all seemed very pleased that Emilee was going to a good home.
She was healthy but had a little cough and was not holding her head up at
all. She seemed so small for an almost 10 month old baby. We played in
the hotel room and then she was asleep and slept well the first night.
We were busy with official paperwork the next day so the official adoption
day was April 14th. We were given a 24 hour period to see if our babies
were acceptable...everyone agreed that was not necessary the babies were
all adorable and bright.
Each day during my stay was very busy. We were allowed to travel three
hours to go the You Xian Social Welfare Institute and see where our
daughters first lived. It was an experience I will never forget as long
as I live. The country side along the way was very beautiful and so
different from America. The SWI was well taken care of and the babies
there all seemed healthy and happy...but I longed to take each of them
back with me and shed many tears for those who might not get homes.
I was amazed at how much of the culture I was able to experience on this
trip. Changsha is a city of 4 million and had a many things to
experience. We went to parks and an embroidery factory and a museum and
to shop at the local Wal Mart! No kidding!
I loved my time with Emilee in the hotel room playing on the bed and just
getting to know her. She loves to smile and to giggle and has a tickle
spot on her sides that makes her giggle for long periods...with her mouth
wide open. Very cute!
We are so happy and Sarah and Emilee have already attached. Emilee is
fascinated by Sarah and Sarah calls Emilee her little cutie. Sarah wants
mommy all to herself at times but I think that she is adjusting at the
normal speed.
Happy
mom to two beautiful little girls! |
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THE LOPEZ FAMILY, TN (Colombia) |
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The Lopez family had a wild ride in adopting their two oldest daughters
from Colombia. After a miraculous intervention, in Cuba, Raul was able to
receive a birth certificate!! Finally in January the girls came home and
have just adjusted beautifully! Julie even learned to speak in fluent
Spanish, starting while in Colombia so that she could talk to her
daughters. And, in April, the Lopez family welcomed their newest member,
another daughter, Rosalinda. Congratulations to all the Lopez family!
You are truly an inspiration! |
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Submitted by John Parker, Memphis
Checking out of the grocery store, I noticed that the bag boy was eyeing
my two adopted children curiously. They often draw scrutiny, since my
son's a blond Russian, while my daughter has shiny black Haitian skin.
The boy continued staring as he carried our groceries to the car.
Finally, he asked. "Those your kids?"
"Yes, they are!" I answered proudly.
"They adopted?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"I thought so," he concluded. "I figured you're too old to have kids that
small." |
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Garage
Sale!!
It is time to clean out those closets and garages! CHI is having a yard
and bake sale on Saturday, June 12, from 8:00 a.m. –2:00 p.m. at Woodmont
Hills Family of God Church, on Franklin Pike.
In order
to make this yard sale successful, we need your donations, baked goods,
and volunteer time during the event!! Our volunteer coordinator is Joan
Lanier. Joan is willing to pick up special items as well. You can reach
her at 494-5932 or email at
jelanier_1@hotmail.com. Or of course, you can contact Carrie at
615-309-8109 or
carriem@childrenshopeint.org for more information. The money from
this sale will go to the China Give Me New Life surgeries. Thanks Joan
for all you are doing! |
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Please join with the staff of CHI, adoptive families, grandparents, and
friends to enjoy a day at the Nashville Zoo.
When:
Saturday, June 5, 2004
Where:
Nashville Zoo At Grassmere
3777 Nolensville Road
Hours:
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Schedule of Events:
9:00 -
Arrival (We will gather together at the gate to see if we qualify for a
group discount. Please arrive at 9:00 am sharp)
11:00 – “Practice Makes Perfect” Show at the Amphitheater Stage.
12:00- Picnic at the Jungle Gym Playground (Bring a picnic lunch for your
family)
Cost:
$ 8.00 for adults/ $6.00 for children ages 3-12/ $2.00 parking. For groups
of 20 or more- $4.00 for adults/ $3.00 for children/ $2.00 for parking.
Directions to
the Zoo:
From 1-24, take Harding Place Exit 56 and head west to Nolensville Pike.
Zoo is 1 mile on left. OR From I-65, take Harding Place Exit 78
and head east to Nolensville Pike. Turn left on Nolensville Pike. Zoo is 1
mile on left. |
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UPCOMING INFORMATION MEETINGS |
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Please join us for free information meetings:
For more
information, please go to
http://www.childrenshope.com/southeast/index.htm
June 1,
Lubbock, TX
Mahon Library, Community Room, 1306 9th Street
7:00 -9:00 PM
June 3, Amarilllo, TX
Southwest Branch Library, 6801 West 45th Street, Room A
6:30 -8:30 PM
June 4, Little Rock, AR
Terry Branch Library, 2015 Nappa Valley Drive
6:30 -8:30 PM
June 15, Brentwood, TN
Children’s Hope
Office, 7003 Chadwick Dr, Suite 350
6:30-8:30 PM
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June
4 Parent Education Meeting
Woodmont
Hills, office Annex
June 5 Zoo Day
9
AM Nashville Zoo
June 12 Humanitarian Garage & Bake Sale 8:30
AM Woodmont Hills
Op Hope Orientation #2
9-12 AM
Woodmont Hills
Pre-Adopt Class #2
12:30-6 PM
Woodmont HIlls
June 14 Op Hope Kids Arrive
June 15 Op Hope Kids Meet
Families
Barker’s Home
June 19 Dossier Class
8:30 AM Woodmont Hills
Travel Class
10:00 -12:00 Noon Woodmont Hills
June 21 Home Study Group
6:30-8:30 PM Children’s Hope
June 23 Bering Strait Benefit Concert 7
PM Rocketown
June 27 Op Hope Open House
3:00-5:00 PM
Woodmont Hills, Rm 205
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A MESSAGE FROM BRENDA BARKER |
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Summer is such a
wonderful time! At home, we are enjoying the first days of school being
out, of swimming, working in the yard, vacationing, and those “lazy days
of Summer!” At work, we are however very busy with all of the children
and families we are working with and preparing for the Operation Hope
children who will visit this Summer!! There is no wonderful time to begin
an adoption than today!!
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 |
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