June 1, 2006

Click on pictures to see the full size!
 

WE HAVE MOVED !!! 

Our new address is:
229 Ward Circle, Suite C-22, Brentwood, TN 37027
(Phone Numbers remain the same)

[Click on the picture to the left to view our new offices]

Call Us Toll free: 877-225-4884
E-mail: brenda.barker@childrenshope.net
 

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES !

Graduates of Ravenwood High School and

daughters of Ken & Brenda Barker.

As one of the world's leading advocates for quality services for children and families, the Council on Accreditation reaffirmed Children's Hope's standard of excellence by once again honoring CHI with COA Accreditation through 2010. The detailed re-accreditation process investigates ethical practices, finances and service to families along with every aspect of organizational integrity. "Children's Hope wants to assure our families that we follow 'the best practice standards' and this independent investigation validates that," said Dianna Briner, CHI's Finance and Compliance Director.

COA is currently in negotiations with the US State Dept. to become the only official accrediting agency for all international adoption agencies under the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoptions.

In the final report, COA noted that Children's Hope's best trait is our PASSION.  Our staff knows why we are here and display a passion to carry out that mission!

The Lambert Family, TN (Russia)

The boys get along great

and are really cute as you can see

The Brock Family, TN (China)

Happy 2nd Birthday

Sarah Morgan Fei Brock!

The Morrin Family, TX (China)

Sydney Ann ... Too Cute for Words!

The Harris Family, GA  (Russia) 

 Isn't Alden adorable ?

The Noland-Dominy Family, TN  (Colombia) 

Welcome Home from Colombia

Cindi Lorena and Kimberly Yohana !

The Wood Family,  AL (India)

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing 1 year ago today???? Most of the time I can't remember what I did yesterday, but because it involved being half way around the world getting to finally get my daughter, I do remember the day very vividly.

Today we're celebrating her "Got'cha Day". She has grown 4/5 inches at least this past year. She is talking our ears off. Talk, talk, talk.  She is such a blessing to our family.

There was never a time of adjustment that was difficult. No dealing with grief, temper tantrums, separation anxiety, etc. She has just hit the ground running, fitting right in with our family.

Christa recently said to us, "I cried when I did not have a family, but now I have a family. I LOVE MY FAMILY!"

The Davidson Family, TX (China)

Madeleine is looking pretty as a picture !

The Longcrier Family, TX (China)

Oh What a Blessing our daughter, Koi Li Page is !!!  We adopted her from Wuhan China. 

We began our adoption journey almost 2 years before Koi came into our family.  We had known we were to adopt but didn't know when, where and how.  The Lord gave us a verse Isaiah 54:2 in the summer of 2003.  We began talking with our children. (we have 4 biological children) We really felt God wanted us to pursue adoption at this point in our lives.  So we did.  China would be the land from which we would adopt.  Many people were surprised that we would want to pursue adoption with the cost and the fact that we already had 4 children.  But if God had placed it on our hearts, we could not stop.  We are so grateful to God for what he has done.  God provided the resources, the acceptance, and the GRACE.  Thank you so much to Children's Hope and their vision, care, and love for orphans. 

We have been home from China about 7 months.  It has been an awesome journey.  Koi is doing well and the blend of 5 is incredible.  We feel that we are the most blessed family.  Koi is running, talking, and eating everything.  It is so fun to watch her grow.

The Fontenot Family, LA (Kazakhstan)

After what seemed to be the most agonizing wait of my life, my mom and I left for Kazakhstan last July.  We came back to Louisiana a little less than a week after Hurricane Katrina.  When so many people's lives were being torn apart, mine was really just beginning. Since we've been home, Celeste has grown and adjusted so wonderfully!  She is now 17 months and she's walking, climbing, talking, giggling,  dancing, singing, and all the other cute stuff that 17 month olds do!  Every morning, when I creep into her bedroom, before I wake her up, I think to myself, "I am the luckiest person in the whole  world to have the privilege of knowing and loving this little person."  Every day feels like Christmas morning to me.  My life is complete!  Thanks CHI.

Such Good Friends ...

 A Russian reunion:

Miriam Fletcher, Kelly Henderson, Joseph Earls,

Kyle Henderson, Alina Moore, and Max Patton.

 

The Oglesby Family, TN (Russia)

We had a wonderful celebration on May 6 at the Nashville airport. Scott and Valarie Oglesby arrived from Smolensk with their two new sons, Oleg and Alyosha, who were very happy to be here. They were welcomed by their three new brothers, Quinn, Matthew and Andrew, as well as many of relatives and friends, including other children from their boarding school in Smolensk Region who had arrived in Nashville earlier.

The Krigel Family, TN (Russia)

May was a wonderful month around the Krigel household. Our two boys celebrated their birthdays. Spencer turned three on May 11, and Alex turned four on May 14. With their birthdays being so close together it is only fitting that we went to court and became a family on May 13, 2005.

It has been a wonderful first year with the boys. Looking back at the entire process it reads like a fairy tale. Everything from such a quick referral, to getting two boys under three like we prayed for, and them already having the same names that we wanted to give them . We are so thankful for the blessings we have been given. Every night before the boys go to bed we "talk to Jesus" with them. It is so cute. We feel that the boys have brought far more into our family than we could ever give them.

Alex “Losha” and Spencer “Tolik” are doing so well in their new home. They have both attended a Mother’s Day Out program. They both do so well playing with the other children and by being in that atmosphere they have picked up the English language like they have spoken it all their lives.

All of the fears we had about bonding, language, medical issues, developmental delays, and other potential issues have faded away leaving two very healthy and happy little boys, and we are a family that has been blessed beyond our expectations. 

It is such a wonderful feeling now to see them riding their bikes, playing with the dog, playing on their swings and slide with each other with seemingly no cares in the world. A year ago at the orphanage they really did not know each other as they were in separate groups, but today they are not just brothers, but best friends. Since returning home, we have learned of another sibling that they now have. While we could not adopt the third brother we are so very fortunate that another couple has adopted him and they want their son to know his brothers, as do we. We can’t wait for them to meet and just be friends till they are old enough to understand.

We are so thankful for CHI and all you did for us through the process. While it was a long and somewhat uncertain period we can look back on it thinking that all of the paperwork, and the waiting was nothing but a slight bump in the road and now seems like we really did so little for so much. I think one thing that stands out is that CHI was always there for us happy to help in any way they could.  We will always be grateful knowing that there is one agency doing God’s work for God’s Children...

CHI FOUNDATION  &  HUMANITARIAN AID

Happy Father's Day !

As many of you may know, my father passed away in October.  He was a farmer/rancher in the Texas panhandle.  In honoring him, my sisters and I asked that donations be given to CHI to build a well in India.  I am so pleased that we can honor our father in this way.  Many of you may want to honor your living parents or in memory of your loved ones.  The CHI Foundation provides a wonderful way for you to not only do that, but also to reach and touch lives! 

Email rachel.messer@childrenshope.net to request more information on any of our humanitarian projects.

If you haven't received your Seeds of Hope Catalog, you can click on the picture to check out the items online. Read it once and read it again. Have your credit card handy to order up a garden of hope for children around the world. 

Help make wishes come true by donating now!

We're Growing and Growing ... New CHI Staff in Virginia

Tammie Perkins, CHI Outreach Coordinator for Virginia. She and her husband Greg have 5 children. Their daughter, Reagan, joined their family in January 2004 from Hubei Province, China. Through Reagan's adoption, Tammie discovered her own passion for helping others adopt and has been a CHAPS Volunteer and active in helping to start an adoption ministry through her church.

If you live in Virginia and are thinking of building your family through international adoption, Tammie would be happy to talk to you,  540-664-1727 or Tammie.Perkins@ChildrensHope.net

 UPCOMING INFORMATION MEETINGS

UPCOMING EVENTS

   REUNION 2006

Mark your calendars for our Children's Hope Reunion 2006

July 15th, 2006 * St. Louis, MO

Click on the Picnic Basket to be directed to more information on Reunion 2006

A MESSAGE FROM BRENDA BARKER

Happy Father's Day to all of our dads, and our dads-in-waiting! We hope you have a wonderful day with your children. Congratulations to all of our graduates as well.... Adoption has brought so many wonderful joys and celebrations to our families.

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.barker@childrenshope.net

Also serving the following states:

TN, KY, GA, AL, AR, MS, VA, LA & SC

Click here to request an information packet regarding

 international adoption with

 Children's Hope International: send info, please. . .