Curlee Family, formerly TN now in TX (China)

Here is a recent photo of Daniel I thought I would share with you.

Bilbro Family, TN ( Kazakhstan)

We are now proud parents of Serik Bilbro. He has just turned one-year old on June 22.  Thanks for all of your support and love that has been sent our way.

We are doing well.  I am learning a lot...especially patience. I just love them! I really do...I am blessed. They are great and they are gorgeous (I know I'm partial!)  I appreciate all that you  have done for us; as well as other Children's Hope people.  God bless you all.

Drake Family, GA (China)

Just wanted you all to know that both kids are doing great.  Olivia is the "little mother" and she takes care of her brother (and the rest of us as well).  Jud is the fun loving active one.  He goes from sun up to sunset.  He keeps us on our toes as he is curious about everything.  Thank you so very much with all your help in completing our family.  We know without a doubt that God meant for these two to be a part of our family.  They are a great blessing to our whole family.

Thought you might enjoy a new twist on blending cultures etc.  Here is the Central Oklahoma FCC (Families with Children from China) parade float. This was the first year for the float – the theme was “From the “Great” Wall of China to the “Great” State of Oklahoma”. 

Hamilton Family, TN (Kazakhstan)

Here a few pictures of Amelia. She is playing her Great Aunt’s piano and playing with her cousin Sofia and their dollies. Amelia is very much a little girl who really likes to wear dresses and pretty clothes. Anytime she has on new clothes (which is most of the time), even t-shirt and shorts, she prisses around showing off her clothes. She also loves to carry bags around. Some are purses her size and some are actually bags. She fills these with whatever her little hands can find such as the remote control, anything of mommies and various pieces of paper.

Royar Family, formerly TN now TX (Russia)

               

Things are going great here in TX with the boys.   Alexei is now 4 years old and Tim and Mahrk will be 2 1/2 years next month.  Time sure flies by with kids around the house.  It was a year in April since we brought Tim and Mahrk home.  Their adjustment has been wonderful.  It took Alexei a little time to get used to the idea of sharing Todd and I with his brothers, but now he is a super big brother and helps me out a lot.  The boys are well-behaved but into EVERYTHING.   When I go out somewhere with all 3 boys, people always comment, "It looks like you have your hands full."  That is so true, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! 

We still are very pleased with the Southeast CHI office, the St. Louis office and the Moscow office and would highly recommend CHI to any persons interested in adoption.  When people ask me about international adoption, the number one thing I tell them is to make sure they use a good, honest, reputable agency, like CHI.  I think that is the key to having a successful and enjoyable experience.

 

Ben just turned 2 last week (July 12th), it was our first birthday with him. Ben is doing incredibly well. He just continues to amaze us every day.  He's just so smart. He's been counting up to about 12 for about 3 weeks now. He loves to help when we sweep or vacuum. He tries to push the vacuum all by himself, but it’s still about twice the size he is.  He's also just talking up a storm and even putting together short sentences of 5-7 words.  The other day, we were leaving some friends house and out of the blue he just spurted out "Have a great day"! He always makes us laugh and keeps us on our toes.

USCIS Changes Effective July 30, 2007

USCIS fees will change on July 30, 2007. The new fee schedule applies if you file on or after July 30, 2007. The new cost of filing your I-600A (Advance processing for Orphan Petition) will be $670 plus $80 for each person to be fingerprinted. 

If you already have an approved I-600A (I-171H/I-797C) that is about to expire, and have not yet filed your I-600 petition, you can receive one free extension of your I-600A by filing a new I-600A after July 30th without fees before the first I-171H/I-797C expires. USCIS recommends that you re-file at least one month before your I-171H/I-797C expires. It has not been determined yet if this will include free fingerprinting. The request for the extension must be made in writing before the expiration date of the first I-171H/ I-797C.  If your current I-171H/I-797C expires before July 30th you will have to pay the fees for filing a new I-600A. There are no exceptions to this.

  When filing or re-filing you will need to submit a updated home study report not over 6 months old, copy(s) of birth certificates, copy of marriage certificate, copy of divorce decree if applicable, certified copy of court disposition(s) for any past arrest along with a letter of explanation from family, and fees if filing and no fees if re-filing if you qualify for the free extension. If you are re-filing you will need to also submit a cover letter requesting the free extension of the I-600A, a copy of your first home study and a copy of your first I-171H/I-797C.  If you switch countries you will still need to file the I-824 and pay the fees for this form.  Children’s Hope suggests that you check with your local USCIS office before you re-file to make sure you are following their guidelines. Each USCIS office has the power to accept or reject your re-file according to how they interpret the new guidelines.

"Love, Limits, and Lessons"

A DHS Approved Course from Redirecting Children's Behavior

Parenting course for parents and professionals

Saturday, August 18th

8:30am - 5:30pm

Church of Christ at Woodson Chapel

5800 Edmonson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211

$99 per person - $150 per couple (9-hour certificates will be given upon request)

To register log on to: www.changeyourkidsbehavior.com

The Beatitudes of a Bonding Mother

Blessed are you when your child cries, screams, or shows anger because you know that you have the unique opportunity to model moderation, control and love to this little one who has known deep rejection in his short life.

Blessed are you when you have the opportunity to spend time one on one with the little offender because you know that every moment you sacrifice yourself against your will, God is multiplying your efforts in you and using it for His glory.

Blessed are you to parent Jesus by parenting one who is unknown, unclothed, hungry, thirsty, sick, and imprisoned by his own fear of being rejected again, by another mother.

Blessed are you when you get to parent a child to whom the rules do not apply.  The only rules are those of personal safety because he doesn’t care how much you know until he knows how much you care, never again will you be given the opportunity to look the other way for a while knowing that love is all that matters in these crucial months.

Blessed are you when God calls you to growth through defeat by a one year old.  Nothing is more humbling and creates more need for Christ than knowing you are so weak you cannot even outsmart a one year old, but God can.  Oh what blessing to rely on Him in such a humbling way.

Blessed are you when you pull your child out of Mother’s Day Out, even though he is the one child you’d like to get away from.  Because you know that time with this little angry screamer is all that is going to heal him.   And healing him is the only way to heal your family.

Blessed are you when you trudge on every day, putting one foot in front of the other, or maybe waiting for Christ to peel you off the floor, because you know that God blesses our efforts, not our perfection.  We fake it ‘til we make it!

Blessed are you when your other children see your frustration and see you turning to Jesus, even in the grocery store, because they will model your actions and not your words and you will lead them to Christ.

Blessed are you when you turn anger and ire toward Christ and not direct it at your little hurt one, for God can take it and your child cannot.

Blessed are you when you have friends who have walked your road, because they can steer you away from the pitfalls if you allow them.  And they alone understand your peril and they alone can truly advise you.  They alone can cry out to our Lord in a voice of empathy and urgency that you need!

Blessed are you years later when you can reach the other side of that dark chasm and see what the Lord could see all along, but you could not; that the view from the other side was so much more pleasing, more rewarding, more fulfilling, and more Godly than anything you could have imagined.

Written by Ondrea Harrison who adopted from Russia in 2000, 2003, and is in process again!

Operation Hope 2004 and 2005 Reunion

On June 30, our Operation Hope 2004 and 2005 families had a party at Stacie and Ben Shoemakers' home. Eleven families from Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama who adopted 19 older children from Smolensk and Kaliningrad had a wonderful time together and enjoyed a great pool-party. 

     Save the Date

for

Children's Hope International

Walk for Hope

October 14, 2007

Hope for Orphans!

Your gift can make the dreams of children in need come true!  Choose from over 14 projects in the 2007 Dream Book, including clean water in India, Nutritious means in Vietnam, skills training for older orphans in Russia, AIDS orphanage in Ethiopia, and many more.

We'd love to meet you!

Come to an informational meeting and learn more about international adoption and the program qualifications.

August 11, 2007  ~   Pre-Adopt I  ~  8:30 AM  ~  Children's Hope

It's hard to believe that Summer is almost over and school is starting...how time flies!!  Don't let time pass you by as you consider an adoption....we are always here to help you any way that we can!!

 

Brenda

 Southeastern U.S.
 Brenda Barker, Director
 229 Ward Circle, Suite C-22
 Brentwood, TN  37027
 615-309-8109   Fax: 615-309-8483
Brenda.Barker@ChildrensHope.net

Also serving the following states: TN, KY, AL, AR, MS, VA, LA & SC