Baggett Family, AL (Russia) The Baggetts went from three children to six!!  Congrats!!

Bullock Family, VA (China)  

As the old cliché goes, “time flies when you’re having fun” and boy are we ever!!!!!!!  Mackenzie is the love of our lives and just such an amazing child, so full of life.  We are so richly blessed and we owe it all to you … we shall be forever grateful.

 Catlett Family, VA (Ethiopia)

 Donovan Family, TN (Vietnam)

Gross Family, TN (Russia)                                                                                 

We can't believe that it has been four and a half years since we brought Jon back from Russia.  He is a wonderful boy who steals the hearts of everyone he meets.  He loves anything dealing with music or sports.  This year he turned five, graduated from Preschool, and started T-ball!  He is such a big boy who has blessed our family and friends greatly!

She is growing up to be a magnificent girl and has a very strong way about her.  She recently had her third birthday - a princess dress up party - which suited her to a tee. She loves princesses and cell phone toys and PURSES!  Every morning, as soon as she gets out of bed she must put on her hair bow and her shoes immediately.  She is very much a creature of habit.  Ella Grace has been with us for 18 months now and it is hard to imagine what our lives were like before she came.  Certainly they were not filled with all of the magic and humor that she brings each day.

Bryant Family, AL (China) 

  The world traveler settles back into home and life in Alabama!!

 Ellis Family, TN (China) 

Lily is the youngest of four. She came home on her sister's birthday, Sept. of '03.  She is a handful cause we've let her run the house up till now, but even with that, she is an awesome little girl! :) She is doing wonderfully!  She is like a little Mary Lou Retton with rock hard abs... that's how you know we don't have the same DNA :) She could do full on flips at the age of three! She would probably be an Olympian by now, but instead we just did ballet which she was really good at :)  Not to group all Chinese kids together, but from all the kids I've met so far, these little boys and girls from China are so special! If we could adopt again from China, we would do it in a heartbeat.... A little side note about Lily... she hugs all her teachers and administrators at her school (her principal goes to our church.) It's fun to see all these adults break into smiles and cuddles whenever Lily comes around. She is such a precious and beautiful kid!

 Bagot Family, VA (China)

We're doing great!! Katie is adjusting quite well to all the changes. She wouldn't eat much in the beginning, but is doing better each day. She's almost on a normal sleep schedule and has slept through the night the past two nights, which has been awesome! The trip to China was wonderful!! All the coordinators are terrific!! We just really had a wonderful time. I almost wish we had had more time In Guangzhou. I hope one day when Katie is a little older we can go back for a visit. Katie is such a blessing!!  We owe our deepest gratitude to all of CHI for such a awesome experience! I thank God for each one of you and all that you do to unite families.

Anything we can do to encourage others to adopt would be a blessing. I know it's not for everyone, but for those God has called it's a must and I would do anything I could to help encourage anyone who feels led to not hesitate. Just take that first step and see where God leads. He truly is an awesome God! I'm so glad we were obedient to the call.

Thank you again for everything!!

 Shoemaker Family, TN (Vietnam, Guatemala, Russia) 

The newest member of the family....

Ephraim is doing wonderfully, by the way. He is SO outgoing and silly.
He laughs and grins all the time and always has to look around to make sure someone is watching when he does something cute. He has progressed so amazingly quickly physically, and he's pulling up and cruising already. He can crawl like a speed demon. The twins, especially, are smitten. Unless I just absolutely insist, I never get the chance to hold Ephraim or give him a bottle. I thought the "new" would wear off quickly, but it certainly hasn't so far. I had to fuss at them last week.  I discovered that when they were waking up at 7 o'clock each morning, they were sneaking into his room, waking him up and getting him out of his crib, so they could play with him an hour each morning without having to share him with the rest of the family! He's going to survive on little sleep anyway. He NEVER takes a daytime nap unless he's floating in the swimming pool or lake. He's sleeping 10 hours at night with one short fill-up in the middle of the night, so we can't complain!

Merkel Family, TN (China) 

Three years ago today, I was riding in a bus with 12 other families, talking about the NBA finals and the weather, as if we were not about to experience the most important moment of our lives.
When we arrived, I thought it would be this beautiful romantic moment, meeting my child for the first time, but instead, we were just lined up in this government office building, surrounded by people getting their driver's license or paying their taxes -- all the stuff you gotta do.  As we got off the bus, one baby was crying so loudly that we could hear her, 3 floors down and outside the building. She was mad. Not scared, MAD. Everyone joked about whose child that would be. Ella Clare still has a strong opinion about everything.  It wasn't magical, that moment. It was exactly what you'd think it would be in a government building on a 105 degree day with no air conditioning and a screaming baby. We just held our passports up to our faces so they could match the photos, and they gave us a baby and we were off. Just like that.  No words, just a passport photo and a baby.  But it was magical, in each and every way. I am so grateful to all the forces in the universe that came together to give me this most good and perfect gift. I am grateful for her strong opinions and her contagious laugh; her wit and her appetite for everything in the world around her... 

Christensen and Norris Family, SC (Russia) 

One year later.....We went to visit The Norris's for Gotcha Day this year.  We took both trips together, had court together, and share the same gotcha day.

Come and join the celebration 
 

2008 Children’s Hope
National Reunion Picnic
 

Saturday
July 12, 10:30am-2:30pm
St. Louis, MO 

  To register today
 click here
Children's Hope Reunion Picnic- July 12, 2008 
 

 314-890-0086

Join our "Online" Adoption Information Meeting

From the comfort of your home computer, you can participate in a Children's Hope live "Online" adoption information meeting. This is an interactive discussion, so we will answer your questions as we walk you through the process of adopting internationally.

Click here for more details.

We might also be having a meeting in your state! 
Click on the map to find out the details. 

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!! 

I hope you are having a wonderful Summer!  As always it is a time to kick back a little and enjoy those wonderful family vacations and reunions and lots of fireworks!  If you sense someone is missing from your family, please know that we are always here to help you on your journey to complete your family through adoption! 

Call me today!  I love to hear from you!

Brenda Barker (with daughters Kate and Izzie)

 Southeastern U.S. 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, GA, VA, TX, NC, FL, LA & SC