The Segars Family, AL (Russia)
Just wanted to let you know Sloan is doing well. He is getting quite a tan. He wants to stay outside all the time to ride his bike and play with his two cousins that live next door. I've attached a couple of pictures.

The Dummer Family, TX (Russia)

        

I pray that the accreditation happens for those waiting families.  We have been there and it’s hard just waiting for the Russia government to do their thing.  But at the end……… it is all worth it!!!

Sasha is going to have a little brother very soon.   God’s plan was to have Sasha as our son and then have a little sibling for him.  After all those years of trying to have a baby and once we adopted Sasha it happened.  God knew we needed Sasha in our lives and he needed us.  This August will be 2 years that we have been home with Sasha.  It’s been great, he is so much fun.  Sasha turns 4 years old tomorrow.  He sure is a blessing to us and we can’t imagine life without Sasha.  We fell in love with Russia so much that we are naming our next son Dimitry. 

The Martinek Family, TN (Russia)

             

I know you haven't heard from the Martinek's (adoption final in Aug 2003) in a long time.  Kira is doing great. She will be starting Kindergarten this fall. Time flies when you're having fun.

The Brosius Family, GA (Vietnam)
Meghan is doing so much better  – actually we all are.  She finally started to sleep through the night around week 8, not every night, but enough to give us a break.  She started swim lessons today, which she absolutely loved!  This past week she’s actually started to say a lot more English words, like baseball and school bus.   It really is amazing the difference since we met her almost 3 months ago now!  If you saw her in our house, you’d think she was born here.  She gets her own Yoo-Hoo from the pantry and feeds the dogs (without begin asked), and yells for me when her brothers are misbehaving! 

The Santoro Family, GA (Russia)
Thank you and all of staff at Children's Hope for the extraordinary job that you do.  You perform miracles for families everyday and we feel very blessed to be a part of the Children's Hope family.

The Toeppe Family, GA (Russia)
We wanted to write and tell you that Sergei is doing great.  We appreciated all of your help and guidance during his adoption.  Sergei was one of the waiting children on your website.  He is a wonderful child and we are incredibly blessed to have him as our son.

Sergei is adjusting well and is thriving having a family.  He has been home for almost 5 months now.  He is doing well in school and his English improves everyday.  We have attached a couple of pictures - one from our first trip to Tver and a couple from our April 2007 Spring Break trip to Florida.  He had never seen a beach before or heard of Disney World.  He absolutely loved both places!

Please give the crew in Tver, Russia (especially Luba, Olga, and Alexei) all of our best.  Without them as well, our adoption journey would have not been the same. They were wonderful.  Their interest and compassion for children was amazing!

Again, thank you so much for helping bring a terrific child into our lives.

The Burns Family, TN (China)  
Just thought I would send you an update on Lindsay.  She is growing up too fast!  She loves to sing and dance.  It is so sweet to see her and Leslie singing together.  Lindsay's newest ambition is to be Miss America when she grows up.  She is already practicing the walk!  She is a blessing to us all and we thank God and Children's Hope for bringing us together.  I can't imagine life without her. 

The Northrip Family, AR (China)
Ingamarie Nan Yumao Northrip celebrated her 3rd birthday in early March with a Cinderella ball!  Her daddy transformed the dining room into a ballroom for all the little princesses at the party to enjoy.  Ingamarie often talks about going back to China and seeing her nannies.  She says, "I want to tell my nannies that I'm a princess now."  And, that is so true.  She and her older sister Vivianna are most definitely our special princesses!

The Carroll Family, LA (Russia)
My husband and I came home in December with our baby girl Madison (now 18 months old) from Russia.  She's doing wonderfully.  She's growing like a weed and is happy as can be!  I'm attaching a picture of her, engaged in her favorite new activity - swimming!  Yes, it's that hot in Louisiana already. We really just couldn't be more thrilled about our experience.

The Haynes Family, TN (China)
Sweet June is wonderful! She "settled in" to family life immediately. She started walking in the airport in Tokyo (which she wouldn't even try in China). She is smiley, affectionate, responds to our touch, imitates us constantly, and is eating new things.

           

She's amazing. A perfect blend into our family - she is very musical, dancing and moving to every song she hears. I'll never forget her reaction this past Sunday when she was in church with us and heard everyone singing. She was full of joy and interest!  Her eyes are always sparkling and full of good humor.

Our trip was tremendous.  Christy was an excellent coordinator and we really enjoyed Ricky in Chongqing. We feel a particular bond with him.

 From start to finish, Children's Hope was wonderful to us. Thank you!

The Jarvis-Guzzardi Family, TN (China)
Kan seemed happier right away at the hotel.   So much has changed for her and this child has clearly been well loved.  She seems a happy girl and has already started to speak some English words.  She is quite a pip as her daddy (her Baba) says.   She is a good sport about chattering away to us when we don't understand her!  She's very funny and laughs a lot.  She's like a foreigner abroad -- when we don't understand her she just repeats herself at a higher volume :)

            

The Atchison Family, TN (Kazakhstan)

Juliana LOVES the zoo.  She had a great time and really loved the big birds!  Hard to believe that is was just 15 months ago that I was bringing this little thing home.  Now she's a walking, talking ball of opinions.  I ask her, "Juliana, who is the boss here?"  She then starts patting her chest and saying "me".  Too cute!

The Brown Family, TN (China)

Allie is doing great.  Everyday, she opens up more and more and just brings us so much joy.  As you well know, there are hardly words to describe the happiness this little person has brought to our family!Thanks!

As of Thursday, April 5, Children's Hope International is officially licensed to work in Ethiopia.  Congratulations to all our families who have been waiting for this day!!!

Please Welcome Allison!

The Tennessee office enjoyed a cold, snowy
Easter Egg Hunt on Good Friday! Lots of fun!

Mark your calendar!

Adopt! inc.

Presents their 7^th Annual Adoption Conference

“Bringing Families Together”

Saturday, May 19, 2007    Sheraton Suites, Lexington, KY

http://www.adoptinc.org/conference.html

  * May is Honoring Mothers Month! *  

You are invited to join Children's Hope International for this year's "Make Believe" Mother's Day Tea Party.  Invite your friends and family to join us.  To honor mothers around the world, consider making a donation to the Children's Hope International Foundation to give hope to orphans around the world.

Your Mother's day gift ensures that even more children will have the happiness they deserve and a brighter future.

If you are interested in participating, please call or e-mail Amanda Bennett at (615) 309-8109 or Amanda.Bennett@ChildrensHope.net

A Nationwide Garage Sale for Orphans

Save the date for Saturday, May 19:  

CHI is encouraging friends and families throughout the US to plan for this special day of Garage Sales to Help Orphans.  Spring clean your home and donate the proceeds to CHI -- turn clutter into cash that will give Homes, Health, and Hope to orphans around the world. 

Write to GarageSaleForOrphans@ChildrensHope.net or click here for information and resources to make your garage sale fun and successful.

We'd love to meet you!

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

May 12, 2007  ~   Dossier Class  ~  8:30 AM  ~  Children's Hope

May 12, 2007  ~   Travel Class  ~  10:00 AM  ~  Children's Hope

Happy Mother's Day!!  Please join us this month in celebrating our moms, mothers, and mothers-to-be!  Will you join us in giving a gift to honor your mom to help an orphan?  And, as always May is a wonderful time to begin the journey to motherhood.  We are here to help any way that we can!  Give me a call! I would love to share in this journey with you, and next year we will be sharing your story with our readers!

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