Mark your calendars for this event!! May 16th - 5pm - Timberline Church - Main Auditorium. Larimer and Weld County need Foster Parents. Share this event with friends and family who can step into the life of a child in foster care. :)
Friday, April 23, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Embryo Adoption
We have had the honor of hosting Nightlight Christian Adoption (http://www.nightlight.org/), advocating and raising awareness about embryo adoption at Timberline. I asked Jeff Dillon at Nightlight to share a testimony from one of their families. Thank you to Sabrina and Chris for sharing your story. It will bless others! Congratulations on your new daughter Emma!!
Embryo Adoption
In the summer of 2007, Sabrina and Chris received some heartbreaking news: they would not able to achieve a pregnancy.
Like many of the thousands of couples in the United States who struggle with infertility, this northern Colorado couple began researching all of their adoption options.
“When we found out we couldn’t have children, adoption was really never on my radar screen,” Sabrina said. “But I started praying that God would open my heart to adoption. This was my only opportunity to have a child.”
The couple looked into all of the traditional alternatives: domestic adoption, foster adoption, as well as international adoption. But in the end, the couple decided to go in a different direction – Embryo Adoption.
Embryo Adoption is the process in which couples who have remaining embryos from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are able to donate those embryos to another infertile couple to use in their own attempt to achieve pregnancy. Embryo Adoption allows for the protections of traditional adoption to be applied to the donation process.
The result - for hundreds of couples like the Sabrina and Chris - has been not only the joy of pregnancy, but also the unique chance to give birth to their “adopted” child.
“I was starting to grieve the fact that I was never going to be able to experience pregnancy, nursing a child and all of the things that go with it,” she said. “When I found out I could give birth to a child through Embryo Adoption, it was absolutely mind-blowing. I fell to my knees. It was beyond an answer to prayer.”
After researching multiple Embryo Adoption programs online, the couple found the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption program in Southern California.
Operated by Nightlight Christian Adoptions, Snowflakes was the first Embryo Adoption program in the world, established in 1997. To date, over 220 children have been born through the Snowflakes program nationwide.
Snowflakes not only works to match an adopting family with a donor couple, but also assists with all necessary legal work and arranges transportation of the embryos directly to the adopting couples’ clinic.
“Everyone at Snowflakes was just fantastic,” said Sabrina. “Like any adoption, there are going to be curves and bumps – nothing is going to be perfectly easy. But they did a great job of putting us at ease throughout the process.”
Today, there are eight Embryo Adoption agencies in the U.S. as well as over 200 fertility clinic embryo donation programs. Though not all are currently available for adoption, there are an estimated 500,000 embryos in frozen storage in the U.S. alone, according to a 2009 survey of clinics and cryo-banks by the Embryo Adoption Awareness Center.
These embryos offer hope for couples who feel hopeless in the face of infertility. While Embryo Adoption is not for everyone, it does offer another alternative for the couple who deeply desires the experience of pregnancy.
In May of 2009, Sabrina and Chris’ journey came to completion as the couple gave birth to their baby girl, Emma Grace.
“This is exactly what I was waiting for,” Sabrina said. “I always prayed and prayed that I could have a child. God answered those prayers - just not in the way I expected him to.”
“For a woman out there who has always dreamed of having an opportunity to experience pregnancy, this is it. Embryo Adoption is it.”
For more information visit www.snowflakes.org and www.embryoadoption.org.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Study on kids who are in Foster Care
Next Month is National Foster Care Month!!
The article below was posted on the Christian Alliance for Orphans blog http://chrisitianallianceblog.org/?p=608
While some of these statistics are discouraging please pay close attention to the last paragraph: The church is making a difference. I think we can make a bigger impact on the lives of children who come into foster care. I have heard Dr. Sharen Ford in Colorado say that the children in foster care are the churches responsibility. My heart just resonated with that truth when she spoke it. These children need the church to stand in the gap for them. Give close attention to how the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart regarding this issue. We will have many posts next month regarding the need for Foster Parents in Northern Colorado. We will be hosting an event at Timberline Church on May 16th at 5:00pm in the main auditorium. Dr. Sharen Ford will be the key note speaker for this event. Larimer County, Weld County, Lutheran Family Services and several organizations supporting foster families will be present. The article below was posted on the Christian Alliance for Orphans blog http://chrisitianallianceblog.org/?p=608
Mark your calendar, spread the word and see how you should be involved in the life of a child who finds themselves in foster care. You can make a difference!!! :)
The New York Times reports on a significant new study released Wednesday that examines the lives of foster children who were never adopted and “aged out” of foster care into adulthood alone. The findings echo those of prior studies, reminding that government is a poor substitute for parents, and underscoring the long-term challenges facing individuals who grow up and enter adulthood without the love and support of a family.
By their mid-20s, less half of those who’d aged out of foster care were employed. More than 80 percent of males had been arrested (compared to 17 percent of all males). And of women who’d aged out of the foster system, 68 percent were on food stamps, compared to 7 percent of all women.
As the study’s lead researcher explains, ““We took them away from their parents on the assumption that we as a society would do a better job of raising them. We’ve invested a lot money and time in their care, and by many measures they’re still doing very poorly.” See the troubling chart from the NY Times on the statistical outcomes below, and to read more, click here…
In the midst of this disturbing reminder, however, there’s reason for much hope. As noted in prior blog posts here, Christians nationwide are rallying to this need. In some regions of concentrated effort, it is entirely conceivable that we will see a day when virtually no children whose parental relationship has been terminated grow up without being adopted. For example, as noted in this post from Februaryand in today’s “Capitol Commentary” from the Center for Public Justice, the number of children waiting for adoption in the Colorado foster system has been slashed in half, from nearly 800 to 365, since November 2008 (despite a continual inflow of new children in need of adoption.) The simple truth is that, daunting as the needs are, this is a challenge that can be overcome. If just a small percentage of America’s 300,000 churches created small foster care and adoption ministries, the number of children waiting for adoption in the foster system could be reduced to virtually zero and the statistics highlighted below could be fundamentally transformed. That’s a vision worth dreaming, praying, and working towards.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Brother and Sister need a family!
This incredible sibling duo would like to grow up together! Joseph is a thoughtful and kind preteen who loves sports of any kind! He wants to play them all but has not had the opportunity thus far. Gentle with pets and animals, he is also protective of his little sister. Joseph likes to play his electric guitar and is learning different songs on his own. Fifth grade is going well for him, as he is a good student and well liked by his peers. He would do best in a family who can give him time to play sports and excel in his many strengths Sister Harmoney is a sweet little girl who has a mind of her own. She believes she is a girly-girl and is proud of it! Pink is her favorite color. Singing is a treasured activity and she has talent. Harmoney likes animals and is good with them. She can often be found playing with her friends and other children her age. In the first grade, she has made so much improvement that the school has said she no longer needs her IEP (Individualized Education Plan). A mom and dad who can give her time and positive direction would be great for Harmoney. Both children benefit from counseling, which will need to continue after placement. The caseworker prefers a two-parent Colorado home; however, all family types will be considered. Joseph and Harmoney would like to maintain contact with a grandmother and a brother. Financial assistance may be available for adoption-related services. For Colorado children, both homestudied and non-homestudied Colorado families are encouraged to inquire; only homestudied families from other states should do so. We only accept inquiries on the sibling pair, who will be placed together.
Joseph is in the 5th grade and Harmoney is in 1st grade. Can't you just see your family with these two precious children?
Call the Adoption Exchange for more information at 303-755-4756.
Joseph's ID number is 9047 and Harmoney is 9046
Please pray for Joseph and Harmoney as they wait for their family and pray for their forever family to have amazing peace as they step forward in obedience to open their hearts and home.
Happy Friday!! :)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Hopechest/Tom Davis travelling to Moldova and Russia
Tom Davis and his team are headed to Moldova and then to Russia to do some filming and preparation for Tom's new book release Priceless.
Here are a couple of blog links for you to read about their journey and experiences.
It is unimaginable to me the horrific situations these young girls are put in. We as the body of Christ have to stand up and fight for this injustice.
Prayer and Educating others about sex trafficking will help save some little girls life.
Pray for Tom and all those travelling with him. Pray for their safety, for their health and for the connections that they will make while they are there. The enemy does not give up any ground without a battle. Our prayers for them as they travel are important and will have an eternal impact!
Recent post from Christian Alliance Blog: http://chrisitianallianceblog.org/?p=599
I’ve noticed recently that orphan advocates are becoming increasingly aware of the interlink between orphans and human trafficking. The simple reality is that a child that does not have the protection and provision provided by parents will be highly vulnerable to the deception, coercion and outright capture that can lead to modern forms of slavery.
The world's spiritual climate of bondage changes every time you earnestly pray for the liberty of one in literal chains. With every fervent prayer, with every mustard seed of faith, true freedom becomes possible. - Susie Larson
The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.
James 5:16
We all can make a difference if we will commit to pray!!!
:)
Monday, April 5, 2010
Multi-Racial Family and Cultural Training Available
This looks like a great opportunity!!!! :)
Multi-Racial Families and Cultural Identity
in Adopted Children
Heidi Hendricks is Vice President of Programs with Lutheran Family Services of Colorado. A former foster parent and clinician, Heidi has worked as a special education classroom teacher and therapist specializing in child/adolescent development and developmental repair with high risk youth and families and adoptive families and youth. She has trained both nationally and regionally on the impact of adoption on child development.
There is no cost to attend this training. FREE reserved childcare will be offered for birth to age 5 only and refreshments will also be provided.
Registration Deadline:
April 7th
RSVP: Loni at
(970)339-8545
This Training is Sponsored By: Saturday, April 10th from 9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Christ Community Church 1301 15th Street* Greeley, CO Forever Families Ministry Christ Community Church Becky-970-395-0667 Loni-970-339-8545
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Happy Easter!!!
HE IS RISEN!!!!!!
Thank you God for sending your son Jesus to die on the cross for us. We celebrate His resurrection and the hope that comes through your son Jesus. We love you Lord - Amen!!
Here is a fun poem that you can teach your kids as you are eating those yummy jelly beans!
Red is for the blood He gave
Green is for the grass he made
Yellow is for the sun so bright
Orange is for the dead of night
Black is for the sins we made
White is for the grace He gave
Purple is for His hour of sorrow
Pink is for our new tomorrow
An egg full of jelly beans, colorful and sweet
Is a prayer, a promise, a loved one's treat!!
written by Charlene Dickensen
I like the empty egg idea for Easter Baskets. Place one empty plastic egg in your child's easter basket and write on the outside with a marker "He is Risen" as a reminder of the Empty Tomb - Jesus Has Risen - the tomb in empty and the promise that comes with that is spectacular and a truth that we want our children to get planted in their hearts.
A devotion in preparation for Easter Sunday:
Light a candle and sit where ever your family is comfortable. Around the table, on the living room floor, there is not a set place this works best. If you have never done a family devotion before keep it short and as sweet as possible. This is an opportunity for us to plant seeds of truth, love and to fill their memory tanks of what family time is.
John 12:46 I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness.
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Jesus died to overcome the darkness of sin and arose that we might have His light within us.
Have a wonderful Easter Weekend!!!! :)
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