Africa Rising video and article

Just wanted to share this video and article regarding a group of Ethiopians using their natural resources well to feed their community. What if Africa could feed itself? What is holding it back? What help does it need to go forward in health and prosperity? Maybe this article and show will provide some of the answers.
View it here.

Grief and Loss

I want to share some resources for Grief and Loss.
Our kids come to us with a great deal of loss. Yes, infants too. We all *know* that but it is hard to really know. 
Here are some great articles to help you learn about grief and loss for your child, what to look for and what you can do to help.
Children and Grief in Scholastic issues/resources,
There are links within this site to other articles. Be sure to check them out too.
Grief Guide
Children and Loss
Resources for families


Kidsaid.com a safe place for kids to grieve online support
Grief Share for kids

Other posts here on Grief and Loss

Trauma, educate yourself to help your child succeed

I recently read some sites recommended by a fellow parent on an adoption board. I am so thankful to her for sharing these wonderful resources. I am posting these links here for you to learn from too.
It is important to acknowledge that all our adopted children come to us with some level of trauma and loss. Infants included. For our kids to succeed we have to understand the issues of trauma, what to look for and how to help our kids.
Check out these super great resources:
Child Trauma
Dr. Bruce Perry
Articles for Caregivers

PTSD signs

Adoption Seminar CO

Just want to let you know about a local, Colorado, event.
The Adoption Exchange is hosting 
Life Long Issues in Adoption


Life Long Issues in Adoption

Date:  Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Time:  5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Location:
The Penrose HousePenrose Room
1661 Mesa Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO  80014

This is a Free class offered to all adoptive families.  Register below to secure your spot. 

For More Information, contact:Jen Dale 303-755-4756
(toll free 1-800-451-5246) or by email.

Some heartbreaking news

http://spearsfamilyne.blogspot.com/2011/08/why-god.html
In the above blog article you can read a little bit about the unfortunate and heartbreaking news given to 5 families from CHFS.
Five families who had attended their first court have been told that the court will not approve the adoption. There is the idea that the court had "passed" and that it is being overturned. I am not sure of the actual logistics of the situations, however, it is very discouraging for the families. They are effected by the orphanage closings and reshuffle  in Awassa. The children are to be placed back with their families.

While this is heartbreaking for the families involved and quite disheartening for countless other PAP's waiting...... I do want to say that the first and foremost interest is the child and ethics of adoption. We don't know the exact situations here, but the fact that there are birth families to which the children could be reunited in the opinion of the court says they are doing their job. We hope that the future does not bring more of this sad news to parents but instead makes these decisions ahead of time. This will increase the ethics of adoption in Ethiopia. We are sad for these families and hope that they are able to open their hearts to a new referral of a child who is truly available for adoption.

synopsis of process to adopt

Here is a link to a blog with a great synopsis of the process to adopt a child. You may like to review this for yourself or share it with friends and family who are waiting with you. Either way, check it out and know you are in large company of others doing the same thing. Welcome.
See the synopsis on this wonderful blog:
My Faraway Daughter

Hearts at Home Mom Revolution

Hi friends and occasional readers,
We got this email from Family Time Today, which is an organization that help families do Family Time with purpose and organization and FUN FUN FUN! It is fun and we use their ideas. Anyway, they are helping to put on this mom conference and I thought some of you moms who are in COLORADO might like to go.
Check it out and see what you think.

Jill

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Dear Friends,

Are you a mom? Do you know a mom? Please take a moment to read about this awesome event coming to Colorado Springs this fall from our friends at Hearts at Home!


Because Kids Don't Come With Instructions...

Moms need a place where they can

find answers to their questions.


You're invited to Mom Revolution, the 2011 Hearts at Home Western Conference, coming to Colorado Springs on October 7th-8th 2011.

Do you question if you're doing this 'mothering' thing right? Or are you enjoying every minute and feel like things have never been better?

Whatever it is you are feeling at the moment, it is perfectly normal and you are not alone!

Motherhood is the most fun, challenging, rewarding, stressful, and meaningful job you will ever have.

Come join us for inspiring keynote sessions with Jill Savage, Julie Barnhill, and comedienne Sally Baucke and more than 22 specialized workshops that will give you insight in how to meet the demands of everyday life as a mom.

This promises to be an unforgettable experience!

Some of this year's workshops include:

*  Ten Stress Strategies Every Mom Needs

•  One Tough Mother: The Non-Negotiables of Stepping Up and Being the Mom

*  The God Who Sees You

*  10 Practical Principles to Help Our Children Learn to Discern

*  5 Secrets Every Man Wishes His Wife Knew

*  Momology: A Mom's Guide to Shaping Great Kids

In 2010, Hearts at Home Conferences impacted the moms of more than 11,500 children in 32 states!  This is the first year a conference has been in Colorado.  It's time to revolutionize YOUR mothering journey!


Visit www.hearts-at-home.org

PLUS...


You're Invited to a Conference Call!

If you'd like to learn more about this life-changing event and why it has had such a profound effect on thousands of moms, you're invited to a sneak peek!

Join us for a 20-minute live call with Hearts at Home founder, Jill Savage on Tuesday, August 23rd at 8 p.m. MST. The call is free, but space is limited. Click HERE to reserve your place today!

Hearts at Home
1509 N. Clinton Blvd.
Bloomington, IL 61701

Email: hearts@heartsathome.org
Phone:  309 828 MOMS

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Adoption Basics for the Classroom with Debbie Riley

With school upon us this is a super opportunity to get some ideas on how to talk to your child's teacher about adoption and how to be sensitive to it in the classroom.

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Adoption Basics for the Classroom: Expert advice on how to educate the educators     ,   You have been talking to your child about adoption since he came home. But what about the time he spends at school? What does his teacher know about adoption? About birth parents? Does she know how to help him answer why he doesn't look like his mom? Join Debbie Riley, the Chief Executive Officer of The Center for Adoption Support and Education, Inc. (C.A.S.E.), as she discusses how adoptive parents can educate the educators This webinar will help you: Talk to teachers about creating an adoption-sensitive environment Educate teachers on managing discussions about adoption in school Discover how much of your child's story to share Learn how to handle some standard school projects (family trees, baby pictures) Your purchase confirmation email will include a link to submit questions to Ms. Riley. This webinar will not be available for purchase after the event. You will only receive access to the recorded version if you register for the live event. Thursday, September 22, 2011   Register 7:00 - 8:00 PM Central Time Q & A: 8:00 - 8:30 PM Central Time (Start Time: 7:00PM Central, 8:00PM Eastern, 5:00PM Pacific) Join the conversation on Twitter #abcwebinar   Register     Debbie B. Riley is the Chief Executive Officer of The Center for Adoption Support and Education, Inc. (C.A.S.E.), an independent pre and post-adoption organization in the Baltimore-Washington area and co-author of the book, Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens. Since 1993, she has focused exclusively on the field of adoption, creating pre- and post-adoption programs in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area; offering specialized counseling services to adopted children, teens, adults and adoptive families; and promoting health education, child advocacy and public policy development. Most recently, Ms. Riley leads the national initiative to create training standards for an adoption-competent certification for mental health providers. Co-Sponsored By:

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Fundraising Garage Sale

My daughter chooses something to raise money for each year. This year it is mosquito nets for Haiti. We are doing a fundraising garage sale. If you are local, come on out or donate today!

Multi Family Garage Sale: Haiti Benefit (2345 Viceroy Court, Colorado Springs)

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Friday August 12, 8 AM to 3 PM. Saturday August 13, 8 AM to 12 noon. Multi family Garage Sale. Raising funds for Mosquito Nets to be distributed in Haiti.
Home baked goods and crafts, baby and kid items, teen clothing, house hold items. Little Tykes car, rocking chair, trikes and bikes, TWO tag-a-long bikes and child carrier bike trailer.

• Location: 2345 Viceroy Court, Colorado Springs

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State Department on Orphanage closures in ET 7-2011 confirmation

Notice: Confirmation of Orphanage Closures in Ethiopia

Ethiopian government officials have confirmed that several orphanages in the Southern Nations state are closed due to revocation of their licenses to operate by Ethiopian authorities. 
These orphanages are:

• SOS Infants Ethiopia (Arbaminch, Dilla, and Awassa branches)
• Gelgella Integrated Orphans (Tercha and Durame branches)
• Bethzatha Children’s Home Association (Sodo, Hosaena, Dilla, and Awassa branches)
• Ethio Vision Development and Charities (Dilla branch)
• Special Mission for Community Based Development (Hosaena branch)
• Enat Alem Orphanage (Awassa branch)
• Initiative Ethiopia Child and Family Support (Awassa branch)
• Resurrection Orphanage (Hosaena branch)

According to officials in the Charities and Societies Agency office, which oversees the licensing and regulation of orphanages in Ethiopia, the children in the care of those facilities have already been transferred to other orphanages. 
Ethiopian officials indicate that cases involving orphaned children from these facilities that are already pending with the Federal First Instance court will continue to move forward.  The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa is working closely with Ethiopian officials to determine if children from these facilities who were previously referred for adoption or matched with prospective adoptive parents will be allowed to continue in the adoption process.  MOWCYA officials have confirmed that the affected children’s case files are currently being reviewed, a process that is expected to last at least one month.
We continue to ask prospective adoptive parents and agencies that hear news of specific closures to inform the Department.  Please send any specific information regarding orphanage closures to AskCI@state.gov with the subject line “Ethiopia Orphanage Closures.”
Prospective and adoptive parents are encouraged to remain in contact with their adoption service provider to stay up-to-date on any information pertinent to their individual case.  The Department will post confirmed information on www.adoption.state.gov as we receive it.