Fellowship Group Clothing Swap!

This month at our fellowship group we will be having a children's clothing swap for anyone who would like to participate. You don't need to bring clothes to take clothes.....it is totally casual and all ages are welcome! Please bring your clothes you'd like to swap or donate to families who could use them------and hopefully you can leave with with an updated wardrobe for you children, too!

Don't forget to RSVP to tracymihnovich@yahoo.com for our Thursday, September 24 fellowship group.

Please bring an appetizer to share. :)

***The Stavnes family has a wonderful Christmas Ornaments fundraiser. Please check out these creative Africa ornaments!

Until they all have a family--

Tracy

Tuberculosis Testing for Adopted Children

The CDC has an outdated protocol for the admission of children who have been adopted abroad and are coming home to the United States. Adoptive families are petitioning to remove the TB testing requirement. Please follow this link to learn why the sputum from of testing is a ridiculous requirement for children.  Interview with pediatric tuberculosis expert Dr. Jeffrey Starke

TB testing directly affects waiting children- like our many of our children- and their ability to come home in a timely manner. You may have heard reports about adoptive families being delayed in-country when a child's test result comes back positive, and denied entry to the United States until treatment has been given.  The risk of transmission by children is LESS THAN one percent. With children who already have compromised immune systems, the minimum 7 week delay exposes them needlessly to the health risks associated with orphanage life and could be potentially deadly. That's why it's important to adoptive families that the TB testing requirement be removed.

If you agree that the testing creates needless delays in bringing children home,PLEASE read and sign this petition and help bring justice to these children who need someone to speak up for them.

Thank you!

Upcoming Events

The Hammons family is having a Golf Tournament fundraiser on September 18 at Gaylord Springs Golf Club. Check out Tennessee Fore Adoption :: Helping Middle Tennessee Families Fund International Adoptions   to sign up!

The Franklin family is having a yard sale on September 19 and they welcome any donations to benefit their adoption! Their address is 9489 Ashford Place in the Chenoweth subdivision off of Concord.
Email Jo at jomichellefranklin@yahoo.com with any questions.

The Watson family is having a yard sale on September 25-26 to benefit their adoption. Check out Ethiopia's Calling: PEOPLE IN NASHVILLE: WE NEED YOUR HELP! for details.

If you haven't signed up already, you will not want to miss the Together for Adoption Conference 2009 in Franklin at Christ Community Church on October 2-3.   This will be an incredible conference that will educate and empower us all to fulfill God's plan for His church to provide families, love and care for the millions of orphans in the world.

Childcare is available. 

The annual Tennessee Adoption Bike Tour celebration will be in downtown Nashville at Bicentennial Mall on Friday, October 9 starting at 4:30 pm.  The Adoption Celebration will begin with welcoming the cyclists who are concluding their bike ride across the state to raise awareness for adoption. We'll cheer them on, enjoy bounce houses, face painting, and games for the kids, hear from adoption advocates, and listen to music from Nashville singer/songwriter, Randall Goodgame!  

Not only is this a great time to celebrate your own family, but it is an opportunity to bring out those families considering adoption and allow them to see what a strong and supportive adoptive community we have in the Middle Tennessee area!  It is going to be a great event, celebrating a great cause, with such a wonderful community of children & families! We hope that you will be able to join us for the evening!  

This is the 5th year for the Adoption Bike Tour sponsored by the Department of Children's Services. Bikers ride across the State of Tennessee to raise awareness for adoption.

 

Until they all have a family--

Tracy

Our Growing Families!

Wow! What began with a handful of us meeting at the America World office to pray and fellowship while waiting for our children to come home, has grown into a thriving community of families who are absolutely sold-out to fulfilling God's plan for the orphan in our families.

II Chronicles 16:9 comes to mind--"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." The Lord has strengthened our families and our community because of our commitment to the least of these. It is such an honor to be a part of this body of believers and to watch our families grow together!

Thank you to Kristi and Will Johnson for hosting the family fellowship get- together in August! I don't think we were even able to get a head count, but there were many first timers who we hope to see return. Even if you are just checking out the adoption scene, we love having you come to our group!

Thanks Kristi for taking some wonderful pictures!









We are so very grateful to Amanda Lawrence for beginning this group in 2007 and for faithfully keeping us on track each month. It has been such a blessing to our family! We pray all God's best for her as she begins her new job at Visiting Orphans and look forward to her joining us whenever she can. We will continue to have alternating months of prayer and sharing time for parents--- and family get-togethers.

Our September parent's fellowship group will be:
Thursday, September 24

please RSVP to tracymihnovich@yahoo.com

If you would like to host the October family group, please let me know. Also, if you have an adoption fundraiser, prayer request, or any exciting news that you'd like to share with everyone, please let me know and I will post it on the blog. If you have a family blog and it is not listed, leave a comment and I will add it.

Until they all have a family--
Tracy