We are asking each family to bring a side dish to share and drinks for your own family.  We will provide hot dogs, buns, chips, dessert, and table service. 

This will be a great time to catch up with old friends, bring new friends, and also to sign up to help with our upcoming events:  the Christmas Party & the winter Speaker event. 

As a reminder to anyone who may have missed our announcement, we have changed formats and will no longer be meeting on the first Tuesdays.  Our format will consist of periodic events rather than monthly meetings.  

Please RSVP to Jennifer here for the picnic.  See you then! 

See you on the 20th!

 We are going to make a second attempt for a Swap & Share meeting.  Bring with you a parenting/adoption/or even a children’s book that you have read and found valuable.  We will discuss the books and, if you are comfortable, we will provide labels so that we can swap parenting books with each other. 

Also-this is the last month we will be collecting duffel bags for foster kids in Summit County.  We will announce our next project at our March meeting. 

 I am working on my thesis and am looking for families who have children with some sort of disability, illness or health condition in the Akron, Canton and Cleveland areas.  I’m looking for children who
are still in the womb through age 18.

As I am in the research phase of the project now, I’d like to speak with the families over the phone first and then meet with them in person to get an idea of what their biggest challenges as a family are.  The information will be used primarily for my thesis, but as I am working on other assignments for my master’s degree and for freelancing, they should be aware that the information may be used outside of the thesis and for publication.  My e-mail is h1117cs@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Holly

Please contact Holly directly if you would like to be a part of her research. 

Also-Born in Our Hearts, the adoption ministry of River Tree Church is hosting a winter event this week that many of you may be interested in.  Here is the information:

Born in Our Hearts

PRESENTS

Jean MacLeod

ADOPTION PARENTING: What’s in Your Toolbox?

Adoption adds a layer of complexity to our children’s ‘ages and stages’, and to our parenting! How can we guide the way through new situations and lend a hand without alienating our changing children? How do we reinforce our family structure, and set the stage for a smooth adolescence?
Adoption-Parenting: What’s in Your Toolbox? addresses issues that pertain particularly to adopted children–change and transition, anxiety, sensory issues, social relationships–and gives parents 3 vital tools, practical adoption-parenting advice and shared discussion.                                            

	January 23, 2009
	7:00 – 9:00 pm
	Rivertree Christian Church
	7373 Portage St NW

RSVP to www.borninourhearts.org or by calling 330-494-1860 extension 210.

Come and get answers to your questions about raising an adopted child!

Meet others who can provide support and guidance to you and your family no matter what stage of the adoption process you are in.  Those who are starting to consider adoption are encouraged to attend.     

A donation of $5.00 per person or $7.00 per couple will be accepted.                                                 

Please note that this is an adult only event due to the potentially sensitive topics.

So, we have a couple of questions for you.  Do you still have a few Christmas cookies to get rid of?  Along with that, did you read a great parenting or adoption book in 2008 that you are excited to share with others?  If so, then do we have a great meeting planned for you this coming Tuesday January 6! 

We are calling this meeting our Swap & Share meeting.  Bring with you a parenting/adoption/or even a children’s book that you have read that you think is great.  We will discuss the books and, if you are comfortable, we will provide labels so that we can swap parenting books with each other.  Also, bring along a dessert or any leftover holiday goodies you have for our snack. 

As usual, we will meet at 6:30pm at The Chapel’s Green Campus.  Childcare is provided. 

Can’t wait to see you there!

We are collecting new, empty duffel bags or backpacks to donate to foster kids in Summit County who are moving from one placement to another.  Please consider participating.  We are also having an ornament exchange that night.  If you would like to participate, bring a wrapped ornament for each person in your family who would like to join in the fun. 

Cost for the family dinner, which will include pizza, salad, chips, drinks, and dessert, is $15.   

Please RSVP to info@woventogether.org .  Please be sure to tell us in your RSVP how many are in your family.  Thanks!

This is a meeting NOT to be missed! 

As always, we will meet at The Chapel’s Green Campus, Atrium Room 123.  Childcare will be provided, and we would appreciate an RSVP so we know how many children to plan for. 

I will post a reminder again in a week or so. 

See you on the 7th!

• Waiting Child Fund seeks financial sponsorships for Foster Children in Summit County from businesses and individuals. 
• Waiting Child Fund is not a placing agency, but seeks to fill the financial gap that exists to recruit families for children who might otherwise age out of the foster care system.  Waiting Child Fund collaborates with private placing agencies to recruit families for these children. 
• 100% of the money donated toward a child’s sponsorship is appropriated to the recruitement of his/her family. Waiting Child Fund uses other means to raise funds for their administrative costs. 
• As foster/adoptive families, we can help Waiting Child Fund by raising awareness about the fund and talking about the fund in our networks, by donating to a child’s sponsorship if we feel so led, even by offering prayer support to a specific child/children being sponsored by the fund. 
• For a wealth of more information, to donate, or to order some coffee (that sounds really yummy) and helps Waiting Child Fund defray their administrative costs, visit their website at www.waitingchildfund.org

In other news: 

Cinnamon Leonard and Family have received the referral of a Baby Boy who is waiting in Vietnam.  Please pray for a smooth and quick conclusion to the process 

On Tuesday September 2 we will be hosting Mike Kenney from the Waiting Child Fund, which seeks to raise awareness for foster children who are aging out of the system.  The numbers and photos of waiting children are compelling.  If you would like a preview, the website of the foundation is www.waitingchildfund.org 

Remember that childcare is provided.  If you will need childcare, please email info@woventogether.org with your name, along with the NAMES and AGES of your children who will be attending.  This will help very much with our planning.  Thank you.   

Hope to see you this coming Tuesday September 2 at 6:30 pm at The Chapel’s Green Campus.

We will meet in the Sr. High Room and, weather permitting, go outside for games, fun and socializing! 

Hope to see you there! Contact info@woventogether.org to RSVP or for any questions.