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I write today with a full heart.  Last we shared about the host kiddos, we were saying goodbye.  It was so hard, for both the kids and the families, to say goodbye.  These 19 children embedded themselves into so many hearts during their stay here.  But we dried our tears, and we started to get to work on advocating for the children who did not yet have committed families. 

In the several days following the goodbye, Letters of Intent started coming in from the host families who are planning to adopt their host children.  We rejoiced with receipt of each letter, and our advocacy list got smaller and smaller.  Until we had one boy left.  I reached out to his host family asking for pictures, stories, just anything they could share about their host child, so I could write about him for advocacy purposes.  A day passed, and I didn’t hear back.  Then one of the best emails I’ve ever received came in: “Hello! I’m sorry to tell you that we will not be helping anymore with advocating for our host child.  Because we are submitting our letter of intent to adopt him!!!”

And just like that, all 19 host children have committed families.  And now begins the race as we run alongside our families to get them reunited as fast as humanly possible.

We are excited for our next hosting session, which will take place in February 2020 in Bogota, Colombia! Interested in learning more about our hosting programs? Visit our website!

Concentration

I won’t bore you with too many words. I will let these videos speak for themselves. But let me just say….Della’s concentration stringing those beads couldn’t be cuter!!

And while we’re at it showing off her incredible cuteness and determination, here’s another. You are welcome.

This sweet girl turns 5 NEXT WEEK. What do you say we all work together to make sure this is her LAST birthday without a family?!?!? Please share far and wide! Let’s get this amazing girl HOME!

To learn more about adopting from China, please visit our website. To learn more about Della specifically, please complete our Prospective Adoptive Parent form, and we will be in touch.

What’s The Big Deal?

Post-Adoption Reports. We send you many reminders. We can sometimes be a bit persistent. Some may even think we are annoying! 

So what’s the big deal with them you ask? We’ll tell you! 

Did you know that entire country adoption programs have closed because of non-compliance with post-adoption reports? Did you know that thousands of children will never have the opportunity of a family due to the non-compliance of some adoptive families who came before them? It may sound dramatic….but that is because it is. It is a BIG.DEAL! 

Perhaps you are not happy with the level of care your child received at his or her orphanage, and don’t feel the need to update them. Or, perhaps you are currently struggling with your new child, making a report the last thing on your mind. We get it. We truly do. But whatever your reasons, the fact of the matter is that children are still there. Waiting. And your inaction could cause them to have to wait forever. To wait forever for their forever family to never come.

For those of you who are struggling, please know we are always here to help, as well as your direct post-adoption workers. And, while the post-adoption report may feel like a burden when you are in crisis, it could very well be what you need! It provides you the opportunity to sit with a professional who can offer support, refer you to services, and come up with a plan so that your family can succeed. But, we don’t read minds! We can’t help you unless you tell us you need help. Reaching out for help is never a sign of failure….but quite the opposite….it’s a sign of strength. We have certified TBRI practitioners on staff, as well as a Post-Adoption Wellness Coordinator, all dedicated to your family’s success.

And if you are doing great, and your child is thriving, and a worker coming in and taking up two hours is the last thing you need when you should be at soccer practice and making dinner and doing laundry, use that opportunity to boast and brag about your child! Show us and these countries how well our kids are doing and how they are thriving! This will only solidify that adoption is indeed a good thing, and that adoptions should remain open. And as many children as possible should know what the love of a family feels like. Again, it is a BIG.DEAL! 

And if you STILL don’t want to comply, at the end of the day, please remember that you gave us your word. You promised. We trusted your word. And for those of us who have dedicated our lives to children affected by trauma, we know how important trust is. Please stand by your word. And be our partners and stand by the children who still wait.

Saying Goodbye

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ~Winnie the Pooh

This will be short and sweet, as our eyes are still puffy and our tears are still flowing.  We said goodbye today.  Goodbye to 19 brave, precious souls who changed our lives in only 16 short days.  These kids left all they have ever known, and traveled across continents to the unknown.  Our host families showered them with love and attention, and while our families thought it was the kids lives who would be changed, they quickly learned it was their lives as well.

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, we will share with you the joyous news that several of these children have families racing to get back to them.  And we will also share with you about the children who we are still searching for families for.  But now, thanks to hosting, we don’t have to rely on a couple pictures and words on paper to advocate.  Now, we can tell you about WHO these children truly are. 

So stay tuned.  For now, we need to dry our tears, and try to recover from the grief of goodbye.  But we don’t want to recover too much, as that grief of goodbye is what will fuel the advocacy efforts for these kids so that the next time them come, will be forever.

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To learn more about the host children we are advocating for, or about our hosting program, please email misty@madisonadoption.org, or visit our website.

Dear Brittany

Dear Brittany,

While I never had the privilege of meeting you, I feel like I know you.  I speak of you so often to our families every time I mention Brittany’s Hope.  I think of you whenever one of our families is blessed with a Brittany’s Hope grant.  A grant that eases some of their financial burden so that they can focus on what is important – their new child.  You are very often on my mind, as well as on the minds of the hundreds of Madison Adoption Associates’ families who have been blessed by Brittany’s Hope. 

Now, 20 years after your passing, your legacy not only spreads across Pennsylvania, but across our entire country.  And even across the entire world.  Brittany, I wish you were here on this earth with us so we could rejoice together while we watch your dream coming true.  Your dream ‘of a world where all children know the peace and love only a family can provide.’  We may not have reached ALL children yet, but the lives your legacy has impacted is remarkable.  And is worth celebrating.  So I just wanted to take a moment, this side of heaven, to share with you the mark you’ve made on the lives of so many.

“This amazing little boy is so dearly loved!! Tate Isaiah came home from China last July, thanks to a grant from Brittany’s Hope. We are so grateful for all they have done!!”
“Noah has been the light of our lives for the last five years. He is funny, full of energy, smart, kind and sweet. We have been blessed beyond measure being his parents.”
“This little girl is an absolute treasure! She’s super smart, sweet, beautiful and feisty! A huge thank you to Brittany’s Hope for their help in bringing her into our family.”
“End of the school year awards. Nothing slows Katie down!”
“My daughter Ashley was a Brittany’s Hope child adopted in 2002. She was a waiting child in S. Korea, and came home at 16 months! She is now 18. This is Ashley now. She loves first responders and has a Facebook page about them. “
“Macie went from no language as a Deaf three-year-old to having language (ASL) and a school she absolutely loves!❤️”
“Maeleigh is a sister who is adored by nine siblings and she’s our happy little snuggle bear! We can’t imagine life without her!”
“Reid has a full life because of organizations like Brittany’s Hope! We are so thankful and blessed!”
“I’m pretty sure that this sweet boy wouldn’t be here on Earth if we hadn’t brought him home. Max is so brave and happy. Max has a forever family and thanks to Brittany’s Hope we were able to give him all he needed and wanted when we brought him home from China a little over a year ago.”
“Brittany’s Hope… they made it possible for us to bring our beautiful Dana home. If we hadn’t been able to bring her home at the time we did, she would have declined quickly in China and had not had the medical care to save her life. How do you thank someone for helping you and in return they ask for nothing? We were abundantly blessed by our grant.”

And these ten only scratch the surface of the thousands of children’s lives you have impacted!  I know you are already familiar with these ten precious souls Brittany, as I know you are looking down on them.  Just as you are looking down on all of us, and on all the children that your legacy has touched.  But I still wanted to take a moment to reflect on the lives that have been changed for the better by you and your memory, especially as we are quickly approaching the Brittany’s Hope Walk of Love.  Your impact has spread to almost every corner of our world, changing the lives of children in need.  On September 14, thousands of us who would have loved to have called you ‘friend,’ will come together in your honor, so that your legacy can continue to be spread farther and wider than it has already.  If you could put in a good word for no rain, we’d appreciate it 😊.  If not, we’ll still be there.  Running and walking for you, for your dream, and ultimately, for the children.

With Love,

Sarah, and your friends at Madison Adoption Associates   

Madison Adoption Associates is proud to partner with Brittany’s Hope.  Brittany’s Hope has been providing adoption grants to MAA families for years, and with your help, that can continue for years to come!  Please consider sponsoring us at the Walk of Love, as we walk for Brittany’s dream for the children.  

All donations go directly towards adoption grants for MAA families!