Winter Market 2011 - Lynchburg, VA

If you live within driving distance of Lynchburg, VA - you do not want to miss the upcoming Winter Market.  Enjoy a holiday shopping experience with vendors offering jewelry, clothing, gourmet food items, home decor, personalized gifts, and much more!  Enter to win a free pair of tickets today by going to the WinterMarket LGF Facebook page and commenting on the wall photo posted on November 4th - it's that easy.

All proceeds benefit the Liberty Godparent Foundation which provides funding for Family Life Services and the Liberty Godparent Home.

Winter Market - Nov 18-20 - Lynchburg, VA

If you are within driving distance of Lynchburg, Virginia - please make plans to join us for the upcoming Winter Market!  Connect with the Winter Market on Facebook or on the Event Page to stay updated and see what vendors will be there.

 

Father's Day Frosty Weekend - Treat It Forward!

Has the summer heat gotten you in the mood for a cool treat?  Wendy's has your answer this week with Father's Day Frosty Weekend!  For every frosty you purchase on Saturday or Sunday (June 18 & 19), Wendy's will donate 50 cents to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which provides funding to help the more than 150,000 U.S. children in foster care find forever families.

Donations will also be made if you send one of these free father's day cards, use #treatitforward on your tweets, or share the Treat it Forward message through Facebook!

Celebrating Dads

Father's Day is soon approaching - June 19th.  That gives you just a little over a week to pick out the new polo shirt, neck-tie, candy, golf balls, or gift certificate that has become our standard of saying "I love you"! 

No doubt, fathers are to be celebrated and have a unique job description that is just as important, but different, than that of a mother.  There seems to be less emphasis on the emotions that surround Father's Day for men who are waiting to become fathers (through adoption) or men who have made the decision to place a child for adoption with another family. 

The reality is - men have feelings too.  Although they don't display feelings, hurts, and disappointments as openly as women tend to do, that doesn't mean that the feelings aren't there.  If you are an adoptive family and you have the privilege of having communication with your child's birth father, take a moment to remember him in a special way next weekend.  It can be as simple as having your child color him a picture, sending him a photograph, or sending a card to let him know that you haven't forgotten about him.

If you don't have contact with your child's birth father, Father's Day may be a good opportunity to talk with your child about his or her birth father and share the information that you do know about him in an age-appropriate way.  A great children's book about talking to children about birth parents, when information may not be available, is Forever Fingerprints by Sherrie Eldridge. 

For more thoughts on birth fathers and Father's day see When is Birth Father's Day? 

A Caseworker's View of the Local Colors Festival - Roanoke, VA

Our guest blogger is Rachel Curley, FLS Adoption Caseworker! Rachel has worked in our office for two years and has prior experience providing foster care for children in Thailand.

This past Saturday, I made a drive to Roanoke to attend the Local Colors Festival for the first time. I wasn’t sure what to expect, if I would be bored after an hour or wish I could stay for an hour more. I am happy to tell you that the latter was true! It was truly a wonderful celebration of cultural diversity!

After parking nearby, my friends and I walked toward Elmwood Park and were immediately greeted by a beautiful sight, delicious smells, and a sound I love! We saw people from a myriad of backgrounds, of all colors, and sizes. We breathed in the delicious smells of food from around the world and heard any number of languages being spoken around us. We slowly walked past stands selling Indian curries, fresh gyros, lamb kabobs, Thai noodles, Baklava, and of course the all American hamburgers and hotdogs! It would be impossible to leave this place hungry!

Next we wandered down a row of little booths selling jewelry, t-shirts, and various other trinkets. After buying more food then we could possibly eat, we settled down in front of the large outdoor stage and watched various performances from around the world. Everything from Brazilian martial arts, to zumba dancing with audience participation, to Chinese dragons kept our attention as we sat out on the lawn and enjoyed our feast. A day well spent! Hope to see you there next year!!

To learn more about the Local Colors Festival visit their website and make your calendars for the 2012 festival!

Celebrate Diversity at the Local Colors Festival - May 21, 2011

For those of you in Central or Southwest Virginia, you will not want to miss the Local Colors Annual Festival this Saturday, May 21st, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Elmwood Park in Roanoke, Virginia.  This celebration of cultural diversity is free and provides entertainment and a learning opportunity for the whole family.  Representatives from more than 90 countries showcase foods, music, clothing, crafts, games and displays.  There is a Parade of Nations and the festival features Egypt this year!  

Free parking is available in Downtown Roanoke and you will want to bring a blanket or lawn chairs for enjoying the entertainment all afternoon on the main stage.  Don't miss this celebration of the cultural and ethnic diversity in the Roanoke area!  For more information about cultural events throughout the year, visit the Local Colors Facebook Page.

Wings N Things - May 3rd

Buffalo Wild Wings (Lynchburg, Va) hosted a fundraiser for the Liberty Godparent Foundation in February and it was the most successful fundraiser they had to date!  Because of the great success of the event, they are doing it again on Tuesday, May 3rd at BWW - Lynchburg.  All you have to do is print these vouchers and present them to your server anytime throughout the day (dine-in or take-out) and they will donate 15% of your bill to our organization. 

This is a tasty way to support our ministry!  Help us by spreading the word through email or sharing this post from the FLS Facebook Page.

Adoptive Family Picnic - Forest, Virginia

A local Girl Scout, who was adopted from Kazakhstan, is organizing a Adoptive Family Picnic for families who have adopted children (domestically or internationally) on Sunday, May 1, 2011.  Lana's idea for her "Take Action" project was motivated by her realization that it is important for adopted kids to meet other adopted kids.  We couldn't agree more!

The "Potluck Picnic" is at the Forest Presbyterian Church Pavillion and playground (next to the Forest Public Library on 221) and will be from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with food served at 4:30 p.m.  They are asking that each family bring a dish to share and drinks, plates, and silverware will be provided.  Please RSVP to peacewolf@verizon.net and let her know what food you are taking, so she is prepared for the group. 

This is a great opportunity to meet new families in the Lynchburg community who are connected to adoption and I hope that you take the time to support this young lady in a wonderful community project! 

2011 Walk for Life & 5K Race for Life

Many of you have been asking us when we will be having the annual Walk for Life - and we appreciate your enthusiasm!  The Liberty Godparent Foundation has been working hard to re-structure some of our fundraising efforts, spread them throughout the year, and incorporate new events that will appeal to a wide range of supporters.

We will not have the traditional Walk for Life at LU this year, however, there is an awesome opportunity for you to participate in a similar event that will benefit the Liberty Godparent Foundation (which includes Family Life Services & Liberty Godparent Home).  If you love the Walk for Life, I would encourage you to make plans to attend the 5K Race for Life in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia on Saturday, April 16, 2011.  Download a brochure for more information. 

Don't be intimidated by the "race" in the name, we welcome walkers, joggers, and runners to join us and families are welcome! 

The 5K Race for Life begins at 9:00 a.m. on the Blackwater Creek Trail (Kemper Street Extension).  The registration fee before April 1st is $20 and is $25 after April 1 and on the day of the event.  Registration includes a t-shirt (if registered by 4/8), awards, door prizes, and food at the finish line.  Registration is available online or paper application is available.  We are grateful to Malcolm Miller and the Couples for Christ Sunday School Class at TRBC for their assistance and organization of this event.  If you have questions about the 5K, contact Malcolm at godparenthome5k@aol.com. 

Watch for Details about these Upcoming LGF Events:

Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraiser - May 3
Liberty Godparent Foundation Benefit Concert - June 24

Baby Bottle Campaign - September

2nd Annual LGF Golf Tournament - October

2011 Winter Market - November 18, 19 & 20

Celebrating Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year will be begin on February 3, 2011 and will mark the year of the rabbit.  This is, traditionally, the most significant holiday celebrated in China and is a wonderful opportunity for adoptive families with Chinese children to incorporate aspects of this celebration into your own family traditions.  For families who have adopted from another country, parents can encourage positive cultural identity by finding ways to learn about and celebrate your child's country of origin, as a family.

Adoptive families choose to celebrate in a variety of ways from enjoying Chinese cuisine to attending a local festival or party to taking some time at home to create Chinese New Year Crafts at home.

There's a unique opportunity for families within driving distance to Roanoke, Virginia to attend a Chinese New Year celebration at the Taubman Museum of Art with free admission from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 5th.  You can find more details on the Local Colors website!

Looking ahead, the Local Colors Family Festival will be on Saturday, May 21st from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Elmwood Park in Downtown Roanoke, Virginia.  China will be the featured country and it is always a cultural experience with something for the whole family.    

Buffalo Wild Wings (Lynchburg) supports the Liberty Godparent Foundation

The Liberty Godparent Foundation has been given the following opportunity from Buffalo Wild Wings in Lynchburg, Virginia and we need your help to make it a success...

On Tuesday, Feb. 1st, Buffalo Wild Wings will donate 15% of the cost of food sales to the Liberty Godparent Foundation when you present the attached voucher. An appetizing way to help us raise financial support!

Please consider eating out on Tuesday of this week and help us spread the word by forwarding this to your friends & coworkers.

Thank you in advance for your support!

*Remember to print the above voucher and give it to your server*

"Celebrate Adoption" Skating Party Pictures

To celebrate National Adoption Month here in Lynchburg, Family Life Services hosted over 225 people at the LaHaye Ice Center for the "Celebrate Adoption" Skating Party!  The group was composed of friends of the ministry, birth families, adoptive families, and foster families.  Many families had adopted through FLS or had used our services for pre or post-adoption services and we had some families join us from the community.

Through the generous donations of two local families, we were able to provide free skating, free skate rentals, pizza, cupcakes, drinks and a professional face painter for all to enjoy.  We hope to be able to continue to make this event an annual tradition for our agency as we feel that it's a wonderful time for old friends to reunite and new friends to get acquainted!  You can view a sample of pictures from the day here or in the album on the sidebar. 

Tis The Season For Special Events!

I'm back after a little breather from blogging...I love sharing new ideas and connecting through The Journey of Adoption, and yet, sometimes, I find that daily casework must take precedent over these more innovative branches of our agency.  That is where I have been the past couple of weeks - returning phone calls, assisting with searches, processing counseling cases, planning upcoming events, hosting support groups, etc.!

There are two major events in November that we are hosting (2010 Winter Market and the "Celebrate Adoption" Skating Party) and we want to see you!  They fall on the same weekend, so it's a wonderful opportunity for those of you who aren't too far away to plan a trip into Lynchburg for the weekend.

1)  The 2010 Winter Market will be the melting pot of vendors and merchants...a perfect kick-off for the Christmas Season! Make plans now to come and enjoy the unique items at this show at Liberty University’s Schilling Center in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Friday, November 19th: Show Preview 6-9pm (Admission $7)
Saturday, November 20th: 10-6pm (Admission $5)
Sunday, November 21st: 1-4pm (Admission $5)

*Kids 12 and under are free **Sponsored by WSET & Flavours Catering by Design

All proceeds from admission will benefit the Liberty Godparent Foundation. This year's market will be a shopping extravaganza that you won't want to miss!  Visit the Facebook page linked above for a list of vendors that will be updated weekly from now until the event.  For further information or to request a vendor information packet, please contact Kris Richard at 434.592.4400 or karichard@liberty.edu.

2)  The "Celebrate Adoption" Skating Party is on Saturday, November 20th from 4 - 5:45 p.m. at the LaHaye Ice Center in Lynchburg, VA.  FLS would like to invite families touched by domestic or international adoption to join us for our 6th Annual Ice Skating Party!  Foster families, birth families, waiting adoptive families, and adoptive families are welcome.  There is no admission charge for ice skating, skate rentals are free, and refreshments will be provided.  RSVP to Deanne Hamlette at dhamlette@liberty.edu or RSVP on the Facebook Events Page linked above. 

Tis the season for fun, food, family & friends!

Birth Mother Pottery Group - A Different Kind of Therapy!

Last night, we hosted our monthly Birth Mother Support Group at the Liberty Godparent Home.  It was a different kind of group - no discussion plans, no gut-wrenching poems to read, no expectations for each person to share something with the group about her adoption journey...instead, we painted pottery!

To some, this may sound like a silly and frivolous plan and yet we wanted to provide an activity for women with similar experiences to connect on another level...a real-life, everyday kind of level where we can appreciate each person for their style, creativity, zest for life, imagination, etc.  So, they came in jeans & pj's and indulged in chocolate, cookies, chips, and soda while settling in for an evening of relaxation. 

Many of the 15 ladies in attendance have been coming to the group for years (some as many as 8 years) and others were newly acquainted to the group.  As the evening progressed, we found 3 groups of ladies gathered around tables talking about life, love, family, school, work, and adoption.

Several of the women chose to create something as a gift to the child whom they placed with an adoptive family.  This gift will be priceless, unique, and encompasses the eternal love that a birth mother feels for her child. 

Was this group complicated or counseling-oriented?  No.  Was it therapeutic?  Absolutely.  We're learning that sometimes the best plan comes when you think outside the box!

Lemonade 4 Life!

One of the most thrilling parts of this week has been learning about the life-saving efforts of two little girls, Eliana (5) and Eden (3), who wanted to do something to make a difference.  These girls not only wanted to participate in our Baby Bottle Campaign, they wanted to get their neighborhood and community involved as well.  They set up a lemonade stand and worked 7 hours.....raising over $100 for the Liberty Godparent Foundation!  These girls really "got it" and totally rocked the Baby Bottle Campaign!

Lemonade 4 Life

We have all heard the term when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That stems from the thought that lemons themselves are sour and bad. Actually they have a great flavor; they’re just concentrated and need to be blended with other ingredients to create a wonderful finished product. Lemons are great in things like cakes, pies, and lemonade, but not so good in coffee or mashed potatoes. Sometime life throws us things that we think are less than ideal, like for instance an unplanned pregnancy.

The addition of a baby is often the fulfillment of a desire, although in other cases the timing or circumstances may not be suitable to give a child what they need. In such cases, pregnancy resource centers and adoption agencies such as The Liberty Godparent Home & Family Life Services are there to help young ladies with the resources they need or the option of placing their child in a loving home through adoption.

As humans we can many times focus on the inconvenient circumstances without searching for the beauty in a finished product. Sometimes the sweetest things come in small concentrated packages.

Many adults wouldn't stick at something for 7 hours and could certainly learn a lot from Eliana & Eden's hard work, dedication, and motivation to volunteer their time and get involved in a cause they believe in.  Their parents, Bev & Brooke, have obviously planted seeds of kindness, love, and care for others at an early age and the whole family is very supportive of our ministry. 

Eliana & Eden - you have excited our whole ministry with your love for people and desire to do something to help others.  Thank you for volunteering your time to tell others about the Liberty Godparent Home & Family Life Services and your selfless gift of money to help young women and babies!

Your Change Can Change Lives!

I just realized that it has been a long time since my last post - that's good, in a way, because I've been busy with people instead of writing.  At any rate, there are great things going on within our organization and we are gearing up for the Baby Bottle Campaign for the Liberty Godparent Foundation. 

We realize that the economy is tough (we're real people too with real budgets and real financial responsibilities).  That is why I love this fundraiser - it's simple enough for the old and young alike and takes very little effort on your part.  Most of us have that magic spot in our house or car (guilty-mine is the cup holder in my car) where we stash all of the quarters, dimes, nickels and "oh-so-heavy" pennies.  Here's a way to band together and really put that money to great use.

From now through the month of September, we're asking that you collect your loose change in a designated baby bottle like the one above or another container and donate it to the Godparent Foundation at the end of the month.  Of course, we will gratefully accept bills and checks, too!

We have many local churches that have gotten involved and will be passing out bottles within their congregation - we even have a church in Georgia that has gotten on board!  Families from across the United States are finding ways to participate...just this week, we received a check for $1,000 from a family in Chicago who didn't want to miss the blessing of being a part of this campaign.

You might wonder....what exactly is this money used for?  There are two main purposes:  1)  It helps the Liberty Godparent Home to continue to provide free housing, education, and counseling to women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and 2)  It helps with the operating expenses and counseling costs for Family Life Services Adoption Agency so we don't have to raise our adoption fees for families.

A baby bottle full of change holds about $20 in coins - stop by FLS and pick up a bottle if you're local to the area and drop it off at the end of the month.  If you're not in close proximity to us, consider sending a donation toward the campaign...it will change the future of a mother and a child.  Designate any donations not in a baby bottle to "Baby Bottle Campaign" and send them to the Liberty Godparent Foundation, P.O. Box 4199, Lynchburg, Virginia  24502.

Adoptive Family Pool Party!

The Lynchburg Adoptive Family Support Group is planning a family day at the pool on Saturday, August 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The pool party will be held at a private home in Goode, Virginia, and each family should bring a picnic lunch to enjoy poolside.

Two FLS adoptive couples, Clayton & Robyn and Dean & Kathy, organize this group and open the events up to waiting adoptive couples as well as a means for providing a network of friendship and support during the adoption process.  To RSVP and get directions to the pool, email Kathy at dkillmon@juno.com.

Happy Adoption Day, Antoine - Photos

Pictures are posted on the sidebar of our most recent placement on July 20, 2010 - Duane & Teena welcomed their new addition, Antoine Isaiah.  The birth mother, Brittany, and adoptive family really connected over the name that she had given to him at birth, "Antwone Isaiah", which means highly praisworthy, priceless, the Lord is generous, salvation of the Lord, God's helper.  Wow, God must have big things in store for this little guy!

Happy Adoption Day, Antoine!

This has been an exciting week at Family Life Services as we had the placement of Baby Antoine Isaiah with his new adoptive family, Duane & Teena, on Tuesday, July 20th!  Antoine is 5 weeks old and his big sister, Tabby, shared in the contagious excitement of meeting him for the first time. 

We truly saw God's hand move to lead the birth mother, Brittany, to the adoptive family whom she chose for her precious baby boy.  It always amazes me to see the joy that comes through a divine connection between a birth family and an adoptive family - it's something that we cannot explain but have witnessed on many, many occasions.  I like to call these the "Yeah, God!" moments...and I wouldn't trade these days for anything.

Placement Pictures - Jaron Lee

Placement pictures are posted on the sidebar from Monday, June 21st, when we had a Happy Adoption Day for Jaron Lee - Hope you like them!