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Picnic Recap
Posted by Shaylee on July 07, 2010 at 7:55 am
Oh, what a day Saturday was! The bi-annual Adoption Picnic is what technically gathered us all together but what really drew us in was the promise of seeing old friends, celebrating the sweet gift of adoption, meeting and making new friends, and let’s be honest…12 flavors of homemade ice cream?? I’m just not sure it gets better than that! The rain held off beautifully (and miraculously?) and the children (and a few adults) enjoyed the crazy train rides by engineers Bob and Johnny, a bouncy house, a cool water slide and games and contests and prizes galore. Families traveled from near and far with the farthest hailing from Toledo Ohio!
One particular scene that touched my heart was watching Christian Homes & Family Services newest transitional foster family being reunited with the families of all three babies they loved on over the last year and a half. I asked their son if this would be an emotional day for his mom and he said, “No, I think she is as happy as she could be right now.” We considered ourselves blessed for being able to stand back and watch such a precious reunion.
Another special highlight was catching up with one of the oldest adoptees present at the picnic along with his parents, his wife and two of their three daughters. Thirty-three years ago, this young man was placed in a loving home and one of the things that is so unique about Christian Homes is that Nancy Miller, President Emeritus, was on staff then too.
And can you believe that there was a young lady present who has attended every single adoption picnic since she was adopted 22 years ago? I know that the staff of Christian Homes who have worked here for 20 plus years love that they’ve watched this young woman grow up!
For those of you who were unable to attend the picnic, we certainly missed you and hope you make plans to attend the next one in the summer of 2012. As we parted ways Saturday afternoon I think we all thought, “Why don’t we do this every weekend?” It was truly a sweet day. All the more reason to look forward to Christian Homes & Family Services 50th anniversary and Adoption Picnic in 2012!
Freedom!
Posted by Steve Holt on June 30, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Some may have forgotten what Independence Day is all about. Wikipedia offers this thumbnail:
In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.
In 1791 the first recorded use of the name “Independence Day” occurred. In 1820 the first Fourth of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine which remains the largest in the state. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees. In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.
Freedom comes in many forms. And who’s to say that one form of independence is more welcomed than another? I’ve never been enslaved by another person or government, so political independence doesn’t feel as much a gift for me as it probably does for Nelson Mandela, for example. But for years I was enslaved by tobacco and alcohol, and emancipation from those addictions still brings great joy and relief.
We are all addicted to something—recreation, sex, drugs, exercise, habits, work, food—and many addictions, no matter the form, are as enslaving as chains and as uncomfortable as a whip. I haven’t run across one drug addict that didn’t hate his “chain.”
We at Christian Homes often deal with couples who are enslaved by infertility. They so hope for the freedom of bearing children, like their friends and family all around them. But for whatever reason, they are not able to conceive. Lynn and I were there during the first years of our marriage and before our first son arrived. Being trapped in a situation beyond our control was as unsettling and painful as any addiction, any enslavement.
Adoption means liberation, freedom from the fetters of infertility. For couples who cannot bear their own children, adoption is as freeing as political release or addiction recovery.
Over the past 48 years, nearly 2,000 families have experienced Independence Day because Christian Homes & Family Services fought for their release.
Our God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows. You find families for those who are lonely. You set prisoners free and let them prosper…(Ps. 68:5, 6)
Happy Independence Day!
Blessed by Sheila
Posted by Shaylee on May 07, 2010 at 7:25 am
Tuesday marked the date of our second annual Tyler Call Her Blessed Luncheon and it was a wonderful time! Harvey Hall filled quickly with women and men in springtime colors gathering to hear Sheila Walsh’s story and to enjoy community with one another. Co-Chairs Rocky and Carrie Gill had everyone laughing about Facebook and in the next moment, led a meaningful time of prayer for the fatherless children in this world. Dr. Sasha Vukelja, a local oncologist and author, shared a bit of her testimony through a video interview. Her book, Seeds, was for sale after the luncheon and Dr. V graciously donated all of the proceeds to Christian Homes & Family Services.
And then we sat back and listened to Sheila Walsh speak of her life and what God has taught her throughout many difficult circumstances. Sheila shared her story of trying to find approval and success by burying herself in the “Christian lifestyle.” Sheila’s testimony, spoken with such honesty and vulnerability, inspired and brought hope to all of us who have fought similar battles. Her song “Let Go” sends a powerful message of giving up control and letting the Lord take our hand. Our time with Sheila was blessed. She lifted and encouraged our hearts and shared her beautiful story and voice with us. To read more about Sheila, please click here.
Call Her Blessed 2010 would not be possible without generous donors, active board members, volunteers, sponsors and Sheila’s beautiful ability to communicate her heart with 500 strangers. Christian Homes & Family Services is beyond grateful for the funds donated and we are already looking forward to Call Her Blessed 2011 and all that is to come!
Blessed by Lysa
Posted by Shaylee on April 23, 2010 at 8:27 am
2010 Abilene Call Her Blessed Recap
The scene is set: More than 500 women (and a few men) gathered, lovely pink and coral geraniums brightening tables, delicious salads and even more delicious mint brownies set at each space, and each person present — hearts ready (or maybe even needing?) to be blessed in some way. Janice and Mindy Murray were the perfect hostesses and luncheon co-chairs, inviting everyone to sit back, relax and enjoy the time to celebrate the special women in our lives. Mindy and Danny played and sang beautifully and several friends of Christian Homes told of the sweet blessings in their life through posters with names on them. Each guest was encouraged to write a note of love and thanks to a special woman in their life….and then asked to leave the notes with us so that we can mail them just in time for Mother’s Day.
But for sure the icing on top of this sweet time was the message Lysa TerKeurst gave regarding how God wants us to be. Quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Lysa encouraged guests to look at God’s instructions on how to be (joyful, prayerful, and thankful) and that in focusing on how God wants us to be, we will be doing His will! Her message was one that spoke to people in all different stages of life and was delivered with her gracious spirit of encouragement and humor. Lysa, in case there is any confusion, you were a blessing to this special time! To read more about Lysa and her work with Proverbs 31 Ministries, please click here.
The fourth annual Call Her Blessed Abilene luncheon was a precious time and the funds raised will go to support and sustain the ministry of Christian Homes & Family Services. We are thankful to each sponsor, ticket purchaser, committee member, guest, staff member, and of course to Lysa TerKeurst, for the part you played in this sweet event. Until next year!
Call Her Blessed
Posted by Shaylee on March 18, 2010 at 8:32 am
We are excited about one of our favorite events happening this spring in two different locations and want to tell you a little more about them so that you can share in our excitement! Call Her Blessed is a luncheon honoring mothers and the special women in our lives and this is the second year that we’ll have one in Abilene and one in Tyler. The theme of the luncheons, Call Her Blessed, comes from the description of a Godly woman in Proverbs 31, “children arise and call her blessed.” Once again, we expect a high point in the luncheon programs to be the opportunity for each guest to write a note to a woman of her choice that Christian Homes will mail for delivery right before Mother’s Day.
For the fourth annual Call Her Blessed luncheon in Abilene, we will welcome Lysa TerKeurst, president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, at the Abilene Civic Center on April 21st. Lysa is a powerful and inspirational communicator and a unique combination of author, radio talk show host, and Bible teacher. She has been featured on Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, Good Morning America, Woman’s Day Magazine, “O” Magazine and on the Oprah Show. Lysa co-hosts Proverbs 31 Ministries national show which airs daily to over 1,200 stations. Click here to hear more about Lysa’s newest book Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl!
On May 4th, Sheila Walsh, author, speaker, and recording artist with the Women of Faith conference, will be the featured guest at the second annual Tyler Call Her Blessed luncheon held at Harvey Hall. Walsh’s newest book, Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God, was just released and Gigi, God’s Little Princess, Sheila’s line of books and videos for little girls, won the National Retailer’s Choice Award and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the US. Walsh co-hosted television’s The 700 Club and her own talk show, Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh, on the Family Channel. To hear a message from Sheila Walsh about her new book click here.
For more information regarding these events please call 325-677-2205. We would love for you to join us for these celebrations honoring the special women in our lives!
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