Ania's Bat Mitzvah Project

Ania Lewis, adopted from China through Gladney, has been working hard to gather donations for orphanages in China. Below is a letter from Ania explaining her project. We are looking for Gladney families who are traveling to China to complete their adoptions to help Ania deliver her donations. If you are interested in assisting Ania with her project, please be in touch with her parents Bonnie and Greg at blewis@openviewpartners.com and glewis@texasmessaging.com to learn more.

Ania (white shirt) and her friends who have assisted with her project

Hi!

My name is Ania Li Xiang Lewis (Zeng Li Xiang). I was born on December 6, 1998 in Changsha and I met my family on August 16, 1999 at Changsha SW1.

I've just turned 13 and am having my Bat Mitzvah on January 7th. This is a religious service where I become a young adult in the Jewish religion. I've gone through a lot of training which results in a very meaningful religious service (and party!) on January 7th. Also, part of the Bat Mitzvah experience is doing a "Mitzvah Project". A Mitzvah is a charitable act - an act of loving-kindness, a deed of compassion. Many of my classmates are doing volunteer projects but I wanted to do something more meaningful for me so I decided to collect clothes for the little girls at the orphanages.

A few weeks ago we had a big birthday party for all the little girls in the orphanages of China. Everyone brought lots of wonderful gifts for those little girls. I'm now sending these over so that they can enjoy them!

I am very happy and grateful to everyone for my wonderful life here in the U.S. with my loving family. I am hoping to share some of that with others!

Love,

Ania

Gladney China Heritage Tours has a New Look!

Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo

We are excited to introduce our redesigned Gladney China Heritage Tours website. Enhancements include sample itinerary modules with beautiful photographs. Get inspired as you plan a customized China Heritage tour! Now is a great time to begin planning for this summer! For more information, please visit GladneyAsia.Org.

Come join us as we celebrate Gladney's 125th Anniversary!

The New York Gladney Asia Program Staff - Gongzhan Wu, Wendy Stanley, Mary Chapman and April Uduhiri - will be in Texas from April 26 - 28th. The celebration is open to all Gladney families! Join us for this amazing event. For more information about the weekend's activites and schedule click here.

Federal Adoption Tax Credit for 2011

The IRS has released the 2011 form needed to claim the Federal Adoption Tax Credit, Form 8839 along with updated, easier to understand instructions! To learn more, click here. Be sure to visit the site frequently, as the IRS is committed to making regular updates on the credit, including legislation enacted!

Comprehensive Health Evaluation of the Newly Adopted Child

New guidelines on adoptee evaluation and treatment were recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Click here for an abstract and the full article.

NPR Interview – Chinese New Year as an Adoptive Family

NPR host Michel Martin recently spoke to David Youtz, Gladney father of four adopted daughters from China, and his oldest daughter Sophie about clebrating Chinese New Year as an adoptive family. To listen to the show click here.

The Youtz family adopted triplets from China through Gladney; pictured here with the Chinese Consul General and his wife at an International Children’s Day celebration in 2006.

GFA Chinese New Year Parties

Happy Lunar New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Everything prospers in a united family; though events do

not happen according to men's calculations. - Chinese Proverb

Dallas Fort Worth

On Saturday, January 14, over 50 people attended the Fort Worth/Dallas GFA Chinese New Year Party held in Gladney's Mabee Hall.  In addition to enjoying a catered Chinese dinner, the Fort Worth Chinese School performed a flag dance and Lion dance, and shared the history, traditions and customs of Chinese New Year. Two of the performers were Gladney "babies".

New York

On Sunday, January 22, over 140 Gladney parents and children gathered at the Jing Fong Restaurant in New York's Chinatown to celebrate Lunar (Chinese) New Year along with the Gladney Asia Program staff and Gladney Family Association's Wendy Lee, from Texas.  Chinese New Year is the time of year families get together, so it was really wonderful to see so many Gladney families enjoying this joyous holiday! 

As we enjoyed yummy Chinese food, an exciting lion dance, beautiful traditional Chinese dances, and fun arts and crafts projects, many generous families spread their joy all the way to Jiangxi Province by donating $500 to Gladney's Superkids charity.  With these donations, more children in need of therapeutic services will benefit.  For that, Gladney would like to give a big THANK YOU!  If you'd like to make a donation or learn more about this initiative, click here.

Houston

On Saturday, February 4, GFA members in Houston met for a small, casual lunch at Hunan's Restaurant.  The kids had fun coloring and decorating dragons while parents mingled.

Celebrating Chinese New Year in Brooklyn, New York



James, aged 12, Kathryn, aged 7, Sarah aged 6, and dad Chris! Kathryn and Sarah were both adopted through Gladney's China Waiting Child Program.

In school, mom Stephanie read books about Chinese New Year to her daughter's classes: Bringing In The New Year by Grace Lin and The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale by Ying Chang Compestine.

Big brother James took this photo of Kathryn digging into a plate of dumplings at grandma’s house.

Adoption Terms Quiz

In the adoption process there are many different acronyms that are used by adoptive families and agency staff. To further complicate things, each country/program has it’s own set of acronyms! It can be hard to remember what each acronym stands for, so to help refresh your memory take our fun quiz below! Extra points if you can name which country/program each acronym is for!

1.L.I.D.

a.Legal Intended Dossier
b.Log In Date
c.Cover to a pot

2.L.S.C. (also referred to sometimes as L.O.A.)

a.Letter Seeking Confirmation (Letter Of Acceptance)
b.Legally Sealed Child (Legal Office Agreement)
c.License Signed Confirmation (License Of Acceptance)

3.T.A.

a.Travel Agreement
b.Travel Approval
c.Travel Agent

4.C.C.C.W.A. (formerly C.C.A.A.)

a.China Center for Children and Waiting Adoptions (China Center for Adoption Affairs)
b.Chinese Consulate Center for Welfare and Adoptions (Chinese Center for Approved Adoptions)
c.China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (China Center for Adoption Affairs)

5.A.I.T.

a.Adoption Institute in Taiwan
b.Adoptions In Taiwan
c.American Institute in Taiwan

6.T.E.C.O.

a.Taipei Economic and Cultural Office
b.Texas Economic and Cultural Office
c.Taiwan Exceptional Certification Office

Answer Key:

1.B (China)
2.A (China)
3.B (China)
4.C (China)
5.C (Taiwan)
6. A (Taiwan)

January Program News

Recently in China Adoption News

• CCCWA has matched families with LIDs through August 15, 2006! Congratulations to all of the families who have received referrals.
• CCCWA has reviewed dossiers with LID through November 30, 2010.
• CCCWA has issued a Travel Approval for one Gladney family in December!
• One Gladney family travelled to China to complete their adoption in December!

Gladney continues to receive profiles of children through our partnership program with Shanghai Children's Home. Check our Asia Waiting Child blog for more information about children that are available through the Gladney Center for Adoption. Gladney holds monthly webinars which give an overview of the China Guang Ming program and highlight specific children available for adoption. These webinars are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 1pm EST. Click here to register.

Chinese New Year 2003

It is time to prepare for Chinese New Year, to say good bye to the year of the Rabbit and pray for luck in the new Year of the Dragon, 4710 which begins on January 23rd. Also known as Chinese Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, this important holiday is celebrated around the globe starting with Chinese New Year's Eve, a day when Chinese families gather from near and far for their annual reunion dinner.

As I pack up the Christmas decorations, I am already looking forward to decorating for Chinese New Year! Over the last fifteen years, we have collected many beautiful and memorable decorations from numerous trips to New York's Chinatown, souvenirs from our adoption trips and China Heritage Tour and gifts from family and friends. Cleaning the house, buying new clothes, getting haircuts and bringing signs of spring into our home are some of the pre-celebration traditions we share with our daughters to help them embrace this special holiday!

Our plans to celebrate this year already include attending the Gladney Family Association New Year party and a get together hosted by one of our travel group families. I am sure we will also see our local Gladney friends for a luncheon at one of our homes, complete with a red velvet cake, or for one of our adventurous treks into Chinatown for a walking tour, a visit to the flower markets or a program at the Museum of Chinese Americans (MOCA)!

When our daughters were in elementary school, they enjoyed telling their classmates how we celebrated the holiday. At first they were nervous, but as time went on, they became more confident and enthused to tell their stories, teach a craft and share fun holiday facts. Of course their friends looked forward to receiving the red envelopes with chocolate coins or other goodies. Now that they are older, they are eager teach younger children some of what they have learned and share their excitement.

There are always so many festivals and parties hosted by local cultural organizations, adoption agencies, libraries and museums to choose from! Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to participate in one or more and enjoy your own family traditions.

The resources to learn about Chinese New Year are extensive, including books about Chinese holidays and traditions, articles on the internet and programs at libraries and museums. For a list of books you may find helpful, as well as a fun word search and coloring pages click here.

-- By Gladney mom with two daughters from China

Reprinted from January Asia Program Newsletter

Special Waiting Child Webinar

Last night Gladney held a special Waiting Child Webinar that highlighted a recent trip to China and Taiwan by Pat Marcus, a pediatric physical therapist, who volunteers with Superkids charity. She visited with many of the waiting children who are designated to Gladney. During the webinar she spoke about her experience meeting the children and gave specific insight on each child.

You can view the webinar here. For more information about our Asia Waiting Child Program, please be in touch with Judy Hayes at judy.hayes@gladney.org.

Gladney Family Association's New Webite

Launched in December, this new, attractively designed website serves the GFA Community with up to date technology and the opportunity to go paperless where ever possible! Once members create a username and password, they have full access to the site. This includes the ability to browse and register for all the exciting GFA events, access to GFA newsletters and a members' only directory, which is updated daily rather than printed once a year! On-line registration and payment for events, as well as new memberships and renewals is simple, quick and secure.

The web address for this user friendly, standalone site is: www.gladneycommunity.com.
It is also accessible by choosing Family Association on the menu bar on Gladney's main website: www.adoptionsbygladney.com .

NOTE: There is still time to sign up for Gladney's Chinese New Year party in New York on January 22, 2012! To register, you can use the link to the Gladney Family Association's (GFA's) new website above.

Gladney’s New York Chinese New Year Celebration is Jan 22, please RSVP

Planning on attending Gladney’s New York Chinese New Year Celebration but have not yet RSVP’d? Please take a moment to do so now by clicking here. Come enjoy a dragon dance, a calligraphy demonstration, traditional Chinese dance and ballet and more! Final arrangements are being made with Jing Fong Restaurant (in Manhattan’s Chinatown) and we want to include YOU!

Special Waiting Child Webinar

Please join us for a special presentation about Gladney's Guang Ming/China Waiting Child program! Special guest Pat Marcus, a pediatric physical therapist who volunteers with Gladney's Superkids charity will talk about her recent trip to Shanghai and the kids that she met during her trip that are available for adoption through Gladney.

Date: Thursday, Jan. 19th

Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm EST

To register for the webinar, please click here. We hope you will be able to join us!

Waiting Child Webinar

Each month Gladney hosts an Asia Waiting Child Webinar. Our next Webinar will be this Wednesday, Jan. 11th at 1pm EST. Be sure to register for the Webinar!

This informative webinar will focus on the process of adopting waiting children from China. The webinar will provide an overview of Gladney’s program as well as share photos of available children. You will get a detailed explanation of the Application and paperwork process involved with adopting internationally. Also, each month we will feature different children, with a variety of ages and special needs, who are available for adoption. At the end of each webinar we offer time for attendees to ask questions and will provide contact information for you to follow up with one of Gladney’s Asia Program Staff.

We hope you will be able to join us for our webinar! Feel free to pass this invitation along to friends and family members that may also be interested.

My Reflections

By April Uduhiri, Caseworker, Gladney Asia Program

As I reflect on the past year and ready myself for the hope and prospects of the year to come, I am reminded of how much I am blessed with.  I am lucky to share my life surrounded by special people; my husband, family and friends.   I am also fortunate that my work at Gladney Center is in line with my heartfelt passions.  I am grateful for being able to play a small role in helping to bring families into the lives of orphans who would otherwise face a bleak future.  Orphans with medical needs, especially visible issues, are considered outcasts in their own culture.  When they are adopted into a family, they experience acceptance and belonging that they would not have known otherwise.

My gratefulness extends far – from the officials in China whose motto is everything for children, to my co-workers and supervisors who make working for Gladney such a privilege.  And of course, to the ones doing the hard work, before and especially after the adoption – the adoptive parents!  Over and over again I am amazed at your hope, faith and strength of character as you place your family’s future in the hands of caregivers, social workers, immigration officers and foreign governments!  I am often encouraged through your emails and blog postings, and for this I am truly thankful.

I hope that when you gather with your family and friends over the holidays – either with your adopted little one(s) at your table for the first time, the 10th time, or simply in your hearts this year, that each and every one of you has a happy and blessed holiday season.

A wistful look from Jenna Lenig, as she enjoys her first wedding.

Jenna was adopted in November, 2010, from China.

Holiday Greetings

Home For the Holidays! 

The Marran family joyously welcomed home their 2 year-old daughter, Maelin, from Taiwan with the completion of their adoption last week.

"We can show you the way!"

Charlotte Chieh Marran (age 7) and Noah Chen Marran (age 6) guide their sister Maelin Hsuan through Chicago’s O’Hare Airport

Best Wishes from the Gladney Asia Program Staff

for a hopeful, joyous, and peaceful holiday season

with your family.

Gongzhan Wu

Wendy Stanley

April Uduhiri

Lindsay Hatcher

Mary Chapman

Lydia Macci

Chinese New Year's Area Celebrations

Chinese New Year is on Monday, January 23, 2012. Over the next few weeks, as the holiday approaches, keep your eyes open for celebrations in your area. Numerous groups have parties, dinners, march in parades, etc.

Gladney Chinese New Year celebration information is now posted on the Gladney Family Association website (click here for the GFA Network Events calendar, then choose January 2012 in the drop down Date box).

Check your area's Families with Children from China website or local cultural organizations and museums for other New Year activities.

 

Connecting with your Child's Culture

Keeping a connection with your child's culture comes in many forms. There are the subtle, day to day activities like eating at local restaurants and visiting markets that specialize in traditional foods, or watching movies, reading books, and discussing current news events and politics that relate to your child's birth country.

A more formal connection can be established by enrolling in language and culture classes, or belonging to associations (Gladney Family Association, Families with Children from China or Organization of Chinese Americans) and local museums (Museum of Chinese Americans) that celebrate and teach the culture. These organizations are a wonderful resource for media materials, local activities and celebrations. They can also offer ideas, such as suggestions on how your child can celebrate Chinese New Year in school.

Staying connected with other adopted children, either from the child's travel group or children from the same country, is invaluable when it comes to solidifying the cultural connection. Meeting for social gatherings, going to local cultural fairs, attending officials' visits or sharing in holiday celebrations, give children the opportunity to have fun being together and share special moments.

For some adoptive families, traveling to the child's birth country for a heritage tour offers them an amazing way to see, hear and taste their birth country's culture first hand.

Celebrating the Gift of Giving in Non Material Ways

At this time of year, when gift giving is at the forefront of our thoughts, an increasing number of charitable minded people choose alternatives to traditional material gifts. Teaching children that there are options to material gifts can be a rewarding and eye opening opportunity. The gift of time in the form of service to others can be a heartwarming experience. Gathering items for orphanages and foundations in Asia or raising money so essential items can be purchased are examples of service projects that benefit others in a meaningful way.

Another option to traditional gift giving involves a donation made in someone else's honor. In lieu of giving a traditional gift, a monetary contribution is made, usually to a not-for-profit organization that has significant meaning to the person being honored. For Gladney adoptees, a contribution can be made to one of the many wonderful programs that help children in their birth country (click here).

Interview with Pat Marcus, volunteer with Gladney's Superkids Charity

Pat Marcus is a pediatric physical therapist in New York State. She has participated in several Superkids trips to Asia to work with children and caregivers in orphanages to enhance the lives of children with physical disabilities. Pat recently travelled in November with Superkids to China and Taiwan with Gongzhan Wu, Managing Director of Gladney Center for Adoption's Asia programs.

To read an interview with Pat about her trip click here.

Upcoming Asia Waiting Child Webinar

Each month Gladney hosts an Asia Waiting Child Webinar. Our next Webinar will be this Wednesday, Dec. 14th at 1pm EST. Be sure to register for the Webinar!

This informative webinar will focus on the process of adopting waiting children from China. The webinar will provide an overview of Gladney’s program as well as share photos of available children. You will get a detailed explanation of the Application and paperwork process involved with adopting internationally. Also, each month we will feature different children, with a variety of ages and special needs, who are available for adoption. At the end of each webinar we offer time for attendees to ask questions and will provide contact information for you to follow up with one of Gladney’s Asia Program Staff.

We hope you will be able to join us for our webinar! Feel free to pass this invitation along to friends and family members that may also be interested.

Recommended Vaccinations

As parents preparing for the adoption of a child, we often are very focused on the health of the child we will be adopting. However, it is important that we also take care of ourselves to make sure that we are protected from infection and disease.

The National Council for Adoption (https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/) has alerted the adoption community of a recent recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) that family and close contacts should receive the Hepatitis A Vaccination. To read the full APA report click here.

Before your travel, consult with your doctor to discuss which vaccinations are appropriate for your travel plans. This will depend on your personal vaccination history, as well as the specific overseas region you will be travelling to. Some immunizations may need to be given in a series over a number of months, so plan ahead! A helpful article that provides guidance for adopting parents preparing for international travel can be found here.

Special Superkids Webinar Postponed to Jan. 19th

It’s that time of year again… the most wonderful and certainly one of the busiest! Due to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we have decided to reschedule Gladney’s special Superkids Webinar with pediatric physical therapist Pat Marcus. The webinar will now be held on January 19^th at 7pm EST. If you were unable to attend this week’s scheduled presentation, we look forward to having you join us in the new year to learn more about Superkids and Gladney’s relationship with Shanghai Children’s Home.

For those of you who had registered for the Dec. 1 webinar and would like to hear from Pat and gain more information about Gladney’s China program, feel free to contact China caseworker, April Uduhiri directly at april.uduhiri@gladney.org. Pat will also be available to speak with families who are interested in her recent trip and her work with Superkids.

To register for our January webinar click here.

2011 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces

An important part of adopting is investigating all the areas in your life that will support your adoption. For many, the workplace is a wonderful resource of adoption benefits. Is your workplace on the 2011 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list?

To see all the companies that made the list or for a toolkit to propose or establish adoption benefits in your workplace, visit the Dave Thomas website.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving - A time to give thanks for family and friends, health and happiness, our beautiful country and our freedom.

From the Gladney Asia Program Staff

Free Course - We're Home! Now What?

• Are you awaiting a referral?
  


• Have you recently received a referral?
  


• Have you adopted in the last 6 months?
  

Well, here is a FREE class that may help with issues new families face such as language, sleep, eating, discipline attachment and medical care.

During the month of November, Adoption Learning Partners is offering We’re Home! Now What! for FREE!

1. To receive this course for free, click here to link to the registration page.
   


2. Please enter your agency name during registration.
   


3. When registration is complete, a coupon code will appear. Use this code at checkout.

Ambassador Jacobs National Adoption Month Video

On November 3, 2011, Ambassador Susan Jacobs, Special Advisor for Children's Issues (CI) in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, spoke about intercountry adoptions in celebration of National Adoption Month 2011. Click here to access the video.

November is National Adoption Month!

National Adoption Month is a time to celebrate family and to bring about awareness that there are hundreds of thousands of children awaiting adoption. States, communities, and agencies hold events during the month to bring the need for families into public view.

Celebrate National Adoption Month with your family and friends by:
- learning how and why National Adoption month began (click here)
- participating in day to day activities (for ideas click here)
- supporting adoption organizations such as Gladney by joining in their 125 Anniversary celebration.
- attending an adoption conference in your area, such as the 31st Annual APC Adoption Conference on Sunday, November 20, 2011 in Brooklyn, NY. For more information about the conference, click here.

Gongzhan Visits Asia Accompanied by Pat and Edna

Gongzhan Wu, the managing director of Gladney’s Asia programs, is travelling throughout the month of November to various cities in Asia. On the first leg of the trip, to Taiwan, Shanghai, and Harbin, he is accompanied by Pat Marcus, a pediatric physical therapist from New York. In Taiwan, Gongzhan had a chance to meet with the social welfare organizations through which Gladney’s adoptive placements occur. During his recent visit to Shanghai, it is rewarding to see that Gladney’s partnership with the Shanghai Children’s Home continues to strengthen, with Gladney providing training and consultation, as well as continuing to advocate for the adoption of older children. It is our hope that we can build similar partnerships in other areas of China, as well as in Taiwan.

This current trip is a wonderful opportunity for us to share Gladney’s long 125 year history of helping children find adoptive families. Bringing Edna Gladney along on the trip has been quite an experience! She seems to be agreeable with the arduous travel schedule – always smiling!

Gongzhan, Pat and Edna at JFK Airport

Edna, Gongzhan and Pat arrived safely in Taipei

For Gladney families who would like to participate in the fun of celebrating Gladney's 125th Anniversary – click here to learn how you can print “your own Edna”. Bring Edna along to interesting places, and post your photos to Gladney’s “Where’s Edna facebook page”.

31st Annual APC Adoption Conference

Sunday, November 20, 2011 in Brooklyn, NY

The Adoptive Parent Committee (APC) annual conference serves to promote a better awareness and understanding of adoption and provide members with accurate information concerning adoption and parenting issues. Conference participants will have the opportunity to attend numerous informational sessions including a workshop conducted by Gladney's Asia Staff on "Adopting from Taiwan" from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.

For more information about the conference, click here.

CCCWA Officials Visit Gladney

Fall 2011 has been a busy and exciting time for Gladney's China Program as we were privileged to host another delegation of officials from the CCCWA! This October, a group of 15 officials travelled to the US in order to meet with several adoption agencies and visit with adoptive families and children. Gladney's NY office was honored to host a breakfast for the officials on the 26th, and share with them how Gladney works with families who are adopting from China. During the event, we felt encouraged by the officials desire to work together with Gladney to find homes for children with medical issues.

Gladney staff with CCCWA officials and Chuck Johnson from NCFA

Gladney staff with Ms. Zhu Hai Yan, Director of Shanghai Children's Home

Why Waiting Children?

Some of you may have wondered at some point, why are some children referred to as "waiting children"? What does this mean?

In some programs, parents work hard to complete their dossier and submit it to the adoption authorities and then wait for their child's paperwork to be prepared. These parents eagerly and anxiously wait to see their child's picture for the first time - sometimes months or years! However, in the Guang Ming program, these children already have their paperwork prepared and are available for adoption. They are waiting for their families to find them and come and bring them home! These precious kids are in need of families who are paperwork ready so that they don't have to wait any longer to join their forever families.

If you feel that you might have a child waiting for you in China - contact Judy Hayes at judy.hayes@gladney.org to learn more about getting started in Gladney's Guang Ming program.

Recently in China Adoption News

• CCCWA has matched families with LIDs through August 2, 2006! Congratulations to all of the families who have received referrals!


• CCCWA has reviewed dossiers with LIDs through November 20, 2010.


• CCCWA has issued Travel Approvals for three Gladney families in October!


• One Gladney Family received their Letter Seeking Confirmation in the month of October.


• One Gladney family has travelled to China to complete their adoption!
  
  
  Congratulations to the Osborn family on the adoption of your precious daughter!
  

Trick-or-Treat!

This was J's first time trick-or-treating, looks like he had a blast!

What a pretty butterfly! M came home from China a couple of years ago and can't wait to go trick-or-treating with her little brother or sister one day!

Upcoming Asia Waiting Child Webinar

Each month Gladney hosts an Asia Waiting Child Webinar. Our next Webinar will be this Wednesday, Nov. 9th at 1pm EST. Be sure to register for the Webinar!

This informative webinar will focus on the process of adopting waiting children from China. The webinar will provide an overview of Gladney’s program as well as share photos of available children. You will get a detailed explanation of the Application and paperwork process involved with adopting internationally. Also, each month we will feature different children, with a variety of ages and special needs, who are available for adoption. At the end of each webinar we offer time for attendees to ask questions and will provide contact information for you to follow up with one of Gladney’s Asia Program Staff.

This month we will feature profiles of new children who have been designated to Gladney - so you definitely will want to tune in!

We hope you will be able to join us for our webinar! Feel free to pass this invitation along to friends and family members that may also be interested.

Happy Halloween!

Sarah is a pink superhero this year, and Kathryn is the Queen of the Nile. James's costume did not arrive yet but here he is as he heads off to his middle school camping trip (with a weird flash effect!). We hope everyone is enjoying the autumn! We love to see all the kids' costumes, so please send your Halloween photos--or just photos, if you don't celebrate Halloween or don't have costumes yet!--to Mary Chapman at mary.chapman@gladney.org.

Upcoming Asia Waiting Child Webinar

Each month Gladney hosts an Asia Waiting Child Webinar. Our next Webinar will be this Wednesday, Oct. 12th at 1pm EST. Be sure to register for the Webinar!

This informative webinar will focus on the process of adopting waiting children from China. The webinar will provide an overview of Gladney’s program as well as share photos of available children. You will get a detailed explanation of the Application and paperwork process involved with adopting internationally. Also, each month we will feature different children, with a variety of ages and special needs, who are available for adoption. At the end of each webinar we offer time for attendees to ask questions and will provide contact information for you to follow up with one of Gladney’s Asia Program Staff.

We hope you will be able to join us for our webinar! Feel free to pass this invitation along to friends and family members that may also be interested.