It is Summertime!!!  Summer can be a long season for foster and adoption families. Set aside some time to spend time with families like yours who know from experience the journey that you are on.  Our foster/adoption support group will be meeting through out the summer.  Please mark these dates on your calendar.  :)

Tonight at support group we scheduled some fun summer activities, in addition to our being together on the fourth Sunday evenings of June, July and August for our regular support group meetings from 5-7pm at Timberline.  If you would like to get in on those (our regular meetings at the church) but are needing childcare please use the link below to sign up.  The sooner you sign up the better but if you don't fill out the form at least one week prior to our meeting your kids won't have a spot in Childcare.  

http://fs8.formsite.com/timberline/Childcareenrollmentform/index.html 

Here's the summer schedule--mark your calendars and get ready for some fun times!

June 2012:

• June 11th-- moms are taking a quick tour of the FAFLC (Foster and Adoptive Families of Larimer County) facilities--the Little House (where clothes are housed and can be picked up by members of the association) and the Construction Supply Warehouse (where surplus food is stored as well as miscellaneous supplies--sometimes cribs, beds, and such for members who are in need of things for their families, especially as kids come and go from your care)  We will meet at Bounce on Lincoln Ave in Loveland at 9:30AM.  Erin Branchflower is our contact for this outing so call her if you have questions about specifics or if you get lost or are running late that morning :-)  (970) 420-5784

        more info about FAFLC if you are interested: https://faflc.org/default.aspx

• June 24th--Regular Support Group meeting (room 212 from 5-7pm at Timberline)

• June 29th--Mom's play date  Bring your kiddos and meet at Troutman Park at 9am  Come play and leave when your kids hit the wall :-) 

               Troutman park: http://www.fcgov.com/parks/finder/park/id/53    (500 West Troutman Parkway; Fort Collins)

July 2012

• July 6th--guys night out  (dad's only--no kids please)  Details TBA when the date gets closer

• July 15th--meet at 5pm at Spring Canyon Park, stay as long as you want to.  Bring your own picnic dinner for your family only. 

        link for Spring Canyon Park--this is the park if you take Horsetooth Road until it dead ends into a park on your right.   

The address is: 2626 West Horsetooth Road; Fort Collins    http://www.fcgov.com/parks/finder/spring-canyon 

• July 22nd-- Regular Support Group meeting (room 212 from 5-7pm at Timberline)

August 2012

• August 10th--Girls night out (no kids please)  Details TBA when the date gets closer

• August 26th --Regular Support Group meeting (room 212 from 5-7pm at Timberline)

We look forward to seeing you this summer as we are out and about with our group!  If you have questions feel free to contact myself (Heather Alverson-- 970.391.4913 or Erin Branchflower 970.420.5784

Hillcrest Children's Home Trip in July - Please join us!

Hillcrest  Children's Home

Hot Springs, Arkansas

July 1-7, 2012

We are so excited that you have committed or are prayerfully considering being a part of this team.  Hillcrest Children's Home is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  

It is going to be such a blessing to minister to the staff, the host parents and the children currently living at Hillcrest.  Our team will have the opportunity to participate in:

-  children's activities (mini sports camp) with the kids - the younger kids in the morning, the older kids in the afternoon

-  light construction projects - we will know more details about this soon

-  spending time with the young women living at Highlands Maternity Home

We will celebrate July 4th with some of the host parents and their kids during the day, then end the day in Little Rock going to a minor league baseball game complete with a cookout and fireworks!

This trip is great for individuals and families.  We ask that applicants be 12 years or older and accompanied by one parent.

There are some very important dates coming up:

- All applications must be submitted with a deposit to hold your spot by June 7th.   

- Important Team Meeting Dates:

     Sunday Potluck - June 3rd, 5-7 pm  

     Sunday Potluck - June 24th, 5-7 pm 

* Note that the originally scheduled potluck on 5/20 is rescheduled to 6/3 

We will use these team meeting times to plan our trip and get to know one another.  

We look forward to hearing that you will be part of this amazing team!!  

For more information go to: http://www.lovereaches.org/

If you have any questions please contact Team Leaders:

Lorraine Meyer - coloradobirthmothers@gmail.com  

Kari Stewart - Karalot9@gmail.com   

Graduation Celebration - Asian Hope

Blog written by Dixie Kee – Asian Hope Orphan Ministry Coordinator

Whether you have been involved with Asian Hope for some time or would like to learn more about the work in Cambodia, please join us for this long anticipated event.  Seven Cambodian students have overcome great obstacles and are now graduating from college!  They came to Asian Hope Cambodia as children who needed care and education, and now they will return to Cambodia this summer ready to make a difference!  They will be sharing their stories at a celebration dinner on June 7th, from 6:30-8:30 pm, at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, CO.

Pastor Mark and I were able to travel to the locations in Phom Penh, Cambodia, where Asian Hope is making a difference.  We visited the girls’ and boys’ home where our own missionaries, Joe and Rene Hansen, are the houseparents.  We had the pleasure of meeting the young men who are still in high school or preparing for higher education, taking them their favorite beef jerky from Timberline’s youth group, and hearing their dreams for their future.

We are very impressed with Asian Hope.  I would be glad to answer any questions you may have concerning this graduation event, the work of Asian Hope, or interest in a future mission trip to Cambodia.

Dixie Kee:  dixiekee68@gmail.com

Asian Hope’s Website:  http://www.asianhope.org/

5K Run/Walk For Orphans - May 12th

Saturday - May 12 - Thomas M. McKee Building on the grounds of the Ranch - Larimer County Fairgrounds and Events Complex.


Kids Fun Run - 8:30
5K Run/Walk - 9:00


Family Fun activities and booths following the race.


It's not too late to register for this 5K Run/Walk.  Your participation will directly impact the lives of children here in our community and around the world.  :)


Register now at:  
http://www.runfororphansrace.org/

May - National Foster Care Month

Across the United States there are 408,000 children and youth currently in foster care.  While that number seems overwhelming there are a couple of things that you can do that will make a significant impact:


- Pray - prayer guide to praying for those in foster care:
http://lovereaches.org/images/files/foster-care-prayer-guide.pdf


- A Backpack of My Own - Welcome Child is committed to partnering with organizations that make an impact in the lives of foster and adoptive families to help them to be successful as they start school in the fall.  When a child enters foster care they often come with few personal items.  Sign up during the month of May to fill a backpack for students in Elementary, Middle or High School.  
Fort Collins Campus is partnering with Foster and Adoptive Families of Larimer County and Matthews House.  Windsor Campus is partnering with Weld County and Windsor School District to meet the needs of foster youth in their communities.  


Drop off dates for filled backpacks at both campuses will be August 4/5 and August 11/12.  For more information and a complete list of items needed in each backpack contact:


Fort Collins Campus - Erin at erinbeth21@hotmail.com or Kari at Karalot9@gmail.com


Windsor Campus - Lynn at LPETERSON6876@msn.com


A simple act of kindness such as a filled backpack can be such a huge blessing!! :)