EMPOWERED TO CONNECT

GUESS WHAT!?!?!?!?

Jeff and I are going to the upcoming EMPOWERED TO CONNECT CONVENTION!  It is in Denver this Friday and Saturday, and guess what eles!?!?  Jenni (Jeff's mom), lives in Vail, CO, and is going to drive to Denver to meet us and share the weekend with us!  We are excited!  We fly out tomorrow and arrive late afternoon tomorrow.

It sounds like a couple of other AWAA families are also going to attend this convention on attaching in adoption, and we are trying to arrange a night of going to dinner together either Friday or Saturday night.  So looking forward to meeting them "for real!"  {smile}

WHAT IS EMPOWERED TO CONNECT?!?!?

Well, I first learned of this convention from my friend, Erica, who proposed she and her husband and Jeff and I all go sometime.  Then it was re-introduced to us when we attended the adoptive momma's retreat in Atlanta.  Amy Monroe spoke at this retreat and Erica and I spoke with her briefly later that day, and she shared more about this convention with us.  

Amy and her husband, Michael (Leaders of Tapestry Adoption and Foster Care Ministry) have adopted three (I believe) children.  Like what Jeff and I are experiencing, God filled Amy and Michael's hearts to overflowing with a love reaching far beyond their children, and out to all orphans and foster children. So they began a ministry at their local church. 

They eventually hooked up with Karyn Purvis (Director of TCU Institute of Child Development and Author of The Connected Child), who is very well known for her 30+ years of experience in working with children and focusing on attachment issues!  

Together, the three of them, with their huge hearts for children, have created this EMPOWERED TO CONNECT Convention that is taken to various parts of the US.  This conference is sponsored by Show Hope, and is a two-day conference for adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders and professionals designed to help them better understand how to connect with children from hard places in order to help them heal and become all that God desires them to be.

They say that "this conference is ideal for adoptive and foster parents, those considering adoption or foster care and those who are serving and supporting others, including social workers, agency professionals, church staff and ministry leaders, counselors, therapists and others involved in adoption and foster care ministries or services."

Jeff and I are so excited!  Initially, we believed that God lead us to this Convention to equip us with tools for our own children and family transition.  However, we now see that this weekend will ALSO provide us with tools for other local families who come home with their children (domestic or international adoption or foster care), as they transition and adjust with their children!  

Fits in perfectly with the Orphan Ministry I am helping with developing at our church, don't ya think!?!?!  God is so GOOD like that!  

Our friends, Erica and Josh can not join us as Erica's father will be having double bypass surgery this Friday.  Please keep them in your prayers, if you would!

We leave tomorrow, so my next post will be a fun challenge I will leave with you!