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Well…here they are ladies!!! Ready to see the list of sessions we’ve been working on…trust me–these are reason enough to miss updates on Frankie baby and ITY’s daily craze. I am super pumped about what God has in store for these ladies–and as a result…their FAMILIES too! Here you go…the breakouts for Created for Care Women’s Retreat 2011!

Breakout 1 – 10am-11am

Finding Strength in the Lord as a Busy Mom – Beth Templeton For most of us our role as a mother, especially with the added complications of adoption issues, is not a place where we find our strength. Great joy, yes. Deep satisfaction, absolutely! Beauty, excitement and fun, for sure. But we must find ways to stay strong in our love relationship with Jesus and stay connected to our identity in Him despite the stresses and demands that surround us. In this session we will talk about how we can encourage and strengthen ourselves, no matter what our circumstances.

Preparing to Adopt Sibling Groups and Older Children – Cris Peters While many of us are called to single adoption—there is always an overwhelming need for families for sibling groups and older children. In this session, Cris Peters will share from personal experience how she prepared her family with two older girls to bring how her boys—two brothers from Ethiopia. Come be encouraged through her story of adopting siblings and connect with other moms with the same calling.

Domestic Adoption: Our Journey – Aimee Powell . If you have not heard Aimee and Mac Powell share about their journey to adoption, we are excited for you to hear their domestic journey here at the retreat. Aimee Powell has been married to her high school sweetheart, Mac for 14 years. Even during their dating years they knew God was leading them to adopt someday. They had no idea what that really meant. Today they have 5 children. Aimee is blessed to be an at home mama. Her days consist of lots of hugs, kisses, homeschooling, diaper-changing, and reading the same books over and over. Come hear Aimee share about Domestic Adoption.

Becoming an Orphan Ministry Advocate Right Where You Are – April Carlock (Wiphan), Joy Harty (60Feet), Gwen Oatsvall (147 Million), Kara Portilla (Into the Streets) It’s no surprise that our mommy hearts break more deeply for the millions of orphans in the world—especially after we begin the adoption journey and bring our little ones home. While our eyes have been opened—we are often homebound with our little ones yet our hearts LONG to be involved in continued orphan care. Never underestimate how the Lord may use you from home! Come hear from 4 ministries that were birthed from adoption families—and see how you can join them in being an orphan advocate right where you are! Together—we can make a difference!

When Love is Not Enough – Nancy Thomas Author Nancy Thomas comes to share insight in her book “When Love is Not Enough” Would you like to have a home filled with love and laughter? Nancy Thomas takes you on a laugh-filled journey to heal the heart of a child. She shares unique and insightful ideas to meet the challenges! *The latest information on attachment and bonding *Building brilliant brains *Rebuilding the foundation *Connecting heart to heart

Attachment 101 – Stacey Spolzino – Stacey Spolzino is at specialist in Adoption Counseling and Attachment Therapy. Stacey has a passion for helping adoptive families connect and training parents to learn new skills to help their new ones heal, attach and form healthy, strong relationships with their families. Stacey will lead us through Attachment 101, what you can do to in the beginning to make things easier later and also signs to look for when you need outside help. You are in for a real treat…and her session will be similar to one of her normal therapy coaching sessions she offers through her practice.

‘Fun’ Tutorials During Free Time and around scheduled “Date with God”Registration for the “Fun” Tutorials and Breakouts will be available at the registration table. We want every mom to have the opportunity to sign up for the “Date with God” special hour—an hour designed just for you that is sure to bless your heart! Because we can only have 50 ladies in each “Date with God” session—sign ups for the Date with God and Fun Sessions will be at registration. If you have any questions—please contact Andrea.

11am – Creating a Lifebook for Your Adopted Child by Heather Redmore
12pm – African American Haircare – Kristi Johnson and Nisia Murray
1pm – Yoga – Virginia Bubar (Bring towel or mat if you plan to attend)
2pm – Photography 101 – Andrea Young, Tammy Dugger, Elizabeth Smith and Shannon Holden

Breakout 2 – 3pm-4pm

Adoption Right From the Start For the Little Ones – (Birth to Age Four) – Nancy Thomas This session is designed for families preparing to bring little ones home. Nancy has been helping families since 1985 through her therapy programs. Find out how to prepare your heart and home for a new child from birth tofour years old. Come laugh and learn from Nancy Thomas! *What is attachment and why is it important? *Bonding right from the start *Snuggle time *Play time to activate important life skills for success

Knowing Your Child in the Spirit; Parenting Your Child in the Spirit – Beth Templeton Each one of our children, regardless of age, has an eternal spirit, marked by calling, giftings, and good works prepared by God specifically for him/her. In this session we will talk about how we mothers can have deeper understanding of our child’s identity. What does God have to say about him? What is she destined for? We will also talk about how this exciting understanding affects how we parent our child.

Becoming an Orphan Care Ministry Advocate Right Where You Are – April Carlock (Wiphan), Joy Harty (60Feet), Suzanne Mayernick (147 Million), Jaime Delfosse (Into the Streets) It’s no surprise that our mommy hearts break more deeply for the millions of orphans in the world—especially after we begin the adoption journey and bring our little ones home. While our eyes have been opened—we are often homebound with our little ones yet our hearts LONG to be involved in continued orphan care. Never underestimate how the Lord may use you from home! Come hear from 4 ministries that were birthed from adoption families—and see how you can join them in being an orphan advocate right where you are! Together—we can make a difference!

Something to Talk About – Amy Monroe When it comes to talking with your child (and others) about adoption, there is so much to talk about and the time to start learning and preparing is now. During this session, Amy Monroe, adoptive mom of four, will share from her experience about what, when and how to talk with your child about adoption, how you can empower your child to handle questions and comments from others, and how to respond to questions and comments from others about your child’s adoption. This session will be helpful for every mom, no matter what your child’s age. A little bit about our speaker…she also along with her husband leads Tapestry. Together with Dr. Karyn Purvis, Amy and Michael created Empowered To Connect, an online resource for adoptive parents, and co-authored Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child. (please visit www.empoweredtoconnect.org and www.tapestryministry.org)

Hope for the Hard Days – Dr. Susan Hillis – All of us as mothers have those days when we feel we are at the end of our ropes, when being a mother is exasperating, when we feel we need fresh direction and equipping from the Lord in order to love the precise children He has placed in our families. Come receive encouragement, lasting advice about keeping Hope on those Hard Days, from the Wonderful Counselor, through the Lord’s refreshing and freeing lessons in the book of Ezekiel.

Breakout 3 – 4:30-5:30

Adoption Right from the Start – For the OlderChildren (Five Years Old and Up) Come join Nancy Thomas and learn how to increase the love and laughter with your new son or daughter right from the start!
*Insight into attachment *Transferring the bond *Sibling solutions *Moving forward with positive motivation

Knowing Your Child in the Spirit; Parenting Your Child in the Spirit – Beth Templeton Each one of our children, regardless of age, has an eternal spirit, marked by calling, giftings, and good works prepared by God specifically for him/her. In this session we will talk about how we mothers can have deeper understanding of our child’s identity. What does God have to say about him? What is she destined for? We will also talk about how this exciting understanding affects how we parent our child.

Stories of God’s Grace in HIV Adoption – Dr.Susan Hillis, Amy Levy and Suzanne Mayernick – There is widespread awareness of the impact of the global HIV epidemic on the worldwide orphan crisis. However, much less is known about the impact of the global orphan crisis on the HIV epidemic. These associations will be described, along with implications for how the church can get involved. There will be a time answer questions and hear personal stories from moms who have also followed the Lord in adopting children with HIV.

Post Adoption: Joys and Challenges – Sharon Cape is the Director of Private Adoptions at Bethany Christian Services of Georgia. In this breakout session, Sharon will discuss the joys and challenges that accompany adoption be it Domestic or International. She will cover the “honeymoon phase” that often occurs when the child first arrives at his new home, as well as the difficulties as both the child and the family adjusts. Sharon will also discuss steps that can be taken prior to the child’s homecoming to prepare for some of these challenges, and will share practical steps that can be taken as families continue on the lifelong process of adoption.

Attachment 101 – Stacey Spolzino – Stacey Spolzino is at specialist in Adoption Counseling and Attachment Therapy. Stacey has a passion for helping adoptive families connect and training parents to learn new skills to help their new ones heal, attach and form healthy, strong relationships with their families. Stacey will lead us through Attachment 101, what you can do to in the beginning to make things easier later and also signs to look for when you need outside help. You are in for a real treat…and her session will be similar to one of her normal therapy coaching sessions she offers through her practice.

The Special Calling of Special Needs – Joy Portis and Gwen Oatsvall – Come hear two personal stories from two women who have followed God’s calling more than once to not only adopt but to follow Him in special needs. Joy Portis has adopted both older ones, siblings, special needs heart and cleft–as well as a baby with Down Syndrome. Joy now is also a foster parent! Joy will be able to answer many of your questions with this calling as well as offer encouragement through her story. Gwen Oatsvall will also be sharing some of her story of adopting older ones with special needs from both China and Uganda. While therapies, surgeries and recoveries may have consumed their time—they have stood strong and able to open their hearts over and over again to adoption through the strength of the Lord. Come be encouraged (as well as gain insight how you can better prepare!) by their stories and their faith if the One who continues to call them!

We are completely humbled the Lord would ask us to help with this and serve each of you in this INCREDIBLE way!!! The Lord wants you each to know how valued you are to Him! You ladies continue to open your hands and hearts for His sake…and this weekend is about loving on and equipping you in the calling He has for you! SO…get ready to be blessed—know you are being prayed for—and it will be a weekend to REMEMBER! HUGS and KISSES…and see you sisters soon!