Hopeful Hearts Dinner 2006

Last weekend we traveled to Louisville to attend the 4th Annual Hopeful Hearts Dinner. It was exciting to see how this organization is growing as it supports orphans in Ukraine. The foundation has expanded its focus to include older children in addition to young orphans. In Ukraine orphans are dismissed from state custody when they turn 18. This means they are turned out on the street with no family, direction, skills, or any assistance at all. Most of these children will not live to see their 22nd birthday. Many turn to crime and prostitution to survive. Hopeful Hearts has purchased a facility that will be the first of many transition homes that will house orphan teens in a Christian environment while offering educational and job training opportunities.

The dinner was enjoyable, there were about 500 people in attendance. A group of children who had been adopted from Ukraine performed a few musical numbers for entertainment. They were dressed in traditional Ukrainian outfits. It was precious, but also amplified the longing desire for that to have been our child standing up there.

We had the opportunity to meet two couples who have completed adoption in Ukraine. Both couples offered some great advice.

This year my Mom and Dad joined us. We stayed overnight at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville.

We were able to speak briefly with one of our adoption advisors. (Since this is not an adoption agency I just decided the best title for our state-side facilitators is "advisor"). Nancy informed us that she and Kathy will be traveling to Ukraine March 4th to March 11, on this trip they will make an attempt to discover where we stand in the adoption process. It is anticipated that as the authority overseeing adoptions is made in Ukraine the process may become less complicated. Could be good news, may not be, we still do not know. Nancy said she will let us know what they have discovered when they return. So, we will be anxiously awaiting the e-mail from Nancy on March 12th.