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The Congressional Coalition on Adoption has invited the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to conduct a briefing of Congressional staff on issues related to intercountry adoption in Vietnam , Guatemala along with issues related to intercountry adoption in general. The briefing is scheduled for this Friday, August 1, 2008 in the U.S. Capitol Building, LBJ Room at 10:00 a.m.

Given the pending suspension of intercountry adoption and related services in Vietnam and the continuing issues of concern in Guatemala , Joint Council urges participation by all Congressional staffers. It is critically important that staffers participate in the U.S. Government’s role in international children’s services, specifically intercountry adoption. Given the impact of current issues on children and families, Joint Council urges 100% participation by Congressional staffers in this very important briefing.

In order to gain the largest possible participation, please contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators' offices and urge staffers to participate in the briefing.

Contact information for U.S. Senator’s offices can be found at www.senate.gov

Contact information for U.S. Representatives offices can be found at www.house.gov

If you choose to contact your representatives, please do so today by email or phone call, and request that they send staff to Friday’s briefing.

This briefing follows the briefing conducted for Congressional Staff last Friday, July 25th by child advocates and experts including Joint Council. These briefings and continuing participation by congressional offices in the ongoing issues related to international children’s services is critically important to the continuation of intercountry adoption as a viable solution for children in need.

Typing Through Tears...of JOY & sadness

Today, Thuy sent updated photos of Halle Grace! She is 8 months old. She is sitting up and crawling (or scootin around). She is SO beautiful!!! I wanted to share these precious images. I don't know what is wrong with her hand or why it is bandaged? I pray it's a simple little boo-boo? Sad thing is, like most mommys, I can't kiss it away!

I have tears of JOY to see her face, to know that she is OK, seems happy and is the MOST precious, adorable, beautiful little girl on the earth...I am incredibly sad because I am her mom and yet I can't hold my daughter and she is 8 months old!

Please continue to pray that our Gov. will expedite all of the cases in her orphanage and we will be able to hold our daughter!

My hope is in the Lord...so please, pray that he can soften hearts where they need to be and that the Gov. officials will put the CHILDREN first!

THANK YOU THUY...you are an angel for so many of us waiting to be united with our children.