December 2005

Dear Forever Families,

I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a very happy holiday season. Welcome home to ALCI's Children of 2005 from around the world: Russia, Guatemala, and China.

As many of you know, it has been a very difficult year for ALCI, but there is still much to celebrate. The forever-changing laws in Russia have caused delay after delay for both the agency and waiting families. For those of you whose children are not yet home, we pray for strength for you as you spend this holiday season without them. May they be forever in your hearts until they are in your arms again.

As I look back over the past ten years, I think of each and every family that came-to-be or expanded through adoption. I have walls filled with smiling faces of beautiful children, notebooks filled with applications of present and future parents, and e-mails full of joy from those who are home with their children. I must say it has been worth every tear, every pound I gained to see you all here today. Hearing from you and seeing your children's photos help me daily to continue my work in building forever families.

Remember ALCI as we venture on to another year of our work.

I love you all and pray your families will be blessed this year in ways you never imagined! May the wonderment and magic of this Christmas season be in your hearts forever...

Yours in adoption,
Brenda Baker, President of ALCI, Inc.

"THANK YOU , BRENDA BAKER,
YOU'RE THE BEST"
SUNG TO THE TUNE OF
"WINTER WONDERLAND"