Holiday greetings to everyone!!

I hope this update finds you to have had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying this Christmas season.

I have such exciting news!! Much has happened with the Wiley, Morgan and Parker Fund these past couple of months!! As many of you know, my goal for the Wiley, Morgan and Parker Fund was to raise $100,000 within its first year!! I am thrilled to report to you not only did the Fund reach its goal, but exceeded it by $10,000 making the Fund’s total contributions to be $110,000 so far!! That means the extra $10,000 can be given out this Christmas as two grants to two families wanting to adopt a Waiting Child! Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine getting to this next step of journey so quickly. What perfect timing! Getting through the holidays without Wiley, Morgan and Parker is always very difficult. I can’t think of a better Christmas gift to give and to receive than giving out the first two grants from the Wiley, Morgan and Parker Fund. This is a new holiday tradition that I am certainly going to look forward to year after year.

When establishing the Wiley, Morgan and Parker Fund, it was very important for me to let contributors know where exactly their donations have gone to. I would like to introduce you to the first families to receive a Wiley, Morgan and Parker grants and the children who will be united with them. This would not have been possible without your support and generosity.

Jan McNeal and her story
Jan has raised two sons and adopted her daughter Hannah, who was a Waiting Child, when she was 22 months old. When Jan was ready to adopt a child of her own, she thought about adopting from Russia and Romania. Something inside was telling the fit was not quite right. It wasn’t until Jan was in church and saw a couple with their adopted daughter from China that she would look into Chinese Children Adoption International.

At first, Jan wanted to adopt a healthy child. She had known first hand how difficult raising a handicapped child was. Her younger son was severely retarded and passed away when he turned 24. In her heart, Jan knew that God wanted her to take a look the Waiting Child Program at CCAI. Two weeks after telling Deniece Hess, of the Waiting Child Program at CCAI, that she was ready to adopt a Waiting Child, Jan got the call that Deneice had already found a match - FuZhi, her daughter-to-be. FuZhi, now called Hannah,was born with a bilateral cleft lip. Even as a baby, she was always very aware of her handicap because of how people in China would stare at her. Once Jan was able to bring Hannah to the States and settle down with her new daughter, Hannah had corrective surgery to take care of her cleft lip. With the help of a very competent surgeon, Hannah now has a beautiful, glowing smile with hardly a trace of a cleft lip. Jan has said that the surgery has done wonders for Hannah, like a light instantly went on for her daughter.

To see Jan and her daughter together is a beautiful sight. They truly are "mother and daughter". Jan can attest that there is no difference between the love for an adopted child and the love for a child of your own. Hannah has changed her life for the better. Jan cannot image life without her wonderful daughter.

When asked why Jan would like to adopt again she replied, "I have enough love in my heart to adopt another child." She wants children who have problems to have a place to call home. Jan feels that God has led her to this point in life and that he will provide. God had certainly proved it by providing her with financial help to adopt Hannah. Now it seems that God has put the two of us together to provide me with a sense of some healing by giving a Wiley, Morgan and Parker grant to her and to provide Jan with financial help to adopt FuXinZhi (Foo-Chin-Ghee).

FuXinZhi, now named Abigail, is a 6 year old girl born without a right foot. The Wiley, Morgan and Parker Fund is happy to announce that Jan McNeal will be the first recipient to receive a grant! Jan hopes the adoption process will be complete sometime in June 2006. Then her and Hannah can fly to China to meet the new member of their family. The Wiley, Morgan and Parker Fund will be sure to update you on that very special day!!

It has been an amazing experience to receive the pictures of FuXinZhi and Shao YangBai. Immediately, I felt a connection to these children. My heart is filled with happiness knowing that the families that will be united with these precious girls will be the lucky ones.

Jan and Hannah McNeal

FuXinZhi, now named Abigail

Ron and Billie Gaither and their story
While wanting to have children, the Gaithers found it difficult to conceive. Instead of going through the invitro process, they looked into adopting. They went through Chinese Children Adoption International to adopt their first child, Christian. Christian, who is now 7 years old was 1 year old when Ron and Billie adopted her. At that time, Waiting Children adoptions took longer to process. That is why they decided to go with a normal adoption. Unfortunately, the Gaithers had to patiently wait for their daughter for 16 months! Certainly, it was worth all that was involved to have their first child in their lives. Christian is a beautiful and friendly girl that is a ray of sunshine to her parents.

Because their daughter has been such a gift of joy to them, Ron and Billie decided to adopt another child. They looked into the Waiting Child Program and fell in love with Ian’s picture. Ian was 3 when adopted by the Gaithers. He was born with a cleft lip and a cleft palette that was operated on in China. Up until he was adopted, he lived in foster care. Ron and Billie don’t think Ian was given much nurturing during his young life. When they went to China to receive Ian, poor Ian screamed and cried. He favored Ron more which was heartbreaking for Billie. It was difficult for Ron because he was trying to be there for their daughter who was a bit jealous and nurture their new son who wanted absolutely nothing to do with Billie.

With time and lots of love, Ian is now a 6 year old boy who loves his parents and big sister. When given something, he always makes sure that Christian is included. Ian has a beautiful smile and a sweetness about him that shows he comes from a wonderful, nurturing family. He is the most thoughtful and loving child that his parents know.

Ron thought their family was complete with Christian and Ian. After being convinced by his wife, Ron now knows that they definitely have enough love and room for another precious child. Without any hesitation, they wanted to adopt another Waiting Child. Ian was at first concerned whether his mom and dad were getting another baby or a different baby to replace him!! With much love, his parents have reassure him that he is treasured in their family, not to be replaced. So now the question that Ian ask is, "Are we getting our baby today?"

The child the Gaithers would like to adopt is 14 months old and her Chinese name is ShaoYang Bai. Her American name will be Hailey Mariah Gaither. Hailey has an extra finger on both her hands. Surgery could easily remedy her situation. Ron and Billie can have not decided on anything until Hailey is looked at by a physician here in the States.

When asked about what they would want people to know about adopting a Waiting Child, the Gaithers replied, "Its not that hard or that big of a deal. It would be nothing different than having a child born naturally to them with handicaps." Love out ways hardships. To the Ron and Billie, they are minor hardships.

With paperwork already in process, the entire family is hoping to be able to go to China in April 2006 to meet their baby daughter/sister.

ShaoYangBai

Ron, Billie, Christian and Ian Gaither

Meeting the families who unconditionally want to adopt these beautiful children fills my heart with incredible hope knowing that these girls are so blessed to be loved by their families-to-be. Meeting the McNeals and the Gaithers have given me the opportunity to introduce good, loving people to my good, loving boys. Wiley, Morgan and Parker's legacies live on as the fund connects people and children who desire to become families.

Please check the Wiley, Morgan, Parker Fund website periodically for updates on the McNeal and Gaither adoptions. We hope to pass along pictures of their trips to China and of them being united with their children for the first time. It is very exciting to "be along for the ride" in their incredible life journeys!!

With all my love,