Lilyfield

Making the Most of our Time

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 17:39:54 GMT

Here is something to brighten up your feed during this difficult time in our world. One of our foster/adoptive families has taken this time to write notes to the elderly who are not allowed visitors during this time. We love this idea and hope it encourages you to do something similar to spread kindness and love to those in need!

# LilyfieldOK # LilyfieldTulsa # EmpowerOKC # EmpowerTulsa # LilyfieldCounseling # Adoption # FosterCare

Foster Care Support Group (February 11, 2020)

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 20:42:21 GMT

Foster Care Support Group

Location:

Memorial Road Church of Christ

2221 E. Memorial Road

Edmond, OK 73013

Date:

February 11th- 7 to 8 PM

_

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Birth Mothers

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 17:46:40 GMT

In 2018, Lilyfield served 12 birth parent clients through our birth parent counseling services. If you are considering adoption, please contact one of our adoption specialists at 405-216-5240 or toll free at 866-397-7202.

Foster Care Support Group and Dinner (April 9, 2019)

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Foster Care Support Group and Dinner

Location:

Memorial Road Church of Christ

2221 E. Memorial Road

Edmond, OK 73013

Date:

April 9th - 6 to 8 PM

Dinner is provided, but you must RSVP to sjudd@lilyfield.org or 405-216-5240.

Why I Give to Lilyfield

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

"We give to Lilyfield because they help "the least of these” like the Bible speaks about in Matthew. We love that Lilyfield not only makes a difference in the lives of children, but the mothers and the foster parents and the families that are at high risk."

- Jeremy and Rae

Pass It On Kids Consignment Sale (April 26, 27, 2019)

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Check out our website at www.passitonkids.com for more information!

Foster Care Support Group (May 14, 2019)

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Foster Care Support Group

Location:

Memorial Road Church of Christ

2221 E. Memorial Road

Edmond, OK 73013

Date:

May 14th - 7 to 8 PM

Our Story: And God Laughed…

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Feature Foster Family

Gene and I met in 2002 while attending SWOSU. God had his hand in us meeting for sure. I grew up as a Baptist preacher’s daughter in TX. I had never even heard of the Nazarene church. Gene’s pastor of almost 10 years, his wife (the piano player for the church), and six children (they now have 10 kids) moved to Texas. My sister started playing the piano for the Weatherford Church of the Nazarene. I started attending to help with their upcoming Easter Cantata. I was pretty smitten with him from the start. 2 months later we were officially dating, engaged 5 months later, and married 14 months after that in 2003. We knew we wanted kids, 1 boy and 1 girl. We even had their names picked out before we were married. In 2005 Hannah was born. In 2007 Isaac came along. We were done. We had our boy and girl. We bought our perfect house (slightly out of our price range, but perfect size for our family of 4), and we stated that we’d never move. Life was good and just as we planned it.

We visited with Gene’s former pastor right after Isaac was born. We told them we were done having kids. They asked “Are you sure that’s what God wants?” (Remember, they have 10 kids) Yes, we were sure God only wanted us to have our 2 kids. Hannah started Kindergarten at my school in a very poverty-stricken area of OKC. She started talking about a classmate that she wanted to pray for because he had a very hard home life. We prayed for this little guy and in 1st grade he and his brother came in to DHS custody. We had never thought about Fostering or Adopting. We had our 2 kids right? We were done. We planned, and God laughed at our plans and we ended up fostering these 2 boys for 6 months. They left in August 2012 to join their sisters and be adopted by their Aunt.

Well we did our “good deed”; we fostered these 2 boys. Now we can go back to our comfortable and safe family. God started talking to my heart around Christmas 2012 and we decided maybe we needed to foster again. This time we would just take babies. We were certified and signed our contract June 19, 2013. We had prayed for months for the baby that would need us. Prayed for his/her safety, health, overall well-being and that God would bring this baby to us at just the right time. We got the call the next day about a 7 month old little girl. We said Yes! We had her 2 weeks and she went to live with an Aunt that eventually adopted her.

People always say, “Oh I could never foster, you just get too attached and I could never give them back.” Yes, it is very hard when these babies that you love as your own leave. Yes, you cry, usually a very ugly cry, but you just keep going. You start praying for the next baby that will need you. Our next baby was a newborn boy. We were told he would be with us for a very long time because parents were incarcerated and there was no family that could take the baby. We brought him home from the hospital and 4 days later got the call that family had been found and he was leaving in 4 hours. Seriously? Would we ever get to have a baby stay with us??

The next day we brought home a precious almost 7 month old (the next day was 7 months) little guy. We were his 6th placement. My heart breaks when I think about this baby, my baby spending his first 4 days of life in the DHS Shelter. We had no idea of the roller coaster we were getting on with this little dude. After 2 years of ups and downs with his case, and the case looking like reunification was going to happen, this Little Dude’s parents asked us out of the blue if we would adopt him. I have never felt so much joy and sadness all at this same time. We love his parents so much. They are the bravest, most loving parents I know. On June 9, 2015, we adopted Spencer. Again, I have never felt so much joy and sadness at the same time. Spencer knows that he has two mommies and daddies. We’ve told him about his biological parents (Paul and Crystal) and try to keep them updated on him. This last Sunday, I was delighted to see him light up at the mention of the story about Paul and Silas. “Paul? Like my other daddy? Yea!”

Fostering is very hard. It is very ugly. It is full of brokenness and sadness. We live in a broken world and sadly this is a cycle for many families. We wanted to love these families. I don’t think at the beginning I truly understood what that meant. It is hard to not be judgmental. It is hard to love these people that don’t seem to be able to get their lives together enough to get their kids back. My heart is forever changed thanks to fostering. I look at these parents not as drug addicts but people who are lost and struggling and have no support, no hope. This is what I think we as a Church are called to be; the hope (or representation of Hope) to these lost and hurting people.

In June 2014 we decided well, we have managed 3 kids, what’s 1 more. We brought home 2 little girls that we only had about a month, they left to go live with an aunt. We decided we only wanted a single baby, no older siblings, because you know, older kids are so much harder. So we told our agency we only wanted a single baby; no siblings this time. Here is where God saw us making our plans and laughed again. I felt God saying there was a 4 year old that needed us. Gene didn’t feel the same way (but did mention later that God had just been giving him the number 4 over and over in his head for days). We got the call the next day about a 4 month old and her 4 year old sister. There was the 4 year old God had placed on my heart. After lots of prayers and 3 phone calls with our agency, we finally said Yes! These 2 girls officially became “Strongs” on December 4, 2015, after we had had them 14 months. We were told a few months before their adoption that their mom was pregnant again. We prayed A LOT!

We spent many hours on the road to and from Lawton visiting (just sitting and holding/being present with) a little boy that had a long road of withdrawal symptoms (tremors mainly) ahead of him. He spent 47 days in the NICU; the longest any of the nurses working there had ever heard of for an NAS baby. NAS is short for Neonatal abstinence syndrome and is more or less technical jargon for a baby born addicted to whatever illicit substance the mother used during pregnancy. Just a week ago we sat and watched/listened to his (and his two sister’s) mother as she relinquished her parental rights without shedding a tear. Oh we both cried like babies, but it was awkward to watch her demeanor, and we both ended up telling ourselves it was just a front she had put up to make it easier on herself. The court terminated dad’s rights by default since he had failed to show to 5 different proceedings and now this little boy is on his way to being adopted soon this summer. He has never known any home other than the NICU and our home, but we plan to make sure that he knows he has 2 mommies and 2 daddies.

And it seems like this adventure is not slowing down. We’ve outgrown our “perfect” house and have started looking for something bigger. We’ve outgrown two different cars in 6 months, and if they adventure continues the current path we will soon outgrow the current vehicles we drive. It’s all just money, right? My God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and will provide for anything he calls us to.

The End…?

Providing Hope 2016

Tue, 19 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Providing Hope 2016
for Adoptive & Foster Care Families

August 6th 2016
North Church - 1601 West Memorial Rd. OKC OK 73134
9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Speakers include Babara Sorrels, Ph.D along with others

Dr. Sorrels is the author of the book Impact of Trauma on Healthy Child Development - Insight for Adoptive Families, Foster Families, and Caregivers.She is founder and Exec Director of The Institute for Childhood Education & founder of Connected Kids. Connected Kids works to help parents, guardians and child advocate understand and nature children in crisis.

This Adoption & Foster Care Community Seminar seeks to provide trauma-informed education and valuable skill sets that can be used in everyday life.The goal is to provide insight and understanding for Adoptive & Foster Care families who maybe be struggling. The seminar objectives are:

Trauma Informed Care Education
Learn attachment and nurturing to help reach their children
Gain other skills to help strengthen your family

This seminar is free and child care and food are provided at no cost thanks to our generous sponsors. However, registration is required. Please complete our online registration form. If you register and then learn that you are unable to attend, please alert our office at 405-216-5240 or by email at info@lilyfield.org so that we can have an accurate count for the food and childcare. If we reach capacity for childcare we will begin a waiting list and we will place an alert on this page once capacity has been reached.

Five Hours of CEUs have been approved for LPC and LMFT and LSW. The cost to obtain CEUs is $30 and payment can be made by following the link after you have registered.

The doors will open on August 1st at 8:15 a.m. and if you are bringing children, please arrive no later than 8:40 a.m. to allow plenty of time to check your children into childcare.

click here to register

Ryne & Kate

Tue, 03 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

We talked about adopting before we were ever married. It was a “someday” dream. We never thought about fostering because that was way too scary. But then we moved to Tulsa in 2012 for Ryne to become the Community Pastor at The Crossing South Tulsa. That’s when we begin to hear about the 111 Project and the need for foster families in Tulsa. We realized this wasn’t just something we should tell others to do, but something we needed to dive into ourselves. We were officially approved as foster parents in May of 2015 and have had 4 placements and 5 amazing kids.

Caleb & Julie

Tue, 03 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Being a foster family has been difficult, but it has helped us grow in many areas of our lives. Each of us are learning to be more giving, selfless and adaptable.

Super Bowl Michael Oher

Fri, 05 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Adoption touches almost every family in one way or another. Adoption provides a priceless gift, both to children and to families. When we make adoption placements, we don’t have an idea what the true impact on the life of the child will be. We can easily look at people and wonder where they will be in 15-20 years or what they will accomplish in that timeframe.

Here are some influential individuals who were either fostered or adopted:

Steve Jobs - founder of Apple – Adopted
Dante Culpepper - Football player - Fostered
Dave Thomas - founder of Wendys - Adopted
Faith Hill - singer - Adopted
Michael Oher - football player - Fostered

The movie Blindside was based off of Michael Oher’s childhood. It is an amazing story of how one mom had deep compassion for Michael Oher regardless of the differences in their worlds. She looked at Michael and saw something special in him. This weekend Michael will be playing in Super Bowl on the main stage in front of millions world-wide. His mother could have never imagined him playing in the Super Bowl when she encountered him at a time of such great need. It wasn’t an idea of his future success that prompted her to love him. She felt compelled that she wanted to make her life count and in turn make a difference in a complete stranger.

As we see needs right in front of us, I pray that we respond. That allow our hearts to be touched and that we move to help children to have hope and a future. Saying yes to loving children gives us the chance to develop qualities in them that will last forever.

October Care Connect

Wed, 07 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Care Connect support groups will meet on October 13 at Memorial Rd Church of Christ.

To RSVP, call 405-216-5240 or email info@lilyfield.org

Johnnie's Night!

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Every first Wednesday of the month is Johnnie's Night. Come by Britton Rd, Edmond,

Danforth, or May & Memorial to support our mission, which is providing safe and stable families for

at-risk children and youth. We appreciate you!

(Don’t forget to mention you're supporting Lilyfield)

Jana Hill Photography

Mon, 13 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT

J. Hill Photography is donating proceeds from photo sessions to Lilyfield and is giving a great price to her customers at the same time. Indoor sessions are available as well as a limited number of outdoor sessions. Call Lilyfield at 216-5240 or email lhopkins@lilyfield.org for more information.

Tulsa Legacy of Love Event

Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield will host our first Legacy of Love event in Tulsa this Friday, November 7 at the Park Plaza Church of Christ. The event features Clem Witt BBQ, speaker Miranda Burcham of PRESS-On fitness and our silent and live auctions.

There are still a few tickets and sponsorships available. Visit our website for more information. We would love to see you Friday night in Tulsa as we celebrate National Adoption Month and as we work together to ensure that every Oklahoma child has a family!

Special thanks to our Life Sponsors:

Kid's Camp provides healing and hope

Tue, 05 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

We held our First Care Connect Kid's camp a few weeks ago in July. The camp was a therapeutic day camp for kids who have been adopted. It was a unique opportunity for the kids to come together and share their experiences while they learned new coping skills and ways to be healthy and whole. We enjoyed time with their parents at the start and end of each day.

We launched Kid's Camp in response to the tremendous need we saw in our community for post adoption services and support. We know and understand the adoption and foster care experience through our work placing children. This experience gave us a desire to serve families who have moved past the initial placement phase of their journey.

Our Kid's Camp used material from Trust Based Relational Intervention along with some other models that teach strategies to deal with grief, loss, anxiety, and attachment. Each child had a personal "buddy" for the week. Our buddies were amazing community volunteers who spent the entire week working with these incredible kids one-on-one. We laughed, played and had tons of fun!

We have heard from the parents and children that coming to camp open doors for them to talk with each other and learn skills and strategies for challenges they may face.

It is our hope and prayer that the time spent at camp will be a positive experience for these really special kids and families!

Hope for the Future

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Earlier this year Lilyfield welcomed the first resident to the Gateway Independent Living Program. The program gives female youth who have aged out of foster care a place where they can pursue a higher education.

We launched our program a few months ago but we are seeing success already. The program allows female youth who have had no support and no hope for the future gain some footing and a chance to change the course of their lives. The goal of the Gateway Program is to empower young women who have aged out of the foster care system to complete their higher education and begin a path of self-sufficiency. One resident shares her experience with the Gateway Program.

My name is Mae. Lilyfield has helped me with so much, along with great attitudes and patience. They helped me pack all my things to move here close to them in Edmond. They helped me apply for healthcare, paid for my food, and let me decorate my room. They only want what’s best for me. They have given me great advice and most importantly are getting me in school. They are helping me find any way they can to pay for my school, so I can go to UCO. It’s the most important thing to me in life, and they are on the same page as me with helping me and treating me no different than any other person. I really appreciate them a whole lot.

Sincerely,
Mae, Gateway Resident

Mae has excelled in the Gateway Independent Living Program and has made it her home. She has her own room where she can study and work on her classes. Mae is a true testament to how the program can provide stability and hope for a brighter future.

Judah's Family

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Steve, Jama and big brothers Abraham and William added baby Judah to their family in 2013.

Steve says, “Adding to our family through adoption has brought Jama, our children, and I tremendous joy. With each new stage of Judah’s life we are reminded of God’s provision and the abundance of his blessings.”

Turning Point: Alicia's Story

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

I want to share with you how Lilyfield helped me make the most important decision of my life.

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I had been married for nearly four years, but the marriage was abusive. Even though my husband knew of my pregnancy, the abuse continued and my baby and I were continually put into dangerous situations. That was something I simply could not accept. With the help of a friend I moved from my hometown for the first time ever, and made my way to Oklahoma.

Although I was excited about the upcoming birth of my daughter, I knew that I was not in an ideal situation to parent, as I was still healing from my abusive marriage and had a long road ahead of me in rebuilding my life in Oklahoma. After weighing my options with a small support circle and some research on the Internet, I decided to contact local adoption agencies. I initially met with three different agencies, but Lilyfield seemed to have the widest array of information and helped me feel most at ease. My caseworker happily answered any questions I had about the process and met me at my home each week to discuss what I was feeling and what to expect.

Within the first two or three weeks of becoming a Lilyfield client, I started looking through portfolios of prospective adoptive parents. I had a great feeling about one particular couple, and I met with them the following week. After that meeting, I was more certain than ever that they were extremely deserving and loving parents for my daughter – it was a perfect match!

I stayed in close contact with the couple for the next few weeks leading up to the birth, and they became (and continue to be) another source of comfort and support for me. I gave birth to a healthy, beautiful and amazing baby girl, and they were at the hospital with me every step of the way. When I first saw my daughter, I immediately fell in love, and although the first few days were admittedly hard, I knew I had made the right decision. My Lilyfield caseworker visited me for a few weeks after and made herself available to talk and to answer any other questions I have.

My daughter's adoption is very open, and I keep in regular contact with her parents. They typically send pictures and updates weekly, and it is just as important to them for me to be in my daughter's life as it is to me. It is incredibly rewarding knowing that my daughter is happy and loved, with all the potential in the world.

I am so thankful that Lilyfield was there to help me when I was lost, and because of them, the outcome for myself, my little girl and her new family is overwhelmingly positive.

Worth the Cost

Fri, 27 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

It is not uncommon to hear people talk about the challenges associated with adoption. It is costly, both in time and money. The “wait” to be matched with a child is difficult. There are often many unknown factors about the child and their past. For birth parents, allowing another family to raise their child is the most difficult decision they may face in life.

But there is an amazing thing that happens in adoption, when you see a child thrive and grow in a family that was handpicked for them by God. Glory is one of those children. She was blessed with the gift of forever parents, Ray and Alicia last year.

“Glory is a precious gift from my Heavenly Father! Having Glory as our daughter makes God’s love for us much clearer as He has adopted us into His family through faith in Christ Jesus,” says Ray.

Volunteer with us

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Our programs continue to grow, giving us rich opportunities to serve many children and families. We would love to have your partnership as a volunteer for some very important upcoming events. To help prepare our volunteers, we have scheduled a Volunteer Orientation on Tuesday, June 24th at 7 p.m. at our Lilyfield offices.

Some of our volunteer positions will be directly interacting with the children we serve, and these positions require background checks and some training.

We are currently accepting volunteer applications for individuals interested in volunteering at our monthly Care Connect support groups to work in our children's groups. We are also accepting applications for our Care Connect Kid's Camp in July.

We hope you will consider joining us to learn more about these opportunities. For more information about volunteering with Lilyfield or to RSVP to for the June 24th orientation, email Sara Judd at sjudd@lilyfield.org .

Together we can change the life of a child!

Adoption: Planned by God

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Psalm 68:6 says that God places the lonely in families. The work of adoption is an amazing ministry of the Lord and at Lilyfield we truly believe we see God at work each time a child is adopted by his or her forever family.

Jeremy, Melodie and big brothers Holden and Paxton were blessed with the addition of baby Abe into their family last year. Jeremy and Melodie always planned to adopt children at some point in their lives, so deciding to adopt their first child five years ago was just a natural step for them.

Jeremy and Melodie are now the proud parents of three boys they were blessed with through adoption.

“We want them to have complete confidence in the way God has written each of their stories,” Melodie said. “Above anything else, I want my boys to understand they were planned and created by God. They are here, with us, on purpose, by God.”

Under Construction: Our Foster Care Road

Fri, 23 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

May is National Foster Care Month. Our blog will feature different foster perspectives throughout the month. Today’s post is written by Lilyfield foster mother Kathy.

The verse that has defined our foster care experience so far is, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” Micah 6:8.

“Act justly” I would say acting justly is living with a sense of right and wrong, and protecting the innocent. Fostering has challenged my sense of right and wrong. I’ve realized that our way of parenting is not the only way. We are doing the best we know how based on our life experience, our family upbringing, education, etc. So was our little guy’s biological family. Yes, choices were made that caused him to be removed, and sometimes families make choices that are so horrendous the child will never be returned to their biological family. But OKDHS encourages “bridging” between the foster and bio families. This is something that has been important to my husband and me, especially since we are dealing with a case that seems to be headed towards reunification. It hasn’t always been easy and sometimes I feel like our bridge is always under major construction. But we are 2 totally different families with 2 different walks of life united by our love for one adorable little boy. Bridging will always be a goal we work towards.

“Love mercy” I’m so thankful God is merciful. Foster care allows us to love with mercy on a daily basis…to love as He loves us. We love this little guy with all our hearts. We love him with a fierce love, knowing he may not always be with us.

“Walk humbly with your God” Foster care keeps you humble because you know your life is about to be changed, but you don’t exactly know how. For us, it meant going from our family of 4 (have to mention our other 2 loves that were adopted from China and Rwanda) to a family of 5. This was a huge step because as parents, we were suddenly outnumbered. We realize that at any given moment a coup could be forming against us. But the love we get to share with these kids makes it all worth it. Some of our humbling moments have included a weekend where we were so overwhelmed and exhausted that we didn’t attend our church small group on a Sunday evening. Then our group showed up with encouraging words and a bunch of food. It is humbling to see our 2 kiddos that have become very close over the past couple years, allow another “sibling” to come in and love him unconditionally. They protect him, pray for him and have genuine concern for his parents that often humbles me when I realize my attitude isn’t in the right place. It is humbling when I realize we have been trusted and allowed to take care of a child that isn’t even ours. Walking humbly with God means we have to continually rely on Him.

We are so thankful for the way fostering has changed our lives. It has strengthened our family and our walk with God.

The Joy of Foster Care

Fri, 16 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

May is National Foster Care Month. Our blog will feature different foster perspectives throughout the month. Today’s post is written by Lilyfield foster family Brian and Haley Padgham.

Our story begins with a love for children that knows no boundaries. After we married in 2003, our family began to grow with the birth of our first biological son in 2005. We continued to dream of growing and blending our family with a desire to adopt. As we prayed over and explored the many avenues of adoption, we discovered a great need and call from the Lord to help children in foster care. God tells us in the Bible to “care for the orphans” (James 1:27) and we decided to obey His command!

We have journeyed through foster care for six years now, serving many children and families during their time of need. Loving these children is a joy! By fully bringing them into our lives, each little blessing has changed our lives in an amazing and wonderful way.

We have presently grown into a family of seven, with two biological sons ages 8 and 5, a 4 year old son adopted through foster, a 3 year old daughter adopted through foster care, and a 1 year old daughter whose adoption through foster care should be finalized this year.

Building our family in this way has truly allowed us to grow in our walk with Christ, not only to lean on Him for the daily needs of these children, but also outreach to their birth families. We have been blessed with being able to interact with birth families, by putting them at ease knowing their children have two families that love them.

When we got the call for our oldest daughter, she was a tiny, one-week-old baby. She continued to live in the NICU for many more weeks, due to heavy exposure to illegal drugs and alcohol. From the moment we saw her, our hearts were smitten with her sweet little face! For three more weeks we went to the hospital daily to feed her and cuddle her tiny body, always praying that God would continue to help her grow and protect her. We were her only visitors while she was in the NICU. She is a true miracle and we are so thankful that God has given us this sweet blessing through adoption.

Many people ask us how we can let children go that have been in our homes. Our reply is that God uses us to do His work. There is no humanly possible way that we could do this on our own. The Lord guides us through every step of the journey, with His promise that we can “do ALL things through Him who gives us strength.” All of the children in our home are God’s, and He has given us the honor of raising each of these blessings!

It is wonderful to know that we can obediently serve foster children and show them a life changing love. Whether it is for a short time spent in our home, or we become their forever family, we are truly blessed by this journey and experience. Changing one child’s live changes a whole generation.

Foster Care: Mission and Ministry

Fri, 09 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

May is National Foster Care Month. Our blog will feature different foster perspectives throughout the month. Today’s post is written by Lilyfield Foster Care Specialist, Keisha Golden.

James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Three powerful words sandwiched between two major ideas, "look after orphans".

James, claims that to practice pure religion is to support children. In fact, in Matthew 19:14, Jesus clearly asked for children to come to Him, for heaven belongs to them. I believe James’ words are applicable to all children, to those whose parents have abandoned them, but especially to those children who parents simply cannot care for them at the moment. These are foster children.

As a foster care social worker, it is my goal to provide homes for children who are in need of either short term or long term care. I chose this ministry because I am able to prepare, encourage, and support families who directly exemplify the verses above. Foster care is a journey that in many ways can be difficult, but also very rewarding. I love that my mission is to help equip families with the skills and knowledge to nurture and care for children coming from difficult situations.

It is invigorating to not only fulfill this command personally, but to help my fellow Christians fulfill it as well. The compassion shown for the children in Lilyfield homes is something I witness daily and is spiritually encouraging. I chose to make foster care my mission because it is my responsibility to live out James 1:27, to be an active part of the church, and to provide safe and loving foster home for children in care. To look after foster children is not the job of one person, but many, and I am happy to be a part of this mission field.

A Testimony of the Gospel

Thu, 01 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Zach, Erin, big sister Reece, and big brothers Jet and Zeb were thrilled with the addition of Abe to their family. Abe was placed into the home through Lilyfield’s foster care program in 2011.

“The addition of Abe has touched every area of our life,” say Zach and Erin.

“He has such a sweet spirit and radiates pure joy. Abe is an answer to our prayers,” says Erin. “We knew going into foster care that our hearts were open to permanency and sharing our life forever with a child if that was God’s will for our family.”

Their church family took an active role in praying for Abe and the family. He quickly had a family and a community of people that loved him. Zach and Erin feel that they have been able to spread the gospel to a child and his biological family who may not have heard it otherwise. They realize that God has entrusted them to care for this baby.

One of the things that Zach and Erin most treasure is the knowledge that Abe is theirs and is an important part of their family. “We grafted him into our family, like Jesus grafted us into His,” says Erin. What a picture of love and acceptance! They love sharing Abe’s story and know they will continue to love sharing his story because it speaks Jesus to others.

“What a testimony we have of the gospel...right here in our arms,” they say.

Zach and Erin can testify that the journey is hard, but the rewards are greater. Children need loving and safe homes where they can grow into confident young people.

Brian and Nicole

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Brian, Nicole and big sister Grace were thrilled with the addition of baby Silas to their family last year. Being blessed with their second child has opened their eyes to God’s love in a way that nothing else could.

Brian and Nicole described the adoption of their Silas as a whirlwind of events with a beautiful and blessed ending. Five years after adopting their daughter, Brian and Nicole decided to commit to the process again. Filling out the paperwork and becoming certified as an adoptive family took awhile, but they only waited 15 days after that to receive the call that they had been matched with a birth mother.

“It’s those types of things you just can’t really explain to anyone else, just to watch God’s blessing and know that beyond a shadow of a doubt this was His will and not ours,” Nicole said.
The best advice Brian and Nicole can give to families considering adoption is to pray.

“Praying, having friends to pray with us and for us really helped a lot, and then when deciding to adopt again, just pray for that clarity,” said Nicole.

The process of adoption can be very emotional and is filled with uncertainty. Brian and Nicole stress that the love for an adopted child is fierce and strong. Adoption creates a unique bond for families who chose to love in a very special way.

Making an Adoption Plan: Brooke's Story

Fri, 25 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

I am writing to tell you about how Lilyfield helped me through a very difficult time in my life.

I had recently moved to Oklahoma when I learned I was pregnant with my third child. I was trying to secure a stable life with my two children. I was in a relationship but it was not going well. He and I were fighting all the time and I knew I needed to get out of that situation fast. He wanted nothing to do with a baby, so he made it easy to get away from him.

When the news of being pregnant sank in, I felt overwhelmed and then drained. This was so unexpected. I knew that being pregnant was not the hard part. The hard part would be the responsibility that would come in nine months. All I wanted for my family was to be settled with a good career, have a good school for my children to attend, have minimal stress and to be happy. A new baby was not something that I could deal with.

I knew that abortion was not an option for me, but I couldn’t parent either. I didn’t want this child to have to grow up without a father and in a family situation like we were in at that time. I knew that I had to find a way for this child to have a better life than I could offer at the current time.

I started talking with my boss about my situation as well. I told him I was considering adoption, but being new to Oklahoma I didn’t know where to turn. He and his wife had adopted through Lilyfield a few years before and highly recommended the agency as a place to start for support and guidance. I contacted the agency and through counseling with my adoption counselor and continuing to talk to friends and to my boss, adoption seemed like the best option for this baby.

Making an adoption plan was interesting. I was not sure what to expect and honestly it went pretty fast. I met with my worker and she helped me through the process and then she showed me families. I had high expectations for the family for this child and thought they would be impossible to find. It was pretty nerve-racking wondering about the family. I didn’t know if they would be willing to accept my expectations and be sensitive to my feelings.

Lilyfield allowed me to meet the family and find out for myself if this was going to be the family for my baby. The agency continued to act as mediators between me and the family until time for this child to be born and through the placement process.

I have no regrets when it comes to my decision to place my child for adoption. I couldn’t be any happier knowing that she has a wonderful family that loves her. We have contact with the family and are able to see her on a regular basis. Her new family has accepted my family with open arms. We get together for holidays, birthdays and barbeques. It is truly amazing.

I am still trying to reach some of my goals that I had laid out for my family, but I am on the right track. I would not be where I am today had I not decided to place my child into a wonderful family through adoption.

Brooke, Lilyfield Birth mother

The Ministry of a Lifetime

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

By Terry Laudett, Lilyfield Adoptive Parent

Some ministries last a short time. Some ministries last a long time. The ministry of adoption lasts a lifetime.

Actually, more than one ministry may be involved in adoption.

Adoption may be an international ministry. If you adopt a child from another country, you are engaged in an international ministry.

Adoption may be a pro-life ministry. By adopting a child, you are challenging the cavalier attitude toward the value of a child's life.

Adoption may be a ministry to the disabled. If you adopt a child with disabilities, you are engaged in a ministry to someone with special needs.

Adoption may be a family ministry. By adopting a child, you create a family ministry.

Adoption may be a preaching ministry. When you adopt a child, you will have many opportunities to preach to him or her. (Trust me.)

Adoption may be a ministry to the poor. In many cases, an adopted child will be saved from a life of poverty. In Tulsa, one-third of children in foster care will be homeless when they leave the system (unless they are adopted).

Adoption may be an evangelistic ministry. When you adopt a child, you will be able to share the good news of Christ with him or her (possibly for the first time in the child's life).

Of course, adoption is much more than a ministry. But it is not less. In some manner, you will serve the child that you love for a lifetime.

Adoption Works

Fri, 18 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Each birth mother who walks through our doors has her own unique story. An unplanned pregnancy is a life altering reality for the women that we serve. At Lilyfield we understand that there are a variety of factors that lead women to consider adoption and we take the time to get to know the women we serve so that we can help them come to the very best decision for their life and for their child.

We know that adoption works for many women and their children. Many women in unplanned pregnancies struggle with the decision they are facing about their pregnancy and the child they are carrying. Adoption is a loving and courageous choice for women. Choosing an adoption plan is not easy, but it is a loving way to give a child the gift of life.

Adoption allows women who are not ready to parent to give life their child while still pursuing their own dreams and goals. Women who make private adoption plans get to customize their adoption journey. They are able to chose and meet the adoptive family, and work with Lilyfield on what their relationship with the adoptive family and their child will look like following the birth.

Adoption is not easy, but it works for many women and children. We are available to provide free counseling and support to any woman facing an unplanned pregnancy. For more information about our birth parent counseling services, email Brittany Eck and beck@lilyfield.org or call us at 866-397-7202.

Penny's Story

Tue, 15 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Will and Amy recently went to court to finalize their adoption of baby Penny.

“He is writing a story for our family that we could never have penned ourselves, and we are overwhelmingly blessed to be living this chapter with our sweet Penny.”

When Will and Amy stop to think of all the connections God had to make to bring their daughter into their lives, they are amazed.

“Words won’t do justice for how much we love her and love being her parents. She makes every day sweeter, brighter, and louder than we ever could have imagined,” says Will.

Kid's Camp

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield is launching a day camp for children ages six to twelve who have been adopted domestically, internationally, or through the child welfare system.

The camp is based on Dr. Karen Purvis’ Trust-Based Relational Intervention and the camps that are run by Texas Christian University’s Institute of Child Development. Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) is an attachment-centered and trauma-informed intervention that is designed for children who have experienced maltreatment, abuse, neglect, trauma, multiple home placements, and violence. The activities will include play, arts and crafts, games, and nurture groups.

For the camp, each child will be partnered with a “buddy.” Lilyfield will need volunteers willing to be a child’s “buddy” for the week, and volunteers willing to donate food and items for the camp. We will be holding an orientation on July 20, 2014 for volunteers who are willing to be a child’s “buddy” for the week.

The camp will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 21-24 in the Summit building at the Memorial Road Church of Christ

We have space for ten children this year. There is a registration fee of $50 for each child that attends the camp, which includes meals, snacks and all camp supplies.

If you are interested in more information regarding the camp or you are willing to volunteer to be a “buddy,” you can contact us at 1-405-216-5240 or info@lilyfield.org.

Open Adoption-A Healthy Option

Tue, 08 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Many birth mothers that we work with come to us worried that they might not know how their child is doing as they grow. Because the love a mother feels for her child is powerful, it is important for her to know that her decision for adoption blessed her child’s life.

Contact following adoption is healthy and is encouraged by most adoption professionals. Not all contact is frequent or even direct. Birth mothers can pick an open adoption, a semi-open adoption or a closed adoption.

In a fully open adoption, birth and adoptive parents have direct contact with one another.

In a semi-open adoption, the agency facilities contact between birth and adoptive parents. At Lilyfield, our adoptions generally start as semi-open. Some move to more open adoptions with direct contact but for others contact continues through the agency. Contact can range from several times a year to less frequently.

Closed adoptions are the rarest and mean that there is no contact between the birth and adoptive families.

At Lilyfield, we believe that some form of contact is beneficial for all parties. In some cases that contact is limited to before the placement and in others it may continue throughout the child’s life.

Some sort of contact between families gives a birth family confidence in their decision as they see their child experience a happy childhood. It allows an adoptive family to have information to share with their child about their birth family, and open adoption gives a child some connection to their birth family.

Supplies needed for Gateway Home

Fri, 04 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield is excited to announce that the Gateway Independent Living Program is officially off the ground and running! All of the young women we serve have aged out of the foster care system, and are pursuing further education. Many of them struggle to afford some of life’s basic necessities. As we work to serve these young women there are a few things we need.
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Laundry detergent
• Dish Soap
• Basic cleaning supplies (all-purpose cleaner, sponges, etc.)
• Feminine products

We need individuals and small groups to help us meet these needs. Please help us make a difference in the lives of these young women by donating an item or two, or by hosting a donation drive to collect these important supplies.
For more information about Gateway, contact Melody Jones at 405-216-5240 or mjones@lilyfield.org.

A Family for Joel

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

One afternoon I received a phone call from a birth mother contacted asking if Lilyfield could assist her in making an adoption plan for her seven year old little boy. That week I was blessed with the opportunity to meet a very special little boy named Joel. Joel is an energetic and loving little boy who has been diagnosed with Down syndrome. Joel is very affectionate and loves to give hugs.

All of our staff had the opportunity to spend a fun filled afternoon with Joel while we waited for his transitional foster family to pick him up. Joel ate goldfish crackers, played with toys, and loved playing in front of the mirror in our office bathroom. I would say that has been one of the best and most memorable afternoons I have had working with this agency. Joel spent three weeks with his transitional foster family while we worked to find the family that God prepared for Joel. He was able to play with his foster brother and spent the holidays with this very special family. During that time, Joel grew to love the band Journey and loved showing off his dance moves. Joel was nurtured and loved in the three weeks that he spent with his transitional family. Right before the New Year, Joel was placed with his forever family. He has thrived since being placed with his family.

Joel is a very special little boy and our agency was blessed to have had the opportunity to help him find his forever family. Joel became a special part of several people’s lives in those three short weeks that he was with his transitional foster family and this agency. We thank God that he is now surrounded by a loving Christian family! They made a courageous decision to open their home through an older child adoption. Through their action, we see the Gospel being lived out.

Fostering – Two Generations Deep

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Gary and Janell embarked on a journey that would forever change their life and the lives of their children. Their journey began when they accepted the challenge of becoming foster parents. At that time two of their biological daughters were grown and the other was in high school. Gary and Janell were well on their way to being empty nesters. Little did they know other plans were in store for them. They say that they “simply felt a calling” to become foster parents. There was no other way to describe it.

Gary and Janell have opened their arms to 10 babies over the last 5 years, their stays ranging from 2 days to 17 months.

“We can’t remember what our family was like before foster babies. We must have been boring,” Gary and Janell joke. Their lives with foster children are anything but boring. They go to Disney World, take family trips, and have numerous family gatherings. Their foster children have certainly felt the love and support from their foster family.

Foster parenting comes with joy, but it can also be challenging. Gary and Janell have felt the heartache of babies leaving their home to uncertain futures. They have endured sleepless nights and walking the floors with infants.

Amidst the challenges, they have experienced numerous blessings. Both Gary and Janell agree that when a child runs to them with open arms, their hearts swell. They feel the pride when a child recites a Bible story for the first time. They know the joy from comforting a scared child. Rewards far outnumber the challenges.

“It hurts sometimes, but in the big picture, the blessings outweigh the hurt.” states Janell.

When two of their foster children became eligible for adoption, they felt it was in the best interest of the children for younger parents to adopt them. Bailey and Avery, the Smiths’ older biological daughters, stepped forward to open their homes to the children. Having already gone through the foster care training, Bailey and Avery were well equipped to become foster parents themselves. Without much delay, the two foster children were able to remain in the family, with their older daughters.

Now that their older daughters are foster parents, Gary and Janell feel extremely proud of them for the decision they have made to provide homes for children who would otherwise be placed in shelters. Bailey and Avery joke about how easy their parents made fostering look.

Avery is now married and has a biological daughter of her own. Her foster child and biological daughter are only ten months apart. They hope their foster child will soon become a permanent member of their family. At first Avery was a little nervous that her love would be different for her biological child. Her anxiety was quickly overcome. When asked what it was like to have a foster baby and a biological baby, she expressed, “There is no difference [in love] in adopting a child and having a child.”
The family has been asked frequently how they can cope with difficulties of fostering, such as having to let a child go. Their outlook is “You take care of the physical and let God do the rest. It’s not about you.”

When Gary and Janell decided to become foster parents, they immediately turned to Lilyfield Christian Adoption and Foster Care agency located in Edmond, Oklahoma. They knew the agency to be a reputable, Christian organization specializing in adoption and foster care.

Understanding the need for foster families and having a heart for the most vulnerable in our community is originally what led Gary and Janell to step forward on this journey. Five years later they have still felt overwhelming peace with their decision and have now passed their legacy of fostering to their own children.

Through all the joys and heartaches Gary and Janell have endured through fostering, they know it’s not over for their family. Their hearts and arms are open wide for children who need love and support.

Care Connect

Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield is pleased to announce the launch of its new Care Connect program. Care Connect is a comprehensive post adoption support and counseling program, consisting of support groups, case management, education, training, counseling, and referrals to families facing challenges following adoption.

“Adoption is a life long journey. Most children who are adopted experience very few challenges. However, some children and families find themselves in need of help and we hope to be a support in those instances,” said Holly Towers, Executive Director.

Care Connect equips and supports families who have opened their homes to children who may come to them with a variety of significant needs and challenges. Lilyfield is dedicated in supporting families through this phase in their life and to providing healthy family units. Care Connect is the vital post adoption component that is frequently missing for families.

Care Connect is a trauma informed program, which utilizes the well known Trust Based Relational Intervention model developed by Dr. Karen Purvis and Dr. David Cross. Care Connect also incorporates other trauma-focused methods.

“We know that some children come into adoptive families with painful histories. This program is designed to help families guide their children to a place of healing,” said Towers.

Care Connect families would have access to a Lilyfield counselor to guide them on their journey as an adoptive family. The counselor is dedicated to walking alongside families in this program by providing adequate support and referrals to services available
Support groups are held on the second Tuesday evening of each month and child care is available with pre-registration. Individual and family counseling services are provided to families on a sliding scale fee.

Making a difference in 2013

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

As the year comes to an end, we encourage you to make a difference in the life of a child. There are over 10,700 Oklahoma children in need of a home. Your end of year donation will go towards finding a home for a child.

In 2014 we will continue our hard work of finding Christian families for children. In addition, we have two new focus areas:

1.) The Gateway Independent Living Program serving female youth who aged out of the foster care system

2.) The Care Connect post adoption counseling program allowing families to strengthen their family bond following adoption

Both of these programs will require additional funds. We encourage you to partner with us by giving a financial gift this year. With your help, we can continue to serve those in our state who need it most.

Even Superman Was Adopted!

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield families open their arms to the many children in our community longing for a home to call their own. Every child deserves a family. The mission of Lilyfield is to provide stable, loving families for infants and children through adoptive and foster care placements.

There are many ways to invest in children who are without a home this season:

- Volunteer your time by helping with fundraising events

- Provide meals for families

- Participate in the Seeds of Hope Monthly Giving Campaign

- Become a foster parent

If you are interested in any of these areas to serve, please contact Lilyfield at info@lilyfield.org or 405-216-5240.

Lilyfield has an exciting Matched Giving Opportunity through December 31, 2013. Through an anonymous donor, any donation made now through the end of the year will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000. We encourage you to contribute to be a part of this exciting and life-changing work by making the most of this donation opportunity. Your year-end gift can change the life of an Oklahoma child!

Lilyfield is Growing!

Fri, 20 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. It's amazing to see how many children and families are being blessed through the work of Lilyfield. The work we do has been possible thanks to our many partners who give both time and money to this ministry. Your gift can help one of the 10,700 Oklahoma children in foster care find a family this season.

If you would like to help Lilyfield continue to grow in 2014, please donate through our secure website.

National Adoption Month

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

On October 31 President Obama declared November 2013 National Adoption Month. In his Presidential Proclamation he stated “I encourage all Americans to observe this month by answering the call to find a permanent and caring family for every child in need, and by supporting the families who care for them.”

National Adoption Month has been celebrated for 18 years. Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis announced an Adoption Week in 1976 to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in foster care. President Reagan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week in 1984. President Clinton then expanded that week to the entire month of November in 1995. President Clinton also directed the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan to expand the use of the Internet as a tool to find homes for children waiting to be adopted.

Every November a presidential proclamation launches National Adoption Month. There are many activities and celebrations across the nation to build awareness of adoption and draw attention to the thousands of children in foster care who are waiting for permanent families.

Along with National Adoption Month is National Adoption Day on November 17. Thousands of adoptions are finalized in courtrooms across the United States.

There is a tremendous need for adoptive families in Oklahoma. This year’s National Adoption Month initiative emphasizes the partnerships necessary to create permanent connections for the 100,000 children and youth in foster care waiting for adoptive families.

Lilyfield continues to raise awareness of the children in need of a permanent home. There are over 10,000 children in Oklahoma state custody. There is a growing need for families to provide a permanent home for these children.

Please consider joining our efforts by partnering with us. Every child deserves a family!

Foster Care Video

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

There’s always a need for foster families.

Brian and Haley opened their home to foster kids after realizing the huge need Oklahoma has for foster families. As the Brian and Haley share, it is not an easy thing to do, but it’s not about that it’s about the kids that need a home.

Fostering is not only a blessing to the children but also a blessing to the family that opens their home to foster kids. Lilyfield’s goal is to provide Christian foster families who commit to be a stale placement for children until their permanent placement can be found. Some of the benefits of fostering through Lilyfield include having a home study completed by our agency, foster care training is provided from a Christian perspective; ongoing training and support groups are provided. A Lilyfield case worker is assigned to each home. The worker develops a relationship with your family and works to guide you through the entire fostering process.

Lilyfield works as a liaison and advocate for your family, and extensive support services for your family and foster children. We believe that by providing loving foster homes to infants in state custody we can be the hands and feet of the Lord in his world, to the most vulnerable of children.

Lilyfield provides foster care for children ages 0 to 17 years who are in the custody of the State of Oklahoma due to child abuse or neglect.

Brian and Haley are a wonderful example of a foster family. They realized that it was not going to be easy, and that the journey would bring tears and laughter and sometimes they may not know what to do. However, they knew for sure that those children needed to be loved and needed to be in a home rather than a shelter.

Lilyfield Adoption Video

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield is a non-profit Adoption placement agency and has been providing adoption plan based services to the women of Oklahoma since 2000.

This video features a family who was looking to adopt and a birthmother looking for a family for her son. The birthmother picked Michael and Mandi to adopt her son, and they have an open adoption. At Lilyfield we often see birth and adoptive families build beautiful relationships that benefit one another and most of all, the child.

Adoption is a wonderful gift. Investing the time to build these relationships is always worth the effort. When open adoption relationships are established, secrecy and shame are minimized. Building these meaningful relationships illustrates the redemptive nature of adoption.

Birth mothers who work with Lilyfield look through books that potential adoptive parents have made. Based on these books and subsequent meetings with the adoptive family, a woman can decide which family she would like her child to be placed with. Adoption is a good choice for a woman who is not able to parent her child for some reason. Women who consider adoption do so because they love their children and want the very best life for them. Every adoption is unique.

We have highly dedicated and caring individuals who have only one motive: to assist all through the adoption process with the help of professional counseling and unbiased guidance.

Michael and Mandi are one of many families who want to welcome a child into their home. All Lilyfield adoptive parents are Christians. It is their goal in life to raise their children to know Jesus Christ.

The adoption process can be a very exciting and scary time for everyone involved and at Lilyfield we want birth mothers to know they are not alone. We believe that adoption is a beautiful expression of love.

We believe that God has a plan for every child. Every child deserves a family and it is a blessing for us to see each child’s story unfold.

Turning Treasures into Hope for Girls

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield is holding a Benefit Garage Sale September 13-14 at our Independent Living Home at 800 S. Santa Fe. Proceeds will benefit our Independent Living Home that will be opening in early 2014.

Lilyfield’s Independent Living Home is designed for female youths ages 18-25 who have aged out of the Oklahoma foster care system. The housing program will serve 3 youth simultaneously. Each young woman will be given her own furnished bedroom. Lilyfield also hopes to serve an additional 25 young women with our non residential services of educational and life skill support and mentoring.

We want to empower young women who have aged out of the foster care system to complete their higher education and begin a path of self-sufficiency. We hope that by providing love, support, and stability we might also be paving the way for success for a small portion of these youth in Oklahoma.

The three focus areas of the program will be: housing, education support and mentoring. Women accepted to the residential program will have gained acceptance to a 2 or 4 year college degree program or agree to apply and begin a program within 6 months of entering the Lilyfield program. They will also maintain employment during extended school breaks and/or the 6 month probationary period prior to beginning school.

Any interested former foster youth who is female ages 18-25 may gain access to the non residential services of the Lilyfield program. These services will aim to provide the young women with an opportunity to enhance other areas in their life and create an opportunity for personal growth.

This year alone Lilyfield has provided a home for 67 children who would otherwise be placed in shelters. That is an increase from a total of 49 children served through Lilyfield in 2012. We want to extend our dedication to providing families and assistance to youth who have aged out of the foster care system. Lilyfield anticipates that the program will cost approximately $82,763 to administer annually.

The cost of the program will be covered entirely by private donations, grants, foundation and corporate funding and fundraising events, like our upcoming garage sale.

We hope you will join us at our garage sale later this month and help these young women.

Volunteer with Lilyfield

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield is a non-profit, faith based organization. We work with over 50 volunteers each year. We need your help to accomplish our mission of providing safe and stable families for children and babies. The work we do would not be possible without the dedicated people who give of their time and energy to serve children and families through Lilyfield.

Lilyfield’s first volunteer training is coming up on Saturday, September 7 from 10:00a.m to noon at Memorial Road Church of Christ. This will prepare volunteers by providing essential information about Lilyfield, our policies and procedures, Lilyfield’s Code of Ethics, and introductions to other volunteers and staff. The training is required for anyone wishing to provide direct service to any Lilyfield clients.

There are many different ways to help Lilyfield by volunteering throughout the year. Opportunities include helping with children’s groups, mentoring, support foster families, providing meals and food, help with office duties, volunteer for events, help at our Independent Living Program and much more.

The training will introduce you to more information about Lilyfield and help you to pick a volunteer role that works well for you!

Launch of Independent Living Program

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The mission of Lilyfield is to provide families for vulnerable children. Traditionally we have done this through adoptive and foster care placements. However it is clear that the need for a family does not end at age 18. These young people have entered adulthood alone. Lilyfield hopes that by providing love, support, and stability we might also be paving the way for success for a small portion of these youth in Oklahoma.

An estimated 295 children in Oklahoma will age out of state care this year and still need a high level of support in order to succeed. These youths are more likely to experience homelessness, violence, mental illness, and poor health outcomes. One in four of these youths will experience homelessness within 18 months of leaving foster care, while one in three will struggle with mental health or substance abuse problems.

In early 2014, Lilyfield will launch an independent living program for female youth ages 18-25 who have aged out of the Oklahoma foster care system. The program will have three focus areas: housing, education support and mentoring. The Lilyfield housing program will serve 3 youth simultaneously. Each young woman will be given her own furnished bedroom. The non residential services of educational and life skill support and mentoring will be open to any female youth ages 18-25 who has aged out foster care.

The goal of the Lilyfield Independent Living Program is to empower young women who have aged out of the foster care system to complete their higher education and begin a path of self-sufficiency. Beyond housing, participation in the Lilyfield program would involve intensive mentoring with volunteer families who we hope will become “surrogate” families for the young women. These families will be a source of guidance through life decisions and provide a sense of security during their stay.

Women accepted to the residential program will have gained acceptance to a 2 or 4 year college degree program of agree to apply and begin a program within 6 months of entering the Lilyfield program. The cost of the program will be covered entirely by private donations, grants, foundation and corporate funding and fundraising events.

If you are interested in learning more about our Independent Living Program, contact Melody Jones at mjones@lilyfield.or

Lilyfield raises awareness at Oklahoma Christian University

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield teamed up with Oklahoma Christian University last week to bring awareness children in Oklahoma who are in need of families. A week of chapel services was been dedicated to foster care, adoption, and the fatherless at Oklahoma Christian.

“We believe that every child deserves a family,” said Holly Towers, Executive Director of Lilyfield. “Participation with the fatherless and the modern day orphan is not optional when we are focused on Christ and living a Godly lifestyle.”

Lilyfield lined up speakers and organizations from the community and other non for profit organizations to speak on the needs of the fatherless in our community.

“Many people can foster or adopt. But even those who cannot open their homes to a child can ensure that other Christian families are able to,” said Towers. “We also hope that a seed might be planted in the hearts of these students to one day foster or adopt.”

Ms. Towers kicked off the week by sharing Lilyfield’s dream of a family for every child in Oklahoma. The campus then heard from Tom Ward, CEO of SandRidge Energy and founder of White Fields. Mr. Ward shared his passion of supporting the fatherless as an act of obedience to the Gospel. Other speakers were: John Sowers, author of the Fatherless Generation and President of The Mentoring Project; Ben Nockels, Director of the 111 Project; and Josh Kingcade, Adoptive Father and minister at Memorial Road Church of Christ.

Lilyfield Executive Director with Josh and Aubrey Kingcade. The Kingcades welcomed all three of their children into their home through the Lilyfield foster care program. All three have now been adopted.

Students had the opportunity to donate a meal swipe to help fund the cause of providing families for children in Oklahoma through the adoption and foster care programs at Lilyfield. Other efforts included donating spare change in baby bottles located around campus and connecting with featured organizations through volunteer and internship opportunities.

“Students often wonder how they can be involved in making a difference in the lives of children. Through these efforts, students can help provide homes for children by donating their time and resources,” stated Towers.

Openness in Adoption

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

We get to see life-changing moments every day at Lilyfield.

When prospective adoptive parents begin the adoption process, they often wonder what a relationship with the child's birth parents might look like. There are often misconceptions about the relationship between birth and adoptive families. It is not uncommon for both sides to have fear and anxiety about an ongoing relationship.

While every adoption is unique, at Lilyfield we often see our birth and adoptive families build beautiful relationships that benefit one another and most of all the child! Adoption is a wonderful gift. Investing the time into these relationships is almost always worth the effort. When open adoption relationships are established, secrecy and shame are minimized.

A Lilyfield adoptive mother recently wrote these words about her experience with open adoption:

"Isn't it funny how relationships evolve? We never would have suspected our adoption would be this open, or that our relationship with our birth mom would include so much more than just our daughter. We are so happy for her, and enjoy celebrating her successes with her. I think almost as much as she enjoys celebrating our daughter with us."

Adoption provides an opportunity for families to unite together to build a strong support system around a child! We are so thankful to be a part of such a life changing process.

Lilyfield is a finalist for the Sandridge Power of a Dream grant! Vote NOW!

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Lilyfield is honored to be a finalist for the Sandridge Power of a Dream grant, but we truly need your help! Please vote for us to win at http://www.sandridgeenergy.com/dreampower/ ! The proceeds will go toward providing more foster homes for children in Oklahoma who are currently living in shelters, and resources for those children.

On November 14, 2012, there were 11 children under the age of 5 years old in a state run shelter in Oklahoma City. Each of these children was a victim of abuse, neglect or abandonment, left in a shelter due to no fault of their own. Less than 2 weeks before Thanksgiving, a 10-day-old baby lingered in the hospital because there was no home available for her.

Our city is facing a crisis that we must address. Babies should not be left in hospitals and shelters because there are no families equipped to take them home. The good news is that there are families willing to step up and make an impact on these children. In order to accommodate these new families, funding is needed to certify and train families to become foster parents.

Resources are needed to certify and train families to become foster parents. The certification process includes training and equipping these families in preparation for children to be placed in their home. This includes training materials, equipment and processing certification documents.

In many cases, foster families also need means to care for the children who come into their home. Children often come to us with their meager belongings in trash bags or cardboard boxes. Frequently, their clothing is the wrong size or in poor shape, if they have any clothing at all. They rarely come with toys or other personal belongings. Specifically, funding would be used to purchase clothing, shoes, coats, luggage, toys, books and related items for children being served by Lilyfield foster families.

Lilyfield hopes to reduce the number of children who are without families by finding families who can provide a loving home for them. Our dream is for children in our foster care program to know their foster families and their communities love them, even at a time when their biological families are unable to care for them.

Help us spread the word for this incredible cause!

October Highlights

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As we gear up for National Adoption Month in November and the holidays that follow, the work we do at Lilyfield seems especially important. Our adoptive and foster families are ministering to the children placed in their homes day and night. We are so thankful to be part of this important work.

If you haven't visited our new website, I encourage you to do so. Information about our recent name change can be found here. We have just completed our site visit with the Council on Accreditation and look forward to receiving our national accreditation sometime in 2013.

Found Causes

Lilyfield was featured recently on Found Causes. You can watch the 30 minute episode, which focuses on Foster Care, Online. We were honored to share about our ministry.

Volunteers Needed

We are in need of volunteers to serve our families and programs in several ways. If you are interested in being involved in our work by volunteering, please email Holly Edwards . We are updating our volunteer database and will be sending out several opportunities in the near future. Many of our opportunities are ideal for small groups or Sunday School classes, as well as families and individuals.

Emergency Foster Care Program

We have recently started our Emergency Foster Care Program, which provides short term placements to very young children. These families ensure that these children never spend one night in a shelter. Information about the program can be found our website . For more information, contact Jordan Sanchez.

Christmas Wishes

We are currently collecting Christmas Wish Lists for our foster children. If you would like to "adopt" a Lilyfield Foster Family this Christmas, please email Holly Edwards. We need your help!

Community Education

We have staff members available to come and present to your small group, Sunday School class, or just a group of friends about the important work of Lilyfield. We can share the importance and significance of adoption and foster care for Christians, as well as present ways for you to be involved with our agency. If you would like to hear more about these opportunities, contact Holly Towers.

As always, we ask for your prayers and partnership . We could not do this ministry without you.

Summer 2012 Updates

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We have had a busy and exciting summer at Christian Services of Oklahoma! Our adoption and foster care programs have been busy serving many birth mothers, children and families. We are also in the final stretch of our effort to receive national accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA). We look forward to October, when the reviewers from COA will be here in person.

You can make a difference in the lives of children with us!

Annual Benefit Auction

We hope that you will join us on August 24, 2012, for our Annual Benefit Auction. Our theme this year is "Every child is story yet to be told." Our devoted and loving foster and adoptive families ensure that the children we serve have the opportunity to reach their full potential. If you are a Christian Services foster or adoptive parent and have a story of one of "our children" we would love for you to share that with us! Email Angie Ricketts or call us at 405-216-5240.

The Auction will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. August 24 at the Edmond Community Center. Sponsorships and tickets are available by calling the office at 405-216-5240 or visiting our website . We will also be sharing exciting news about our agency's growth and future. Your partnership with our agency ensures that children will have loving, Christian families to help write the stories of their lives. We look foward to seeing you there!

Emergency Foster Care

Everyday, our agency receives a listing of the children waiting at the Oklahoma County Shelter for a foster home. These children are at the shelter because they have been victims of child abuse or neglect. The only reason they are waiting is because there are not enough families who have said "YES!" to caring for these children.

Christian Services of Oklahoma has recently signed a new contract with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to provide desperately needed Emergency Foster Homes. These homes provide short term placements for the very youngest of children who are taken into state custody. The purpose of Emergency Foster Care is to ensure that infants and young children do not spend one single night in a shelter, but are immediately placed into a family. Placements usually last less than 30 days, until a relative or long term foster home is located for the child.

We need your help! Please visit our website to find out more information about this important program. We are seeking 4-5 families who are willing to open their homes to these vulnerable children. For more detailed information about Emergency Foster Care, contact Jordan Sanchez at 216-5240 or by email.

Even if you can't open your home to a foster child, you can impact their lives by making a donation to our agency or spreading the word about need among your family and friends.

The Agape Project

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Agape Project is a personal project that involved birth moms and adoptive families to show how much love there is in adoption.

Items Needed for Foster Children

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We need your help! Our foster care program is growing and some of the children we are serving have immediate needs.

Needs Include:

Girls clothing in sizes 24 months, 3T, 4T, and size 5. We gladly accept used clothing in good condition and will take clothing in other sizes as well.
Diapers, especially in sizes 4 and 5
A changing table to accommodate families with young children visiting our office

If you can help us with these needs, please contact Holly Edwards at 405-216-5240 or by email at hollyedwards@christian-adoption.org.

Thank you so much for your willingness to bless the children and families that we serve!

Spring Updates

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We have a few quick updates for you about upcoming events.

Pregnancy Counseling

We have seen a large increase in the number of referrals we receive for pregnancy and adoption counseling. Many of these referrals are coming from individuals or churches familiar with our agency. If you know of someone in need of our birth parent counseling services, please have them contact Brittany at 405-216-5240 or by email at brittany@christian-adoption.org. You can also visit our website to find out more about what we offer to women who are in an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption. We also serve women who wish to place their older children or toddler for adoption.

Foster Care

The pas few months have brought our agency the wonderful blessing of meeting with many families interested in foster care. If you or someone you know is interested in this ministry, we would be happy to come visit with you personally. We are also available to do presentations to your small group or at churches. Contact Holly Edwards at 405-216-5240 or by email at hollyedwards@christian-adoption.org to get a meeting set up.

We continue to recruit a foster family for our transitional care program. We have been contacted by more and more birthmothers wanting assistance in placing their older children for adoption. We need a special transitional care family willing to provide temporary care for children ages birth-12 years of age. Typically our transitional care families care for one to two children per year for short periods of time until an adoptive family is identified and able to take placement. Theses temporary placements last from 5 days to a few months. If you are interested in joining our ministry in this way, please contact Brittany Orr at 405-216-5240.

Tot Trot

The 2012 Tot Trot is scheduled for May 11, 2012 at Stars and Stripes Park at Lake Hefner. Come join us for an evening of fun and activities! Information and registration are available online .

Adoption Training

The Oklahoma Adoption Coalition is hosting a training on special needs adoption for adoptive and foster families, as well as professionals.The training will be held April 20 in Oklahoma City. Information can be found on our website. Christian Services is a member agency of the OAC and we are pleased to help present this training. Please pass the information along to families who might be interested.

$13 a Day Campaign

Our $13 a Day Campaign is going strong, but we still need more monthly sponsors! The more sponsorships we receive, the more children we can provide with loving foster homes. Consider joining us in this endeavor.

Every Adoption is Unique

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

I recently had the privilege of being part of two adoptive placements that occurred in one week. Those two placements, even though they occurred within days of each other, were completely different in several aspects. The first adoption took three months of careful planning. The birth mother picked the adoptive parents and met with them on several occasions. The adoptive parents that this birth mother was matched with attended doctor’s appointments, ultrasounds and child birth classes with the birth family every week for six weeks. The adoptive parents and the birth family built a close relationship during this time. The birth mother carefully planned what she wanted to happen at the hospital the day the baby was born. The birth mother asked the adoptive mother to be present for the birth of the baby. She also planned for the baby to stay in a separate room where the adoptive parents could care for him during the hospital stay.

The second placement we made occurred five days after the placement mentioned above. This adoption plan began on a Friday evening with a phone call from the birth mother who delivered a healthy baby girl earlier that morning. I immediately went to visit the birth mother. That evening she made an adoption plan and picked the family that she believed God prepared for her little girl. On Saturday, the adoptive parents were notified that their profile book had been picked by a birth mother and that the baby was already born. The family was very excited! On Saturday afternoon, the adoptive family met their baby girl for the first time. The adoptive parents were even able to stay with their baby girl at the hospital until she was discharged the following day. Unlike the first adoption plan, this birth mother only needed a few short hours to make her adoption plan.

Every birth mother has different preferences and expectations for their adoption plan. The staff at Christian Services of Oklahoma helps birth mothers create an adoption plan according to her unique wishes and needs. It is an honor to help women make adoption plans for their children. Thank you for helping make our ministry possible.

Brittany Orr, LMSW

Adoption Coordinator

Miracles on Ice

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Miracles on Ice is another great and fun way to support Christian Services of Oklahoma. For every ticket you buy under our agency's name, Christian Services of Oklahoma will receive $4. As always, we appreciate your support and partnership!

New Website

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Christian Services of Oklahoma is excited to announce the launch of our newly designed web page, www.christian-adoption.org . This re-designed site is user friendly and designed to provide extensive information to potential clients, donors and volunteers. The site features extensive information on our program for birth mothers , adoptive parents and foster parents . The site contains information on two of our new programs, our Older Child Adoption Program and our Post Adoption Counseling Program . Our waiting families can still be viewed online.

New information is available on this site regarding our agency’s history , staff and mission . Additionally, prospective or current donors and volunteers can find out about specific volunteer opportunities , our annual events , current needs and ways to donate either to our general fund or specifically to our foster care program.

Copies of our newsletters are also available as well as various photo galleries of events throughout the year. We hope our website can help become more acquainted with the work we are doing at Christian Services of Oklahoma.

Why Adoption Matters

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Occasionally I am asked by someone to explain the purpose of our ministry. The easy answer is that we exist to find families for children in need — whether through adoption or through foster care.

Almost 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unintended. Of those, over 40% end in abortion. The purpose of adoption is to give a parent facing an unplanned pregnancy an opportunity to give their child life and plan for their future by placing them into a loving, Christian home.

Adoption ministers to everyone involved. For a birth parent, it provides the chance to make a loving, responsible, and painful choice. It allows them to put the needs of their child before their own wants or desires. They are able to choose a family to raise their child, entrusting them to love and nurture the child as much as the birth parent does.

Adoption allows adoptive parents to grow or create their family. It also allows families to be obedient to the call of the Lord in James 1:27 to care for the orphans. Adoption lets adoptive parents be a part of the Lord’s plan to “set the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6). Adoption is the framework through which the Lord ensures that family-less children find families.

For children, adoption provides a Christian family. Families are God’s perfect design. Through a family, children find love, nurture, and healing. Families provide the foundation of faith. Children are able to grow up in the optimal environment for success when they have a Christian family.

Adoption matters to us because it matters to God. What a blessing it is to be part of God’s plan for all children to have families. At Christian Services of Oklahoma, we have the opportunity to help create families through domestic adoption, international adoption support services, and foster care. I invite you to join us in this special ministry.

Giving Thanks

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What a wonderful Thanksgiving season, where we can reflect on the blessings of our ministry!

We are so appreciative of the help and support of our donors and volunteers this year. Here are a few things are are thankful for as we plan to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow.

For our 8 foster families who are caring for 10 young foster children tomorrow. We are so thankful that these 10 children will have a safe and happy Thanksgiving with their Christian foster families who love and cherish them.
For our waiting adoptive families-both international and adoption-who will spend this Thanksgiving praying for and thinking of the children they are waiting for.
For the three new foster family inquiries we received this week! How encouraging to see hearts being moved to care for even more children.
For the birth mothers and children we are currently serving in our adoption program.

And we are so thankful for our faithful friends. Thank you for making our ministry possible! We would not be able to serve these children and families without you. We wish you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

If you would like to make Thanksgiving gift to Christian Services of Oklahoma, you can donate online .

Join us for the Annual Auction

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Photo Fundraiser with Jana Hill

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Make sure and visit Jana's website to see more of her great work!

Volunteer Opportunities

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We have several current volunteer opportunities. Call us if you are interested in partnering with us as a volunteer!

Respite workers for the maternity home: We need female volunteers able to stay 1-2 nights a month at the maternity home to give our house mother a much needed break.
Office help: We need volunteers to serve in our office 1 or 2 afternoons a month to help with filing, copying and special projects.
Meals and snacks: We need volunteers to provide meals and snacks for foster and adoptive parent trainings, and foster families when they recieve a new placement.
Supply Drive: We need small groups or individuals to host supply drives for hygiene and cleaning items for the maternity home.

For more information on these or any other volunteer opportunities, call the office at 216-5240.

OKC VIP Card

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We are excited to announce the 2011 OKC VIP Card. Christian Services of Oklahoma is honored to benefit from locally owned businesses through this special partnership. The OKC VIP Card provides a 25% discount at all participating stores from May 14-25. The cost of the card is $25 and 100% of the proceeds benefit Christian Services of Oklahoma. The cards will be on sale at the Tot Trot on May 13, the Spring Creek Kid's Festival on May 14 and at participating stores. Below please find the list of participating businesses.

Pickles & Ice Cream Maternity Apparel
Lil Dudes and Divas Children’s Boutique
Ladybugs and Lizards Children’s Boutique
Funky Monkey
Uptown Kids
Storkvision
Bella Blu Maternity & Baby
USA Baby
Learning Tree
Cupcakes to Go Go
Supper Thyme
Marcy & Abbey’s
The Ritz
Simpson Brachous Jewelry
Optique
Chiropractique Family Wellness Center
Panthera Gift Boutique
Simpson Brockhaus Fine Jewelry
Silver Leaf Gems

March 2011 Updates

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Here are a few updates to our work:

The Tot Trot is scheduled for May 13, 2011 at Mitch Park. Details are below. May is National Foster Care Month. Participation in this event is a great way to help children and foster families! We hope you will make plans to join us or sponsor a team.
There is still time to register for our upcoming seminar entitled "Parenting Children with Prenatal Substance Exposure" on April 2 at Memorial Road Church of Christ. Registration is online . Cost is $10 per family and childcare is included.
We are currently looking for respite workers for our maternity home. This is a volunteer position that comes with a stipend. Most respite workers serve two days a month. Please call our office at 216-5240 for more information.
We continue to recruit foster families. We will be having an orientation next week. If you are interested in learning more about how you can change the life of a child, contact Ashley at 216-5240 or by email ashley@christian-adoption.org .
Your small group or Bible class can get involved in our maternity home by holding a "supply drive" to collect household supplies. Email hollytowers@christian-adoption.org for more information.

We look forward to seeing many of our at one of our upcoming events! Thank you for keeping our ministry in your prayers.

True Religion

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

True Religion from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Annual Benefit Auction

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Christian Services held our Annual Benefit Auction on August 27th. This year we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. The event, which benefits our adoptions, foster care and maternity home, raised $32,000. The annual auction is an important event for this agency! Because of the generosity of so many, we are able to continue to serve women, children and families in need of our services.

Special thanks to Katie Rowten who made the beautiful cake in honor our 10 year anniversary!

Maternity Home Manager Lilly helps organize silent auction items

Thanks to all who helped make this year such a success! We are looking forward to another great event in 2011.

What Foster Children Have to Say

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

An Adoption Story

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We were blessed recently to place a baby boy with his forever parents. Each family's journey to adoption is a little different.

Jana Hill , a local photographer and friend of Christian Services took pictures for the family. They shared their adoption story with her on her blog.

Celebrating 10 Years

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Help us celebrate our 10th Anniversary at our

Annual Benefit Auction

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Memorial Road Church of Christ, Fellowship Central

6:30-9 p.m.

Ticket Prices

$32 per person

$35 at the door

$250 for a table of 8

The evening will feature silent and live auctions, a dinner buffet and a special 10 year anniversary presentation.

Sponsorships are also available

For information or to register 405-216-5240 or www.christian-adoption.org.

Welcome to the CSO Blog

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks for reading! We hope to keep people updated on our agency and what we are doing through this blog.

It is our goal to be an agency that is informed about adoption and foster care and shares what we know. We view our work as a ministry and we strongly believe that the Lord is interested in the babies and families that we serve.

You can check here for information on adoption and foster care in Oklahoma and statewide.

Please join us in prayer as we work to expand our ability to serve our community this year.

In the meantime, check out the information about our upcoming benefit auction!