The Beginning of...

In  2006 I was working with a sweet little girl adopted from China.  She was a sweetheart and stole my heart instantly.  Her mom was a sweet serious and had a heart for children in orphanages.  She asked me one day if I would help her with a project to help children in the orphanage her daughter was from.  Of course I said yes!!! I thought we would have a bake sale, rise some money and give it to this orphanage.  I had always been impressed with how well this kiddo was doing,  I wanted to help any way I could.  Well,  No bake sale.  Less than one year later we traveled to China on our first Superkids trip. 

Our goal in 2007 was to bring developmental training to orphanages.  This one orphanages that had been our little sweeties orphanage grew quickly into many orphanages, in other provinces and into the partnership program it is today.  the program has changed somewhat to do everything we can to provide  for waiting children's greatest need,  a forever family.  All of this growth and expansion are due to Gongzhan Wu and the amazing partnership program he has created.

Gongzhan is the Superkids team leader and we are so so lucky to be his team.  In China when we say his name,  all the officials sit up straighter and listen more closely.  We are welcomed with open arms and he makes all of this possible. China knows and trusts this wonderful man, as do we.  So Superkids exists because of Gongzhan, his amazing connections and all his knowledge and wisdom.  He is a mentor, adviser and  role model for every member of the Superkids team.

The most important thing I try every day to emulate is his belief that we should do everything we can to help a child, an orphanage and/or, the very next person we meet.  He refers to it differently, calling this, do the favor you can.  Superkids is so blessed to work with Gongzhan.  He is in the corner of every waiting child.

So without GZ and a wonderful adoptive mom,  there would not be a Superkids program.  We carry this program on for waiting children, telling their stories and connecting them with waiting families,   arranging medical care, training nannies and rehab staff.  

Or as Gongzhan would say,  "What can we do for this child?" 

What's New???

Well our blog is new!  We are so so happy with the new design and social media share buttons!!!  And look at the beautiful pictures of Children at the top.  Why did we remake the blog???  because our children need to be showcased and celebrated in the most beautiful ways.  We are so so excited to help beautiful waiting children find their forever families and this blog will help us do more.  You can now share our posts easily.  So here we go!!!

What else is new? We cant wait for our Friday night event with Martha Osborne!  She keeps advocacy moving, changing and keeping pace for all adoption programs.   If you have not seen her new site,  click on this link.  rainbowkids.com.  We are so happy for waiting children everywhere to have such a great new tool to help their forever families find them.

 Lastly, new files are in! and we are slowly uploading them to RK.  Read our sister blog, asiawaitingchild.wordpress.com for our Boys Rock our Hearts highlights this month.

 I am choosing to post Erin Martin's testimony for boys here today.  Erin is our Superkids photographer.  She takes all those beautiful pics you see.  We are forever in her debt for these great images.  Erin is also a adoptive mom.  She has adopted twice through Gladney!!  Her daughter Eliana was one of our Superkids. It is so special Erin is now part of the Superkids team.   

As the mom of three boys I certainly feel qualified to speak about how wonderful boys are! My sons are currently 15, 12, and 9. My oldest son is the scholarly type. He loves to read, study, and play the piano and violin. He is steady and dependable. My second son is my outdoorsman! He is never happier than when he is dressed in camo from head to toe, exploring the woods with his faithful companion, our dog, Timber. He is rambunctious and loud, but he has such a soft heart! He loves animals and cares for them so gently! Recently he was helping my sister bottle feed a kitten, I loved watching my rough and tumble boy gently coaxing milk into the kitten's tiny mouth! And then there is the youngest boy. At nine he still loves playing with matchbox cars and Legos. He has a whole collection of little cars and he loves each and every one of them! Like our oldest son he loves to read. I often find him curled up on the sofa engrossed in one of his beloved Hardy Boys books! I truly cannot imagine life without my boys!

 

Boys rock our hearts!!!! 

Nexts....

Next week is a very important week for Superkids.  We are having a large event in NYC and honoring Martha Osborne founder and creator of Rainbow kids.  In many ways,  Martha has inspired us all and led us along the road of advocacy.  Martha gives direction and purpose to what we do.  She keeps us moving forward and working for these children.  Rainbow Kids also provides the structure for our children to reach a larger number of families.  She has helped thousands of families find their children.  It makes us so excited to work with her as she is such an inspiration.  She truly has changed the face of adoption. 

What is also special for next week is the entire Superkids team is coming in to meet and spend time with Martha.  So we will all be together again.  WE are jumping for joy over this.  We all be together on this side of the world where we are not sleep deprived and exhausted. Where coffee and diet coke are not are first thoughts.  Where we are able to be together and just talk.  So think of all of us.  We wish every Superkids family could be with us.  We wish you all were here.

 Stand by for more excitement as we have several things planned for next month which is National Adoption Month.  Here comes November!!!!!

  

 

Another Victory!!!!

We are ever so happy to be seeing more files come in.  At the same,  We are seeing more and more cuties come home.  The files mean we have more and more kiddos  who have crossed the hurdle of getting a file prepared.  We all advocate for every child to have a file.  If they do not have a file there is no chance they can be listed.  Those files are the first victory.  It means they have a chance.  We want every child to at least have that chance.  A chance at a family, a future and being loved forever by a Mom and a Dad.  There is a magical transformation that takes place once this happens.  Children go from being alone and waiting to part of a loving family.  This takes place in steps.

Step one-  every child needs to have a file.  There is much foot tapping and asking and begging on our part here.  Not through any deliberate intention on anyone's part.  There are just too many children and not enough staff.  When we keep asking for a particular child it brings attention to that child and when the file gets prepared it gives each precious kiddo the chance they are waiting for.

Step two-  finding the right forever family.  Outreach from the Superkids team, advocacy and assistance from a whole group of adoption advocates makes this happen. We are so excited when these children are matched.  We ring a bell and shout from the roof tops.  There is great rejoicing for each and every special kiddo who find their forever family.   

Step three-  These wonderful beautiful precious kiddos come home.  You can see the difference in their faces and in their eyes.  The have the love of a mama and baba, a family.   Some of these kiddos tell everyone on their adoption trips in Chinese,  "  I have a Mama and a Baba now!"  Another victory!

So here are some great before and afters!  Little victories add up to this wonderful magical transformation that takes place.  The transformation of a waiting child to being a son or daughter!

 before

After

Before

After

Gearing up!!!

Well that surely describes it!  What are we gearing up for?   So many things all at one.  On Nov. 7th we will  be honoring Martha Osborne from Rainbow kids.  We are so so exited.  The entire Superkids team will attend.  We are laughing that it will be great to be together when we are not sleep deprived.  The Asia waiting child team will be working with Martha and learning more and more about advocacy.  Martha sets standards and has a model we are so so impressed with and excited about. In many ways it dictated our theme for the event, " Every Child Matters".  The Superkids team is dedicated to this. 

Each and every child is special and beautiful.  Its there differences that make them beautiful and special and there is the perfect family out there for each and every one. We all really believe that.  Often times families search for their Child by special need and in a way its that special need that brings you to the child. 

So here is the second thing we are gearing up for.  There are a number of new files that have come in or almost here.  Again we are excited.  More beautiful children to help on their journey.  Helping them find that forever family that is just right for them. 

So a lot to celebrate and a lot to gear up for. Here we go!!!!

today I  leave you with some beautiful pics of a few of our waiting sweeties!!!

100 miles to You!!!

Two wonderful families started this project.  Both families are waiting for their child to come home. They are challenging all of us to walk, bike, run or kayak for 100 miles.  For each mile we complete we place a dollar in a jar and at the end of November ,which is national adoption month, Superkids will use these donations to fund our work in Asia.  We will be able to make more trips to help even more waiting children, find more forever families and provide love and comfort to those who wait.   Well here is the start of my 100 mile challenge.  Check it out on facebook and see the start of my 100 mile challenge here!

http://youtu.be/M86t4UhhZ8U

Here is the link to the facebook group!

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/827669113945070/

Here are some of the beautiful children who's stories we are sharing.  Remember, every child matters.  We will serve as their voice so they can be heard and work to help them find their forever family.

 

Texas turnaround

I had to do a turn around trip to Texas this week. Down and back in one day.  For those of you who know me well, can you imagine?  Not a good flyer and hate to travel.  Still its all for the good. I am back safe and sound.  This errand was hard work but you will see the results coming up!

Wile this was going on Erin and I had the opportunity to review some great pics from our trip. so here are a few wonderful images from this trip.

See all these beautiful faces?  I just could not resist sharing and look,  Erin got in a couple of photos. She is usually behind the camera!!!!  More about our new kiddos coming up!