First day at Shanghai Children’s Home

Here's a quick update! Yesterday we spent the day at Shanghai Children's Home and met a number of children. Although they all had a different story, they were each beautiful and special. Some of the children especially took a liking to us. Chelsea looked at some books with an older girl, who enjoyed showing us all the English words she knew. I turned around once to see Erin snuggling a baby, and one little boy walked over to me every time someone put him down.

These were such special moments we shared with the kids. The sweetness of the day came back to the hotel with all of us. We all feel so lucky to spend some time with these wonderful children.

Pat

Child Tribute Quilt

We are getting ready for breakfast and then off for the day at Shanghai Children's Home. We are so excited that Erin and I have been up half the night. Hopefully Chelsea and Darla did better. I thought before we go this morning, I would post some pictures of the waiting child tribute quilt for the CCCWA.

It's really big, so it's difficult to see it, but I took a close up too. 

Here we go waiting kids; you are in the hearts of so many. We want you all to have a forever family.

The team is on the ground

We are now all in Shanghai. Darla tangled with some nasty storms to get in but arrived safely at about 9 pm last night. She was met at the airport by Gongzhan, while Erin was met by our Shanghai contact.

Although jet lag is keeping me up at 2 am, I have taken this opportunity to look over all the pictures of children from Shanghai. Every one of them is so beautiful and I will miss this quiet, precious moment I am sharing with these photos. We are so excited and can't wait until tomorrow!

We arrive with gifts and wishes!

Greetings from Shanghai Chin! Chelsea and I survived the 15 hour flight by watching plenty of movies, sleeping, walking, stretching and of course, drinking lots of water. We were met at the airport by our contact at the Shanghai Children’s Home and chatted the whole way to the hotel. We are now trying to get acclimated. A shower, a walk and a bowl of noodles for dinner have all helped.  

We are looking at all the things we have brought for the children, which include balloons, sensory brushes, developmental toys, balls, bubbles, crayons and paper, profile sheets, and a scroll made by children in a Families with Children from China group. We also have a collection of wishes that children who were adopted wrote for the kids who are still waiting...kind of like an adoption fortune cookie. A quilt (almost 5 x 8 feet!) of pictures that children who were already adopted made to remember the kiddos that still wait. We will present this quilt to the CCCWA to let them know that we appreciate their work, but also to remember all those kids that still wait. Now I know why my suitcase was overweight!

The one thing we cannot bring these kids is the joy of having a forever family. But, we may help some parents get to know these children a little better and hopefully fall in love with them. 

Before I get some rest tonight, I want to leave you with a few wishes written for waiting children by children who already got their dream.

"I wish everyone has a family "

Her sister, also a China adoptee, wrote,

"I wish for people adopting kids"

I agree. Those are my wishes tonight too. Let’s all dream about that.

Next Stop -- China!

This suitcase holds the hopes and dreams of over eighty kids in China. So ready or not, here we come!

Shanghai Kiddos --- Watch the Miracle!

Here is the reason we all do what we do - the kids! Erin Martin and I were so inspired by a video we saw of pre and post adoption pictures put together by an adoptive mom that Erin created a wonderful video of children adopted from Shanghai. You can see how these kiddos change with the love of a forever family - look at their eyes. They are loved and happy.

Thank you to Erin and all the families who shared their children's pictures. Heartwarming images for everyone from Shanghai to you... 

Here is the link: Watch the miracle.

We are almost there.

Today is the day to stress out over  what I will forget.  Will it be my tooth brush, the camera or something else?  As long as I arrive at the airport with my passport and the profile sheets for the developmental screenings, it will be a successful trip.  So here we go.  we are all excited.  The entire team just wants to hug some babbies, hold some hands and play with some older kiddos.  We have been preparing for this trip for a very long time.   We are Just ready to work with the kids.   So  a quote to close. 

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step-  Lao-tzu.

Boy can you say that again.  Can't wait.

Peace,

Pat