Wishes do come true!

This week went by in a blur.  Talking to families, meetings and outreach at Gladney,  conferences with Waiting Child advocates and the Superkids team.  There is more good news from Superkids.  I made a personal wish this year for on my birthday.  I wished that each and every child I met in China would find a forever family to love them.  Well, each time a family steps forward its like part of my wish is coming true.  One of the most rewarding things we all do is to see a child come home with their forever family.  One of the saddest is when a child we have met does not find their family.  That is just heartbreaking on so many levels.  To have held them in our arms and then no one sees the uniqueness and beauty of that precious child is sadder that words can even describe.  But why am I dwelling on this, because there are so many wonderful, beautiful and amazing children out there just waiting for a Mom, Dad and family.

Today we have good news!

I have found my family! 

We are so happy that Shayla found her family.  Can you hear us celebrating?  Yes, there is one more beautiful child who will be loved by a family.  We are so happy for her.

Remember there are still many children waiting for families. Boys as well as girls, older and younger, all special and unique and beautiful for who they are.  None are defined by a special need. They are just amazing individuals, precious children wishing to be loved.  Wishes do come true!    

Great News!!

There is good news and great news.  The good news is that China Paperwork on the kiddos we saw is starting to roll in.  The great news is that some of them are starting to find their families.  I cry every time a child is matched and the Superkids team trades phone calls.  I call Erin, we email Darla and Chelsea.  Then we let Gongzhan know.  There is a flurry of excitement.  Happy exchanges. So for today, here is the good news.

       I have found my Family 

This beautiful girl who asked Chelsea and Erin and Darla and Gongzhan and me for a forever family, has one.  Bells and whistles, horns blaring.  Yes, this beautiful girl who we called Penny has a committed family working to bring her home.  Her picture will be up on the bulletin board at the orphanage next year. We are so happy for you, Penny.   

Still, even though Penny has a forever family, many kiddos do not.  So continue to follow our stories.  Reach out, spread the word and Advocate, Advocate Advocate for all children who need families  

Guest post from Chelsea

This was the Superkids team that traveled to China this Summer.  See that girl with the red hair?  Well, that is Chelsea who is our special intern.  She has been working in the Gladney office for almost a year.  She was our intern on the Superkids trip.  She took literally thousands of photos, played with and hugged the babies and supported the team in every activity.  I think to say that going to China changed Chelsea's life would be an understatement.  She found a deep connection with the children we saw and she formed a bond with everyone on the team.  I can't say enough about how wonderful the team was, but Chelsea demonstrated, purpose, focus and maturity well beyond her years.  In this post Chelsea shows her deep commitment to these children.  Here are Chelsea's reflections as she advocates for a very special boy!

Hua Hua was the last child that came into our assessment room on the first day of our journey. And he changed me. Maybe it was his round cheeks and his one blue eye, or maybe it was how his hands could do all the same tasks though they looked nothing like mine. But really, I think it was a sense that he needed me that created this change in my heart.
So when Pat asked me to write a post about Hua Hua I jumped at the opportunity. Hua Hua represents so much of what originally drew me to orphan care. There are hundreds of thousands of children—like Hua Hua—abandoned all over the world because of a disability or because of the social and economic burdens of raising a child with special needs. And from now on, whenever I think of these children, I will always see Hua Hua’s sweet face with his contrasting dark brown and ice blue eyes.
I sat near Hua Hua that day in the Shanghai Children’s Home and told him how special I thought he was. And as I sat, I listened to our team’s medical volunteers and the orphanage staff discuss whether or not Hua Hua has normal eye-sight (which all signs seem to suggest that he does by the way) and someone  from the orphanage mentioned the use of colored contacts to “correct” his mix-matched eye color. This bothered me. I thought to myself—“What a shame.” Why change Hua Hua? He’s exquisitely unique and special and perfect just the way he is.
And that’s the mission of Superkids—to care for children without reservations. Hua Hua doesn’t need to be changed to be loved, but he does need a family. And if you love him, I promise this miraculous little life will change you. I know because he changed me.

For more information on Hua Hua or any of the children seen by Superkids, please contact Pat Marcus PT at patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com.

Wordless Wednesday

This face is just too handsom!  You can find Samuel's information on rainbow kids or contact Lindsay.miller@gladney.org or Patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com

Smiles

You know how when you hold a baby in your arms, they feel warm and heavy.  They just rest snugly against you.  I have been thinking about all the babies we held. how they rested comfortably in our arms.  The moments we had with older kids.  They laughed, we laughed and we were connected in that moment.  This was repeated, orphanage after orphanage and province after province.  It was an amazing experience.   That special connection fills us with wonder and breaks our hearts all at the same time.  Now that children are beginning to be matched and find their families, we rejoice and our hearts sing.

I have spent the weekend with these kids.  Putting many profiles up on Rainbow Kids.  It was like spending the weekend with these children all over again.  I remembered the special moments with each child.  So visit Rainbow Kids to see more about these kiddos.  Here are some beautiful pictures of our time with these kiddos.

Don't Forget Me

Just because I am an older boy.

One of the bravest kiddos I've ever met

When we were in ChangSha we met this lovely girl.  She was living in foster care.  She came in with her foster father.  They had a cute back and forth dialog.  He translated for her, explaining that he was a teacher. His English was impeccable.  She has been in foster care a long time.  The foster Mom has a serious heart condition and they felt "Amanda" would have more opportunities available to her if she were internationally adopted.  She is a sweet beautiful girl.  As we talked to her more, she touched all our hearts.  Her foster father described her as open, brave, bright and straight forward.  

Amanda turns 13 in December.  That means a family has just about one year to bring her home.  When we asked her what was important to her about a family, she asked for a family who will be patient and love her. She also hopes for siblings if possible.  Amanda has had recent spinal surgery and we believe she had Spina Bifida but in her file they call this post operative straightening of bulging lumbar backbone.  She uses a wheelchair to get around but can take some steps.  She is independent in all her self care activities. Her favorite subject is Math!  Her favorite color is light purple.

This beautiful girl touched the entire teams heart.  We received a message yesterday that Amanda was moved back to the orphanage due to the foster Mom's poor health.  The foster family tries to visit her on the weekends helping her to adjust to this change.  We all cried when we read this.

This girl is waiting, hoping for a forever family.  As one chapter closes in her life, another chapter is set to open.  We hope someone feels she is their daughter.