Family Friday

Today a special Mom ,Karen, shares the story of adopting her beautiful daughter Julia.  Superkids met Julia on a trip to China in 2011.  She is smart and so full of Love and Life.  You can see just by looking at her pictures, She is always one step ahead of Everyone!   This is a very timely post because this week on the Asia waiting child blog we are exploring the need of limb difference.  You can read more about children with limb difference by clicking HERE It really shows us what an amazing Journey adoption is. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story Karen!  

Long, long before adoption was even on our radar, and without even realizing it, I was being prepared to be Julia’s mom.  I was a teacher, and one year I had an amazing boy in my class who had been born with the absence of his left forearm and hand.  This limb difference didn't slow him down one bit!  In fact, he could type faster than the other students in the computer lab, and he was right in the middle of all the games at recess.  The fact that he had one arm shorter than the other didn't define him at all!  He was known for his fun personality, his kindness, and his determination.

Fast forward fifteen years to September of 2010.  Our children were starting 5^th and 2^nd grade, and I realized that my role as their mom was evolving a bit.  Their needs were different from when they were babies and preschoolers, and I found myself with a lot of extra time.  I started looking into options like volunteer opportunities and part-time jobs.  I had heard that a good starting point for determining what you are supposed to do is to pinpoint what you really enjoy doing and start exploring from there. When it came right down to it, I realized the thing I really enjoyed most was being a mom!  I think God used that awareness to start opening my heart to the idea of adoption.  Years earlier my husband had mentioned adoption to me but I was quick to dismiss it because I felt like my hands were full at the time.  Through a series of conversations with a dear friend who had previously adopted and was in the process again, many of my questions were answered, and Barry and I started praying about adding to our family through adoption.

We saw our daughter’s face in May of 2011, while looking on RainbowKids.com.  When I clicked on her picture and read about her, it said that she had, “Absence of left forearm and hand”. That “special need” was familiar to me and I didn’t feel intimidated by it at all!  Could it be that God had placed that little boy in my life all those years earlier knowing that I would one day parent this child? We filled out the waiting child questionnaire, and a few weeks later the committee offered us the chance to be matched with “Ya Ya” who would become Julia to us.  Suddenly the cost and the amount of paperwork, while incredibly daunting, seemed somewhat inconsequential in comparison to the urgency we felt to get to her and to bring her home.  There is a great feeling of unrest when your heart is tied to someone who is literally on the other side of the world!

That November, Pat Marcus with Superkids Charity visited with the children at the Shanghai Children’s Home and she was able to spend time with Julia.  What a gift it was when she returned and had many pictures of our daughter!  She spent nearly an hour on the phone telling us about Julia and the place where she lived.  She answered my questions and reassured me of her observations of the care that the children were receiving.  It was a treasured conversation that I reflected on often during the months of waiting for our paperwork to be processed.

We met Julia on June 11, 2012.  What an exciting time!  We spent a wonderful two weeks in China with her, and it seemed like she had always been with us.  She’s been home a year and a half now, and we can’t imagine life without her.  She has added so much fun to our family, and we’re constantly inspired by her sense of determination and creativity. 

Julia is not defined by the absence of her left forearm and hand.  She is known as an incredibly silly girl with a ready smile and a wonderful laugh!  She makes an impression on everyone who meets her, and she is quick to share a hug.  She values her friends and family and shows it by her excited reactions whenever she sees one of us.  She started kindergarten this year and was chosen (out of 650 children) as the drama student of the month for September.  Nothing could be more accurate!

We are delighted to be Julia’s parents and can hardly believe the blessings that adoption has brought to our family!  If you have extra love in your hearts to give, would you consider adopting a waiting child?  Those words say it all- they are children who are literally just waiting for a mom and dad to find them and treasure them.  There really are not enough words to express the difference that adoption can make, not only in the child’s life, but in yours as well!

If you would like to talk about adopting a child with Limb difference, feel free to contact me patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com 

This Year

This year has gone by in a blur.  We are so grateful for every child we met.  They are amazing individuals and such a gift.  Every picture we see, every minute we spent with them was our privilege.  As we look back through the year the blur is made up of small moments. Little bits of time for holding a hand, drying a tear. giving and extra lollipop.  Having a short snuggle or getting a hug.  These little moments are just perfect.  A moment to connect, to give love and to feel that instant of bonding.  All these children are special and so need the love of a family.  So as 2013 ends, we celebrate with the new families of 2013.  Those that were matched or met their children this year.  Here are

click here to see The Children of 2013

From the 2013 Superkids team, Erin, Darla, Chelsea, Gongzhan, Rocky and Pat, and the Gladney team, April, Wendy, Lindsay and Mary,  we wish everyone a peaceful and joyous New Year that is full of the Love of family.  

The Children of 2013

Exciting news

Exciting news!  Dr. Darla visited Shanghai and visited with our children there this week.  She was in Shanghai and spent the day visiting with our children.  So cool!  She spent her time and all to get great information on the wonderful children there.  Yeah Darla!  You rock!

I am so grateful for our wonderful volunteers this year.  Darla donated her time this Summer and now!   Darla has children, a busy practice and she used her precious time to help waiting children find families.   Erin has the same spirit.  She has five children.  She home schools and has a super busy life.  Her dedication in helping waiting children find families is amazing!  Chelsea our intern has decided to dedicate her adoption. We have another waiting child advocate who is always there for us.  Suzanne has showed strength and dedication as well.  She is always there for the kids.  Volunteers from past trips also showed great spirits and love for the children.  Diane, Karen and Kathy, we are so grateful for all you have contributed.  Dr.  Eileen, you rock too!  You are always there for the children even when you are supposed to be having fun at a picnic and I ask for a consult on a waiting child.  

Many advocates from Internet groups have shared and supported the children by sharing posts and spreading the word about the wonderful waiting children.  So as the year draws to a close, Thank you all. Your spirits are amazing and they make each and every heart sing!  Each child that comes home is a victory.  If we can't change the world all at once, you change the world one child at a time.

Here is a quote to sum up our belief.
     
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. - Mahatma Gandhi

Here are some pics from past trips and this years trip. You rock ladies!

Wonderful volunteers, thank you all so much for the care and dedication you show to children.

Reflection

As the holidays are here and the year is drawing to a close, I reflect on all the trips to China we have completed.  We are trying to sum up changes we have made over he past years.  In 2007 when we first started going to China, I was amazed at how many children could be in an orphanage.  I was heart broken for some of our little ones.  I saw so many waiting children with special needs and yet potential adoptive parents, Social workers and the whole adoption community were only talking about the girls in the healthy infant program.   My heart broke each night for the kids with special needs.  How would they ever find families who would love them? I saw much more fear of special needs in those days.

As the times changed and China moved into more of a waiting child program, many of these children with special have found forever families.  In fact I am amazed at the change in attitude about special needs.  Not only with amazing adoptive parents being open to many more special needs but also change in attitudes toward special needs in China as well.  It just goes to show what role education can play in making changes.
On my first trips to the orphanages I noticed children with limb differences or their hand or arm had their sleeves rolled down covering the arm.  I shared through our translator the story of a friend I knew with a limb difference.  She went on to become a doctor.  I asked the nannies to roll up the sleeves of their children with upper extremity limb differences.  I told them this would help the children learn to use both arms and help them do more things for themselves.  The nannies were willing to try.  I have seen a big change in the care of these children.  They are encouraged to use both hands and arms. They side with the difference is no longer hidden under their sleeve.   I have had an older boy explain  his limb difference to me and show me both hands and arms pointing and clearly explaining.  Accepting his body as it is.  Navigating me through the differences without sadness.  It is just how he is.  Perfect in all aspects to me and I think to him too! Its education about you being different yet still able to lead a wonderful and live a productive life that made this change.  

All these things make my heart sing.  More kids finding homes, children more accepted with special needs. A true change in attitude here and in China!  Attitudes change and we grow and explore new challenges education plays such a pivotal role.  We are so grateful for these changes.

Lastly I want to  leave you with a final thought.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world-  Nelson Mandela    

Here are some pictures of children with limb differences for you to reflect on.

Advocacy Monday!

 
Today we are advocating for a special boy.  He has been featured in our Guang Ming star email.  We call him Billy.  He met us with his best friend Bea and came in holding her hand.  Many people ask about Bea but not Billy.  We are highlighting Billy because we don't want him to be left behind.   He is at a disadvantage just by being a boy.  Girls get picked first and boys wait and wait.   So here is what we know about Billy.

He is six years old.  He is smart.  He recited a poem. He wrote his name in simple Chinese characters.  He could copy shapes.  He even imitated English words. He completed all the fine motor tasks presented.  He still cannot tie his shoes but is otherwise independent in self care.

Billy goes to the campus school.  they say he really likes school.  The caregivers describe him as a quick learner.  His favorite color is yellow and his favorite animal is a panda bear.

Billy's medical need is differences in both his hands and in his right foot.  These differences do not slow this handsome boy one bit.   He is so sweet and so cute and so smart.  It would be so great to find a family who would work to keep Billy and Bea together.  We do not want Billy to be left behind just because he is a boy.
Could you open your heart to this boy with limb differences who is so smart and sweet?

If you have any questions about Billy, contact me at patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com

All They Want

As the holiday approaches we are all thinking how different daily life is for our children who wait in a country on the other side of the world.  Our waiting children are in cold orphanages.  They will not wake for a holiday and get a special breakfast.  They won't be held by Moms and Dads.  They will be alone without family.  Their day will be roughly the same as every other day.  The same bowl of congee, same snacks, baths, same toys. Nothing different.

Here we celebrate and a new year will begin.  We hope it will not be more of the same for these beautiful waiting children.  Every one is so special, amazing and unique.  They deserve to be celebrated, cherished and loved.  We want the New Year to bring Hope for each and every waiting child that they too can have a forever family.  Doesn't it make you want to run there and scoop them up so they could be Home for the holidays?

These beautiful children wait.  Could they be part of your family?

If you want more information about any of these beautiful waiting children, contact me at patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com 

I Have Found My Family!

Actually the Ding, Ding Ding Ding happened a little while ago.   We were so caught up in sharing children's stories, we never celebrated publicly.

This little beauty found a family who transferred to adopt her.  They knew she was their daughter, we knew they were her parents.  I am so happy for them both.  So is the whole team!  So our Princessa( our little nickname for her) now has a forever family.  Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!!!

Yeah Princessa!  We are so so happy for you!!!