What the Children Teach Us

Knowledge comes first (Catherine and Rebekah)

Cake makes everyone happy (Heather)


Friends make the world go around (Shannon and Breanna)

Beautiful things come in small packages (Rose and Eve)

Precious moments

Shannon loving on Rachel and Emily

Viola finally gives me a little smile!

Such a cutie! wonder what she is thinking?

Kristen aka "The Baby Whisperer"

Smiling, Happy Babies

Thanks Maw for our awesome hats!

Rachel in her girly dress (climbing like a monkey!)

Princess Rose at your service

Sunday photos Starfish

Little Kaitlin....a quiet soul who loves to make noise when she is hungry!

Erica in her high chair---patiently waiting for fish crackers (YUM! ??!!)

Lily, Jeannie (leaving for her new home today!!!), Heather and Olivia having snack.

Big Callum joins us for lunch!

Sunday photos Starfish

Little Kaitlin....a quiet soul who loves to make noise when she is hungry!

Erica in her high chair---patiently waiting for fish crackers (YUM! ??!!)

Lily, Jeannie (leaving for her new home today!!!), Heather and Olivia having snack.

Big Callum joins us for lunch!

Pictures from Starfish on Sunday

Jade with her favorite nanny. We love her big eyes and braids.

Emily in my lap for a tickle session---she has a great belly laugh!

Shannon and Rachel enjoy some playtime together!

Sweet Rose dressed up like a princess--such a cutie!

Sunday afternoon, Starfish

It is a peaceful afternoon here in Xi'an. Amanda is giving talk at her church, the babies are napping or playing outside, and the other girls have gone for a foot massage. I wanted to rest and blog a bit...the computer has been in high demand as we all get excited about our 're-entry' into normal life. The last few days have allowed us to get to know Amanda, her philosophy and her goals. She is honest and open, and very clear that it is all about the babies. She has no car, has not visited with family since 2001, and has dedicated her life to helping children. It is a very hard job. The rollercoaster emotions that we have felt this week are what she feels every day. Knowing that she cannot help ALL the babies is a difficult weight to carry. Last night we went to a fundraiser with her for the Library Project which is a foundation that provides books and libraries to children in the countryside. It is a very worthwhile project started by a young man from Arizona who has been here 5 years. At the dinner (a BBQ by the way...very surreal to be sitting in China eating at a BBQ dinner!) there were mainly Western people. It is interesting to see how many are here and what they are all doing. Boeing, Siemens, etc...we met the head of many of these companies. Amanda prefers to fundraise via letters, and I want you to know how THRILLED she is with our church contribution to her. The kids loved the clothes, and that will really help her out, but her biggest need is financial. Without the money in hand, she cannot pay for the surgeries. She is a tax deductible foundation. Just keep that in mind :)
The babies were happy to see us this morning and we played for while. We are going back for bathtime tonight which will be fun! We still wonder about the Hohhot children---how are they, what do they think about us being there last week. Do they wait outside for the bus to pull up in the mornings, or are they back to their usual business? I try to focus on the fact that they will at least have a new place to live soon, one with HEAT for the winter (it is very very cold there and there is no heat except for coal in the kitchen). What will they think about warm floors?!!!
To my family, my parents, my in-laws and especially William, THANK YOU ALL for the sacrifices you made so I could come on this trip. I know it was very hard at times for each of you, and I am so thankful you were willing to help. This trip has been a gift---it has given me a chance to see the world, my travel group, myself and my capabilities, and my relationship with God all in a new light. SO, thank you thank you, thank you.... I could not have come without you. Thank you also to my prayer team---we have felt you here!
Please look on Shannon's blog for lots of pictures from today. She has the best camera and we took pics of the babies with some of the gifts and they are posted there. We leave China tomorrow....I hope to come back someday soon.

Love,

Eve

Trying again...180 degree turn

Starfish....an incredible place!

We got up early today to go up and meet the babies upstairs--Amanda has 19 special needs babies right now. It is amazing what a little love can do. She puts the children FIRST....they are HER FOCUS and PRIORITY! And is shows....happy, healthy, chunky kids that are attached to her and to the nannies. They are warming up to us, slowly but surely. And we are loving it! Our path the last week has been step and rugged...today, our devotional read "Rest in me," which is exactly what we are doing at Starfish.
It is difficult to express the emotions our team has experienced over the last week. I have never felt so many highs and lows in such a short period. I am not certain I can fully process it all yet---it seems so easy to love the children you see in the Starfish pictures, but, remember, Amanda's babies come from the orphanage. She takes on the sickest children, the "least of the least" by the view of the orphanage, those with no hope, who have been written off to die. Those like the kids we grew to love in Hohhot. And look what happens with simple LOVE and CARE.... and proper attention. All of Amanda's babies will eventually be adopted, but few to none from Hohhot will. Why? Because she cares.
Each of us on this trip has felt a certain passion this week, and my prayer is that we do not forget it when we get home. It is so easy to slip back into the routine of daily life, and bury one's passions. My hope is that we each strive to make a continued difference, by whatever means we can. There is so much one can do---everyone can do something to help those unloved, those without someone to stand up for them, those without a voice, those without a momma or a daddy to kiss them goodnight, and tell them good job, to be there when they are hurt, or they are happy, to share life with. Everyone can do something....
When we asked Amanda how she did it the first several months (6 special needs kids and just her), she answers that she was really tired, but did what her babies needed. I am reminded of a quote from Teri Coley's child trying to convince her Mom to adopt again "A tired Momma is better than no Momma."
Thank you for reading this blog--I hope you have felt your heart tugged in some direction. Please take time to listen to it, and think what you can do. I agree, adoption is not for everyone, and it is also not the only way to help....
Just think about it ,pray about it....

Love,
Eve

Starfish---a 180 degree turn

Sad faces at party

Shannon had a little girl attached to her during the party. We were told that she had just arrived that day from foster care to come and enjoy the party....ironically we had a photo of her from Monday at the orphanage. She is deaf, and I fear is overlooked too often.. She ate so much food...it was clear she needed it. She loved Shannon and would raise her arms up to be picked up. She screamed when Shannon left--bit tears....the good side is that she can clearly still attach. The bad side is...you know. We want to research foster homes for deaf children in China, if anyone can do that and email me we would love to help her. The bottom photo is me showing the nannies how to feed the Cleft lip/palate baby with the bottle they have. These babies often die if they do not receive proper nutrition from a correct bottle. We hope that the foster home that sends Hohhot milk can help either with cleft bottles or by taking the baby. Our other half of the team was going to talk to them today. Please keep these 2 babies in your prayers...

Happy Faces with the Party