Friday, February 28, 2014

Getting Involved: For Camilla

Ashlyn and Emryn are two girls who decided to do something to help the kiddos at NDFH! Read what their mom wrote...

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Our adoption agency had an adoption event for women last Friday night. Ashlyn, her sister Emryn, and two friends had been working for weeks to set up a table there to raise money for Camilla. 

I wanted to share some of the photos with you that I took of their table. The felt dolls/animals were made by Ashlyn. Her sister, Emryn, made the origami earrings and big origami creations. Their friends made the soap and crocheted hats. You can also read Ashlyn's "story" in one of the photos. 







My parents have told Ashlyn that they will match anything the girls make. So, with my parents' assistance, they have made $750 so far! They plan on setting up an Etsy shop to sell their goods to raise more money. 

As we have been learning more about New Day, we are so thankful for what all you are doing. We were in China in November adopting our youngest daughter. What you are doing and who you are is what I longed for our daughter's orphanage to be and do. Thank you!

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Thank you so much, girls! We hope that you have inspired others to use their gifts and talents and opportunities to make a difference in the lives of orphans in China. 
Thursday, February 27, 2014

NDSouth: Amy's Birthday

Yesterday was a very special day for a very special little girl. Our Amy turned nine years old. Amy has been anticipating her birthday for the last week and the day finally arrived!


What do you think? Is she happy with her cake and everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to her?






Time to make a wish and blow out your candles, Amy!


What did she wish for? Although we don't know for sure, we have a good idea that her wish could be for a family. Sweet Amy has been through a lot in her nine years of life. She arrived at the orphanage when she was just under a year, and has spent the last eight years in and out of the orphanage and foster homes. Amy arrived at New Day South just over a month ago. Those are a lot of changes for one little girl. Just like all of our children, Amy yearns for the stability of a forever family of her very own.


Besides a family, Amy wanted just one thing for her birthday, a backpack. She was thrilled when she received not just a backpack, but a pink one!


Sweet Amy, you are such a treasure and a blessing to everyone who knows you. You have a smile that is full of joy and hope.

Our hope for Amy's ninth year is that her wish for a family of her very own will come true. She is a bright, sweet, caring, and beautiful little girl who we know will flourish and thrive in a family.


Happy 9th Birthday, Amy! We anticipate your year to be filled with joy and sweet blessings.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Wordless Wednesday: Hands


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Oliver's Happy Dance

Oliver is a little star- he works so hard in therapy for an hour every day, often with a huge grin on his face. He has made incredible progress in the past year- learning to use his arms to move objects and his legs and body to move about the room.


Oliver responds so well to encouragement and praise, which is clearly down to the wonderful care and love he receives in his foster family. Oliver knows when he's done something good- managing to un-stack the cups, or putting hoops onto a tower, and will look round to soak up the praise!


Sometimes, when Oliver's really pleased about what he's just managed, he will stop and do his 'happy dance'.  He lies on the floor and rolls, giggles, wiggles and shakes with happiness!  He is such a joy to work with- I often want to join in the happy dance too; wouldn't you?


You may have heard that Oliver recently turned two.  He didn't quite seem to realize the significance of the event, and was happy to continue therapy as normal, but we all did. Oliver will start preschool soon and follow in the footsteps of his foster brother, Joel, who he collects from school each day.

Starting school means that Oliver needs a special chair to sit in (he slips off standard chairs) with a table high enough to help him use his hands to play and eat. When Oliver sat in one of the chairs he first ate a piece of candy (all by himself) and then did his 'happy dance', it was adorable- I think he's now ready to start preschool!

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This post was written by our Occupational Therapist, Jenny
Monday, February 24, 2014

Getting Involved: A Lemonade Stand!

We are so impressed, amazed and humbled by the support from all of you. Without you - each and every donor, sponsor, blog reader - our work would not be possible nor would it be effective. Today we're highlighting a young lady who felt burdened for the little ones at NDFH and decided to do something about it. Here's what her mom wrote...

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I hope this story will encourage you, as it has encouraged me.  I left my house yesterday morning with my daughter sad, because she wanted our family to adopt a child in your foster care. 


I told my daughter that God surely has a home for this little girl, and in the mean time, we can be thankful that she is in a good foster home, with people that love her, and care for her.  While I was away, she decided to have a lemonade stand to raise money for this little girl, but a check on the internet showed she was already fully sponsored.  She saw another girl that she remember from a facebook post and chose her instead.  My daughter made a poster, lemonade, and gathered her friends to work the stand.  


She called me at 1 o’clock to share all this information with me, and to tell me that she raised $105!  Her sweet spirit, and caring heart encourages me. We pray for Sally, and all of the children at New Day, that God will continue to heal them, and they will find the love of their forever family.

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Whitney - thank you! You are making a huge difference, not just by raising money, but by helping other people (your neighbors, friends...) learn about how they can make a difference. As we say here in China, "Jia you!"
Sunday, February 23, 2014

NDNorth: Assessment Box Fun

A fellowship in the US put together the materials for two big assessment boxes for us to use when assessing the children in the orphanages that we work with.


It's been a hit! The little ones love looking at and pulling out the new toys from the bins, and because they're all age appropriate, the toys are fun to play with too!


While the items inside the box would seem to be the most interesting, Lele prefers to play with the box itself. 


Is climbing a developmental milestone? If it is, Lele's mastered this one!


Lele showed no fear and valiantly hoisted his stocky body up onto the box, and then stuck his head off the other end, kicking his little legs and having such a pleasant time. 



When we first started working with this particular orphanage, there were no toys. At all. Now, a little playroom has been set up for the babies full of rattles and blocks and balls and push-toys and rockers. The babies are still getting the hang of playing, but they're definitely making progress and it's exciting to see!

Advocacy: Bao Xiang needs a family!

A Children's Welfare Institute in Inner Mongolia has asked us to help advocate for eleven children in their care. We will be introducing the children one by one on the blog, and ask that you share these posts with others in order to give the children a chance to find their family. All inquiries about adoption can be sent to foster@newdaycreations.com 

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Bao Xiang is one of the most adorable little guys you could meet! Just look at his impish grin... this little guy looks like he's ready to have some fun.


Bao Xiang was born April 10, 2010 and diagnosed with bilateral cerebral temporal lobe development retardation and otitis in his left ear. Despite his struggles, Bao Xiang is able to walk independently, put on and take off his own clothes, and feed himself! Bao Xiang is also able to express his needs or thoughts and is potty trained.

Bao Xiang is in a great class at his orphanage, and has learned a lot. He communicates well - just watch the below video that his orphanage sent us. In the video you'll also see that this little guy is really, really adorable.


Bao Xiang will turn four in April. He is an orphan right now, a little boy without a mommy or a daddy to love him as their own forever and ever.

Could you be his family? 

Contact foster@newdaycreations.com for more information about bringing this little guy home.
Saturday, February 22, 2014

NDSouth: Brotherly Love

Our kids really love each other and become just like brothers and sisters in the foster home. They love each other and then fight at times. Most of the time, the fighting breaks out over toys since like all children, they are learning to share. 

Matthew and Chris get along well for the most part but they do occasionally have their moments, like the other day.


"Matthew took my toy again..." - Chris


Matthew seems pretty proud of his accomplishment, doesn't he?


"Matthew, it's not nice to take toys, you need to share with Chris."


"Aww, do I have too?" - Matthew


See? It's not so bad!


"You are right, it's not so bad. It can even be fun!" - Matthew


Good job, boys! We are so proud of you and that you are learning to share with your foster brothers and sisters.
Friday, February 21, 2014

Austyn's Rice

Playing with uncooked rice is a great sensory experience.  As you can see, Austyn LOVES it !

Can You Dance the Fan Dance?

Well, can you? Some of our children learned the moves last week during the Lantern Festival, officially the last day of Chinese New Year and a day full of fun, food, fireworks and parades!

We took the holiday into our own hands this year. First, the preschool class got a hands on lesson on the Fan Dance. Want to learn?



That wasn't the end of our celebration... no, not a bit. We took the parade outside and Lucy was a star.





The parade stretched all the way around the complex, to the back yard and around and around the playground. The preschool kids followed with Gloria, practicing the steps that they had learned earlier.


Zoe was the life of the parade!



You can't have a parade without music. The traditional accompaniment to the fan dance is cymbals and drum. Joel tried his hands at the cymbal crashing.


Melinda and Asher went to town on the drum.


Noah likes big noises a lot, so the drum was a hit for him too. Banging is better than waving a fan any day.


...although Melinda might beg to differ. She thought that fan waving was pretty exciting.


Here's a clip of when the parade began in the front of our complex...


...and here it is in the backyard!


Happy Spring Festival! Check out even more pictures on facebook and our website!
Thursday, February 20, 2014

NDSouth: Selah and Her Baby Doll

Soon after Selah arrived, she latched onto this baby doll pretty quickly and has not let it out of her sight since.


She is a good little mama to this little one. We aren't sure where she learned it, whether it was from her previous orphanage or watching the nannies care for the babies here.


 Selah knows just what to do though. She is also a mama who can multitask!


She is so gentle with her baby.


And tells her all the time how much she is loved and cherished.


Just like you, sweet Selah! When it is time to feed her baby, she will sit right down, arrange her baby just right and feed her.


We were able to catch her feeding her baby on video and thought you would enjoy seeing it. Isn't she the most precious thing? Yeah, we think so too.