Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Wordless Wednesday: Austyn's slide!











Tuesday, November 29, 2016

#GivingTuesday 2016

We have a day for giving thanks.  We have two for getting deals.  Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back.  On Tuesday 1 December 2015, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will be coming together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. 
- from the GivingTuesday website.


Last year, you helped New Day make an incredible difference in the lives of so many children by raising money for our medical funds.



Giving Tuesday is here again and we are welcoming donations specifically for our heating system. A generous donor is going to match every dollar up to $5,000 donated to this heating fund

China recently raised the standards on how buildings are heated in the winter. Instead of using coal, China now requires everything to be heated entirely with gas. 



In the long run this will drastically reduce the amount of pollution and smog in the air, however, at the moment it is quite a financial strain. Gas heating costs three to four times more than New Day was paying previously for coal. It is a substantial and unexpected expense. 

In order to cut down the cost somewhat we set our entire system on 21°Celsius (70°F) to make each gas container last longer. With winter wind and temperatures in Beijing getting down to -6°C (22°F) recently. The system has a hard time maintaining that temperature, so the chill never seems to leave the air, even indoors. For medical fragile children it is essential that a constant warmer temperature is maintained.




Click here to make a donation to our Heating system. All donations will be matched!


Here is an opportunity for you to "be part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity": #GivingTuesday
Sunday, November 27, 2016

NDNorth: A Trip to the Zoo

Do you remember your childhood trips to the Zoo? How each animal was so enthralling that you never wanted to move on to see what was next? We wanted the children in our project to have the chance to experience a bit of what a Zoo is like, so, avoiding the single-digit weather outside... The Zoo came to the children's own activity room! 


See the giraffe's loooong neck? What does he like to eat? Michael gives a fresh green leaf as a snack.


Let's move on to see what is next! 


Elephants! My, what a long, strong nose you have, Chad!


Roar! What could be making all that noise next door? 




Watch out, kids! These lions are hungry. Make sure to stand back when you feed them... Just throw the meat to them, like this...



Looks like you've got the hang of it, Rina! Let's go see what other hungry animals there are to feed! 



Silly monkeys! 


Evangeline, can you make the "ooh-ooh-ah-ah" sound like a monkey?


Uh-oh! How did the monkey get on to nanny's head?


Good job feeding the hungry monkey, Michael! 

What great helpers you all are. The Zookeepers will be so glad to have you back next time! 
Friday, November 25, 2016

Thanksgiving Pay it Forward: A Guest Post

We are honored to feature this post written by Markie' adoptive mother!

Life as a prayer reveals itself through the bonds of love.   This bonding of hearts, of souls, is in our DNA.  In my view, it's the best of our humanness, really.  My son, my Markie, whose bonds of love span this world and Heaven-spots alike, illuminates the most grateful and graceful prayer I've ever known:  Family.


The joining of my family, through DNA of birth, DNA of orphanage, DNA of New Day Foster Home, DNA of donor, DNA of doctor, DNA of sponsor, DNA of corporation, DNA of country East and West, and, most blessedly, DNA of kindred soul, is a miraculous helix.  It's the sort that science and logic can only half explain.  The rest is left to my mind that is staid in knowing and my heart that is steadfast in loving.  Each night my son and I say our grateful prayers.  It's a tender and sweet and often funny time for us as we recount our blessings:  prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of healing, prayers of hope.


MJZ, as I often call him, is a beacon of hope to me.  As his mother and kindred soul, I know I must nurture his humanity so that he will always know his own.  It is my privilege to help him make sense of his life narrative, now and across time.  Our stories tell us who we are, who we wish to be.  And, our acts of kindness and self- and other-healing manifest that story in the best of ways, in this world here and now.  That's why our family has chosen to love it forward again this Thanksgiving and sponsor two children at New Day:


A child named Marcus, Markie's almost namesake.  Precious Marcus, who received a life-saving liver transplant this past year, much like Markie just three years ago.  Markie and I love you, and we continue to stand bonded with you as you take one healing step at a time.


A child named Amelia, born on August 29, 2015, one year following the day Markie's dear foster brother, Albert, passed away months after an unsuccessful liver transplant.  Precious Amelia, who now awaits her own life-saving liver transplant.  Markie and I love you, and we stand bonded with you as you take one healing step at a time.


Life as a prayer:  I am my father's daughter and the mother of my son.  Ours is a family braid infinitely larger than three.  Amen.
Thursday, November 24, 2016

Thanksgiving Thankfulness

Today is Thanksgiving! Here at New Day There are plenty of things to be thankful for, but this thanksgiving we specifically wanted to acknowledge our nannies, the teachers/medical staff, and the volunteers who serve at New Day.


First the Nannies...

Every one of them constantly loves and displays amazing consistency.


Their drive is to see the children grow and learn.


Day in and day out they show up to work with a huge heart.


They treat each child as if it as their own.


Despite any situation, they are providing, caring, and protecting each child.


The child always knows they are safe with their nanny.


We are incredibly thankful for each one of our nannies.



The teachers and medical staff...


The teachers and medical staff serve at New Day to ensure each child has a chance to learn and develop.


They work every day and check on every child.


From silly songs to daily lessons the love they have for the children is so strong.


They are incredibly gifted and patiently help learning and development. 


The children are learning and growing while having fun.


We are truly thankful for the time and effort spent on each child.


The Volunteers...


Our volunteers at New Day are flexible and servant hearted.


They bless New Day with their talents and abilities.


At a moments notice they are ready to serve.


Their hearts are open, soft, and full of love.


We are so thankful for all the selfless volunteers and all the love you have poured out at New Day.

Last but not least we wanted to thank each and every one of you. From your prayers to your support, You are such and important part of the the New Day community. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 20, 2016

NDNorth: New Chapters

Anyone who knows Caleb (formerly known online as Paul) knows that whatever he does, he does 100%. There is no try with this boy!

"Some people say that it's hard to get their children with Down Syndrome to be active," one of his nannies said one day. "But that's just not the case with us! Oh! Caleb-" she called, "don't get into that!"

It's true that it would be difficult to find another child who played as hard...



...laughed as hard...


...studied as hard...



...or slept as hard as our very own Caleb. 


As many of you know from the telltale asterisk, Caleb has a new chapter in life ahead of him. He enjoys taking glimpses at it...


...and we are excited with him, because we know this for sure: adoption may not be smooth or easy, but it is beautiful, and it transforms. This chapter Caleb has ahead of him is full of family and belonging and stability and surprises and all that a childhood should be. November, as Adoption Awareness month, is a perfect opportunity to celebrate new chapters and transformed lives. Who can you celebrate today?