Check out our blog for the Starfish Cleft Home to learn more about all of the babies receiving surgery this week in Beijing, and to learn more about River's journey with Starfish!
www.chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
Friday, November 06, 2009
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Sunday, November 01, 2009
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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Halloween FUN!
Happy Halloween from Starfish! Amanda is still in America and will back next week. One of the AMAZING Starfish volunteers took the following pictures. We hope they brighten your day and that you enjoy each precious smile!
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Monday, October 05, 2009
Cailean, Future Gymnast?
One night about a year and a half ago the TV was on and I saw the US Men's Gymnastic team performing. I was totally stunned because I thought I saw Cailean's future. Kevin Tan was born in Taiwan but grew up in the US and at the time was a senior member of the team. He looks like I would imagine Cailean's dad would look like. At the time Cailean was about 6 months old and as time has gone by I think he looks more and more like Kevin Tan. He has also become a little daredevil with a really compact body, on his way to becoming a gymnast? You may look at the pictures and judge for yourself. See if you can spot who I am talking about.
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China
At Starfish, we have taken care of 95 children to date, arranged more than 55 surgeries and had 22 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway and Spain and our latest adoption was to Florida, USA. We currently have 48 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China
At Starfish, we have taken care of 95 children to date, arranged more than 55 surgeries and had 22 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway and Spain and our latest adoption was to Florida, USA. We currently have 48 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
Sunday, October 04, 2009
An Award for Starfish
When I started Starfish in 2005, I had no idea what was coming. For the first three and a half years I hardly left Xian except to take babies to the hospital in other Chinese cities. As you might know, religion is not accepted part of life in China, and I came to China with my personal testimony of Jesus Christ. It was hard to reconcile the feelings I had with those of being in China, and for the first year while I was teaching it was easy to separate my religion and my work. Things became decidedly more complicated as I started the foster home. I continued to practice my religion as the government allowed but never have I spoken openly about it, except to mention from time to time my belief in God and His integral part in my ability to be able to run the foster home. This is in large part to the respect I have to the Chinese government in obeying the laws of their country and secondly, because the church I belong to, have asked its members not discuss religious matters with local Chinese people. The babies do not belong to any church and I am extremely careful that we do not teach and preach any religion at the foster home. I guess my thinking was best summed up by a quote I saw at a friend's home in Nashville: Your life may be the only Bible some people ever read. I am not going to use this as a forum for a religious discussion, but as a preface to explain a more personal matter which also concerns Starfish.
A few months ago I was stunned to find out that Brigham Young University, where I graduated from in 1996, was honoring the work I do with a Humanitarian Service award and that I needed to travel to Utah for the two day event. To be honest I am really embarrassed by all this attention and if it was up to me I would not do it. However, there is a very important consideration to be made and that is my beloved babies. How can I be a better advocate for them? How can I tell their story and help others to have more compassion on the plight that they are in and give people the opportunity to help them? It changed my mind.
I was so amused because of the dress code required. I do not own business clothes, a requirement for the meetings and I am desperately looking for something to wear which will fit my budget. I go to church in the same clothes I wear at home which are baby proof, so I guess a new frock is in order. Any excuse to go shopping.
I also want to invite any one that would like to come to the VIP luncheon, where the award will be presented on Friday October 23 at 12:30am at BYU. There are some additional seats available for lunch and you many contact Alicia Smith if you would like to reserve a place (alicia.brown@byu.edu). Please do it soon. I am also going to be in the homecoming parade and going to the BYU football game on Saturday, something I have not done since I was a student. I am arranging a much more informal dinner at a noodle place on Friday night and if you would like to come to that, will you contact Wendy Beres at kayaknwoman@aol.com for details. Yes, I am leaving China to eat noodles in America but more importantly I will probably not be eating but talking more to people I have know most of my life and others who have played such an important part in getting me where I am today. What a wonderful opportunity for me.
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China
At Starfish, we have taken care of 94 children to date, arranged more than 55 surgeries and had 22 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway and Spain and our latest adoption was to Florida, USA. We currently have 47 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
A few months ago I was stunned to find out that Brigham Young University, where I graduated from in 1996, was honoring the work I do with a Humanitarian Service award and that I needed to travel to Utah for the two day event. To be honest I am really embarrassed by all this attention and if it was up to me I would not do it. However, there is a very important consideration to be made and that is my beloved babies. How can I be a better advocate for them? How can I tell their story and help others to have more compassion on the plight that they are in and give people the opportunity to help them? It changed my mind.
I was so amused because of the dress code required. I do not own business clothes, a requirement for the meetings and I am desperately looking for something to wear which will fit my budget. I go to church in the same clothes I wear at home which are baby proof, so I guess a new frock is in order. Any excuse to go shopping.
I also want to invite any one that would like to come to the VIP luncheon, where the award will be presented on Friday October 23 at 12:30am at BYU. There are some additional seats available for lunch and you many contact Alicia Smith if you would like to reserve a place (alicia.brown@byu.edu). Please do it soon. I am also going to be in the homecoming parade and going to the BYU football game on Saturday, something I have not done since I was a student. I am arranging a much more informal dinner at a noodle place on Friday night and if you would like to come to that, will you contact Wendy Beres at kayaknwoman@aol.com for details. Yes, I am leaving China to eat noodles in America but more importantly I will probably not be eating but talking more to people I have know most of my life and others who have played such an important part in getting me where I am today. What a wonderful opportunity for me.
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China
At Starfish, we have taken care of 94 children to date, arranged more than 55 surgeries and had 22 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway and Spain and our latest adoption was to Florida, USA. We currently have 47 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
Saturday, September 19, 2009
CCPF Bike and Hike Leaders Ride Free
I found out Children of China Pediatric Foundation (CCPF) soon after I started Starfish and took James (Jonas) and Laura Joan to them in 2006 for cleft surgery. Every year we have sent babies to this wonderful organization, who work so hard to help the children in China. Gena has been doing this for 14 years, ever since she adopted a daughter from here. Last year, I think the medical team had 25 members, including 4 different specialties, and offer the best help since many of the doctors are from NY PRESBYTERIAN and COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. Thank you to all people who volunteer. I would really like to encourage you to support this wonderful foundation because they really make a difference in the lives of children in China.
Life, Love, and Laughter,
Amanda
Children of China Pediatric Foundation (CCPF)
CHANGE A LIFE! 2009 Bike/Hike
Be a team leader with a group of 10 or more and your registration is free!
Change a Life! 2009 Bike/Hike
Sunday, October 4, 2009
1:30-4 pm
Bike or Hike along the Hudson River and make a difference in the life of a forgotten child!
Click here to register or start your team:
www.chinapediatrics.org
Call 212-248-7561 or email info@chinapediatrics.org for more information
Thousands of disabled children remain in Chinese orphanages because of their medical conditions and deformities. With your help, these children can receive life transforming surgeries.
Life, Love, and Laughter,
Amanda
Children of China Pediatric Foundation (CCPF)
CHANGE A LIFE! 2009 Bike/Hike
Be a team leader with a group of 10 or more and your registration is free!
Change a Life! 2009 Bike/Hike
Sunday, October 4, 2009
1:30-4 pm
Bike or Hike along the Hudson River and make a difference in the life of a forgotten child!
Click here to register or start your team:
www.chinapediatrics.org
Call 212-248-7561 or email info@chinapediatrics.org for more information
Thousands of disabled children remain in Chinese orphanages because of their medical conditions and deformities. With your help, these children can receive life transforming surgeries.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
News from Norway
You cannot imagine how surprised I was when I found out that Jeannie who became Ann Celine was going to Norway. I had no idea China was even doing adoptions to Norway. She became Simen's sister and as you can see from the photos is having a grand time. I love to see the pictures of all her travels, Greece and now Spain. I also have so enjoyed seeing how the women dress in their traditional costumes and I love seeing Anne Celine in her mini version. Here is a letter from her family. Just so that you know her birthday in August and she and Norah (Rachel) who is in the Netherlands share a birthday.
Dear Amanda
Thank you for the congratulations on Anne Celine's third birthday. She asked for her birthday weeks before because we had other in the family we celebrate, and she started to see that this is a big event. When the day came she was very excited and Simen had bought her small train, she had told him for weeks she wanted very much..We had a big celebration with our family.
It is over one year since we left China with her, the year have been a big change for Anne, now she is speaking Norwegian, in August she started in a new kindergarten, Ellen (mum) has been home with her until August 09. She likes her new kindergarten very much, she has already got new friends. The kindergarten is only a few minutes’ walk from home
This summer we have spent our holiday in Spain nearby Barcelona bathing and playing. Anne had a great time in the sun. We also had some holiday in Norway with fishing and boat life as we like to call it in Norway.
Anne is a little girl now, she is 95 cm and weight is 16 kg, she almost eat all food, but still I have to put some food in her mouth so she can taste. She loves to cycle outside and play in her room with dolls and loves to hear music and sing when she listens to the cd-player.
Her health is good, only a little cold this winter. The doctor told us after examined her that she is the most healthy adopted child he had seen, thanks to you at Starfish foster home.
We read all the mail you send us, and hope that Rose soon will have a family, I remember her and have send her many thoughts because I carry her at our visit at the foster home.
Love from Anne Celine, Simen , Jørgen og Ellen
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Dear Amanda
Thank you for the congratulations on Anne Celine's third birthday. She asked for her birthday weeks before because we had other in the family we celebrate, and she started to see that this is a big event. When the day came she was very excited and Simen had bought her small train, she had told him for weeks she wanted very much..We had a big celebration with our family.
It is over one year since we left China with her, the year have been a big change for Anne, now she is speaking Norwegian, in August she started in a new kindergarten, Ellen (mum) has been home with her until August 09. She likes her new kindergarten very much, she has already got new friends. The kindergarten is only a few minutes’ walk from home
This summer we have spent our holiday in Spain nearby Barcelona bathing and playing. Anne had a great time in the sun. We also had some holiday in Norway with fishing and boat life as we like to call it in Norway.
Anne is a little girl now, she is 95 cm and weight is 16 kg, she almost eat all food, but still I have to put some food in her mouth so she can taste. She loves to cycle outside and play in her room with dolls and loves to hear music and sing when she listens to the cd-player.
Her health is good, only a little cold this winter. The doctor told us after examined her that she is the most healthy adopted child he had seen, thanks to you at Starfish foster home.
We read all the mail you send us, and hope that Rose soon will have a family, I remember her and have send her many thoughts because I carry her at our visit at the foster home.
Love from Anne Celine, Simen , Jørgen og Ellen
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
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