Shanna had a homework assignment for her Kindergarten class. The assignment was to bring in something that starts with “J.” Shanna and I thought about it. Shanna thought of all of the J words she knew. Then, without doubt, she decided she wanted to bring a picture of Joanna to school! She has Joanna’s picture posted in her bedroom. So, Shanna brought Joanna’s picture to class and shared all about Joanna with her classmates! Her teacher said it was very, very special, and you can see from pictures that it was very special for Shanna. Yet another reminder of the incredible impact that Joanna made on our daughter and we will forever be grateful!
We became a foster family in 2007. The experience has changed our entire family. The first time I visited NDFH on July 26, 2007, I didn’t expect to see so many orphans with special needs. Though it was a surprise, the children’s eager eyes quickly captured my heart. I remember the moment I met Philip, the one I was to foster. I was shocked. His special needs were severe, but when he looked at me with his timid eyes, it was as if he were telling me that he was a precious child worthy of love. After over 40 days of training to learn how to care for Philip’s unique needs, he joined our family on September 6. Aaron came just 4 months later.
When they entered our lives, these two precious boys brought a lot of fun and happiness with them to our home. Our whole family has learned what love really is and how to love each other better because of them. I can’t express how much joy and gratification fills my heart when I watch them learn to roll over, work hard to take their first steps, and gain weight and height each month. In addition to the joy they bring to our lives, fostering children has been financially helpful for our family. It has improved our lives in many ways, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.
My precious boys used to be left behind, forgotten, and hurt. But, by giving them love, I believe I can help them grow in confidence and hope for the future. There is no boundary to what love can accomplish. Some may wonder how we can love these boys who are not biologically related to us with such a deep love – but circumstances and relationships don’t have to limit love. We live together as a family and love each other as a family, and through this experience, we grow closer and closer together. Through building them up with our love, we also teach them how to love others and treat others with kindness. We hope that the love that we give our boys now prepares them for the rest of their lives.
I am a woman from an ordinary family, living in the countryside outside Beijing. My husband and I are in our late fifties and have two daughters who are both grown and working in the city. Ever since my younger daughter moved away, we felt the loneliness of an empty nest. This all changed in February 2005 when we began fostering a little boy from New Day Foster Home.
His name was Jason. He called us “Grandma” and “Grandpa” and called our daughters “Auntie.” We became a five-person family for one year, until he was adopted by a kind family in Holland. The day he left, we felt as if our hearts went with him. We fell back into overwhelming feelings of loneliness. Because of this, we decided to foster another child.
As of 2008, we have fostered six children. We’ve learned each child’s personality and habits and have done all we can to help them learn and grow each day. This has not only helped these children, but it has also helped us move forward with our lives, finding hope and no longer feeling lonely. We really appreciate the joy and happiness each child has brought to our lives and our spirits.
Right now we’re fostering two children. Every time we sit down to take a break, we think of all the children who have left us to go to their own loving families. We think of each day they spent with us and all the joy they left behind. And every time we think of this, we realize more and more that they’ve given us so many precious memories and so much happiness. We realize that for the rest of our lives, we will never be lonely.
We feel so proud and happy when our kids find forever loving families and begin living happy lives.
Being a foster parent is not only a job for us, but a responsibility. This makes our lives so much better, and we hope to help more children in the future.
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Meet Felicity!
Felicity was born on November 11, 2010 and entered New Day Charity’s project on January 10, 2019. She is a clever girl with a cute smile. Felicity has a neurological disorder, which affects her...
