Megan (Jasmine) has a BIRTHDAY!

The kids are getting older. I cannot believe that Megan (Jasmine) has just turned three. I remember her arriving as a 4 month old. She was always such a physically well developed baby in spite of her spina bifida. She walked really early and climbed over anything with no fear. Here is a letter from her mom.


Hi Amanda,

We have been busy. Megan's big sister Carly started kindergarten so that was an adjustment. Whenever Megan & I drive past Carly's school, Megan always says "there's Carly's school". In early September Carly fell getting onto the bus leaving school and got a deep cut near her eye which required stitches. This was 3 weeks before the girls were going to be flower girls in their cousin's wedding.

Megan celebrated her third birthday! We had a family party at home the weekend before since the wedding was on October 10th. One picture is from the rehearsal and Megan is showing her scrunched up smile face that I just love. The girls looked beautiful and walked down the aisle dropping out flowers like a pro. When we got to the reception, Megan danced all night with me. She was still dancing at 10:30 that night! Everyone got a kick out of her dancing all night. This weekend was the last time the girls would see their Grandma. Ken's mother passed away a couple weeks after the wedding.

Halloween - Megan picked out a witch outfit. Megan and Carly are dressed in their outfits for the daycare Halloween party. They still have so much candy left. Tell everyone hello and enjoy the pictures.

Take care, Leslie

Life, Love and Laughter,

Amanda

Megan and her Big Sister Carly

b

Look who turned THREE!!

A Volunteer Video

This past week I got an email from a volunteer who was here about 18 months ago. She had not heard the sad news about Viola, who was her favorite while she was here. In response to finding out about Voila dying, she made this video.
I was so impressed with Celine's creativity and her talents, that I want to share the video with you. I just loved the collage of pictures and I know that if you have followed the Starfish story for a while you would be moved too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWWfauAhnoI

Life, Love and Laughter,

Amanda

Volunteers

Volunteers

Volunteers add such a special flavor to the foster home. We get volunteers for a few hours and then all the way to the ones who stay for months and indeed years like Kay. We have volunteers from all different countries. This week Sweden, England, France, Australia and Holland were represented and we have a lot of Chinese who visit us regularly. I love the variety and the fact that they have such interesting stories to tell.
Chrissy and Julee volunteered full time here with us for six months. What a joy they were to have and how they loved on the babies and the babies on them. Thank you so much to the two of you for all your hard work and dedication to the children. You made such a valuable contribution and I am so grateful. I know that we have made an impression on your hearts and that you will not soon forget us. All of us at Starfish wish you well and I pray that God will lead you down your road with some clear and precise instructions, so you have no doubt what you need to do.

Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda

Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China

At Starfish, we have taken care of 98 children to date, arranged more than 64 surgeries and had 23 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway and Spain and our latest adoption was to France. We currently have 51 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

Lily's 3rd Birthday

Lily recently celebrated her THIRD birthday! Here is a note from her Mom.

Hi Amanda:

We had such a wonderful day celebrating Lily's birthday. We took her to Chuck E. Cheese with her friends and family - doesn't she love to party!!! We then took her to the Wiggles concert and met the Wiggles before the show began. She was not scared of them at all and we could not make her turn around long enough to take a picture!!
I chatted with Murray a bit about Starfish Foster Home and gave him some info. He then made me stop, said "Hey guys, listen to this!" I then told all the Wiggles about your place and the amazing work that you do. They were ALL so interested!! I handed them pictures of the babies and how each and every one of them is a Wiggles fan and what a happy place it is to see them so happy as they dance and sing to the Wiggles. They were very interested in you and the amount of babies that you care for!
Anthony ended up taking ALL the pictures of the babies with him!!! I have to say that Murray is my favorite!! He greeted Lily and Rose by name, told all the members that Lily had a birthday soon and then went around to each child after (by name) and said goodbye and enjoy the show!! Lily was so cute and said "It was nice to meet you" He chuckled.
I asked her what she liked about her day and she said Chuck E. Cheese. She laid down during the Wiggles concert and wanted to take a nap!! Rose had a blast celebrating her sister and wrote her the cutest note!! She told her she was "the best sister in the world and that she was the happiest little girl she had ever seen and how much she loved her" - brought tears to my eyes.

Take care,
Donna

Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda

Lily at Chuck E Cheese!

Lily and the WIGGLES!

A Dollar A Comment

Here is a unique way to raise funds for Starfish. Amy will send Starfish a dollar for every comment that is left on her new blog. May you have a lot to say.

Hi all!

Some of you may have already gotten this message--and if you have--so sorry to bother you again!! I have started a new family website that will not only chronicle life as we know it--and all the crazy goings on at our house--but also serve to raise money for children that are still waiting for parents--mostly in China.

Currently--I am offering to send a dollar in YOUR honor to the Starfish Foster Home in China--just by leaving a comment of what you are thankful for--under my "thankful" post. I am going to continue this all month in honor of National Adoption Month and then tally the comments at the end of the month and send Amanda at Starfish a nice big check!!

All I ask is that you visit me--and leave a comment under "thankful" --easy peasy!!

Here's the site: www.lotsokidz.blogspot.com

and if you want to become a follower--add yourself in the left-hand column. And by all means--if you have a website--please give me a plug--help me--help them!!! And feel real good about yourself too!!

Thanks so much--and I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

Amy Dinello

Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda

Cleft Lip Transformations

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

River from the Starfish Cleft Home

Starfish Alum Halloween Style

Leprechaun, Mad Hatter, or Something out of a Dickens' Novel