ChinaBird

2018. What. A. Year. Am I right? For me, it was a year of growth, stretching and heartache. As you may have noticed, this is my first blog post in over a year. I took all of 2018 off from writing and blogging, while it was unplanned, I just wanted to live, to be in the moment, to make memories, and I'm sure glad I did because those moments are now the fuel for my future and our organization here in China. It's been 208 days since the first group of kiddos left our campus. For the last 10 years we had been fostering, educating, providing therapy and life-skills training for over 50 special needs orphans from all of China. In late July of last year, we were notified that new policies had gone into effect in regards to orphan care. These new stipulations required all orphans to receive care (education, therapy, medical, etc) within their home provinces. While this news brought heartache and tears for those of us who's desire is to purely serve the orphans, this decision wa...

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's holly, jolly and filled with so much cheer! Christmas in China is so different than the USA, but we don't let that stop us from celebrating this special time of year. Earlier this month, the kids gathered all donned in red, with christmasy hats and headbands galore to celebrate our Savior's birth! And what a day it was! I know I say this a lot, but our Christmas party with the kids has to be one of my most favorite days each year! The excitement, joy and wonder in their eyes and hearts is tangible. Every year, Santa makes his first stop of the season at SFCV and gives each child a special Christmas present. Their smiles say it all. Of course, there are some that are not so fond of "old saint Nick" but most of the kiddos LOVE seeing Santa and are so eager to see what he has brought. It's a jolly filled day with dancing, games, presents and cake. Unlike years past, I won't be traveling back to the USA...

If only I was 30... a thought my heart so often thinks. Ever have that feeling where you know you have to say something even though you don't want to? Yeah? Well, I feel a bit of that with this post. I'm struggling, but can't hold back the truth. People say, that when you feel your heart ache for another you've come to truly love. Well...I guess I'm there. This post is about a boy that has changed my life, the way I see and do my job, and my relationship with Christ. He was here in the beginning and has helped to change it all...I can't imagine my life without him here at SFCV, but hope and pray one day he's gone. If you've met Jason, then you've met a piece of my heart. I adore this boy who is so rapidly becoming a young man. I will never forget the day he arrived here at SFCV from Banyuanar Orphanage (Inner Mongolia) in late-November of 2014 and stumbled into our therapy clinic with his green walker, huffing and puffing from exhaustion. He was ...