Just Like Me

Growing up in a large family in a small town had its advantages. My parents felt safe letting us wander and explore. We had a great time as kids. I didn’t like, however, when someone would identify me by my looks and say, “I can tell you’re one of the Naumann girls. You look just like your sisters!” I don’t know why it bugged me, but it did. It got to the point that I would avoid the conversations altogether. If someone would say, “Aren’t you one of those Naumann girls?” I would change the subject or walk away.

One recent afternoon, we decided to meet some friends at the movie theater. With my kids and niece (adopted from Ethiopia) in tow, we loaded up the van and headed out. As we were driving down the highway, my niece commented that she was excited that her new neighbors have a daughter with “skin that is just like me.” At that point, my daughter added that the friends we were meeting at the movie theater have a daughter (adopted from Korea) with skin, hair and eyes “just like me.” The conversation continued with each girl discussing how they like being around people that look like them. Their conversation made me reminisce at how different things are for them. While I didn’t like it when people said my sisters looked “just like me,” these girls LOVED it when they are recognized as looking similar to their friends.

When we arrived at the movie theater, my daughter jumped out of the van and ran to her friend. She put her arms around her, looked at her cousin with a huge grin and said, “Look, she is just like me.” (Which made her friend giggle and smile.) At that point, all three girls and my four-year-old (Caucasian) son linked arms and walked into the theater together. A European-, Korean-, Chinese-, Ethiopian-American human chain.

No matter how hard I try, I don’t think I’ll ever truly understand how very important it is to my daughter to have friends that look like her. But, the smile on her face and the extra confidence in her step after having spent time with her friends is evidence enough for me that this is a very important part of her development. After all, I have to admit that I while it bugged me, a part of me felt a sense of belonging when people said my sisters looked “just like me.”

~Kelly

Knead Some Doh?

It's always a challenge keeping our children entertained and occupied. My daughter and I spend a lot of time making different projects and crafts. In 2008, we began our journey "greening" our home and becoming a little more eco-friendly. Not over the top, but little steps to maintain a healthier lifestyle. One thing I am always concerned about is the amount of toxins in products and toys that my daughter plays with. So, when I stumbled upon an organic recipe for play-doh that I found online, I was very anxious to try it out.

It was very easy to make and uses the ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen. We make a fresh batch monthly and keep it stored in the refrigerator. We have experimented using different colors and color combinations. My daughter enjoys making and playing with the play-doh and I enjoy knowing it is a safe and harmless product!


Organic Play-Doh Recipe

2 cups flour

1/2 cup salt

1/4 cup cream of tartar

2 cups cold water

2 tbsp. canola or *olive oil

2 drops each of four different food colors


In a large mixing bowl, blend together flour, salt and cream of tartar.

In a cold non-stick sauce pan, add 1/2 cup cold water and two drops of food coloring. Swirl to mix. Add 1/2 tbsp. of canola or olive oil and stir with spoon.

Scoop in 1/2 cup dry ingredients and thorougly mix, forming a uniform paste.

Gently heat on medium-low heat, stirring the mixture, as it will quickly solidify. Roll it in the sauce pan; kenad the dough with spoon to cook. When smooth, remove it from heat and allow it to cool.

Start next batch with a new, cold pan. Repeat for remaining three batches.

Store in air tight container in refrigerator for one month.

*I ran out of canola oil one time and substituted with olive oil and had the same results

Enjoy!
Marla Boyle

Director of Communications

Dianjiang

The anniversary of our daughter’s finding day was just a few weeks ago. I always start to wonder at this time. It’s difficult to imagine the events surrounding that day. Although I have photos and information about the area, I still wonder . . . Was it hot that day? Or rainy? Was it day or night? Was she sleeping when she was left there? What did it sound like? Smell like? I wonder how long it will be before my daughter asks these same questions. What will I tell her?

I’m so happy that I can tell her what it was like at the SWI. I feel fortunate that we were able to visit Dianjiang SWI when we adopted our children. I vividly remember the smoky smell in the air, the dampness and cold of that January day. She especially likes to hear that our guide told us it was a “good omen” when the clouds parted and the sun shone when we entered the town - as it is usually very overcast there in the winter.

I am thankful that I can also tell my daughter about the good things that are happening in her former home because of the kindness and generosity of each of our donors and sponsors. I am amazed by the generosity and commitment of others who have been touched by the children at Dianjiang. You have made such a difference for our Dianjiang Kids. Thank you!

Kelly

Then and Now

We've been back 10 days from our second adoption trip to China. We have the same Gotcha Day for both girls - June 28th.

Finally developed the film from the cameras we sent to our second
daughter's healing home in her care packages. Amazing! Even though I had seen many photos of Teagan, posted on the Angel Home webpage, during the 4-month wait for her, these photos are precious. They show our daughter smiling, crying, sleeping, eating and playing. Her surroundings are bright with natural light, large play areas, and loving caretakers - male and female. The rooms were so nice that I wonder what she is thinking of our 1928 1800 square foot city house! LOL! We have been in contact with the director of that home since our return back to the US and have received more photos. We have a book of letters written to her from the nannies. We have clothing and gifts they sent with her on Gotcha Day. The photos of her being well cared for, happy and loved touched me deeply and bring us great peace for the 12 months she had at Angel's Home. I am hoping that one day it will also bring her peace to know she was so loved and cared for.


These also brought back memories of our older daughter's pictures - from the camera we sent to Dianjiang while we waited 6 weeks for her in the spring of 2004. The discrepancy between our girls pre-Gotcha Day care is striking. This was before Gracie's room at DJ. Before foster care. Before the renovations to the Dianjiang SWI. The contrast between our two daughter's early lives makes me even more grateful for the work this group has done for DJ children. In those photos, we see our first child standing or sleeping in a shared crib in small room, crowded with cribs and little else. Peeling paint, no air conditioning, dirty matts and blankets. While incredibly, despite her surroundings, she is often smiling in those photos, we see other children with vacant looks, banging heads, or crying in those photos. I saw those same looks when we were allowed to visit her room at DJ. To be fair, there are also some photos of the girls on the breezeway on blankets alone or on saucy bouncers. I know those who traveled with us that June saw the same things.

I truly believe the nannies did the best they could with what they had resource-wise at that time. I know they played music for example for the girls and we even received two cassettes of music from DJ and a nice book and letter. Moreover, at 11 months our older daughter came to us severely malnourished and weighing 13.5 pounds, but crawling, eating solid foods, saying some Chinese words, laughing and giggling, dancing to music and able to grasp objects. I know she received attention from
her caretakers to get her to those milestones. Still, there were only 2 nannies in that room of many girls.

I've been reading some opinions on whether babies and toddlers have memories of their lives before they were adopted. Eight months after being home with us, at 19 months, our older daughter looked at me one day, and out of the blue said, "Mommy, I used to stand in my crib and cry a lot. But, it's ok now. I don't have to do that anymore." And then she cried.

I don't know if this was a real memory or not and there are many other possible explanations. I probably won't ever know for sure, but it was spoken from the heart when she said it. She had never heard me say she had done this or seen herself in a photo crying in a crib.

I don't want to be overly gloomy here. Our older daughter is a beautiful, gifted, athletic, exuberant child. I am inspired by her spirit and resilience. She is something else! Still, I grieve for her, or her first 11 months of care. At the same time, my commitment to DJ is renewed as I see what is possible in pre-adoption care in Teagan's case.

Lemonade Stand Fundraiser

My Kids had a lot of fun running a lemonade stand fundraiser. We set up close to local bike path on a Saturday afternoon. Even though we only charged 50 cents a glass we raised $40 for Dianjiang Kids. Most people donated an additional few cents. The latest fundraiser idea we are working on is to collect recyclable bottle & cans and give deposit $$ to Dianjiang Kids. We'll keep you posted on how much we raise with this new venture.

We Did It !!

Many thanks. We reached our goal and will be able to sponsor the remaining 3
children at Dianjiang You guys rock. Thank you all!!

Moya

Help us to Continue to Support Fostercare at Dianjiang Kids

Thanks to all who have supported Dianjiang Kids. We are so lucky to have a group of parents and friends who have supported foster care and Gracie's Room and made such a difference in the lives of so many children and their families. Times has been tough for many. We are seeing this in the level of sponsorship. We have paid for sponsorship of 14 children at Dianjiang in March for the full year. We make our second payment in August for the remaining 11 children in foster care. That payment will be $5280. We have less than $1000 left in our bank account. And these children are not sponsored.

As a board we are considering reducing the number of children we sponsor. In fact, we will have no choice. But first we decided we would bring the situation to our parents and friends. So I am asking you. Would you be able to sponsor a child or help sponsor a child?

I got an e-mail last night from an anonymous donor with a really cool idea. The donor will match every $10 donation in the next week, with another $10 donation UP TO $500!! If we had 50 people donate $10 each and the donor matched that,we would have $1000 total!!.

If you can donate $10 please go to www.dianjiangkids.org and donate now. I'd love to double every donation. Thanks!!( and if you already donated in the last 24 hours, your $10 will be matched!!)

Moya