Photos of JunFen at Wuhan Children's Welfare Institute

We've found our daughter! She's our ONE in a Billion!

We have been matched with a lovely special needs six-year old girl living in Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China! Please understand that we started this journey with the intent to adopt a "non-special needs" 12-month old or younger! If you want to make God laugh - tell Him your plans!!!! We see His perfect Wisdom in prompting us to embrace the delightful 6 -year old JunFen as our daugther! What an incredible gift! Our little daughter, JunFen, has a smile that melts our hearts. She seems so wise, funny and resilient for her young age! She is challenged with congenital scoliosis and has repaired cleft lip & palate. It's obvious her physical challenge is not what defines her when you look at her photos and read a bit about her life.

She was found in a park on September 10, 2001. We believe that her mom placed JunFen in a place where she would quickly be found. JunFen was taken by police to Wuhan City Child Welfare Institution. Her DOB is approximated to be September 1, 2001. She was not able to get adequate nutrition as a babe because of her cleft palate. When she was 10 months old she was placed in a foster home where she received the extra TLC she needed to grow "plump" (our translated letter reads) and to thrive. She is described as talkative, energetic, having rich facial expressions and is independent. We hope that we meet all of her biological mom's dreams for her little girl and then some. We also hope to stay in contact with the dear foster family that has nurtured her so wonderfully.

Other things we know about our JunFen -

Favorite activity: playing outside

Favorite toy: doll

Favorite food: fish

She speaks a Southwestern dialect of Mandarin Chinese. Most likely she speakes a Wuhanese dialect at her foster home.

We are over the moon in love with our girl! God is good - we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of JunFen ("June").

We can't wait to bring her home!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Tremella Soup, aka "White Fungus Soup" - One of JunFen's favorites!


JunFen's foster Mama was good enough to list all of JunFen's favorite dishes in her report from the orphanage. I found an Asian supermarket just 10 minutes from our home that carries the key ingredient of one of JunFen's favorite foods..."Tremella" for "Tremella soup"; tremella is also known as "white fungus." You buy it dried, and it doesn't look bad at all...something like fried pork rinds in color and texture. I made the most basic recipe for Tremella soup as my first attempt. I'll try to kick it up a notch next time with snow peas, chicken, and more ingredients.

Even Baba liked the Tremella soup! Let's see what Junfen's review will be!

1 comment:

Chelley said...

Just wanted to say I have been lurking for a little while... I cant wait follow your trip to China! And to your forever family momnet!!

HUGZ!