Friday, September 11, 2009

Gift From Foster Family!!!

Maya received her annual package from her Chinese foster family today. Every year for her birthday (coming up Tuesday, Sept. 15), her foster family sends something. Maya is usually the queen of the fake smile picture, but you can see she couldn't contain her joy in this picture -- it just had to spill out in a genuine smile! Maya tells me it makes her feel special that they still remember her. She doesn't really remember them, even though we visited them in 2007 when she was 3, but she loves to look at the pictures,

This year's present was a box full of hair pretties (they were so impressed at how long the girls' hair was when we saw them in 2007). And as usual, they included things for Zoe, too. That has been a real bonus, since Zoe is quite jealous that Maya has a foster family and she does not, that they always include Zoe in the gift.
The first year, they sent two beautifully embroidered and beaded qi paos, one for each girl. The next year, it was two jade pendants. The third year, it was two outfits in the distinctive Miao style. The fourth year, it was a box full of papercuts, enough for a dozen children! (I laminated Maya's favorites -- the Olypic Friendlies -- so she could carry them around, and boy, did she!). And this year, the hair pretties!
They've also included a note, which we'll take to Chinese School tomorrow, and ask someone to translate. There was a picture of a baby in the envelope, too, and I bet it's a child they fostered who has been adopted to the United States. They are probably asking me to help them make contact with her new family. They've done that before, but I didn't have any luck in posting to the relevant lists. Hopefully I'll have better luck this time!
The girls spent all evening playing with their hair -- or more accurately, with each other's hair. What a great gift! And the best gift of all, for Maya, is knowing she was and is loved by her Chinese foster family.

7 comments:

Mei-Ling said...

Can you take a picture of the note and send it to me (unless it contains personal info)?

I'm wondering how well I can still read the simplified script without a provided translation.

Jeff and Madeline said...

Love that smile! M LOVES getting her boxes too. They are such special boxes and gifts.
So happy for both girls!

Mi Hilo Rojo said...

Happy Birthday Maya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See you tomorrow!

HUgs
Mei-Ling
Mom of 2 Hunan Girls!

Mei-Ling said...

Simplified is harder to read! >.> Anyway I translated a few fragments but you'll definitely need a translator.

Haha! ;)

Meadow said...

Malinda,

I love that smile, Maya is a lucky girl... Do you know if either of your girls are Miao ethnicities? We have been told by someone who is chinese that our daughter looks distinctivley Miao (she is from Hunan) and I would love to know more about this... my email is lzb_xxx@yahoo.co.uk

DD was not fostered and we have no info at all, but we have researched a great deal about Miao/Hmong groups and would love to know more, and if it is likely that DD is in fact Miao.

What a precious gift for your girls, esp Maya to have that connection to China

Meadow

Anonymous said...

She looks very happy! So do you send presents back to the foster family?

malinda said...

Anon asks, do we send presents to the foster family?

No, but we send photos and letters. This year we sent moon cakes.