Please read this sweet write up from Nora's time at camp:
I spent most of time in an exhibit (at the McWane Center) that is set up like a miniature city and is a child’s dream for pretending. The children were able to cook and serve at a diner, shop at a grocery store, milk a cow, doctor animals at the veterinarian’s office, ride in a firetruck, fix a car, and climb in an amazing jungle gym.One kiddo in particular, Nora, decided that she wanted to climb in the jungle gym. The other volunteers and I were very worried that she would be trampled by the other children, so we tried our best to distract her with another activity.
She was not interested in anything else. So, sweet, gentle, quiet Nora, joined all of the rambunctious children on the jungle gym. She took it slowly. She would watch how the other children maneuvered around and learned from them. She would then follow behind them, not missing a beat. I loved watching her confidence grow as she climbed higher up and further into the jungle gym.
As I continue to think about Nora learning how to crawl and climb her way through the jungle gym, I cannot help but long for her to have more experiences such as that one, where she has the opportunity to learn and grow.
And this:
Nora is a sweet girl who always has a smile on her face. During our first bath time, Nora diligently and methodically brushed every one of her teeth. She looked at herself in the mirror the entire time she was brushing her teeth. I loved watching her brush her teeth each night.
When Nora looked a little sad, I would ask if she was ok by giving her a thumbs up and she always responded with an energetic thumbs up back. While we drove from activity to activity in Atlanta, Nora was in my van. While we were waiting for others to get in their vans, I looked back at Nora and she was getting teary. I don’t think she was sad, just teary. I put my hand on my lap and she grabbed by hand. I then asked if she was ok and she wiped her tear, gave me a thumbs up, and had a huge smile on her face.
At Target, Nora immediately went toward the babydolls. We were at Target for over an hour and I don’t think she left the babydoll aisle. She bought a sweet little baby doll and loved that baby so well. We got back to camp and all of the kids played with their new toys in the dining hall. In the midst of remote control cars and helicopters, Nora sat quietly on the floor and rocked her baby as she fed it a bottle.
I spent half a day with Nora at Kid's Camp.
She is so precious. She is very sweet and easy going and full of pure joy and light. She saw value in the small things: throwing a ball, playing with acorns, blowing bubbles.
She learned quickly despite the language barrier when I would show her how to do something one time. I helped her try 
on her clothing to make sure it fit, and she was able to completely dress herself (I am an occupational therapist and was curious how independent she was with self care skills.) She can use the toilet herself and wash her hands. I just had to cue her to rinse the soap completely off of her hands. I watched her sit patiently and wait her turn during the drum circle, and her excitement would bubble over when it became her turn. She was always smiling and sweetly holding my hand to go from one activity to the next. I know that this sweet girl would bring absolute joy to any family who chooses to adopt her.
Nora stole my heart! I loved to see and hear this little baby laugh! She got along so well with all of the other children. She is easy to please/content and her smile will melt you. She is so affectionate and cooperative. She would put her arm around my neck; kiss the back of my head and my cheek. The sweetest!!! I think she won over anyone who came in contact with her. Watching her run is the cutest thing ever!!! I am completely convinced the family who adopts this little girl will experience one of the greatest blessings of their lives!
Take a moment to watch Nora's video. Password: Nora
Videos courtesy of Reel Magnolia Media
Please contact Jenna Parker for more information.
Lifeline Children’s Services is a full-service adoption and orphan care ministry, serving families and children in the United States and around the globe. We began as a domestic adoption ministry, caring for women walking through unplanned and often crisis pregnancies. By God’s grace, Lifeline has since grown in ways we never could have imagined.
We thank the Lord for the 1,000 children Lifeline has placed into forever families domestically. International Adoption Lifeline began responding to the needs of orphans internationally in 1999 and currently has 20 country programs.
At Lifeline, we believe that adoption is a way that God gives families to vulnerable children who need to know the love of a family and the love of Christ. Our desire is to walk alongside missional families on their adoption journey and to provide necessary resources as they love, nurture, and disciple their children through the love of Christ.
We love to partner with families who see the big picture of adoption as part of God’s redemptive purpose in the world through the gospel and the personal picture of adoption as God’s divine work to set the lonely in families.
