Happy Chinese New Year everyone! This week marks the 15 day celebration which began on January 23 and ends on February 6. This is also known as their Spring Festival and preparations begin a month before the celebration. Houses are cleaned from top to bottom to sweep away any traces of bad luck and doors and windowpanes are given a new coat of paint, usually red. Doors and windows are also decorated with red paper couplets printed with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity. In China, red is the color of luck and royalty. Children are typically given money in red envelopes for luck, prosperity and to buy treats at the festivities. Other traditions include feasts, fireworks, parades and more.
2012 marks the year of the dragon according to the Chinese zodiac calendar. The dragon is the 5th zodiac sign which stands for power, good luck, success and happiness. Characteristics of someone born during the year of the dragon include being flexible, passionate, generous and free spirited. Chinese traditions are swathed in superstitions. It's amazing to me how cultures are so different all around the world! Our Maggie was born in 2010 which was the year of the Tiger. The characteristics of someone born in the year of the tiger include a good dose of courage, prone to be impatient, sometimes short-tempered, passionate, very cautious, and can be trusted in all things. Truth or superstition? I guess we shall see.
Currently in Guizhou, it's 35 degrees and snow flurries. I can just picture my little munchkin all bundled up! The chinese are known for putting several layers of clothing on their babies and children in winter. Here on the other side of the globe, in Tennessee, we are having almost spring-like weather. Sunny, 60 degrees, and very different from the last couple of years. My kids are itching for some snow! I have to say I am too. I like days that we can stay home from school, play outside, drink hot chocolate and "nest" with my family.
The million dollar question is still, when? I wish I could say that we knew, but we don't. I know that February is looking impossible (unless God steps in to change something) and it's looking more like early March. With a document getting lost back in October and now the Chinese New Year has everything closed for several days, we are most certainly off course for February to happen. Hopefully we will at least get our TA (travel approval) in February. From there our travel dates will depend on our appointment date with the consulate in Guangzhou to finalize the adoption. So close, yet so far! Some days this waiting feels like it's going to drive me crazy. Other days, I feel like time is running short. There are several projects at home I wanted to get done before we go and I haven't started a single one! (I'm the world's biggest procrastinator) Mostly I'm just feeling blue :( Sometimes I go out for a little "retail therapy" to make me feel better. Even if it's just a stop at Wal-Mart to get her some pj's or something I know we'll need on our trip.
A care package was sent to her earlier this month with photos of us, our home, her bed, the dog, etc. I'm praying that her foster mama or her orphanage nanny is showing them to her each day so that she is at least familiar with our faces. At this point, we don't know if she is back at the orphanage or still with her foster family. It worries me either way! I am having a lot of anxiety myself about us meeting her. From all the adoptive training material we've read and families we've kept up with, we know that the first few days will be difficult to say the least. She will be whisked away from all she has known and given to some strange talking white people. No wonder adopted children have a grieving process! Pray for me. And for us as a family to bond and connect with her. I know this is not going to easy on her and most likely not for us either. She's too young to understand all that is going on. And at the same time, I literally feel like a piece of my heart is on the other side of the world with her. The closer we get to traveling, the more I feel my connection with her. I can't explain it, I just know that it's there and that it has to be God. I never knew I could feel this way and love a little person this much. A little person who is not my flesh and blood. But I know I am her mother. I find myself worrying over this sweet girl that I've only seen in pictures. I think these emotions are showing me the bigger picture all the time of God's heart for us as His adopted children.
This time in January last year also marks when God began to stir something in my heart for adoption. What a roller coaster this last year has been! I would do it again in a heartbeat if the Lord asked me to. What we've experienced and learned is priceless! As my impatience and frustrations have increased lately, he is teaching me to "Be still and know..." and to "Rest in Him". His timing is perfect. I don't know and may never know the reason for the delays, but I have to trust. Have I mentioned this is extremely difficult? :)
As you think of us, please pray for our travel to be here before we know it, for Maggie and the transition that is before all of us, for everyone's safety as we travel and our 3 little munchkins we're leaving behind and for the rest of the paperwork and money that is to be paid to fall into place according to His plan. We love you all and appreciate all the love and support on this journey in our lives. To God be the glory!
Be still and know that I am God....Psalm 46:10a
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. Psalm 62:1
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:5
I will bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- Isaiah 43:6b
Currently in Guizhou, it's 35 degrees and snow flurries. I can just picture my little munchkin all bundled up! The chinese are known for putting several layers of clothing on their babies and children in winter. Here on the other side of the globe, in Tennessee, we are having almost spring-like weather. Sunny, 60 degrees, and very different from the last couple of years. My kids are itching for some snow! I have to say I am too. I like days that we can stay home from school, play outside, drink hot chocolate and "nest" with my family.
The million dollar question is still, when? I wish I could say that we knew, but we don't. I know that February is looking impossible (unless God steps in to change something) and it's looking more like early March. With a document getting lost back in October and now the Chinese New Year has everything closed for several days, we are most certainly off course for February to happen. Hopefully we will at least get our TA (travel approval) in February. From there our travel dates will depend on our appointment date with the consulate in Guangzhou to finalize the adoption. So close, yet so far! Some days this waiting feels like it's going to drive me crazy. Other days, I feel like time is running short. There are several projects at home I wanted to get done before we go and I haven't started a single one! (I'm the world's biggest procrastinator) Mostly I'm just feeling blue :( Sometimes I go out for a little "retail therapy" to make me feel better. Even if it's just a stop at Wal-Mart to get her some pj's or something I know we'll need on our trip.
A care package was sent to her earlier this month with photos of us, our home, her bed, the dog, etc. I'm praying that her foster mama or her orphanage nanny is showing them to her each day so that she is at least familiar with our faces. At this point, we don't know if she is back at the orphanage or still with her foster family. It worries me either way! I am having a lot of anxiety myself about us meeting her. From all the adoptive training material we've read and families we've kept up with, we know that the first few days will be difficult to say the least. She will be whisked away from all she has known and given to some strange talking white people. No wonder adopted children have a grieving process! Pray for me. And for us as a family to bond and connect with her. I know this is not going to easy on her and most likely not for us either. She's too young to understand all that is going on. And at the same time, I literally feel like a piece of my heart is on the other side of the world with her. The closer we get to traveling, the more I feel my connection with her. I can't explain it, I just know that it's there and that it has to be God. I never knew I could feel this way and love a little person this much. A little person who is not my flesh and blood. But I know I am her mother. I find myself worrying over this sweet girl that I've only seen in pictures. I think these emotions are showing me the bigger picture all the time of God's heart for us as His adopted children.
This time in January last year also marks when God began to stir something in my heart for adoption. What a roller coaster this last year has been! I would do it again in a heartbeat if the Lord asked me to. What we've experienced and learned is priceless! As my impatience and frustrations have increased lately, he is teaching me to "Be still and know..." and to "Rest in Him". His timing is perfect. I don't know and may never know the reason for the delays, but I have to trust. Have I mentioned this is extremely difficult? :)
As you think of us, please pray for our travel to be here before we know it, for Maggie and the transition that is before all of us, for everyone's safety as we travel and our 3 little munchkins we're leaving behind and for the rest of the paperwork and money that is to be paid to fall into place according to His plan. We love you all and appreciate all the love and support on this journey in our lives. To God be the glory!
Be still and know that I am God....Psalm 46:10a
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. Psalm 62:1
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:5
I will bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- Isaiah 43:6b
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