FINALLY!!
Now, bring on the referrals!!! Rumor has it we may receive referrals within the next 1-2 wks. WOW!!! Its so hard to believe we may finally see our baby's precious face, we are on pins and needles!!
February 27, 2007
I-171 IS HERE!!!
FINALLY!!
Now, bring on the referrals!!! Rumor has it we may receive referrals within the next 1-2 wks. WOW!!! Its so hard to believe we may finally see our baby's precious face, we are on pins and needles!!
February 24, 2007
FUN DAY w/NEPHEW!!
What in the world kind of fun could we have with 4 boxes, a bouncer, styrofoam eggs, beads and foamies? Well, a full day of absolute fun! Please see the pictures on the right for our fun day!
Aidan's dad and my husband could not believe I poured the styrofoam eggs on him. We all know the kind of mess they can make, especially when they are stepped on or broken into pieces. Oh well, what's life about with children...if you don't have spontaneous fun and creativity!!
Aidan with assistance made I Love You bracelets for grandma, mom, and dad, and then we made him one with his name on it. Of course with the excitement I forgot to take pictures of them, so, I will do that at next visit. He also made a door hanger with foamies he liked and then a monkey memo board. He's very into Curious George. He is such a great little boy and I love him to pieces and can't wait until him and butterfly meet. I am sure they will become best friends and cousins.
I hope Fred and I are as good of parents as his mom and dad are! It is so great to see my baby brother, who I fought with all the time as a kid, growing up and becoming such a great, involved, passionate dad who I truly enjoy as a brother and friend. I am just so very proud of him and I am very proud of what he and his family are becoming!! It just makes me even more excited for Fred, I and butterfly and the challenges and rewards that lie ahead as we become a family!!
February 22, 2007
ADOPTION COFFEE WISH!!
Ok Everyone this is major freaky weird, as my husband says..IF we ever did wonder if this journey was the right one for us this would have put our mind at ease. My husband had not had his usual coffee in over a week and today he went into the popular coffee shop, we all know and are addicted to...at least in the Northwest... and the regular barista who acts as though she knows what he wants grabs a larger cup than usual and gets his usual drink. Instead of correcting her he goes ahead and gets the larger one then lo and behold he reads The Way I See It Quote that was just for us and of course all other families who choose adoption as a way to build their families. This was just so awesome to receive, being as (hopefully) close as we are to referral....so we view it as a ladybug sighting....that our chosen daughter is on her way!!! The other part of this making it freaky is that we are both from Kansas and met in college not far from Wamego!
February 19, 2007
CHINESE BUTTERFLY DREAMS!
ZHUANG ZHOU MENG DIE
Zhuangzi's Butterfly Dream
A painting by Qian Xiaochun
The title of our blog came through a loving thought of what to call our precious daughter until we decide on her name. We just can not finalize a name until we see her beautiful face. After we had come up with butterfly and of course dreaming of her so.....butterly dreams....I then did a search online for china and butterfly dreams. I was curious of what would come up....low and behold a Chinese connection...and this I knew was all meant to be her interim nickname, epecially since all this came after I had already decorated her room in butterflies.
The story, Zhuangzi, is about a Chinese philosopher, Chuang Tzu, who dreamed that he was a butterfly, flying about enjoying itself. In the dream he was perfectly clear about his identity, but after he was awakened, this became uncertain. Suddenly he awoke, and inevitably was Chuang Tzu again. He did not know whether it was Chuang Tzu dreaming that he was a butterfly, or whether it was the butterfly dreaming that it was Chuang Tzu.
Here is a perfect children's book for our daughter, it has traditional Chinese children stories in it. I had to have it!!I can not wait to read stories to her every day!!
I also found of all things a beautiful butterfly dream catcher. I have always been fascinated by butterflies and their emergence from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. Its as if one life as a caterpillar was lived then there is this whole new life that is there to be experienced and lived as a butterfly. In so many ways a caterpillar to a butterfly is much like the transformation our child will make in so many ways. Life is all about how you perceive and view things that will determine how you experience them.
The mark of your ignorance
is the depth of your belief
in injustice and tragedy.
What the caterpillar
calls the end of the world
the Master calls a butterfly.
Richard Bach, Illusions
Zhuangzi's Butterfly Dream
A painting by Qian Xiaochun
The title of our blog came through a loving thought of what to call our precious daughter until we decide on her name. We just can not finalize a name until we see her beautiful face. After we had come up with butterfly and of course dreaming of her so.....butterly dreams....I then did a search online for china and butterfly dreams. I was curious of what would come up....low and behold a Chinese connection...and this I knew was all meant to be her interim nickname, epecially since all this came after I had already decorated her room in butterflies.
The story, Zhuangzi, is about a Chinese philosopher, Chuang Tzu, who dreamed that he was a butterfly, flying about enjoying itself. In the dream he was perfectly clear about his identity, but after he was awakened, this became uncertain. Suddenly he awoke, and inevitably was Chuang Tzu again. He did not know whether it was Chuang Tzu dreaming that he was a butterfly, or whether it was the butterfly dreaming that it was Chuang Tzu.
Here is a perfect children's book for our daughter, it has traditional Chinese children stories in it. I had to have it!!I can not wait to read stories to her every day!!
I also found of all things a beautiful butterfly dream catcher. I have always been fascinated by butterflies and their emergence from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. Its as if one life as a caterpillar was lived then there is this whole new life that is there to be experienced and lived as a butterfly. In so many ways a caterpillar to a butterfly is much like the transformation our child will make in so many ways. Life is all about how you perceive and view things that will determine how you experience them.
The mark of your ignorance
is the depth of your belief
in injustice and tragedy.
What the caterpillar
calls the end of the world
the Master calls a butterfly.
Richard Bach, Illusions
February 18, 2007
GUO NIAN HAO!!!
Happy Chinese New Year!!
(Spring Festival "Chun Jie")
The Year of the Pig 4704 (Boar)
GUNG HAY FAT CHOY
(Wishing you good fortune and happiness)
Our daughter is somewhere in china, in an orphanage or with her foster caregiver and we pray she is being loved and cared for well, with plenty of love, nutrition and warmth. We pray she is healthy and well on this Chinese New Year Day!!
In China, there are many children all over the country who are seeing their parents for maybe the first time in several months. Why? We watched a PBS special, China From The Inside, and have done lots of reading, and found that in the rural parts of the country it is very common for the grandparents to stay home with the children on the farm and keep it running while the parents are in the city working at blue color jobs and sending all their money home to their family.
The Chinese New Year then becomes a very big celebration as it may be one of the only times the children will see their parents for that year. The parents come home for a few weeks and there is lots of food, fireworks, gifts and decorating, sometimes even marriage ceremonies....Kids are a year older and get new clothes, candy and red envelopes with money (Ya Sui Qian).
As I mentioned in a earlier post we found some references that whenever its a Chinese Zodiac Animal Year everyone born in that year must wear something red everyday throughout the year in order to have good luck! The tradition is that your animal year usually isn’t your luckiest year, so in order to be sure you do have good luck you have to have something red touching your skin everyday.
Things people wear to keep themselves lucky:
red cloth belt
red socks
red under garments
red string necklace
red cinnebar necklace
red knotted bracelet
red cloisonne beads
red scarf or red hat
red gloves in winter
red clothes
red jacket
I am not a superstitious person but i do believe in traditions and doing things that have meaning to your family and this is one of the reasons we have chosen the red thread bracelets that bind us forever and will hopefully give our family lots of Good Luck and Prosperity!! Learn more about CNY.
Butterfly Dreaming: Year of the Dog.
Personality characteristics associated with this are: Faithful, honest and ready to serve others. Believe in truth and justice and loyal to friends. Always willing to listen to people’s problems and is able to gain the respect of others. Will share their thoughts but do not easily forgive those who cross them. Plagued by constant worry, a sharp tongue, and a tendency to be a fault finder. Would make an excellent businessman, activist, teacher, or secret agent.
Tina: Year of the Goat
Personality characteristics associated with this are: Elegant, artistic and good-natured, but can be the first to complain about things. Except for the knack of always getting off on the wrong foot with people, the Goat can be charming company. Inclined to worry too much. Peace-lovers who prefer to avoid disagreements. Others may put upon them, but they are stronger than they seem. Family is very important. Would be best as an actor, gardener, or beachcomber.
Fred: Year of the Monkey
Personality characteristics associated with this are: Intelligent and very clever, but mischievous. Love a challenge and can wriggle out of difficult situations by thinking through difficult problems. Highly successful, extraordinary nature, magnetic personality and well-liked. The Monkey must guard against being an opportunist and distrustful of other people. Monkey sign promises success in any field the person tries.
(Spring Festival "Chun Jie")
The Year of the Pig 4704 (Boar)
GUNG HAY FAT CHOY
(Wishing you good fortune and happiness)
Our daughter is somewhere in china, in an orphanage or with her foster caregiver and we pray she is being loved and cared for well, with plenty of love, nutrition and warmth. We pray she is healthy and well on this Chinese New Year Day!!
In China, there are many children all over the country who are seeing their parents for maybe the first time in several months. Why? We watched a PBS special, China From The Inside, and have done lots of reading, and found that in the rural parts of the country it is very common for the grandparents to stay home with the children on the farm and keep it running while the parents are in the city working at blue color jobs and sending all their money home to their family.
The Chinese New Year then becomes a very big celebration as it may be one of the only times the children will see their parents for that year. The parents come home for a few weeks and there is lots of food, fireworks, gifts and decorating, sometimes even marriage ceremonies....Kids are a year older and get new clothes, candy and red envelopes with money (Ya Sui Qian).
As I mentioned in a earlier post we found some references that whenever its a Chinese Zodiac Animal Year everyone born in that year must wear something red everyday throughout the year in order to have good luck! The tradition is that your animal year usually isn’t your luckiest year, so in order to be sure you do have good luck you have to have something red touching your skin everyday.
Things people wear to keep themselves lucky:
red cloth belt
red socks
red under garments
red string necklace
red cinnebar necklace
red knotted bracelet
red cloisonne beads
red scarf or red hat
red gloves in winter
red clothes
red jacket
I am not a superstitious person but i do believe in traditions and doing things that have meaning to your family and this is one of the reasons we have chosen the red thread bracelets that bind us forever and will hopefully give our family lots of Good Luck and Prosperity!! Learn more about CNY.
Butterfly Dreaming: Year of the Dog.
Personality characteristics associated with this are: Faithful, honest and ready to serve others. Believe in truth and justice and loyal to friends. Always willing to listen to people’s problems and is able to gain the respect of others. Will share their thoughts but do not easily forgive those who cross them. Plagued by constant worry, a sharp tongue, and a tendency to be a fault finder. Would make an excellent businessman, activist, teacher, or secret agent.
Tina: Year of the Goat
Personality characteristics associated with this are: Elegant, artistic and good-natured, but can be the first to complain about things. Except for the knack of always getting off on the wrong foot with people, the Goat can be charming company. Inclined to worry too much. Peace-lovers who prefer to avoid disagreements. Others may put upon them, but they are stronger than they seem. Family is very important. Would be best as an actor, gardener, or beachcomber.
Fred: Year of the Monkey
Personality characteristics associated with this are: Intelligent and very clever, but mischievous. Love a challenge and can wriggle out of difficult situations by thinking through difficult problems. Highly successful, extraordinary nature, magnetic personality and well-liked. The Monkey must guard against being an opportunist and distrustful of other people. Monkey sign promises success in any field the person tries.
February 16, 2007
THE RED THREAD THAT BINDS US!
An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance.The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.
- Chinese proverb
When we started the adoption process(paper chasing period)in January 2005 we expected our wait from LID (log in date),or paperwork in china, to referral (when receive child info) to be 6-8 months. Unfortunately, this time dramatically increased to 10 months, then 12, 14 and now 16-17 months. We have a LID of 10/21/05 and CCAA has completed all referrals through 10/13/05. So we are hopeful that the next batch will include our daughter and the referrals are expected to be mailed from china the the first or middle part of march.
When we knew this wait was increasing I wanted to find something for us to feel tied symbolically to our daughter who was somewhere in china. When we started this process she had not yet been born.
After looking for a very long time on the internet for a red thread or bracelet of some kind that my husband would be willing to wear. I finally found the perfect thing, a very simply red thread, with NO beads, requirement from him.
We have worn these bracelets since 10/17/05 and had planned to wear them until we brought our daughter home. I also ordered extras for our family to wear who wanted to be reminded of our daughter waiting for us to bring her home.
These bracelets mean a great deal and have become a part of us. A sweet co-worker one day made a comment about the fact that we will be able to take our bracelets off soon....and I actually had a feeling of sadness...this is my connection to her right now and has been for over 2 years...soon,we will finally have her in our arms...My husband and I talked and I have of course read many things that culturally discuss that red brings good luck and prosperity, and many parents give their Chinese children a red bracelet or red string necklace with jade etc..to signify this.
Sooooo, we are going to keep our bracelets on forever and add one to her wrist asap. I would like this to be a symbolism of our destiny to be together as a forever family of three!!
February 14, 2007
I-171H WHERE ARE U??
Since the adoption process has been extended for so long we have reached a point where our paperwork is needing to be renewed. Sooo, knowing this for the last several months I was trying to be on top of it by bugging the agency about when we can resubmit the paperwork. However, I think the agency got tired of me and got in the mode of just telling me "its to early" so then a month or two ago I asked again and now its major panic mode and they want all the stuff in, like, yesterday!! Well, we finally got everything sent off, barely, 2 weeks before paperwork expired. The immigration office cashed our check the end of January and our agency is hoping we get our renewed I-171H at least before we get our travel approval, which could come within 3-4 weeks after we get our referral and we COULD very likely get our referral in March....WoooooHooooo, We can hardly contain our excitement!!
February 9, 2007
BUTTERFLY NESTING!!!
Here are some of our nesting/remodeling picts..
This is the beginning of a wonderful journey to our daughter. She is currently somewhere in china either in an orphanage or with a foster caregiver. Everyday, I pray that she is being well cared for and loved dearly by her caregivers. Unfortunately, somewhere along our daughter's journey of life her biological parents have had to make a very difficult decision. We have many mixed emotions regarding this but we will always and forever be grateful for the wonderful, joyful gift our daughter's biological parents have given us.
As you can see we are more than 15 months from our LID (log in date). When we started the adoption process in January 2005 there was a 6-8 month wait from LID to referral. Unfortunately, that has since increased and has been teaching us how to be Very Patient, but we are ready for our patience to End...heheheh!
Our agency, tentatively, expects us to have a referral the first of March. It is very difficult to even begin to express our excitement, fears and anxiety in words. However, I do know we are both ready to move on.....and unite with our daughter and bring her home!
We are lovingly calling our daughter our beautiful butterfly. We have some names picked out but really want to see her beautiful face and find out her Chinese name before we decide on her name.
We have been busy this past year remodeling. The biggest feat was tearing up our linoleum and carpeting in our great room/hallway and laying hard wood floors. Something we have never done...However, Fred being the perfectionist that he is studied and researched how to install it...we picked out exactly what we wanted and went for it before company was to come at thanksgiving.....OMG...we did it in 2 weeks tearing it up and laying it down...done before the holidays....Never would have made it had we not had my brother and nephew (2.5yo) here to help...It was hard work but sooooooo worth it.....!!! Oh yeah, before that we painted the room and I spilled a large amount of paint on the carpet...now, Fred says I did it on purpose to get the new flooring but I really didn't....Well, ok, maybe subconsciously I did because I knew if I didn't it might not get done before we get our daughter!! WE tend to procrastinate on some things especially if we are not sure how to do it...
This is the beginning of a wonderful journey to our daughter. She is currently somewhere in china either in an orphanage or with a foster caregiver. Everyday, I pray that she is being well cared for and loved dearly by her caregivers. Unfortunately, somewhere along our daughter's journey of life her biological parents have had to make a very difficult decision. We have many mixed emotions regarding this but we will always and forever be grateful for the wonderful, joyful gift our daughter's biological parents have given us.
As you can see we are more than 15 months from our LID (log in date). When we started the adoption process in January 2005 there was a 6-8 month wait from LID to referral. Unfortunately, that has since increased and has been teaching us how to be Very Patient, but we are ready for our patience to End...heheheh!
Our agency, tentatively, expects us to have a referral the first of March. It is very difficult to even begin to express our excitement, fears and anxiety in words. However, I do know we are both ready to move on.....and unite with our daughter and bring her home!
We are lovingly calling our daughter our beautiful butterfly. We have some names picked out but really want to see her beautiful face and find out her Chinese name before we decide on her name.
We have been busy this past year remodeling. The biggest feat was tearing up our linoleum and carpeting in our great room/hallway and laying hard wood floors. Something we have never done...However, Fred being the perfectionist that he is studied and researched how to install it...we picked out exactly what we wanted and went for it before company was to come at thanksgiving.....OMG...we did it in 2 weeks tearing it up and laying it down...done before the holidays....Never would have made it had we not had my brother and nephew (2.5yo) here to help...It was hard work but sooooooo worth it.....!!! Oh yeah, before that we painted the room and I spilled a large amount of paint on the carpet...now, Fred says I did it on purpose to get the new flooring but I really didn't....Well, ok, maybe subconsciously I did because I knew if I didn't it might not get done before we get our daughter!! WE tend to procrastinate on some things especially if we are not sure how to do it...
