Chinese Cultural Event

Jack brought us a lovely piece of art from China when he was in the country last month.  It features "faces" from the Peking Opera.  "Peking Opera" is generally the Western generic term not only for Beijing Opera but other traditional opera styles as well.

We had the opportunity last night to attend a Peking Opera performance at Miami University.  We started the evening with a Chinese buffet - yum!  We've heard that we're going to be expected to eat with chop sticks in China, so we've been practicing with them.  The performance followed dinner.

The costumes and make-up are very elaborate, but there isn't much in the way of sets and props.  The acting isn't intended to be naturalistic, as through facial expressions, as much as through long-established gestures and body movements, which can vary from the way a foot is raised or a step taken to the flip of a sleeve, to a full body cartwheel.  We observed LOTS of the sleeve movements.  I've read that these movements are difficult to learn and take many years of study.  In fact, we were told that in order to perform with the Peking Opera you must start training at the age of ten.  They told Tikvah she should begin right away!

There were acrobatics and even the tossing of (imitation) weapons.  Though we didn't understand the language, we were able to follow the story line - with the help of some explanation from the head of the dramatics department!

I'm thinking if it was the first time this group performed in the USA, we as the audience may have left much to be desired.  According to the book China A-Z,  audience members (in nonimperial performances) are not expected to remain quiet or even in place.  Often they may come and go and even shout out their approval at an especially skilled performance by rising to their feet and calling out, "Hao! Hao!" which is similar to "Bravo!" and literally means "Good!"  As the evening went on, we got a little better at applauding at times other than when we thought the performance was "done." 

We really weren't sure what to expect, but we had a great time!

I bumped into another mom at the performance who had been in the same gardening class as we were over the summer.  "Just so happens" she is the adoptive mom of two Chinese children, both of whom have the ear condition that "Ella" has.  What a wealth of information was there!  She invited us to an adoption support meeting that is tonight.  With the week I've had, I'm thinking a support group is exactly what I need.  I'm likely driving my friends who aren't on this particular journey, totally nuts.  Thank you all for putting up with me!

Prayer warriors, I need you!

I feel like our placement agency is just LOOKING for a reason to say "no" about Ella.  We still don't have an answer, but they have kicked back our home study now (which we thought was totally done) and are insisting on a whole new section about our adult children who no longer live with us. They want all their contact info and a statement from each stating how they feel about the adoption.   Anyone ever heard of such a thing?

 I feel bad for our kids because they didn't sign up for the intrusion in their lives.  They aren't the ones adopting!  I feel bad for Abigail (who is being held up now, likely because of Ella) and I feel bad for us and this continued stress.  Can I stop this merry-go-round and get off for a day?   I am really discouraged tonight.  Prayer warriors, I need you!

The Committee Met

For those who know me well, you know this adoption is a  s--t--r--e--t--c--h  in nearly every way possible.  While I have no doubt that the Lord has the building of my character in mind, and this is all likely good for me, right now it doesn't FEEL so good, and it is overall just not a pleasant experience tonight.

I'm referring specifically to the presence of hurricane Isaac in my stomach.  The committee met at our placement agency on Tuesday to determine if they would allow us to adopt two little girls.  Our case manager isn't saying anything other than:

1.  Their director of social services is waiting on a call back from our social worker

and

2. They want me to talk with another family who adopted two unrelated children through them last year.

So.... I sent out a HELP to our local people who plan to call them tomorrow.  (This is where I really hate that the west coast people don't get into the office until noon our time.)

And, I reminded our caseworker that I have already spoken with the family,  and have stayed in touch with them via email.  But, since she brought it up, maybe I'll call them again.  This lady in Virginia, of all people, likely knows how crazy I'm feeling this evening.

It is very difficult on a Mama's heart to have other people planning what happens to our little girls!  Still, I know we serve a sovereign God and He will bring His plan to pass.  Do keep praying that the "right" decisions are made this week.

Fundraising

International adoption is crazy expensive!  We are dependent on God to provide the funds needed to bring Abigail (and possibly Ella!) home.  He has called us to do this, and we are confident He will provide the means to do so.

We have a few fundraisers going towards that end.  The Puzzle Fundraiser made its debut a week ago.  We are putting the puzzle together as the pieces are sponsored.  We were excited this evening to see the Great Wall of China starting to show in our puzzle.  Take a look!

Another fundraiser that we have been involved with is selling candy bars and chips at our local home school co-op lunch time.

And today we launched our T-shirt Fundraiser with Adoption Bug.  My two  favorite designs are seen below:

If you'd like to contribute to bringing Abigail home, want to show your support for orphans, or hey, would just like a new T-shirt this fall, we invite you to see these as well as a few others in our little T-shirt store found at http://www.adoptionbug.com/adoptingabigail/

Most of all, we continue to need your prayers.  Big decisions are being made next week about our little girls!  We truly want God's will to be done concerning them.

Agency is working on it!

Our home study is in review at our placement agency.  They have received our additional documents for Ella, and the committee is scheduled to meet next week to consider our request to adopt two.  Stay tuned!

More paperwork - this time Ella's

We received a draft of our home study last night.  Aside from a few typos, it is finished.  A draft also went to our placement agency so they could request additional clarification, if needed, before the document is notarized, certified and hard copies mailed.

Today I need to begin some additional paperwork, this time for Ella.  True, her files won't be released for another 30 days, but our placement agency has to have a committee meeting to decide if they will allow us to even pursue her once her file is released.  In order to do that they have to look at our home study, her medical files, and some other documents that they have requested of us.  The "other documents" are what I get to work on today.  Everything needs to be in place by this time next month if we will be allowed to "lock" her file.

Please pray today that I would have clarity of thought as I work on these papers. Some of the questions are difficult to answer.  Thanks!

Update on Ella - again

Third update today, that is a record.  This is another prayer request.  If you have followed my blog you know that there were two little girls that STUCK with us.  We have been told for two months that there is no way Ella's file can/will be transferred to our agency.  We have continued to pray that Ella's family finds her. 

Today I received word from agency X that if they aren't able to find her a home by October 6, her file will go back on the shared list.  This would make her file available to any agency to "lock in."

Our agency hasn't been very supportive about placing two unrelated children at the same time.  However, they have done it in the past, and it is allowed by Chinese authorities if one child is "Special Focus."  Our home study recommends the placement of two special needs children, and our social worker was very supportive of the idea.

I'm especially grateful that I'm not the one in charge of the whole scheme of things.  We didn't really start out intending to LOOK for two children, nor did we particularly set out to look for one that is a preschooler.  I have questioned for two months why this little girl will not leave my head and my heart. 

October 6 is only a month away.  Will you pray with us for God's will in this?  If God means for US to be Ella's family, we will rejoice!  If God sends her another family, we will rejoice with her for that.  But, Ella needs a family.  Please pray with us that her wait ends soon.