Friday, July 25, 2008
How???
How can it be after 6 months on an agencies wait list one can still not be approved to adopt from the country. Yup, we don't know if we will be approved by our program after all. Seems they have issues with people being on medication. We need a Dr. note explaining all sorts of things about John's heart issue. Amazing....that we might be unfit to parent. Some people would agree with that one...just kidding people. So here we sit waiting for the Dr. note, and then waiting for approval to adopt. I have to say at this point, if we are not approved we may stay a family of 4 and that is it. We are too weary to continue on this journey if that is where this leads to.....
Friday, July 18, 2008
Finally someone got a referral.
It has been so long since there has been a referral in our agency for a girl that I am really excited for this family. I still haven't heard back from my agency about the medical condition stuff... hopefully it will be ok....If anyone has connections to the big guy in the sky now is the time to ask him for a favor for us...
click here for the latest Taiwan beauty.
click here for the latest Taiwan beauty.
News?????
No News. Our agency hasn't had any referals for girls since May.... Yes, can you believe it?? And now people on my agency yahoo group are saying that they are being disqualified for their Taiwan adoptions due to medical issues. Well,,,,, I hope that we don't get one of those calls. I couldn't stand the stress anymore today, so I emailed my agency asking what the real deal was??/ I want to know that we are firmly on this waitlist with no chance of being booted off. We are still number 12, on the list.
I haven't heard back from them yet. If you would have told me that adoption would have taken us this long.... over 2 years since we started the paperwork for China, I would have told you "NO WAY". Now, here we are 2 agencies, 3 countries, 2 fingerprint appointments, 2 homestudies, one adoption consultant and many $$$ and tears later and still no end in sight.
I will keep ya all updated.
I haven't heard back from them yet. If you would have told me that adoption would have taken us this long.... over 2 years since we started the paperwork for China, I would have told you "NO WAY". Now, here we are 2 agencies, 3 countries, 2 fingerprint appointments, 2 homestudies, one adoption consultant and many $$$ and tears later and still no end in sight.
I will keep ya all updated.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Retirement
Surprise Rick and Kathy (his wife)
My mom and Rick
My dad, Joh , Rick
Rick and Nicole (his daughter)
Rick and John
My brother Rick retired in June from teachig phys. after 30ish years. He also coached lacrosse for many years at the varsity level. This year he was asked to cocoach with another retired teacher from a different district. They had a phenomenal year....state winners!!!
Needless to say, I am jealous :) of his future free time. The beauty of teaching is that you are still young enough to enjoy your life. I personally have another 15 years to go. His daughter, and wife wanted to celebrate his retirement so they had a small party at a local restaurant. It was quite nice, on the water and outside. His cronies all gave beautiful speeches and Rickisms. Congratulations Ricky!!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Fourth of July picts
Some picts from the fourth. We enjoyed the day with our family at my brother Phil's house and then later at my sister's for fireworks. We have this tradition for many years.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Taiwan Customs
I found this interesting and wanted to share:
I have been doing a little bit of research on Taiwan for our service plan that my agency requires. Some of the customs are quite different from here. I knew a little bit about the number thing, although not for gift giving. And the colors of the wrapping are important. We will be bringing gifts for the foster family and the birth parents when we go over.
Greetings are formal and the oldest person in a group is always greeted first.
Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners.
Many Taiwanese look towards the ground as a sign of respect when greeting someone.
You need not follow their example as they understand that westerners tend to smile warmly when introduced.
Most greetings include the rhetorical question, "Have you eaten?"
The Chinese traditionally have 3 names. The surname, or family name is first and is followed by one or two personal names.
Chinese women do not change their names when they marry other Chinese, and the children’s last name will generally follow that of the father.
Often their personal names have some poetic or otherwise significant meaning, so asking about the meaning is a good way to break the ice.
When you are first meeting a person, address the person by their academic, professional, or honorific title and their surname.
If those you are meeting want to move to a first name basis, they will advise you which name to use.
Some Chinese adopt more western names in business and may ask you to call them by that name.
Gifts are given at Chinese New Year, weddings, births and funerals.
The Taiwanese like food and a nice food basket or a bottle of good quality alcohol are gifts.
A gift may be refused the first time it is offered out of politeness. Attempt to offer the gift again; however, never force the issue.
Do not give scissors, knives or other cutting utensils as they traditionally indicate that you want to sever the relationship.
Do not give clocks, handkerchiefs or straw sandals as they are associated with funerals and death.
Do not give white flowers or chrysanthemums as they signify death.
Do not wrap gifts in white, blue or black paper.
Red, pink and yellow are considered to be auspicious colours.
Elaborate gift wrapping is imperative.
Do not give an odd number of gifts, since odd numbers are considered unlucky.
Four is also an unlucky number. Do not give four of anything.
Eight is the luckiest number. Giving eight of something brings luck to the recipient.
Avoid giving anything made in Taiwan.
Present gifts using both hands.
Gifts are not opened when received.
Gifts are generally reciprocated. Do not give a lavish gift unless it is to reciprocate an expensive gift that you have received.
I have been doing a little bit of research on Taiwan for our service plan that my agency requires. Some of the customs are quite different from here. I knew a little bit about the number thing, although not for gift giving. And the colors of the wrapping are important. We will be bringing gifts for the foster family and the birth parents when we go over.
Meeting and Greeting
Greetings are formal and the oldest person in a group is always greeted first.
Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners.
Many Taiwanese look towards the ground as a sign of respect when greeting someone.
You need not follow their example as they understand that westerners tend to smile warmly when introduced.
Most greetings include the rhetorical question, "Have you eaten?"
The Chinese traditionally have 3 names. The surname, or family name is first and is followed by one or two personal names.
Chinese women do not change their names when they marry other Chinese, and the children’s last name will generally follow that of the father.
Often their personal names have some poetic or otherwise significant meaning, so asking about the meaning is a good way to break the ice.
When you are first meeting a person, address the person by their academic, professional, or honorific title and their surname.
If those you are meeting want to move to a first name basis, they will advise you which name to use.
Some Chinese adopt more western names in business and may ask you to call them by that name.
Gift Giving Etiquette
Gifts are given at Chinese New Year, weddings, births and funerals.
The Taiwanese like food and a nice food basket or a bottle of good quality alcohol are gifts.
A gift may be refused the first time it is offered out of politeness. Attempt to offer the gift again; however, never force the issue.
Do not give scissors, knives or other cutting utensils as they traditionally indicate that you want to sever the relationship.
Do not give clocks, handkerchiefs or straw sandals as they are associated with funerals and death.
Do not give white flowers or chrysanthemums as they signify death.
Do not wrap gifts in white, blue or black paper.
Red, pink and yellow are considered to be auspicious colours.
Elaborate gift wrapping is imperative.
Do not give an odd number of gifts, since odd numbers are considered unlucky.
Four is also an unlucky number. Do not give four of anything.
Eight is the luckiest number. Giving eight of something brings luck to the recipient.
Avoid giving anything made in Taiwan.
Present gifts using both hands.
Gifts are not opened when received.
Gifts are generally reciprocated. Do not give a lavish gift unless it is to reciprocate an expensive gift that you have received.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Recovery
The last few days have been all about relaxing. Monday was spent cleaning up the remnants of the graduation party. The rest of the week was spent poolside reading and hanging out with my favorite 8 year old. He didn't even feel like playing with any friends. Rather we swam, and read our books all week. I finally finished my May bookclub book... THE RED TENT. I am now starting to read "20 Things your adopted child wants you to Know" It is part of the service plan that we have to complete.
Graduation!!!
Saturday was Kyle's high school graduation. I think Hubby and I are still in denial that we have a child that has graduated from high school. It was a beautiful ceremony. The weather was extremely hot that morning.
The next day we had a graudation party for him. It was a lot of fun and many of our family, and friends came over to help celebrate. We decided to make it a big party since we have 10 years until the next one
The next day we had a graudation party for him. It was a lot of fun and many of our family, and friends came over to help celebrate. We decided to make it a big party since we have 10 years until the next one
Some end of year stuff
Friday was my last day at work for the summer. It was also Coleton's last day. Every year we host a gathering for his class to celebrate the last day of school. This year was no different even though we were having a huge graduation party for Kyle just 2 days after. Everyone seemed to have fun!!!!
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