Translations Please

We NEED the translations to get back to us ASAP! We have a photo album ready and waiting, and a care package to go with it. None of it can be sent until we get the translations (that go into the photo album) back.

The problem is that the agency states that translations take 4-6 days. It's been 6. As another blogger wrote, Dear People Who Give Me Timelines...please follow them, or stop doing that! We need to get this show on the road and until I have those cute descriptions under all of the pictures translated into Mandarin, those cute descriptions don't matter!

My problem is that I'm never quite happy with the finished product. I've had the scrapbook pages in my possession for several days and so I've looked at them. Repeatedly. Each time I review them, I decide I wish I had used a different photo here, a different phrase there, a different layout here, a different ..well, you get the idea. By the time the translations are returned to us, I will have decided the whole thing needs to be redone.

The only thing stopping me is that I can't change the descriptions (or the photos they describe) because then it would make the translations null and void. And I'd have to start over.

Technically I think this is how Crazy starts, but why worry about that now, right?

Whoops

Have you ever lovingly packed your child's lunch, sent them to school, then found the sandwich for said lunch in the fridge later that afternoon?

Yeah. Me neither....

Latest Skype session

We got to see her pretty face tonight. We also got to see her grumpy side. It was endearing, and a little amusing. Then I realized it was only amusing because it wasn't me having to deal with it...yet.

Like when the stranger in line behind you at the store has a child who is misbehaving a little. And you know the child has chosen the perfect time to show just who is in control. The adult whispers firmly in her ear to straighten up and fly right...and the child continues to sink to the floor or sing random songs as if no one else exists. Charming.

Yeah, it's funny alright...until you're on a  plane bound for America, can't speak Mandarin, and your 50 lbs. bright-eyed little daughter chooses that moment to test your parenting skills. Yes, I picture this a lot. Worried, party of one please. 

She didn't have much to say and we saw the top of her head quite a bit. At one point she left the room and the social worker shared with us that Katelyn wasn't very happy with us after missing the last Skype session. We still don't know where the failure in communication happened, but that sweet girl came to the orphanage to see us and we blew her off like we were off on a weekend beach vacation....because, well, we were. Granted we had no idea we were supposed to meet up with her, but all she knows is we stood her up. I'd be mad too if I was her. 

They pointed out she was in quite a mood today. We assured them that we understood. They then shared with us that she has a bit of a temper. I asked how she behaved when she became angry...and they said "well, like she is behaving today." Understood and no big deal. Short of fast forwarding several months, that's just going to be how it is sometimes. 

The topper was that through the translator, she has expressed concern about how we will communicate when she gets here and we don't know Mandarin. Oh baby girl, we think about that too! ESL tools will be our best friend.

She also said...and here is where if you're human, your heart will clench up a little...she said that while she is excited to come here, she doesn't want to leave her foster mommy again. As in...she's already been in 4 foster homes and heading to America with strangers who don't understand her is not high on her list of fun things to do. 

I so get this. I get it! If Nathan was an orphan, and at his age, he had to go to Asia, move in with strangers who don't speak English, and spend the rest of his life, well...I can't even imagine. And yet, that's exactly what we are asking her to do in order to join our family. How does a 6 year old girl process that? 

The social worker also shared that K is pretty spoiled. She attributes it to her being moved around quite a bit. I can't help but wonder if their version of "spoiled" is the same as ours. This could be an interesting dynamic for sure.

On the positive side, all of this means she truly understands (as best as a 6 year old can) what is happening. She's obviously envisioning what it will be like. It also means she must have a pretty good foster family. By all accounts she is very happy there and while I'm sad she has to leave that life, I'm relieved to know that she is being treated well..something that isn't always a given in foster care (of any country). 

Tonight felt like a little bit of shine has been rubbed off. The first two Skype sessions she was working so hard to impress us. I think I even said that I wish she didn't feel the need to do that. Ha!  Reality is setting in and it's just going to be tough. Period. 

I wish I could reach through that computer, hug her, play with her, reassure her, and comfort her. That time will come and until then I'm thankful for Skype. I pray each day that God will prepare her heart for this and comfort her as needed. And I pray He will guide us and help us help her. 

Balancing hope and faith with the realities of the international adoption of an older child is quite a feat. I think we're crazy...but really happy too. ;)

Photo albums, toys, and Skype!

We've prepared a photo album to send to K. The captions under the pictures must be translated before it's sent but that shouldn't take too long.

We are also sending along a letter from Andy and me to her, explaining why this very special name "Katelyn" means so much to us and why we want that to be her name. We will keep her given name as her middle name, but Katelyn has been in our hearts and minds for a long while. How exciting to have a child now that will hopefully wear her new American name proudly. I think it will go fine but I'm bracing myself in the event she has a few words to tell us about it. ;)

Lastly, we have a little baggie full of a few toys that I believe she'll love. Every child that likes to draw as much as she does needs a pad of drawing paper, and some new markers, right? And after declaring that Barbie is her favorite doll...Barbie soon became part of the first care package we're sending. The boys put in some plastic costume jewelry, and a book.

I know she'll pour over all of it and view it again and again. And in a month we will send her more pages to add to the album, and that's when the indoctrination begins. First it's some cute OSU bows for her hair...or maybe a tee-shirt from Joes. Then we slip in an OSU book bag with "Future Cowgirl" embroidered on it. I'm certain the shirt that says "Friends don't let friends go to OU" won't make it into the package, but I make no promises. As long as she understands the rules...we love and cheer for all things OSU, do the waving wheat, and shoot our pistols when we score a touchdown, we're all good. Next semester we'll address the expectation of how you behave during Sooner games. It won't take her long to learn that if the Sooners are playing, you cheer for the opposing team. It's a rule, one she will follow or my heart will be permanently broken.

Covers all the important stuff right?

We do get to Skype tomorrow night. I'm so excited to see her little face and visit again. Can't wait!!

Saved and Baptized

Another week behind us, a week closer to Andy's return. We are on the downhill side of him being gone and I pray the time passes quickly. I'm more than ready for him to be home where he belongs.

On a side note, I really, really need the lizards to stay outside. I might, almost, on a really good day think they're sort of cute...if they didn't scurry along, regrow appendages, and show up when I least expect it. Bleck.

Matt and I were both baptized today. We got to share the day with many close friends and Andy was "there" the whole time on Skype watching it all go down. I was so elated afterwards that we got to do this with friends and on the same day. I asked Matt several times what he thought, how it went...and his 11 year old self shrugged his shoulders, and agreed it was "pretty cool." When I begged asked him to elaborate, he paused and said "I got to be baptized and that's a big deal..then I got to swim and hang out, and eat dessert..it was pretty cool." I guess I asked right?

After we returned home Nathan adamantly declared that he needed to be baptized too...this Sunday. We discussed that you can't be baptized unless you've been saved and are a believer. He calmly explained to me what being "saved" meant...made it clear that he believes that, then again declared he wanted to be baptized this week. After talking to Andy, next thing I knew, Nathan was praying that prayer with me. Awesome.

For my entertainment, I pointed out to Matt that not only have I prayed for their salvation and baptism, I pray for his future wife. I pray that she too will be a believer and an Oklahoma State fan...I even suggested that somewhere out there on this big earth, is a little girl around his age who maybe has just been baptized too. Matt found the idea intriguing...then Nathan made kissy kissy sounds, Matt punched him in the arm, and my moment of "wow...that's sort of cool" dissolved into brotherly "love."

I was baptized today. My 11 year old son was baptized today. And my 6 year old son was saved today (baptism as soon as church can schedule it). I prayed about their salvation long before they were ever born. Watching God work in their lives is such a joy and a privilege. It just doesn't get any better than that!

Baptism and an Awesome Mom

I am so happy to share that this Sunday, our oldest son will be baptized. Matt is 11 and ready to make this very special step.

And so am I.

I was saved many, many years ago, but I grew up Catholic and was baptized as a baby. My mother is a devout Catholic and a very faithful believer. I've always put off my own baptism (by immersion) because I knew it might hurt her or feel like a sleight to her, her religion, and the faith in which my parents raised me. Catholicism is part of WHO she is. I also believed that I had been baptized and didn't need to re-do it.

Well, time went on, my relationship with God grew, and I really, really, really felt that I needed to comply with God's command that I make a public confession of my faith and belief in my Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm a little slow but I eventually realized that this Voice inside my head that kept prompting me to be baptized again was not going to stop.

I also never wanted any of my kids to ask me when I'd been baptized and have to explain or justify that my infant baptism was "good enough."

Our Bible study group has several members (adults and children) that wanted to be baptized. The plan soon came together and we decided to gather together, invite friends and family, and baptize all of us on the same day. It was a unique situation and a way to share a very special day with some of our closest friends.

I want to share this news. I certainly didn't want to avoid it or worse, hide it when speaking to my mom or other family members. So today I told her about Matt being baptized this Sunday. It was sort of my way of testing the water...to see how she received it before admitting (yes admitting..what a word to choose here) to her that I too would be baptized.

I told her and she was pretty great. She did say it hurt. I know it's because of her deep faith and belief in the teachings of the Catholic church. I know it's because she loves us and wants us to follow the same path. If it didn't mean anything to her, she wouldn't care what we chose to do. But when she said it hurt...I decided to ask about their time at the beach. Way to go me.

Yes I chickened out. After she said she was hurt, I certainly didn't want to say "Oh really...because I (the one you raised in the Catholic church complete with the usual sacraments) am going to be baptized too!" Nope, I froze and didn't mention it.

Then I spent the next two hours imagining the different scenarios. Where Matt blurts out at Thanksgiving dinner that we were both baptized. Or where Nathan decides to question mom on her baptism and tells her about mine. I knew she couldn't find out in that manner.

I also knew that the very reason you get baptized is to make a PUBLIC confession of your faith. That's sort of hard to do if you then have to avoid mentioning it, threaten your children's lives if they talk about it, or pray that no one tags you in a picture from that day on Facebook.

Stupid Facebook.

So, I called her back. I had already sort of missed the "oh and by the way" window, but I knew waiting any longer would make it more awkward. We chatted and then I spilled it. I explained that I never want to hurt her, but that I wanted her to know I was being baptized too.

Amazingly, my dad had helped her process my earlier news about Matt. Since my first call, he had pointed out it's just a good thing. Period. Matt is a believer, knows God, and baptism is a good thing. Mom very nonchalantly repeated what dad had said, said she understood, and that she was okay with it.

Wow. She has always been so supportive of me when it came to not being part of the Catholic church anymore (we weren't married in the Catholic church), but I knew that this baptism was a pretty big departure from it, perhaps the final one for her. I know what my beliefs mean to me, and what I want for my children. Of course she feels the same way.

What I hope she realizes is that while I might have left the Catholic church, and I might have ended up on a slightly different path, this is all her fault. She put me here in this place where my faith and belief system are incredibly strong and influential in how I live my life, and how I parent. My parents gave me that background in church. They laid the foundation and set the example. I have witnessed her (and my Grandmother's) deep faith in the Lord. God was part of our family when times were troubled, and He was at every family celebration. Because of mom and dad, I don't remember a time when I didn't know about Jesus and that He died for our sins.

This isn't about the differences in our beliefs. This is about the gift my parents gave me. They exposed me to God and His teachings and it's why I am in this place today. What a blessing to have been raised this way! And it's part of why my children are being raised this way. It's why a little orphan girl in Taiwan who currently wears a Buddha necklace around her neck, will soon know about Jesus and the incredible sacrifice He made for her.

So, I am so excited to share that I too will be baptized this Sunday. And my mom is awesome, and influential, and a blessing to me and my kids both near and far.

Living with critters

I've just about had my fill (okay, yeah I've definitely had my fill) of animal life in my house. Lizards are the theme of the week. Anyone who knows me knows that I simply don't do reptiles. Of any kind. 

There was the lizard scurrying around the couch. Armed with a broom (I really need to look into better weapons I think), the boys and I chased him out from under the couch and slapped a cup on top of him. Well sort of. We missed...by about a lizard's tail width. 

As the cut off tail continued to wiggle and squirm, Matthew helpfully informed us that it was no big deal because the lizard's tail would just regenerate. Which prompted Nathan to ask what regenerate means. The boys had quite a conversation which included Nathan imagining how cool it would be to re-grow limbs. I pointed out that he'd have to lose one in order to re-grow one. Apparently it's still a cool idea. 

Once Merriam Matt Webster had us all on the same page, we decided to use a dust pan to slide under the cup (again, I really do need better tools for all of this critter catching that I have to do). Since letting the tail-less lizard escape was simply not an option, I was very careful to slide the cup up onto the dustpan without losing contact with the floor (and if that makes any sense at all to anyone else, congratulations). 

I ran to the front door and tossed the lizard out. He sort of looked okay, but not really. I think my sliding-onto-the-dustpan maneuver didn't go so well for the lizard. 

A few days ago our a/c went on the fritz. It's nice and cool in the evenings and so I opened a few windows so that the house would be livable. The first 2 windows I opened had lizards clinging to the screens. I slammed shut those windows and found one that at least for the moment was animal free. 

This past week I've also found these little skinny, black, crunchy bugs. They don't get to live IN my house. It's against my law.

Lastly, I was helping Nathan dress for soccer. I reached down to grab one of his shoes and a stupid lizard poked it's head out of the shoe and looked at me..then dove right back into the shoe. 

I am almost embarrassed to say I screamed like a girl and held the shoe out as far as my really long arms would reach. I ran to the front door (my new repository for all things with 4 or more legs) and proceeded to hand the shoe to Matt and told him to shake the lizard out. Yeah...I did. I panicked and gave it to my 11 year old son to handle. I just kept imagining it jumping out of the shoe and onto my arm. I knew the amount of therapy that would be needed after that would be at an astronomical cost. So yeah, I handed it off to Matt. 

In between laughing at me and shaking the shoe, he managed to get rid of the lizard. Now every time we have soccer, Nathan will hand me his shoe and say "Hope there's not a lizard in there mom...want me to open the front door?" Such a sweet little angel child. 

Lastly, and the reason I even sat down to write is that our paperwork has officially left TECO. It is at our agency and will arrive in Taiwan either tomorrow or Friday. The orphanage is anxious to get this show on the road so they will be initiating the court process quickly. We are thankful that we are over that last hurdle, and praying that the court process goes smoothly. 

Adoption is not for the faint of heart. Neither is catching lizards in your house.

Our future

I enjoy this writer so much and her blog is both entertaining and informative. She and her husband adopted two older children from Ethiopia and she wrote this post about adoption, 1 year later. What an amazing glimpse into our future...both scary and hopeful. 

Waiting, our new hobby

We overnighted our authenticated documents to TECO on July 18th. As of today, the documents are supposedly all in order. Last week they were supposed to send the package of documents to our agency...they make copies of certain things, then they overnight them to the orphanage in Taiwan. 

The documents have yet to arrive at our agency so the agency director tracked the package. It has not been shipped yet. This very moment, it's still sitting on someone's desk in Atlanta. 

The person who made this difficult on day one at TECO has simply been dragging her feet. We've done everything extra that she required. But she's in control and we simply must wait. 

Honestly, I keep hearing the words "it could go as quickly as 6 weeks, or 4-6 months" in my head. And I cringe each and every time. I have a feeling it won't go quickly, but I hope that's just my frustration speaking.

Either way, nothing happens while they sit on Cecilia's desk. And our daughter spends more time in foster care. It's beyond maddening.