The Red Thread - A Present Day Treatment

I borrowed this from a fellow blogster. The blend of the proverb and the beautiful potography brought a modern vision to an ancient saying.

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An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The red thread may stretch and tangle, but it will never break.

Chinese proverb

Blue Man Group - Another Distraction from "The Waiting Room"

Be & I attended the Blue Man Group concert, a pretty wild show, last night in Orlando - here is the review from The Orlando Sentinel .......

When Blue Man Group visited Orlando for a 2003 show at Hard Rock Live, the silent, befuddled-looking, tube-pounding act had already made the transition from street-friendly novelty to pop-culture icon.
Now touring arenas, Blue Man Group is a franchise, more than a fad. The good news, judging from Thursday's 90-minute performance at the Amway Arena, is that the product isn't suffering from any quality control issues.
If anything, the "How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.0" elevates the Blue Man shtick by taking it into bigger venues, something that doesn't always happen with rock bands. Compared with the 2003 Hard Rock show, there was better lighting, a better sound mix and a broader range of material to showcase the personalities of the wordless stars.
"How to Be a Megastar" is really a how-to in rock-concert cliches, allowing fans to respond to commands to do the "head bob," "fist pump" and other more complex routines. Each cliche was a platform for comedy routines, some better than others.
The notion of taking a "closer look" at fans was an excuse for the Blue Men to explore the throat of one audience member with a tiny video camera. That bit is a repeat from the previous tour and it's still pretty gross.
Another gag, involving a glass case to edit long guitar solos, wasn't really worth the elaborate set-up.
And a nod to a music video cliche of an office worker trapped in a maze of cubicles and hallways fell somewhere in a no man's land between parody and drama.
Yet most of the material worked and the Blue Men were consistently more expressive and visually funny in the arena than on the group's 2003 visit. Thanks to the presence of three giant video screens, subtle eye rolls and facial expressions did a lot to expose the trio's personality.
The best routine involved a stage-length pitch-and-catch routine with bite-sized paint balls and marshmallows. One of the Blue Men caught them in his mouth, then expelled the paint to decorate a fan's t-shirt and the marshmallows to adorn a souvenir cap.
More fun with food would have been cool, but the focus on music had its high points, too. Especially impressive was a hard-rocking version of The Who's "Baba O'Riley" that showcased the group's tentacled tubed musical contraptions.
How cool was it? Well, people were doing the "head bob" without even being told.

I Lift Up My Eyes

I found this post in my 'drafts' folder while doing some blog cleaning. This post was to have been put on the blog in November, then I saved it as a draft because I thought it was kind of cheesy ...... so, find yourself some crackers & a glass of wine ..... here goes .....

So, what is it about the mountains that keeps beckoning me? (Cue the audio byte from "The Sound of Music") Be and I have climbed some mountains in some beautiful places - Half Dome in Yosemite (in the first picture, that's Half Dome in the distance - pic was taken the day after our hike to the top - 12 hours), day hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains and even a volcano on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. As flatlanders from Central Florida, you would think we would take up scuba, surfing or water skiing. Are we acknowledging the Source of our help? Could it be that the mountains bring us closer to the heavens? Psalm 121 ....I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
..... cut to November, 2006 ......
Don has just had foot surgery and Be is pushing him around Downtown Disney in a wheelchair at The Festival of the Masters, the annual art show @ Lake Buena Vista. Breaththaking artwork plus everything that could possibly be out of my price range is available here including pieces that would make better boat anchors than art (sorry to art afficianados and self expression types - hey, I'm just exercising my self expression). After a crazy little pantomime involving the wheelchair with the girl dressed in the bird costume from Cirque du Soleil's "La Nouba" (what do you say to such a creature when they don't talk back?), I looked up to the booth in front of me to see the most beautiful photos to cross my path that day. The photographer had captured the essence of the mountains of his region of China and as I viewed his work (similar to the last 2 pics), I felt the connection to my future daughter, Joanna, and could almost visualize her face. It was only for a brief moment and even though she may not have even been born at the time, I felt her presence. Next time we take a hike, perhaps we will climb to a mountaintop in China ...... maybe just before we meet her face to face.

http://www.yosemitevacation.com/hike.halfdome.htm

http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/africa/tenerife.html

http://www.wdwinfo.com/downtown/FestivalMasters/festival_masters.htm

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life ......

....... and so we did .... even though the occasion was another blasted birthday. It was Don's and after 24 hours of training on a new computer system for his job the past few days, he was ready for some laughs. We had tickets for Monty Python's "Spamalot" so the timing was just right. We drove across from Orlando to the Tampa Bay Arts Center for brunch at Maestro's, a restaurant adjacent to the theater. After brunch and a stroll along the Hillsborough River, we took our seats and the maddness began. The show, ripped off from the movie "Monty Python & the Holy Grail", Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer bunnies, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers were all there in this full blown vaudeville production. Segments from the movie were verbatum and audience expressed their approval as they remembered sketches like "Bring Out Your Dead", "The Nights Who Say Nee", "Princess Lucky" & "Brave Sir Robin".

..... And as we left the theater, we were treated to a complimentary Spam on white bread sample (from the Spammobile parked out front) while a street musician played "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life" on his saxophone.

We've put the movie in our queue on Netflix and so now we continue ...... skipping merrily through the Adoption Waiting Room.

Missed By 2 Days........

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before March 22, 2006. Our log-in date is March 24, 2006.
The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before October 13, 2005.

Perhaps we'll be out of the Review Room by the 1st Anniversary of our log-in date. As the Director of the CCAA puts it on the site's front page ....... "As the light of springtime emerges gradually, it is a fresh start for all living things." All righty, then ..... we continue to wait for the fresh start ........

North Carolina Whirlwind

Thanks to my flight benifits with USAirways, I had the opportunity to visit a branch of my family in Winston-Salem, North Carolina last week. After 21 years in an airline job, if there is one thing for which I am thankful, it is the ability to visit family without the financial burden of airfare. My most recent use of my flying benifits included a visit to my brother, Paul, and his family on January 24. For the first time, I met the wives of my nephews Dale & Brian (hope I didn't scare them too much) and my grand niece, Dale & Melody's daughter, Annalise. The poor little gal (7 months old) was teething, so she couldn't help being kind of crabby. Paul & I tried in vain to figure out what was bothering her - teething? (we gave her baby Tylenol), was she hungy? (we fed her - she still cried) she needed attention? (we both tried walking her around the house) until Rhonda came home and discovered that her diaper needed changing. Oy! I have some learning to do! It'll happen, I'm sure. So .... I wanted to share some pics of my whirlwind journey, so they include .......

Paul (my brother) with his 3 bulldogs

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Paul & Rhonda with Annalise, Dale (Paul's son & Analise's dad), newphew Brian & wife Ashley (expecting in April).

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Mama Melody with Annalise

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Annaliese

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Melody, Annalise & Dale Schafhauser

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Brian & Ashley Schafhauser (expecting in April)

The Great Wall of China

A wall in Joanna's room is being reserved for some of the gifts we receive from friends & family in anticipation of her arrival. Appropriately, it is being called "The Great Wall of China" as it has always been our wish that our girl be aware and enriched by the culture of her birth country. One of our dearest friends, Deb, whom we've known for some 28 years or so, thoughtfully gave us this wall hanging of Chinese kids in traditional garb.

Deb has been a supporter and encourager through every chapter of our lives and we looking forward to sharing this next event with her. Deb's nephews call her "Aunt Bub" as she was instrumental in raising them after her sister (a single mom) died of cancer in the late 80s. Deb is actually "Professor Deb" at the University of Central Florida. We are blessed that such a woman of God is helping to shape the futures of our young people and honored that she will continue to be an influence in all our lives upon the arrival of Joanna.

70 Days

Is this the "Year of the Impatient Parent"? The CCAA status for Applicant review has remained on January 31, 2006 for the last 70 days. Although referrals have been updated, the review process is stalled. At this point, we assume that our docs are in the review process and wait in the hope of being cleared soon.

The Pool Is Ready - The Prospective Parents Are Ready, Ms Zahn - Time To Do the Backstroke

Paula Zahn sure did the backstroke several nights ago when she readdressed the new China adoption restrictions effective May, 2007. Sadly, the first broadcast (see below) proved Miss Zahn's ineffectiveness as a panel moderator to steer the discussion in the proper direction. Instead, the stacked group swerved off course right along with Paula. If the show did one thing, it reinforced our convictions as prospective parents as to our mission to form families and not foster prejudice.

Here is the link to the transcript of the second broadcast.......

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/08/pzn.01.html

I have forwarded the above comments to the Zahn Posse.

Creative Things to Do While in the Waiting Room - Zap an E-mail to Paula Zahn & Her Adoption Henchmen

So ...... I heard that Paula Zahn and her guests raised quite a stir amongst prospective adoptive parents of Children from China. Comments from panelists included "Maybe they think they can adopt a smart kid that is going to grow up to be a doctor", 'Americans have this love affair with girls from China. There is this belief, this perception, irrational as it might be that if you adopt a little girl from China, she's going to be intelligent, she's going to be more lovable....... Like the porcelain doll. We definitely see that idea of the beautiful Chinese little girl, as compared to do, they really want to adopt a black boy.", & other remarks not included in the CNN transcript. Paula, You don't want to stir up a bunch of charged folks in the "Waiting Room". From the sounds of things out there in Blogland, folks are finding the remarks were racist and unfounded. Judging by the fallout, some comments to Miss Zahn and her henchmen at CNN might be appropriate. So, here's the link to the comment form.....

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http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?11

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Take a look at the link to the show's transcript ....... get ready for some hot e-mails, Paula......

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http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/05/pzn.01.html

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The comments in the text of this posting are from the transcript of the Paula Zahn piece as aired on CNN. Please read the item for the full text.......

CCAA Update - Latest Referral Date

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before January 31, 2006.
The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before September 27, 2005.

Previously, the CCAA announced that those with log in dates before September 8, 2005 had received their referrals. Still no change on the review date. Our log-in is March 24, 2006. We're inching along.......

Incredible! The Harbin Ice Festival

Take a look at the link to amazing photos of the Harbin Ice Festival in Northeastern China. Incredible!

http://www.rtoddking.com/chinawin2005_hb_if.htm

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The Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando tried to duplicate the festival with their attraction "Ice!"

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http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/ICE-gaylord/index.htm

A Thoughtful Christmas Gift

We received a book (from our wonderful friend) containing photographs of beautiful children in Chinese orphanages. The title "Mei Mei" is translated "Little Sister."

The Chinese believe an unseen red thread joins those in this life who are destined to connect. For photographer Richard Bowen, that thread led him to China's state-run welfare institutions, where there are thousands of children, primarily girls, growing up without families to take care of them. Mei Mei presents a poignant glimpse of just a few of these remarkable children. Composed against neutral backgrounds, these portraits capture the girls’ inner lives, away from their often bleak surroundings. The images show an almost endless range of expressions: small faces filled with longing and hope, joy and sadness, humor and mischief, defiance and despair. Through the camera's eye these young children are no longer orphans, but individuals whose personalities are as vital, distinct, and beautiful as any mother's child. When that unique human being comes into focus, the connection is made and the red thread becomes visible. And once seen, the bond can never be broken. --

Annaliese's First Christmas

Our Grand-Niece, Annaliese (Don's nephew's daughter) celebrated her first Christmas. She was born last June and Don will probably make a trip to North Carolina to visit our newest family member sometime in January or February.

Have Yourself A Merry Diva Christmas

If our dog, Diva, had been living in Bethlehem at the right time, she would have been there with the rest of the animals, praising the newborn King. Merry Christmas

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The second image is a painting of the Nativity by Chinese artist Yu Jia-de.

The Power of Words - from our agency.....

The Power of WordsThe POWER of WordsOur Words reflect our values. They wound or heal, alienate or educate.The words we use reveal as much about us and our values as they do about the situations that we are trying to describe. Our views, experiences, biases, and assumptions are intrinsically woven into the words we use to communicate every day. The language of adoption is full of expressions we have “always heard” and all too often use. These expressions shape the perceptions of both the people who use them and the people who hear them. They convey our values and biases, and they can encourage or hinder communication.The importance of being aware of the values that our words convey is not confined to the language of adoption. It can be as simple as deciding whether to use the word “problem” or “challenge” when it comes to describing a child’s behavior. A disagreement can be described as a difference of opinion or an argument. The subtle nuances between the words we choose and those we do not can elicit profoundly different responses from the listener because the listener hears through the filter of his or her own experience and emotion.So it is with adoption. A simple choice of words can reveal our views and communicate a great deal to a listener. We encourage social workers, adoptive parents, birthparents, board members, volunteers, and supporters to use language that accurately reflects the reality of adoption.
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Rather than...
real parent(s)..................................birthparent(s), birthmother(s), birthfather(s)
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natural parent(s)............................biological parent(s)
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unwed mother.................................single parent
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real child..........................................birthchild
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Illegitimate child.............................child of unmarried parents
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Put up for adoption........................Make an adoption plan
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Give up for adoption......................Choose adoption
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Is adopted.......................................Was adopted
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Keep a child....................................Parent a child
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Hard to place child........................Child with special placement needs
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Unwanted pregnancy...................Unplanned, unintended, or untimely pregnancy
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Foreign adoption...........................International adoption

Creative Things to Do While in the Waiting Room - Take Your 94 Year Old Father to EPCOT

Every year we attend the Disney Christmas Candlelight Processional but this year, dad came along. It seems we choose the coldest day each year. 3 times each night, in the midst of all the magic, Disneys allows it's guests to get away and set their eyes and ears on the real reason for the season.

Xie-Xie

"Xie xie" (pronounced: Sheay-sheay)

Did you know that "xie xie" means "thanks" in Mandarin-Chinese?

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We are trying to keep the schedule full this Christmas to distract us from the absence of Joanna in our home this season. We had hoped that she would have arrived by now .... the day after Christmas last year, we went out and bought a truck load of Christmas lights and ychotchkes to celebrate. We'll leave them in the attic, buy some more and haul them out next year.

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We take comfort in knowing that God is soverign in this whole adoption process. The time for Joanna's arrival was determined ...... who knows when ..... so in the meantime, we are singing in 2 musicals in our church, taking Don's 94 year old dad out and about as much as possible and attending as many holiday functions as the calendar can hold ...... we also have the opportunity to step back and say xie - xie for all we have learned, adapted to, experienced and suffered through in the Waiting Room ......

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"Xie xie ni" (pronounced: Sheay-sheay nee)This is the more formal way to say "thank you" in Mandarin-Chinese.

The Mandarin language is the most commonly used form of Chinese in China and around the world. The second most commonly used Chinese language is Cantonese, generally used more in the Southern regions and in Hong Kong. There are many (hundreds) other dialects used throughout other parts of China as well.In honor of Christmas, we would like to say "xie xie" for the following:

Xie xie to China for allowing us the privilege of adopting their children.
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Xie xie to CCAA for allowing Bethany, a Christian organization to work in China and find homes for their children.
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Xie xie to Bethany's adoptive families for opening their hearts and homes to orphaned children. >
Xie xie to the caretakers of the world.
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Xie xie to the brave and selfless birth-parents that choose life for their child and oftentimes feel forced to abandon their children.
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Xie xie to those who find the abandoned Chinese children and place them in the arms of caregivers.
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Xie xie to the Bethany staff and social workers across the country that all share the same Mission to find families for orphans.
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Xie xie to the educators who help prepare adoptive families.
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Xie xie to the medical professionals that care for the children.
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Xie xie to the prayer warriors that never forget to pray for the forgotten.
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Xie xie to the communities that embrace diversity.

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Xie xie to those who share their hearts with fellow adoptive parents and support the same through the long waiting process, regardless of their preferences.
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Xie xie to those who founded adoption.
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Xie xie to those who fought for our freedoms.
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Xie xie to those who made it possible for us to pray at work and at home, as this is a freedom that many do not have.
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Xie xie to the children who resiliently adapt and embrace their adoptive families as their own.
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Xie xie to our Gracious God who Created all to be thankful for.

From the Heart