On February the 13th we are going to have the first of many homestudies. To explain to those who don't know the adoption process well I will explain.
When you adopt from China you are required to have a series of a homestudies. A home study is not just an examination of the home but more importantly it is an examination of the family. Questions are asked of those living in the home and sometimes of people for whom the prospective child will be in contact with. To see if the family is stable in every which way. To see if these perspective parents would be "good" parents. The first of the homestudies is for the state to say, yes I believe these persons mentioned are approved to be parents. The next are at the end these are called homestudy follow up. The part of the homestudy is required by the CCAA not to be confused with the CCAI (our agency). The CCAA is the adoption organization of Chinese government. This is to make sure that the child is settling in. What one needs to keep in mind as you continue to read The Red Thread is that we are dealing with 5 different departments continually to make this adoption happen.
1: Adoption Agency (CCAI)
2: Homestudy agency (Adoption Associates)
3: The State of Pennsylvania ( PA.gov)
4: The US Government (BCIS)"Which is constantly changing its name it was the INS."
5: China (CCAA)
Okay today's lesson is over.
Getting back to our news. Like I said on February 13, which is a Friday is our first homestudy. I don't know if we should be worried about the visit because everyone even the most perfect individual is a little worried when it comes to the homestudy. I am not too worried and I know Malcolm isn't but it will be Friday the 13th. I will let you know how it goes...
Written by Taney.
The Friend Family Adoption of our Daughter from China The Chinese have a wonderful way of explaining how people come together, all people. In their culture, long before we meet the people who will be the most important in our lives, we are linked with lengths of invisible red thread. A red thread they will tell us, joins us to our child. As a red thread crossed the Atlantic to join Taney to me the thread continues to China and to our daughter.
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Friday, January 23, 2004
Chinese New Year - and the arrival of a package on the 22nd.
Happy new year to you all as we enter and celebrate the year of the monkey.
We hope that it is a sign of good fortune that on the 22nd, we received written confirmation of our acceptance by our agency CCAI and the next pack of papers that Taney & I are itching to start to work through tomorrow.
Returning to the subject of Chinese new year, we were sent the following information that is of great interest to us:
Things to DO:
Greet others with "Kung Hei Fat Choi" which means "Wishing You
Prosperity and Wealth".
Give two Lai Sees to each child as happiness comes in twos. This is
your way of passing good luck to the next generation.
Business owners also give Lai See to employees and associates.
Wear new clothes - preferably in red for luck.
Things to AVOID
No housework or cooking is allowed for the first two days of the
New Year. Sweeping and cutting are especially taboo, because they
represent the sweeping away or severing of good luck.
Don't wash your hair on the first and last day of the New Year.
Don't greet people who are in mourning.
Don't drop your chopsticks.
Don't say words related to sickness and death.
Don't borrow or lend money.
Avoid arguing and using negative language.
Don't slaughter poultry or livestock to avoid any association with
death.
Avoid breaking anything as it is indicative of bad luck ahead - if
you do, you'll have to say "lok day hoi fa, fu gwei wing wah" which
means when you drop something it breaks into pieces like a flower
blossoming bringing wealth and prosperity or "peace for all time" to
make sure the year is a lucky one.
Coincidently, a new colleague working with me, presented each member of our team with a small brown envelope containing something that could be better than a small amount of money, a new jersey lottery ticket that could yield millions. Well I can wish.
We hope that it is a sign of good fortune that on the 22nd, we received written confirmation of our acceptance by our agency CCAI and the next pack of papers that Taney & I are itching to start to work through tomorrow.
Returning to the subject of Chinese new year, we were sent the following information that is of great interest to us:
Things to DO:
Greet others with "Kung Hei Fat Choi" which means "Wishing You
Prosperity and Wealth".
Give two Lai Sees to each child as happiness comes in twos. This is
your way of passing good luck to the next generation.
Business owners also give Lai See to employees and associates.
Wear new clothes - preferably in red for luck.
Things to AVOID
No housework or cooking is allowed for the first two days of the
New Year. Sweeping and cutting are especially taboo, because they
represent the sweeping away or severing of good luck.
Don't wash your hair on the first and last day of the New Year.
Don't greet people who are in mourning.
Don't drop your chopsticks.
Don't say words related to sickness and death.
Don't borrow or lend money.
Avoid arguing and using negative language.
Don't slaughter poultry or livestock to avoid any association with
death.
Avoid breaking anything as it is indicative of bad luck ahead - if
you do, you'll have to say "lok day hoi fa, fu gwei wing wah" which
means when you drop something it breaks into pieces like a flower
blossoming bringing wealth and prosperity or "peace for all time" to
make sure the year is a lucky one.
Coincidently, a new colleague working with me, presented each member of our team with a small brown envelope containing something that could be better than a small amount of money, a new jersey lottery ticket that could yield millions. Well I can wish.
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Saturday, January 17, 2004
Chinese New Year - Year of the Monkey.
One thing that has crossed our minds recently is that given we anticipate our adoption to complete December 2004 or January or February 2005, this means that our daughter is most likely to be born during the year of the Monkey.
We will mark the occassion as this is one of great significance to us.
January 22,2004. This is the first day in the Year of the Monkey. Interesting cultural link here.
The twelve zodiac signs
These are the result of zoning time and direction into twelve blocks, each block being given a name of an animal based on the ancient Chinese concept that all time shifts based on these twelve units. Those individuals born during a particular year were said to inherit some of the personalities of that year's animal.
Monkey (saru) --- People born in the year of the Monkey are the erratic geniuses of the Zodiac cycle. They are clever and skilful in grand-scale operations and are smart when making financial deals. They are inventive, original and are able to solve the most difficult problems with ease.
Tiger (tora) --- Born 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914
People born in the year of the Tiger are sensitive, stubborn, short-tempered, courageous, selfish and slightly mean ... yet they are deep thinkers and are capable of great sympathy for those they are close to and love.
Rabbit (usagi) --- Born 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915
People born in the year of the Rabbit are the most fortunate. They are smooth talkers, talented, ambitious, virtuous and reserved. They have exceedingly fine taste and regarded with admiration and trust.
That all given, a very intereting thing happened at the Chinese Buffet restaurant Taney & I visited last night. As we were about to leave, a family at a nearby table left first and their daughter, a beautiful little american-asian girl not more than three years old, bent down and picked up a penny, a one cent coin and gave it to us.
In England, there is a saying, see a penny, pick it up and all day long you will have good-luck.
We are keeping the penny to bring us good luck.
We will mark the occassion as this is one of great significance to us.
January 22,2004. This is the first day in the Year of the Monkey. Interesting cultural link here.
The twelve zodiac signs
These are the result of zoning time and direction into twelve blocks, each block being given a name of an animal based on the ancient Chinese concept that all time shifts based on these twelve units. Those individuals born during a particular year were said to inherit some of the personalities of that year's animal.
Monkey (saru) --- People born in the year of the Monkey are the erratic geniuses of the Zodiac cycle. They are clever and skilful in grand-scale operations and are smart when making financial deals. They are inventive, original and are able to solve the most difficult problems with ease.
Tiger (tora) --- Born 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914
People born in the year of the Tiger are sensitive, stubborn, short-tempered, courageous, selfish and slightly mean ... yet they are deep thinkers and are capable of great sympathy for those they are close to and love.
Rabbit (usagi) --- Born 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915
People born in the year of the Rabbit are the most fortunate. They are smooth talkers, talented, ambitious, virtuous and reserved. They have exceedingly fine taste and regarded with admiration and trust.
That all given, a very intereting thing happened at the Chinese Buffet restaurant Taney & I visited last night. As we were about to leave, a family at a nearby table left first and their daughter, a beautiful little american-asian girl not more than three years old, bent down and picked up a penny, a one cent coin and gave it to us.
In England, there is a saying, see a penny, pick it up and all day long you will have good-luck.
We are keeping the penny to bring us good luck.
Monday, January 05, 2004
Application to CCAI in the mail.
It was with tremendous excitement that our application form was mailed off today to CCAI.
Saturday, January 03, 2004
Application to CCAI
The i's are dotted and the t's crossed on the application form to CCAI that Taney & I signed on Christmas Day.
The application form was sitting under our tree on Christmas morning and was our gift to each other on Christmas Day. The second gift to be opened on Christmas Day was a Panda for Taney with a special message attached to his arm. We say he as the Panda has been named "G.W."
Today our mail included a letter from our Doctor that is required to complete the additional papers to CCAI. Monday morning the application pack will be copied and mailed off.
The application form was sitting under our tree on Christmas morning and was our gift to each other on Christmas Day. The second gift to be opened on Christmas Day was a Panda for Taney with a special message attached to his arm. We say he as the Panda has been named "G.W."
Today our mail included a letter from our Doctor that is required to complete the additional papers to CCAI. Monday morning the application pack will be copied and mailed off.
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Yes its a wonderful life
Written by Taney Friend.
Yesterday I was watching the movie, “It's A Wonderful Life”. Many of you know the movie very well and have seen it many a time. If you have never seen to movie go out tonight and rent it.
In the beginning of the film (Don't worry this will not ruin it) they show all of these houses and you hear voices sending prayers to Heaven for George Bailey. "Dear Lord, please watch over George Bailey." "God, please help George Bailey he is a good man," "Please God look after my Daddy," and so forth.
As I watched this I began to cry. I was crying because I was thinking about my dear family and friends who when they knew of our infertility and our dream to adopt our little girl from China, They would say to us that we are in our thoughts and how they are praying for us. When I talk to them of our plans I can hear in their voices and in there eyes the love and support they feel for us. So I cried as I watched these houses with these prayers going to Heaven. I thought of my friends and family and how they have sent there little prayers for us like paper boats down a stream. And I wanted you all to know that I feel the love you are sending to us and the power it gives us to go on and I thank you.
A traditional poem.
I see the moon and the moon sees me
God bless the moon and God bless me
There's grace in the cabin and grace in the hall
And the grace of God is over us all
I see the moon and the moon sees me
The moon sees the somebody I want to see
God bless the moon and God bless me
And God bless the somebody I want to see
Written by Malcolm Friend.
Last night, together Taney and I sat and started to write out the application form for our adoption agency in readiness to complete the process and add our signatures this December 25th.
Today has been a wonderful day with calls made to gather additional information. In particular three courtesy calls to our personal references (not family members) that will be contacted by our home study and chosen adoption agency.
In no particular order one a lifelong friend of my wife was thrilled and delighted to be asked.
One other a close friend and his wife considered themselves honored to be asked and without question did not hesitate in saying yes.
The third a man that we both consider a valued friend and have utmost respect for, considered himself privileged to be a part of our adoption journey.
These friends are truly wonderful, their enthusiasm and support to both Taney & I is beyond heartwarming.
Yesterday I was watching the movie, “It's A Wonderful Life”. Many of you know the movie very well and have seen it many a time. If you have never seen to movie go out tonight and rent it.
In the beginning of the film (Don't worry this will not ruin it) they show all of these houses and you hear voices sending prayers to Heaven for George Bailey. "Dear Lord, please watch over George Bailey." "God, please help George Bailey he is a good man," "Please God look after my Daddy," and so forth.
As I watched this I began to cry. I was crying because I was thinking about my dear family and friends who when they knew of our infertility and our dream to adopt our little girl from China, They would say to us that we are in our thoughts and how they are praying for us. When I talk to them of our plans I can hear in their voices and in there eyes the love and support they feel for us. So I cried as I watched these houses with these prayers going to Heaven. I thought of my friends and family and how they have sent there little prayers for us like paper boats down a stream. And I wanted you all to know that I feel the love you are sending to us and the power it gives us to go on and I thank you.
A traditional poem.
I see the moon and the moon sees me
God bless the moon and God bless me
There's grace in the cabin and grace in the hall
And the grace of God is over us all
I see the moon and the moon sees me
The moon sees the somebody I want to see
God bless the moon and God bless me
And God bless the somebody I want to see
Written by Malcolm Friend.
Last night, together Taney and I sat and started to write out the application form for our adoption agency in readiness to complete the process and add our signatures this December 25th.
Today has been a wonderful day with calls made to gather additional information. In particular three courtesy calls to our personal references (not family members) that will be contacted by our home study and chosen adoption agency.
In no particular order one a lifelong friend of my wife was thrilled and delighted to be asked.
One other a close friend and his wife considered themselves honored to be asked and without question did not hesitate in saying yes.
The third a man that we both consider a valued friend and have utmost respect for, considered himself privileged to be a part of our adoption journey.
These friends are truly wonderful, their enthusiasm and support to both Taney & I is beyond heartwarming.
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