It's been fun to read about the traditions surrounding this most important of all Chinese holidays. For starters, it lasts 15 days. FIFTEEN DAYS!! And the country all but closes down for nearly a week - government, post office, many businesses - to party! Fireworks, dumplings, new haircuts, decluttering and lots of days off to play & visit with family & friends! These people know how to celebrate.
What this means for us:
- Little brother probably has a new buzz cut. It's traditional for good luck to get haircuts (really SHORT ones in the orphanages!)
- One extra week to get our dossier ready to send off since the mail wasn't going anywhere anyway. It's with our agency & ready to go as soon as they resume mailing to China (maybe this Friday????!!!)
- Good excuse to have Chinese food ALOT in the next 2 weeks. (meh....who needs an excuse?)
I need a personal assistant or life coach to sort out my life and give me a list of things to do in the proper order. But just not any help will do. I cannot sift through all of the stuff piling up in my head, so I'm looking for someone who can go inside my mind, extract all the info they need, organize it and give me a plan. If I have to explain anything, I'll be halfway there or I may just confuse everyone. Maybe I need a MOMMY to just give me my list of chores for each day. Seriously, there are balls in the air that I didn't put there and have no idea how they got there, but they are giving in to the law of gravity and falling one by one all around me. I don't know where to even start most of the time.
But, I digress.....
God is showing up around every corner (and near every dropped ball!!) to encourage, bless, provide & care for us. We are grateful for the timely reminders that He is faithful and good - answered prayers, shared stories, surprise donations to our adoption, good friends who encourage & walk with us. Someone shared these words yesterday to encourage our friends, the Hooks, in their long, long, long.......adoption journey to their daughter. I know these words were intended for them, but they were balm for my soul, too. If there is anything that makes a heart grow faint, it is knowing that your child is on the other side of the world where you cannot get to her (or him.)
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Psalm 61:1-4)
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Psalm 61:1-4)
Thankful and waiting,
