Who knew that the day before Christmas Eve would actually be a time to relax? Well, okay, not relax, since I'm still working from home, doing laundry, cleaning house, need to head to the grocery, etc. etc. But now that the show is over, done with concerts at work, done with Christmas parties...I can actually breathe! Not quite sure if I'm looking forward to Christmas, but I know Maya is! You can't help but get excited when they're excited.
So, plans for after the holidays? Pottery painting with Maya, lunch with an old friend, sibling night out, Christmas Eve party. Those things I'm looking forward to. I also can't tell you what a relief it is knowing that I have time to do more things like this over the next several months by not doing a show.
Wonder if one of my new year's resolutions should be to start working out??? Well, maybe I won't get that carried away.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Exciting new projects!
Since I've made the decision to take a break from performing, I've decided I need a project or two. Anyone who knows me knows that I can't sit still!
I JUST finished and ordered Maya's 2008 photo book. Ever since her adoption in China, I have created a photo book (http://www.photoworks.com/) of each year. I was a tad behind on getting her 2008 book done, so now that that's done and ordered, I've started working on her 2009 book. I love to see how much she has grown over the years and she really enjoys looking through them and having me tell the stories associated with some of the photos.
Another project I decided to work on is a photo book of Tonggu County, Jiangxi Province, where she was born. A few years ago, a fellow adoptive mom put together a photo CD of shots that many other adoptive parents who travelled to Tonggu had taken, as well as some shots from online, from brochures, etc. Tonggu is an absolutely beautiful place, although I have never seen it in person. We were unable to travel there during our adoption trip. We hope to go back to China in about five years or so for a homeland tour. Until then, I thought it would be good for Maya for her to have a photo book of where she was from. I don't have a lot of details about the area, but what I do have I'll put together for her. I want to give this to her on her birthday in March, so I better get moving!
I JUST finished and ordered Maya's 2008 photo book. Ever since her adoption in China, I have created a photo book (http://www.photoworks.com/) of each year. I was a tad behind on getting her 2008 book done, so now that that's done and ordered, I've started working on her 2009 book. I love to see how much she has grown over the years and she really enjoys looking through them and having me tell the stories associated with some of the photos.
Another project I decided to work on is a photo book of Tonggu County, Jiangxi Province, where she was born. A few years ago, a fellow adoptive mom put together a photo CD of shots that many other adoptive parents who travelled to Tonggu had taken, as well as some shots from online, from brochures, etc. Tonggu is an absolutely beautiful place, although I have never seen it in person. We were unable to travel there during our adoption trip. We hope to go back to China in about five years or so for a homeland tour. Until then, I thought it would be good for Maya for her to have a photo book of where she was from. I don't have a lot of details about the area, but what I do have I'll put together for her. I want to give this to her on her birthday in March, so I better get moving!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The diva takes a break
As the year is coming to an end, I've looked back on all that happened this past year, and am somewhat dismayed. Not only thinking about where the time went, but also about what I really accomplished this year. I'm doing well at work, so that isn't a concern. But what is a concern is the lack of time that we've been able to spend as a family.
I've performed in three shows this year. Now that Maya is older, it's a bit easier to do theatre. But when you add in my husband's busy schedule, we had VERY little time to spend together this year. Between both of us, it was one show after another. That's why I've decided to take a break from theatre through the Spring. My husband has a light schedule for the next six months, so I've decided we need to take advantage of that downtime.
While our lifestyle is perplexing to some, it really does work for us...most of the time. But I think there comes a time when you really need to just take a break from it all and rediscover all the things that make you a family. Spend more time together, take more trips, play more games. There are multiple projects I've been wanting to do around the house. Having someone to do them with without feeling rushed because of busy schedules will be a welcome change.
So while I take a short break, I also realized it's time to work a bit more on my vocals. I always tell Maya that the only way to be good at something is with practice. I tend to stop singing between shows, but if I really want to start getting the big roles, I need to practice, practice, practice. That will suffice as the creative outlet that I need.
And let's hope we come together as a family during these next several months instead of driving each other completely nuts!!! :-)
I've performed in three shows this year. Now that Maya is older, it's a bit easier to do theatre. But when you add in my husband's busy schedule, we had VERY little time to spend together this year. Between both of us, it was one show after another. That's why I've decided to take a break from theatre through the Spring. My husband has a light schedule for the next six months, so I've decided we need to take advantage of that downtime.
While our lifestyle is perplexing to some, it really does work for us...most of the time. But I think there comes a time when you really need to just take a break from it all and rediscover all the things that make you a family. Spend more time together, take more trips, play more games. There are multiple projects I've been wanting to do around the house. Having someone to do them with without feeling rushed because of busy schedules will be a welcome change.
So while I take a short break, I also realized it's time to work a bit more on my vocals. I always tell Maya that the only way to be good at something is with practice. I tend to stop singing between shows, but if I really want to start getting the big roles, I need to practice, practice, practice. That will suffice as the creative outlet that I need.
And let's hope we come together as a family during these next several months instead of driving each other completely nuts!!! :-)
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
5 years ago I became a mother...on paper
Five years ago, on December 10, 2004, I became a mother. At least on paper. At that time, China's adoption process was very streamlined. Referrals were matched in batches depending on the date that your paperwork was submitted. We knew that we were up next for a referral based on our paperwork date. Referrals for that batch were reported to have been sent to the adoption agencies. The agency would then call the happy parents to give them the news. Many of us China adoptive parents belong to adoption Yahoo Groups and would post the happy news for all to see. Here's my story from five years ago.
I woke up at 8am and snoozed my alarm. I couldn't fall back asleep because I really wanted to check the Yahoo Groups for news of referrals. No news or announcements, so I showered, got ready for work, got in around 10am and checked the groups again. Around 10:30, the first referral was posted. I thought "Okay, that's good. Let's see what else happens." A little while later, another referral was posted. I didn't want to get too excited, but I started to get nervous. Joel and I went to lunch, and I kept my cell phone by my side at the table the entire time, constantly looking at it to make sure it was functioning. My stomach was in knots! I could barely eat. I was in labor without the aching pains, just a stomach full of nerves.
After getting back to work, I get online and see many more referrals. My mom calls and I give her the update but remind her not to get too excited yet. Depending on the mail from China, we might not get our referral for a few more days. I paced my office, kept checking the online groups, paced some more, checked the groups some more. How could I concentrate on work?
About 4:20pm, I looked at the clock. I told my co-worker Natalie "Well, it's 4:20, should I give up for the day hoping for our referral?" And at that exact moment, my phone rang! Caller ID said "Hand In Hand" (my agency). I shrieked and Natalie runs into my office as I answer the phone. "Hello?" I said nervously. It's our agency rep, Vicki. I calmly grabbed the referral call sheet I had posted on my bulletin board, saved for this moment, and said, "Okay, what do you got?"
She gives me a name. Tong Min Xuan. I can't believe she's finally real! I have a daughter! She gives me the birthdate - March 6, 2004. This is when I lose it. According to Chinese legend, "an invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet." Because of a feeling I had months before, the fact that she was born in March was our red thread. I just knew it in my heart.
Vicki gives me the rest of the details; where she was from, health information (healthy!). She tells me that the agency director, who had seen the pictures, said she was beautiful. I said "I'm sure she says that about all of the girls" and she said "No, she doesn't." She then tells me that we can't see the photos until Monday (they had to be FedEx'ed from Arizona.) I thought I would go crazy not being able to see her face for three more days!
I called Joel, who was in the middle of a crowded grocery store, to tell him he was a daddy again. I called my mom to let her know she had a new granddaughter. I called other family and friends. I still had to work an event that night, but how could I? I was on cloud nine.
It would be six more weeks until we could hold our daughter. But even on paper, that day was one of the happiest of my life. No, I didn't go through nine months of pregnancy, but I did go through 18 months of paperwork and the waiting and the wondering about who this child would be, what kind of mother I would be, what going to China would be like. But all that mattered that day five years ago was that I was so ready to hold this child in my arms. I, at last, felt complete.
I woke up at 8am and snoozed my alarm. I couldn't fall back asleep because I really wanted to check the Yahoo Groups for news of referrals. No news or announcements, so I showered, got ready for work, got in around 10am and checked the groups again. Around 10:30, the first referral was posted. I thought "Okay, that's good. Let's see what else happens." A little while later, another referral was posted. I didn't want to get too excited, but I started to get nervous. Joel and I went to lunch, and I kept my cell phone by my side at the table the entire time, constantly looking at it to make sure it was functioning. My stomach was in knots! I could barely eat. I was in labor without the aching pains, just a stomach full of nerves.
After getting back to work, I get online and see many more referrals. My mom calls and I give her the update but remind her not to get too excited yet. Depending on the mail from China, we might not get our referral for a few more days. I paced my office, kept checking the online groups, paced some more, checked the groups some more. How could I concentrate on work?
About 4:20pm, I looked at the clock. I told my co-worker Natalie "Well, it's 4:20, should I give up for the day hoping for our referral?" And at that exact moment, my phone rang! Caller ID said "Hand In Hand" (my agency). I shrieked and Natalie runs into my office as I answer the phone. "Hello?" I said nervously. It's our agency rep, Vicki. I calmly grabbed the referral call sheet I had posted on my bulletin board, saved for this moment, and said, "Okay, what do you got?"
She gives me a name. Tong Min Xuan. I can't believe she's finally real! I have a daughter! She gives me the birthdate - March 6, 2004. This is when I lose it. According to Chinese legend, "an invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet." Because of a feeling I had months before, the fact that she was born in March was our red thread. I just knew it in my heart.
Vicki gives me the rest of the details; where she was from, health information (healthy!). She tells me that the agency director, who had seen the pictures, said she was beautiful. I said "I'm sure she says that about all of the girls" and she said "No, she doesn't." She then tells me that we can't see the photos until Monday (they had to be FedEx'ed from Arizona.) I thought I would go crazy not being able to see her face for three more days!
I called Joel, who was in the middle of a crowded grocery store, to tell him he was a daddy again. I called my mom to let her know she had a new granddaughter. I called other family and friends. I still had to work an event that night, but how could I? I was on cloud nine.
It would be six more weeks until we could hold our daughter. But even on paper, that day was one of the happiest of my life. No, I didn't go through nine months of pregnancy, but I did go through 18 months of paperwork and the waiting and the wondering about who this child would be, what kind of mother I would be, what going to China would be like. But all that mattered that day five years ago was that I was so ready to hold this child in my arms. I, at last, felt complete.
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