Distractions

Thankfully I've had a few distractions this week otherwise I'd be going even nuttier over the lack of communication regarding our homestudy.


The biggest distraction has weighed heavy on my heart and mind since I found out about it a week and a half or so ago. A classmate of our older son has been diagnosed, and is receiving treatment for, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  A beautiful, vibrant kindergartner is now undergoing the battle of her life.  Unfair doesn't even begin to describe it.  I reached out to the mom right away.  She's a lovely girl.  So gracious for the support she's getting from the community.  She's also a single mom to two girls; the kindergartener and her second grader sister.  She  had to quit her job in order to stay home to take care of her daughter.  Gut punch after gut punch.  I well up just thinking about it.  There is a lot of community support here, thank goodness.  We are all pitching in for different things to help them out.  There will be many meals delivered, a gaming system, an iPad, rides to and fro for the older daughter, along with help getting her a bus pass.  We're doing all we can as a family to help them out but it still feels insignificant.  Insignificant in that we are doing something so minor and unimportant considering what they're dealing with now all day, every day. And it makes me realize my issues really are just that, totally insignificant.  So big deal, I don't know what's going on with our homestudy or I'm feeling terrible because I've had the flu all week (distraction #2), but that's nothing compared to the shit deal that girl and her family have been dealt.  


Can you say flu shot anyone?  Shoulda, woulda, coulda.  LeveIed for a couple of days then felt a little better on day 3 and resumed my normal hustle and bustle ... couple of meetings and errands and maid duties ... and woke up the next day wrecked again.  Thankfully I'm finally feeling better but now I'm totally freaking behind.  Behind on where I wanted to be on adoption stuff and behind on preparing for our Chinese New Year (distraction #3) dry run. Figure we have this year to work the kinks out so we don't totally screw up next year when we're celebrating it for real for baby sister.  I've got the red envelopes.  I will finish cleaning the house today.  I started yesterday but thanks to this damn flu, I pooped out after I changed the sheets on bed #3.  Ugh.  I ordered a boat load of decorations (banners and dragons) and trinkets (Chinese bead bracelets and gold coins).  My CNY consultant, aka my friend Fanny, giver of the Chinese barbies, is coaching me through it.  We'll set out a bowl of tangerines, leaves and stems attached for long lasting relationships.  We'll also have a vase of narcissus symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. Thankfully she said it would be okay to go out for dinner.  I'll toot my own horn to say I'm a fabo cook, but, I have never made any authentic Chinese food. I know, I better get crackin.  And I will.  But I've been sick people!  And you can't just turn a culinary corner overnight.  So, we'll go out to this funny little place in town. It's Japanese and Chinese and they give you a bag of produce as you leave.  Anyhoo, we will only order Chinese, which will be a challenge as the boys looooove sushi.  And we'll make sure to order noodles for longevity and fish for prosperity.  I hope I'm getting all of this right and if not, I apologize and with help, hope to get it right next year!  Pictures to follow. 


Just for fun I posted descriptions of the 12 animal signs of the Taoist Zodiac.  


Gong Xi Fa Cai from the ox, the sheep, the dog and the rat!  

Calligraphy	Short Description
	RAT is the first sign of the Taoist zodiac. Rat represents the beginning of the winter season (winter solstice) and the seed of new growth. Because Rat is number one, the ability to be first in all things is a Rat trait. This first earthly branch represents December, the eleventh month in the Taoist lunar calendar. December is the time of Sagittarius, Rat's western counterpart. RAT YEARS: 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
	OX is the second sign. This phase represents the beginning stages of a plant's growth, the seed's struggle to break out of confinement and sprout. This determination and perseverance in struggle are Ox qualities. This second earthly branch represents January, the twelfth lunar month. January is the time of Capricorn, Ox's western counterpart. OX YEARS: 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
	TIGER is the third sign. This phase is symbolized by the vigilant new sprout that has just broken free from the earth. People born in a Tiger year share the same positive and upward-reaching qualities as a growing sprout. This third earthly branch represents February, the first lunar month. February is the time of Aquarius, Tiger's western counterpart. TIGER YEARS: 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
	HARE is the fourth sign. This phase is the beginning of spring. It symbolizes the effortless growth of plants in warm, magical spring light. The gentle qualities of springtime are traits of those born in Hare year. This fourth earthly branch represents March, the second lunar month. March is the time of Pisces, Hare's western counterpart. HARE YEARS: 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
	DRAGON is the fifth sign. This phase happens when plants are growing and vigorously expanding. The life force, the yang part of the universe, is very strong. This powerful life force is fully visible in people who are born in the year of the Dragon. This fifth earthly branch represents April, the third lunar month. April is the time of Aries, Dragon's western counterpart. DRAGON YEARS: 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
	SERPENT is the sixth sign. During this phase, plants have completed their growth. This turning point brings the outward growth inward, turning vigor and power into wisdom. These characteristics are reflected in people born in the year of the Serpent. This sixth earthly branch symbolizes May, the fourth lunar month. May is the time of Taurus, Serpent's western counterpart. SERPENT YEARS: 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
	HORSE is the seventh sign. This phase occurs when the sun is brightest (summer solstice) and the plants are strong, having reached maturity. Horse people possess a sunny disposition and are bright, open, and cheerful. This seventh earthly branch symbolizes June, the fifth lunar month. June is the time of Gemini, Horse's western counterpart. HORSE YEARS: 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
	SHEEP is the eighth sign. It is the phase when plants are ripening and all is peaceful. This gentle peacefulness is the core of Sheep's nature. The eighth sign symbolizes July, the sixth lunar month. July is the time of Cancer, Sheep's western counterpart. SHEEP YEARS: 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
	MONKEY is the ninth sign. During this phase, crops are ready to harvest. That is why Monkeys naturally have so many developed talents and abilities. This ninth earthly branch symbolizes August, the seventh lunar month. August is the time of Leo, Monkey's western counterpart. MONKEY YEARS: 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
	PHOENIX is the tenth sign. This phase occurs during the month of harvest and prosperity. Responsibility, duty, and satisfaction for work well done characterizes people born in the year of the Phoenix. This tenth earthly branch symbolizes September, the eighth lunar month. September is the time of Virgo, Phoenix's western counterpart. PHOENIX YEARS: 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
	DOG is the eleventh sign. During this phase plants gradually disintegrate and return to mother earth while the animals prepare for winter. This ability to diligently prepare and be responsible are qualities of those born in the year of the Dog. This eleventh earthly branch symbolizes October, the ninth lunar month. October is the time of Libra, Dog's western counterpart. DOG YEARS: 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
	PIG is the twelfth sign. This is the phase when earth is at rest in winter, and a sense of peacefulness is prevalent. Love of rest and cultivation of peace are Pig qualities. This twelfth earthly branch symbolizes November, the tenth lunar month. November is the time of Scorpio, Pig's western counterpart. PIG YEARS: 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031