Ni Hao, Kai-Lan on DVD!

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan now available on DVD

Nickelodeon has released a DVD of its animated series, ”Ni Hao, Kai-Lan”.   We have only been able to see a couple of episodes because we do not subscribe to cable.  Maybe now I can learn a few basic Mandarin phrases that will help me when we travel to Taiwan!

HT: China Adopt Talk

The Ugly Duckling

Quite a story out of a small mining town in Queensland, Australia.  Seems the mayor wants to encourage more women to relocate to his town, but I think his tactic is a bit unusual:

“John Moloney, mayor of Mount Isa in northwestern Queensland, told a newspaper his town was a place for “ugly ducklings to flourish into beautiful swans” and called on the “beauty-disadvantaged” to flock there.” - Read the full story at breitbart.com

Have to wonder if Mr. Moloney is going to be re-elected to his position when his term comes up.

Larry King interviews Chapman family

The Chapmans’ interview with Larry King Live brought tears to my eyes, when SCC and and his wife, Mary Beth, talked about the day of the accident.  At times, I thought Larry King seemed brusque and insensitive with his questioning, but the family took the questions in stride and spoke from their hearts.  It was an amazing hour, especially to hear the wisdom of their 18-year-old son Caleb share how they will live their lives in light of Maria’s death: honoring Maria by honoring the One who gave her to them, and not being ashamed of what they have been created to do.  Larry King asked SCC his motivation for continuing on, despite this tragedy:

LARRY KING: Why do you want to go on?

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN: The reason for that is, you know — and we read it before we came out here again today — I think the word of comfort. We realize — one of my first thoughts when this happened, we had just come back from China. We were sitting in the Shanghai airport in China when the earthquake hit. We didn’t feel it. But we do a lot of work in China with orphans. We had been there doing some of that work. We’re on our way home. We got home and started to hear the numbers of how many had died. We’d just been with our friends there. Our hearts were broken.

Even as we were in the emergency room grieving the immediate news of Maria going to heaven, I immediately thought of the people of China and I thought, we have — we have a comfort. We don’t have words. We don’t have an explanation, as we’ve fumbled over trying to explain how, why, all that. But we do have a comfort and we do have a hope.” - From Larry King Live, August 7, 2008

Jesus said in John, chapter 10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  After Maria’s passing, I prayed for the Chapman family - that God would put a hedge of protection around their whole family and protect them from Satan’s lies and attacks.  I believe God is answering that prayer.   

The entire show is available on You Tube now, divided into segments.  I included the last few moments of the broadcast in the link below.   A full transcript of the interview is available here.

Steven Curtis Chapman talks about adoption

Steven Curtis Chapman and his family will be on Larry King Live tonight, talking about their faith in Jesus and how it is helping them cope with the loss of their youngest daughter.  In the lead-up to that interview, SCC shared some thoughts about his family’s adoption journey in a commentary he wrote for CNN:

“My wife and I had always supported the idea of adoption, and as Christians, we understood the importance of loving and caring for others. But what I had not yet grasped was that adoption is a physical picture of what Jesus has done for me. I did nothing to deserve God’s love; in fact, I was living as an orphan, without hope. Yet God chose to pursue a relationship with me, and through the death of his son Jesus, I was adopted into God’s family. . .

“If only 7 percent of the 2 billion Christians in the world would care for a single orphan in distress, there would effectively be no more orphans. If everybody would be willing to simply do something to care for one of these precious treasures, I think we would be amazed by just how much we could change the world.” — Steven Curtis Chapman (To read more of his commentary, click here.)

GMA interviews Chapman family

For the first time since their 5-year-old daughter Maria died, Steven Curtis Chapman and his family spoke publicly on Good Morning America about their grief, their faith and how they are coping.  (See previous post about Maria’s accidental death here.) It breaks my heart to hear Mary Beth Chapman speak about her grief and how she would just like to have her little girl back.  I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child.  I pray for the Chapmans, that God would continue to be their Comforter and give them strength on the tough days.  You can watch the GMA interview here.  The Chapmans are also slated to be guests on Larry King Live on Thursday, August 7.  And People Magazine will feature an interview with the family next week.

Thoughts on our adoption journey. . .

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:4-7

We are at about the midpoint of our adoption journey, so I thought I would share some thoughts on our journey so far. . .how God is working on me and what I am learning.

I have a strong type-A personality - I like to be in control of the situation, follow a schedule and have everything run according to plan. The first part of the adoption journey was probably the easiest for me. We were given a list of requirements by our home study and adoption agencies. It was easy to check off items on a list as we collected documents and completed interviews with our social worker. Then we went on the list with our agency to wait for a referral. There is little for me to do at this point. I have a love-hate relationship with online bulletin boards: while I enjoy any tidbit or update on adoptions from Taiwan, it does seem to make the time move a little slower. I would love to know what number we are on the waiting list, and have a set time-table for when we will receive a referral and bring our little one home. But that is not possible.

I believe God is using this time of waiting to teach me contentment. I am reading a biography of the Apostle Paul’s life, written by Beth Moore. She talks about how independence can rob us of contentment:

Refusing to rely on God robs us of some of God’s most priceless riches. Through countless ups and downs, Paul learned he could do everything God called him to do, but only “through him [Christ] who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13). Through the multitude of needs Paul encountered he learned that “God will meet all your needs. . .in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). I believe Paul considered reliance on God a secret because everyone has to discover it for themselves. - From Beth Moore’s “To Live Is Christ”

So, what does this mean for our adoption?  God is teaching me to savor this time as a family now, appreciating family outings and celebrating milestones with our children. Soon we will become a family of five and new challenges will keep me busy. I want to enjoy the blessings God has given me now and learn to rely on God’s sovereignty in all areas of my life.

Orphan baby finds hope, home in Miami hospital

I read a heartwarming story today about an orphan baby girl in Miami.  I encourage you to read it on Fox News’ website.  Praise God for answering adoptive mom Elizabeth Monroe’s prayer, and for sweet Emma Grace.  Pray for their new family as they adjust to life with a new baby, and for Emma to grow up strong and healthy.

Outrageous

That word best describes the situation involving the U.S. government, a family in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and their 15-year-old adopted daughter.

According to CNN, here’s what happened:

“Allie may be forced to leave the country because U.S. immigration officials are questioning the legitimacy of the Guatemala native’s adoption by her parents, Lori and Scott Mulvihill, in 1994.

When the Mulvihills brought their then 2-year-old daughter to their home in Allentown, Pennsylvania, they believed she would be granted citizenship.

But U.S. immigration officials questioned whether the woman who gave Allie up for adoption in Guatemala was really her biological mother.”  — From CNN, July 11, 2008

What has happened is that the U.S. government is demanding that the family find the biological mother of the child and prove she legitimately gave her up. The family says that this is impossible. Which makes perfect sense — it’s going to be hard for anyone to find her 15 years later.

Mulvihill Family

Without understanding the details of immigration law, common sense would dictate that the U.S. government had their chance to dispute the adoption when they brought the child home. What’s outrageous is the idea that the government will not allow a readoption of the child given these circumstances.

She has two loving adoptive parents who are U.S. citizens. She wants to stay and Guatemala is not disputing her adoption. Her birth mother cannot be found.

What possible good can come of deporting this child? There are so many people who blatantly violate U.S. immigration laws and nothing happens. In this case, the parents are attempting to comply with the laws and yet their child is facing possible deportation. This is unjust.

Dave

George Clooney and the Meaning of Life

“People keep on asking me, ‘Don’t you want to have kids?’ I have not wanted to have kids. Then they say, Aren’t you afraid of dying alone?’ But we all die alone. I remember Uncle George sitting in bed, 68 years old. He looked at me and said, ‘What a waste.’ … I came to the conclusion that I was not going to wake up one day in my 60s and say, ‘What a waste.’ I was going to grab as much out of this life as I could.’ “– From “Why Clooney Says no to marriage and kids”

Mr. Clooney has a strategy on how to avoid regrets in life. Instead of having a family, he’ll achieve career success, money, and have fun along the way. And to his credit, he’s also trying to help do good in the world with causes like Darfur. I think the Bible provides both a challenge and a promise of hope to Mr. Clooney.

The challenge:  “For what will it profit it man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?” (Matthew 16:26).

It will not matter in death how much money, fame, or even earthly happiness we have if we die without Christ. Indeed, Jesus says to gain the entire world, but yet to lose your life is a bad deal. And what’s worse is that life is not the end of the road for those without Christ. God’s wrath will await them as punishment for sins.

The promise:  “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:26)

The good news is that believing in Christ means our death is not the end. No one will die alone who is in Christ. We will live forever in Him.

I know this is basic, but it bears repeating. The only way to find meaning in this life and the next is to live for Christ and serve Him. There is no other way.

Virginia family adopts 2007 Kidsave child

As mentioned in the previous post, the Kidsave program helped find families for seven Taiwanese children after last summer’s program.  One of those children was a little boy who stayed with a Virginia family.  That family fell in love with him and started the adoption process soon after he returned to Taiwan.  Their journey to Taiwan to bring their new son home was chronicled by CNN - check out their story here.