Noelle Dreams & Beyond

I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed--and gazed--but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. -- William Wordsworth

I just loved that part of President-elect Obama's speech Tuesday night. I think this is an extraordinary time for America, and I feel so proud. I truly hope we can finally come together. I do believe that if anyone can unite the country, it's this man. I went to church today. I attend a Unity church, and for those who don't know it's not your average Christian church. We celebrate the life of Jesus as the great example rather than the great exception, and we recognize and embrace universal truths taught by other great religious traditions in addition to Christianity. We both meditate and pray, we celebrate diversity and the connectedness of all beings, and we are made up of both Democrats and Republicans. As a congregation we're definitely more left-leaning, but our minister does not use the podium to politicize. After all, we are a UNITY church. However, today our minister took the opportunity to celebrate the leap our country has made in electing Barack Ob...

(click on the title) Be inspired!

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES IN LIFE. FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF FEAR, NONE ARE STRONG ENOUGH. FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF LOVE, NONE ARE NECESSARY. -- EMMANUEL

This past Thursday was a difficult day that turned out to be a very good day. After writing my depressing blog post, I had an acupuncture session, during which I was able to release a lot of sadness. Right after that while browsing in Ten Thousand Villages, I came across the following poem for the second time in recent weeks. (I figure I best pay attention.) Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves... Don't search for the answers, they could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer. -Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926), Austria Perfect lesson. Perfect timing. Today I had another gift. I attended a silent retreat at my church with sessions of sitting meditation, yoga, mindful eating, walking meditation, and a long guided rel...

This essay was posted by the NY Times this month in a series of international adoption stories. A father shares his experience of finding and connecting with the Chinese gentleman who discovered his daughter the day she was abandoned and took her to safety. This story in particular deeply touched me, especially when the father, who doesn't speak Chinese, describes how he longed to express his gratitude to this man, who doesn't speak English, during their first phone call -- he was overcome with emotion and didn't have the words. His friend who translated for him during the call whispers simply, "Xie xie" - thank you. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We know a family that is being united for the first time this very week. The couple has waited through a long difficult adoption process, and now they are parents to two beautiful children. It really does happen. They give us incredible hope. The mom reprinted the following on her blog just a few hours before meeting her daughter for the first time yesterday: Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone, But still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, You didn't grow under my heart - but in it. - Fleur Conkling Heylinger

Along with thousands of other China adoptive parents, Chris and I are anxiously awaiting the next referrals to be announced any day now. Based on recent months and internet rumors, we don't have high hopes that the CCAA will make much progress in terms of the timeline. We'll likely see the timeline lengthen yet again. Last month it reached 18 months (period from dossier log-in at CCAA, i.e. LID, to official notification of family-child match from CCAA, i.e. referral), and it might get to 19 months this time around. If this trend continues (we pray it won't!), it will be 2009 before we finally meet Noelle. Regardless, we'll keep truckin' along. The timing of the following email I received today couldn't be more perfect. It's for us all. (written by a Unity minister) ***It can be that the troubles you go through in life are for the benefit of others. In some sense, you are a model for others. You are a model even when you are not a good example. However ...

I'm not sure who wrote this - it was posted in an adoption chat room by a mother who sings it to her daughter for her birth parents in China. It's perfect for waiting mamas, too. I just wish I knew the tune! I see the moon and the moon sees me, Down through the leaves of the old oak tree. Please let the light that shines on me, shine on the one I love. Over the mountain and over the sea, I have a love who is waiting for me. Please let the light that shines on me, Shine on the one I love!

My sister Rachel sent me this video of Billy Joel performing "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)." It's so nice. Take the three minutes to watch it if you can. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid37114593/bclid36994922/bctid13406406 or go to http://musicbox.sonybmg.com/video/billy_joel/?bcpid=37114593&bclid=36994922&bctid=13406406

My new favorite CD is the Dixie Chicks' latest, "Taking the Long Way" - I got it in my stocking this Christmas from my dear husband, and I've been playing it nonstop ever since! It's so honest and soulful, and for me, tear-inducing at times. I particularly love "Easy Silence" (track 2), so beautiful in its melancholy and one of the best love songs I've heard in a long time, and "I Hope" (track 14), a bluesy, straight-forward, yet gentle call to action for creating more love in this world, reminiscent of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"... And their "Lullaby" (track 6) is just so sweet and soothing. I imagine singing it to Noelle, though Natalie, Martie and Emily's sound is so lovely that I should probably just plan to play the CD for her. :) If I was tech-savvy, I'd figure out how to play this song here on the blog. For now that will have to remain in the idea realm. I've been thinking about lullabies ...