Saturday, April 14, 2012

No news = good news, and a brief digression about Peeps






We have no news from India, which for once, truly is good news! We haven't heard anything from CARA since being assigned to our orphanage in Bangalore at the end of March -- which is good, because it means that the orphanage has not found any reason to refuse to work with our family. Some families have been turned away from their assigned orphanage for a variety of reasons, such as having no children that match the family's criteria for age, special needs, etc.

So after months (over a year!) of hearing nothing, at this time we are actually glad to hear nothing! Many friends and family have asked us when we will be matched with a child. If the process plays out as we hope it will, we may hear something about our referral (in adoption lingo, that means receiving information and a photo of our daughter) in June or July. But as always, there are no guarantees of anything.

So for now, we continue to wait for news of ANY referrals, from ANY part of India. This will be a huge reassurance that things are happening and children are moving closer to having a family, as every child deserves.

* * * * * * *

And we continue to enjoy and cherish the three kids who are already here in our home. For Easter this year, they saw a photo of a sunflower cake in a magazine, and asked if we could make it for Easter Sunday dinner. The main attraction was that it used Peeps for the sunflower petals -- their Dad hates Peeps, and each year they tease Peter mercilessly about eating just one Peep. (I suspect that was the main reason they wanted this cake to be our dessert.) It has become a tradition in our house to sit around the table chanting "Eat the Peep!" until Peter caves in and shoves one in his mouth just to get us to be quiet. Other people make gorgeous traditional Ukrainian eggs, and dignified stuff like that. We, on the other hand, force people we love to eat artificially-colored marshmallow poultry.

As I type this, I'm having a twinge of guilt about how irreverent I'm making our Easter sound. Why the silliness, when Easter is the most meaningful day of the year to us? Here's why: amidst the Good Friday nature of real life, laughter is a holy experience. It is a defiant, joyful reminder that amidst tragedy and loss, illness and pain, Easter Sunday always comes.

8 comments:

Sarah said...

I love the peep cake! I will definitely try it sometime (even though I greatly dislike peeps, as well).

Praying that you have GOOD news soon!

Cristy said...

The peep cake is great!

Emily said...

Your family is so funny. I like you all a lot and I have never even met you! "Eat the Peep" sounds like too much fun. So glad to hear you have no news :) And so eager for you to be matched. You all have been so extremely patient, and as you know, good things come to those who wait! You are due for some a seriously good thing!

Love and hugs,
Emily

Julie & Patrick said...

So funny that in our house we have peep lovers...all but me. They eat them is various ways, but frozen is (apparently) the best! I will NOT tell them about Eat the Peep, for fear that they play that dirty trick on ME! Malt Ball Eggs...NOW you're talking :)

So hope that the summer months bring that joyous news you have been waiting so long for. Would love to see a small photo in person at India camp!!

Julie

Candice said...

That is hilarious about making your husband eat a peep! I agree, I think God smiles when He sees our family full of laughter and enjoying one another! I am definitely going to have to try to make that cake too. It looks super cute!

I will be praying that you DO get your referral by this summer. That would be soooo awesome!

Candice

Candice said...

That is hilarious about making your husband eat a peep! I agree, I think God smiles when He sees our family full of laughter and enjoying one another! I am definitely going to have to try to make that cake too. It looks super cute!

I will be praying that you DO get your referral by this summer. That would be soooo awesome!

Candice

Cairenn Binder, RN said...

Hi, I am a new follower to your blog! Already your blog has helped me understand the India adoption process more than the adoption agency websites have. My husband & I have two children and have begun researching adding to our family through adoption, hopefully from India. Right now we are going through a tough time figuring out how we will pay for it! Your blog has been very encouraging - you have been waiting for a long time, through all the changes with CARA but you have maintained positivity and optimism. Your children are beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story with the world!

Missy said...

I am so glad you finally have some - well - unnews. :)