Chinese New Year is the most important and, at 15 days, the
longest holiday in China. Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the lunar
calendar, so it is also called Lunar New Year, and it is considered the
beginning of spring, so it is also called Spring Festival.
Chinese New Year celebrations were born out of fear and
myth. Legend spoke of the wild beast Nien (which also is the word for
"year") that appeared at the end of each year, attacking and killing
villagers. Loud noises and bright lights were used to scare the beast away, and
the Chinese New Year celebrations were born. Today, the 15-day New Year
festivities are celebrated with a week of vacation in metropolitan areas of
China. Much like the Western New Year (January 1st), the biggest celebration is
on the eve of the holiday. At the turn of the New Year, firework displays are
put on throughout the city.
Definition: 恭喜發財! Chinese greeting for Chinese
New Year.
Pronunciation: gōngxǐ fācái
Also Known As: 新年快樂 (Xīnnián kuàilè)
This also begins 15 days of complete silence. Nothing is being done over there to expedite mine or anyone else's paperwork. *sigh*
So, instead I will busy myself with projects that relate to Jenna Grace coming home and other things. My Aunt will be coming to visit at the end of this week and the plan is to paint baby girl's room. I am sure we will shop a little and I will also be registering. My precious friend, Sandy is planning a baby shower for me in March. I am so excited about it. I never dreamed I would ever have a pink one.
I am also giving a shower to one of my best friends, Debra, who is pregnant with twin girls.
Tomorrow is my current baby's 14th birthday and Thursday we go to Raleigh to have our biometrics done for our updated USCIS approval. Hopefully, for the last time. Thursday late, possibly Friday my Aunt will arrive and that will check another week off the calendar making us that much closer to GOTCHA DAY!
And that just scratches the surface, add to the above the three small groups we are involved in (Sermon on the Mount, Radical and Real Marriage, all I would highly recommend by the way) plus basketball, play practice and time for each other and whew Gotcha Day will be here before we blink twice. I love my life.
And tonight my friend and I will host our very first adoption community group. I don't think there are very many coming but I don't care. I am just excited we are starting something. I have asked God to do with it what He wants not what we want. I know He will and I know people will be inspired and encouraged to go out and do great things in His name for His glory. I know I am.
So at the end of the day or rather this post the silence isn't all bad. After all I have been commanded to enjoy this journey. That means even when its quiet. So I will. Join me?
