This week, I'm focusing on the things that I'm reading and watching lately, specifically stuff about adoption or Kyrgyzstan.
A special note to those of you who came here from MoxieWife.com -- yes, my blog did change names/locations. No, you aren't insane. Carry on. :)
Number One:
The Luippolds -- It Takes a Village
"Two weeks ago when the hassle with USCIS started (immigration-ours), every time I tried to text "USCIS" my phone hated me and would correct it to USC or other such nonsense. Within three days it had adapted and now if I type "U" it brings USCIS right up!
Why?
Community.
Adoption is a funny thing. After having two biological children and being in the adoption process for over a year now, I can definitely say adoption is the harder of the two-at least for us. It's more expensive, more draining, more time, and more work. And, it's more isolating. But that's one of the funny things. It may be more isolating with the people who are actually in your daily life, but it's the opposite with the people across the state, country, and even world."
Read more at: http://bardandkristin.blogspot.com/2014/05/it-takes-village.html
This blog post inspires me on so many levels. I too have felt alone in this journey at times, but every single time I have discovered that I am far from alone. I'm not the only one who obsessively checks her email, or looks up hotels in foreign cities. I'm not the only one who reads adoption blogs, going back through and reading entries from years ago to get an idea of what's in store for us when we travel.
Number Two:
28 Up: Born in the USSR
A spin-off of the successful British "Up Series" of documentaries. The premise is that they interview children at age 7, and then every 7 years after that -- the original series is up to age 56. In 1990, BBC did a spin-off in Russia. This installment, where they are 28-years-old, is the most recent one.
I find this totally fascinating for several reasons:
1) They show a boy from Kyrgyzstan (the first installment, at age 7, shows a Russian girl living in what is now Bishkek as well, but I'm not sure what happened to her).
2) They follow the life of a Siberian orphan.
3) The subjects were born the same year as Papa Beast.
Number Three:
Jen Hatmaker -- After the Airport
"So today, I'm writing for you who are somewhere "after the airport." The big moment is over and you are living in the aftermath when the collective grief or euphoria has passed. You lost a parent, a sibling, a friend, a child. The experience mobilized every single human being who loves you, and they rallied, gathered, carried you. And now it's three months later on a random Tuesday, and the sting has worn off for everyone else, and you are left in your sorrow....
I'm writing for those of you who had the oh-so-wanted baby after the cheers and showers and Facebook fervor, and now you're struggling with a depression so dark and deep, you are afraid to say it out loud. To you who moved across the country in obedience - you left your family, church, community, your jobs - and now the headline has passed and you are lonely and unanchored. For my friends who've brought their adopted children home and the media frenzy has died down, and you are holding a screaming toddler, a fragile kindergartener, an angry teen, trying to catch your breath and make it through the day without bawling while everyone else has gone back to their regularly scheduled programs...I'm with you today."
"Oh let us be a community who loves each other well. Because someone is always struggling through the "after the airport" phase, when the chords of human kindness become a lifeline of salvation. Let us watch for the struggling members of our tribe, faking it through sarcasm or self-deprecation or a cheerfully false report. May we refuse to let someone get swallowed up in isolation, drowning in grief or difficulties that seem too heavy to let anyone else carry. Let's live this big, beautiful Life together, rescuing each other from the brink and exposing the unending compassion of our Jesus who called us to this high level of community; past the romantic beginnings, through the messy and mundane middles, and all the way to the depths."
Read more at: http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/09/06/after-the-airport
I'm not there yet, obviously -- we aren't even "after the match," let alone "after the airport." But it's important to prepare for that, for the long haul, even as we sit here knowing that we would do anything possible to get to that very long haul that will probably be so hard.
This post really is (or should be) a must read for anyone with friends or family members who are in the adoption process.
Number Four:
A Tourist's Guide to Bishkek
A nice overview of the capital city.
Number Five:
Meet the Stans
I first watched the Kazakhstan portion of this video in 2013. The Kyrgyzstan portions are pretty interesting, though the focus on the military base was a little disappointing -- I want to see how Kyrgyzstani people live, not American soldiers (no offense to the military -- I just want to learn about the culture and place where we're going, is all). Even so, it is nice to see a little bit of the country.
Bonus:
Random People in Bishkek Dancing to Pharrel Williams -- Happy
This is one of the top hits on YouTube when you look up Kyrgyzstan. The power of random compels you to watch it.
See more #FiveFavs at http://moxiewife.com/2014/05/five-favorites-vol-57/.html
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