Tet- Vietnamese New Year

Hello, this week and the next few weeks to come will be fairly quiet (we believe) in regard to referrals of lil ones. It is now time for Tet- THE VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION!! During this time, everyone in Vietnam will be focused on this celebration and adoptions will likely slow down during this time period. I have cut & pasted an explanation (below) of Tet for those of you who are not familiar. This was a huge learning experience for Brandon and I as well. This is our first experience with Tet.

Tet, which means the first morning of the first day of the new year, is the Vietnamese New Year. The celebration lasts for 7 days. Like the Chinese, the Lunar New Year is one of the most celebrated holidays. Tet starts on February 12 in 2002. According to the Vietnamese Zodiac, 2001 is the Year of the Horse. Preparation for Tet starts weeks before New Year's Day. Homes are cleaned to get rid of bad fortune associated with the old year. Families paint their homes to give it a new look. Everyone gets new clothes and new shoes. Pay your debts and resolve differences between family and friends. A special ceremony called Le Tru Tich is held at the mid-night hour (Giao Thua) on New Year's Eve. The ritual involves firecrackers and gongs and other festive items that make loud noises to usher out the old and welcome the new. Like the Chinese, Vietnamese people are very careful about what they do on New Year's Day. The events on New Year's Day determine your luck for the rest of the year. Therefore, everything and everyone you are in touch with on New Year's Day should symbolize good fortune. Don't visit people who are in mourning because they are associated with death. Children should not fight or cry on New Year's Day. Homes are decorated with Hoa Mai, a yellow blossom that represents spring. Family members exchange gifts and pay homage to the Kitchen God. They also visit local temples to pray for prosperity and good health. During Tet, Vietnamese families plant a New Year's tree called Cay Neu in front of their homes. A bamboo pole is often used as a Cay Neu. All the leaves are removed from the tree so that it can be wrapped or decorated by good luck red paper. Legends have it that the red color scares off evil spirits. On the seventh (the last) day of Tet, the Cay Neu is taken down. This is the last ritual of the New Year celebration.

Last but not least a little story.... Brandon and I went out to dinner on Friday night and then went to a store where Brandon picked up the CUTEST shirt. My back was to him and he tapped me on the shoulder and held this PINK t-shirt up in front of my face that read, "I LOVE DAD!!- (HE BUYS ME THINGS) hehehe! We both got the biggest smiles on our face and I gave him a huge hug as he said, "We're getting this one!!" :))) This continues to be one of the most AMAZING journey's for both of us. We are learning daily about what it is to love & live in faith.

James 1:2-5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.