Wednesday, April 28, 2010

This Season


I love this season. I love May Crownings and First Holy Communions. I love seeing little girls in their frilly white dresses and tiny vails, little brides of Jesus. I love seeing little boys in their white suits and the nervous looks on the parent's faces hoping their polished sons will keep those suits clean. I love to watch the priests regally bend down and present each child with his or her first taste of the host. Such a wonderful and holy experience. But at the same time, I feel a little jealous... because I never had that. I never had the white dress, or the vail or the experience at age 7... because I am a Catholic convert. I became a Catholic as an adult through the RCIA. I was baptized in the Lutheran church (where my mother's parents belonged, but my mother never practiced). My father took us to the Christian Science church when my brother and I were young, but my mother did not go with us. I think my parents tried, but it's difficult when religious beliefs between two parents are split. Religion in our house was just never a priority.

By the time I was in high school, I don't think I had any faith of any kind. I didn't believe in anything my younger days at the Christian Science Sunday school had taught me and, quite frankly, I just wasn't interested. It wasn't until I was forced to take a course in World Religions as a sociology requirement that my interest in religion was initiated. I began to entertain the idea of going to church. I was pretty sure, based on my baptism and upbringing, that I wanted to remain a Christian, so I began checking out different local churches. I started with what I knew, or at least, what I could remember. I tried the Christian Science church again. I went to the Lutheran church. I visited a Presbyterian church, a Baptist church, an Evangelical church, a Charismatic church, etc. In the mean time, I had also heard that a local United Methodist church was looking for a french horn player for their brass choir. Score! I could listed to the gospel AND play my music (eliminate the bordom, perhaps?) I spent several Sundays at the United Methodist church. I really liked the pastor and I got a lot out of his sermons. I also really enjoyed playing in the brass choir there. But something was still missing...

I found the missing piece when I met Father James Jackson. Fr. Jim and I were both in line purchasing groceries at the local supermarket. The line was long and he had accidentally bumped me with his cart, which caused us to strike up a light conversation. He was in his clerics, so I knew he was a priest. I had never spoken to a priest before. I didn't know how to address him. He apoligies for the incident. I replied, "that's okay your holiness. No harm done." He laughed like that was about the funniest thing he'd ever heard. He could tell by the look on my face that I didn't know what was funny. He extended his hand "I'm Father Jim."

We talked about religion and I told him I wasn't particularly religious. He invited me to attend my first Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church where he was a parochial vicar. It happened to be the newer, large church that was right across the street from the development where I lived. The church was modern architecture and reminded me of an ark. I sat in the back, embarrassed that I didn't know the appropriate times to stand, sit or kneel, except to watch the other members of the congregation, but I loved the splendor of the priests in their long garments, the holy water, the eucharist, the alter boys, the music... everything. It felt whole, it felt right. For several weeks I "double dipped". I did my duty at the Methodist church then hurried to St. Elizabeth's for Mass. Occassionally I would run into Father Jim who would ask me how everything was going. In late August he mentioned they were starting up a new class he thought I might be interested in. An adult Catholic education class called RCIA. He gave me some information. "Conversion?" I asked. "Information." He replied... "Conversion, only if the Lord calls you." Then he smiled. "I'm not sure I'm ready to take such a large step." I said. "I just got here." "But you are here." Father Jim said. "Sure, because of you." I rebutteled. "No, because of Him." Father Jim said.
He was right. I had found the missing pieces in the Mass. And through RCIA, I too could participate fully. Father Jim was right, because of Him, I had found where I belonged and I joined the RCIA and began my education and conversion... I became a Catholic. And one Easter vigil, way back when, I took my first holy communion and made my confirmation with Father Jim and my sponsors standing beside me. And so, to date, I have received 6 of the 7 sacraments of the Catholic church. (It's almost impossible to receive all 7 since 6 is Matrimony and 7 is Holy Orders (becoming a priest or nun) and you can not normally do both. (There are acceptions. Some people get married, lose their spouse to death and then become ordained in the holy orders, but this is unusual.) I love the church. The more I learn, the less I know and the more I wish to dig deeper into the mystery of faith.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Update on Camille's Hearing

It's been a while since I've posted on Camille's hearing situation. Mostly because there really hasn't been anything to post. She has spent the past couple of months at school, evaluating 2 different FM systems to see if they can help with her hearing loss in the classroom. The trials are now complete and after consultations with Camille's kindergarten teacher, reading specialist and talking to Camille, it's been determined that neither the whole classroom FM system, nor the personal FM system were very effective.


I am disappointed, but not very surprised. The other day before entering the grocery store I said "Come on Camille, let's get a shopping cart." Camille replied "Why do we need a chocolate bar?" Her hearing loss is very unusual for a child. It is a high frequency loss, most commonly seen in older adults.


We now have an appointment at the beginning of May to see a new audiologist who specializes in high-frequency hearing loss to see about getting some hearing aids for Camille.

Poem

Every call has a beginning
A quiet moment when God
whispers a promise to a mother’s heart
A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts
the journey set before him.
A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns…
Casting its first light on a chosen threshold.
A gentle knock..
a closed door opens.
A sacred invitation sent by the Father..
Leads to the other side of the world.
Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows
Praying for someone to care..
And then one morning,
On an ordinary day
An orphan’s life changes...
God sends them a second chance...
Through you..

Thursday, April 22, 2010

"Joseph" Rehearsal


Here's a "sneak peek" from rehearsal! Even the smallest parts deserve the biggest performances, don't you agree? Tee-hee! :)




Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Homestudy Complete!

Our homestudy is complete! So what does this mean? It's in our socialworker's hands to get the draft done (we went over the draft last night and it looked pretty good) fax that draft to our adoption agency, get approval from our adoption agency to write the final report and send that final report to us so we can file our I-800A with Immigration. Yes, more paperwork, but it's a big step in the process that is now complete and we're really hoping that things will keep moving. We can't relax, so glad our little guy can! :)




Wednesday, April 14, 2010

HELP BRING HOME JON PAUL!


Here's how YOU can help bring home Jon Paul!

Click on this link for Kingdom Kids

At the top of the page click on Donations then select Family Grant Donations

Fill out the information and in the box that says designation, fill in our names, Mike & Faye Corman. That way you'll be sure you're donation will go to help fund Jon Paul's adoption.

If you would rather send a check, please mail it to:

Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministry
8625 N Whitehouse Drive

Spokane, WA 99208
USA

Please include a note with the check that the donation is for Jon Paul Corman's adoption fund, but DO NOT include our name on the check!

Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS regulations.

Thank you for your support! Any questions, please feel free to contact Kingdom Kids!

Hot topics at our house

The new guide dog is a very hot topic at our house right now. It could be nerves or excitement, for Michael... perhaps a healthy combination of both. He talks about the dog, a lot. I'm glad. I'm excited too. We refer to the dog as "Bruno" (this is a name Mike came up with in a dream... I think it's a spin-off of "Juno" which is the name the Seeing Eye uses for the imaginary dog they use to give a candidate a sample walk when they come out for the initial assessment.) We will have no idea what the new dog's name will be until Michael meets him or her for the first time. Everyone has questions, comments and concerns, including Camille. She asks where "Bruno" will ride in the car, where "Bruno" will eat and whether we will have to get rid of our shih-tzu, Riley (the answer to that question is "no". Seeing Eye dogs are often raised with other dogs and we have no doubt Riley will do fine with the new dog).

So Michael will leave for this adventure in about 14 weeks. We're really excited for him!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Friday, April 09, 2010

He has a date!

7.17.2010

That's when Mike is scheduled to report to the Seeing Eye in Morristown for his guide dog school training. He's very excited! We're all very excited and proud of Mike!

Monday, April 05, 2010

Legoland

We went to Legoland(r) in California today. I don't know who had a better time, Camille or Uncle Chris, but from this photo, I'd say Uncle Chris, wouldn't you?


Sunday, April 04, 2010

Happy Easter!

Remember, it's not about the bunny...

...on the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures...