8 hours with a friend

Here I'm modeling my new UGGS that I love.

Horse drawn carriage in front of the Chicago Water Tower.

Some of the American Girl store. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Lunch at Tavern on Rush Street.

When I started this blog almost 18 months ago, I had no idea where it would take me. I thought it might be a way to support others by being honest and positive about adoption and how it's changed my life, talk about my family and post some pictures. I had no idea that I would be making lifelong friends and being supported on my own journey with adoption. Yesterday I had the great pleasure of spending the day with my friend Lea. If you don't know this already, I live in the Madison, Wisconsin area and Lea lives in Toronto, Canada. She traveled to Chicago this week and I drove down to Chicago's Loop to see her. We had never met in person but have gotten to know each other through this little world and culture of blogging. What I knew about Lea was through her blog and written words, pictures and emails. She has become a good friend and support to me. What did we do yesterday on Chicago's Magnificent Mile? Shopped at the amazing American Girl store on North Michigan Avenue at Water Tower Place. Lea bought some Christmas gifts for her Granddaughter and I bought for Miss Grace. I think Lea and I enjoyed the store as much or more than Grace and Rory would have! We walked up Rush Street for some lunch where we sat and talked and stayed warm. After that we found an amazing UGGS store and of course had to buy boots. I would have liked one of each style I think. And we did some more shopping. Lea and I have a great deal in common...we talked about our grown children and the joys and frustrations sometimes with raising them, our husbands, family, our addiction to blogging and adopting from China. What did I learn about her that I didn't already know? She is very funny and makes me laugh, has a beautiful soft Canadian accent and her name is pronounced 'Lee'. I was saying it Lee-ah. Thank you Lea for spending the day with me. I loved everything about the day and honestly had so much fun! We talked continuously for those 8 hours spent together and could have talked more I'm sure. And I meant to take more pictures but I was too busy talking! LOL. I know we'll get together again. Next time with Bill and Dan.