8 years ago when we started the process to adopt Grace I'd never dreamed how adoption would affect our family. I think in the early days of waiting for her I thought it was as simple as bringing a child into your home and loving them with all your heart. But adoption is so much more than that. You become this big family...a huge collective family of those who have adopted, been adopted or changed by adoption in some way. We are all trying to support each other, help our children understand their story and birth culture and...and continually spread the word about adoption and what it means to us. For me adoption is also about nurturing the friendship my daughter shares with her friend Julia.
Last week Julia came and spent 3 days with us(she lives 2 hours away).
We first met Julia's parents a month before we traveled to adopt Grace in late August 2003.
They were in our China travel group. Julia and Grace not only have in common that they come from the same SWI and were nursery mates, they share the same birthday...
Julia's mother Michelle and I feel it's important to keep and nurture this special relationship between these 2 girls who are crazy about it each other. Someday we'll return to China and both families plan to go together. Grace sometimes asks me if we'll go back to 'her China,' when she says that she means her city in Jiangxi Province where she was born. William has 'his China' in Fujian Province. We will return to both provinces for a visit.
Grace(on the left) and Julia(on the right, both sweet 2 year olds)... two sisters and best friends . I believe they will be there for each other...forever. 
21 kind words:
This made me cry.. AMAZING Post..
I love it.. I sooo hope that I can keep in touch like this with whatever little girl Isabella gets the pleasure of being with in her short time in China.
BEAUTIFUL girls, BEAUTIFUL friendship.. FOREVER SISTERS..
Have a great week.
love ya girly
Beautiful post Gail! Those two share a special story and friendship- what a blessing- and how fortunate that you all are able to nurture their bond.
Have a great week!
Just beautiful Gail. Such a special relationship they must have...and they are so lucky!!! This almost made me cry!!!
Beautifully written, Gail, and beautifully lived. The Tongginator has an oh-so-special "China cousin" who knew her in China. They were even found on the same day, just blocks from one another. I know we will stay in touch with the Fish family the way y'all have with Julia. It is a bond that should not be broken.
What a beautiful post! Those girls are simply amazing and it is so nice that they are able to keep in touch. We also plan to go back to China with a travelmate.
Have a great week.
Janet
Beautiful..
We also have continued to nuture special bonds for our girls, we just spent 2 wonderful days with our daughters crib mates from China.
So sweet that these girls can still be together! I love that you posted a photo of them when they were younger, too! VERY sweet.
Oh how precious!!! You're right, adoption is so much more than just adding a child to your family, you worded that perfectly!
Have a great week!
Grace is so blessed to have that history with such a good friend and then to have her only two hours away is wonderful also. Enjoy these last few days of summer with your kido's;)
This post made me cry. Thanks for the happy tears and your beautiful children. What an amazing post!!
Have a blessed week!
What a sweet, sweet post!! They look like they are inseparable.
It is so wonderful that you have remained such good friends with this family.......truly a gift!
That last picture is just precious.....definitely makes me teary eyed!
Hugs,
Lisa
I love their bond! They will be forever friends and having that past to share will be a source of comfort to them both. You as the girls parents are doing such a great then to keep them connected.
Beatiful post. This sounds like a wonderful friendship. Great pictures!
Beautiful!!! What a special gift to have such a bond as they do!!
Enjoy your week!!!! I know it will go quickly for you!
What an amazing story... the girls share an amazing bond. It is fantastic you live so close to someone from her SWI. We are blessed to live near a lot of families who have adopted, but -unfortunately- Em was the only little one from her SWI when we traveled...
Just an amazing story. And lovely pictures of the girls too!!
Beautiful, priceless, amazing.....a gift from God! ;)
Oh Gail what a beautiful post, it made me tear up. They are both beautiful little girls and I just wish I could hug them.
Love and blessings, Kristy
Gail what a beautiful post and oh so true. Never in a million years did I think when set out to adopt what a wonderful journey we were about to take. We work very hard at maintaining a bond between Addison and her Gao sisters.
The pictures you posted are wonderful...I think the girls look a like.
Can't wait to see you on Thursday!!!
What a powerful post! You are right on the money when you say these bonds last forever!
Such great pics of the girls together. I hope the special bond they share lasts a lifetime!
Hugs, Jill
OK, I didn't cry until that last picture. What a wonderful blessing that you have stayed in contact and the girls get to spend time together. They are two beautiful girls!!
Perfectly said!! I am hoping that Presley will someday be able to find a good friend that is also from China. I think that would be so good for her. Grace and Julia are beautiful girls and I'm so glad they have each other!!
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