Adoption friends meet!

We had such a cool opportunity last week! We got to meet some friends I've made online throughout Calli's adoption process. Early on, I joined a facebook group that was for people adopting from China that were along the same timeline as we were. It was great - we could share how long certain steps took us, what we were doing as we waited, things we were thinking or feeling - whatever! All from different agencies, all from different parts of the country, but all adopting from China within the same few months.

Out of that group, another group was formed of people adopting children with clefts from China. Now we had another way to share information about doctors, procedures, and more specific medical concerns. I learned a lot from being in these groups and it was great to hear from people in the same boat as us.

Two girls in both those groups were Tiffany and Winn. We realized that all three of us were in Texas, so we made that connection, and then shared information on Texas-specific timelines, doctors, etc. We talked about meeting up sometime, and were finally able to make that happen a couple weeks ago! Winn is in Austin, Tiffany is in College Station, and since we're south of Houston, we decided to meet in the middle at Tiffany's house. I looked forward to "meeting" these girls and their girls so much!

What was crazy to me was that all three of us had adopted little girls from China with clefts, all around the same time, and our girls are all within about two weeks of each other in age! In addition to that, each of us also have biological children - and all girls! So crazy. Tiffany's girls are just 9 months apart, and Winn has had her second daughter since she came home from China! We have so much in common, so it was just so great to be able to hang out, talk adoption, China, cleft lip and palate, sibling stuff, mom stuff - all of it! There is just no way to understand that experience of traveling to China and adopting unless you've done it, so it was just cool to be able to share those experiences together. I love the relationships that our girls can have - that Calli can see other families that look like ours, and that Kendall and Cooper can as well! It's just good for all of us. I'm so thankful for the ways God provides for us and hope we can continue to develop these relationships!