First Reunion

We had the neatest opportunity on Saturday to meet the family who adopted Leah's friend from Nanyang orphanage.  We found out about them while we were still in China, and I was able to track them down when we got back.  I had no idea where they were from, but it turns out they live less than 2 hours away from us.  Isn't that amazing?  Of course it's no coincidence that two little girls adopted from halfway around the world live so close—it's miraculous!  We met Dustin, Mia, their daughter Hadley, their boys, and little Jill at a park near their house on Saturday.  It was so neat.  Mia is one of few moms that has actually been to Nanyang orphanage.  They were only allowed to see one room, but  it's the room Leah spent all her time in.  She told us all about it and even gave us a DVD with her video footage from the visit—it's truly priceless.  Jill turned two in July so these girls are very close in age.  She came home in January and is doing so well.  She had an unrepaired cleft lip and palate, and it's incredible to see the progress she's made already.

In all honesty Leah and Jill didn't pay a ton of attention to each other.  They were both on the go non stop and hardly ever in the same spot, but I know they'll cherish this friendship and connection to their past.  It was hard to even get them in the same location, let alone take a picture, but here are a few of their budding friendship... (and on a technical note all of the pictures I edited lost a lot of quality when I exported them, this series particularly bad, so I've got to figure out what I need to change in my settings but here they are anyway)...

 They were pretty tentative at first...

although in reality I don't think Jill is the tentative type.  This little girl has that same light and spirit as Leah.  They are survivors and it shows.

 They were soon getting cozy...

 and laughing...

looks like the makings of a beautiful friendship!

Check out this picture of the girls back in January in the orphanage...wow.