When It Blooms...

So, you know when you plan something and you're really looking forward to it? And you're really excited, but also a little fearful that all your anticipation is setting you up for a slight let down?

This weekend was one of those times. We had our second Anqing Seven (minus the long distance sister who we missed terribly) reunion get away weekend in Pismo Beach, California. La Nina is a proud member of the Seven Sisters adopted from Anqing SWI on 12/16/02.

For La Nina,the build up to this weekend was big too. She was going to see "her girls" as she calls the group, and for the first time, she understood these were the "girls" from her story. These were the "girls" who were babies in the pictures of our time in China. These were the "girls"with whom she shared cribs and toys and bottles and nannies. And for the first time, La Nina really wanted to see them.

So, we left for the three and half hour drive South on Friday right after lunch. And from the time she and "her girls" saw each other on Friday night to this morning when we had to wrench them apart, the girls had a blast. They ran on the beach, dug in the sand and played games of tag and hide and seek together. They ate their meals together or more honestly, they sat at tables together, too excited to eat. By late afternoon each day, they all had tired eyes, but not a single one of them ever wanted to quit playing. So, naps and healthy food were out the window as we let them nourish each other with little girl princess play and a few handfuls of potato chips. Each morning we parents would swap tales of kids falling asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow and yet eager to get back to their friends with first light.

The girls connected this weekend. I mean really connected. I saw La Nina engaged in play with every single one of "her girls" at some point and often they were playing in groups. The seeds of friendship planted on all of our past visits, sprouted and took root this weekend independent of parental involvement.

In some ways it defies logic: you go to China, you meet 6 families, you all adopt babies within minutes of each other, then you get to watch all those babies grow into beautiful little girls and you become close friends with their families. Was I out of the room when the fairies sprinkled the pixie dust? Because, truly, it's magic with this little group.

We plan to make these getaways annual events now. It went that well. And some day at a get away, I hope the relationships these girls started this weekend blossom into conversations and support that only they can give each other. I hope that someday as a group we can go back to China and show the girls their old 'hood. I hope they can sit together and really understand the depth they have to offer each other. And I hope too, we can be there to watch the buds of friendship bloom, much the way a gardner does, from a safe, but nuturing distance.