Friends

Incident in Restaurant Parking Lot
About a month or so ago, I took Jack over to PEI to meet with Emily and other families who had adopted or are in the process of adopting from China. We met at a Chinese restaurant and when it was time to leave, Susan and I were talking in the parking lot outside of the restaurant and Jack and Emily were both standing by my van. Well, one thing led to another, and both kids started hugging and kissing each other. What's funny is, this was the first time the two of them had met each other. Finally, we convinced both kids to get in their own vehicles so we could go home. When we got home, Jack was dancing around the kitchen telling dad "I kissed Emily, I kissed Emily" and he was so happy and proud of himself.

Both Jack and Emily were in the Waiting Children Program and both are 3 years old. Jack has been home 8 months and resides in Moncton and Emily has been home one year and lives in PEI.

Jill, Moncton, NB,
proud mother of a Chinese Cassanova
 

Best Friends
Mitchell (8) and Jack (3) have officially been brothers for almost 8 months now and they are inseparable. Both boys love to play with Lego and Rokenbok and Jack waits for Mitchell to come home from school so that they can resume building what they started the day before.

However, on the day this picture was taken, I found both boys fast asleep on the couch and it was such a wonderful feeling to see Jack sleeping in Mitchell's arms. I have had a lot of people ask us how Mitchell and Jack get along, and I think this picture says it all. They are not just brothers, they are BEST FRIENDS!!!!!

Jill

Emily, Chloe and Noah
Emily, Chloe and Noah are all Waiting Children whose moms met on-line prior to their "gotcha" days. Over the weeks and months, we shared worries and concerns as well as each wonderful step which brought us closer to our children who were truly "waiting" for us to claim them in China. This picture was taken at Pacific Mall in Markham, Ontario shortly after Noah, four, came home to Toronto last February (Spring newsletter). Emily, three and a half, had been home ten months and Chloe, five.

Toddlers are the best of both worlds, sort of like the “plug and play” technology. They are ready to experience the world in an interactive way from day one. Even though our families live in different cities and even different provinces, our shared experiences have extended to friendships for our children who are old enough to understand and appreciate each other’s company. For this trio, the friendships made will be a good excuse to return to Toronto for more authentic "cultural" experiences, and, of course, the great food court at the Pacific mall.

Emily’s mother,
Susan, Kensington, PEI

And ... Sisters & Cousins
Apollonia and Pauweliena are sisters who live in, respectively, Amherst and Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
Apollonia adopted Christelinda (4½), in Spring 2003 and Fumairia (2½) in Fall 2004. Pauweliena adopted Olivia (5½) in late Fall 2000, Lilianne (3¼) in Winter 2003 and Chloë (4¼) in Spring 2004.

Fumairia and Chloë were adopted through the Waiting Child program.

This photo was taken recently when sisters and cousins met on a visit to see “Omah and Opah.