Mini Reunion: Clarks & Halls

Charlie, Colleen, & I at The Varsity in Atlanta--the oldest drive in restaurant in the US

Now that we have adopted three separate times- I am coming to appreciate the specialness of that first trip...and the group of families we met.  Adoption is changing in China and you no longer travel in large groups to adopt your child.  In fact, you are lucky if you travel with even one other family.  Our first trip was with 11 other families...and we have stayed in close touch with 9 of them.  We have reunited several times over the past 4 years and some of us that live closer together see eachother even more often.  Many of us have adopted a second time...or a third in our case...6 of the 10 families have 2 or more adopted kiddos.  It's really awesome to hang with a group of folks that "get" you...you don't have to explain or ask...we've all been to the same places- waded thru mounds of paperwork, endured multiple procedures and surgeries with our kids,  have some of the same crazy stories to tell, and we never tire of hearing eachother's tales, etc. 

SO- when the Hall's from Michigan announced they would be in our neck of the woods this Summer- I knew we would do everything in our power to meet up with them.  After all- they are family to us and our children.  Meeting up with people from our China travels is like going to a family reunion where everyone actually gets along and likes eachother!  Their daughter, Lia, and Ruby came home together and their newly adopted son, Cameron, came home just before WillaJ from the same province.  This is as close to China family ties some of our children will ever have...they share a culture and a story.

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The absolute cutest kids on the planet!

Lia & Ruby...they are just a year apart in age.

Aaron Hall & Ruby have always shared a special connection.  He's a really sweet 13 year old--and believe me, I know some not so sweet ones!

Cameron was working on his photography skills.

inside the World of Coke Museum

Ruby, Lia, & Grady

WillaJ, Ruby, & Lia

Thanks Hall's for making time for us- we LOVED re-connecting with you guys and just getting to see Lia, Cameron  & Aaron was worth the trip to us!  (Loved the soda tasting too--ruby says)

We are gearing up for another mini- reunion in a few weeks in Gatlinburg with the Harters, Mundys, and Pervorse crews!  Woooohoooo- can't wait y'all!