{ Maui 2011 } A bit different from years past ~

This year our vacation was amazing. The children all bonded well and it was wonderful to watch Olivia take it all in on a daily basis. I remember when we were in China and I saw her for the first time. Everyone around us was talking a mile a minute in Mandarin and I remember thinking to myself how pale she looked. That in a month and a half I'd be taking my girl to get some sun. I wondered if she would tan well because she seemed so fair skinned to me. Well, in a matter of 3 days in Maui, Livi was black. I swear if she had a different hair texture, she could pass for being from Guatemala or Africa. She continues to amaze us everyday and most people could not believe she had only been with us since February.

{ More on how everyone is doing once we are home. }

Many of the same families return to our time share each year and there are always several new people to meet as well. For the first time since bringing Sophia in 2006 and then "all the rest of them" {lol} here the following years, I spent most of my days telling people our adoption stories. We seemed to be a magnet for questions this year. In just a few days we were labeled "the China family". One morning, I believe it was our second morning here, there was a couple that was just mesmerized by us at breakfast. So, I began to tell her our stories after she asked numerous questions. The next thing I know she is crying. I ask her why and she told me she had a dream she and her husband were suppose to adopt alittle girl from China and here we all were right in front of her. A God moment I believed, so as our days went on we would talk a little more! ;) I had another women ask me all sorts of questions because her daughter was unable to conceive on her own, was now going into her 40's and wasn't sure what to do. I shared with her that at 44 years old, I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. That we have been so blessed with these children. Another woman remembered me and asked me all about it and where she should start and it just went on and on and on for our entire stay. I found it to be very rewarding. I just hope I helped nuture the seed that was clearly already planted in some of these peoples hearts.

It is always hard to leave this beautiful place but it is time to return home and continue to get Livi settled. I need to get her a private tutor and schedule our summer activities. I am so excited. We still seem to be floating on that euphoric cloud right now. Just enjoying this time together and realizing that life is good and feels so complete. I miss my family and friends and my simple little crazy life I have at home. I am a creature of habit and routine. It is time to get back into that again. I love this time of year. Spring needs to arrive soon. It's time to start making the house gorgeous for summer! ;)

Thank you to all those that continue to follow us along whether it is here on the Blog or on Facebook. We are just another family doing what we think is right and trying to live life to the fullest. ;)

And yes....it was not an easy task to get Thing 1,2,3 and 4 and Miss Teen Thing to cooperate. We have a long ways to go in that department. Especially during a family photoshoot. lol Nothing in life is perfect, but has everything to do with what you make of it.