The Best of Friends!

One of the greatest gifts in life is a true friend.  

I spent last weekend with two of the best.  There are really not words to describe what these two ladies mean to me, but I will try.

 When I met them, over 12 years ago, we only had three children between us.  Two of them were mine.
Over these past twelve years we have each added children to our families.  Between us there is now 17 children!  Eight have come home through adoption and the other nine, the old fashioned way.

I met Alice before God had started to fill her nest.  I thought she already had a whole brood.  She just oozed maternal instincts.  The truth is her first born was born a world away in China.  I had the privilege of praying for this precious one and watching her parenting begin with an adorable little girl who she met at 10 months old.

I truly believe that the seed of adoption was planted in my heart as I watched their family grow through adoption.

Sandra also began her family through adoption.  Her first daughter came from Korea.  She quickly added a son from Korea as well.

These two ladies are amazing mothers.  They are close to Christ and follow His lead in all that they do. They have been such encouragers to me on the hard days of life.  We have laughed through so many struggles with toddlers and potty training.  We have prayed for one another and cried when God gave and then took away.

It is so wonderful to have someone there in your season of life that knows you and will speak truth into your life, even if you don't want to hear it.:)

Our children have grown up together.  Many of our best childhood memories involve the kiddos from these two families.  I adore each one of them as if they were my own.

These two ladies have definitely filled the role of support system and adoption therapists since we brought our two home from Ethiopia.  I am so thankful for their wisdom, support and encouragement through the first months.  There are so many issues that occur within adoption that are very different from parenting a birth child.  It is so wonderful to be able to pick up the phone and talk to someone who "gets it."  There is no way to explain what their support has meant to me.

For the past ten years Alice has lived five minutes from my house.

Four months ago a job change took her to a new town four hours away.  I miss her!
Yes, she is still a phone call away, but it is not the same.

She and her family recently moved into a new house.  Sandra and I decided to take a weekend to go and visit Alice and her family.  We each took two of our children to surprise her kids for the weekend.

We had a wonderful time catching up and talking until late, like we always do.

I thank God for these ladies and their families.  They are such a gift to me.  I feel blessed beyond measure!!

Here are 10 of our 17 kids!

I hope they stay friends till they are old and turning gray like me!:)

Sweet Momma