Bill

In the China adoption community specifically the Sunnyridge Chinese Adoption community Bill is famous.  It is like saying Madonna or Cher.  No need for more of a name than that.  Bill is the in China man that makes it all happen.  He communicates with the CCAA and asks the SWI any of the questions that we have.  He arranges our trip in China.  Once we are in China he acts as our interpreter if not for the whole time all of the time that we are doing any of the legal type stuff to complete the adoption and the immigration process.  To put it simply Bill is a big part or all of our girls "story" in some ways he becomes like our social workers the un-sung hero that helped to make us a family.

Sunnyridge surprised us all by having Bill come to the States to celebrate Chinese New Year with our community.  Since our family has 2 travel groups we were able to attend different private dinners with him.  Sunnyridge also sponsored a story time and a reception for Bill.  It was wonderful to have Lizzy see the man that she heard about it.

Bill's visit triggered some very mixed emotions.  Joy in seeing him again and have the girls meet him.  Excitement for him to see Annie and just how far she has come.  Then there was Lizzy's reaction.  When we first told Lizzy that Bill was coming she was really excited.  Overly excited.  She was asking to sit next to him and could not wait to just talk talk talk with him.  Now you see Lizzy is my very reserved child.  The fact that she was showing excitement in speaking with a man that wasn't her Daddy or Papa and wanted to physically be in another human beings let alone a man's space had me concerned. While we have always been open with both girls about their adoption story and in an age appropriate way we have share all of the information that we have with them.  All of it and all of the lack of it.   After really listening to her and asking a few questions it all came out.  Lizzy believed that Bill could answer questions about her Birth Mother or as we call her China Mommy.  She believed that Bill knew who she was and would maybe even bring her with.  It broke my heart.  Not because she wants to know about China Mommy or has questions.  It breaks my heart because as wonderful as Bill is and for as many answers as he has he doesn't have these ones.  There is no way for us to find this information.  The lack of the ability to form an adoption plan in China makes it next to impossible for us to answer these questions for her.  I can tell her what I think or what I believe most of the time I just ask her what she thinks or believes.  My little bear plays her cards so close to the vest most of the time it makes it very hard for me to know what is going on inside.  As her mother it makes it very difficult to  know when she is faking it till she makes it and when she really is doing ok.  I guess the bottom line is that I am extremely grateful for the resources that I have available to me.  I know that she will be okay for that matter I know that both of my girls will be more than okay.  They will be a success and that is what matters!

This was our first dinner with Bill in the States.  We joined Annie's travel group.  One of the boys who came home with Annie was child # 4 for his family.  So there were a combined total of 4 travel groups at this dinner.

At the story time Bill shared information about Chinese New Year and read the children a traditional Chinese children's story.  We were then all taught a very traditional Chinese song (think twinkle twinkle little star for the Chinese)

Bill had a lap top that some children's songs and cartoons on it.  Once he pulled it out they all ran to see it.

Bill is the Pied Piper

Bill so loved

Surrounded by a sea of love.

The woman in the top right corner is Julie Betts.  She is the social worker who traveled with us on our first trip to China.

I pulled my camera out a second to late.  All on her own Lizzy ran up to Bill and gave him a big hug.  It was really wonderful to see.