(Please remember that this is just a piece of my definition of adoption. For my full definition of what adoption is, you can read this whole series of posts here.)

This past weekend in Seattle was an important one for me in a lot of ways. I wrote about the wonderful conference I attended for AHOPE for Children in this post and that was the point of the trip and the main focus, however there were some other very important aspects to the weekend.

For one, I got to reconnect with someone I consider one of my dearest friends and a kindred spirit. I also got to spend time with some of her children, who I truly love and adore. Both of us have children from Ethiopia, both of us have adopted children from AHOPE and both of us have similar passions, priorities and values. I rarely get to spend time with friends, and living where we do, there are not many other adoptive moms, so this was a real treat. We went out to lunch twice, we played with her kids, we stayed up way too late chit-chatting and we had lots of "adoption talk", which I thoroughly enjoy. :)

On top of getting to spend time with my friend, I also got to spend time with several other adoptive family friends which again, is a rare treat, and topping everything off, I got to spend time with my friend and hero, Sidisse, who runs AHOPE Ethiopia.

I first met Sidisse on my first trip to Ethiopia, when we visited AHOPE to bring some supplies and interview her for a fundraising video for AHOPE. That was also the visit where we met Belane! I was so impressed with Sidisse that very first visit, I was in awe of her. When we returned to get Belane, we started our friendship and we had a meal together and several visits while I was in Addis.

Since I started volunteering for AHOPE by arranging their supplies I have had regular email contact with Sidisse and I love sending her pictures and updates of Belane and hearing her updates on AHOPE.

When I saw her for on Friday night and got the traditional Ethiopian kisses, I felt like I was hugging an old friend. She held my arm frequently throughout the weekend as Ethiopian friends do and we enjoyed much conversation and catching up. I am already looking forward to seeing her again when we go to get Solomon.

Sunday night, as I sat on the plane on the way home, I was impressed with the thought of how many friends and connections I have made because of our adoptions. I have made life-long friends through each of our adoptions. I have made friends in our area, in far away states and in far away countries that I never would have if not for adoption. With these friends and with our children's birth families that we will forever have ties to, our family and our lives have been strengthened, expanded and enriched.

To me, that is what transracial adoption should truly be about. We are building ties, uniting families and sharing love across cultures.

My favorite moment of the weekend, and one that I will treasure always, occurred when I was leaving the conference. I had to leave about 40 minutes before the end of the conference because of an earlier flight, and Sidisse got up to hug me good-bye.

I gave her a hug and as my eyes teared up I said quietly in her ear, "Give Tsega a hug and kiss from me." She said back, "Give Belane a hug and kiss from me." The interaction reminded me of how our friendship is built on the love we share for our children, and how that makes it a very special friendship indeed.


*If you have not yet participated, make sure you visit this post and enter the fun giveaway for National Adoption Month thanks to Curls.


* Picture from Liquid Library