This Reminds Me

One of the happiest – and most informative – benefits of international adoption is memberhip in its online communities.  There’s a user board for every country/region/city – every type of child – every demographic of parent.  You name it - there’s a group of people who want to talk about it.  Keith and I belong to dozens of online communities, including the Russian forum on adoption.com, Yahoo’s International Adoption in Texas, the Russian forum on Soul of Adoption, etc.

In the earlier stages of adoption, we learned as much from the user boards as we ever did from our agency. When we traveled on our second trip, we were thrilled to meet a fellow member in the American Embassy in Moscow.  Since we’ve been home, we’ve been happy to build friendships – real friendships – with people we know only through user boards, forums, blogs and email.  When I need practical advice, alphi86 is a few keystrokes away.  I know I can’t be more tired than Votemom or Kay.  Rachael and K8c make me smile, while some folks I’ve met through my blog….well, I’m praying instead of smiling because international adoption has not been for them the joy it has been for us.

Two of these online friends accomplished a little miracle for 70 children this holiday season.  Dr. Rachael in Michigan – mom to four including a Russian adoptee- created and sold crafty items and sent the funds to K8c, an ex-pat living in St. Petersburg who also wants to adopt.  K8c is a teacher who – on her own time – has invested countless hours in the lives of Russian orphans.  K8c bought and distributed gifts to orphans with the money.  No, K8c and Rachael have never met face to face.  And just look what they did, stepping out of the cyber world to be Jesus with skin on.

My Rachel brought up the subject of friendship this weekend because she considers one of her friends more “liberal” than is she and yet, “Mom, we’re really tight.”  Well, yes.  Many of my friends through the years would be judged more “liberal” or “conservative” or whatever than am I and yet…..I’ve grown with all of them.  Some of those friendships are active today, at work or at church (especially our Women on Wednesday class!) or online.  Others began decades ago, having survived moves, marriages and maternity.  I might make a new friend tomorrow on the bus ride downtown, or in the line at Target….or even through an email.

I have been blessed with absolutely wonderful friends – never more so than when we adopted Julia.  Friends who notarized for us, and others who stood in line to do our apostilling in Austin.  Friends who kept our kids while we traveled.  Friends who bid on Guanna-to-be-Julia’s artwork (and benefited her orphanage.)   Friends who gave her orphanage gifts, and friends who sent her welcome home gifts.  And yes – friends we know only online who offered practical advice and kind words all along the way.

It’d be a cold world without friends to comfort us, cheer us and challenge us.  I am thankful for the friends I can touch with my extended hands, and those I can reach with my flying fingers.

I think those 70 Russian orphans loved by Rachael (a world away) and K8c would agree with John, Paul, George and Ringo:

“Yes, I get by with a little help from my friends.”