Chelsee and Julian Reunited

~I have predated this post to July 2012~ (originally posted on 9/14/12):

In Chinese adoptions, it is extremely rare that two children would have a chance to be reunited after coming home to their forever families a year apart from the same orphanage.  How amazingly lucky that we have been fortunate enough to witness such an event.  I call it a miracle.   And an honor. 

In April 2010, about a year after Chelsee came home, I was reading a Lu'An yahoo group post from a woman who had received their referral of a 4 year old boy.   Ever since I received the 295 photos from Love Without Boundaries of Chelsee/Lu Fu Mei in China, I have thought about the little boy in all her pictures with her foster mama.  He kinda had my heart because he was always there whenever the foster mom was in the picture.  So, I bravely sent this woman an email asking a little about her new son and I explained my story being careful not to probe too much.  But thankfully, she was willing to talk and exchange ideas and pictures with me.  We both decided we thought her new son was indeed the little boy in my pictures.  It was after that that I had the nerve to ask Chelsee who he was and if she remembered him.  She definitely recognized him but had a hard time remembering his Chinese name.  I tried to pronounce it for her but that didn't help!!

Within a few weeks, our new friends, Tasha and Miguel, were on their way to China to meet their son.  They carried a picture of Chelsee/Lu Fu Mei just in case there was a good time to ask their son if he knew or remembered our Chelsee.   They found the right moment and he immediately shouted "Fu Mei" upon seeing her picture.  We had found her foster brother!!  And how he had missed her since she had gone away!!  Through interpreters, we learned Lu QingXin, now Julian, cried when she left and got upset when another child wore some of the clothes our Lu Fu Mei used to wear.  He was sooo happy and relieved to learn she was ok and doing great!  He wanted to know when he could see her again....

So, over the next year as we continued to talk and send pictures of our "siblings" back and forth, we both decided to reunite them.  I am soo thankful that Tasha was as willing and eager to have our children reunited as I was.  My sister also knew this was a momentous occasion and called the local newspaper to cover the story.  On July 31, 2011, they met again in Hilton Head, SC after being apart for over 2 years ~ it was beautiful:

And they enjoyed a fantastic week of fun and sun and play and reminiscing as only 2 long lost siblings could!  I know we made them so happy and in turn, they made us sooo happy!  Pure joy!

We heard stories from China that Julian remembered which made Chelsee remember some of her own that she had forgotten!  Priceless stories!  And as Tasha and I talked, we each learned more things about their time in China.  Tasha knew the name of the foster mom; I'd never been given that information.  Tasha also knew most of the time frame that Julian had been fostered.  And we both learned that Julian was in fact, younger than Chelsee.  From the pictures and info, we both thought the opposite!   My how Chelsee has loved being older than someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

So, now, we have resolved to get together as often as possible to keep these kids together.  They send each other birthday cards, Christmas presents and I vow to get a web cam so they can Skype with each other too.  What an amazing journey these little ones have taken us all on.  Just amazing!!  I am beyond happy to think of them having each other for the rest of their lives!!!

Their SECOND reunion - Hilton Head, SC in July 2012: