LINKS to sites, adoption stories, shopping and other things of interest...
(It's been brought to my attention that sometimes the links do not work, if you have any difficulty, try pasting the link into your browser)

INDIVIDUAL BLOGS:
http://adoptingdelaney2006.blogspot.com/
http://adoptionjourney.blogspot.com/
http://www.adoptionvoyages.com/Maryjoyce.htm
http://aimeeourbaby.blogspot.com/
http://akindofmagick1.blogspot.com
http://alexandra2006.blogspot.com/
www.alysadoption.com
http://americanfamily.typepad.com
http://anaseidenkranz.blogspot.com/
http://www.andjemmamakesthree.blogspot.com/
http://aninvisiblethread.blogspot.com/
www.angelfire.com/ks3/williammaksim
http://anotherdaykr.blogspot.com/
http://arieljadeyn.blogspot.com/
www.asisterformadison.com
http://www.augdahls.citymaker.com/
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/k/kylieying/
http://www.babyainsworth.blogspot.com/
http://babybennett.blogspot.com
http://www.babygirlbainbridge.blogspot.com/
http://www.babyheaton.blogspot.com/
www.babyhomepages.net/lizzielink
http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home;jsessionid=
894A13751951E43366A80F59FBE33796?ID=33222
http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home?ID=40694
http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home?ID=42405
https://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home?ID=46046
http://babykailee.blogspot.com/
http://www.babyshanahan.blogspot.com/ --this one has tons of great blog links
http://www.babysites.com/sites/cmackoul/
http://www.babysites.com/sites/jadynlundberg/
http://www.baird.redthreadkids.org/
http://www.baldiny.net
http://www.baldwinbulletin.net/
http://bellaangel.blogspot.com/
http://blog.grrltravels.com/blog/
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/ashleyfowlkes
http://www.blsthomas.blogspot.com/
www.boutonbrood.blogspot.com
http://www.bringhomebabyk.chinastork.com/
http://bringingbackbaby.blogspot.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/adoptkids
www.caringbridge.org/visit/arikailonikuznia
www.caringbridge.org/mi/korriesue
http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=chinesedaughtersmith
http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=davidandshellywaalawaala
www.caringbridge.org/visit/emmali
http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=emilygracebrown
www.caringbridge.org/mn/gerdeschina
http://www.caringbridge.com/in/toads/
http://www2.caringbridge.org/co/toddandkerrysplace/
http://www2.caringbridge.org/canada/waiting4oursister/
http://www3.caringbridge.org/tn/hiehle/
http://www3.caringbridge.org/sc/lilygraceandlaney/index.htm
http://www.carolannlawrence.com/
http://www.celebrateadoption.com/journeytojoleigh
http://chasinglittlekacey.blogspot.com/
http://cheeseinchina.blogspot.com/
http://www.cherryblossombaby.blogspot.com/
http://chinadollohiobound.dndpc.com/wordpress/
http://chinamom.typepad.com/place_just_right/
http://cluelessincarolina.blogspot.com/
http://www.coburnchinababy.com/
http://coparkers.smugmug.com/share/nbUP52ygWPMBA
www.corbettadoption.blogspot.com
www.crowellgang.blogspot.com
http://www.davidkawada.com
http://davisdays1.blogspot.com/
http://www.derekbonesteel.com/
http://dori-love.blogspot.com/
http://downtothis.blogspot.com/
http://dreamwriteroct0601.blogspot.com/
http://www.eliza2006.blogspot.com/
http://www.emilysadoption.blogspot.com/
http://emmabug.typepad.com/emmabug/
http://www.emmaweiland.com/
http://www.emthree.blogspot.com/
http://www.encinosafamily.com/
http://findingmiaya.blogspot.com
http://www.fitzgeraldadoption.com/wst_page8.html
http://www.fitzgeraldfamily.zoomshare.com/
http://www.fleming-familyadventure.blogspot.com/
http://www.formedbylove.com/
http://fortheloveoflibby.blogspot.com/
http://4kunstmans2china.blogspot.com/
www.freewebs.com/gileros
http://www.fromchinawithlove.blogspot.com/
www.frostography.blogspot.com
http://gawdessness.blogspot.com/
www.geocities.com/baci326
http://www.geocities.com/hotsprings/1987/
http://www.geocities.com/latterenee/chinadolls
http://www.geocities.com/rfordtuff@sbcglobal.net/
http://www.geocities.com/tracyandbrody/
http://giftfromabove.blogspot.com/
http://giorgiadanette.blogspot.com/
www.graceelisabeth.blogspot.com
http://www.graciemei.blogspot.com/
http://www.gretajourney.blogspot.com/
http://www.gwendolynclaire.blogspot.com/
http://hawleyfamilyfive.blogspot.com/
http://www.hendersonhomeonline.com/
http://hisgirlre.blog.com/
http://home.alltel.net/jlpsu
http://home.comcast.net/~lighthousesandbeer/Jingshengtrip.html
http://home.comcast.net/~margiehumphrey/
http://home.comcast.net/~mcbennett21/mainpage.htm
http://home.comcast.net/~shaw557/
http://home.comcast.net/~wendypooh68/webpage/
http://home.earthlink.net/~jewelwing/
http://homepage.mac.com/wheeliejosh/PhotoAlbum13.html
www.hometown.aol.com/mdbundy1/adoptionhomepage.html
http://husshappenings.blogspot.com/
http://incarcerateduterus.typepad.com/chicagomama/
http://jenex.typepad.com/journal/
http://www.jodiandtomshaw.com/
http://journals.aol.com/adoptliddy/blog/
http://journeyforsarahgrace.blogspot.com/
http://journeytoabigail.blogspot.com/
http://journeytoannalisa.blogspot.com/
http://journeytoayden.blogspot.com/
http://journeytocamille2006.blogspot.com/
http://journeytoclarabeth.blogspot.com/
http://journeytogracie.blogspot.com/
http://www.journeytokatie.blogspot.com/
http://journeytokaty.blogspot.com/
http://journeytokavanna.blogspot.com/
http://www.journeytolacie.blogspot.com/
http://journeytoleila.blogspot.com/
http://journeytomallory.blogspot.com/
http://journeytomary.blogspot.com/
http://www.journeytomygirl.blogspot.com/
http://journeytosydney.blogspot.com/
http://journeytotheotherside.blogspot.com/
http://www.juliewill.blogspot.com/
www.justforjillian.blogspot.com
http://karenw.typepad.com/thelonglongjourney/
http://kevnkrisadopt.blogspot.com/
http://kianasjourneyhome.blogspot.com/
http://kirchhoff-family.com/pblog/index.php.
http://kirchhoff-family.com/
http://www.kkfast.blogspot.com/
http://www.knollinc.com/
http://kobsfamilyadoption.homestead.com/
http://komplexify.com/
http://ladybugangel.blogspot.com/
http://ladybugdiary.blogspot.com/
http://www.ladybugdreams.blogspot.com/
http://ladybugfly.blogspot.com/
http://www.laxtonkids.com/
http://lillysadoption.blogspot.com/
www.lindseysmeimei.blogspot.com
http://www.linktolia.blogspot.com/
http://www.littlelambsnursery.com/family/itsagirl.htm
http://www.littlemissemilymei.typepad.com/
http://www.littlenet.org/emmashea/chinadreaming/
http://www.lovinglydia.blogspot.com/
http://www.macyday.blogspot.com/
http://www.magermadness.blogspot.com/
http://maggiemakesfour.blogspot.com/
http://www.maggiemalady.blogspot.com/
http://www.maggiemariemai.com/
http://www.mamaheart.blogspot.com/
http://mamameliss.blogspot.com/
http://members.cox.net/esteelili/photos.html
http://www.michaelkathy.citymaker.com/page/page/2534682.htm
http://michele.typepad.com/shelba/
http://miller.redthreadkids.org/
http://www.mingmeispalace.com/
http://missionmali.blogspot.com/
http://mortimersmom.blogs.com/mortimersmom/
http://mrsfigby.typepad.com/lettersfromthezoo/
http://murphyadoption.blogspot.com/
http://myadoptionwebsite.com/fiveplusone
http://www.myadoptionwebsite.com/Genevieve/index.html
www.myadoptionwebsite.com/isabelle
www.myadoptionwebsite.com/kiah
http://www.mybabyava.blogspot.com/
http://www.mychinaadoption.blogspot.com/
http://www.mychinesedaughter.com/
http://mychinesedream.blogspot.com/
http://mypeoplepc.com/members/cml123/bringoliviagracehome/
http://natalieschina.blogspot.com/
http://onceuponacadence.blogspot.com/
http://onemoretracy.blogspot.com/
http://www.ourchinaadoption.com/home_firstbrook.html
http://www.ouradoptionblog.com/
http://ouradventureinasia.blogspot.com/
http://www.ourblessing.chinastork.com/
http://www.ourbreanna.blogspot.com/
ourdaughtermia.blogspot.com
www.ourchinaadoptionstory.com
http://ourfulingprincess.blogspot.com/
http://www.ourjourneytokatelyn.com/
www.Ourjourneytomarlee.blogspot.com
http://ourredthread.blogspot.com/
http://ourredthreaddream.blogspot.com/
http://www.penazone.com/
http://personalpages.tds.net/~aoelkers/
www.petkie.com
http://www.pietrasiks.com/KenandErin/Adoption/adoptionmain.htm
http://www.pomafamily.com/
http://princessbrinley.blogspot.com/
www.princesstrainer.blogspot.com
http://rilynrosepetinga.blogspot.com/
http://rouse.chinastork.com/
http://rubyinherowntime.blogspot.com/
http://www.sadiemei.com/
http://samantharuckert.chinastork.com/home/default.asp
http://sandiegosiegel.blogspot.com
http://www.sarahannmorgan.com/
http://www.sarbyh.blogspot.com/
http://spaces.msn.com/members/mkbookworks/
http://spaces.msn.com/members/sowersjourney/
http://sparkybear.typepad.com/blog/
http://suebachman.tripod.com/
http://tableforsix.blogspot.com/
http://talesfromthestirrups.blogspot.com/
http://tate-r-bug.blogspot.com/
http://www.teagueadoption.blogspot.com/
www.thebaconsonline.com
http://www.thebestnest.com/
http://thelaukats.blogspot.com/
http://thenakedovary.typepad.com/the_naked_ovary/
http://thepelletiers.blogspot.com/
http://www.thepotterfamily.org/
http://www.thestoryofyou.net/Annalei.html
www.TheThreeMiracles.blogspot.com
http://thewrightjourney.blogspot.com/
http://tjbuechele.home.insightbb.com/
http://triptoemily.blogspot.com/
http://twoladybugs.blogspot.com/
http://uterinewars.typepad.com/uterine_wars/
http://www.wilsonupdate.com/
http://thewrightjourney.blogspot.com/
http://www.thewynn.net/adopt/mikayla.html
http://www.turnipsandcarrots.blogspot.com/
http://usplus1.blogspot.com
http://waitingforcarly.blogspot.com/
http://www.waitingforcatherineanne.blogspot.com/
http://waitingforlaurenelizabeth.blogspot.com/
http://waitingforourchinadoll.blogspot.com/
http://www.waitingforsophie.blogspot.com/
http://webpages.charter.net/rllane/Jada.htm
http://webpages.charter.net/isingbass/
http://welcomehomelily.blogspot.com/
http://whiddenphillipsadoption.blogspot.com/
http://www.woodruffs.com/index.html
http://www.xanga.com/kunstman
http://www.yoichoichoi.blogspot.com/
http://young98223.tripod.com/youngadventures/

CHINA RESEARCH BLOG:
http://research-china.blogspot.com/ --fascinating blog written by Brian Stuy who interviewed two birthmothers who abandoned their daughters --he is also able to obtain copies of abandoned children's finding ads

My hometown: A page for children adopted in China to learn about their home towns and home provinces http://www.magmacom.com/~mtooker/cities/index.htm

YAHOO GROUPS:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RaisingChinaChildren/links

Link to find any group:
http://www.chinaconnectiononline.com/DTCsites.htm


BLOG HOSTS:
http://www.foreverfamilystories.com/
http://www.tussah.com/lara/chinasto.htm
http://www.thestoryofyou.com/
http://www.chineseadoptionstories.homestead.com/
http://www.adoptionvoyages.com
http://www.celebrateadoption.com/
http://bluelotussoft.com/chinajourneys/


MANDARIN:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/chinese/real_chinese/index.shtml
http://www.csulb.edu/~txie/online.htm
http://chineseculture.about.com/library/symbol/blcc.htm
http://www.wku.edu/~yuanh/AudioChinese/parent.html
http://zhongwen.com/

Chinese schools:
http://www.childbook.com/community/schools/schools.html

Chinese symbols:
http://www.chinese-symbols.com/

China Adoption News: http://caswell.blogspot.com/china/index.html

CCAA:
http://www.china-ccaa.org/lyb/content_en.jsp?

AGENCY SITES:
Vietnam: www.adoptcasi.org
China:
Harrah's: www.hfsadopt.com
www.cwa.org
www.littlemiracles.org

BABY NAME SITES:
http://www.abc-baby-names.com/
http://www.alternativebabynames.com/
http://www.babycenter.com/babyname/
http://www.babychatter.com/
http://new.babynameindex.com/girls/
http://www.babynamenetwork.com/
http://www.babynameworld.com/
http://www.babynames.com/
http://baby-names-etc.com/
http://www.baby-names-meanings.com/
http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html popularity
http://www.babyzone.com/babynames/
http://www.behindthename.com/ --possibly the best
http://www.brandnewdad.com/babynames
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/PerfectName12.htm --chinese numerology naming guide
http://dmoz.org/Home/Family/Pregnancy/Baby_Names/ --tons of links
www.growingfamily.com hospital births site
http://hometown.aol.com/elfnames/
http://i.webring.com/hub?ring=onomastics
http://meilleursprenoms.com/stats/top_english.htm?/baby/ –french names
http://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/babynames.asp
http://www.namenerds.com/ --WOW!!
http://www.talkingbabies.com/
http://www.20000-names.com/
http://uotila.tripod.com/uotila/forename.html --long list of just names, no meanings
http://zoope.com/about/about_names.html


AGENCIES WITH WAITING CHILDREN:
Harrah's: www.hfsadopt.com
Journeys from the Heart
Living Hope: http://www.livinghopeadoption.org/index.asp
Hope for Children: http://www.hopeforchildren.org/
Adoption House: http://www.adoptionhouse.org/china_sn.html

MISC:
http://www.research-china.org/
book called Snow Flower and the SecretFan
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RaisingChinaChildren/links
http://research-china.blogspot.com/

PAGES OF LINKS RE CHINA & ADOPTION:
http://www.asststork.com/pages/china.html
http://www.markandbeth.com/amy/adoption_links.htm
http://www.redthread2004.com/rt/links.asp
http://s.webring.com/hub?ring=china_adopt

Articles about effect of Beijing Olympics:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1628199,00.html
http://cgmg.jour.city.ac.uk/news.php?story=129
http://www.asianews.it/dos.phpl=en&dos=12&art=442
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/15780.shtml


SHOPPING:
Jewelry and scrapbooking http://www.foreverfamilycreations.com/

http://www.goodorient.com/
http://asiandolls.info
http://www.chinasprout.com/shop

Adoption announcements: http://www.mandysmoon.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi
Traditional chinese dresses: www.elitedresses.com
Cross stitch patterns:
Cross stitch pattern "red thread"
http://www.birdcrossstitch.com/adoption/PaperChase.html
http://www.adoptshoppe.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=289
http://www.cross-stitch-art.com/crossstitch1/asian33.htm
Adoption scrapbook stuff:
http://www.scrapandtell.com/
Baby bedding: http://www.efinishingtouches.com/index.html

Just for fun ladybug game: http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/g3/bugs.htm

SONGS:

All I Really Want For Christmas
By Steven Curtis Chapman, (ChangDe dad)
http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/chapman_steven_curtis/artist.jhtml
Well, I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the Home
I was the red-haired boy in an old, green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone
I didn't come and to talk to you `cause that's never worked before
And you'll probably never see this letter anyway
But just incase there's something you can do to help me out
I'll ask you one more time

Chorus:

All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for,but there's just one thing
I needAll I really want for Christmas – is a family…
Well, I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it's really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I'm really trying hard not to be bad
But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I've heard it sounds like the greatest
Gift on earth --- Would be a mom.

Chorus

All I really want for Christmas is someone who'll be there
To sing me Happy Birthday for the next 100 years
And it's ok if they're not perfect or even if they're
A little brokenThat's alright, cuz so am I
Well, I guess I should go, it's almost time for bed
And maybe next time I write you I'll be at home

Chorus

"I Will" by The Beatles
Who knows how long I've loved you
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime
If you want me to--I will.
For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same.
Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart.
And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do endear you to me
You know I will
I will.

"Steal Away Child" by Elton John
Steal away child into your dreams
Where nothing is ever the way that it seems
I gave you your life, you gave me your trust
I've no wish to hurt you but hurt you I must
Steal away child, turn down your light
Steal away into the night
Steal away child to the land of the lies
Where love lasts forever and hope never dies
Sit safe for a place peaceful and calm
Where no one and nothing can harm you
Steal away child, you'll be alright
Steal away into the night
Once more goodnight, one last goodbye
Trying hard not to show how I'm making
what it's taking not to cry
Steal away child, sleeping so still
Our love is too precious for distance to kill
But when you awake, morning has come
I won't be the one you turn to
I'll do what I must before it gets light
I'll steal away into the night


To his daughter by an adopting dad...
There was a spark of pure love
Among an ocean of stars
Some saw it faintly
but most not at all
A tiny child waiting
So lonely, so small
At the far western end
Of the greatest of walls
That great barrier built
To keep strangers away
Will lead us right to you
Will show us the way
Our love burns so brightly
Born from that spark
This perpetual flame grows
Now the brightest of stars
Look up tonight, dear
See the stars in the sky
We'll do the same
And we'll share that tonight
And wrap your arms around Auntie
and hold her so tight
For she'll keep you warm
Until we can arrive
She'll bundle you up, dear
with her hopes and her dreams
Yes, an American princess
With a spirit, Chinese
She'll pack all your memories
and wrap you with tears
She'll hand you to strangers
and deny all her fears
Then she'll look to the sky
For the brightest of lights
And she'll see your beauty
just as we will tonight
One land so poor, dear
One land so rich
It depends where you're standing
As to which one is which
We once were poor too, dear
We'll soon all be rich
For the love that we'll share, Sarah
Will change that wall to a bridge
~John McReynolds

POEMS:

Were You Born Today?
Were you born today across the ocean deep and blue?
Did someone wrap you warmly? Did they stop and gaze at you?

Did they look upon your almond eyes and touch your silken hair?
Did they stop to kiss each tiny toe, hear your breath upon the air?

Did you hear a soft voice comforting, securely in her arms?
The warmth of two souls bonding, Oh, the lure of newborn charms.

Were they charmed by every movement; every yawn and stretch and pout?
Did they celebrate with handshakes and good spirits all about?

(Or were the tears mistaken, as they fell upon your face?
Their eyes were wells of sorrow? Their heads hung in disgrace?

Did they tremble when they realized the thing that would be done?
Did they mourn the new day coming, with the rising of the sun?)

Did they place you, oh so tenderly, in the place where you were found?
Were those blankets wrapped up tightly to deny the cold, hard ground?

Did she whisper words of comfort with a love that was so deep?
Did she recognize the features of this one she could not keep?

Did you feel the night wind blowing as it carried in the morn?
Did you hear your mother weeping on the day that you were born?

And here across the ocean a mother weeps for you.
How long before she travels `cross that ocean, deep and blue?

How long before she gazes at those little dimpled hands?
How long before she travels to that promised, distant land?

Her heart is filled with gladness. Her dreams are coming true.
The secret thrill of motherhood, across that ocean deep and blue.

And she'll gaze upon your almond eyes and touch your silken hair.
She'll stop and kiss each tiny toe, feel your breath upon the air.

And you'll hear a soft voice comforting; the worlds so insecure.
Two fragile souls are bonding as they hold each other near.

She'll be charmed by every movement; every yawn and stretch and pout.
And she'll celebrate with handshakes and good spirits all about.

And you'll hear the night wind blowing as she rocks you off to sleep.
And she'll whisper words of comfort, with a love that is so deep.

.....And far across the ocean a mother weeps.....

-Mary E. McRae7-13-04

Letter to adopted child...

This was posted by a parent on APC I believe and I thought it was excellent. I think it is wonderful the way it is written to the 2nd grader level in a way that would be likely to make a child feel empowered. It has been redacted for personal info:

Dear Child:
Today you will meet your 2nd grade teacher, Ms. ______. When school starts on Monday you will meet new friends in your class.Wow, 2nd grade already! Your Mom and I are very proud of you. As you grow into a bigger girl, we need to talk about big girl things. Someday you will hear some things that could hurt your feelings if you are notprepared. So let's talk about it and prepare you.You know how in your adoption story we taught you things are sometimes hard in China, and that we don't know your birth-mom or birth-dad or why they couldn't keep you, but we think maybe they loved you but had to let you go? Remember how wonderful adoption is because it builds a forever family? And remember how Mom and I are your REAL parents and our family is forever? Well, some kids don't understand that. They haven't learned as much as youknow about adoption, and they don't know anything about China. In fact, you know more about it now at 7 years old than most adults. So kids that don't understand might say things like "Those aren't your real parents!" But you know that we are. Kids might say "Your real mom and dad didn't want you!" But you know they just don't know what they are talking about. Kids might say "Being adopted isn't as good as me." But you know that adoption is just the way a family is formed, and you are our daughter forever. NOBODY is better than you. Why do kids say mean things like that? Well, just like you, when they are learning new things, they seem to have little boxes in their head that tell them how things are supposed to be. When they see something that doesn't fit what they have learned, they say so, even if it sounds mean. So you see,kids might say dumb things about adoption because they haven't been taught what it really means. Some adults have never learned either. In fact, you will hear the word "adoption" used in different ways. Did you know many words have several different meanings? You know you are a kid. But did you know "kid" also means a baby goat? Did you know "kid" means to joke around with someone? Do children, baby goats and joking around have anything at all to do with one another? No, of course not. That is just the way the word "kid" is used. It's the same with the word "adopt." A city might "adopt" a new law. A group of thoughtful citizens might "adopt" a stretch of highway to clean up the litter. At Christmas your class might "adopt" a needy family and collect gifts for them. Someone you know might "adopt" a cat or dog or other pet. And since most kids haven't learned about adoption yet, they might tease you about being adopted like a highway. But does adopting a highway to clean up mean the same thing as a family being formed by adoption? No, of course not. Those are just different ways the word is used in the world, and it means something totally different. Kids just haven't learned what the word means in different uses, and some adults never learn either. So when you hear teasing like that, you know that you have learned things others just don't know, and their teasing comes from not knowing. If someone is mean to you because they don't know what adoption means, it isimportant for you to remember not to feel bad for yourself, feel bad for THEM because they don't know about adoption. We don't call people names,that isn't nice, but you can tell them:"You don't know what you are talking about." Or " You should learn aboutadoption and what it really means."Or if they insist on being mean you could tell them: "That's private to my family, it's none of your business." And if someone is mean to you about adoption over and over, talk to your teacher and ask if she can explain to them about adoption and what it really means, because they need to learn about such important things.You already know you should be proud to be from China. You have two countries, two cultures, two histories. It will take kids some time to understand that part that makes you so special. But never-ever let kids who don't know about adoption or China make you feel bad about yourself even though they try. You just know more than they do. Maybe they will learn some day and understand that you are just as much our daughter as if you grew in Mom's tummy, and adoption is just they way our family was formed. And it's our beeswax, anyway, isn't it?