Happy Wedding Day Stella!!!!

Pictures of the lovely couple!!

Stella and Benji

Our dear friend Stella is getting married today in Hong Kong! We really wanted to be there for the wedding, but with airline tickets so high right now, we just couldn't swing it.

Stella was Benji's social worker in Hong Kong and made the adoption process so much easier and more meaningful than it could have been. She sent us updates frequently about Benji's health and development. She sent us gobs of pictures which made us fall in love with him even before we met. She answered our many questions throughout the wait. She was our connection to our son.

When we arrived in Hong Kong at the airport, she was there holding a "Mother's Choice" sign and that's when the relief set in and the adoption felt real. I tried to hold it in, but seeing her warm smile as she spotted us was all it took for me to have tears streaming down my cheeks. She greeted us with a hug and all I could get out was "How's Benjamin?". She said he was well and we would get to meet him tomorrow.

We managed to get some sleep that night and Stella was there the next morning to take us to our son!! Mother's Choice does an excellent job of preparing the children to meet their parents. They began calling him Benjamin a couple months before we came. They asked us to send photo albums and a home video so he could see and hear us ahead of time. We arrived at the orphanage and Stella took us into a small room. She said Benjamin was with his favorite caregiver, Rachel looking at our family album. Stella facilitated that first meeting beautifully! Of course we wanted to scoop him up and hug and kiss him but he was 18 months old and very attached to his caregivers there. Stella eased us into it, asking me to sit next to him and offer him a toy. He warmed up very quickly and was not frightened of us, thanks to Stella's planning.

When we first met (notice the strategically placed tissues; I got a lot of use out of those!)

After a day of being together, we went back to the flat and prepared to have Benji come with us the next day. Stella once again arrived to take us back to Mother's Choice and did an amazing job of facilitating Benjamin's good-byes. She took him around to say good-bye to all of the rooms he spent time in. She then invited us to take Benjamin to say good-bye to his friends and caregivers. We sat in a big circle and sang a couple fun songs and then a good-bye song. It was very bittersweet and emotional. Staff were bringing me tissues frequently that day!

Benji singing good-bye song to his friends and blowing kisses

Stella then took us to meet another social worker (which she had prepared us for the previous day). This social worker gave us some gifts from Benji's birth mother and told us and Benjamin how much she loved him. Yes, more tears.

Finally, Benjamin said good-bye to his favorite caregiver, Rachel who was really like a mother to him. Once again, my heart was broken. Thankfully, Stella was there with us throughout all of this to help pick up the pieces and support our family.

Then, the fun began! Stella took us all over Hong Kong for sightseeing and shopping. She was a fabulous tour guide! The next day, we were back at the airport. Stella gave us gifts for Benji and Emily (so thoughtful). She hugged Benji and us and yes, one more cry from me, and we were off.

Stella, we could not imagine a more perfect adoption experience and we owe most of that to you! Happy wedding day my friend!! We wish you a marriage full of beauty and joy!