For the second year, families who have welcomed a child HOME from the Bamboo Project have joined together for a Bamboo Cousins Reunion. Honestly, the first one in Chicago last July could have been a real bust. A what-have-we-gotten-ourselves-into-with-these-weirdos-we-met-on-the-Internet bust. But is wasn't! It was AMAZING. Like meeting up with your favorite friends at summer camp!
We get together because the faces of our children below were once on an adoption flyer. Each child was created perfectly a half world away with an extra chromosome of love and then forsaken because of it. There was no hope for these sweet children. Oh, but now...NOW, they are LOVED and wanted and healthy and growing into a group of seriously goofy preschoolers. Just look at them! They are sons & daughters. They are brothers & sisters and cousins and nieces & nephews and grandchildren and friends. For a time in their lives they were deemed family-less, orphans. BUT NO MORE! They are the children of the Most High God. They are Bamboo Cousins. <3
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| Photo credit HaLee Curtis Photography |
For three days, seven Bamboo families joined together outside of Williamsburg, Virginia. We ate, we swam, we played, we fellowship-ed, we marveled at God's miraculous hand in each of our lives.
Above all, throughout our weekend together, we thanked our Heavenly Father for giving us to each other. "Find Your Tribe and Love Them Hard" was our theme this year. It's the one of the most New Testament things you can do: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up" 1 Thes 5:11
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| Photo credit HaLee Curtis Photography |
There are two things that stood out to me the most this year. One is in pictures. Of course, to most of the people who are reading this you would never know why these photos are so beautiful. But to the Bamboo parents they will instantly pick out that none of parents below are with their actual Bamboo children...or rather, non of the Bamboo children are actually with their parents. I understand that is a strange sentence, specially for a group of people who focus so intently on attachment, but these snapshots in time show the beauty of The Tribe. A community of families raising their children together, even while scattered across the nation. Bamboo Aunties and Uncles speaking into the little lives that surround them with equal passion and dedication. And little ones finding safety in a community of adults that are committed to pointing their hearts towards Jesus.
The other magical event of the weekend, I don't think we'll ever truly be able to photo-document the magnitude of...the hearts of the Bamboo Siblings. These fine young men & women...boys & girls...make my heart very proud. Their graciousness with their chromosomally enhanced siblings, and their little Bamboo friends is truly beautiful. Adoption is indeed a family event, but sometimes biological siblings are asked to make a biggest emotional sacrifice. These beautiful siblings have so graciously responded to the Holy Spirit's calling to be: loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, long suffering, faithful, gentle and full of self control. It was a pleasure to see them offer themselves over the weekend but also just be kids. They bonded with each other as siblings and friends. Played hours of hackysack and chase and swimming and even participated in a ropes course together in 100 degree heat. As parents we continue to pray blessing over each of their lives and stand firm that the Lord is working DEEPLY in their hearts in ways that will forever change the world. <3
It was an amazing weekend, full of love and encouragement and full awareness of God's presence in our lives. I am so very thankful for these families that are walking this journey together. They each said YES to a calling that seemed overwhelming and God provided a support network thousands of miles wide and 50 states deep. The Lord promised to provide for ALL our needs <3
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| Photo credit HaLee Curtis Photography |
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| Photo credit HaLee Curtis Photography |
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| Photo credit HaLee Curtis Photography |
Bamboo Cousins Reunion 2017, we are already looking forward to you and all the new families that you bring to us!!
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