Something pretty special happened this week. ??Tori got to meet her 9 month old birthsister, Sabrina. ??And yes, it was love at first sight… for Tori too (hee hee!). ??You had to know that *I* would be in love. ?? We have been given the unique opportunity to have a relationship with Sabrina and her family (Sabrina was a gift via adoption too) and I am so grateful. ??I love that my daughter has the blessing of knowing Sabrina and I really look forward to the sweet friendships that will be forged through the years between our families because of the bond that our daughters share. ??Isn’t God cool in how He orchestrates things?
I showed Tori a picture of Sabrina before she met her in person and the first words out of Tori’s mouth were “Hey! ??That’s me when I was a baby!” ??I laughed and corrected her and she follows with, “She DOES look like me!” ?? Tori was all smiles and kissing on her when she met Sabrina. ??We went and built a bear for Sabrina the week before so that Tori could bring her a little something. ??Tori named the bear “Flower”.
I think the timing was great too because just this week, we had the conversation I was told to expect at age 5.
Tori: ??Mommy. ??You and Daddy and the boys are white and I am brown.
Me: ??That’s true. ??It’s because you are hispanic and we are caucasion.
Tori: ??I HATE brown!
Me: ??Hmmmm…well I specifically ordered brown with God and He gave me what I asked for so I guess you’ll have to take that up with Him because I LOVE brown!!!
Not another word did she say about THAT. 🙂 ??But, she did comment that Sabrina had hair and skin like her and I thought even that tiny piece of connection was a sweet reassurance for my precious girl.
I made the choice to not sit and have a lengthy talk about ethnicity because I didn’t want to give my daughter the idea that a difference in ethnicity is worth a serious conversation. ??As far as mama is concerned, it isn’t. ??I want her to acknowledge her ethnicity and embrace it. ??Realize that she IS IN FACT Hispanic and have pride in that. ?? Maybe someday in my future I will think that I, in my own mind, over simplify some things but some things I am just simple about. ??It’s a color. ??IT’S JUST A COLOR. ??A beautiful color. ??The color that I prayed for. ?? When I look upon my daughter, I embrace everything that makes Tori who she is. ?? ??She is perfect. ?? Brown is the color of a dream come true.
And speaking of being simple about things…
As I long suspected, Tori had a very simple approach to Sabrina. ??She thought it was super cool. ??She thought Sabrina was so cute. ??She loves to tell people that she has a birthsister. ??That’s it. ?? She wasn’t confused, overwhelmed, anxious…she just enjoyed the gift of getting to see her. ?? ??As you know, this isn’t our kids first exposure to birth siblings (or birthparents either).
I just feel so blessed that we have this amazing opportunity to love Sabrina and her family. ??(Tori was quite taken with Sabrina’s 7 year old brother Jacob too and she can’t WAIT to see him again too LOL!)
I left with a heart full. ??So did my kids. ??Awesome isn’t it?
Feel free to oohhh and awww over the girls. ??I am. ??Both of them.
11 responses to “Tori and Sabrina”
Beautiful <3
Doni what a tremendous blessing God has given for the ability for Tori to connect “biologically” and to have parents who are not threatened by that. Love is spoken in the photos and behind the lense that captured them.
Just beautiful!
Oooohhhh! Aaawwwww! Beautiful, beautiful girls and they are heart-meltingly cute together!!!
Doni,
I am friends and attend the same church as Sabrina’s new Mommy, Daddy and Brother….What a thrill to get to see this blog…that the 2 sisters got to meet each other. We are currently raising our deceased daughter’s daughter and although she also had a son before she died we were not able to secure him in our home like his sister…They too have known each other and are of different ethnic back rounds but have the bound of being brother and sister and nothing is more important than that. Despite living apart they love each other and to hear from each other and look forward to the visits. So I was very inspired and touched to hear of your family’s get together for the girls. Thank you to parents like you and your husband and Sabrina’s mom and dad….for doing the one thing every child NEEDS….LOVE THEM. Thank you for being agreeable to letting the kids see each other. That bound will never be broken or forgotten.
Misty
PS…your photos are beautiful!
I’m so thankful for the way God has painted on your canvas. Beautiful. (That sabrina has beautiful eyes like her birth sister! Was her hair texture like toris? Looks like it might b. She’s darling. So glad tori had this introduction! )
I too am a mom of adopted children, biological bro and sis. We have meet older siblings as well and although they do not live with us, it is a bond that will last forever. I think giving the children the opportunity to met their biological family and answer questions as well as we can is a great gift. Thank you for sharing!! Picts are beautiful
Oh my word, how absolutely precious. Those two girls are so blessed to have one another.
I sincerely appreciate your willingness to address open adoption. It’s come up a lot recently in a few of my circles and it’s made me realize that knowing your family took the fear out of it for me. Even with every situation being different there is such beauty in children having a deep connection to their roots.
It probably won’t be long before we have our “brown” conversation too, so it’s great to see how you handled it before I get there. 🙂
So beautiful
Sabrina is my cousins daughter and even though I haven’t gotten a chance to meet her yet, I feel I had a chance to get to know her a little through your blog. Thank you!