Monday 25 February 2013

And into 2013...

It is hard to believe we are heading into our seventh year since we learned the ugly truth behind Akil and Sabi's adoption, and then searched for and found Sunama. However, when we look at the seven children and how much they've all grown, the passing years are easy to see. Especially in little Zeenath, who is now six but was just a bump in her mother's belly when we found Sunama.

Late last year, a lovely woman phoned me after reading "Love Our Way", as she was heading over to India in the near future. It turned out that she lives in the same suburb as me and generously agreed to carry a parcel for our Indian family while she and her husband travelled. They ended up in Chennai and spent some time visiting our family, and we were delighted to receive updated photos.

All of the children continue to do well in school and take their studies seriously. Anwar is now wearing glasses and looks great in them!  Fareeda also does Bharatanatyam classical Indian dancing and Karate classes.

And on the home front: Akil has graduated from Year 12 and now works as the bar manager at one of the Hogs Breath restaurants in Canberra.  Sabi has started her final year of high school and is working at K-Mart. Both own their own cars (our driveway looks like a car yard!) and are busy enjoying life as young adults. Our older sons and daughters are all busy with their various interests, with the big news being that Briony is having her wedding in the USA in early June and Alix became engaged at her New Year's Eve party.  Life is busy but great fun.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just finished reading your book. What a beautiful family you have. It is so great to see your Indian family receiving an education, having better living conditions and working towards a secure future! So many positives out of this story!!

Chocolate Cookies & Candies said...

I found your incredibly moving and inspiring story from YouTube.It is rare to read stories of individuals like yourself who have such a big heart for people. Thank you for sharing.

Peter and Nancy said...

Someone linked me to your YouTube video, and I will be sharing your story with the other families I'm connected with who are also India adoptive families. I just love the way you've all worked to make something beautiful from such a painful situation.
Nancy

Win said...

What a fantastic and moving story. I hope all your family are doing well and making the most of your blessings:-)

aynzan said...

Your story on you tube brought me to this page.What a wonderful soul you are!God bless you!

Kishore Babu Yarlapti said...

inspirational life ......i Love Jesus...

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Anonymous said...

I have just finished your book after borrowing it from the library. Wow, such a powerful book.

You have an amazing family. You and Barry are inspirational.

Anonymous said...

Hi Julia
I have just finished reading your book in a record 48 hrs. It was such an emotional roller coaster that I connected with on so many levels, and therefore just couldn't put down. I'm a busy mum of 2yr old twins who barely has time to brush her hair, but I still just had to keep reading your brilliant book and experience this amazing life journey with you. Your book was my personal pick for a new book club I have joined and I'm so glad that out of the hundreds of titles to choose from on the shelves I chose this book for my book club to read. It did not disappoint and I know the others will fall in love with your book just as I have.
I too have a deep connection with India as our 2yr old twins were born in New Delhi in Dec 2012 to an amazing woman who is our children's surrogate mother.
My children have come from an Indian egg donor an have their fathers Asian background and therefore look nothing like me ( a pale half Dutch, half Irish background). Your book has answered many questions for me and made me laugh and cry with some of the truths that come with raising a multirace family.
Thank you so much for writing this book and sharing your and your children's stories. You are an amazing woman!

Anonymous said...

Gosh Julia,
Where do I begin? I just viewed the documentary about child abduction and ethical adoption that you were featured in. I was blown away with you and your family members! I could not help but think that you are a highly integrated woman. You exemplified so much strength, emotional security, compassion, objectivity, love, and maturity in such a dark circumstance. I just had to find you and praise the woman you are and praise how you have treated others. Their other mother could have felt such much jealousy and resentment for your time with the children but the warmth she was able to receive you with showed a huge amount of empathy, fairness, and invitational respect had been offered to her from you all. I'm sure it was very difficult but WHOA. That was the best way anyone could have managed that. The gift you gave your children was so much bigger than then idiocy of keeping secrets, hiding learning, and healing experiences, in which they were ultimately able to cultivate more love. GORGEOUS! And then to listen to your children, how the related to the concept, how they embraced it with seemingly minimal fear and anger, but instead an open heart, curiosity, and inclusivity. I'm just... wow. You let them be themselves. I loved seeing their individual creativity, their wisdom, security, their piercings, their flare of expression, their posture of openness and kindness. They have been loved right. And to think you are out there, raising children for our future, adopting so many, loving them to independence and loving wholeness .... I'm not religious, but Thank God for you!
Melanie Murrah
Atlanta Ga
Energy743@hotmail.com