Julia is adopted.....we hear it a lot.... that is how rumors get spread people! just kidding, but really she is not adopted, nor will she ever be. ( it is a little like calling a Chinese person Japanese.)
We are what is known as a kinship family. Julia was family before, she is family now. A kinship family is a family connected by blood in someway. Julia is part of our family, she always will be. We met Julia the day she was born, August 16,2006 she was our niece. One October 28,2009 we became her guardians by the state on New Hampshire. On April 19, 2011 the state of Massachusetts awarded us as Julia's guardians. Legally, we are Julia's guardians.
On February 19,2011 we became "mom and dad" to Julia. Does that mean we adopted her? nope. She has a biological mother and father, she always will, she will always have the last name Billcliff. It makes her who she is, she is Julia Kathleen Billcliff. She will never be Julia Roberts (She is way cooler than her anyway).
13% of the county we live in is part of a kinship family. 78% of those families are grandparents raising grandchildren. Life doesn't come with a manual, it doesn't come in a pretty little package. It comes from experience and the willingness to learn about those around you. The folks at 3 Fales Ave are a kinship, and we are proud of that two different last names is ok... it just means more family and support :)
