The Gift of Adoption: My New Siblings

My mom and step-dad, Stephen, have wanted to adopt for years and have been in the process for quite some time. This year, they were blessed with being granted the adoption of three beautiful children: Nathan, Natalie, and Angelina.

Previously orphaned, the kids had been shuffled in and out of foster homes, making their lives unpredictable and harming their growth. I am proud to say that they now have a steady home where people love them and I am honored to be called their sister.

At first, I was concerned about the amount of time these children were going to take from Mom and Stephen, their house normally being the quiet home of a couple whose children are all grown. I knew it was going to take a lot of energy to raise three children and that it would not be easy at any age. But in the end, I still supported their decision because it was a GOOD thing to do.

It's funny to me, though, some of the serious opposition my parents faced when making the decision to adopt. People very close to them--family even--disapproved, stating Mom and Stephen were "too old to go through that again" or that they "couldn't afford it." It's amazing to me that the idea of taking homeless children into a loving, stable environment would be considered a bad thing!

Nathan is a lover of facts. He thrives when he is reading about scientific tidbits, and he loves and is good at math. He can also run like the wind and has a wonderfully dry sense of humor.

Natalie is a diva at heart who loves to dress up in beautiful clothes and heels. It makes her day when she gets to do someone's hair. She has a sweet smile and a contagious laugh.

Angelina never meets a stranger. She is a fearless little girl who likes to sing and play on swings.

They're part of my family now. Drew and I have decided for the moment not to have any children, so I have embraced these kids with sisterly and motherly intent. I look forward to strengthening my relationship with them and being there in times of need. I can't wait to listen when the girls need to chat about boy troubles someday, and I look forward to helping Nathan ace his future college writing assignments.

I'm proud of my parents for their decision. And anyone who has a problem with that can kindly shove it!