On this date, twenty-one years ago, I met my little sister. She was nearly 5 months old and was the cutest baby I had ever seen.
Sure, her hair was kind of crazy and at first I wasn't sure if she was a boy or girl, but she was my little sister. I had a rotten redheaded older brother who I wanted to be just like, and now I had a sweet little sister who I could boss around and teach new things to.
From the time my parents told us we were going to be having a sibling, to the moment I met her, to twenty-one years later I have experienced the pride, protection and love that a big sister feels.
Not only is Chelsea's "Gotcha Day" important because it was the day our family became complete, but also because years later it has significantly influenced Nate and my decision to begin our family through adoption. Knowing our biological differences has made not one negative impact on our sisterly bond gives me complete confidence that families can be formed in many different ways.
I know that the adoption journey (beyond just the process of adoption) can sometimes be a difficult one, with pains and challenges. But the end hope is to bring a family together, each who needed one another. Our family absolutely needed Chel, and I can't imagine it without her.
