The VIEW-Birth Siblings and visits..

MY VIEW that is :)

As an adopted child, I was SO BLESSED at the age of 25 to learn that I had 4 birth siblings. I was the oldest-the one given up for adoption.. God's plan for me.  My bio mother then went on to marry my father and my sister was born just over a year after me followed by my brother a year after her.  They divorced and she remarried her current husband and they had 2 more girls together.

So lets get this straight..I have 2 FULL bio siblings and 2 1/2 sisters.  I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH and over the last 16 years, we have grown extremely close.

I had NO sisters growing up. I had 2 great older brothers (both adopted also at separate times.)

This whole "NEW FAMILY" has posed a whole new set of circumstances. More people to love really... :) It took me a while to adjust but I don't know what I would ever do without my sisters now. We are so close.

This summer, my sister got married and FOR THE FIRST TIME, 2 of my sisters and I got to be ALONE, to TALK, HANG OUT and BOND in as we met in Chicago for her bridal shower. It was such AN AWESOME WEEKEND!

Me, My 3 GORGEOUS sisters and my Birth Mom. 

My brother and I...

There are times however, that I feel "CHEATED". CHEATED OUT OF KNOWING MY BROTHER AND SISTER.. MISSING OUT on all the time we lost together growing up separately.

But I must go back to this verse...You know the one..

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

AND THIS VERSE...

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

I KNOW this is God's plan for my life and there is nothing I can do to change it. I WOULD NOT TRADE my upbringing for ANYTHING but at the same time I have cried many tears at the loss of SO MUCH time with my brother and sisters. It's a very strange place to be but there is no sense or use dwelling on it for I trust that GOD knows what is best for me and my entire family..

It is MY UPBRINGING and NOT knowing my birth siblings growing up that makes me want to keep my kiddos in contact with theirs IF at all possible. I know many of you do not have this opportunity of openness with your internationally adopted kiddos or even kids born here. I understand it may not be safe to be in contact with some birth families. For us it works out great. This is God's plan for our family, not everyones. We see birth siblings and families whenever possible.

We had 2 very special visitors over the last couple of weeks.

I just KNEW we had to get MyMy & Bits sister here after THIS POST.

She visited for the day one day...

These 2 were "physically touching" the entire time.

The Love and connection is magical!

Then she came to stay over night!

THAT WAS AWESOME!

They fell asleep INTERTWINED..

PRECIOUS..Sisters

AND THIS WEEK..Bean, T and WyWy's sister came for a visit!

She is DEFINITELY T's "MINI ME!"

A great time was had by ALL!

We are very blessed to have all of this "extended family!"

And we believe that EVEN THOUGH the 6 kiddos above have 2 moms in prison, its OUR JOB to keep them seeing one another. It's not any of their fault. They were born and are all precious in HIS SIGHT!

Have YOU been thinking about birth family visits?

They are TRULY a beautiful thing! 

Birth Sisters..Is there pain..Heartache?

As we are all getting ready to head to Awana this evening..

My sweet, smart, precious MyMy came to me... She said "Mom, can I wear my hair like this????" 

I said.."Its a little messy, go get me a brush and I will redo it for you."

She then came to me after about 10 minutes with this picture....

A picture of her birth sister, at 6 years old-the exact same age she is now. 

"THIS IS WHY I want to wear my hair like this tonight..Is that okay?"

Their resemblence is undeniable...

She did her hair as an EXACT REPLICA of her sisters down to the piece of hair hanging down on the right side...

With tears in my eyes...thinking of missing out on my child hood with my own 3 birth sisters... "OF COURSE!" I said.

I wonder what is going on inside her precious little mind..

I know one thing, we need to get these girls together very soon..

If you are an adoptive parent out there and you are wondering whether or not you should be "open" or get together with your kids birth siblings... YOU SHOULD!

If you know they have birth siblings and you don't know where they are...  LOOK FOR THEM!

You will not regret it..

Now excuse me please... I have to go make some phone calls and arrange some play dates for my children with their siblings...