Mother, Father, Mom, Dad

Well, boys and girls, a major change has occurred in my life this past week. For the first time in my entire young legacy, I have seeked my birth mother and biological family out like a bloodhound on the hunt, and succeeded!

I was a normal adopted individual, seeking answers from those who held them. I didn’t really know what I was coming for or how long I would stay, but then immediately I realized why I was there. I wasn’t really there to learn about my diverse family background or common diseases (although that would be helpful in the long-run). I was there to learn about where I came from. What was my biological mother like? Father? Their families? What did they struggle with and exceed in after I was gone?

In this process, I strengthened the bond between my biological grandmother and aunt, and formed a friendly relationship with my would-be step-dad. Discovered some nasty, troubling honest truths, and talked to my half sister for the first time. She said: “It’s just amazing, talking to you, my sister.” It is amazing. How a one day chance encounter on a White Pages .com ad, and a trip over to Facebook had changed my life forever. How I would have another family now; other lives that depend on me to stay alive and prosper.

Knowing that they always sang me a happy birthday and said prayers for me brightened my spirit and all high hopes I had for our family. Sure, my mom and dad are the ones here. Those who raised me and cared for me, cried with me and shared my laughter. Those who fed me, put a roof over my head and provided beyond enough material and inner wealth to make my heart soar. But, there is this family. The family that holds the key to my spiritual connections, blood history and personality preferences. I even share the same genetic disorders and a favorite movie with my birth mother. I also learned I have two more siblings that I never knew about - a girl, and a boy. I have a total of three sisters and two brothers. I’m the first, and the fourth girl in our family.

Will I seek out my birth father? Someday soon. I am interested in his life - what his children are like, what career he holds and what his inner hopes and dreams were for me. Of course, other unanswered honest truths will need to be answered, and the nitty gritty will need to set itself aside from love, but I am looking forward to it. Just one step at a time for now. One family at a time!