WhenIwas16yearsoldandinfostercare(非亲代养)inTennesseepeopletoldmeIwasunadoptable.ButIdesperatelywantedafamily.IsoughtthehelpofajudgeeventhecommissioneroftheDepartmentofChildren’sServicesandwasadoptedjustaweekbeforemy18thbirthday.

Wehavealottobegratefulforandthisholidayseasonlet’snotforgetaboutthemorethan415000youthinfostercareespeciallyolderyouth.Theseyoutharethemostlikelytogetoverlookedforadoptionbuttheyshouldn’tbe.Theyneedanddeserveafamilyjustasmuchasyoungchildrendo.Makinganolderyouthapartofyourfamilycanbringjustasmuchajoyasadoptingababyorayoungerchild—withoutallthediapersandpottytraining.

Myadoptionwaslifechangingandprobablythebestthingthateverhappenedtome.Istillrememberthefirstgiftmyparentsgavetome.ItwasaMickeyMousekeychainwithakeytotheirhome.TheytoldmethatnomatterwhathappenedtheywouldalwayslovemeandI’dalwayshaveaplacetocomehometo.Thisisour17thThanksgivingtogether...

MyfirstThanksgivingwithmyfamilywasalittleoverwhelmingwithlotsofextendedfamilyincludinggrandparentsauntsunclesandcousins.Howeverit’swhenIrealizedthatIwouldneverhavetospendanotherholidayaloneandthatwastrulyanamazingfeeling.

IwasalwayseagertospendtimewithmylittlesisterBeth.ShewassixwhenIjoinedthefamily.MydadalwayssaysheknewwewerereallysistersandIwasnolongeraguestinthehousewhenBethandIhadourfirstfight.Todayshe’soneofmybestfriendsandI’mherbiggestcheerleader.

TherewerealsobittersweetThanksgivings.Onewespentinmymom’shospitalroom.Itwastherethatshehelpedmeplanmyweddingbutpassedawaythreeweeksbeforetheceremony.Mydadwalkedmedowntheaisleandmysisterwasmymaidofhonor.Becauseofourbondwewereabletosupporteachotherthroughthatchallengingtimeandthat’swhatfamilyisfor—thegoodandbadtimes.

It’snicehavingmydadandsistertoshareholidaysandspecialoccasions.Butthey’reevenmoreimportantwhenitcomestothelittlethings—likehavingsomeonetosharemybaddaywithcelebratemypromotionatworkorhelpmethinkthroughadifficultdecision.It’sinthesemomentsthatIjustcan’timaginebeingaloneintheworld.