GUEST BLOGGER: Shannon, age 11- "You can't chose your siblings... but I'd chose you."

Over the past two years my life has changed immensely. Being part of a family of seven (with two little ones) is much different than being part of a family of five (especially because the youngest is…well, Sam). In a good way though. I spend a whole lot more time with my siblings than I used to. It really is kind of like a stress reliever. After all the school and homework and soccer it's nice to just sit back a build a fort with your brothers. I get to let loose and have fun. That's right, you heard me, having 4 younger siblings is a stress reliever. Bet nobody's ever told you that before, but it's true. Siblings are a blessing. They can play with you like no one else. They can tell what you're saying just through a glance. And most importantly, their your partners in crime. They will back you up and stand up for you. They know the cover story without having to tell them anything. Siblings have this mind reading thing that you can't do with anyone else. Siblings are something special.




 The fort I built with Joshua:)

 There are so many personalities and everybody has their way of doing things. We all have a way of coming together though. We have our differences and disagreements but at the end of the day we're laughing with each other. Well…most of the time. We aren't perfect but that's alright. Actually its better than alright. If we were all perfect we wouldn't have those times when I ran into a glass door looking out to the beach.. Or when Ella asked my dad if it was raining outside when she was standing next to a window. If our family was perfect Daniel would have good dance moves, wait what?! No funny dancing slo mo videos! How much fun would that be? NONE!

 I think this sums it up perfectly 

  Sam and Joshua have really became a part of the family. They fit right in as Dri's. They're Top Golfing, Chick-fil-a eating boys. They adjusted perfectly. People sometimes ask me "So how many real siblings do you have?" I HATE that question. They are all my real siblings even though I know they mean biological it makes me grimace when they say that. I have four REAL siblings, two adopted, two biological. All tickled, All chased, All hugged, All kissed, All loved forever. And nothing will ever change that.

 Doggie had to be in the picture too:)

Fitting right in as Dris:)

It feels so weird to think about the times before Sam and Joshua. It feels like so long ago, but it really wasn't. If you told me two or three years ago that I would be getting two new little brothers. Better yet adopted from China. I would've thought that you were crazy. I was positive that my family was completed. But not even close. I remember going to a party at my friends house. They had adopted from China twice and their whole travel party was there. We were one of the only families that hadn't adopted that was there. When my friend asked me if my parents were thinking about adopting I replied "No, but I wish."... Way to put the pieces of the puzzle together! The thought still didn't cross my mind! Looking back on it…I probably should've actually used my brain and figured it out. 
Wow Shannon…just wow

Now I'm just happy they're here:). I love my little siblings more than they will ever know. You can't go to Google and search "sibling love". All that will pull up is pictures and quotes. Sibling love isn't something you see or read it's something you feel. It's something you do that's way beyond words.