I have everything I could have ever asked for. I am meeting family I didn’t know existed. I can’t wait to meet my sister Tonya for the first time. She’s so nice to talk to on the phone. And, it is crazy to hear my own voice talking back to me. She sounds so like me it is crazy. It amazes me that I went 31 years without knowing she should have been a part of my life. I’m excited about that. I have my older brother Monte now close to me in life. We talk all the time. I’ve never had a family. My Mom didn’t really like me until I was an adult and Dad had a new family with an EVIL wife. And then, Mom, Dad, and Grandma all died in two short years and somehow through the sadness a family came together for me. One I had never known before. Monte talks to me like he’s known me my whole life.  In my heart I’m so happy to have him although I’m too scared to tell him. Even though he’s a stinker. J I have my puppy “Bruiser” to teach me about unconditional love. He’s ten weeks old and they say he could live nearly 15 years or more. That would be the longest that anything ever loved me and was by my side. I have to be honest; I am anxious and scared about it. I can’t run away from him when I get upset. He’s only a pound in weight and I have at least ten pounds of worry and all these new emotions running through me. I’ve met my cousin Larry online and he’s so kind and warm-hearted. I don’t even know what he looks like but he’s already made a sweet impression. I have a sister named Laurie that I am now hearing about and although I have met her we have never talked. I also have met and become friends with my cousin Joni. She might come visit this summer. I may not be trained at how a family works and even that scares me but it’s starting to change me.  I’m so independent and have always taken care of myself. Just having Monte loan me a car when I was in town was like getting a Rolls Royce for Christmas. I haven’t ever been loaned anything or helped along. Sure, I had the money for a rental and it would have even been easier to rent one. But, it felt nice having something with me that was part of the “family” and he practically insisted. Maybe you don’t understand what I am talking about. I guess that’s ok. Just take my word for it, families bring a warmth to your heart that can’t be replaced by anything else. I have tried for 31 years and I didn’t ever feel like this until I had one. Thank you every one of you.

Love, Your cousin, your sister, and your friend,

Shannon