I am one of five children in my family and I fall right in the middle with two older and two younger siblings. For the longest time, I was the only girl with three brothers. It can be quite exhausting living with that many brothers, from constantly being picked on and fighting, to trying to be just like them in every sport they do. I had always hoped that someday I would have a sister, but by age 12 I had given up all hope.

My parents had been foster parents for a few years, and it was always heart-warming to be able to give babies homes for a few months. Then, one day, my mom received a call for a 5-year-old little girl who needed a family to take care of her. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, so she fit right in with all of us right away. Of course, I was overjoyed to have a little girl to play with, do her hair, and even share a room with. As time went on we became close and she began to feel like she was actually supposed to be a part of our family.

I was always scared that at some point she would be sent back home to live with her biological family. I knew she loved them and was scared and confused, but I also knew she felt safe and at home with our family. Fast-forward four years, and she is still living with us. My mom gave us all the exciting news that we would be adopting my sister! I was so happy she would officially be my sister and a member of our family.

It has now been four years since we adopted her, and we celebrate every year that special day she joined our family. I love being an older sister and a role model to her. I know she likes to do all things that I do and copy me, which can sometimes be annoying, but that just means she looks up to me and sees me as someone she can aspire to be like someday. I have loved watching her grow from the timid little girl she was when we met to the smart young 13 year old she is now.