My biological parents are wonderful people and I wouldn't want to trade them for anyone else. This thank you is to the family friends who adopted me as their own when it was hard for my Mom to be in more than one place, or when my Dad decided that he couldn't be around. It was anything but easy for my Mom to raise my brother and me on her own. With working two jobs I praise her for everything she did because I know we didn't make it easy for her. This is just a thank you to the family friends who helped my Mom to raise my brother and I to who we are today:

Family is arguably the most important part of anyone's life. No matter how big or how small, they don't have to be related by DNA. I was lucky enough that I was granted with two families in addition to my own. That means I have two more women and men in my life that I get to call "Mom and Dad". It might seem like a crazy concept to want to have a total of six different adults looking over your shoulder, but it keeps everyone in check. It also gives me the opportunity to have different people to call on when I need advice or a second opinion about something. It is comforting to know I can count on so many people.

Another plus to having adopted families is all the extra people you get to consider brothers and sisters. In my biological family, I only have one brother, but when I include my adopted siblings I have four brothers and a younger sister. Having that many people around you showing their undivided love and support, even though they aren't actually related by blood or marriage is one of the best feelings. Between the six of us, four of them are younger than me. I have four children constantly looking up to me for advice, encouragement, and guidance along the way. Even though they look up to me, without them I wouldn't be the person I am today because they have helped shape me.

I wanted to be able to say thank you to the family that not only helped my Mom out when she has needed it, but who have helped build me into the person I am now. I don't think I would have any of the same qualities that I do today without them. I wouldn't have had all the experiences I have had today. You guys created a bigger family by what you did and I hope someday I can thank you with more than just my words.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Love,

Madysen