So many things to talk about and so little time to write them all! So, I'll start with my sister. Eleven and a half years ago, my sixteen year old sister, Jessica was driving her car to a clinic to have an abortion. Halfway there, she turned around, went to the store and bought maternity clothes. She went through an adoption center and placed her daughter with a family she chose among the many families available. It was a partially open adoption, meaning she could send and receive a letter or package once a year on her daughter's birthday and the correspondence would be sent through the adoption agency so neither parties would know the address of the other. Jessica's daughter is exactly one month older than my son, Johnny. Her picture is on our refrigerator and I try to imagine what it would be like to have a child living somewhere other than in my arms.

In the latest correspondence, Jessica put her e-mail address on the letter she wrote to her daughter. That was in April. Today she received an e-mail from her! Other than letters and pictures, we didn't think we were going to get a chance to meet our niece until her eighteenth birthday. E-mail won't be exactly like meeting in person, but it is far from receiving a letter once a year. The adopting mother was adopted herself and has been completely selfless in her communication with her adopted daughter. She openly talks about Jessica and has put Jessica's artwork up in her daughter's room since she was a baby. Now, she has told her daughter that she can e-mail Jessica any time she wants. What a blessing!

I have so much respect for my sister. At sixteen, I don't think I would have had the courage to turn away from the clinic, face my world and buy maternity clothes. And now, at the other end of that decision is a story and a relationship none of us could have imagined. When I think of people that I look up to, my little sister, Jessica is one of my hero's.

Jessica is now married and has a son named, Trace. He just turned three and looks a lot like the tasmanian devil when he runs around, except cuter. Thank you, God, for blessing my sister in such a meaningful way. She is extremely special and I love her very much!