SISTER TO A SISTER! by Kristina Hunt ,12year old

Many people have asked me, the new sister of Melissa, what I think about our family's adoption so I will tell the whole story.

When I was about 6 or 7, mom said, joking, "Maybe we could adopt a little girl to be your sister, Kristi!" I liked the idea of getting a sister to play with and share a room with. I already had 2 brothers to have fun with, but I thought that it might be nice to have a sister to do "girlie" things with. But at that time, adopting was not taken very seriously for us.

Then when I was 8 and Mom and Dad talked a bit more seriously about adopting , I thought differently and didn't like the thought of not being the only girl any more. Kinda like how a long-time only child might feel if its mom was going to have a baby and it wouldn't be the only child any more.

But I think God changed my mind because at 9, when we started the process, and still now, I completely can't wait for us to get our sister. After starting the process, Mom and Dad filled out a ton of paper work (my hand would hurt) and we had our home study. The social worker came. The questions she asked us kids were like "Do you want a sister?" or "Do you think this is a good family for a baby sister?" or "What would you do if your sister made you really mad?" Then we got to the waiting part of the adoption process and my only thoughts were 'why does it take so long?'; but after the waiting is over, it is totally worth it.

And now the fun begins. We have enjoyed going to a baby shower in our honor, having an on-going name war with the members of our family deciding on a name for our sister (we finally decided on Melissa), getting really cute baby cloths and stuff and setting up my tiny room for two. And then Mom and Dad decided I get to go with them to China! I was soooooo exited. I have never been out of the USA before. Mom and Dad decided this when our adoption agency said it would be nice to have a helper along to hold the baby, and do little things when the parents are busy. I will be needed to help keep this site up-to-date so you will probably hear more from me while we are in China.

I'm so glad to be doing this adoption!!!!!! Sure I'm having to give up some stuff like having my projects out (which there are many of) and having the space in my less-than-big enough-for-one room to myself, but what we are doing is so much more important than having everything the way I like it. I get to be a sister to a sister!

I encourage any families waiting to pick up a baby or thinking of adoption, especially the kids, it is a really great way to help a child who otherwise may have a very unhappy future if they don't get to be taken into a good family who cares about them.

Until next time, God Bless You!

~Kristi