Mom J was only two and a half when my rel mom died. One ‘moming, my brothers and I went to wake her up, but she would’ answer us. When she didn’t respond to ur cals dest brother, Shane, got my dad. The last thing femember about my real mom was watching the ambu. Jance taking her avway from us. Although I was too young toreally understand what was going on, somehow I was gone fore ‘After my mom died, my dad started abusing my broth me. We were sent away to ive with relatives. My were sent 10 lve with their real dad, but their dad didn't want me.I was sent to live with one relative after another. | was miserable almost all of the time. 1 thought that no one would ever want me. Finally, shen 1 vas four and a half, my mom's sister, Bonnie, and her hus band, Jesse, said that they would take me, and they ‘became my legal guardians. From then on, they became my family. I called Aunt Bonnie “Mom” and Uncle Jesse “Dad.” I fet really lucky Secause they also had two older kids that became my older brother and sister, and I didn’t miss my brothers a much. finally felt at home, with a family again.‘Then, when I was six, my Uncle Jesse was diagnosed with cancer. He was sic fora whole year, and finaly died, shortly after my seventh birthday. I missed him s0 ch, Terie for days after losing him. I tl cling to the present he gave me an my sixth birthday Shortly after Uncle Jesse died we all moved to a new house ina new town. My mom told us we moved because of job opportunity she had there that she didn’t have in ‘our old town, Now that it was up to her to support us the move was important, Inournew house, [always felt kind of ionely and so did iy brother and sister. We were in a new place and had to try to make new friends. t wasn’t all that easy, and we al still missed Uncle Jesse. We kids spent a lot of time alone in our new house because Mom was always working, But ‘we al felt ike we could make it if we stuck together as a family Then one summer, the beginning ofa miracle happened, My mom took us camping, and we took our geandena along with us. My grandma met the man that was staying in the cabin next to ours, and she introduced him to the ‘Test of us, Weall ended up becoming friends with this guy, David. He was so funny. He would bring flowers to my ‘mom and also to my grandma a the same time. Maybe he thought we didn’t know what he was up to, but we all ‘knew. We dc’ mind because he was realy @ great ey, After we came back from our camping trip, my mom and David kept in contact with phone call and by writ ing to each other, Eventually, they started seeing each other even though he lived in another city and it was @ Tong drive for him. David would visit my mom and take usall ou, He even remembered my birthday, and sent a birthday present to me! We all realy liked him ‘Then, two years after they met, David proposed to my mom. They got marred three days before’ my twelith | onrawny 101 in their honey: pirthday, Even though they were gone on their honey- ‘moon for my birthday, David and my mom made sure that I still had a birthday party. ‘Aiter my mom married David, our family moved in | with his family, and our two smaller families became one tay. gained wo more rahers and anther aster Tess wea kindof ike the Brady Bunch! Our amy | row consists of my parents, David and Bonnie, six kids plus a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law, and two grand: babies—with another one on the way! ‘When Tlook back on itnow, have come along way from © being a sad and lonely little girl passed from relative tore: ative obi the person Tam oday—part ofa ig happy fay Ten imagine what ny le wou have been He {Ay Aun Bonnie had laken nin She promis’ ne that She would lovee and take care of meno ater what— she has done exactly that Without her i mye 1 ou have Soothers ht caer he avea great amy and he best mom inthe wo ith my mor a8 my shining example, have eamed about srngth, dedication and love Eventhough [wasnt fern to her she has boen my mother in evry ay. She fasbeen thereto old me when ve been sic to lp me with my homework, to nupport me when ve needed her and to work hard to take eare of al of us. In return, Hove hhet more than she'll ever know. I don’t know what I "would have done without her. These words are few, but they are rom the bottom of my hear. Thanks, Mom. Tlove you! April Anderson, fifaen