Pray. Wait. Trust.

What a year it has been! For 21 years I have wanted to know who my biological dad was. As I stated in past posts I felt like I needed him in my life. I felt like I was always missing something. I just wanted my heart to be complete.

Growing up I would bury my feelings. I never talked about it with anybody. It wasn't until about a year and a half ago, I was talking to Baby D's mom and she was telling me all these things that he was feeling, I realized that I could relate and I had similar feelings.

After this meeting I wrote some things down and realized that I wanted to start a blog. I needed to tell people my story. I want more than anything during this journey to be able to help people realize the blessings and difficulties of adoption.

When I started my blog on February 26th, 2017 I had not met my "biological Dad" and I did not even imagine that I would have been contacted soon after posting my first post. March 1st, 2017 started my journey. This is the day the man who I had always though was my dad reached out to me. If he would not have reached out to me when I did, I would still be sitting here hoping and praying that he would come around soon. I love his family and know that they are supposed to be in my life for some reason. They will always have a special place in my heart. I am grateful he reached out when he did, because I am now able to know the truth.

After receiving the negative test results I wanted to sit back and not worry about submitting my DNA. For whatever reason there was a sale on Amazon and the kid was $30 off. How could I ignore an opportunity like that? On July 17th I submitted my DNA. I used Ancestry.com and was told that it would take a good eight weeks to get my results back. I just happened to pull up my email I use for my blog and there was an email from Ancestry telling me that my results were in. WHAT?! I thought it was a joke. I quickly opened the email, clicked on the link and it pulled up all of my heritage. It also connected me to so many people. All from my biological dad's side of the family.

I sent an email to one of the contacts and honestly told myself that it would take another 6-10 weeks to hear back from them. I left my phone number and I got a call within hours of sending the email. I was shocked. How could this really be happening right now?? I was so excited to finally have answers. I ended up calling her back after work and told her what I knew, she thought for sure I was her sister and I would make the tenth sibling in their family. Once I told her the name that I had, she just started "saying oh my gosh, that's my brother! Oh my gosh!" On the other line was my Aunt. She was so excited and I'm sure a bit overwhelmed.

I'm a strong believer that god played a major part in this whole thing. For one, they live in Southern California and were headed to Arizona the following morning. We agreed that we would meet up that Friday and I would be meeting her husband, daughter and grandkids.

Friday came and that evening Craig and I went to the hotel they were staying at and we met. I instantly fell in love with them and was so grateful for this amazing blessing. I told them my whole story and they gave me information about their family. There are 9 total kids. They are all smart and very successful people. They work hard and family is important. She told me that some siblings were skeptical at first, "are you sure it's not a scam??" She told them she was sure! I look just like a few different people in their family. She brought many pictures for me to see and it was awesome to see people that I look so much like.

I feel like I have finally found the missing piece to my puzzle. I look forward to many many more moments with this amazing family and look forward to meeting many more family. Unfortunately, at this time I will not meet my biological dad, but I will wrap my arms around his family and be grateful god brought us together.

Never give up on something that you truly feel your heart needs! If you are determined to figure something out, do it. Don't worry about what anybody else thinks or says. This goes for anything in your life.

The journey to find my biological family has come to an end, making memories with them is just beginning.

cyh -

Chelsea

Proverbs: 3: 5-6 " Trust in the Lord with all they heart and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths"