After 7 years of trying to get pregnant, my parents adopted me as a newborn. 8 months later, my mom got very sick. After going to the doctors, she found out she was pregnant, and when I was 17 months old, my little sister, Rilee, was born. Although we were very close in age, we couldn't have been more different people. In fact, we purposely chose interests that would make us basically polar opposites. I loved dance, so she chose sports. She loved Harry Potter books, so I refused to read them. When we were little I had short hair, and she had long hair, and as we got older, I grew my hair out, and she kept hers bobbed. I'm outgoing, and she is as shy and quiet as can be. We are so different, but I love this girl.
This girl is always thinking of others. She serves others without a second thought. She gives everything to those she loves. She is so calming. She is a wonderful listener. She is funny and cheerful. She is tender hearted and one of the sweetest people I have ever known.
Right after the new year she received her mission call to Kobe, Japan. It couldn't have been more perfect. Rilee has been studying Japanese all through college, and she has already fallen in love with everything culturally that she has come across. When she opened her call, she burst into tears because the call was a complete dream come true for her.
Yesterday she started that dream. For 18 months, this great girl is going to be serving the people of Japan. Before she entered the MTC we went out to lunch and she told me "I only have one goal today, and that's to make new friends." I haven't heard from her yet, but I'm sure she did just that, and will continue to do so for the remainder of her mission. I miss her, and I'm sad that I can't talk to her whenever I want to, but I am more excited for her than anything. I know this is where she is supposed to be, and I know she will grow so much from this experience. I am so looking forward to hearing from her and learning about her first few days, her companion, and how everything is going.
This little girl will be just over two years old when her auntie comes home.
We'll be sure to send Rilee lots of pictures and updates, and we'll also show Sadie pictures of Rilee so hopefully she will know who she is when she comes home.
Here are all of the Belnap sisters.
Rilee, Me, Emily, and Dawniel
I am so blessed to have so many sisters, I hope Sadie has a few sisters of her own someday.
I love mine so much my heart could just burst.
Ready or not, here she goes. This picture makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. She looks so timid and unsure that I want to just jump in there and protect her, but at the same time, I love that she is not looking back. Even though she is scared, she is facing forward, ready to tackle her fears head on and get out there! I admire her so much!
Awesome!
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