National Siblings Day...2016 Edition

Back in 2003 my mother assembled some family photo albums. They turned out to be much more than a collection of photos. My mom also gathered family histories, stories, and basically, memories for us to have going forward. Three and one half years later she passed away. I'm so thankful for that book.

And since it's National Siblings Day (at least, according to social media...), I dragged out the big book and took a few pictures of the three of us. I blogged about National Siblings Day one year ago--you can check it out in the archives--and at that time I mentioned that the three of us were not genetically put together as a family. Since we're all adopted children, decisions and coincidences resulted in us being siblings.

For me, I couldn't be happier. I am truly blessed.

One page of that big book was a collage of pictures showing us as we grew. That top picture, the one where we're dressed in our Sunday best, that one blows me away. When I see that picture, I see my older brother's oldest son, my second son, and my sister's daughter--it's uncanny (and a little bit spooky...). 

I celebrate all the photos, all the well-wishes from my friends, neighbors, and family members that I've seen today. And in that spirit I present the three of us. We're all that's left of the Taylor Five. We've had good times and bad, fun times and sad. And whatever happens, when April 10th rolls around next year, I'll still have a brother and a sister that I love very much.

National Siblings Day...

Apparently, today is National Siblings Day. I know this because I do not work on Fridays so I try and get writing done on Fridays. And as all you writers out there know, when you have a day to write, you spend way too much time on social media sites.

I have to say, I've LOVED seeing pictures of everyone's families. They're great! My sister, first thing this morning, posted a picture of my brother, sister and me at my parents's grave. The picture was taken a couple of years ago.

I love that picture, and not just because it makes me look like the tallest of the three. I love it because my family is together, all five of us.

It's been over forty years since we were all together in this life. Only three of us are left. I also love the other older picture, too. 

Most of the people who posted pictures of their wonderful siblings today did not "choose" their family members. I guess you could say I didn't get a chance to "choose" my siblings, but because of the choices of others, all three of us adopted children ended up with the last name of Taylor and living under the same roof for many years of our lives. It makes National Siblings Day extra special for me, because things could have turned out oh so different.

Here's to all the siblings! Here's to those fights and fun times we shared as a family! Here's to two of the people I love more than anything! I'm so glad you call me brother!