Unbiological Sisters

On Saturday night, we took the stage and closed our 2017-2018 Dance season. It was a whirlwind of recitals over a span of 26 hours - but as always, it was loads of fun.

Our little family had a special moment to close the Saturday night performance. Back in February, we were asked to be part of a mother-daughter dance. My first thought was "but I have more than one daughter - how will this work?" Once that question was answered, my next thought was "it feels weird to be doing this without Emma."

Yes - she is someone else's daughter. She isn't mine. I didn't birth her - but I love her with all of my heart and soul. Her DNA and biological makeup means nothing - because she is a piece of my heart. Of course, she was away at school, so participation wasn't possible.

We met with three other families several times over the next few months - and Karen Daniels put together a piece that tugged at the heart strings and pretty much made me cry at every rehearsal. We selected dresses in a variety of colors and each family had our own color. We performed on Friday and Saturday during the matinee - and the whole time, there was just something missing for me.

I asked Karen if Emma could join us for just the end of the piece - she was already dressed in a color-coordinating outfit and we knew how to bring her in. Karen said she would discuss it with the staff - who know Emma, her father, our story and me all so very well - so they voted to have her join us.

The result was a moment I will never forget.

She joined us just for the last few seconds of the song - Rosie's outstretched hand reached for her, and Emma took it and joined us, smiling all the way. For a moment, the audience was lost in the lights and I swear I saw her father's smile.

Unbiological sister.

It is a term Rosie coined regarding Emma during our rehearsal process. She and Angelina both questioned Emma's exclusion from rehearsals. School got in the way, but once she was home, not having her in our routine felt just as weird for her too.

Biology is only part of a bond between sisters. Love, devotion, friendship and trust cover far more ground than DNA - and we are blessed in this house to have a combination of both biology and "unbiology" to form our happy family.

Unbiological. Family by choice.

It explains us so well.