To the family that became mine,

Never in a million years would I have ever thought I would become lucky enough to meet and have people like you.

I'm so glad I was wrong.

I have an amazing family that I was blessed with at birth. A supportive, loving family that has always had my back. As grateful I am for that family, and as much as I would do anything for them, I always felt like something was missing. I always felt like there was something more I needed.

That little something more? That was you guys.

It doesn't matter if you are my family by marriage-- you are closer to me and more involved in my life than my family by blood. Over the last year and half, you have been the ones I have been in close contact with. You have been the ones I have laughed with, cried with, talked about life with. You are the ones I have gone to when I have had questions or self-doubt. You are the first people I think of when it comes to sharing news, good or bad. The thought of you on a tough day makes it better. I don't trust many people in this world, and I have put all of my trust in you. You are the people I know that will be there for me, no matter what. You have shown it.

It is an honor to call you my family-- there is no other way to put it. It is an honor to be your niece. It is an honor to be a "little sister" to one of you-- there is no better person for the job of my "big sister", and I am so grateful to have you guide me and be there for me, forever.

It is an honor to have four little boys who light up every time I come into the room, who look up to me and genuinely enjoy my company. It is an honor to be an active part of their lives, and I can only hope that I am making as much of a difference in their lives as they do in mine.

It's a beautiful thing to feel like you have an army behind you, an army that will love and support you unconditionally. You are my army, you are my strength and rock when times get hard. You, along with my parents and brother, are the ones I will fight for and defend for the rest of my life, regardless of the circumstances surrounding us.

You became mine, not by blood, but by choice. I didn't have to get close to you. I didn't have to invest as much time and love into you as I have. But I do, because you are some of the most important people in this world to me-- some of the most special people in this world to me. That will never change. You have become my family, and when you are my family, you come first. I will stand by you, defend you, care for you, cry with you in the worst of times and smile with you in the best of times. I am not going anywhere, and I know you aren't either.

Los amo mucho, mi familia.