February 1st 2015
"Are we really doing this?" Julia asked that evening. It had been a long night, and they just got home from her sister, Sarah's wedding.
I just feel like it is the right thing to do." Joel explained. "I feel like she is almost already our daughter. Think about it, she is Victor's half sister."
"How are we going to tell the kids? So many things have gone weird this year, I am not sure if they are going to be able to take another thing. I don't know what Victor is going to think off this either. She was pacing back and forth in her bedroom, clearly anxious.
"Just come to bed." Joel said, crawling in bed himself. "We will call the social working the morning, and after she says if its official or not, then we can tell the kids."
Julia was able to settle down, and go to sleep that night.
The next morning, Joel woke up early and made a large breakfast for the family. "What is this?" Julia asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"I think we should tell the kids." He replied.
"Now?" She asked. He nodded, and a few minutes later Sydney ran into the room.
"Tell me what?" She asked jumping up and down with excitement.
"Go get your brother, can you?" her dad asked with a grin. Sydney ran out of the room, and a few minutes later the two kids came running back in.
"What is going on?" Victor asked, smiling at all the food he saw.
"Lets all have a seat. Okay?" Julia asked and she handed the kids their food.
With the sun shining, and the kitchen smelling absolutely delicious, the family decided to share the good news.
"So as you know, Victor came from a different mom." Julia told the kids.
Victor perked up in curiosity. "What does that have to do with anything?" He sounded slightly concerned.
"Its nothing bad to worry about." Julia reassured him, "It is something really exciting. Your mom actually had another baby, and she is a girl. She didn't have it with the same man that is your dad, but she is still your half-sister." She took a breath and looked at Joel.
She continued on. "The lady who helped you become part of our family asked us if we want that baby, your half sister, to also become part of our family. Dad and I talked about it, and we think she would be a really excellent part of our family."
"So we are going to have a little sister?" Sydney asked with joy.
Joel nodded, and Sydney started jumping.
"Our family is expanding." She said.
It wasn't for almost another week later that they sat down with Victor's social worker to work out the details for adopting another baby.
"We really want to go through with this." Joel told the social worker.
"I am really happy to here that. It almost always seems to be a successful transition when half siblings end up going into the same home. We need to put this into immediate action."
It seemed like it took, what seemed like forever for the Graham's, before they could bring their new daughter home. They had to under-go home checks, background checks, criminal checks, and many other things. Meanwhile, at the same time, Joel and some of his crew were working on making an addition to their house. Life went on for all of them, but is was easy to tell they were all very excited to meet the newest member of the Braverman family.
October 18th, 2015.
Like everything in the Braverman family, meeting the newest addition of their family was a big deal. The phone rang the evening before, as the Grahams were cleaning up their dinner.
"Hello?" Julia answered the phone.
"We will drop her off in the morning. Everything is 100% set and ready to go. You will have your daughter in the morning." The women on the other line said.
"That is so wonderful. Thank you. We will be ready." As excited as Julia was about the new addition to their family, she called all of her siblings, and her mom to share the news.
The following morning, Adam, Crosby, and Sarah had rushed to Julia and Joel's house, along with their spouses and some of their younger kids. They were all very excited to meet the newest member of the Braverman clan.
At around 10:30 in the morning their was a knock on the door. It was Victor's social worker, and in her hand was a six-month old baby. As she stepped inside, she looked around at all the family that was excitedly standing their.
"I forgot how awesome of a family you have." She said peering around at all the people. That got a few chuckles from among the family.
"I would like to officially give you your daughter." She said handing the baby off to Julia, "Meet Isabelle."
Julia and Joel looked down, smiling happily at their new daughter.
"I want to hold my sister!" Sydney said bouncing up and down. One by one, they all had a chance to hold Isabelle. When Camille got handed the little baby she immediately started to cry.
"What's wrong Mom?" Sarah asked, being the first to notice she was upset.
"This is our first grandchild that Zeek will never meet." She said with tears in her eyes.
"I know he is looking down on her right now." Adam said giving her a hug. Sarah and Crosby joined into the hug, and soon so did the rest of the family.
The Braverman family had grown once again.