Blessings come in many sizes and shapes. One of my greatest blessings arrived in my life the day before Thanksgiving in 1987. Please meet my daughter, Chelsea, and learn why I’m so thankful for her.

Little did I know, when I celebrated the Fourth of July in 1987, that half a world away a baby girl was born who would change my life. Chelsea Murakami began her life as Seung Hye Cho, the child of a young, single college student in Seoul, Korea. Unable to care for her infant daughter, Chelsea's biological mother put her up for adoption through a Catholic agency in Korea that specialized in placing children in American homes. Four months later, this tiny Korean baby arrived in our home the day before Thanksgiving. We named her Chelsea Seung Hye Murakami and celebrated the holiday feeling exceptionally blessed and grateful.

A loving child, Chelsea cared deeply for others and was sensitive to their needs. I smile thinking about how every time she saw sick or hurting children on television, she’d ask if we could help them. Or the time, shortly before she was killed, when she chopped off her beautiful, long black tresses so they could be sent to an organization that provided human hair for children who were undergoing treatment for cancer.

Chelsea shared many similarities with her mother. She liked to dress in the latest fashions and, like her mother, had a large shoe collection. But apart from their taste in clothes, Chelsea and Cindy also shared a passion for helping others. Chelsea enjoyed volunteering and committed every Sunday to working with the toddler class at church. At school, she was always eager to lend a hand to fellow students and was looked upon as a peacekeeper by her classmates.

One of Chelsea’s most magnificent gifts was her ability to make friends with anyone at any time under any circumstances. I remember spending days with her on the beach in Hawaii. Nearby, there would be some Japanese tourists enjoying the surf and sand with their children. Even though none of them spoke English, Chelsea marched right over and started playing in the sand with the children. She wound up befriending them and amazing me!

Chelsea excelled in school. An avid reader, she loved to ask questions and lit up when she learned something new, like the definition of a word. Her favorite mall hangout was the bookstore, and as her father, I enjoyed taking her there and encouraging her to read. In fact, she was more likely to be found in a bookstore reading than watching television. She collected so many books, her room looked like a mini library.

Yet, singing was Chelsea’s greatest passion. Whenever she sang, you could feel her heart touching every note. She joined several choirs at our church and had the wonderful opportunity to sing with Celine Dion in concert right here in Tampa, Florida. She also sang with Christian recording artist B.B. Winans on New Year's Eve at our church. When she wasn’t performing, Chelsea enjoyed practicing her singing skills around the house, which sometimes bugged her brother Brody.

All in all, Chelsea lived life happily with a smile on her face and a touch of playfulness in her heart. She frequented theme parks, and as a self-professed roller coaster nut, always sought out the biggest, wildest, most adventurous ride. In fact, she got terribly upset when she didn’t meet the height requirements and had to stay off a ride because she was too short. But being resourceful, she solved that problem by wearing platform tennis shoes and adding a couple of inches to her height.

Though so young, Chelsea had many dreams and a solid vision for her life. She wanted to accomplish so much when she grew up. I was so proud of her.

Unfortunately, her dreams and visions won’t be fulfilled here on earth. However, if I know Chelsea, she’s found her way into the angelic choir and is playing an even bigger role in heaven.