When Sally Catherine Armstrong took the DNA test through the service 23AndMe, she was hoping to gain a sense of self beyond just learning more about her ethnic background. She was hoping to find a family member.

Sally lived with her adopted family in North Texas, where she had arrived at age 13, with no knowledge of her mother or any other family members. As an only child, Sally says that she had always wondered about possible siblings and cousins.

"I grew up knowing that I was adopted and wondering, 'Would I walk past them on the street and not know?'" Sally said.

So earlier this year, Sally sent her saliva sample into 23AndMe. After several weeks, she got her first surprise: a relative match notification! Someone else in her family was in the DNA database! And before long, Sally was talking to her half-sister, named Sterling Crawford, on the phone. Little did Sally know, but there were more surprises in store for her. Three surprises, to be exact: Sterling told Sally that they had three more half-siblings! All five had been born to the same mother, and at last, Sally was connected to them.

"I woke up this morning an only child," Sally recalled thinking. "Now, I'm going to bed the second youngest of five."

Unable to wait a moment longer, Sally booked a trip to visit her family members in Philadelphia within two weeks. As you can see in their beautiful shots, the bonds between them formed immediately.

Photos via Dallas News. To read more incredible stories that will inspire you, pop over to our Facebook page, or sign up for our Only Good News Newsletter!