Tomorrow, my daughter Mary, who I placed for adoption, will turn 24 years old. When I think about this, I wonder not necessarily as a mother but as a woman what she struggles with. Does she have friends in her life that speak truth to her and encourage her when she is down? And in light of my last post does she know she is significant and has an irreplaceable role in this life? The irony of all this is that I didn’t know I had an irreplaceable role and beauty that no one coul

I was talking with a woman about her and her husbands decision to consider adopting their foster son. She said something that particularly stuck with me, she said she, “struggles to see herself as his mommy.” I don’t know anyone else in my daily life that has placed a child for adoption. However, I know many that have either adopted children or are considering adoption so I quietly listen and watch from another perspective. Most are not aware of my experience and when given t

When I realized it had been a year since I started blogging, I decided to celebrate by changing the theme. If you have blogged for any period of time you know that when you do that you have to edit the posts to “work” with the theme. So I did just that. Not only is it my blogging anniversary but it will also be Mary’s birthday on February 27. After all, that story was the original purpose of blogging. How fitting that I decided to re-post My Story: I grew up in a humble home,

I decided to write Part 2 of My Story. Where I come from is related to where I am today – for better or for worse. What I am discovering in my adult life would have been helpful to know in my 20’s. I am sure on some level we can all relate. It certainly would have helped me work through the unresolved fact that I had black hair and my sister did not. I am not so caught up on this any longer but early on, I couldn’t help but notice! The paradigm of it all though troubles me on

Today is Mary’s birthday, the daughter I placed for adoption 22 years ago. She was born at 2:01 A.M., weighing 7 lbs, 5 oz and 21 inches long. When I decided to share this part of my story I was quite reluctant. To my surprise, it has been a timely and freeing experience! This was the last picture I received of her through the semi – open adoption.  Her adoptive parents didn’t feel comfortable sending pictures through the age of 5 as originally agreed. At first that was hard

My eldest at a tea party with a neon arm cast…how fitting for a princess! It struck me that I hadn’t posted about girls! It also struck me that this blog is about my adoption story and she is a girl…well a woman now. She will be 22 years old on Feb 27, 2013, to be exact. I envision her beauty! I imagine how she sounds, how she laughs, what her favorite perfume is, and what her dreams are? All the things girls are made of! Well some of the things we are made of. I am learning

When I decided to share my story of adoption, I realized I would need to talk about the details of the story at some point –  like when I would walk two blocks from my house to a pregnancy center for the pregnancy test; and how I would feel after being told; or when I would tell my mother, and how she would respond; or what it was like to go to the first doctors appointment. I don’t remember all the details surrounding this time in my life. However, certain things trigger the