Real Imprints

After my article on Adoption.com, I received an email from the creator of RealImprints.org. She asked if I would be willing to share my story, more in depth, on their website. 

I spend a lot of time writing, but for some reason i twas difficult for me to get our story down. I think part of it is because I'm so used to writing for Adoption.com ... 500 - 1,000 words...that to really put down our story was a challenge. But I loved doing it. And I love the website. It's story after story of hope filled testimony, and I love it. So I was honored to be asked to join with the others who have shared their personal experiences.

Part One can be read here. It's more about Samantha.

Part Two can be read here. It's focus is on how Samantha led us to adoption.

  

San Jose Mercury News

A few weeks ago a reporter came and interviewed me about Samantha.  A friend got it all set up...next thing I knew, I was being interviewed.  It was crazy.  But Carol Rosen was so kind, so genuine.  It was a good experience.  Anyway...the article came out today.  If you're interested....go to the Mercury News.

I'm On Kidz!

Kidz is a blog about our kids, our special needs kids. I love how Tara, the creator of the blog, put it...Kidz is about our kids, but just a little bit different. It's a community where we share, learn from each other, and hopefully motivate and encourage one another. We share ideas and tips -- laugh together, cheer each other on, and cry with one another when the world of special needs seems to cheat us -- sometimes from the very lives of our children.

I'm honored to be a part of the Kidz Krew -- a group of caregivers (right now all mothers and a grandmother) who will be regularly writing for the blog.

If you know of anyone who may need a little lifting up or a reminder of how sweet life truly is -- or someone who may be seeking some answers -- it's a great forum for all.

Kidz

There are a few people that I've recently connected with in the special needs world. I feel so fortunate to call them my friends. I've grown so much from their examples and faith. I met Tara awhile ago. She is an amazing mother. She also has a blog called Kidz -- a community for special needs parents. I am honored that she posted an article I wrote -- to be a voice among these great women that I'm continually learning from....

I've been thinking a lot about expectations I have, or don't have, for Samantha. I recognize that she is a gem of a girl. I do. And I believe it. But I have also recently discovered that I put limits on her because she has this thing called microcephaly, and because others have lower expectations for her. They have dictated my own expectations for her. I didn't fully realize this until about a month ago, and when I did discover this, I was so angry with myself. And I didn't understand how I, as her mother, who has been her advocate from the beginning, had limited her. Had set a cap on her progress. My expectations weren't as high as they should have been. And, like I said, I didn't realize this until I recently started to believe she had the potential to achieve more than I had been thinking...and then I realized..."why hadn't I believed this before?" I began a journey of trying to figure it out. And then I wrote about it. You can read about it here.

Everything has changed for me as I've changed my expectations for Samantha...and then I started to think...what if I did that in every area of my life? hmm Food for thought.

This Mare Eats Oats

I have a friend ~ Maren. Maren's a pretty impressive lady. I remember when I met her at BYU just being in awe of her beauty and talent...she's an all around great gal.

I was honored when she asked me to be a guest poster. She has asked a group of women to share "How I Do It." And today...I'm featured. If you care to take a gander -- go on over and check it out.