tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821770811601864912024-03-13T19:25:41.371-07:00My Adoption StoryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-31276773002906426252014-01-25T12:25:00.001-08:002014-01-25T12:25:10.189-08:00Celebrating Anniversaries/Friendiversaries!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My birth - mother and I just celebrated our fourth anniversary since we've been in contact. Every year I make her a card and every year I look online for ideas...let me tell you the Hallmark store doesn't have a category for cards like this! I just thought I'd share my ideas so that there are more ideas on the internet.<br />
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My grandmother passed away the month before our anniversary or friendiversary (that's what I like to call them) so this card had pictures that reminded me of my grandma.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKapc1cahmbyT0lSruGUm35pQRjwlP43mdMwYWxCVo_zgQZ-sRlc7LQdJoGbQaOpYQsBZceeDD1FeOLfrDd0x7_kYt3Mg7KQ0xHDD8pSeTqp7ViAmBO96L2OuLOLMqUNMnYxR_8r4vA7w/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKapc1cahmbyT0lSruGUm35pQRjwlP43mdMwYWxCVo_zgQZ-sRlc7LQdJoGbQaOpYQsBZceeDD1FeOLfrDd0x7_kYt3Mg7KQ0xHDD8pSeTqp7ViAmBO96L2OuLOLMqUNMnYxR_8r4vA7w/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The best thing about making a card for your birth - parents is that they LOVE pictures! I have shared pictures of me growing up with my birth - mother but, she still hasn't seen them all!<br />
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In summary, making cards is a lot of fun and every one should make one for their birth - parents! :)<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-76622005312300655402010-11-25T01:13:00.000-08:002010-11-25T01:16:45.826-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluCtcYJUnnrY5m2ys0CnGIU4VozJGtiupVS7d2CDP30zYhtizs_thzvcMNnxnwneX47uGM58yDKgN4pT_eI5WAGtCifPBh5tLE7-6hpjZAqDKBmD6FYfSK740V8lN8lh93Xi1N97aFhg/s1600/27262_392334273816_698918816_3506894_1628547_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluCtcYJUnnrY5m2ys0CnGIU4VozJGtiupVS7d2CDP30zYhtizs_thzvcMNnxnwneX47uGM58yDKgN4pT_eI5WAGtCifPBh5tLE7-6hpjZAqDKBmD6FYfSK740V8lN8lh93Xi1N97aFhg/s320/27262_392334273816_698918816_3506894_1628547_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543413727302736498" /></a><br />I've been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving this year, last year my thanksgiving was so amazing. I just don't think it could ever be topped. Last year, I spent it on the phone for hours talking.<div><br /></div><div>A year ago on November 20th, I was able to thank someone that I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to say thank you too. Being grateful is one thing, but being able to personally thank someone for the difference they have made in your life is another. I was able to personally thank my birth - mother for the life that she gave to me. She gave me a body, she chose my parents, she gave me seeds of talent. She gave me life. Without her, I wouldn't be ME. So this thanksgiving, I'm especially grateful that I was able to personally thank my hero, my birth - mother, and my friend. Caprice, thank you once again for everything that you gave me! Happy Thanksgiving! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-19948610812845572402010-10-27T22:34:00.000-07:002010-11-25T01:24:44.680-08:00My Superman!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcshiN3dS1aTPy-g1pGJvq-2bAV7ORb3IaOcFsf6kAgo3tj2pebYcAq7v5MT1-j9TK5pBpfUWjU11n-FS-Gy_aWoiU84b1vTUqvMtbmARjk1kZwtgQLeduE-5omRhymeiYLmp1WiK_bnU/s1600/232323232-fp63263-nu=32-9-;7;-583-WSNRCG=354359-583337nu0mrj+(1).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcshiN3dS1aTPy-g1pGJvq-2bAV7ORb3IaOcFsf6kAgo3tj2pebYcAq7v5MT1-j9TK5pBpfUWjU11n-FS-Gy_aWoiU84b1vTUqvMtbmARjk1kZwtgQLeduE-5omRhymeiYLmp1WiK_bnU/s320/232323232-fp63263-nu=32-9-;7;-583-WSNRCG=354359-583337nu0mrj+(1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532970985800733490" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In case you haven't noticed...I'm a huge TAYLOR SWIFT fan. In fact, my dad took me to her concert when she came here. It was a daddy daughter date! :) Her new album just came out and it's so funny. She wrote a song about her dad and titled it superman. Well, my nickname for my dad is superman! Anyways, it pretty much is amazing! I'll try and find a version of it to post in my music section! Enjoy!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><div style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Superman lyrics</span></b></span></div></span></span></span><p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Tall dark and superman<br />He puts papers in his briefcase and drives away<br />To save the world or go to work<br />Its the same thing to me<br />Hes got his mothers eyes his fathers ambition<br />I wonder if he knows how much that I miss him<br />And I know every word that you say, yay<br />You smile and say how are you<br />I say just fine<br />I always forget to tell you, I love you, I love you ... forever<br /><br />I watched superman fly away<br />Youve got a busy day today<br />To save the world ill be around<br />I watched superman fly away<br />Come back ill deal with you someday<br />Ill be right here on the ground<br />When you come back down<br /><br />Talk dark and beautiful<br />Hes complicated hes irrational<br />But I hope someday you take me away and save the day, yeeeeahhh<br />Something in his deep browns eyes has me sing<br />Hes not as bad like this, reputation<br />I can't hear one single word they said, noooooo<br />You really got places to be and I'll be old then<br />I always forget to tell you I love you I loved you from the very first day<br /><br />I watched superman fly away<br />Youve got a busy day today<br />To save the world ill be around<br />I watched superman fly away<br />Come back ill deal with you someday<br />Ill be right here on the ground<br />When you come back down<br /><br />And I watch you fly around the world<br />And I hope your texting some other girl<br />I hope you dont forget about me<br />Im far away but i'll never let you go<br />Im lovestruck and looking out the window<br />Dont forget dont forget where ill be<br />Right here wishing the flowers were from you<br />Wishing the card was from you<br />Wishing the card was from you<br /><br />Cuz I loved you from the very first day<br /><br />I watched superman fly away<br />Youve got a busy day today to save the world<br />Ill be around forever and ever here<br />I watched superman fly away<br />I swear ill be with you someday<br />Ill be right here on the ground<br />When you come back down<br /><br />La, la, la<br /><br />When you come back down</span></span></span></span></p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-495432832636296952010-07-26T02:55:00.000-07:002010-07-26T03:19:19.295-07:00College Life & My Adoption Experience<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">Since my senior project in high school I have been given many wonderful opportunities to share my wonderful experience with adoption. When signing up for my college classes I decided to take a public speaking course for fun. Yeah, I'm crazy. I wanted to be able to become a better public speaker so, if in the future I was asked to speak again at an adoption event I would know how to speak. </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">For my class, we had to give three out of class speeches, two in-class speeches, and two mp3 recorded speeches. Thankfully, I knew how to take care of my out of class speeches. I contacted the local adoption agency and offered my services. I was able to speak to two different birth - mother groups. It was an amazing experience! I learned so much from both groups. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">What I love about adoption most is learning the different view points from angle of the triad. I've spoken with numerous amounts of adoptive parents and numerous amounts of birth - parents! I've done my research and read tons of stories. I've even gained first - hand knowledge through my adoption. And what I learned is there is something in common with every adoption. That's right every story is basically the same. <i>Because adoption is truly about loving someone unconditionally.</i> According to dictionary.com unconditional means "</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span id="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; "><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; cursor: default; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">not</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"> </span></span></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; cursor: default; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">limited</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"> </span></span></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; cursor: default; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">by</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"> </span></span></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; cursor: default; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">conditions;</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"> </span></span></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; cursor: default; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">absolute:</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="ital-inline" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; "><span id="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; "><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; cursor: default; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">an</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"> </span></span></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; cursor: default; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">unconditional</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"> </span></span></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; background-color: transparent; cursor: default; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">promise". </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="ital-inline" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; "><span id="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; "><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; background-color: transparent; cursor: default; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="ital-inline" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; "><span id="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; "><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; background-color: transparent; cursor: default; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">I know and always will know that my birth - parents love me unconditionally. I know and always will know that my parents will love me unconditionally. I hope they know that I will always love them unconditionally as well. I'm grateful to the life they all gave me! Without all of them, I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be the person I am today! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="ital-inline" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; "><span id="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; "><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; background-color: transparent; cursor: default; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="ital-inline" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; "><span id="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; "><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; background-color: transparent; cursor: default; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">College didn't teach me this, but it gave me the opportunity to share my knowledge with others! The greatest thing about this unconditional love is that we ALL have a Father in Heaven who loves us all unconditionally! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-68594855010800297172010-03-28T15:12:00.000-07:002010-03-28T15:39:44.181-07:00My Brother, My Best Friend<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Austin is my best friend and my brother. One of the hardest things in my life is going to happen in a couple of weeks. I am going away to college and I have to live 784 miles away from my best friend. This doesn't sit well with me, I just want to pack him in my suite case and take him with me! Austin, I truly would walk all 784 miles just to see your smile or hear your laugh. I love you and I have no idea what I would do without you!! :) I feel that this quote sums up our relationship! "We share a secret smile only we understand. We have a bond that time will never erase. We've grown up, but we'll never grow apart!" </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana, Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana, Arial;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"A Thousand Miles"<br /><br />Making my way downtown<br />Walking fast<br />Faces pass<br />And I'm home bound<br /><br />Staring blankly ahead<br />Just making my way<br />Making a way<br />Through the crowd<br /><br />And I need you<br />And I miss you<br />And now I wonder....<br /><br />If I could fall<br />Into the sky<br />Do you think time<br />Would pass me by<br />'Cause you know I'd walk<br />A thousand miles<br />If I could<br />Just see you<br />Tonight<br /><br />It's always times like these<br />When I think of you<br />And I wonder<br />If you ever<br />Think of me<br /><br />'Cause everything's so wrong<br />And I don't belong<br />Living in your<br />Precious memories<br /><br />'Cause I need you<br />And I miss you<br />And now I wonder....<br /><br />If I could fall<br />Into the sky<br />Do you think time<br />Would pass me by<br />'Cause you know I'd walk<br />A thousand miles<br />If I could<br />Just see you<br />Tonight<br /><br />And I, I<br />Don't want to let you know<br />I, I<br />Drown in your memory<br />I, I<br />Don't want to let this go<br />I, I<br />Don't....<br /><br />Making my way downtown<br />Walking fast<br />Faces pass<br />And I'm home bound<br /><br />Staring blankly ahead<br />Just making my way<br />Making a way<br />Through the crowd<br /><br />And I still need you<br />And I still miss you<br />And now I wonder....<br /><br />If I could fall<br />Into the sky<br />Do you think time<br />Would pass us by<br />'Cause you know I'd walk<br />A thousand miles<br />If I could<br />Just see you...<br /><br />If I could fall<br />Into the sky<br />Do you think time<br />Would pass me by<br />'Cause you know I'd walk<br />A thousand miles<br />If I could<br />Just see you<br />If I could<br />Just hold you<br />Tonight </span><p></p><p></p></span><br /></span></span></div><p style="visibility:visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-cd.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="320" width="426" style="width:426px;height:320px"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-cd.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="salign" value="l"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=2810246167511329741&site=widget-cd.slide.com"></object></p><p style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=2810246167511329741&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-cd.slide.com/p1/2810246167511329741/ms_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=2810246167511329741&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-cd.slide.com/p2/2810246167511329741/ms_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=2810246167511329741&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-cd.slide.com/p4/2810246167511329741/ms_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-86268252005799242932010-03-20T01:56:00.001-07:002010-03-20T02:07:24.367-07:00My Hero, My Birth - Mother<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSy38zrqf1ovWjsn_Zvab75jvaOPqoxSbf_fVw3eBD2XGgG0Hd3PkkxZDIZjzC9vBeqoQ5nqACrNWdTp0roxQqbtjnDIcmPtHZSpfnI896zPLk861JObwpNYqO41Cgl3yObIzDsK5sio/s1600-h/14731_1254151043757_1528995420_30714619_4652006_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSy38zrqf1ovWjsn_Zvab75jvaOPqoxSbf_fVw3eBD2XGgG0Hd3PkkxZDIZjzC9vBeqoQ5nqACrNWdTp0roxQqbtjnDIcmPtHZSpfnI896zPLk861JObwpNYqO41Cgl3yObIzDsK5sio/s320/14731_1254151043757_1528995420_30714619_4652006_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450638956731372946" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">The gorgeous lady in this picture is my birth - mother, her name is Caprice. Caprice is my hero! She is selfless caring, funny, out going, and just makes your day brighter!<br /><br />One of the main reasons she is my hero is because she gave me three very precious gifts. First, the gift of life, the best gift of all! Second, she chose my amazing parents. She wanted me to have the best forever family ever, and that's what I am lucky enough to have. Third, she gave me the love for dance!<br /><br />Last week, I had the amazing honor to meet my hero. My family and I spent five wonderful, incredible days with Caprice and her family! Every moment was just a fairytale moment! That is how perfect everything was!<br /><br />I just wanted to publicly thank Caprice for everything she's done for me! I love her so much!<br /><br />Caprice, thank you for being my amazing, incredible birth - mother!</span><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVg3_2TqSXlzNH2g0x1IVBPYeItcXAhfSJRefWvxvGyJAJ6jikZ9ugDjpw8BAoTS_dA4XJ8iwFSpexa2AYdELWSEFLLosaTyFS_IJ2lhtLjSS389duCKmdl02058mD5YTlbUPObAFqmU/s1600-h/img045.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVg3_2TqSXlzNH2g0x1IVBPYeItcXAhfSJRefWvxvGyJAJ6jikZ9ugDjpw8BAoTS_dA4XJ8iwFSpexa2AYdELWSEFLLosaTyFS_IJ2lhtLjSS389duCKmdl02058mD5YTlbUPObAFqmU/s320/img045.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450639494005438562" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px; " /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-24167305827273486842010-02-23T10:33:00.000-08:002010-02-23T10:35:14.150-08:00<a href="http://www.familiessupportingadoption.blogspot.com/">http://www.familiessupportingadoption.blogspot.com/</a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">This is a review of the conference I spoke at in November...below is my speech. You'll have to understand when I speak I don't use notes so it's probably not word for word what I said. I also have been known to add certain things. I am a go with the flow type speaker so it is hard to re - create! </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-6672267333710084262009-11-22T21:30:00.000-08:002009-11-22T21:35:37.700-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">I'm always trying to improve my blog and so today I thought of a great idea! I have decided that if you guys have any questions...any at all. You can e-mail me to ask me. I set up a special account for this purpose..I love receiving your comments and hearing your story. If you just want to e-mail me to say hi and share how you're involved in the adoption process I would love that too! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">adoptedandproudofit@gmail.com </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">-Melissa </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">P.S. I'll be adding my speech that I recently gave in the next few days! </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-23535980393893043002009-11-17T17:08:00.000-08:002010-03-07T19:51:02.219-08:00FSA Regional Conference<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">Hi! My name is Melissa and I was placed for adoption through LDS Family Services 18 years ago. Last year for my senior project, I had to come up with ten hours of community service that related to my career choice. That is how I started speaking about adoption. I'm still surprised that a ten hour service project turned into me speaking at an event so large, it truly is amazing. I have always said I was adopted and proud of it, in fact that is the name of my blog.<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">Let me explain to you why adoption is so amazing to me personally. My adoption story to me is like a fairytale. It begins with once upon a time......and ends with, she lives happily ever after! Oh, I apologize for giving away the ending! I'm not a big fan of doing that but, I didn't want you guys to be on the edge of your seats, wondering if the story had a happy ending!<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">Once upon a time... my mom was in the hospital for three months extremely ill. It was at this time she was pregnant and lost a baby for the second time. This was a very difficult time, and knowing how much she longed to be a mother, it surprised my dad and grandparents, that she was able to smile through her tears and reassure them it was OK, that there was another way! The Lord gave her the strength to accept the loss and receive hope through adoption. That very day, while still in the hospital, my mom called the adoption agency eager to begin the adoption process. By the time my parents were qualified, my birth mother was one month along with me. I was an answer to all their prayers!<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">For my birth mother so loved me that she gave me, her first born, to a home with both a mother and father to be sealed to for all eternity. Late one night, my parents were getting ready to go to bed when the phone rang. My mom sleepily answered. It was the adoption agency announcing the birth of their new baby girl. After the phone call, they hugged each other and cried. They knelt and thanked the Lord and prayed for my birth mother. They were filled with so many emotions. They felt so humbled, and were filled with such gratitude. They were so excited and so happy! They rushed around the house, getting all their baby things ready for the following day when they would bring me home. My room was ready and waiting for me....decorated and with a crib. My parents were so excited, they just couldn't wait to tell everyone, so they drove over to my grandparents home to tell them the wonderful news! They rushed out the door so fast, my dad didn't tie his shoes. My uncle video taped this event and asked my dad...."so tell us what caused you to rush over here after midnight, so fast that you didn't even tie your shoes, it must be pretty important?!" Well, to say the least, the news of my birth brought a lot of excitement!! My parents couldn't sleep all night, they were so overjoyed.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">The next morning my ENTIRE extended family came to the adoption agency to meet me, the room was packed. Six months past, and there I sat in my moms arms in the temple, to be sealed to my parents. The temple sealer looked at me and asked me if I was ready to be sealed to my parents. To the astonishment of everyone in the room, including the temple sealer, I looked up and clearly responded by saying, "yeah!". My parents feel the Lord gave me the ability, at that special moment, to speak the desires of my heart!<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">One day, when I was 2 1/2 my mom told me adoption means belonging, to familiarize myself with the word adoption. My mom made a book for me with pictures that told the story how adoption was the special way we became a family. I would ride around with it in the basket of my tricycle. I would say mommy will you read me "my special book?!"<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">I'm four and give my parents my cutest face, and would ask if we could get ice cream? My parents would ask, "Well, Melissa what are we celebrating?" I would look up with batting eyelashes and reply "Let's celebrate life!" My parents couldn't argue with celebrating life, plus who could say no to my innocent, adorable face!<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">Time goes by, and all of a sudden I am seven years old, and I tell my friends that I was adopted. To my surprise, they didn't get adoption like I did. They told me things like, my parent's weren't my parents. I came home in tears. Adoption is something that takes time and maturity to understand and when you're seven you don't understand that. On the bright side, one of my friend's was really smart. She told me, she wished she was adopted, because it was so cool. She said she wanted to adopt kids someday. Since I was young, I decided it was best not to share with friends that I was adopted, because it was personal to me and kids would ask questions I didn't know how to respond to. I was young and was learning to understand it myself.<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></div>I'm a teenager now, a time when every youth seeks their identity. It was my most difficult time in life, when I struggled to understand adoption and come to terms with it. My parents always made me feel loved and special. They always made me feel comfortable talking about adoption with them.<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">My birth mother is one of my greatest heroes. She was very prayerful and unselfish. She wanted the best for me. My birth mother wanted me to be sealed to a mother and father in the temple. She loves me so much....and I love her! My birth mother gave me the two greatest gifts in the world. She gave me my life! Like I said before, since the age of four, I informed my parents we needed to celebrate life and go get ice cream. If she would have had an abortion, I wouldn't be standing here right now. I'm truly grateful for my life every moment of every day. The second greatest gift she gave me was the gift of dance. It makes me so happy to know my birth mother danced with me while expecting me. It has always meant the world to me that she did that for me.<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">It is every child's birthright to have both a mother and father. My birth mother prayed all night and she had no doubt that the Lord wanted me to go to the family she chose for me. My birth mother wanted me to have the best and that's <i>exactly </i>what I got. <b>I got the best parents EVER.</b> I'm a total daddy's girl, my dad is everything to me. He is my math tutor, he constantly has me rolling on the floor laughing, and he is always there for me. When I'm sick he will go to the store and buy me anything that will make me feel better. And, he took me to the Taylor Swift concert. I honestly couldn't live without my dad. Dad, that is the reason you are never allowed to die. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">My mom is my best friend, she cares so much for me. I'm her favorite daughter. It's true....although, the fact that I'm her only daughter has nothing to do with it. I would be her favorite if she had a million daughters. She will do anything for me. She is there to hold my hair back when I'm sick. She will stay up all night caring for me if she has too. She stayed by my side, all day and night when I had surgery this past summer. She watches my dance routines and sings along to all my favorite songs. I can't live without my mom!<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">And then....there is Austin, my brother, who wasn't adopted and is six years younger than me. You may think we don't have that much in common, but, Austin is my best friend!!! He will play wii with me, we make crazy music videos together, he gives me the best hugs and makes me feel like I'm the best person in the world. No one can quite make me laugh like Austin! He is the greatest brother in the whole wide world. He even skipped school to come and hear me talk. Ok, so let me make it clear, Austin, you're not allowed to die either!<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">Being adopted has been such a blessing to me! I wouldn't change a thing about my adoption. It was a closed adoption and I'm grateful it was closed. It allowed me the opportunity to understand adoption on my own terms. I look forward to finding my birth mother someday, and thanking her for making my life so wonderful. I know today, most adoptions are open, but I feel I needed to grow up without my birth parents in my life, to understand what adoption is. Adoption is very complex, and growing up, a child needs time to understand it. It should be my choice to have my birth parents in my life and open adoption takes away that choice. I mean after all, isn't adoption all about the child, and what's best for them? So, it really should be the child's choice whether or not to find their birth parents, or when that time feels right for them. I'm grateful my parents have always been supportive of my decision to find my birth mother, when I felt the time was right. They have always been sensitive to my feelings and have treated me with the greatest respect. My parents made sure that I received the letter and gifts my birth mother gave me.<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">My birth grandmother made me a baby blanket and it is on my bed every night. And if it is not on my bed, nobody goes to sleep until it's found. On the corner of the blanket, it says "made with love", this corner of my blanket is very special to me and is where I hold it close to my heart. My parents gave me a gold chain for a baby ring my birth mother gave me, which I'm wearing right now. She also gave me a heart with the words engraved, "You're in my heart". These gifts are treasures and help me whenever I have a hard time understanding adoption. Besides dancing with me, my birth mother also sang while expecting me, and recorded some special songs, and hand wrote the words to them. On the tape she sang the songs, Walk Tall You're A Daughter of God, and From God's Arms To My Arms To Yours....but the best part of the whole tape are the last four words...."I love you sweetheart!" Along with these treasures, my birth mother wrote me a beautiful letter, telling me how much she loves me and wants the best for me. She explained that the parents she chose, would be able to provide all that she and Heavenly Father desired for me, which she was unable to do at that time in her life.<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">In the end, understanding adoption is something that I continue to understand as I hear more and more stories. I actually went to the LDS Family Services website itsaboutlove.org to check it out. I was interviewed by a newspaper based in Provo and I told them the first thing I did was watch every video of the birth mothers telling their stories. It really helped me understand adoption from other points of view. I actually e-mailed them to tell them that I thought they should include stories on their site, by kids who were adopted, because birth parents should be able to see how happy and thankful kids are for adoption! They asked to include my story on their website, and I learned they are working on the new additions website right now.<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">I am happy to be a voice for adoption! Having my ten hours of service for my senior project has been one of the best things that has happened to me. I love being here and telling each of you how grateful I am that I was adopted. I am forever grateful for the wonderful family especially selected for me by my birth mother and the Lord. I want to thank my birth mother for praying all night to know what was best for me. This was Heavenly Father's plan for me. Adoption is truly by divine design.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">And.....you guys all know the ending. And she lives happily ever after!</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-1111458626710672772009-09-15T01:33:00.001-07:002009-09-15T01:37:50.492-07:00Itsaboutlove.org<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">The LDS Family Services has a new website and I must say it is amazing! I went on it and loved it! I am now working with them for the adoptee section. I love being a voice for adoption it's truly one of my passions in life! Adoption is basically the most fantastic thing this world has. So in summary, go check out this new website!! </span><a href="http://www.itsaboutlove.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">www.itsaboutlove.org</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-5091408837479614892009-07-06T20:53:00.000-07:002010-03-28T14:29:07.753-07:00My Mom<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4giy-vdkH53JZkeJB98xN4kHkV_fO7_JrcCduJikIyE0Nzyl5H69sCeAw1NHXA26qid0HJazzJ409SpI7J5QD7XsO9nHWsAQvZHCpomUQo-ic9IamC4agfhoERv2TxcQMhdgC_QGU8Jw/s1600/IMG_0739.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4giy-vdkH53JZkeJB98xN4kHkV_fO7_JrcCduJikIyE0Nzyl5H69sCeAw1NHXA26qid0HJazzJ409SpI7J5QD7XsO9nHWsAQvZHCpomUQo-ic9IamC4agfhoERv2TxcQMhdgC_QGU8Jw/s320/IMG_0739.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453799327050847154" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The story of my childhood, and the moment I realized my mom was the best friend I’ll ever have. The memories of running and laughing and having the best days with her- Taylor Swift</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnlm0-8l6q8IZ8fKT1gKQ6lHjzwfYrP-k7gqS9Yzm_ts0h_ycTlPv5JBE80b38tQuEvkDkyL6HFC9T83KvGRC3jomSHbRFqajp7g4zawjHzEOBHM2mqhQNLYYQsb0MCHHFKgsK1Jczew/s1600-h/IMG_3277.JPG"><br /></a><div><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Last night I was feeling really sick and so I woke up my mom and she sat with me for hours. She is so funny and is always making me laugh so hard. In fact yesterday during church she made me laugh really hard but I had to try and keep control of myself. She is always saying things that make me smile! While I was feeling really sick I had to tell her to stop making me laugh because it was making my stomach hurt even more. She will watch my dance routines and sing along to my favorite songs! She is truly my best friend! She thinks she doesn't have talents but its not true! She always wants the best for others and looks for the good in everyone. I want to be a better person because of her. She has always been so supportive of me being adopted. Mom, this song The Best Day by Taylor Swift is totally our song, I always have the best days when I am with you. </span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">The Best Day</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I'm five years old and it's getting cold</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I've got my big coat on</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I run and run</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Look now the sky is gold</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I don't know why all the trees change in the fall</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I know you're not scared of anything at all</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">But I know I had the best day with you today</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I'm thirteen now and don't know how my friends could be so mean</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">And we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">And we talk and window shop till I forget their names</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I don't know who I'm gonna talk to now at school</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">But I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel ok</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">But I know I had the best day with you today</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I have an excellent father</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">His strength is making me stronger</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">God smiles on my little brother</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Inside and out he's better than I am</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">And I had the best days with you</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">There is a video I found from back when I was three</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you're talking to me</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">It's the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarfs</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Daddy's smart and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Now I know why all the trees change in the fall</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">I know you were on my side even when I was wrong</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">And I love you for giving me your eyes </span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Staying back and watching me shine and I didn't know if you knew</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">So I'm taking this chance to say that I had the best day with you today </span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-9788067454628610252009-03-08T18:30:00.000-07:002009-03-08T21:37:24.631-07:00My Dad, My Hero<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZKkhT4I5X4c5g_ZOlNvvwrIK6Y_0h8FCb9HAyS3AafTW2cVHgBWbPKm-4Kp-ddGQnEaZbcdl9eeHEiFTVTi8IHbRcT4Fjp7dhSmXtnxM9G6DU0f7c5_S4Ek4MdQzAImX15-krObT8T0/s1600-h/daddy&melissa.jpg"><span style="color:#ff6666;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310996079846590834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZKkhT4I5X4c5g_ZOlNvvwrIK6Y_0h8FCb9HAyS3AafTW2cVHgBWbPKm-4Kp-ddGQnEaZbcdl9eeHEiFTVTi8IHbRcT4Fjp7dhSmXtnxM9G6DU0f7c5_S4Ek4MdQzAImX15-krObT8T0/s320/daddy&melissa.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#ff6666;"><br /></span><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">My dad is a hero. You don’t find him listed on the internet but, what he has done through out his life is amazing. My dad built an entire new house. He never complained that the work was hard. He did it for his family. He’d drop his hammer down to come and help me or my brother at any time, if we had homework. He is like a ray from the sun; bright and full of life!<br /><br />He has blue eyes and dark brown hair. People tell us all the time that we look a lot alike. We have the same blue eyes.<br /><br />He has the best personality. He’s firm about what he believes in and you can’t change his mind very easily. He is funny and teases us all the time! He even makes up different nicknames for us. He walks around the house and whistles and sings. He also fiddles around on the piano and make up his own songs. He never learned how to play when he was growing up but, he’s always wanted to learn. I want to teach him someday!<br /><br />My dad loves math and is my math tutor at home. Whenever I don’t understand something he is able to explain it to me and I’m able to understand it better. He is the perfect tutor, caring and patient. He taught me how to drive. And that couldn’t have been easy.<br /><br />He always knows how to make me feel better. I can’t ever get mad at him because he always makes me smile and laugh.<br /><br />The two things he can’t resist are cookies and chocolate. He loves them! Between my mom, dad, and brother we can’t keep enough chocolate milk or chocolate anything.<br /><br />My dad is wise. He has a deep love for the gospel and is active in our church. He served a mission for our church for two years! He is a great teacher at home. He teaches us about everything from how to have a goodtime….to helping us with school. He shows us how to treat others. He is always ready to do anything for his family if they call and need him. Just a few weeks ago my grandma needed some help and we all drove down there to help her! My dad puts his family first no matter what he has planned.<br /><br />He cooks and cleans. He watches movies and played dolls with me when I was little. He is always ready to make everything we do fun and enjoyable.<br />Once he took me to the dump for the first time, as we were driving he told me “I’ll watch your head for spiders and you watch mine.” He had just finished his sentence when I started backing up and said, “Dad there’s a spider above your head.” He totally thought I was joking… until he looked up and saw the multi-colored eight legged creature above his head. His reaction was priceless. I’ll never forget that! And now, I love going to the dump with him. After all, he does need someone to watch his head!<br /><br />I’ve never seen my dad cry and I don’t think I ever will. He broke his foot and walked in the house and sat down. All he said was that he needed an ice pack because he thought his foot was broken. I told him to get a pink cast because real men wear pink. Unfortunately, he got blue. He didn’t let that stop us from going to the beach that year. Of course, I was the one that packed up the car because he couldn’t carry anything. I was so happy to help him out. What I liked even better though is he couldn’t have done it without my help. One day we were at the store and they asked if we needed help out, and I said “Nope, I’ve got it.” For some reason that filled me with joy!<br /><br />He helps with school all the time! Last year, I did a project on Leatherback Turtles. He had this idea to help me make a papier-mâché model. The night before the project was due I had glued it down, but when my dad went to move it from the table, it slid off. He took the time to fix it for me and then I got a 105%! It felt nice to know he was there to help me, no matter what happened.<br /><br />My dad will do anything he can for anybody. Just a few weeks ago, he had to set up a broadcast for a bunch of youth to watch. He had been limping all day. I knew how to set up, so when he said he could handle it, I got dressed so quick, he couldn’t say no! I set up for him that night. It was fun to do something for him!<br /><br />When I’m sick, he’s ready to go and get anything I need. My dad comes to anything from dance performances, to school plays. He’s there no matter what time it is. Once, he took off work to come and see me dance at my talent show. He didn’t need to, but he did! <br /><br />I’m glad he’s my dad! My dad is my hero and no matter what he does that’s what he’ll always be to me. He’ll deny that he’s anything special… but he’s my dad and that’s enough for me! Life would never be the same without my dad. I love my dad!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-87185603078662776582008-11-29T22:31:00.000-08:002008-11-30T01:13:22.626-08:00I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptqb49ONVlh0YatLuz5LUidkDa6lL8n9eT0fN7GS6Qgf9sl6f2eMWAwJo0zQjevp_0cc6WoCE2UU-4IYCacMO78sTtiJR8tqY4PGgGE6W23WakcFPcwO-wkPJ-xKC50CUQ6TrXy6c-os/s1600-h/DSC_0186x.jpg"><span style="color:#ff6666;"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptqb49ONVlh0YatLuz5LUidkDa6lL8n9eT0fN7GS6Qgf9sl6f2eMWAwJo0zQjevp_0cc6WoCE2UU-4IYCacMO78sTtiJR8tqY4PGgGE6W23WakcFPcwO-wkPJ-xKC50CUQ6TrXy6c-os/s320/DSC_0186x.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#ff6666;"> Everyday I am truly grateful for the gift of being alive! When I was a child I was always asking to go out to get ice cream. My parents would ask "what's the special occasion?" I would reply that "we needed to celebrate life!" I am truly always thankful that I was adopted and placed in my family. I know I was placed in the right family! We are a perfect fit for each other! I am so happy and I love my family! I feel their love for me each and everyday!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582177081160186491.post-39129417830769657802008-11-29T18:28:00.000-08:002008-11-30T13:06:52.353-08:00Growing Up Adopted - YAY ME!<span style="color:#ff6666;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">One of my sayings in life is I was adopted and proud of it! Being adopted is awesome! My theory on adoption is simple. Us, adopted kids, have six parents: Our Heavenly Parents, Our Birth – Parents, and my parents. With all these people we have so much extra love than the people with only four. I grew up always knowing that I was adopted. In my opinion EVERY child needs to grow up with this knowledge. Seriously, if you don’t tell them it will ruin your relationship with your child. Plus, they won’t get out of those genetic science assignments. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Growing up adopted was cool. I’m just a normal person. Every child has to come to terms with adoption. So, while coming to terms with being adopted I had this special baby blanket given to me which was made by my birth mother which says, "made with love!" A special letter was also given to me. These gifts always remind me of how much I am extra loved. I sometimes wonder how come people don't always understand how incredible adoption is, that adoption means just an extra bundle of love. Adoption is amazingly AWESOME! </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sometimes I would feel like I was the only one in the whole world that was adopted but, then I would meet other kids my age who were too. We would instantly feel this amazing connection, like being members of a select, exclusive club. This past summer I learned my roommate at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">EFY</span> was adopted too and we just totally hit it off and had a lot of the same opinions about being adopted. (She always felt grateful she was adopted. And was blessed with a very cool family! Her family was of different nationalities.) We also had grown up with similar experiences. It was really great being able to relate with someone at that level. We both were raised strong in the gospel and because of that we both have strong testimonies. Just a side note...(She is an amazing missionary. She says that she is always telling everyone about the gospel. She even asked these two guys on campus while we were at EFY, what they were doing that Sunday, and asked if they wanted to go to Church? They said "yes!" She asked them if they wanted to meet with the missionaries and learn more about what we believe. They said "yes!" They contacted the missionaries to meet with them. She was an awesome example to me and I'm glad we were roommates at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">EFY</span>.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Anyway, back to the subject of adoption. While going through understanding adoption, I came across this song which really helped me comprehend adoption. It's called "You A</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">re Loved" by, Josh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Groban</span>...and he has an amazing voice so, I’ll play it for you now (it's on my music list)</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I just want to express how thankful I am for my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">birth mother</span>. </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ff6666;">I know that she still loves me and cares for me and that is why she gave me to my parents. She gave me the most precious gift of life and she gave me my amazing parents! There <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">isn</span>’t a day that I am not thankful for her sacrifice. It reminds me of the scripture in John 3 :16. (For my birth mother so loved me that she gave me, her first born, to a home with both a mother and father to be sealed to for all <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">eternity</span>!) To close I’d like to read this Poem and I thought it was pretty fantastic. The name of it is: </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ff6666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ff6666;">Legacy of an Adopted Child<br /><br /><br />Once there were two women who never knew each other.<br />One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.<br />Two different lives, shaped to make you one.<br />One became a guiding star; the other became your sun.<br />The first gave you life and the second taught you to live in it.<br />One gave you nationality; the other gave you a name.<br />One gave you a seed of talent; the other gave you an aim.<br />One gave you emotions; the other calmed your fears.<br />One gave you up…it was all that she could do.<br />The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you.<br />And now you ask, through your fears.<br />The age old questions, unanswered through the years.<br />Heredity or environment…which are you the product of…<br />Neither my darling…neither.<br />Just two special kinds of love.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ff6666;"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#33ccff;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4