Birth Mothers

While Jena was receiving her award, I was attending our "Birth mother Appreciation Dnner" which was put on by LDS Family Services.  We had a good dinner and it was great to see many old friends and to visit and laugh together.  I was the concluding speaker.  My talk was "odd" to me because in stead of talking directly about birth parents, I shared instead about my life as a mother of children who were adopted.  I called it"Reflections of a birth mother" and gave some of the many experiences related to raising our children and teaching them about adoption.  Afterwards many people asked me if they could have a copy of the ending.  I forwarded them that, but decided to also post it here.  In the future I also might enhance it for an article related to adoption. (whe I have tme for such things!).  But for now, I wanted it here for my children, for my friends with adoption connections and for the four unique women who made decisions which blessed my live so much.

"If I could speak to our children’s birth parents, I would say:

“You were never forgotten”.  We prayed for you.  We spoke of you and answered our children’s questions as best we could about you.  We taught our children to love and be grateful for you and for your sacrifice as we love and are grateful for you as well.  On birthdays, we remembered you as we shared their stories of their beginnings.  Each time someone says how--------fill in the blank------beautiful, bright, nice, talented, amazing that one of our children was, we have accepted that compliment for ourselves and also in behalf of you.

Despite what anyone in the world may have thought or have done or said to make you feel “less than” because of the decision you made.  Know that on our end we have stood and continue to stand as witnesses of your great love and amazing sacrifice.  We have honored you in private conversations and in newspaper interviews, we have supported others as a family and professional in your remembrance, we have tried to make the world a better more understanding place for you.

Each one of you no matter your circumstance held a child in your arms and made a decision that you believed was right and best for that child at that time and then you let the child go and started the process that placed them in our arms.  Are we perfect parents? No, but we are perfectly connected to these children we share.  We see your reflection in them, we love them and  we love you.  And you are remembered!"

As I mentioned, my talk was different than the one that I originally thought I would give.  A sweet tender mercy occured when the woman began to sing the closing song.  It too was a song about "reflections" and perfectly connected with the things which I had expressd.  I did not know even the title of the closing song.  It was an amazing moment.  I had an overwhelming feeling that I ha given the right talk for at least one person to hear.  And of course, I cried.  Did I mention that life is good?

Area Spring Games and into May with Jena

The end of April saw Jena and I heading up to Logan for the annual Special Olympic Track Meet.  The past two years it had snowed on us so I packed well for the weather...which meant of course that it was beautiful weather--blue skies, sunshine, and white puffy clouds.  Gary missed it because work had a computer crashed right before we left.Jena did well wth a silver and bronze in her races and a gold in the softball throw.  The great thing is she is getting better and faster each year.

On the way home, we stopped at the Brigham City Temple for a couple of pictures.  It is still under construction.  If you look closely you can see the green fence to keep people off the property.  It is a very beautiful building in downtown Brigham City.

 Part of the "busyness" of May included the annual "Silver Wolves" Awards ceremony.  We had gotten an invitation as Jena's grades are high as she works and is graded on her work and effort in her classes and she wants to do well.  I had decided to not bother with it this year as I had a speaking engagement that same night.  Luckly her theater teacher emailed me a few days earlier and informed me that the teachers had decided to name her as the "Theater Department Student of the Year".  It was a secret from Jena until she read it in the program before the meeting started. (picture above)  Here is Jena standing in front with other department students of the year.

Gary taped the little speech the musical director read about Jena.  He talked about her smile and willingness to work hard and to practice and always keep a good attitude in class and on the stage.  It was great and Jena was very happy about it, even though all she got was a certificate.  We were so proud of her.  I was sorry that I missed it.

Busy Month

At the end of April, I sat down to update our family calendar from my day planner.  When I opened up my planner to what I thought was May" I couldn't believe how packed the days were already.  My mental to do list was rapidly disappearing.....then I realized that I had accidently opened to "March"  which had been a busy month.  When I turned to May it was much more open and inviting which is how you should feel at the beginning of each month.

Rest assured, May filled up like days and months always do.  Appointments, meetings, assignments, more doctor appointments, and all the tasks of being a woman, wife, and mother.  As crazy as my life can be, I certainly grateful to live in a place which allows me freedom to do what I want to do.  I don't have to carry my water from a stream or shield my children from bullets of the enemy.  Life is really good in spite of the difficulties we encounter along the way.

I can't find my camera...

...which is my excuse for being so far behind in posting for the blog.  I use the camera pictures to jog my memory of what we have been up to in the past few (and more than a few weeks,)  I know we have done a few things lately.  I will try to catch up.

As usual, I will post them a separate posts in order of occurance.  So start with this post and read up he liist.

Happy reading!