BirthMom Buds Bulletin November 2006

"An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day!"
~ Irv Kupcinet

What's new with BirthMom Buds: Just a little note to keep you up to date with all the great things we are doing.
Poems ~ Check out the new poems on the Inspiration Page.
Cookbook ~ Made With Love, the BirthMom Buds cookbook will be in our hands very soon. We are expecting delivery before Thanksgiving. Guarantee that you will be able to purchase a few by pre-buying your copy or copies today. These would make great Christmas gifts too! Go to the Cookbook Page for more info.
Slideshow ~ You may remember the Founders making a slideshow as part of their presentation for the SC Counsel for Adoptable Children Conference. It is finally available online. Check it out!
Christmas Ornament Exchange ~ In lieu of Secret Santa as we have done in the past, this year we are going to do an ornament exchange. If you wish to participate you will be matched with someone and buy and send them an ornament. Go to the Christmas Ornament Exchange page for more details.

Adoption Spotlight: Focusing on any adoption or women's issues related web site, organization, individual, or issue.

During a time of thanksgiving, it is appropriate for National Adoption Month to be positioned in the month of November. Using white ribbons to raise awareness, National Adoption Month celebrates families touched by adoption, honors birth mothers for their courageous choice and remembers children who still need permanent homes.

White ribbons worn during the month of November serve as reminders of the lifelong benefits adoption offers to young women in crisis pregnancies, children in need of permanent homes and families built through the miracle of adoption. Adoption directly impacts the lives of virtually millions of people.

Everyone has their own way of celebrating National Adoption Month. Whether you are a new birthmother or placed many years ago we all share a common bond; the love for our birth children and that is something to be THANKFUL for.

Ideas and Insights: Some ideas for gifts to your birth child or adoptive parents, creative ways to deal with being a birthmom, insight on things to do or say with your buddy, and ways to shed some light about being a birthmom to those who just don't get it.

There are only two traditions that have held on to my family over the years. One of those is the tradition of our "Thanksgiving Dinner". Its a simple tradition that after the the turkey is done, the table set, and the family is all gathered around; We CAN NOT begin our feast until each one of us has stated something that we are truly thankful for. Since I now consider many of the BirthMom Buds as close as extended family I ask you the question .... "What are you truly thankful for?"

	Alicia, bmom to Brittany is thankful for, "The Lord, my husband, my kids, my sister, my grandparents, my husband's family, my church, my husband's job, Michaela's school, my friends (on-line and offline), Birthmombuds, rainbows, rain and cool weather."
	Jamie, bmom to Lauren is thankful for, "Jesus, Gabby, Lauren and Lauren's wonderful family, my family (even though we don't get along), my job, a place to live, food to eat, a car to drive, private schooling and all who are dedicated to our children's well being, you wonderful selfless gorgeous women! Shoulders to cry on, ears that listen with understanding and love, hugs, kind words, friends, church, chicken noodle soup on a cold day, hot water in my shower, swimming pools, summer time, clean water, fresh air, a warm bed, fall leaves, beautiful sunrises/beautiful sunsets, the beach, the mountains, our troops, the protection that we have had by the grace of God up to this point, my sanity, and the color pink cause it makes me happy!"
	Leigh, bmom to Jessica is thankful for, "my friends and family, my therapist (no joke), my dear friends who I count as family, BirthMom Buds to let me get my thoughts and everything else out, my beautiful Little Miss Jessica and Louise, her mom."
	Melissa, bmom to Cole is thankful for, "you ladies...because without you I would not have been able to make it as far as I have come."
	Joann, bmom to Jocelyn says, "I am so thankful for Jesus and having a relationship with him. I am thankful for my husband and all that I have. I am thankful for my friends and their understanding. I am thankful that right now I'm not working full-time so I can be a huge support to my husband right now. I am thankful for my new friends. I am thankful for my therapist and psychiatrist and hope someday I will not need them in my life. I am thankful for my life, for Jocelyn, and her adoptive family."
	*(this is the post from babygirl456 but I dont have her first name)* "I'm thankful for Family and Friends, that god provides me with what I need and never gives me more than I can handle. I'm thankful for being able to have so much in my life. I'm also thankful for all the food that I'm going to eat. No really, I have everything that I have ever wanted in life and I love my life and all things that come with so I'm thankful for everything, even the bad. It made me better and more knowledgeable."

As I was trying to come up with my own things to be thankful for only one thing really came to mind. The Internet. While it can be a dangerous place to unknowing people who put all their information out there; it really is a great resource for me to answer many of my personal questions. And I'm sure that if I didn't have the Internet this world would seem a whole lot bigger and lonelier. So I am truly thankful for the Internet.....

NOW PASS THE CRANBERRY SAUCE!!

Buddy of the Month: All of you are appreciated, but each month we will spotlight a different involved member. You can also nominate fellow BirthMom Buds who you think deserve to be buddy of the month. For more info or to nominate a friend, visit the Buddy of the Month Page.

Tamara Hamlin joined BirthMom Buds early in her pregnancy while she was making an adoption plan for her baby. She was mentored through the Pregnant and Placing program and after she reached her daughter’s first birthday she decided she wanted to be a mentor too. Following in her mentor’s footsteps, Tamara has been an excellent mentor to first mentee showing understanding, compassion, and love like only another birthmother can. This is why Tamara has been chosen as November’s Buddy of the Month.

Tamara is birthmommy to Hadlee, who was born in June of 2005. Tamara placed Hadlee in an open adoption and says that Hadlee’s adoption “felt like destiny came in and took over. Amy and Jamie (Hadlee’s adoptive parents) had decided on adoption the same month I became pregnant. It was fate. And Miss Hadlee knew it.” Tamara’s now married to a wonderful man, has three other children she parents, and lives in Virginia. Because of many miles between them, Tamara has only been able to visit with Hadlee and family once since placing her.

If Tamara had a theme song, it would “You Drive Me Crazy” by Brittney Spears, which she sings to her kids all the time. If she were to write her life story into an auto-biography she would title it “Take a Deep Breath and Jump In!” We can’t wait to read that one.

Um, in writing this I wasn’t sure if I should share the answer to the next question, but when asked the question, “If you could choose anyone to be Grand Marshal of a parade you were organizing who would it be?” Tamara’s answer was, “Coley, she’s one of a kind!” Not sure if that’s a compliment or not! After talking with Tamara, she assures me it’s a compliment as she sees the grand marshal of a parade as the “head haucho type.” Thanks Tam!

Tamara is a child at heart. If she were able to play with any child’s toy, she would love to sit in an exersaucer and “have a blast.” Her favorite childhood toy was a Pester – it moved when you clapped. She loved the 8^th grade the best “because she was still cool.” Her favorite cartoon character is Dora the Explorer, “she teaches young children so much, but it’s still fun. And even at my age I can learn a little bit more Spanish. When asked if she could be another person for a day who would she choose, Tamara replied with “my 3 year old, I’d love to see the world through her eyes.”

Tamara’s celebrity presidential candidate would be “Robin Williams, we could all use more humor in our lives! Tamara is a Reese Witherspoon fan and admires her devotion to her family and her ability to juggle her career with her family and still look beautiful doing it. If she could join a TV family, Tamara’s pick would be the 7^th Heaven family.

In closing, I’d like to share Tamara’s response when asked what question she would ask God if given the opportunity to ask only one question. “How do you choose parents? There are so many mothers out there that just amaze me at how UNmotherlike they act. But then there are so many other women out there that are unable to have children. How do you decide who gets to have this joy and who doesn’t? And why?” Thought provoking question Tamara!

In closing, we’d like to thank Tamara for her support and devotion to BirthMom Buds and her work thus far as a mentor in the Pregnant and Placing program.

Prayers Please ~ We added this section because so many of you have asked us to remember you or your loved ones in our prayers. We have never wanted to force religion on anyone, so if you don't pray, then skip this section and go on to the next! And if you do pray - add the people listed here to your prayer list. Mary (Snowprincess in our chats) has agreed to be in charge of this section, so please send your prayer requests to her - just put "BBuds prayer request" in the subject so she won't think it's junk mail! :)

Birthday Buds: Around her birth daughter's 1st birthday, Amy Morse had the bright idea that BirthMom Buds should give members the opportunity to announce their birthdays and their birth children's bdays in the newsletter. If you would like to have your birthday or your birth child's birthday mentioned in this section, please email the birth date, your name or your child's name, to Amy by the 25th of the month before your birthday. For example, if your child's birthday is March 21, then you need to email it to Amy by Feb 25th! So email Amy with those March birthdays now! We hope you enjoy the new section and thanks to Amy for her help with it!

Michele Allen's birthdaughter Samantha will celebrate her 12th birthday on November 2nd.
Sarah Cole and her birthson, Matthew, both celebrate birthdays on November 10th. Sarah will be 26 and Matthew will be 6!
Sarah Roger's son Clay celebrates his birthday on November 24th.

Founder's Corner: A little section to help keep you up to date with Coley and Lani as they share their lives, their thoughts, and what they're doing with BirthMom Buds.

Coley:
"The losses in my life the past year have taught me to make the most of each moment, be happy with what I have, and to live each day to the fullest with no regrets. I am blessed and I am thankful for the many, many blessings in my life. I am thankful for life, for all of you, for my family, my husband, my kids, my angel babies friends, an accepting church family, technology, and freedom, just to name a few things."

Lani: "Seems I find my self thanking God more at this time of year then ever, maybe its the fresh air and I'm able to think clearer. But to list a few things I'm so thankful for... Friendships and knowing God ordained special people to cross my path in life. I'm thankful for all the blessings God has given my family this year. I'm thankful for the time I got with all the loved ones we lost this year and I'm thankful there will be a day I see them again."

We hope each of you takes a moment this month to reflect on the blessings in your life!

Inspiration: Little things to inspire a birthmom from poems, stories, and quotes to encouraging words.

T..... Is for our thankfulness for many joys and blessings...
H..... Is for our homes so warm and bright...
A..... Is for autumn, time for harvest and abundance...
N..... Is for nature's beauty and delight...
K..... Is for the kitchens where good food is cooked with love...
S..... For spicy fragrances in the air...
G..... Is for the gathering of family and friends...
I..... For the inheritance we share...
V..... Is for the vision that the Pilgrims held so dear...
I..... Is for high ideals in all they planned..
V..... Is for the vision that the Pilgrims held so dear...
I..... Is for high ideals in all they planned...
N..... Is for our native country brave and great and free...
G..... For God's great goodness to our land.

	Jenifer Hulbert asks that we continue to keep the troops in our prayers.
	"I have a tumor on each kidney I was told there is a chance it could be kidney cancer. I will be having a left partial nephrectomy Please put me on your prayer request. I am scheduled for surgery Oct. 31, 2006. Please keep me in your prayers. Thanks!" ~ Marilyn Morris.
	"Please keep my daughter Michaela's friend Mariah and their family and friends in your prayers. Her mom died suddenly of a sudden massive heart attack. Also, please keep my husband Wade in your prayers. He hurt his hip playing volleyball a while back. He was out of work for a month and has gone back to work but he is still having some pain." ~ Alicia
	"Can everyone please pray for Jen Morkve's daughter Nyc, she has been having some health problems and just got out of the hospital. Thanks!" ~ Suzi
	"Just need some good thoughts as I am going thru a lot of health problems at the moment and getting some testing done to see what is going on. Also going through a tough time with the adoption and trying to figure out which way to go." ~ Leigh