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BirthMom
Buds Bulletin
"A
thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,
What's new with BirthMom
Buds: Just a
little note to keep you up to date with all the great things we are doing!
Ideas and Insights: Sharing ideas, suggestions, and tips on life as a birthmom.
Reaching Out and Discussing
Adoption during National Adoption Awarness Month On my way to school one morning this past September I was listening to the radio and the morning program DJs were asking callers to answer the question, "What have you survived?" I immediately thought "Adoption." Then, I felt this pressing need to call. This was a chance to not only share our positive adoption experience with others, but also a chance to share a testimony of how God used it to changed my life. Now, I am not an out going person so this was scary for me to reach for my cell phone and dial that number, knowing that my voice might be heard by thousands. But I did, and I got through! It was a brief interview, where I shared that I survived placing my daughter at 16 and how we still see each other now 5 years later, how placing her was one of the hardest things I've ever done but also one that brought so many blessings, and how God used that time to bring me closer to Him again. It was a whirl wind of a moment, but I survived that call as well. In fact, the host emailed me later to ask if I would call back again in November for National Adoption Awareness Month to tell our story in more detail. The cool thing about November is that media sources look for adoption stories to share since it is National Adoption Awareness Month. We as birthmothers need to reach out to these places not only to show that adoption can be a blessing and can be survived but also to break birthmother stereotypes. Like I said, it was scary to reach out and be vulnerable to what others might say or think but I knew that most likely people would gain from hearing my story and I prayed that it gave them hope. And if people didn't like what I had to say? I couldn't hear them over the radio. However, recently I was "attacked" on my blog for sharing my positive adoption story. And initially, yes it was frustrating and hurtful, but I realized that as long as we are confident and know the truth of our adoption story, then whatever others say shouldn’t really matter. We know the truth, we know ourselves and our children, we know our lives, and we know we did what was best at that time.
So you may
be wondering what you can do this November in honor of National
Adoption Awareness Month. Contact your local media outlets such as
your local newspaper, TV news stations, and radio stations (mine was
a Christian radio station) and ask if they are interested in sharing
your story for Adoption Awareness Month or start a blog sharing your
adoption story, just to name a few. Whatever motivates you; do it. Find a way to be a voice and reach out. If you’d like to read more about Leah’s radio interview check out her blog.
Adoption Spotlight: Focusing on any adoption or women's issues related web site, organization, individual, or issue.
An Adoptee’s Thoughts
In honor
of National Adoption Awareness Month we decided to do something a
little different and this month our spotlight is on an adoptee’s
thoughts and feelings. Justin is a 15 year old adoptee in an open
adoption. If you attended our
Birthmother’s Day Event this past May then you have already
had the pleasure of hearing Justin share his adoption story. Without
further adieu, I give you Justin’s thoughts…….. The couple of times that I have actually been able to get together and meet and talk to Jenny have really encouraged me. We live almost 10 hours apart so we don’t have the opportunity to meet more often. I think about when I first got to meet her all the time. I still remember details of it to this day because it’s one of my only memories of her now. I talk to my brother Christian a good bit now over Facebook and that is a great tool to be able to connect with him. Knowing that I am adopted makes me unique. I love it when I tell people that I am adopted and their reactions are usually like they had no idea so I get to tell them about it. I know that it is something that most people would not think so it gives me a way to talk to people about myself and God. Being adopted has helped me understand and relate to being adopted into the family of God. Knowing that my parents have adopted me and taken me in has helped me understand the idea that God himself has adopted me and taken me into his family.
Birthday Buds: In this section, we will list birthdays of our members and their birth children, so 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 November 21, then you need to email it to Amy by October 21st. (Note: You can click on the names below to email them or send an e-card.) Tamra Thomas's daughter, Autumn, will celebrate her birthday on November 16th.
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.
Email Amy
with your prayer requests.
Inspiration: Little things to inspire a birthmom from poems, stories, and quotes to encouraging words.
A Few of my Favorite Quotes
Happy Thanksgiving!!
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