For years I have been saying that someday I will get a book published. A book about my experiences in life.
I've never even attempted to start that book because I never knew if I was willing to "tell all."
I suppose one day I will reach an age where I don't care what anyone thinks!
I do think that my adoption story is almost a book in itself. I like to tell people the story because people are so facinated by it. As much as I love that, what I love even more is when my experience can help someone else who is considering searching for their family.
So if this blog can help even one person who reads it then I've done my job. At very least I have part of my book done!
I won't be able to tell all in one entry so keep checking back for the continuations. This story deserves not to be rushed or summed up.
I am 34 years old and was adopted from birth. I was adopted into a Jewish home with 2 older brothers ~ Brad (7 years older than me) and Adam (14 months older than me). Brad was my parents natural child and Adam and I were both adopted but from different women.
My Father was a Dentist and my Mother was a stay-at-home Mom. My Mom was wonderful, sweet, loving, affectionate and full of pride of her 3 children. Our parents raised us to know we were adopted~it was just a fact I grew up knowing from birth. And we were to be PROUD of it as far as my Mother was concerned. She always said "You are special because you were chosen, NOT given up."
She also told us that she had a file for each of us with all of the information about our Mother's.
"If you guys ever want to meet your Mother's we will drive you to their front door" she would say. Funny, she would say that but I think the idea of that really scared her deep down inside.
I remember as a kid threatening to go and find my "REAL MOM" when I was pissed off.
How many people could use that as a threat against their parents growing up!!
I think that knowing it would hurt my Mom was why I didn't really think I would ever go looking for her. But I always wondered about my "real Mom"
When I was a kid I wondered things like
What did she look like?
Did she have brown curly hair like me?
As I got older I wondered things like How old was she when she had me? Did she Marry my dad? Did she want to keep me but just couldn't?
Then I lost my Mom to cancer when I was 16. I found myself wanted to meet her for the first time. I think a part of me felt free to do that now that my Mom was gone.
So when I was 18 I started my search. It was 1991.
I remember calling social services adoption unit to start. They told me that my adoption was done privately so there was not much information. They would have to put me on a waiting list for a "search."
They said that they would contact me when they were a few weeks away from beginning my search. I asked how long the waiting list was and they were still doing searches for people who applied back in 1986. So I had a while to wait. I must have moved a dozen times over the next 10 years and every time I moved I would call social services FIRST just in case I was next on the list and let them know of my change of address.
Finally, about 9 years later I got a letter in the mail "You are next on our waiting list for a search for your biological Mother. Please do not contact us until you hear from us. It will take about a year to complete your search"
So that was it. I felt so close but yet so far away.....
I will continue the story soon.
Thanks for reading!
French Toast Casserole mmmmmmm......
I have this fantastic recipe for a french toast casserole that even the pickiest eater can't resist.
It is a real crowd pleaser and trust me when I tell you that you will impress people with this one! Just a heads up, for those of you who don't know what "CHALLAH" is, it is Jewish egg bread and can be found at most bakeries. it works well with this recipe because traditional Challah is quite sweet. You can use regular white bread as well.
7 eggs
2 1/2 cups of milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 unsliced Challah (remove crusts and cut into cubes)1/2 cup butter melted
1 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp maple syrup
*Make the bread and batter mix the night before serving and let it sit in the fridge over night in the casserole dish)~In a large bowl mix eggs,milk and vanilla. Add bread and mix until the bread has absorbed the egg mixture~I do it right in the casserole dish so you don't have to transfer it)Cover and let sit over night in the fridge.The next day (preheat oven to 350)~before baking~ add blueberries, raspberries and or apples. combine sugar, syrup, and melted butter. I also add some cinnamon even though the recipe does not call for it.Drizzle the sugar and butter mixture over the casserole. Bake for 40-45 mins (keep an eye on it, it will puff up and be brownish and you will see it is done)Then, while it is hot I sift icing sugar over it (lots of it...yum...)That's it...so easy and horribly fattening!!
If you do decide to try this one, I would love to hear your feedback on it. Enjoy!
It is a real crowd pleaser and trust me when I tell you that you will impress people with this one! Just a heads up, for those of you who don't know what "CHALLAH" is, it is Jewish egg bread and can be found at most bakeries. it works well with this recipe because traditional Challah is quite sweet. You can use regular white bread as well.
7 eggs
2 1/2 cups of milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 unsliced Challah (remove crusts and cut into cubes)1/2 cup butter melted
1 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp maple syrup
*Make the bread and batter mix the night before serving and let it sit in the fridge over night in the casserole dish)~In a large bowl mix eggs,milk and vanilla. Add bread and mix until the bread has absorbed the egg mixture~I do it right in the casserole dish so you don't have to transfer it)Cover and let sit over night in the fridge.The next day (preheat oven to 350)~before baking~ add blueberries, raspberries and or apples. combine sugar, syrup, and melted butter. I also add some cinnamon even though the recipe does not call for it.Drizzle the sugar and butter mixture over the casserole. Bake for 40-45 mins (keep an eye on it, it will puff up and be brownish and you will see it is done)Then, while it is hot I sift icing sugar over it (lots of it...yum...)That's it...so easy and horribly fattening!!
If you do decide to try this one, I would love to hear your feedback on it. Enjoy!
A Story For All Parents
As parents, we all make mistakes. We learn parenting skills as we go. Often we question ourselves, doubt ourselves and maybe even feel a little embarrassed or ashamed about the things we do as parents. You are not alone, all parents feel this way and I find it comforting to know that it is not just me.
I found myself in a terrible situation about a month ago and wanted to share my story.
For the last day of school my sons preschool put together a fun fair in the back parking lot. We arrived at the fair and immediately walked over to where one of his teachers was,to give her a gift. I handed her the gift and went to take my sons hand to lead him to the games. He was not there. In a matter of 5 seconds he was gone and all I could see in front of me was a sea full of children, parents and teachers. I figured he must be mixed in with the crowd so I began to look for him. I was so embarrassed that I had "misplaced my child" that I did not want to tell anyone. After about 2 mins. I went over to a couple of the other Moms that I know and quietly whispered "Can you help me find Jacob, I can't seem to find him"
A few more minutes went by and now I started to panic. Once the panic set in I began to think of the most awful things that could have happened to him. At this point, all the other parents and teachers could see by the look on my face that something was wrong. Once everyone knew there was a child missing, EVERY SINGLE PERSON (including the kids) was searching for my child. They all kept saying "Don't worry, he's here somewhere, we'll find him"
In and out the school, back and forth between the road out front and the parking lot and still no Jacob. Then my husband showed up and I had to tell him "We can't find Jacob" I never thought I would here myself say that, ever.
My Husband scanned the outer part of the lot and on his way back towards the school he noticed my Son standing at a locked door at the side of the school. He was knocking on the door wondering why it was locked!
So he brought him to me...immediately tears were streaming down my face. "Oh, Mommy, it's ok, don't be sad" he said as he hugged me. He had no idea what had happened over the last 10 mins. Good thing for him, at least he was not panicking looking for me.
Once I calmed down I felt so embarrassed, like I was the worst Mother in the entire world. Each and every Mom there came over and told me their story of when they lost their child. Suddenly I did not feel so humiliated. I was so grateful that it happened at his school where I had that many people to help me find him and help keep me calm. That day I came home and wrote a letter to the school for the parents and teachers.
Here it is......
" Jacob was the 3 yr old boy who temporarily went missing today at the fair.
I feel compelled to say thank you to you, Goldie and all the Moms, Dads, teachers etc... who pulled through for me today. I have no way to contacting any of these people so maybe you can forward on my gratitude & appreciation.
In my entire life I have never experienced anything as terrifying as when I could not find him. Those 5-10mins. felt like hours. At first I just started to look for him on my own but after a few minutes I realized that I had scanned everywhere and he was NOWHERE.
Immediately every single person there was looking for him. ALL of them are like heroes to me. This is a moment long forgotten about by Jacob but a memory that is burned into my brain forever. A part of that memory will be of all the people who looked at me and said "Don't worry, he's at Torah Tots, we will find him" and then ran off to continue their search as if it were their own child missing.
And when we finally did find him, I will never forget all those Moms who came up to me and told me their terrifying stories of when they lost their child. After calming down and I had a moment to think, all I could think about was "What kind of a Mother looses their child? I am a horrible Mom"
Hearing all of those beautiful and wonderful Moms Mother's tell me that this has happened to them made me feel much less guilty. I realized today what a wonderful community I am a part of, what a wonderful school Torah Tots is and what a wonderful group of Mom's, Dads and teachers my child is surrounded by. I will forever be grateful to all of the people who were a huge support for me today. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Your support and quick reaction to the situation made the world of difference. Thank You...Thank You, I will always remember."
I found myself in a terrible situation about a month ago and wanted to share my story.
For the last day of school my sons preschool put together a fun fair in the back parking lot. We arrived at the fair and immediately walked over to where one of his teachers was,to give her a gift. I handed her the gift and went to take my sons hand to lead him to the games. He was not there. In a matter of 5 seconds he was gone and all I could see in front of me was a sea full of children, parents and teachers. I figured he must be mixed in with the crowd so I began to look for him. I was so embarrassed that I had "misplaced my child" that I did not want to tell anyone. After about 2 mins. I went over to a couple of the other Moms that I know and quietly whispered "Can you help me find Jacob, I can't seem to find him"
A few more minutes went by and now I started to panic. Once the panic set in I began to think of the most awful things that could have happened to him. At this point, all the other parents and teachers could see by the look on my face that something was wrong. Once everyone knew there was a child missing, EVERY SINGLE PERSON (including the kids) was searching for my child. They all kept saying "Don't worry, he's here somewhere, we'll find him"
In and out the school, back and forth between the road out front and the parking lot and still no Jacob. Then my husband showed up and I had to tell him "We can't find Jacob" I never thought I would here myself say that, ever.
My Husband scanned the outer part of the lot and on his way back towards the school he noticed my Son standing at a locked door at the side of the school. He was knocking on the door wondering why it was locked!
So he brought him to me...immediately tears were streaming down my face. "Oh, Mommy, it's ok, don't be sad" he said as he hugged me. He had no idea what had happened over the last 10 mins. Good thing for him, at least he was not panicking looking for me.
Once I calmed down I felt so embarrassed, like I was the worst Mother in the entire world. Each and every Mom there came over and told me their story of when they lost their child. Suddenly I did not feel so humiliated. I was so grateful that it happened at his school where I had that many people to help me find him and help keep me calm. That day I came home and wrote a letter to the school for the parents and teachers.
Here it is......
" Jacob was the 3 yr old boy who temporarily went missing today at the fair.
I feel compelled to say thank you to you, Goldie and all the Moms, Dads, teachers etc... who pulled through for me today. I have no way to contacting any of these people so maybe you can forward on my gratitude & appreciation.
In my entire life I have never experienced anything as terrifying as when I could not find him. Those 5-10mins. felt like hours. At first I just started to look for him on my own but after a few minutes I realized that I had scanned everywhere and he was NOWHERE.
Immediately every single person there was looking for him. ALL of them are like heroes to me. This is a moment long forgotten about by Jacob but a memory that is burned into my brain forever. A part of that memory will be of all the people who looked at me and said "Don't worry, he's at Torah Tots, we will find him" and then ran off to continue their search as if it were their own child missing.
And when we finally did find him, I will never forget all those Moms who came up to me and told me their terrifying stories of when they lost their child. After calming down and I had a moment to think, all I could think about was "What kind of a Mother looses their child? I am a horrible Mom"
Hearing all of those beautiful and wonderful Moms Mother's tell me that this has happened to them made me feel much less guilty. I realized today what a wonderful community I am a part of, what a wonderful school Torah Tots is and what a wonderful group of Mom's, Dads and teachers my child is surrounded by. I will forever be grateful to all of the people who were a huge support for me today. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Your support and quick reaction to the situation made the world of difference. Thank You...Thank You, I will always remember."
Great Blogs to check out
http://mumsthewurd.com/
Are you looking for some great finds? I love these 2 blogs that I stumble upon. They do reviews, promotions and contest giveaways. Both these ladies have fantastic taste and clearly have a nack for finding unusual, funky and fun finds!
I must comment that as a "Mompreneur" it is so nice to have the support and encouragement of other Momprneurs out there. Much of my online popularity is credited to all the wonderful women out there who have written rave reviews about Alli's Originals designs. I am lucky to be a part of this amazing networking community of talented women!http://www.funkyfinds.blogspot.com/
Are you looking for some great finds? I love these 2 blogs that I stumble upon. They do reviews, promotions and contest giveaways. Both these ladies have fantastic taste and clearly have a nack for finding unusual, funky and fun finds!
I must comment that as a "Mompreneur" it is so nice to have the support and encouragement of other Momprneurs out there. Much of my online popularity is credited to all the wonderful women out there who have written rave reviews about Alli's Originals designs. I am lucky to be a part of this amazing networking community of talented women!http://www.funkyfinds.blogspot.com/
New Designs are on the way!
I have been busy lately...I have been taking silversmith courses over the last few months and I LOVE it!Not only is it a great way for me to develope some great skills and design some really unique pieces but what a great way to get away a few hours every week. As a full time Mom running a full time business there is not much time for me. Someone once said "If your job is so much fun that it feels like play then you are in the right job."I must say that I have definately chosen the right job!Each week as I drive into downtown Toronto, I listen to music, call some friends and soak in the fact that for the next 4 hours I am all about myself. It is something that every Mom should do. Take a few hours each week to work on something that is just for you.
So I am posting some pics of the work I have been doing. I have also been working closely with a young designer from Europe who creates these fantastic glass beads. Each one is a work of art. I have been incorporating these beads into some of my latest designs. They are all one of a kind pieces so get them while I have them!
These pictures are of my hand cut silver hearts and tags and of one of the new charms bracelets. The hand cut pieces have a brushed finish. The little tags are great for Father's Day gifts. These pieces have not yet been posted for sale on my site so this is your sneak preview. If you are interested in purchasing one, please email me at info@allisoriginals.com.I would love to hear your comments!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
