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That Voice of Surprise
She was turning eight on the first birthday that she celebrated with us. I think this was her first birthday ever, as the first years of her life had been undocumented. And I was overwhelmed – a likely coupling. We’d just completed our most recent adoption of two more...
That Holy Loneliness
“I want a friend who is just like me, Mommy,” she said through tears to me, years ago. “I feel alone.” She dismissed those siblings of hers who like different songs, and sing to different beats and the spend their time ordering when she...
“I wanted to show you my secret place.”
Several years ago when I was a new mom, my dear mentor and friend casually slid me a book by Sally Clarkson. I didn’t know when I started reading that I might find another mentor within the pages, teaching me through her words on paper. Sally has encouraged...
I Think I’ll Choose Weak, Today
“It was almost like they were suggesting it could ruin our family.” It took a minute to register. What my dear friend had been carefully advised against — adoption — was the life I was living. Ruined? My mind flashed to Hope practicing her...