There is a famous prayer often called the Serenity Prayer. Sometimes we simply have to accept what is, while we work it out in thought and prayer, trying to figure out what is the difference between what we must accept and what we must try to change.
Waiting for a Chinese adoption right now falls into this category. But so do a lot of other things.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
–Reinhold Niebuhr
In letting go, we release our mental pictures of how things should turn out and accept what the universe brings us. We accept that we don’t really know how things should be. (p 186)
…surrender [is] a choice, and … it [does] not mean giving up… When we surrender, we accept it just as it is…to see that we always have choices, in every situation, is surrender. To turn away from a situation is to give up. To turn into it is surrender. (p 188-189)
Sometimes we have to turn into the wind in order to take advantage of it. The wind is going to blow anyway. The question is what are we going to do while it does?
…conditions may never change, which makes us victims of their not changing. To say, ‘I will only be peaceful if such and such happens’ is pretty limiting…I’m not talking about accepting everything that happens. If you don’t like the television show you’re watching, you don’t have to surrender to it — change the channel.
…I’m talking about situations we have decided are insurmountable obstacles to happiness….Surrendering into life as it is can be the quickest and most powerful way to get the lesson out of the situation. You can’t change your bad childhood, but you can have a good life… you can stop wasting your time and energy [on things that won't change]…[it] doesn’t mean that life is over.
…if happiness is possible tomorrow, it is also possible today. If love is possible tomorrow, it is possible today. (p 188-193)
If we have to get through a situation in order to get to the other side, then we simply have to do it, a day at a time, making each day count as best we can, making choices for happiness even as we walk the path. Nobody can tell you what works for you, but you can find it for yourself. Don’t let a day go by without finding some happiness in it. Take a moment to notice the good things around you.
…live every day to its fullest. When was the last time you really looked at the sea? Or smelled the morning? … to see the stars… to gaze out on the ocean. Many of us live near the ocean but never take the time to look at it. We all live under the stars, but do we look up at the sky? Do we really touch and taste life, do we see and feel the extraordinary, especially in the ordinary? (p 224)
There are wonderful moments waiting in this day. Go for it!
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A dear friend of mine shared this story with me and has given me permission to share it.
Stunned
I was having fun with my younger daughter who is Chinese (barely four and not all that verbal) and I said, “HOW did I get so lucky as to get a great baby like YOU?” And she replied, “Because you’re rich”.
I wanted to say something ever so appropriate, but I was stunned into silence. Because…she’s right. I don’t THINK she could possibly understand the socio-political implications of it all, but where did THAT come from? (“Rich” is not a term we’d ever use to describe ourselves, but certainly her birth parents or the nannies at the orphanage would.)
Then a minute later she asked if I would still be happy when she was grown up.
This was a “me in front seat driving, her in back seat” conversation. Our older Chinese daughter used to love to drop heavy questions on me when she was in car seat, I guessed because I couldn’t make eye contact or pre-plan a response, plus we were alone, as my younger daughter and I were this time.
Kids are deeper than we ever suppose.
Our kids think about their lives much before many give them credit for it.
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Of all the gifts my mother gave me, not the least of which was an excellent childhood, I’d have to say that ‘enthusiasm’ was by far one of the most valuable. She taught me not to miss the parade, if you know what I mean. You don’t always have to actually JOIN the parade, if that’s not your personality- but you should SHOW UP and cheer and laugh and sing along, if only to yourself. -c
I simply love this quote, not much else to add to that. I like it for me as both the parent and the child I once was, but still embody. I too had an excellent childhood, or at least a plenty-good-enough one, but I wasn’t taught the rest of this. I had to pick it up for myself in the parades of life. And I have to encourage my children in this direction.
As an adult, once when I was going through what might possibly have been a difficult situation, someone said to me to view it as if I were sitting in a parade stand. I should think of it as if I were (or had been) watching it pass by, not as if I were in it. I thought that was very helpful to remember. I had sort of felt that way at the time it was happening, not exactly removed from it, but not within it either. It helped me feel freer of any repercussions. And it seemed a kind of grace.
Karin
A mother should give her children a superabundance of enthusiasm, that after they have lost all they are sure to lose in mixing with the world, enough may still remain to prompt and support them through great actions. Julius C. Hare (1795-1855) English Cleric
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14) Work to Mature the Way Adoption is understood in Our Society
–Much of our inability to believe adoption corruption exists begins with our society’s simplistic, AP centered, and mythic understanding of adoption. Adoption is mythically considered an always and absolute good. When adoption is seen in more mature, realistic, and balanced ways, our society will start to realize that adoption, like almost everything else in life, can be used for good or ill (to help or to exploit and harm). Adoption is a good only when used and practiced responsibly with an understanding of what it is and what is it is not; the good that it can be, but also the real inherent losses that it causes.
–As in all things, educating yourself is first. Seek to understand adoption as an elephant surrounded by blind men. Our society believes and acts as if the only valid perspective on adoption comes from the blind man standing in the position of adoptive parent. That blind man is given a megaphone and all
others (very valid others who stand around the majority of the elephant) who have different perspectives are ignored, greeted with skepticism, and/or silenced. Learn to see adoption from the perspective of other blind men-adoptees, birth families, those hurt by adoption, the big picture, the
historical perspective, etc.
–join IAT :0) [and/or Discuss-IAT] and encourage others to join; listen and learn. Be willing to change and mature your perspective.
–read adoptee memoirs, blogs, and stories
–read books on adoption history and practice
–read criticisms of intercountry adoption including those that see intercountry adoption as a continuation of neocolonial practices and an outgrowth of the evils of globalism; seek to understand the racial aspects and the first world/third world power inequities of intercountry adoption.
–read first mother blogs, accounts, and stories
–seek out stories that show other sides of adoption
–from all of these form a more realistic understanding of adoption.
–Remember this: It is always easy to recognize the injustices of another time and place; the hard thing is to recognize the injustices of your own time and place. In every time and place where injustice has been condoned/ignored/allowed to thrive by society there has been a worldview and a simplistic uni-blind-man mythology that makes injustice look just, especially for those who benefit from it. It is easy to shift blame, make problems into non-problems, injustices into non-issues, and ignore massive problems. It is harder to take a stand against the zeitgeist and be a flea or a lion biting against injustice. Reform begins with understanding the view from somewhere other than society’s single approved blind man. It starts when people begin to recognize that there are other human beings involved — people as human as themselves. People who have the same emotions, the same hopes, and the same dreams — and who feel pain in the same way and for the same reasons as themselves — when we start to care about the way the world looks from the perspective of those other equally human beings. Not just the way WE think the world looks from their perspective (in our minds), but the way it IS from their experience and perspective. When we GIVE THEM VOICE and LISTEN TO THEM.
–Whenever you see adoption being portrayed in a simplistic, AP centered, uni-perspective, mythic sort of way, speak up and share a different perspective.
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6) Hold non-profit adoption agencies accountable for how donations and money for “humanitarian projects” are spent. Demand an accounting.
–Research sending country non-profit agencies’ financial statements on-line and understand where the money from fees and donations goes. Ask about anything that doesn’t make sense.
http://www.guidestar.org/
–”Donations” and money for “humanitarian projects” can represent sizeable amounts of money, especially after they are converted into foreign currency and understood in the context of the sending country. This money, when not used as reported can easily become the incentive for corrupt, fraudulant, and illegal adoption practices. (If you want to know how easily such donations are diverted and how no one is currently keeping track, watch the video, What Really Happened in Cambodia by US Special Agent Richard Cross: ) KNOW WHERE THE MONEY GOES. Hold agencies accountable.
–If agencies claim to have a “humanitarian project,” ask for an accounting of how funds are spent within that program. Ask specific questions until you understand how things work and where the money goes. If an agency has a “humanitarian feeding program” what does that mean? Does it mean that they hand out a dozen cupcakes to passersby on a deserted corner once a year or does it mean that they have an ongoing commitment to hand out 20 pound bags of vital protein like legumes to 100 impoverished and pre-qualified families on the first day of each month in such and such a village and they’ve been doing it for 10 years now? Who can verify that this is so? The label “humanitarian project,” should not be allowed to be a vague hiding place for the lack of accountability.
–Agencies have legitimate costs in doing business. Everyone understands this and no one should lose sight of that fact. However, agencies, as all businesses, must be held accountable for their handling of money. This is especially true in the international context where foreign exchange rates change large amounts of money into enormous fortunes and where the agency stands in the gap between enormous power and economic divides. Agencies MUST act responsibly.
–Refuse to cooperate with illegal practices. Refuse to accept obviously bogus explanations. Where something looks and smells fishy, it often is. For example, when we are told as AP’s that we must give a mandatory “voluntary” donations—come on, it’s an oxymoron and yet we as AP’s go along with such nonsense. When in doubt, go to the appropriate NGO’s or authorities and ask….does this seem a little
fishy to you too…?…
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Because I enjoyed Tess Hudson’s Double Down so well, I wanted to read this one. If you remember, Double Down was a romance about a young woman overcoming her addiction to gambling. There were some darker images in it involving uncovering a mystery about drugging a football player (her new romance) in order to predict a game.
I don’t know what I expected from Invisible Girl. Perhaps it was something psychological about a teen? It was not what I expected.
Invisible Girl’s prologue starts in the middle of the story. It unfolds in flashbacks to Vietnam and the Vietnam War, not chronological, superimposed on present day. It is very well written. I finished it pretty much in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down.
I think Hudson captures the time of the war, as well as the feeling that there are a lot of things we will never know about or that are deliberately hidden from us. She tells us that she was befriended by a Vietnam-era veteran who taught her about writing, art, and faith and showed her a side of the war she hadn’t glimpsed in the news broadcasts from her childhood.
She uses that to good advantage here. I cannot check her facts, but I can attest that she captures the feel of that time of war perfectly. And the feel of many of the returning soldiers.
She moves effortlessly from the battlefield to deep love; from rape to the babylift; from the soldiers to the highest echelons of politics and a powerful family; from the family of soldiers to the family of one of them; from the harshest of betrayals to the depths of trust and love. Along the way she mingles Catholicism and Buddhism, as Maggie’s mother covers all the bases to protect her family. She succeeds in a way not foreseen, including her own death and the solving of a puzzle from the past wherein only bits of the puzzle are held by individuals in order to afford protection to her children.
I find myself thinking if only, if only she had taken others into her confidence, others that loved her, she would be alive and reunited with her daughter.
For those who are touched by the Vietnam babylift, this book offers a small insight into the pain corruption adds to adoption. At the same time, the woman who was adopted as a baby was deeply loved by her adoptive mother (and loved her too.) There is also reunion of the half-siblings.
Additionally, it was interesting to me how the young Vietnamese woman who gave birth after being raped by an American soldier named her daughter Tam, which means heart. She felt that when she prayed to Buddha, he conceived this child through her heart on her own, not through rape. I don’t know how realistic this is, but it was very touching to me. Having biological (and adopted) children of my own, I know how deep is the mother love, and how it is very often our heart.
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13) During Adoption Crises, Avoid the Temptation to Undermine and Work Against Investigations, Enforcement, and Reforms.
– When the governments involved become convinced that there are illegal practices and slow or stop adoptions from a country, resist the temptation to push the governments to keep countries open to adoption.
–Instead, hold PAP’s hands and offer support that makes it clear that governments must be allowed to do what is necessary to stop corruption.
–Get involved in helping safeguard the immediate welfare of children caught up in these scandals.
–Receiving country governments are often forced to turn a blind eye and disregard blatant problems because AP’s push their governments so hard in order to keep the flow of children going. In turn, these
governments put pressure on foreign governments to keep children flowing freely. As a result, clean-ups are rarely followed through on. Everything is swept under the rug and the children keep coming no matter what.
–Governments have learned from past experience not to investigate adoption illegalities except in extreme cases where the embarrassment to not investigate exceeds the grumbling of the AP’s when they do investigate—which means hardly anything is investigated except in cases where AP’s lose money. This means that AP’s always ensure that it is open season for illegalities in adoption.
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I like each of these. It’s a toss up which one is more appropriate for any given day.
Nurture hope, pack lightly, quell rumors… all speak to Chinese adoption at the moment, and to other things as well.
Be ready for the things life has to offer. Wait patiently, doing what you can today.
Until I no longer had a source for them, I used to give silver rings engraved with ‘hope’ to people, if they were going through deep waters. It was a visible way for them to know that someone cared. I wish I could find them again.
Master something made me laugh. Something! how difficult is that. It could be anything, no matter how small. Master anything. Find something that interests you and go with it.
Which of these speak to you today?
Karin
Accept differences
Be kind
Count your blessings
Dream
Express thanks
Forgive
Give freely
Harm no one
Imagine more
Jettison anger
Keep confidences
Love truly
Master something
Nurture hope
Open your mind
Pack lightly
Quell rumors
Reciprocate
Seek wisdom
Touch hearts
Understand
Value truth
Win graciously
Xeriscape
Yearn for peace
Zealously support a worthy cause
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Keep reading & looking, China is working on it, I can best work on me.
We need the voices of Adult Adoptees, whether at the IAT yahoo site, or in a book, a lecture, a seminar. No one else cuts thru it as well. The stuff I demonstrate in talk & attitude, really exposes my bias & lack of understanding. Maybe I’m learning xyz, but oblivious of abc. I see what I see, but how much is way off in me that my kids will see?
How is it possible for experienced APs to avoid main issues, including preconceptions, while diving into dance- around- the-issue answers?
Gordon, Adoptive Parent (AP) with permission
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–Don’t let PAP’s wander into danger with their rose-colored glasses on. Do your best to show them a more balanced, more mature view of adoption. Do your best to warn them of the problems in the country from which they intend to adopt. Warn them to avoid countries where corruption problems are rampant or those countries where problems are “coming to a head.”
–Commit yourself to PAP education more broadly. Be patient. Remember the goal. Be persistent and be kind. Remember yourself when you were a PAP.
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Watch the interview, and listen to both Jerome interviewed and listen to her,
she’s been there since Nov 2007, but pay attention to both.
I know only a little about Kyung Lah, her career via the link below, but I
guarantee you, she is impressed by Jerome, she knows what it takes. Also,
guarantee you, regarding Enka, Jero-san is the real deal.
What if, one future day, my American Chinese-born daughters may one day wish to
move back to China for awhile as 20somethings? Will they be able to do well
enough as does Kyung Lah in Tokyo? She hasn’t finished her 2nd year yet. He’s
been there longer. Both receive their set of complexities. What might it be like
for my Daughters, if&when?
Can they be themselves and let it flow as does Jerome? He has peace.
What works is making friends, a kindred spirit or 2, happens when it happens,
then it might become home. Life is short, go when youngish.
Check out Jerome’s path, besides his whole life, his way of easing into it all–
Desire to be there.Connected,language study.Picturing it in his head.
Age 15– 2week trip
College exchange student, 3month stay.
Graduated, skills in his major, researched his job, moved there, ready to get
through the early weeks&months. Had a headache from thinking in Japanese for a
few initial weeks. Ha! He’s cool.
Please always respect Adult Adoptees from Western nations that have moved
overseas to birthcultures, to study,live&work there. Much respect to you all,
those of IAT, those one can follow via the web.
One might enjoy following Jane Trenka’s blog. Alot happening:
Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil Deborah Rodriguez has written a must-read book for those interested in other cultures and the fate of women world-wide. She has changed the names and stories, but the stories are true. I've wanted to read...
Review: Whip It Whip It is about girls' Roller Derby, directed by Drew Barrymore. She is also the executive producer and plays the part of Smashley Simpson. Whip It refers to a move whereby one of the teammates...
Rescue dog, for EM EM, did you see this article that was in our paper yesterday? [EM rescues dogs herself, so I thought she would like this article where the dog rescues the woman.] A woman injured in an...
KEM How did you find your way back into my life Kem has a beautiful voice. If you aren't familiar with his sound, he is sound-worthy. He is a Nigerian American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, and producer raised in Detroit, Michigan. Many of his songs deal with...
EOTD Thursday Aromaleigh eyes Eyes: Outer Lids and dry lined lower: Piqué en pointe Inner Lids: Terpischore en pointe Piqué: A lovely mauved purply brown with light-changing lustre, travels from purply-blue to blue-green. (Sheen) I expected Piqué to be...
LG Chocolate BL40 Hands-On - CES 2010 Adriana takes a quick look at the huge 4-inch HD widescreen display of the candybar LG phone "the rest of the world" (outside the US)...
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Fitzgerald was aiming to show the American dream, with all of its grandness and all of its faults, through the life of Nick and Gatsby. ...
Finovate Startup 2009 Live Twitter I am attending Finovate Startup 2009. It is an action packed 1 day format which I belive will lend itself perfectly to a live twitter....
I’m always on the lookout for fun things to do with my kids.
One of my friends had a 50th birthday not too long ago and among the decorations were a number of (black, haha) vinyl 50’s some of which we took home for souvenirs.
Anyway, one day I thought whoever needed some lovin’ should hand the 50 to the one they wanted it from. It then becomes that person’s to pass along to another family member when they need the perks. And so on…
It always brings smiles. We do it goofy sometimes (accompanied with a lot of laughter): cheek hugs (where you press cheek to cheek) or elbow hugs (ya gotta be careful and not slip the elbows off each other) or chin hugs (ditto) or forehead hugs or shoulder hugs (pressing your shoulders together) …butterfly kisses (eyelashes)…quick hugs…etc. and normal ones too…
Last night when my youngest came up to the computer where I was sitting, I gave her the 50…and then immediately she gave it back to me (so she would receive her 50 hugs and kisses and love pats)…so now I have to pass it on again. Other times if she has kept it, she will bring it in a few nights later…
Anyway, it’s fun and instant validation.
So much of parenting is serious, so it’s always good to have some fun memories. I try to make some fun ones every day. This was really important when one of our girls was especially difficult to parent.
Penelope (movie) I took my 10 and 12 year olds to this movie last night. The audience seemed to like it, with many laughs out loud. There is one scary part, which is also funny, which happens...
Pink Panther 2 We had a lot of fun seeing this movie yesterday. Of course, you know it's going to be silly, and it was. And some of the visuals were especially funny, how they ever thought of...
FOTD Mary Kay eyes + This was my look Tuesday. Mary Kay minerals are really quite lovely. I was happy with the way this turned out. I was still thinking of the Arbonne Audrey and Smokey Eyes sets. So this...
Take 2 My Avon rep has had a good sale over the weekend because packaging and colors are changing, so I picked up some glosses. She had a limited number of colors, but it is always fun...
Get Smart If you want to have an enjoyable couple of hours with laughs galore, head on over to your nearest theater and take in this movie. I went with my girls today, college age, 12 and...
While the Elliptical is Out of Commission... My poor elliptical machine has taken a beating. I run that thing into the ground, and for the past few months it's been acting up,...
Sunday Lyrics: Butterfly Kisses Photo by: Gabr1ela Card0s0 The Sunday lyrics song this week is Butterfly Kisses and is by special request from my wife. Butterfly Kisses was written...
Discover The Secrets Of The Kissing Cure Great sex does not begin with rotten kisses. Most people do not usually think about the "proper" way to kiss. When it comes to the...
I came across this quote after I was thinking about what dreams the older women might have held or what the younger women expected from life. I loved the idea of nourishing and protecting our dreams, nursing them through bad days.
Not every dream comes to fruition effortlessly. Some take a good deal of patience and perseverance to bring to life.
Are you holding onto a dream, perhaps in the face of naysayers? One thing for me, was waiting on our first adoption from China. It took a lot, and a lot of time, before it came to pass. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t going to happen.
Karin
All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter’s evening. Some of us let our dreams die, but others nourish and protect them, nurse them through bad days till they bring them to sunshine and light, which always come to those who sincerely believe that their dreams will come true. Woodrow Wilson
Finding happiness One thing I know, I'm not happy here, but would I be happy anywhere else? ...Having been blown sideways by life, or shoved by my parents, we've never had the time or privilege to think...
Strength for the day Speaking of wrestling again...I knew I had this day coming up and put it into the mix of what I was thinking, praying, worrying about... This morning I headed out at the dark hour of...
Can someone explain why... I've been surprised lately by the number of times I've been around people who dismiss out of hand experiences and ideas that might be of interest or a help to them. Maybe I notice it...
Living life in the moment If we could only find the courage to leave our destiny to chance, to accept the fundamental mystery of our lives, then we might be closer to the sort of happiness that comes with innocence....
A Mother's Struggle Between Work And Kids The following was written by Mrs FFB. As you may remember, before the school year started we made the decision that my wife wouldn't return...
Make This Your Season for Renewal "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." – ANAIS...
Paris Hilton Perfume Set Review This is a review of the Paris Hilton perfume set, an Eau de Parfum spray intended for women that was designed by Parlux Fragrances. The...
Here’s a story from the world’s oldest blogger, of how she was bullied and how she solved it.
Olive is 107 and as feisty as my grandmother was. I think I’d like her! What a gal! (I miss my grandma!)
I was once told by my older daughter’s school that bullying is just a natural part of junior high and high school. I think not! was basically what I said.
Now, of course, they take a no-bullying stance, but it was sure a long time coming. And I’m not sure they can solve what takes place after school.
Have you ever been bullied? how did you solve it? (Me, I left quickly the place where I should not have been alone. I never told my mother either!)
Poignant comments by kids Trying to resurrect this conversation: Just prior to having Chinese New Year dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, our 10 year old said something to the effect: I'm Chinese, right? [Yes.] Then she remarked...
Happily ever after...and then some! What do you think about happily ever after? does it exist? does it exist only in fairy tales? do we make a lot of our happiness by at least looking for it, if it seems...
Review: Avon Age Repair Elixir You all know how much I love most Avon products. It should be no surprise that I tried this one. Avon is quite innovative in its skin care products. They are the first in many...
Mean girls One of my girls got in the car crying yesterday. Mean girls. Mean girls. Don't know if she contributed some or not, but she is sweetly sensitive which sometimes makes you a target. She went...
An Artist Portrait (Part Two) This is the Part Two (and final part) of the true life story as artist written by Frank V. Cahoj for our Weblog. (Part One)...
It's not the fault of the schools "Kids are graduating high school today and some of them don't even know how to balance a checkbook" "College kids sign up for a credit...
Friends' Influence and Money: A Two Way Street I often write a lot of words on saving money. Cut out this expensive item... consider substituting this other item... Sometimes I write about making...
Quick Tips for Healthy Weight Loss pt 1 Here is a handful of quick tips that will help you achieve healthy, natural and permanent weight loss. 1 - Researchers have conducted a study...
Kiss and Tell: Elaine Lowe on Her Hero by Elaine Lowe, guest blogger My husband is my own personal hero. On the inside of his wedding ring, I engraved, "My Hero", and that...
I’ve mentioned before how much I like this magazine. An article that touched my heart came from the January issue, In the wake of my son, where the writer speaks of his son in the context of his sudden death at age 22. It offers some of his insights into his grief process. I think it is helpful for anyone who has grieved or is grieving.
Every day brought a different clutter of emotions that came from a kaleidoscope of broken feelings. I traveled through a jungle of changing emotions — bitterness, grief, anger, guilt, and a myriad of others …Jayant Kamicheril
And he tells some sweet stories that he remembers of his son who was quite astute as our kids often are. He said he struggled to explain the rationale behind his decision to divorce after a quarter century, and his son helped him with a quirky observation:
Getting married is mostly an irrational decision, but getting divorced is always a rational one. Anand Kamicheril
If you love perfume If you love perfume, be sure to check out perfumebloggers. My son, the computer guy, worked this up for me to keep track of various perfume bloggers he found. He asked me to give him...
Review Vitus (movie) Vitus is a charming movie, full of love, and I highly recommend it, if you have not seen it already. It is a slice of life I'd like to return to more than once. Beautifully...
Meet the Robinsons, movie review contains spoiler For those of you parenting adopted children this is a friend's thoughts on seeing the film with her two adopted daughters so you will have a better idea of what it entails. As I said,...
Discussing hope by Joan Borysenko I'm currently reading Fire in the Soul: A New Psychology of Spiritual optimism. Again, I got this from the library until I knew if I would like to own it. (I'm currently reading several of...
Juno, some spoilers, maybe Juno was recommended to me by a friend. I was told I'd like it, but I had my doubts. First, the subject of adoption, birth mothers, birth fathers, birth family, and desire for a child...
More Innovative Ideas for Challenging Times Don't be afraid to hit up your vendors. Work with your vendors on dual-promotion events and see the success. Robert, one of our mastermind participants,...
Review: The Heir and the Spare by Maya Rodale Every time I read the heroine’s name, which is Emilia Highhart, I wondered if it was a play on Amelia Earhart. Doesn't it sound like...
and lo, at the Outback they rejoiced The owner of a prominent small business in his small town had two sons. The younger son asked one day if the father could lend...
How $100 Could Save Your Child's Life Regular readers know that I have an affinity for professional football. Sometimes I take it much too seriously. I'm not proud of it, but that's...
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