I’m, of course, liking Sandra's old fogey posts lately as I can so relate. This afternoon, talking with our family therapist, trying to make sense of something that was none of my business anyway as an acquaintance has apparently thrown away his career and crapped up his beautiful family…unless the entire story isn’t true in the first place. Often newspapers sensationalize.

But the older I get, the more I appreciate sensible behavior.

I could go all socially conservative or I could simply say that life is easier... more

If I had gone to Haiti and opened an orphanage for 39 children I’m certain that I would receive a great deal of financial support and accolades.

If one chooses to adopt that many children, one is viewed as odd. There must be something wrong with this person. No sane person would choose to devote their life to traumatized children. Let’s investigate this person.

I’m just about tired of that reaction to my family.

Just because others cannot imagine having to do this, to live like this 24-7, doesn’t mean that it is a life not worth living.

If... more

My love for baseball springs from many factors, not the least of which involves the statistics. Everything is measurable and in my vague, esoteric existence where sometimes the disturbed children seem to be the ones taken seriously as opposed to the educated, experienced parent, I crave something very concrete to sink my teeth into.

Reading my almost 13 year old son’s latest psychological evaluation, the fourth in six years, all testers seem to... more

Sleep is an issue for everyone, most adults don’t get enough to function properly, and how much so must it be for our children?

Time Magazine has a great article, indicating a link between lower test scores on regular people and a lack of sleep. I highlight ‘regular people’ to make a point. My children are traumatized and thus not firmly ensconced under the regular or normal label.

All older children adopted from the foster care system have been traumatized in one way... more

Tomorrow afternoon I’m going to step way out of Mama character, and I’ll be sitting in second row seats, third base line, right near Chipper Jones, hollering throughout my favorite pastime, an Atlanta Braves game. Afternoon temperatures will be mid-nineties but I don’t mind at all.

I’ll be sitting with my almost 22 year old son, Daniel, who has been my golden boy for 16 wonderful years. He was a Little League star for ten years and he played high school football and baseball, got great grades and is midway... more

Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

Henry Van Dyke

I’m neither brilliant nor talented, only a workhorse. I love work, I love to be busy, I’m energetic and driven, and I’ve channeled this raw determination into making our family succeed against many odds.

It doesn’t matter that I’m not gifted in this area; all that is required is a willingness, something I’m overflowing with usually.

The... more

We’re down to only two refrigerators and three freezers now. My kids get nervous if I get down to just two gallons of milk in the house, coming from a deprived background they nervously fear the imminent return of empty cupboards so I over do. We have a walk-in pantry, lined with shelves and I keep it at least 90% full at all times, I try and stay ahead of five nights of dinners for 25 folks.

We live too far out from the grocery store and it seems like such a time sucker to me to wander its aisles, I try and go just once a week if possible.

I’ve lived nearly... more

My recent high school graduate daughter has been taking classes to increase her entrance scores that she needs for a local college. She put in 110 percent effort on every single day off from work but she didn’t get it all done in time, she didn’t make her own self-imposed goal. Am I disappointed in her?

Not at all, rather I’m proud of her. I’ve taught my children that we all learn as much from failing as we do from winning. I failed at several personal goals this summer. I didn’t weed a bucket a day from... more

“Since the time I was sent to elementary school, my feet have marched to the beat of a different drummer than Everybody Else’s. The difference caused me much grief as a child; much success as an adult.”

As usual, this is not an original thought of mine but I read it today in this book, nodding my head in absolute agreement.

I think I know what other girls thought about as they talked about it as well. I never dreamed about getting married and having kids even though I eventually did both, and more than once each.

I dreamed about... more

I feel as if I’ve been dragged behind a speeding jet readying itself for takeoff…only to be dropped from the sky and hit by an 18 wheeler. Standing back up, an eagle must have swooped down and swiped my head, but hey I’m still standing.

In our month long ordeal, an emotional drought if you will, as others pointed fingers at my entire family while an amazing amount of friends, counselors and therapists rallied, we finally realized August was over and we’d made it.

Stronger than ever, totally banged up and disillusioned, yet more emotionally attached to each other,... more