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I met my DH at our local home improvement warehouse where we both were new employees. The first time I saw him I thought, boy I need to stay away from that guy he looks like a real troublemaker. Boy I didnt know the half of it. Well this year we'll have been married for 22 years. About four years later while at a local discount store (we had just had our DS a few weeks prior) DH says come here I want you to see someone. Well still suffering with "baby blues" I was not up to running all over the store so I tell him to tell who he wants me to see. He says I think this man is my Father (he hadnt seen him since he was 3). Turns out it was and we had a happy ending with DFIL thrilled to see him, we still have him in our lives. This made a big difference in our family and DH as a mate and a father.
I met my DH at our local home improvement warehouse where we both were new employees. The first time I saw him I thought, boy I need to stay away from that guy he looks like a real troublemaker. Boy I didnt know the half of it. Well this year we'll have been married for 22 years. About four years later while at a local discount store (we had just had our DS a few weeks prior) DH says come here I want you to see someone. Well still suffering with "baby blues" I was not up to running all over the store so I tell him to tell who he wants me to see. He says I think this man is my Father (he hadnt seen him since he was 3). Turns out it was and we had a happy ending with DFIL thrilled to see him, we still have him in our lives. This made a big difference in our family and DH as a mate and a father.
Congratulations on 22 years of marriage. What an accomplishment! story about DFIL.
I had a rough start to life with a few medical problems and then family problems. I moved around a lot, went to many different schools and lived with several different of my mom's boyfriends & husbands before coming back to live with my grandparents at age 11. I'm grateful for the stability they brought back to my life.
I met DH in high school through our church choir and we've been together ever since. It's been almost 22 years since we started dating and we've been married nearly 16 years. We got married right after we graduated from college together. I taught Pre-K, K and 2nd grade in a private school for 10 years before starting my own Pre-school/Daycare out of our home 5 years ago. Our lives have always revolved around children - teaching, babysitting, working in the kids programs at church, being a nanny, attending their games, recitals and birthday parties, and taking them to Disneyland with us.
The irony here is that we are not able to have our own children. The 11.5 years of infertility issues, misscarriages and failed adoption attempts is the hardest thing we've had to go through as a couple (and we've been through a lot of other situations together!). Instead of giving up though, we are using all of experiences to strengthen us to move forward and try a new approach to adoption.
So that is the story of how I've gotten to this place...ready to adopt so we can share our love for Disney with our own child!
__________________
Some Day My Prince Will Come!
Katie - WDW - August 2011
I don't really have any one story that has gotten me to where I am. I guess I am a bundle of experiences that have shaped me into the person I am.
I was born to older parents. My parents were 39 years old when I was born (49 years ago, that was OLD!!!) and had been married for 17 years. My brother was born 3 1/2 years earlier and they were told at that time that he would probably be an only child, so the fact that I was conceived was a miracle to my folks. I was a "change of life" baby. My mother went through menopause while pregnant and never knew it was happening (she still thanks me for that one! ) Needless to say, I was doted on as a child because my folks saw me as a gift from God. My parents were always there for me. Room mom, on the school board, booster club officers, field trip and school trip chaperones, ..... To this day, my mother is still one of my very best friends and I was my daddy's baby until the day he died.
I assume some of you read my account of being a child of segregation in Summer at Willow Lake, so I won't repeat it, but that did shape alot of the way I view life and difficult situations. (http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...k-club-17.html post 249)
If I have one regret in my life, it would be my choice of college and major. I was so confused and inexperienced in life that I chose the only thing I knew (retail) to focus on in college. I chose to go to a specialized 2 year (unacredited) college and major in Fashion Merchandising (a totally useless AA degree). In reality, I hated the retail industry and have wished over and over that I had chosen a different route. 20/20 hindsight would send me to a 4 year college earning a degree in middle school education. I would LOVE to teach a class in 7th or 8th grade. (As a result of my experience, I have insisted that MY kids go to acredited schools and get AA or BFA degrees that will easily transfer to allow them to further their educations at any point in their future.)
However, at the time all I really wanted to do was find a husband, get married, and be a full-time wife and mother. For the most part, I have done that. I wanted nothing more than to follow in my mother's footsteps and be the best mom I could be.
I guess when I truly think about it, what shaped me the most was the fact that my parents were so present in my life and I have followed in their footsteps - room mother, booster club officer, field trip and school trip chaperones (absolutely NO DESIRE to run for office, though!). Come to think of it, even my eduation choice led me to meet my husband of 26 years who gave me my 2 wonderful children and the ability to, for the most part, be a stay-at-home mom to them. So I guess I shouldn't second-guess that one too much!! Now I find myself looking at my future as the mother of two grown children and trying to gather the courage to move to the next, new phase of my life. Oh why can't ONE of my kids decide to get married and make me a grandmother!?!? Now, THAT is a job I would dive head first into!!!!!
(BTW, Tricia, you and I are going to WDW at the exact same time!!!! We will be staying a Kidani Village while you are at Wilderness Lodge. Fun, huh?)
__________________
Betty Sue
Affiliated with CruisingCo.Com/MouseEarVacations.com
Disney Destination Specialist/ BettySueS@cruisingco.com August '09 Trip
Last edited by BettyBeBop; 05-02-2009 at 11:56 PM..
I just finished reading these posts. WOW! I'm going to bed...and to read on...so I won't be responding to each one individually tonight, but these stories are AMAZING!
Seems like with you guys, real life is JUST as interesting as fiction!
I had a rough start to life with a few medical problems and then family problems. I moved around a lot, went to many different schools and lived with several different of my mom's boyfriends & husbands before coming back to live with my grandparents at age 11. I'm grateful for the stability they brought back to my life.
I met DH in high school through our church choir and we've been together ever since. It's been almost 22 years since we started dating and we've been married nearly 16 years. We got married right after we graduated from college together. I taught Pre-K, K and 2nd grade in a private school for 10 years before starting my own Pre-school/Daycare out of our home 5 years ago. Our lives have always revolved around children - teaching, babysitting, working in the kids programs at church, being a nanny, attending their games, recitals and birthday parties, and taking them to Disneyland with us.
The irony here is that we are not able to have our own children. The 11.5 years of infertility issues, misscarriages and failed adoption attempts is the hardest thing we've had to go through as a couple (and we've been through a lot of other situations together!). Instead of giving up though, we are using all of experiences to strengthen us to move forward and try a new approach to adoption.
So that is the story of how I've gotten to this place...ready to adopt so we can share our love for Disney with our own child!
Good luck with the adoption, Tricia. I hope everything goes well.
I don't really have any one story that has gotten me to where I am. I guess I am a bundle of experiences that have shaped me into the person I am.
I was born to older parents. My parents were 39 years old when I was born (49 years ago, that was OLD!!!) and had been married for 17 years. My brother was born 3 1/2 years earlier and they were told at that time that he would probably be an only child, so the fact that I was conceived was a miracle to my folks. I was a "change of life" baby. My mother went through menopause while pregnant and never knew it was happening (she still thanks me for that one! ) Needless to say, I was doted on as a child because my folks saw me as a gift from God. My parents were always there for me. Room mom, on the school board, booster club officers, field trip and school trip chaperones, ..... To this day, my mother is still one of my very best friends and I was my daddy's baby until the day he died.
I assume some of you read my account of being a child of segregation in Summer at Willow Lake, so I won't repeat it, but that did shape alot of the way I view life and difficult situations. (http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...k-club-17.html post 249)
If I have one regret in my life, it would be my choice of college and major. I was so confused and inexperienced in life that I chose the only thing I knew (retail) to focus on in college. I chose to go to a specialized 2 year (unacredited) college and major in Fashion Merchandising (a totally useless AA degree). In reality, I hated the retail industry and have wished over and over that I had chosen a different route. 20/20 hindsight would send me to a 4 year college earning a degree in middle school education. I would LOVE to teach a class in 7th or 8th grade. (As a result of my experience, I have insisted that MY kids go to acredited schools and get AA or BFA degrees that will easily transfer to allow them to further their educations at any point in their future.)
However, at the time all I really wanted to do was find a husband, get married, and be a full-time wife and mother. For the most part, I have done that. I wanted nothing more than to follow in my mother's footsteps and be the best mom I could be.
I guess when I truly think about it, what shaped me the most was the fact that my parents were so present in my life and I have followed in their footsteps - room mother, booster club officer, field trip and school trip chaperones (absolutely NO DESIRE to run for office, though!). Come to think of it, even my eduation choice led me to meet my husband of 26 years who gave me my 2 wonderful children and the ability to, for the most part, be a stay-at-home mom to them. So I guess I shouldn't second-guess that one too much!! Now I find myself looking at my future as the mother of two grown children and trying to gather the courage to move to the next, new phase of my life. Oh why can't ONE of my kids decide to get married and make me a grandmother!?!? Now, THAT is a job I would dive head first into!!!!!
(BTW, Tricia, you and I are going to WDW at the exact same time!!!! We will be staying a Kidani Village while you are at Wilderness Lodge. Fun, huh?)
Another great story, Thanks for sharing it, Betty Sue. I understand your regrets about college. I think it's hard for many of us to make that kind of decision at only 18. At least you met your DH!!
BTW, looking forward to hearing about your stay at Kidani. Hoping to stay there in February, but not expecting it since we can't book 'til July......
I am really enjoying these stories from all of you!
I can't wait to hear the discussion for the next point that I think the book makes.
On p. 103, there is a great quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. "We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face."
Sooooooo, book club, What are your thoughts about that quote????
BTW, looking forward to hearing about your stay at Kidani. Hoping to stay there in February, but not expecting it since we can't book 'til July......
Don't write it off too soon!! I booked ours in January and got the 2 BR in Kidani Village ( I asked for concierge at Jambo, but couldn't get that - had no problem with Kidani). I will keep my fingers crossed for you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick
On p. 103, there is a great quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. "We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face."
Sooooooo, book club, What are your thoughts about that quote????
I don't really want to beat a dead horse, but my exprerience that I referred to earlier as a child of segregation really speaks to me in this quote. I was absolutely terrified as I stood in that bathroom surrounded by too many girls of another race for me to escape from. I was an overweight 10 year old trying desperately to figure out how to turn tail and run!!! But somehow I stood tall and took it all until the calvery (my mother!!!) arrived to save me. I think, in the end, I emerged much stronger and more confident in who I was even if I didn't really physically fight a battle that night. Maybe seeing the way THEY turned tail and ran when my 5' tall mother entered the bathroom showed me that their bravery was only an act and confidence runs deeper than is sometimes visible.
I can honestly say I looked fear in the face as 10 year old and emerged stonger and more confident, even if I didn't truly realize it until my adult years!
__________________
Betty Sue
Affiliated with CruisingCo.Com/MouseEarVacations.com
Disney Destination Specialist/ BettySueS@cruisingco.com August '09 Trip
my exprerience that I referred to earlier as a child of segregation really speaks to me in this quote.
I can honestly say I looked fear in the face as 10 year old and emerged stonger and more confident, even if I didn't truly realize it until my adult years!
Your story touched me. I was also a child of segregation. From as early as I can recall, there was an attempt to train me to mistrust and hate (yes, I DO mean hate) groups that didn't look, speak, and act like me. I think I tried to resist the hatred, but I never really had the opportunity to put it to the test because, at the time, I lived in a town where most of the people were like me.
When I moved to North Jersey to go to college, I found myself on a crowded Newark bus one cold December night. That was the first time I'd been on a crowded bus by myself, let alone at night in a strange town.
I looked around and noticed that I was the different one. The years of brainwashing hit me in an unconscious way, as I started to feel afraid. People got on and off without a glance at anyone in the most unfriendly manner. At the time, I thought no one was making eye contact with ME, but after the fact, I realized no one was making eye contact with ANYONE.
All of a sudden, the skies busted open with the biggest snowflakes I'd ever seen! It was so beautiful! It was like we all blinked our eyes and the streets were covered. People started laughing and chatting, looking at each other and smiling. The whole bus just beamed with this holiday spirit!
Someone started singing "Jingle bells" and before you knew it, we were singing and laughing as we drove down the street.
Now, when people left the bus, they waved good-bye or offered a greeting. There were all sorts of well wishes from people on the bus as people left. And, the funniest thing, when people got on the bus, I could see they noticed something funny, like they'd stepped into a party. You could see on their faces that they were pleasantly surprised!
By the time I stepped off, I was sorry to go. People waved and said "Merry Christmas!", just the same for me as they did for the others.
That seems like a million years ago, but it is one of my happiest memories of facing a fear and finding something good in its place.
He says I think this man is my Father (he hadnt seen him since he was 3). Turns out it was and we had a happy ending with DFIL thrilled to see him, we still have him in our lives. This made a big difference in our family and DH as a mate and a father.
How did he recognize him? That sounds like something from a book!
I had a rough start to life with a few medical problems and then family problems. I moved around a lot, went to many different schools and lived with several different of my mom's boyfriends & husbands before coming back to live with my grandparents at age 11. I'm grateful for the stability they brought back to my life.
Instead of giving up though, we are using all of experiences to strengthen us to move forward and try a new approach to adoption.
So that is the story of how I've gotten to this place...ready to adopt so we can share our love for Disney with our own child!
I'm so glad to hear you've overcome that rough start.
I think that finding something to be grateful for is so important. When I fill my heart with gratitude, the rough edges comes off the whole world, for me!
Sometimes I have to wonder if I am just fooling myself, but I don't see what is wrong with being thankful and trying to embrace the bright side of things!
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Boy I didnt know the half of it. Well this year we'll have been married for 22 years. About four years later while at a local discount store (we had just had our DS a few weeks prior) DH says come here I want you to see someone. Well still suffering with "baby blues" I was not up to running all over the store so I tell him to tell who he wants me to see. He says I think this man is my Father (he hadnt seen him since he was 3). Turns out it was and we had a happy ending with DFIL thrilled to see him, we still have him in our lives. This made a big difference in our family and DH as a mate and a father.
story about DFIL.
) Needless to say, I was doted on as a child because my folks saw me as a gift from God. My parents were always there for me. Room mom, on the school board, booster club officers, field trip and school trip chaperones, ..... To this day, my mother is still one of my very best friends and I was my daddy's baby until the day he died.
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