I am (among other things) the eleventh of twelve siblings.  On January 1, 2008 I pledged to write a post every single day that year.  My comment at that time was to brace yourself for sustained minutiae with gusts of sheer navel-gazing.  In 2009, I decided to try another year of the daily posting.  More minutiae, more navel-gazing, and a few recipes.  Now it’s 2010 and the habit is so ingrained, I can’t imagine not posting something every single day.

I am a mother, a wife, a reader, a writer, a sister, an aunt, a mentor, and friend.  My daughter is the greatest miracle I’ve ever experienced; she came to us at 13 months as a foster daughter, and our journey to adoption took nearly three years and broke our hearts while making us stronger. 

In late 2009, we learned that my 84-year-old father had cancer.  Over the next several months, we watched him falter, rally, and then succumb to the ravages of the disease.  While we prayed for healing, it turned out that while his body would not be healed, a great deal of family discord was healed as we made our peace and shared the pain of watching him fade away.  Daddy passed away June 4, 2010 and there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t miss him with all my heart.

I have strong beliefs, a healthy sense of humor, a distinctive personality, a loud laugh, frequent bouts of impatience, sarcasm and irritation…and a soft spot for the underdog.  I also have an opinion about almost everything.  Stick around long enough, and you’re bound to read it.