Welcome back guys and dolls!

Hi everyone! I know I have been missing for quite some time. As many of you know graduation was right around the corner for me; therefore I had to make sure my focus was solely on that to finish as best as possible. So much has happened since I last shared with you all, including a huge fight with my adoptive family and I thought I was going to end up back in jail and repeat the same mistake I made when I was 15 years old because someone decided to repeat the words of "you ruined our family". I thank God I did not have that ending and I am so much wiser. I am no I will be doing a video blog to catch you all up this week because its too much to write. In the mean time I have been planning some awesome projects for 2011 and networking with many adoptees from all over the world. I have also been in contact with birthmothers searching for their children and doing the best I can to make reunions possible. Oh yea, and not to forget, the Adoptees Rights Demonstration is right around the corner! Im so excited! Louisville, KY here I come!!!

Peace and love guys and dolls!

Muzik

Twitter: Let's Connect

People ask me all the time how do I know so many adoptees, its simple, Twitter! I believe the best application to download to keep up with adoptee news is:


TweetDeck


TweetDeck (available on your computer and Iphone) allows you to separate the columns on Twitter such as: 

• Your mentions
• @ replies (people responding to you)
• DM-Direct messages: private messages to you and someone else
• And finally you have the option that separates this application from all the other applications and that is the option to create a whole column that you would like to mention. For example, I have created a separate window that is labeled "adoptee". So anyone that tweets anything with the word adoptee will come up in my timeline. 

In reference to the tweets mentioning adoptee, you can learn about adoptee rights, people that have adopted, people's feelings about adoption, adoptee groups, support groups, adoptee blogs, searching for family members, adoptee news around the world, I can go on forever. I believe it has been the greatest tool in social networking for adoptees. If you are not signed up, YOU NEED TO BE!


P.S THIS SUMMER I WILL BE ON MY OFFICIAL SEARCH FOR MY FAMILY. I WILL BE TWEETING EVERY MOVE I MAKE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP UP WITH ME AND LIVE THE THE EXPERIENCE OF MY JOURNEY BY MY SIDE, FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER (click the bird). 



By: Twitter Buttons


Tweet with you soon,
Muzik

Damn Its So Hard to Write About Life

Im in the libray struggling my butt off trying to complete this assignment for school. The assignment calls for a  paper of my life before graduation incorporating:

• Identity
• Culture
• Family
• Religous practices
• what I have learned

and few other things. I am having serious writing block. I know it seems strange because I am always writing about stuff about myself. But danggggg when you really have to break things down from day one, the memories start playing back and many things that  may have been repressed have now resurfaced. What's a girl to do!

Believe in your dreams even when they dont believe...(19 more days till graduation)-Muzik

Are You Ready to Start Searching for Your Family?

Beginner's Search Checklist

• Know your rights. Get a copy of the adoption records law for the state where your adoption took place at your local library, online, or from the office of your state legislator.
  
• If you are requesting information from a state legislator, be sure to mention your desire for contact.
  
• Contact the agency that handled your adoption. Ask what services they provide, how much they charge, and how long the wait is.
  
• Register with the International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISRR).
  
• Find out if the state where you were born has an adoption registry
  (click here for general information on state adoption laws in the U.S.)
  
• Talk to your adoptive parents.
  
• Write down everything you can that you already know about your adoption. Even if you already have non-identifying information, think about asking for additional information about your birth parents' health, education, background, and interests.
  
• Join a support group in your area.
  
• Join a support group in the area where you were born.
  
• Find a computer and look for adoption resources on the internet.
  
  
• Take time to understand what your search means to you and why you are taking each step in your search.

[source: American Adoption Congress]

As I tell everyone, knowledge and networking is key. Read about it. Talk about.

Love you always,

Muzik

I Love You Like Family....Shut the Front Door!

I have come to the conclusion that "like family" aint family! I will no longer let someone try to convince me that they have (unofficially) adopted  me into their family or consider me like family. I have lived with many families and people throughout my 25 years of life and I swear each and everyone one of them tried so hard to convince me and tell the world that I am like their adopted daughter. How about this, THE HELL WITH THAT! Everyone to this day has turned their back on me and yet everyone looks at me like I am crazy because of the way I talk about family and life. I have come to the conclusion that it is not me being crazy, after thinking it was for many years due to my adoption and what not. Now I know I did a post about family being who you want it to be and I still stand by that; however, YOU CAN NOT EVEN TRY TO CONVINCE ME  that there is not a difference between being blood related and accepting someone as family. BLOOD ALWAYS WINS point blank period!

I should write a book titled, "Adoption vs. Blood We Will Never be the Same". 

[i am going to do a video blog about this as soon as I feel better look out for it]

I stand alone in this world,

Muzik

You Lookin' At Me Like You Know Me...

The other day I was at the gym doing my cardio and this lady kept staring at me while she was on her machine getting her work out. Every couple of minutes or so I would look over and she was still staring at me. Then it dawned on me to think that maybe she was my biological mom, hell anything is possible right? She had the same hair color as me, as well as eyes, skin color, and height. However, my a-mom said that my b-mom is darker than me so maybe it could not be her. However, it had me thinking that even if she was not my birthmother maybe she gave up a child in her life and was searching for her child. I know it sounds a bit outlandish and to think like that. But what most people do not know and from what I have learned this past year is that there are a lot of birthmothers out there searching for their son/daughter that they have given up for whatever reason (do not judge). So not only our we as adoptees playing the guessing game so are birthmothers. Many of us do not have much info to go off of, and some do not have anything to start with. It is so crazy to think that YOUR OWN CHILD you created seems to have disappeared and will never be found. This world is really fucked up when it comes to rights as adoptees and birthmothers.

I mentioned above "do not judge" because I have met a few birthmothers that were coerced and lied to to give up their child. Be careful before you pass judgement.

In thought,
Muzik

Up Late With No Place in Your Heart to Call Home

I love your support and I am so thankful for all of my readers. Big hugs to all of you!

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

The Adoptees Bill of Rights 

1. We have the right to dignity and respect.
   
2. We have the right to know we are adopted.
   
3. We have the right to possess our original birth certificate.
   
4. We have the right to possess all of our adoption records.
   
5. We have the right to full knowledge of our origins, ethnic and religious background, our original name and any pertinent medical and social details.
   
6. We have the right to updated medical and social history of our birthparents.
   
7. We have the right to personal contacts with each of our birth families, as all other humans.
   
8. We have the right to live without guilt toward any set of parents.
9. We have the right to treat and love both sets of parents as one family.
   
10. We have the right and obligation to show our feelings.
11. We have the right to become whole and complete people.
    
12. We have a right and obligation not to violate the dignity of all people involved in the adoption triad and to carry our message to all adopted children who still suffer.

(Source: American Adoption Congress)

You Have the Right to Create Your Own Family

I have been going through a  lot of ups and downs lately, and it made me think to tell you all that it is okay for you all to create your own family. I know that many of us adoptees feel that even though we have been adopted the sense of belonging is not there. I encourage you to reach out to people or accept the few that are close to you and allow them to be family to you. Besides, who defines what family is to us anyways? I have about 4 mom's, 1 grandma, 10 sistas, too many brothers to count, and a host of cousins, ohhh and how can I forget the many adoptee friends I have met this past year. I consider all of you guys and dolls as my fam. Im in control of who I let in and out of my life. Even though it is not the real deal by blood, im thankful for the people that really do care for me.

Peace and blessings,
Muzik

Thanks Doc

Today I went to Planned Parenthood for my yearly "womanly" thing. As I was filling out the forms I could not believe that there was a box that read "Are you adopted?"!! Come now, we all know dang well when we go to the hospital or doctors office we dread the thought of them asking about family history. There will come a point after all the questions that you have to stop the nurse and say, "I do not know, I am adopted". Then you just look down and feel some time of way because of the memories, or you stare at the nurse's face as she feels like an idiot for even asking. Any who, shout out to ever is in charge of creating this application because I love it!

A B C D E F G ....XYZ

How annoying is it to have to label your family by A's and B's and S's? If you do not know what I am talking about, just ask an adoptee. Every time we have a conversation with someone about our lives we find ourselves describing our families as the "adopted" side or the "biological/birth" side. After a while you begin to just say my "a-fam or my b-fam". Lets just hope that there isn't any divorce and remarriage in that family because then you have an (A)adopted fam, (B)biological fam, and (S)step fam! Geez! After having a conversation on a blog with a friend of mine Liberty she mentioned if we are devaluing our adopted or biological family by having to label them. I completely felt where she was coming from. I mean for goodness sake, CANT THEY JUST BE FAMILY!?! Some of you reading that are not adopted will think that we as adoptees are in control of the labeling but actually we are not. We kinda have to have these labels otherwise people would never understand and mix-up who we are talking about. 


Just a thought for yall to ponder...
check out my girl Liberty blog at: http://writingforliberty.blogspot.com/ 


ABCDEFGHIJKL,Muzik

There is Hope...

I remember staying up one night crying my eyes out like never before when I watched this video clip on Youtube.  I was up searching for clues to my family and came across this video. It is such a blessing and such peace to see we are not alone and that one day those of us that are searching will find out families. Check out the rest of her videos on her Youtube channel. I wrote her a couple times and she told me she found out she had 8 siblings altogether and only one of them knew about her. She said they all embraced her and she loved them very much. She referred me to this site to check out: www.adultadoptees.org , its like a networking place for adoptees.

I am thankful for her love and courage to share her story with us. Subscribe to channel on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/Kdyl07 .Until then yall, we must keep praying and embracing one another because there is a whole community out there feeling alone with no one to turn to.

Love yall always,
Muzik

Lost in Connecticut

Last night I had a dream about finding one of my sisters, but this takes me back a few days ago in a conversation I had with my adopted mom. Lately my mom has been very open about talking about my adoption and what she does know about my biological family. I know its difficult for her to speak about it because she cries, but I know deep in her heart she is trying to live her search for her family through me because the odds of her ever finding them are just about impossible. I will blog more about her story in the next few post to come. The day I had the conversation with my adopted mom about my b-mom and my sisters I asked my mom if I looked like my biological mom and she laughed and said I look just like her except my mom is of a darker complexion. My eyes started tearing up at that moment because I have been longing to put my face next to the beautiful woman and handsome man that created me. But I am sure that what most of us adoptees want to know "where do we come from or why do we look like we do". My adopted mom was supposed to adopt my b-sisters but was never able to because they could not locate them. With that said it brings me to my dream I had last night...


I was in the streets somewhere in a city I have never been (I do not know what I was doing there), and there sat on a bench this young woman smoking her life away. I sat next to her and started up a small conversation with her and we was just vibin' about a lot of things. I had on my "I am adopted" necklace and she had on a name plate necklace but I never really thought to look at what it said at that moment. She was telling me how she just got her son taken away because she was doing all sorts of things she should not have been into. Then she went on to saying she was never a good mother and her mom gave her up for adoption a long time ago. She mentioned something about my necklace and I told her I was adopted, she never made a big deal about it. She had lighter skin than me and had freckles, I began to wonder if we were sisters. As I got closer to her I seen that her name plate necklace read "Adriana", that is my b-mom's name. I knew that she was not my mom because she looked too young but maybe she was wearing the necklace because it was once my b-mom's, and maybe she gave it to her as a child. As I was about to ask her if her mom's name was Adriana I woke up! Talk about pissed! I guess its all in the rules of dreaming. We always wake up right before something big is about to happen (sigh). 


I have a feeling my sister or sisters are thinking about me and that is why I had that dream. My a-mom told me that my sisters (3) are some where in Connecticut, last she heard anyways, they probably moved. However, it is a start for me to start looking for them there in the CT. This bring me here and I NEED YOUR HELP, if you are in the CT area please let me know I need your help to find my sisters this summer. Join my street team. Will you help?


Searching for the truth, 
Muzik

The Pursuit to My Happiness...The Saga Continues

What's happiness when you do not what it looks like? These past few days everything has been so confusing to me. It almost feel like I am intoxicated or something because one minute I feel like I have a grasp on love and happiness and then the next minute I feel like I have never experienced love and happiness. Then once I sober up I see I probably made a few mistakes or said the wrong things while under mental intoxication, or was it that I said what I really felt. Being an adoptee and the feeling of someone giving you up plays a major role in a persons life. I get the feeling that nothing is forever and I am just here fulfilling a purpose I do not really know at the moment. The bottom line is that I am again in the stage of feeling like I do not trust people and why bother having them in my life, after all who the hell is going to understand the million of thoughts that run through my mind and still love me for me. Sometimes I feel like I do not want to talk to anyone because people are so touchy about shit without even knowing what life is or what its truly about. No matter how much I try to be normal I still feel like I do not belong and many people will never understand that. People think because you are so well put together and beautiful that you are intact, but I remind people that we are not the same....

the annoying and crazy thoughts from a confused adoptee that just wants to be happy,

Muzik

FACT:

I. AM. ADOPTED. 

it wasn't a choice for me, but i accepted it, i embraced it, i am me, adopted.

http://www.GraffitiGen.com/ - Graffiti Creator - MySpace Layouts - Facebook Game

n. A totally nice and very pretty person. Who everyone adores
2. a cool classy person with a artistic mind (see artistic) 3. someone smart 4. a good friend 5. awesome:

Wow shes such a Jessenia!

I just thought I would share this. LOL. My friend and I were at lunch on South Beach and she asked me if I was ever searched my name on www.urbandictonary.com to see what it meant. So I decided I would use my bio-name just to see if it perhaps had good sound to it. Hey, Im not mad I kinda dig this meaning, its nice being a Jessenia I suppose. 

To those of you that read this have a beautiful day and remember, you can be all you dream of, I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAY....

 

A Family of 100 And Growing...

This past week I have the great honor to say from my heart that I have reached 100+ followers on my blog, my journey. It may not sound much to many people; however, to me it means a whole lot because this is my heart and my life that I dedicate to myself and other adoptees. 

Celebrating 100+ means knowledge, love, blessings, learning, teaching, crying, smiling, building, and most of all family. We may not all know each other or grew up together but we do share a bond because of our history and journey that some may never understand. Together as adoptees and birth mothers we have helped one another through our pain and not knowing what a day as an adoptee is searching for our birth parent or a birth parent wondering how their child may be feeling as an adoptee now. I am so thankful to be in the position to hear all of you out, and I am so thankful that many of you have open up to me and shared your stories. I have received many emails or short messages on Facebook or Twitter saying, "I am adopted, but I have never spoke to anyone about it. Can we talk?" That is like music to my ears! It feels great to know you are not alone. There is so much more I want to do with this site but as many of you know I am about to graduate from school and I just have four more months of grinding left to go. I just want you all to know that I have not forgotten your letters, email, stories, searches, etc., I have them stored in a file in my email so I can get to back to all of you. 

I cannot begin to thank you all enough for your support in my journey and the lives of many others that pour their hearts out on here. I look forward to keeping in contact with all of you and hopefully meeting up at the next Adoptees Rights March this year!

From my heart to my words,

Muzik

Better To Be Pissed Off Then Pissed On

I haven't written a post in a minute however, let me tell you how pissed off I am today. I wake up this morning to see a text from my sister saying, "call your mother she is crying". I already know what time it is, my sister done pissed my momma off. You know what really gets me is how my sister always speaks and texts "your mother" when she is speaking about her own blood mother. In my mind all I can think of is "you disrespectful little b----"! I have fought this battle with my sister of this for many years and quite frankly the fight is over because I been cut them off. I don't need the negative shit in my life because for once I am starting to feel happy about myself and my life although I am still healing. I don't speak to anyone in my family and I try the best to work things out with my mom from time to time. I just don't get them though. I know my mom loves me to death but at the same time and she goes on and on how her daughters treat her like s---, but when I try to do something nice for her with the little bit of time I have in my life she cancels on me because of something my sisters have done. Its like she caters to them and im'a keep it real, that s--- pisses me off! My whole life my mom has expected me to be the strong one or the better person in every situation, but hello I am the youngest one, I don't get it. I do cry too you know. So finally after calling my sister about 20 times this morning to see what happened with my mom she answered and said that "my mother" was crying because she hasn't spoken to me, which I know isn't the case. My selfish ass sister must have done something to her. But you know, a part of me feels like I don't care to have to rush to the phone to call her and make sure she is okay or go see her because she has two biological daughters that are always there around her so why the hell can't they help her, they don't do anything with their lives anyways. I am the only one that has done everything for myself and literally hustled my way through school to get my degree and making a living for myself. They have no idea that s--- I have been through to get where I am today! I can't be burdened by anything anymore. I am finally feeling a taste of happiness and peace in my life and I want to see that flourish. I feel bad because I know my mom is sick and I dont want anything to happen to her. I also feel in a way that I am all my mom has because she too was adopted but was in a very scary situation worse than I can imagine. But I need her to think of me first for once and it hurts to have to think that. I am not superwoman. I can't stand my sisters for the s--- they have done in the past. I love one of my sister's to death in my heart (the one I just mentioned) but she needs to get help. If I could leave those two ungrateful asses with a word it would be...
 "get the f--- over it! Let your past be a lesson for success"
I cant dwell on my past I have had to move on and make a life on my own, for that I thank many people for taking me in and mentoring me, nurturing me, and loving me for who I am. So is it better to be pissed off then pissed on? I think I have pissed on and now i am pissed off.


With thoughts I cry,
Muzik 

Haiti Earthquake 2010. We Need Your Help!

We Love You Haiti, Help Is on The Way!!!

I thought I wanted to do something to show love to Haiti and at the same time attract people as a reminder that we must support the need to donate and volunteer after the earthquake hit in Haiti. Please do all you can do! As I always say, "Your support is necessary"!

PLEASE HELP AND PRAY FOR HAITI!!!

As many of you already know Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere and has unfortunately suffered a tragedy to their country by this earthquake. Many have lost their lives, are suffering, and are fighting for their life. The need of medicine, food, water, and care is in DESPERATE need! I BEG you to do what you can do to help them. If you have never helped anyone before this is definitely the time to make it count. Rescue and aid efforts are being made in so many ways please join in the many organizations that are taking a stand or get creative and start your own effort!

Also please pray for the students, faculty, and employees at my school, Lynn University that were on a trip to Haiti with Food For The Poor that just arrived to their hotel a hour before the earthquake happened. 12 are missing and 2 of our housekeeping workers went back home to Haiti for vacation and there is still no word from them. Please pray and do what you can for the people in Haiti. Every hour and every dollar is a step closer to saving a life! Take a moment and imagine if this happened in our country or to your family, I know you would help then!

we will help to rebuild your country

We pray for sweet Haiti

Love Haiti, The voice of the Adoptees

I Thought I Found My Brother....

Many of you have been asking whats going on  with my search for my family since you all have been hearing about other people and not so much of me. So here it goes....
 As embarrassed as I almost feel to post this video, I thought I had to do it because I have to keep it real with my life and you all. I said I was going to be the voice of the adoptees and that means I have to really show everyone what really goes on in our lives as we search for our families, birth certificates, answers, cry, laugh, vent, and so much more. I been holding on to this video for a couple months now thinking whether or not to post it, but I thought I would save it for the beginning of this year. So if you want to know it turned out he wasnt my brother. He said that it wasn't possible and my adopted mom said that I have a brother that is a year younger NOT older. I was devastated I am not even going to lie, I was in tears for days and had a horrible feeling in my heart. I was once speaking to him for hours a day on Blackberry messenger, the phone, twitter, and Facebook, and then after that I felt like I did not want to speak to him as much as I wanted to because he is just a cool dude. We still keep in contact and I just think of it has a new connect. Until then I will keep searching  for my family. In reality though, this is exactly what we have to go through as adoptees and it sucks! It is like playing a guessing game and playing Where's Waldo, but this game is not fun at all.
Thanks so much for your support and comments. Stay tuned for more news I will post shortly.

Are We Really Related? DNA Testing for Siblingship

While working on Elena's journey to finding the truth if the young man that contacted her is her brother, we came to a stumbling block. What I mean is that it is now time to find out the truth and that can really only be done by DNA testing. Elena is in Washington D.C and the other young man is in Florida. That left her and I thinking how would this process be done. After some research, I spoke with a specialist from DDC (DNA Diagnostics Center) that gave me the break down of ow the testing is done.

• Pricing is between $675-685
• Both parties can walk in to a center that is located in many areas across the Unites States or you can order the DNA kit, complete it at home, and then mail it in.
• Samples are collected by using a swab that is similar to a cotton swab, but made of special material Dacron. The swab is rubbed against the person taking the test, and the loose cells stick to the swab. The cells are tested in the lab.
  
• Results are given within 5 business days. 

Need a DNA test or want more info? Click here 

Now I am sure that there are many DNA testing centers across the United States. Some may be more expensive, less expensive, or even seem more convenient. The bottom line is to have this testing done at a reputable center. I chose this center because  they have the largest network of collection sites in North America and they also serve in 168 other countries. The staff was very helpful when I called for information yesterday and I was very pleased with the comfort they made me feel on the line. 


Please stay tuned to Elena's journey as we find out the truth to what happened in her life. If you have any questions on adoptee/adoption/orphan related issues please leave a comment on this page or you can email me at yourbloodismyblood@yahoo.com I will do my best to help.

still searching, the voice of the adoptees

Excuse me Voice of The Adoptees I think I see my sister on your site, can you help...

hello,
I came across your website maybe a couple of minutes ago and was reading about your friend Elena. I really would like to talk to her. I have really weird things that are the same as her. I was adopted in the same area and my name was baby boy guerra. If you can help me id appreciate it.
Thanks,
Saturday night I was driving home tired as a dog after working a double shift the previous day and then returning the next day to do 9 hours. On my way home, I received an email through my Blackberry but of course I did not want to read and drive at the same time. However, I quickly glanced at it and remembered reading the words, I check your website, Elena, Guerra, and I would like more info. The first thought that came to my mind was this dude was trying to holla, and I was thinking this is not not the time or place (jokingly). I was 4 minutes away from home and I immediately called Elena and told her about this email throughout the conversation all she kept saying was, "I cannot believe this, oh my god" LOL. Once I got home I read it, and it was from a young man that's an adoptee that is searching for his family. Basically he said he Googled: Baby boy Guerra Maryland and my site came up. You see I did a post back in November titled: A College Student Speaks Out, My life as an Adoptee, and it was about a young lady (Elena) I went to college with that was born in Prince George's County, Maryland  and her birth last name was Guerra. Well this young man found this information plus the photos of Elena on my website to be a possible match to the family he has been searching for. After speaking with Elena on the phone for 3 hours and sleepy as heck, I was so excited to get to the bottom of this and see if this was her brother. Elena asked me to mediate this situation between the two of them. The first thing her and I did was check Facebook to see what he looks like and if it could be possible. We could not really tell at the moment because the picture was so small. I decided to email him and ask him what exactly he found that was peculiar about Elena and being his sister, I also asked him what he knew about his b-fam, and I most definitely had to remind him about the emotional process and toll this can take on both sides whether they are a match or not. I told him about the experience I had and how emotional is was for me when I though I found my brother (that video post will come out this weekend). We continued to email back and forth and I had Elena on the phone with me as I tweeted the whole conversation and other adoptees listened and asked questions. It was becoming a bit chaotic, but I wanted everyone to see what this experience is really like. Its hard, no one can argue that. He said his adoption record showed that his last name was Guerra just like Elena's and he was told that he had older or other siblings. He was also told that his mom was catholic and she could not afford to him so she gave him up. At this point, everything seemed like a match and it was very possible. I asked him if I could add him on Facebook so I could look through his photos. He replied yes and the search was on! I gave Elena my password and her and I went through the photos. Immediately there was not a doubt in my mind that they could be related. They both have the same color skin, nose, and she is 5'3 and he is 5'6. She was going back and forth in her mind whether he actually looked like her, but I had to remind her that even though we think we know ourselves after 20+ years in our skin sometimes we do not know how we really look like. Its sounds complicated but trust me it makes sense. Eventually she began to see the similarities and she showed the photos to her friends and they said they see a resemblance. He said he showed his his friends as well and they also believe that there is a match because there are just too many similarities. Yesterday I asked Elena if she was ready to begin communicating with him now that there is a strong possibility and she answered yes. I wrote him back and let him know that he can friend request her on Facebook now. 

SoooOOOOOo....

For the update, they have been in communication now and discussing what they know about their adoption and their lives. It is such a blessing that they both have families that are willing to help out without holding a grudge like I have been hearing in most cases lately. Since neither of them have their actual adoption record with a name or anything like that they only option left now to do a Siblingship DNA test or to contact their b-mother to find out if they truly are related. As I told them both, they have to go into this with an open heart and mind. Reunions can change your life forever for the good and even for the worse. I let them both know that I am here for them no matter when, the hour, the place. I dedicate my life to this. They are in two different right now so many decisions will have to be made from here on out to decide what route they will take. I pray this is a match and that their future will bring a heart that was once partially empty fulfilled with the truth and with love. I will keep you posted on any further news I receive from the both of them. 


Keepin' it real in 2010, here to educate the minds, and unite familes, I am The Voice of The Adoptees.

Makin' my dreams come true in 2010...the life of a fighter...the life of a champion

We made it through the struggles and the lessons of 2009! Hug somebody because you are alive and able. This year its all about that "game plan" ya digg! there is no "I" in team, you see that T-E-A-M, no "I" anywhere in that. So I need your help this year to make moves that will help all of us out. Want to know how you can help? Aight, first you can start by telling somebody about www.yourbloodismyblood.com. Second, you can participate in discussions on twitter with me on www.twitter.com/iamadopted. Third, when the time comes to create a street team to bring awareness about adoptees, I need yall so dont get ghost cuz I will find you! You know I have mad love for yall and I believe in each an everyone of your dreams. Walk by faith and talk out of love. Dont let your goals of the new year just last for January, you have to: Think, Plan, Execute-Jawar. Look him up!

HAPPY NEW YEAR- LIVE WITHOUT REGRETS

I wanted to take this time to give thanks to everyone that has changed my life this year, and to all those that have supported my journey . I have accomplished many goals, shed many tears, gained in an immense amount of knowledge about adoption laws, and met some wonderful people (like you that's reading this). Because of you I have been able to take this, my journey and this site to another level. This year alone, we have witnessed just a taste of looking through the eyes of an adoptee in the media in shows such as Real World Cancun (MTV), Real World D.C (MTV), the movie Orphan, the T.O show (VH1), American Next Top Model (VH1), and finally the show Find my Family (ABC). Although we can argue that it doesnt show the real truth about being an adoptee, I have come to terms and think that its just a beginning, and now the door is open for adoptees to stand together and speak out. Stay tuned for the great updates, stories, reunions, and much more in 2010. Who knows, I just might find my family in 2010. Before I bring this to close I will leave you with a few projects I am going to be working on:

• Traveling to NY where I was born and take video of the place I used to live. Also, locate the owner of the building in hopes to get a name of my father because its not on the BC
  
• Travel to CT where my sisters may be located 
• I will be putting together a speaking campaign and hitting the streets to spread the truth about adoption and what it really does to us as adoptees.
• I will be covering a live story of a beautiful girl and her brother that just reunited with her family. definitely stay tuned for this, I aint playin'.
  
• Another story I will be keeping you all updated with is a close friend she is a college student that is searching for her family that was adopted through Catholic Charities. I will keep you posted with the steps she has taken to find her family. It may help you.

There is so much more i have planned, I'll keep you posted as it becomes relevant. I remember when I started this site this year I did for myself and my journey, but I quickly found out that my heart rests in many of you and I want to help as many of you as I can. If you have a story, event, or anything you would like me to post please email me at: yourbloodismyblood@yahoo.com   

HAPPY NEW YEARS:THE VOICE OF THE ADOPTEES! 

Dear Santa...

everyone that knows me knows how much i despise christmas. the music, the lights, the thought of christmas trees, gifts, candy canes, all of that! it makes me so sick i literally have to throw up sometimes. it was around this time 25 years ago my momma left me in New York City. every time i picture the streets filled with snow and people walking with coats all bundled up, it makes me cry. im thankful today i am nowhere near snow because the memories of New York will definitely having me crying like a baby. i just wonder how she just left me at a time where normally family would be gathered. all i can think of is her leaving me right before christmas...who does that!?! every year i get worse and worse about this. i spend my christmas's alone and often visit my local Boston Market for christmas dinner. don't get me wrong i understand the true meaning of christmas religiously speaking, but sometimes all that goes out the window as depression sits in. my adopted family doesn't even celebrate christmas, it was rather pointless when you were poor and couldn't afford to have a tree or presents underneath. now we all just dont get along, so as i said christmas is spent alone in my own sunny north pole feeling cold...feeling like like i was just dealt coal...

i envision the day i'll have a christmas with my family with a tree, gifts, dinner, and the rest of the trimmings. so Mr. Santa, if you find time in all of your request can you please bring me my family. i swear i have been a good girl this year. i know i haven't been the best kid, but God knows ive tried.

cherish your familiy this christmas year no matter how upset you may be with them

love, the voice of the adoptees

YOU KNOW YOU ARE AN ADOPTEE WHEN...

i FINALLY came across a page i can go to just SCREAM about everything i have had to endure being an adoptee, or all of the injustices i hear that happens to other adoptees. i found this page on Facebook titled "You Know You Are an Adoptee When..." and you write in the white box a situation you have endured, something you have seen someone else go through, or filling in the blank box saying whatever you please. this page has turned into a place where adoptees will definitely not feel alone, because 9 times out of 10 there is another adoptee already posting what you were about to say (trust me it just happened to me). Being a part of this page on Facebook you can FINALLY have the opportunity to exchange feelings to help one another get through the same thing you have been through or something you have been questioning. i have yet to find a place like this anywhere on the internet so i really think this is a bangin' page..i think i am in love with it (batting my lashes) ha haa. I spend quite some time on it, im addicted! def check this page out yall, i highly recommend you do. all you have to so is signup for a Facebook account on Facebook.com. i promise you its well worth it even if you just join to be a part of the humor and cries we share on this page.  trust me its all love round this way!
CHECK IT OUT, YOU CAN THANK ME LATER. NOW GO SCREAM YOUR LUNGS OUT!
(copy and paste this link) http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/You-Know-Youre-An-Adoptee-When/202291792865?v=wall&ref=ts
special thanks to Elaine Penn for putting this page together, you're the best!

love always,

the voice of the adoptees

Hellerrrrr. LOL. i took this quick pic to show yall this new piece i had custom made that says : "I am Adopted". i was so ecstatic when it came in the mail. look out for my new pieces i'm getting made for for my site in the spring 2010. by the way i have some really interesting post coming soon! so keep ya eyes tuned in and don't forget to bring your heart with ya! love you all as always.

Special thanks to Melody Ehsani for her awesome work and talent AND to Tasha Robinson, owner or Imperfect Concepts Boutique for her constant support.

 

fighting to live, when we're just living to die

i woke up in a 2 pac and Biggy mood thinking about life. i was listening to the song "Runnin'" (Dying to Live). the hook on the song rings in my head:

now i wonder if they'll laugh when im dead
why am i fighting to live, if im just living to fight?
why am I trying to see when there ain't nothin' in sight?
why am i trying to give when no one gives me a try?
why am i dying to live, if im just living to die?

i know, i know, its been a minute since i have posted something but trust me its on my mind on the daily. i cant tell you enough how i cant wait to be able to have the opportunity to write or talk about this for a living, until then i just dream and do what i can. sometimes it feels like everything and everyone is against me. no one understands my heart, but what they dont know is all i have is heart. it dont get any realer that that! i often find myself questioning what the hell i am doing at the University that takes all my time because i feel so uncomfortable around everyone. i go to a school with a bunch of rich-ass kids that dont appreciate shit, while im over here literally hustlin' for every dollar to stay in school and do what i need to change my life and get my momma right. then by night im hustlin' in clubs while saying my last good-byes to my friends/customers because they will probably be dead by the morning. then these professors dont understand a damn thing, and i am so tired of explaining to them why i cant do this or that. how do you expect to keep your head straight in class when in one week your home boy was found burned alive and stuffed in his truck knowing just the day before he was talking to you and hugging you saying how he wants out the game, and then 2 friends die of a drug over dose (come on mannnn).  for right now, i just do me, i do what i can because in the end i just have to believe God has my back. But right now it just seems like i cant catch a break, just went i thought i made it out the game i find find myself back for few...

just know i am human, i go through shit but it doesn't change my heart, im just surviving...

fighting to live-the voice if the adoptees

Greetings: Guys & Dolls,

Being away from home has been the biggest breath of air i have taken in these past let say...4 months. PHEW! My life can be so chaotic when i am back at home with school, work, family, researching, volunteering, you name it!
While I was away, I had time to think about the direction I want to go in my life and the legacy I want to leave, not that I am going anywhere. lol. But while I was out traveling I was able to see things in a different perspective. Learning about the struggles and the beauties of different countries can teach you a lot about life and cultures. While i was out, I learned the meaning of   "No mas Violencia Machista"

translated as, stop the violence against women and children. Just in one year almost one hundred women lost their lives due to a husband, boyfriend, or family member, and they said that was a record low (imagine that). God bless the dead. It made me think so much of what we take for granted back in the states no matter how much we are reminded that we have it "good". with all that, i was reminded about the power and need of SPEAKING OUT. For me being able to see all these things is what makes me: All Heart.

That would be my newest tattoo. People ask me all the time how I keep going through all the stuff I been through and I just remind them, "Im all heart".

Also while I was out, I had such an amazing time being able to catch up on researching adoptee information and hearing and blogging about adoptee's. Oh yes NEWS UPDATE: I have another lead on my search, but i am waiting on a reply. i figured since so many people have found their family on Facebook I would give it a try. I looked again on Facebook and their was a name match of my momma's name so I friend requested and I am still waiting on confirmation all though its been a few days now (sigh). She doesn't look like me but it's worth a try ya know. I have to tell you I spent some good time looking at the profile pic as well as having strangers look too, everyone had a different opinion (two thumbs down).

Well, I am looking forward to the year 2010, I believe its going to be my year! I just have to stay focused on what truly matters to me right now, and let go of the rest. Many will not understand, but those that love me will get it. I have so many projects i am putting together for my site next year, but I remind everyone that I need your support please. Im looking to find my family, help others find their family, speaking the truth about being an adoptee in 2010. From me heart I just want yall to know I'm not your average person, "just kno dat" (as we would say in my hood), I truly care about people and I am willing to support anyone that needs me and I hope the same will be reciprocated. In just a few hours I will be traveling back to the states and saying farewell to the foreign lands that keep me at peace. Keep me in your prayers in all that I do. Love you all and I believe in you all.

"believe in your dreams, even when they don't believe"-the voice of the adoptee's

a college student speaks out: my life as an adoptee

I don’t think I would have ever had and have been given so many opportunities to follow my dreams and my heart. I wouldn’t change my life for anything. I am proud to be an adoptee...

Hi everyone. My name is Elena and I’m from Washington, DC. I was born June 19, 1987 in Prince George’s County, Maryland to a woman named Hilda Guerra. Six days later I was placed into foster care with my foster mother Maureen, who later adopted me. I came to her still with my hospital bracelet on and without a name. I was still baby girl Guerra. After some time went by, Maureen decided to adopt me. My adoption was finalized April 16, 1992. My older brother, Tyrone, was adopted as well.

My life as an adoptee has probably been a different experience than many other adoptees. I actually didn’t know I was adopted when I was first growing up since my mother was all I knew. I had no other experiences other than those with her so I truly believe she is my mother. I am fortunate because I grew up with friends who were also adopted. All of us went to the same babysitter so we always had each other for support. My best friends for my entire life are adopted and it is a topic of conversation often. We all had our ups and downs and struggled with being adopted or felt misunderstood but we always had each other to fall back on or discuss our struggles with since we have all been there.

In the end, I am thankful to both of my mothers, my adopted and my birth, for what they have done for me. My birth mother gave me up so I could have opportunities that she may not have been able to provide for me. My adopted mother has given me the world. She raised me by herself and put me through private school my entire life. I have had so many experiences I don’t think I would have ever had and have been given so many opportunities to follow my dreams and my heart. I wouldn’t change my life for anything. I am proud to be an adoptee.

i have had the pleasure of attending college with Elena at Lynn University. She is one of the most fun, loving, amazing, and supportive person of any cause i probably know. real rap! i love her to death, and if i had one wish for our friendship it would have been to have gotten to know her sooner than i did. She is right, her mom as a single mother adopting, has done everything she could do for Elena to give her the best life possible. Elena has had some wonderful opportunities such as joining an awesome sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma, and traveling to Spain, Egypt, Canada, and i am sure many other places. anytime you mention to Elena "road trip" she is always down for the cause. lol. next year i am looking forward to doing a lot of work bringing adoptee awareness to Washington D.C with Elena. if you are interested in joining us get back at me so we can link up! Thanks for your love and sharing your story with www.yourbloodismyblood.com Elena! love ya girl!
Despite being a happy and thankful adoptee, do you ever plan on searching for your biological family? And you say you have an adopte brother as well, do you both ever speak about being adopted with one another? Rap with us.

Meet Renee DeLuca a Reunited Adoptee: Anatomy of a Successful Reunion

 [by Renee Mills DeLuca, born Christina Beata Pellini]

I was born Christina Beata Pellini on January 7, 1964 to Linda Pellini--exactly one week after most states began closing and sealing all adoption records. Though I now know who my birthparents are, I am not allowed to own my UN-amended birth certificate from Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. unless I petition the court.

Meanwhile, Providence has guided my life—it is so appropriate that I was born there.

I was placed in the arms of Bob and Mary Ann Mills of Clinton, Maryland through the services of Catholic Charities. I became Renee Ann Mills. Renee means re-born, though my mother didn’t choose the name because of that—she just liked the name. (For clarity, I call Mary Ann Mills, my adoptive mother, “mom” and “mother.” I call my birthmother, Linda. Similarly, I call Bob Mills “dad,” and my birthfather Jack.)

When I was seven years old, my parents took me for a walk in the woods of my mother’s hometown, Girard, Ohio, and told me that I was "special"--I was adopted. They explained what that meant and told me my little sister Diane was adopted too. I think I asked if I could go play after that.

My mother is the youngest of 11 in a big Italian family. We have had an annual family reunion every year since 1967, and I have only missed one in my whole life. With family being so important, you can bet I had questions about my own identity and birth family. (Back in the day, they tried to match backgrounds somewhat, so that the children might blend in with their adoptive families—turned out I actually was of Italian and U.K heritage…my birth names are Pellini-McAuliffe, and my adopted families are Oliva-Mills. The Pellinis came from Northern Italy…Lake Como, and the Olivas came from Reggio Calabria, toe of the boot, so I claim all of Italy as mine. Meanwhile, the McAuliffes come from County Cork Ireland, and the Mills hailed from Rugby, England.)

When I was a teenager, I finally got up enough nerve to ask my mother about the very politically incorrect “Real Mom.” (We never talked about adoption…it was silently understood.) I could see her cringe when I asked. She told me what the nuns had told her to answer when this day came—she told me my birthmother had been killed in a car accident shortly after my birth. I was stunned. And I knew my mother was lying. And I vowed to find her someday, without ever telling my mother. I knew my mother had lied to me, but I also knew I hurt her when I asked her about my “Real Mom." When I asked her about my “Real Father” she told me he was “killed in the war.” Whatever war that was supposed to be…Vietnam I guess. (This was in the 70s.) Don’t be too critical of or judgmental about my mother—again; this is what parents were counseled to say when their children asked back then. And you know this will come back later in my story.

Fast forward to my adulthood. I married David A., and gained a daughter. Elizabeth was my stepdaughter… but I loved her as if she were my own. Pretty much how an adoptive parent feels. When Elizabeth was 11 years old and I was 29 years old, I became pregnant, and our family was growing.

1994 was a big year for me. On January 7th, I turned 30. On January 18th, my daughter Ali was born, and for the first time in my life I looked into the eyes of someone I was biologically related to. The entire time I had been pregnant, I was thinking, “I really need to get serious about finding my birthparents. These doctors are asking me a lot of questions I don’t know the answers to.” Also, I knew my birthmother had been pregnant from April to January 30 years earlier—and my mind often wondered if she went through the same stages of her pregnancy as I did—was she as big as a basketball at Christmas, too? I had no one to ask.

In my 20s, I had sent off information to the International Soundex Reunion Registry—I must have read about them in the paper or something. For several months I ran to the mailbox, hoping for a match. It didn’t come.

Six weeks after Ali was born, a letter arrived from the ISRR, saying there was a match! I told you 1994 was a big year. And the letter had about six yellow forwarding address stickers on it. They had been trying to reach me for several years about a match—but I moved a lot in my 20s, and the letter never found me, until exactly when I needed it.

To quote Alanis Morrisette, Thank you, Providence.

I immediately called the ISRR office, and got the founder, Tony on the phone. He said he still had my birthmother’s phone number on file… he would call her and make sure she was still interested in hearing from me. He called back 15 minutes later—with her phone number and news that she wanted to talk to me!

In my teenage years, I had always wondered where I got my green eyes—both of my adoptive parents had brown eyes. When I had Linda on the phone for the very first time, the first thing she asked me was, “Do you have green eyes?” Indeed, we knew immediately we were connected. We talked for three hours.

In the coming weeks, Linda and I wrote long letters to each other—(this was before the Internet had made it into our house). The first thing I noticed was that her handwriting was exactly like my own scribbles!!! I had always hated my handwriting, but now, I loved it!

She sent me a package of photos…and I sat at the post office and opened them in my car. They spilled out into my lap—and I couldn’t take my eyes off of my handsome Tyrone Powers-looking grandfather, William Pellini, and my beauty queen grandmother, Kathryn Hatch Pellini, a former Miss Rocky Mount, North Carolina in their amazing engagement photo. There were also photos of three brothers I didn’t know existed! I grew up with two sisters—my middle adopted sister Diane, and mom and dad’s surprise baby when mom was 40—my youngest sister Michelle. I had always wanted a brother, and now I had three!

I couldn’t believe I was finally looking at the faces of people who looked like me—(so that’s where I got those eyebrows, thanks Grandpa Pellini!). I raced to a girlfriend’s house and asked her, “Do I look like these people or do I just want to look like these people?” And she looked at the photos and looked at me and said, “These are your people.”
                                         

                        
   After about nine months of correspondence, the time came for me to fly down to Florida and meet Linda face to face.  I was going to bring Ali, her first grandchild, with me. I didn’t want to lie to my mother Mary Ann about where I was going, so the time had finally come for me to have a heart-to-heart with her about finding Linda. It wouldn’t be easy—I still remembered that she had lied to me about Linda even existing. It was the cause of many years of not feeling close to my mother—feeling a distance between us that nothing seemed to take away. There was always that wall, that lie between us.

I invited my mother over one afternoon when Ali was taking her nap. (My dad, Bob Mills, died of a heart attack at the age of 52, when I was 24 years old. I miss him terribly.) Mom lives back in her hometown of Girard, and I was living in Hiram, Ohio at the time. I laid the letters and photos out before her, and I said, “Mom, you will always be my Mother. But I have found my birthmother, Linda, and I am going to meet her this weekend. Here are the letters and photos she has sent me.”

Well, as you can imagine, the tears came for both of us then. She told me that she had always regretted telling me that lie, she knew it was wrong the minute it came out of her mouth--and I told her I always knew it was a lie. She said she knew that I would somehow find Linda some day—I was a news reporter after all, she knew I had that curiosity. She also said that the entire time I had been pregnant; she wanted to come to me and tell me she would help me find my birthmother—she knew I must have had so many questions at that time, but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

I told her my birth name, Christina Beata Pellini, and she said she remembered the “Beata” part. I told her it was for the nun in the home for unwed mothers where Linda spent the majority of her pregnancy—the nun she had butted heads with at first, and came to love.

My mother wrote a letter to Linda that day, a letter thanking Linda for giving her the gift of raising me, from one mother to another. It was a very generous thing to do, and the healing had begun. That wall was being torn down, brick by brick.

When I saw Linda waiting for me in the airport that very first time, she ran to me and hugged me so hard I couldn’t breathe. We couldn’t stop looking at each other—looking into the green eyes we both shared. I went to her house and met my youngest brother, Ivar, who was still in high school and still living with her. Both of them towered over me at six feet—I had always felt tall at 5’8”—who knew I was short??? Questions I didn’t even know I had were being answered just by being in Linda’s presence.

In fact, several years later, Linda and I appeared together on the Oprah Winfrey Show, discussing our reunion through ISRR, and how grateful we were to be together again.

So of course, I asked Linda about my birthfather. I mean, I had to, I had come this far. She got out her yearbook from West Nottingham Academy 1963. It was the country’s oldest boarding school, on the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and it was where I was conceived. She was a senior, and so was my father.

Linda showed me the photos of her longtime boyfriend, Jeff Perry. She and Jeff had dated for several years, and they each knew each other’s family. Linda told me that while Jeff was her boyfriend, there was another boy—a boy she had a fling with at the end of her senior year—Jack McAuliffe. She told me she was 98% sure that Jeff was my father.

Here is where I’ll make a very long story shorter. My father is Mr. Two Percent, Jack McAuliffe. I had to break this news to Linda after a DNA test that Jeff and I had done. (That’s a whole other story, believe me!)

Well, because Linda found herself pregnant after graduation in 1963, she told her parents that Jeff was the father, and they went to him. He said he didn’t know if that was true or not, but he was enlisting in the Army and that was that. Linda went to a home for unwed mothers, and we know what happened from there.

Meanwhile, back in the present day, Ali’s father and I divorced, and I met the man who is the love of my life, Paul DeLuca. One night when we were dating, after he attended an Adoption Network event with me, he asked me if I was interested in finding my birthfather. I told him I had already been through enough disappointment in finding Jeff, (though I got many positives out of contacting him—he was very accepting) I didn’t think I had the energy to thrust myself on another man telling him I was his long lost daughter he didn’t know he had. Jack had never been told about Linda’s pregnancy—why would he have been?

Well, Paul was curious enough for both of us. Unbeknown to me, he put an inquiry about Jack McAuliffe on a McAuliffe family genealogy website, saying he was looking for Jack, a graduate of West Nottingham Academy, 1963, and some other information he gleaned from the yearbook that Linda had given to me.

One night when we were out to dinner, Paul slipped a piece of paper to me and said, “Here is something I think you should see.” It was the reply to that inquiry, he printed off an email from a woman named Cathy McAuliffe that said, “That’s my brother…what should I tell him?”

Well, we went home and I immediately began composing a very long email to Cathy, about whom I was and why I was interested in knowing her brother Jack. I attached a few photos and hit send…and held my breath and waited. That was on a Saturday night. We got our reply that Monday.

It was a reply of joy and acceptance—I could hardly believe it! But Cathy “got it” right away—it turned out that she was a birthmother herself! She had given up a daughter in 1967. She totally understood where I was coming from and why I was searching. She was not reunited with her daughter, and longed to be. More on that later.

   

Much to my joy, Cathy and Jack’s father, John McAuliffe, (we call him Pasee) was alive and well and living with Cathy. She told him about me, and he was overjoyed to have found another grandchild! It took some time, but Cathy finally told Jack about me—at first he said he didn’t want to know who was looking for him or why. Jack was a guy who had never married, and lived his life as a rolling stone.

Here’s the best part. He had a vasectomy at the age of 21 because he knew he didn’t want children. Ha! Too late! Only he didn’t know it.

Eventually, Jack became curious wondering who was looking for him. He asked Cathy about it, and she told him it was BIG. He asked, “How big?” And Cathy said, “Oh, about 5’8”!” She asked him if he remembered Linda Pellini. He had fond memories of Linda, so Cathy went ahead and told him: Linda had a daughter in January of 1964, and that daughter believed Jack was her birthfather. Jack’s reaction? He said, as only Jack would say, “It’s a communist conspiracy.”

Well, Jack came around to the idea of having a daughter who was already an adult and didn’t really want anything from him other than getting to know him a bit. I told Cathy that I had had a wonderful father, and wasn’t looking to replace him. Paul and I made plans to fly to San Antonio, where the McAuliffes were living.

It was a joyful reunion. I felt welcomed and loved by this family from the start. How lovely that I was able to meet my grandparents—Linda’s parents had been long gone, so this was a special thing to me. My Masee was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s so while I met her, I’m not really sure she understood who I was, but when she looked into my eyes, she said, “Jack.” So who knows if she understood more than we knew?

So here we are, reunited with my birthmother and brothers, and my birthfather and his family. Paul and I decided to get married shortly after 9/11 struck our country and life seemed more precious than ever. We set a date for May 17, 2002.

On that day, my life came full circle when both of my Mothers walked me down the aisle when I married Paul. My brothers Ivar and Scott were also in attendance (another brother, Bill, couldn’t make it), as well as my adoptive sister, Michelle. And while Jack wasn’t quite up to playing father of the bride, my Aunt Cathy was there, representing the McAuliffe clan.

My daughter Ali was the flower girl, and my stepson, Matthew, Paul’s son was the ring bearer. The Oliva and Mills clans met the Pellini and McAuliffes as I became a DeLuca—and everyone rejoiced.

And you’ll be happy to know, that Aunt Cathy sent her information off to Soundex, and she is now reunited with my biological cousin, Carol, her daughter. And she’s a grandmother of six! Cathy had never had any other children, so this is a great joy to her life. We all got together in San Antonio just over a year ago.

So while the lies of the past are still locked in the file cabinets and courtrooms, and birth certificates remain sealed across this country, the truth sets them free anyway.

I am: Christina Beata Pellini Renee Ann Mills Arnold DeLuca

For those searching, you can register with Soundex here: http://www.isrr.net/

i cant begin to thank you enough for sharing your story with www.yourbloodismyblood.com. know that you are a hero to us all, especially to the young adults that are yearning to find our b-fam. most of us are in the stages of wanting to know how to address our a-mom about wanting to seach and many young adoptee's still live at home; therefore, it makes the situation even more difficult to speak out about it. we thank you immensley for giving us the chance to live through you. we hope the best for your future as you touch many lives. 

[you can also hear Renee's story on http://www.wdok.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4186775 you may have to copy and paste the link.]

love always,

the voice of the adoptee's