Thursday, September 11, 2008

TOMGIRL IS MOTHER'S HERO & INSPIRATION

From the first moment my eyes met Jordynn I felt as close to her as any mother could to a baby. With thick, dark hair already reaching the top of her nose, I knew she was super special. What I didn’t know was that it could be possible for a bond that strong to grow even deeper and stronger through the years…It did!

To be honest, I think Jordynn pulled a bit of a role reversal on me. I was prepared to teach her all the things I knew at the times in her life she would need to know them. I wasn’t expecting that I would learn more about how to live life from her than she could ever learn from me.

I watched in awe as Jordynn drank in life day after day with a spirit and energy I never experienced myself. She can independently take on tasks and be happy on her own, but has such a kind heart that she always has room for others and is happy to share. For instance, every time my 90 year old grandmother came to visit us, Jordynn would be the one to say she could stay in her room. And hearts would melt every night when Jordynn would snuggle up in bed with her. She never showed anything but love and respect.

Mostly it is Jordynn’s ability to go after what she wants while always being herself that impresses me. She never sits on any fences. When she trained in gymnastics, it was with full effort. When she got invited into a dance company, she put her whole heart into it. Now Jordynn has decided that making the Olympics is her main goal (becoming a doctor is her goal after that!). So when she found out diving is an Olympic sport she asked to try it. After one week of dive camp she was invited onto the team!

Watching Jordynn grow and develop taught me that you can’t just sit around and watch life, you have to live it. Talk about inspirational, she inspired me to start writing children’s books…something I really wanted to do for most of my life. Jordynn finally gave me something to write about. The first character I created was of course based on Jordynn. Mackey Mack exemplifies energy, spirit, leadership skills, friendship, caring for community, sense of humor, and many more life skills that I see in Jordynn. Now 5 chapter books have been published in the TOMGIRLZ series and more are on the way.

Jordynn was born as my daughter whose dreams I wished would all come true, but she has grown into my best friend and hero who has taught me that dreams really CAN come true!

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