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To listen to the rest of my podcast visit: LetYourHeartGrow.com

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It is never too late to live your very best days!

It is never too late to live your very best days! Start today to embrace you and the life you are living and make it the BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!

#goodlife #bestdaysofmylife #letyourheartgrow #embraceyourself #bestdayofyourlife #starttoday #reels #reelsinstagram #instagram #trending #viral #explore #love #instagood #reelitfeelit #reel #reelsvideo #reelkarofeelkaro #music #instagramreels

What is family? This is the question that has bee

What is family?

This is the question that has been in my heart & mind for the past few weeks.

What exactly does that word mean?

Growing up my family was myself & my mom. I do not have a relationship with my father, my extended family is not close. In the past, I have had friends who I considered family, but others have said to me that isn’t a real family because we don’t share blood.

What do you think?

What is family to you?

My belief has always been that family is what you make of it. That blood didn’t matter. That all that mattered was that you loved each other.

I’m a mother.

I can’t imagine my life without these two beautiful girls in my life.

The thing is …

I did not carry them in my body.

We do not share blood.

They do not have my eyes or hair.

Yet, they are mine.

We are connected.

They are my family.

I am their adoptive mother.

Now, having said this, I want you to know that I have learned that I was wrong.

Blood is part of what makes a family.

My oldest daughter has six biological sisters between both of her biological parents.

I have been amazed at the connection these girls share with each other.

The way they laugh, the things they enjoy, & so many other things.

Blood is a strong tie.

But it is not the only thing that makes a family.

The picture on this post is part of what I consider my family.

Our story is unique & is a story that has been written over the past eight years.

One is the biological mom.

One is the adoptive mom.

One is the step-mom.

There are four girls in this picture.

Three share blood.

One of them has no connection to the other two.

She doesn’t share blood with any of the others in the picture.

Yet those are her sisters & each of the moms adore her.

Each one is important in our story. Each woman has put in a great deal of work to be a part of these girls' lives.

What is family?

Family is …

Blood
DNA
Love
Admiration
Respect
Commitment
Loyalty
Hard Work
Devotion

And you bind it all together with a healthy dose of communication & forgiveness.

That is what family is.

My family doesn’t look like I thought it would.

But they are perfect.

#family #adoption #fostercare #letyourheartgrow #myfamily

Spreading Some Love Spotlight! Today I want to sp

Spreading Some Love Spotlight!

Today I want to spread the love to Heidi Robey. Earlier this year I came across an account for supporting and networking woman business owners in Utah. When I joined I had no idea what was waiting for me.

@hotmessheidirobey is that friend who is there to cheer you on! She will encourage you and believe in you even more than you believe in yourself.

Plus she is freakin’ hilarious and has the three most beautiful boys! So go follow her on @hotmessheidirobey

You will not be disappointed you did!!!

#spreadingsomelove #checkherout #hotmessmom #hotmessheidi #hotmessnetworking #gofollow #momsthatrock #funnymom

I am so excited to launch an all new version of my

I am so excited to launch an all new version of my website - lovinorange.com

Let me know what you think!!

#lovinorange #newwebsite

One year ago today I was diagnosed with ADHD. At t

One year ago today I was diagnosed with ADHD. At that time I said that the diagnosis didn’t change who I was just how I deal with it. I realize today that statement wasn’t true. I am different.

Yes, I am still Allison. I am just a much better version of her. Oh, I still screw up and make many, many mistakes. I still talk too fast, and my laundry still gets behind, I still tend to be impulsive, but I catch myself in the middle and apologize, I don’t belittle myself for interrupting. Now I just try to be better and more open. Instead of being down on myself for talking to myself at work, I had an accommodation put in place to help.

I tend to be more forgiving of myself. And I now ask for help more. And I now see my Heavenly Father more in my life. He is guiding me. He is directing me. He is forgiving me. He is loving me.

If you want to learn a little more about ADHD visit @mychildrenshope

#adhd #adhdwomen #adhdacceptance #ihaveadhd #adhdtogether #livingwithadhd #iamok #neurodivergent #neurodiversityacceptance #neurodiverse #mychildrenshope

Where have I been? I have sat down to post multip

Where have I been?

I have sat down to post multiple times, but whenever I try to describe how I feel, I’m filled with guilt, frustration, & grief. Then I stop sharing because I think, “I can’t be that vulnerable.”

Today I want to be vulnerable and share some of what I am experiencing in the hope that it can help someone else know that they are not alone in this journey.

I am a single mom with two daughters I adopted from foster care. You might not know that my girls have some additional challenges that occur daily due to their early life situations. I describe them as “invisible disabilities.”

The inconsistency of our road trip took a toll on my daughter’s emotional state, making life a bit more challenging. Last night the behaviors erupted like a volcano, & I felt utterly defeated by the end of it. Sleep usually helps, yet today I woke drained.

Have you ever felt like that? Asking, “Would someone else have been better at this job?” “Why don’t I handle things better?” “Why can’t I be an (enter words like more patient, calmer, stronger, etc.) parent?” I feel inadequate, sure that I am not enough.

Parenting is a job that comes with no training, no user’s manual, & once you feel confident that you are getting the hang of things, the child moves on to a new stage & you start all over again. Then child two comes along, & you think … I can do this, but this time the experience you gained can only go so far because what worked for child one doesn’t work for child two.

There are no accolades for when you are succeeding, no medals, no pats on the back. Instead, you are usually told, “I hate you.” or receive the title of “Meanest Mom In the World.” I try to joke that I find it impressive that I have beat out all the other parents in the entire world, but in all honesty, the words sting.

I am sharing this purely to be open and let others out there know they are not alone. I keep reminding myself that the Lord answered my prayers that I was supposed to be the mother to these girls.

I remind myself that He knew who I was and my shortcomings when He chose me for this job; I need to trust that and believe I will be enough with Him by my side.

#parenting #lds

“My dear brothers and sisters, as you choose to

“My dear brothers and sisters, as you choose to let God prevail in your lives, you will experience for yourselves that our God is “a God of miracles.” - @russellmnelson

Today during our Sunday School class the teacher asked the question, “How would your life be different if you didn’t have the scriptures?”

The answer came easily, because this past years I have spent more time in those pages than ever before. What I’ve learned is that these pre-recorded messages from God have taught me not just about myself but about my Savior, Jesus Christ.

And that knowledge has established a desire in my heart to let God prevail in my life.

What does it mean to let god prevail?

Elder @dtoddchristofferson explained it as, “So, in the midst of this refiner's fire, rather than get angry with God, get close to God. Call upon the Father in the name of the Son... Allow Them over time to manifest Their fidelity to you. Come truly to know Them and truly to know yourself. Let God prevail.”

It is trusting in Him that when we ask for His guidance, what He desires and then listen and then act. Acting in faith that what He desires will give us the best result. Trusting even when His will is different than your own because you know He loves you.

Being like the Savior. When He hung on the cross He could have changed the outcome, but His example of, “Not My Will, But Thine, Be Done.” shows us how much better our lives can be if we submit to His will.

Next time you get on your knees I encourage you to ask for the strength and the faith to be able to submit to the will of our Father in all you do. You will be amazed at all He will help you make of it.

Art: I Am His by @kate_lee_art

#russellmnelson #russellmnelsonquotes #letgodprevail #faith #lds #ldswoman

Spreading Some Love Spotlight! Today I want to sp

My hope for her is that she’ll always want to da

My hope for her is that she’ll always want to dance when she hears music - no matter where she is or who is there.

#letyourheartgrow #parenthood #getupanddance #uptownfunk #ihopeyoudance

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