Hi! I’m Amy. Also known as: wife to Aaron, mother to Teague, Hadley, and Lawson, birthmother to Deanna, follower of Jesus, and lover of watermelon.
In 2009, I started a blog about open adoption called Amstel Life. It was my written and very personal journey navigating life as a birthmother after placing my newborn daughter in an open adoption in 2005 when I was 18. I enjoyed writing and found myself getting deeply involved in the conversation about openness in adoption. Writing was a big part of the healing process for me, and it felt good to share my perspective on open adoption and provide insight about an alternative to abortion that many people didn’t know a whole lot about.
Somewhere along the way though, between working, getting married, taking care of a few littles (savages), and well, life in general…I stopped writing.
Although I don’t have much free time anymore, I often feel a strong tug at my heartstrings to keep writing. Sometimes perfectionism gets in the way of being able to write and share what’s on my mind and in my heart. I’m not a perfect writer, but I believe God has given me the ability to encourage others through my writing. So I’m dusting off the ole’ keyboard and getting a fresh start with my blog that focuses on not just open adoption, but issues pertaining to faith, being a wife and mother, marketing, running, and an assortment of random other crap nobody probably cares about.
Sharing my thoughts and feelings has always been outside of my comfort zone, but I am trusting that God will break down the walls and help me to write the story He wants me to tell.
My hope is to write authentically, share this journey, and maybe encourage someone along the way.
Thanks for following along.