Growth

The past couple months have been... Idk even know how to explain it.. 

- Had a "original birth certificate false alarm" 

I was contacted by a friend, who told me she had info and that she found my birth certificate. As soon as I read her text saying " Im 100% sure that I found your parents and have info to share" I was historically in tears. Barely able to write back I asked how? What do you know? She told me she had found my birth certificate and that she could loose her job for it. I immediately called my fellow adoptee Jereme. He answered the phone and had to say "hello" a few times because I couldn't even catch my breath to tell him. When I finally caught my breath I was able to tell him what had just happened. After we got off the phone my friend and I realized that the birth certificate found was my adoptive one and not my original and that the information found was that of my adopted life. If anyone else would have told me this story, and I tried to put my self in their shoes, I would have thought I would have been angry. BUT instead I was only thankful. Thankful to be SO blessed to know someone who would risk their job for me, someone who I've met only one time in person, who cared enough about me and my story to want to do something to help. I wasn't angry, I was happy, happy to be so blessed. 

- Robbed

Went to Atlanta for a conference, was at a restaurant eating, while we were inside someone broke into my friends broke into my friends car and stole my suitcase which had my clothes (a good amount) toiletries, accessories, laptop, & laptop accessories , as well as a separate camera case- thankfully I had JUST taken my camera out before we went in and put it in my purse to take in with me.. but I still had a lens & flash in the bag. I had the zoom lens on the camera, and the charger was in the bag, so I haven't really been able to use it. Insurance is going to help but we have a $1000 deductible.

&& that was only February

Although it was a crazy month and its already April.. wow... I realized how much my relationship with God & prayer have helped me. When we got to the car & realized my stuff was gone, I didnt panic, I was actually making jokes, while my friend panicked. I realized there was nothing I could do at that point and being mad, and hating someone wasn't going to help me or anyone else. I feel this is a sign of growth and another level of maturity.  

-- Ashley 

True Life: Im Searching For My BirthParents

Well its been a little while again, but this is a "note" I wrote on FB. Its ALL the information that I know about my roots. I encourage you to read this and think, if it even sounds remotely like anyone you know, please show this post to them, give them the info, ask them about it or tell me. Any help I can get at this point will help. I figure that Palm Beach is small in relation to everyone knowing everyone. I was born in Palm Beach Gardens, FL on April 3, 1988. I know its a long shot, but if you know anyone that lived in that area around that time or before, please please share this with them. Like I said, any and all help is appreciated. To everyone who reads this, shares, it or simply is just curious... THANK YOU! from the bottom of my heart!

-- Ashley

As many of you know.. I am adopted & have been searching for my birth parents. I was adopted through Catholic Charities when I was a month old to my current adoptive parents, in 1988. To summarize ( more details in past posts) They located my birth mother when I started the search, and sent her a letter to ask for her permission to give me info about her, and give her my location. Over a year and several letters later... she has yet to respond. Ive been wanting for the social worker to contact my father, and shes always hesitated. They say they dont usually contact the father, bc they are not sure if he is the correct father or if he knows. I convinced her to start the search for him.. so thats where I am now. Im not gonna get my hopes but, but I guess I am somewhat hopeful he will respond, it might be easier for him to accept the idea, and want to meet me. Ive been let down before so I try not to get excited.

Today has been an emotional day, and has showed me not only how blessed I am, but also motivated me to push harder on this journey. Ive been wanting to take this step for a while, but like Ive said before, it is emotionally draining, and I sometimes tend to avoid it . But today is the day.

PLEASE Help me by re-posting the following info, ESPECIALLY if you are from, live in, or have ANY connections to  PALM BEACH COUNTY. I was born at Palm Beach Gardens Hospital and there is a strong possibility that my parents are still in the area, or at least from there and have family there. I am going to post the non identifying information that I have about my father and his family. If this sounds even remotely like ANYONE that you know, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pass this along to them, or their name along to me. Please, as of now going through the social worker is not working .. so I am taking things into my own hands.

As you read this, please try to think if you know anyone that fits any parts of this description, him, his mother, father, or siblings. This is SO important to me and I am so thankful of your help !! Please feel free to re-post anywhere you think may help.

My Birth Information:

Born April 3, 1988 at 11:27pm

6lbs. 10 ozs

19 inches

Natural Father:

Height: 5’11

Weight: 197

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Complex: Lt. Brown

Age at time of my adoption ( April 3, 1988) 23

Religion: Baptist

Ethnic Background: Black

Education:  High School

Vocational Training: Military Police

Hobbies: Music, sports

Health: Good

Paternal Grandmother ( His mother)

Height: 5’5

Weight: 125

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Complex: Light

Age at time of my adoption ( April 3, 1988): 60

Nationality: Black

Education:  12th grade

Health: Good

Paternal Grandfather ( His father)

Height: 6’3

Weight: 249

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Complex: Dark

Age at time of my adoption ( April 3, 1988) 67

Nationality: Black

Education:  High School

Health: Good

Siblings ( My father’s)

Sister : 42 years old ( at time of my birth)

Height: 5’3

Weight: 160

Eyes:  Brown

Hair: Black

Complex: Tone

Age at time of my adoption ( April 3, 1988) 42

Education:  12 grade

Health: Fair

*Epilepsy since an accident

Brother:  38 years old at time of my birth

Height: 5’10

Weight: 140

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Complex: Dark

Education: 2 years college

Health: Good

Brother: 36 at time of my birth

Height: 5’5

Weight: 130

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Complex: Dark

Education: 12th grade

Health: Good

Sister:  23 years old at the time of my birth

Height: 5’4

Weight: 115

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Complex: Light

Education: 4 years college

Employment: Computer Programmer

Health: Good

I wasnt going to post my mothers info.. but it cant hurt

Natural Mother

Height: 5’6

Weight:125

Eyes: Hazel

Hair: Brown

Complex: Fair

Religion: Catholic

Education: High School and Vocational training

Ethnic Background: Irish-Dutch-Scotch

Hobbies: Outdoor sports

Heath: excellent

Maternal Grandmother ( Her mother)

Height: 5’8

Weight:139

Eyes: Hazel

Hair: Brown

Complex: Medium

Nationality: American

Education: 4years

Employment: Teacher ( possibly palm beach county ??)

Health: Good

Age at time of my birth ( April 3, 1988) : 46

Maternal Grandfather ( her father)

Height: 5’8

Weight: 205

Eyes: Hazel

Hair: Brown

Complex: Fair

Nationality: American

Education: College – Masters Degree

Employment: Executive

Health: good

Age at time of my adoption: 45

Maternal Great Grandmother ( her grand mother- mother’s mother)

Height: 5’5

Weight: 155

Eyes: Hazel

Hair: Gray

Complex: Medium

 Nationality: American

Education: 4 years college

Health: good

Age at time of my adoption: 70  

Great Grandfather: deceased

Great Grandmother ( Her grandmother – father’s mother)

Height: 5’4

Weight: 108

Eyes: Hazel

Hair: Brown

Complex: fair

Nationality: American

Education: 1 year college

Health: Good

Age at time of my adoption: 65

Great Grandfather ( her grandmother- father’s father) Deceased

Mother's Siblings:

Brother:

Height: 5'10 

Weight:

Eyes: Hazel

Hair: Auburn ---> Where I get my red hair!

Complex: medium

Education: college

Health: good

Age at time of my adoption: 19

Sister:

Height: 4'11   

Weight: 130

Eyes: Hazel

Hair: Brown

Complex: Fair

Education: Jr. High

Health: Good

Age at time of my adoption: 12

From the information I have, I suspect that my mother's family may be wealthy or at least not struggling.. They had masters degrees and everyone in her family had a college education, which wasnt as common as it is today.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, pass this along, post on your friends' pages, websites, send links, etc. Everyone one in Palm Beach knows each other, by passing this along you are helping my chances in finding my birth parents, increase.

Thank you !!!!!!!!

11.3.10

I always procrastinate writing and digging within to share my feelings, because it takes so much out of me. Its coming though, and long overdue. Jae, I know I keep you waiting when it comes to writing and participating, im sorry for that. Ive learned through watching you how I need to deal with the feelings and let myself be as ambitious as you. The video is coming soon... I promise. Thank you to everyone who has ever lent a listening ear and or a shoulder to cry on.

Sometimes, like recently, I go on my fb page and look at my tagged pictures and my albums, I look at the different people who have tagged them, the names of the albums and the people in my life. It makes me smile, because sometimes I need that reminder of how blessed I am, at those times when I feel so alone. Sometimes I look because I want to see what my mother might see one day when she looks at me, and if she would be proud. I hope she would. Or maybe I look to see if I can find the answer as to why she still does not want anything to do with me, even though I know I wont find it there. Although im unsure if “that day” will ever come because she has yet to respond to any letters, but I will continue to pray, pray that she answers and/or that I can find her or another member of my biological family, pray that one day I am able to meet and embrace someone who shares the same blood running through their veins as me.

Thats all for tonight... Thank you for reading and for your support, it means so much to me !

AshBake's Cakes

 Some of my cakes !!

10.18.10

"Search"updates coming soon! Im excited to be working with my friend Jae on an upcoming project! Stay tuned for details!


There have been alot of highs and lows this semester, thankfully more highs though! Heres a few quick updates:

I am now a God Mother to Miss Aniyah Malia Reliford and I love her with all of my heart. Congrats to my bestie Dominique!

I finally purchased my Dslr camera! Its a Nikon D5000 and I lovee it !

I am really going foward with AshBakes Cakes! I now have a facebook page, twitter and am working on a website, so contact AshBake's Cakes for your custom cake needs!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=lf#!/pages/Orlando-FL/AshBakes-Cakes/146291418746842?v=wall -- make sure to "like" the page!!

& Follow on twitter @AshBakes_Cakes

Pictures to follow ! Happy Monday :)

Long Overdue

Good Morning Sunday :) I think I slept so much yesterday, I could barely sleep through the night, so here I am up bright and early. Ive been wanting to update for a while so here it goes..

Alot has happened in the past 6 months. I'll start with my internship. In January I started my internship at the BETA Center in Orlando. BETA is a nonprofit organization who has a specialized program for pregnant and parenting teens and their children. BETA houses an alternative school for the girls as well as a residence and child care center. At BETA I was an intern in the development department. I loved it ! I got to experience first hand what was involved in working in development. I learned a lot , made great relationships and didnt want to leave .

This semester I also became a member of Nu Chi chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi, Professional Business Fraternity. This was one of the best decisions Ive ever made ! It was a long stressful semester , but I have gained and learned more than I ever imagined, and best of all I have a great new family :) I <3 style="text-align: left;">

:)

Helllooo ! So its been about 6 months since I wrote here. I had a verryyy busy semester and then it was just too emotionally draining to sit down and write my "search" update(s). But its summer and I have some more free time ! Update to follow later on :)

Tootles for now
<3 Ash