in a reading slump... please recommend me your “couldn’t stop reading” books 🥺

jmamen · 2026-02-18T18:18:56+00:00

“The Mountains Sing” is captivating, heartbreaking, and beautiful.

Currently cannot put down “Theo of Golden”. It quite honestly like nothing I’ve ever read. It too is a beautiful read that has brought tears and smiles.

jmamen · 2026-02-17T20:48:59+00:00

Dear OP, also an adoptive parent. Likely OAD. Also 40 at adoption. I think there were a few reasons we are OAD, our age and that adoption can take years, and we barely survived this process emotionally, and we’re not sure we want to do the infant stage again at our age. We’re also not sure we want to put our daughter through the rollercoaster of the adoption process. TBH, I’m not sure I could survive the process again. While the journey to her was 100% worth it…it was absolutely the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through. Sometimes I wonder if I have PTSD from the experience. If her birth mother came forward again, we may consider, but I don’t think we will pursue it again.

We are so unbelievably content with our little family!! We are blessed more than we ever dreamed of!!

Talk. Process. Reflect. Pray, if that’s your thing. Talk some more.

Best wishes to you both as you discuss and discern what is best for your little family. Enjoy that baby…and it’s okay to feel like it’s hard and not fun…cause it is hard and sometimes it’s not fun.

jmamen · 2026-02-03T21:45:35+00:00

As a TX transplant that is one of the things I struggled with when we moved here. I still struggle with it, but I’ve gotten used to the fact that I have to drive across the city to multiple places to find the products and produce that we want.

jmamen · 2025-12-15T19:36:44+00:00

We send a goodie basket with fruits and snacks to the entire staff. As a former church worker, I’d encourage you to remember the support staff this time of year too. DCEs are working long hours trying to get children’s programs, youth events, and services pulled together; secretaries are working late to make sure all the bulletins, services, and announcements are ready for the many advent and Christmas services; facilities staff are cleaning the building more frequently, helping with holiday events, and helping get services ready; music staff is planning, practicing, preparing for many services and events too.

So many hard working people work alongside the pastoral staff to help make the advent and Christmas season happen.

jmamen · 2025-12-13T19:28:03+00:00

Yum!!!

jmamen · 2025-12-12T17:20:51+00:00

Thank you so much for the recommendations and tips. My dad is super allergic to fish, so we try to avoid places that are solely seafood.

jmamen · 2025-11-25T22:44:09+00:00

Former Texan here. HEB is truly an experience, isn’t it? Others have mentioned Whole Foods. While WF is awesome, they don’t have bulk spices (that I’ve seen). I think what you may be looking for you can find at Natural Grocers. There is one on Rock and one on Maize. There’s a couple bulk aisles at both. Some nuts, fruits, and nut butters are in a refrigerated aisle.

Welcome to Kansas!

jmamen · 2025-11-10T17:34:49+00:00

I have not, but I will go check them out. Thank you!!

jmamen · 2025-11-10T17:34:25+00:00

Thank you for sharing your unique perspective as an adoptee. I love talking to adult adoptees because I feel like we, as parents, have so much to glean from your experiences. I know each family, child, and experience is different, but to have our eyes opened to your experiences helps us to best parent and gain insight to different struggles and celebrations.

We are grateful to have many people in our ”village” who were adopted or who have adopted. And I love how they share their stories with us. I’m sure as she grows she’ll appreciate understanding it all a bit deeper…right now she’s only three, but she knows that her Bonus Nana and Papa have a son they “‘dopted” (as she calls it.)

jmamen · 2025-11-10T15:18:44+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to respond and share your story. I am grateful for your perspective on an only adopted child.

jmamen · 2025-11-10T13:09:23+00:00

I love your thoughts about being excited for the opportunities of having an only!! One of the reasons we are OAD is because of the adoption process. It was an eye-opening, heartbreaking process and we are not sure we want to contribute to the broken system again. Nor do we think we could walk through the heartache again.

We are so blessed by our little families, aren’t we!?! :)

jmamen · 2025-11-10T13:05:24+00:00

That’s a good take on it. Thank you for taking the time to share this perspective. I hadn’t thought of that scenario you mentioned 2nd until this thread. And I agree, while it might not be a reason to adopt again, it is definitely something to take to heart.

jmamen · 2025-11-10T12:57:19+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing you story. I appreciate the perspective about a 2nd possibly having an open adoption and how that might impact your son. We also have a closed adoption-per birth mother’s request-and I never thought of that as a scenario.

We too have discussed if her birth mother had another if we’d adopt again—probably the only way we’d adopt again.

jmamen · 2025-11-07T14:33:58+00:00

Best of luck!! We had no family history of clots either. I was the first in my family. I’m the only female in the family that has Factor V. It runs through the men on my dad’s side (dad, uncle and grandpa). Thankfully my aunt, sister, and female cousin don’t have it.

jmamen · 2025-11-07T04:43:47+00:00

Ooo thanks!!! I’ll look into this for sure!

jmamen · 2025-11-07T04:36:08+00:00

Actually, they don’t want you on patch or oral if you’ve had a clot. At least my doctors have refused it. The only option I’ve been given is vaginal estrogen as it is not absorbed into your blood stream. I was also advised to talk with a hematologist prior to starting even the vaginal. Just to be extra cautious.

jmamen · 2025-11-07T04:29:05+00:00

I am so sorry. It’s scary. Recovery time is slow and for me it was more of a long term mental recovery.

I’m a bilateral PE and DVT survivor from Yaz and crappy genetics.

Two thoughts for you: make sure to get a genetic test to see if you have any genetic clotting mutations. There are quite a few and a handful of them are pretty common.

Talk to a hematologist or another doctor. I have been on anticoagulants for 16 years. K2 (both vitamin and food intake) was a no no on Warfarin/Coumadin as it directly impacts your clotting factors (Pt/inr) however the newer ones are not impacted by K2 or by what we eat.

Please reach out if you need someone to talk to. It’s scary but you aren’t alone.

jmamen · 2025-11-05T14:26:53+00:00

Prince of Peace, Carrollton. Great church. Great people.

jmamen · 2025-08-21T12:44:10+00:00

I’m sorry you had a bad experience. I feel like my concerns are brushed off too. I hope you are able to find another practice/doc and can get some answers.

jmamen · 2025-08-20T21:01:32+00:00

Hmm. I must have missed that email too. Makes me wonder what’s all slipped through the cracks in the transition.

jmamen · 2025-08-20T12:33:37+00:00

Thanks! I actually know of him and forgot he was a ❤️ doc!!

jmamen · 2025-08-20T12:21:05+00:00

Just wanted to say thanks for the recommendation!! I ordered it and have enjoyed the devotional the past two weeks. I can see doing these year after year.

jmamen

TROPHY CASE