One Big Goal – One Step Closer to Completion

August 9, 2015 ~ Kim Severn ~ 1 Comment

Last year, as I sat on the beach in Maui building a sand castle with my then five year old daughter, my husband and nine year old son snorkeling nearby, I decided to go after a goal I’d set three decades earlier.

Thirty years before, after learning S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders while still in high school, I decided I wanted to write a book. At the time I figured I had five or six years to pen my first novel and get it published. (I was ten and figured I could have it finished by the time I was 15 or 16.)

I had a three month summer vacation to fill, an active imagination, and loved the way writing made me feel. I also yearned for the attention a top selling novel would bring. So I grabbed a handful of notebook paper and a pencil, sat down at my small wooden desk, and began writing the next great young adult novel. I wrote five or six pages before I ran out of storyline, lost interest, and was distracted by riding my bike around the neighborhood with my friends.

Over the years I’ve kept journals, continuing to enjoy the relaxation and clarity writing brought. The desire to get my writing published never went away. Although my desire for fame did.

I want to achieve three things by publishing my memoir, The Making of a Mom:
1. Show my kids that with dedication and effort a goal can be achieved (even if it takes a long time).
2. Help someone on an adoption journey know they aren’t alone.
3. Hold a copy of my book in my hands as proof I can do whatever I set my mind to.

After a year of hard work, perseverance, and a few tears, the first draft is done. I wrote 159,876 words filling 473 pages. As a result, I gained both a better understanding of my journey and a greater appreciation for the life I’ve built. I also have more desire than ever to see this goal through to the end.

As I begin to refine the thousands of words and further shape the story, nobody is more surprised than I am that I’ve been able to see my goal through to this point. So hopefully I’ll keep my eye on the prize, maintain momentum, and by this time next year, be a published author.

Business Trip is Mom Time

August 1, 2015August 1, 2015 ~ Kim Severn ~ Leave a comment

Hello NYC from the 86th Floor of the Empire State Building. — Hello NYC from the Empire State Building.

This week I had the opportunity to attend the launch of Windows 10 in New York City. When I was invited to go I hesitated knowing it meant a couple nights away from my family, and that work would pile up while I was away.

But it was a once in a lifetime experience and I was grateful for the opportunity to participate. I’ve only been to NYC once before, and only for a day and a half. This trip, although also short, would give me two windows of opportunity to explore the city. The trip also gave m some much needed me time. For a couple days I could do what I wanted, when I wanted to do it. With a 6 and 10 year old , a husband, and a full-time job chances to do whatever I want don’t come around every day.

So I said yes to the opportunity and started planning my trip. Yep, I’m a planner. In order to make the most of the few free hours I had I wanted to leave as little to chance as possible. I made my list of things to do and see. My top must dos were: get on The Today Show and “get to the top of something” to see views of the city.

After checking in to the hotel, I had a little time to freshen up before joining colleagues for dinner. We ate at Craft Bar enjoying great food, fun conversation, and a lot of laughs.

After a short night sleep, awoken several times by the noises of the city that never sleeps, I rolled out of bed at 5 a.m. (2 in the morning back home) and headed out to put a few check marks on my newly created bucket list.

I explored the city on foot and marveled at it from the Empire State Building.

In the late afternoon it was time for work. I attended two celebrations to thank the people who helped us make our product great. I did my best to soak it all in and enjoy the energy and excitement that filled the room.

During the party I took a few minutes to enjoy the sunset over the Hudson River. Yet again, the city didn’t disappoint.

WP_20150729_22_45_31_Pro — Tired at the end of a nearly perfect day, I enjoyed more views of the city from the top of James Hotel.

I woke up the next morning with a few hours left to explore the city before heading to the airport. At the suggestion of the concierge I headed to explore the High Line. I fell in love with the beautiful garden oasis in the heart of the city. I enjoyed the art, architecture, and views the elevated park provided.

My goal for the trip was to soak in the experience and make the most my limited time in the city. Mission accomplished.

Wonder where life will take me next …

Remembering the Night You Were Born

April 26, 2015 ~ Kim Severn ~ 3 Comments

The chapter I’m writing this week is about the night my daughter was born. It was the first time I ever stayed awake more than 24 hours. It was scary, joyous and magical all at the same time.

As I wrote about that night, that spilled into morning, my heart began to race and my palms began to sweat. I was transported back to the darkened delivery room, standing next to my daughter’s birth mother, doing my best to give her the support she needed.

A confusing mix of emotions rolled over me and then receded like ocean waves.

I was excited. I couldn’t wait to meet our daughter, hold her in my arms and wonder at the miracle of her.

I was sad. My heart was breaking for her birth mother who had nurtured her for nine months and was also waiting to meet her.

I was scared. Would the delivery go well? What would the days ahead hold for us? Would her birth parents change their minds?

I was filled with love. A new life was entering the world. There were so many people waiting to meet her, so many waiting to announce her birth.

About eight in the morning my daughter finally arrived. Her birth parents and birthmom’s parents there to greet her. My dad joined my husband and I in welcoming our newest family member.

At the end of those long, emotionally intense hours I held my daughter in my arms. The mixture of emotions all receded and I was left feeling only love and awe.

My beautiful baby had finally arrived and our family was complete.

It’s Just That Simple

March 28, 2015 ~ Kim Severn ~ 2 Comments

Not flesh of my flesh,
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute~
You grew not under my heart,
but in it.
~anonymous

A good friend gave us a framed version of this poem shortly after our daughter was born. It hangs on the wall of her bedroom and we read it together from time to time. I hope it helps her understand her birth story and how much I love her.

Six years ago we first met our daughter, sitting in the nursery of the labor and delivery unit. Our beautiful girl swaddled in the hospital issued receiving blanket, a white cap on her head hiding her wisps of red hair.

I was instantly in love with her. My breasts ached, just like they had when I first held our son four and a half years before. The only difference this time, I didn’t have the opportunity to create her myself. I didn’t have the opportunity to get to know her during her nine month gestation.

Before I met her I wondered if I would feel a difference between how it felt to first hold our son, who I’d carried in my womb, and our daughter who I had not.

The instant she was placed in my arms I knew the answer. I love her, forever and for always.

There is no difference. They are my children. It’s just that simple.

Show Your Power

March 23, 2015June 9, 2016 ~ Kim Severn ~ 2 Comments

Our ten year old son, Theo, had his Tae Kwon Do belt test Saturday morning. I knew he was nervous. Even though his Tae Kwon Do Master doesn’t test the students until they’re ready, his nerves always threaten to get the better of him.

Saturday mornings are tough for Theo. He and the Husband stay up late on Friday nights to play Xbox. It’s their guy time. A reward for their hard work over the week. Normal Saturday mornings start slowly, Theo choosing to ease his way into the weekend over a couple of hours. On belt test days he has less than two hours between rolling out of bed and the start of the test.

Red Belt Test On Saturday, before he stepped on the mats to warm up, I reminded him “Do your best, show us your power. You got this!”

He did it. He showed his power and he earned his red belt. When he shows his power he can accomplish anything he puts his mind to.

I look forward to the day when I no longer have to remind him. Because that’s the day I’ll know he’s learned the lesson and applies it to his daily life.

The Seahawks 12k is less than a month away and my training continues. It is difficult to fit it in between work, kids and continuing to work on Making of a Mom, my memoir. But this race is important to me and I’m looking forward to it.

Since I started training I’ve felt better, stronger and more capable.

On Saturday I figured out that the calibration on my treadmill was off and I’d been running faster and farther than I thought I was. That’s when I figured out my six mile run was actually a seven and a half mile run. The upside, I’m a lot more prepared for the race than I planned to be at this point.

I’ve pushed myself through some tough training runs. Knowing that if I pushed through and didn’t give up, I would be rewarded with a feeling of accomplishment. Every run I push through, I show my power. And I’m living out an important lesson I want my kids to learn.

You Just Can’t Do It All By Yourself

January 17, 2015January 24, 2015 ~ Kim Severn ~ Leave a comment

Another crazy week. My team was responsible for a big conference this week, something we hadn’t done before. It was a huge undertaking and the stakes were pretty high. So glad to report we did it!

I was part of another team this week that also helped make it happen. That was my “home team.” The husband was on full-time kid duty and we asked our kids to be extra patient and kind. My home team came through too. I couldn’t have done it without them.

On Wednesday I managed to get home about 10 minutes before bedtime. Theo greeted me with a cheerful “Hey Mom!” and Rhys started talking a mile a minute. I didn’t know it was humanly possible for someone’s lips to move so quickly. Maybe we have an auctioneer in the making.

Rhys was excited to share the game she made for us, what the rules were and she was ready to play. I hadn’t eaten in hours, my feet hurt and my head was still full from the previous 14 hours of work. Feel the love, I reminded myself, You’re so lucky to be missed and wanted. I was mentally summoning 30 more minutes of energy to make the most of the time I had with my kiddos.

While the husband heated up some left overs for me to quickly eat before helping with the bedtime routine, I sat down and played the game with Rhys. She made my day.

It was a tiring and successful week. It was also a great reminder that you just can’t do it all by yourself.

Rhys' game creation. — Rhys’ game creation.