About

 Why does a woman named Lori call herself Lavender Luz?

It’s my Appalachian Trail name, even though I have never traveled the Appalachian Trail.

• Lavender because I love all shades purple
• Luz (“looz”) meaning light-bearer in language I’d like to become fluent in
• I love all those Ls

What is this site about?

I write from Denver, and I’m passionate about de-freakifying open adoption and ending discrimination against adoptees. I notice perfect moments and encourage you to do so, as well. I like 1970s trivia and limericks. I am a New Age Libertarian.

Also? Yoga, yin and yang, words and wine, Reed and Tessa, and the seeking the Tao in everything.

Cast of Characters

• Me. Wonderer, wife, mom, writer.
• Husband Roger. Curious, amusing and amused, Renaissance-ish.
• Daughter Tessa.  Spirited, dramatic, vivacious, 11.
• Son Reed. Warrior, sweet, athletic, 9.
• Crystal is Tessa’s birth mom and Joe is her birth dad.
• Michele is Reed’s birth mom and AJ is his birth dad.

Your life in 150 words or less?

I’ve journaled faithfully since I was 17, and I can now look back and see interesting patterns and divine guidance. The major transitions in my life tended to come with a twist.

• In the 1990s, there were twists in the way I met and married Roger (involving comedy improv and a ride in the Weinermobile)
• In 2001, there were twists in the way I became mom to Tessa (involving a dying man’s vision and a batch of cookie dough during labor)
• In 2003 there were twists in how I became mom to Reed (involving a battle and a blizzard).

The twists are all good. They make me realize that I have always been on the best path possible, even though there were moments that I was sure that wasn’t the case.

Are you one of those, uh, MOMMYBLOGGERS?

I am a mom and I blog. So in the pure sense, yes, I am a mommyblogger.

If the word “mommy-blogger” carries a different connotation for you, please ask the question another way, like:

• Do you blog about tripe? (no), or
• Do you snipe about other mombloggers? (no)

Hey — I thought this was Weebles Wobblog!

It was. But then a certain toy company didn’t like me spreading their name all over the Internet and they asked me to change it. The name became Write Mind Open Heart to reflect that I am a documentarian and that I’ll continue to open my heart to being vulnerable, authentic and engaged.

How’d you get your blog to look so cool?

• The header design was created by Keiko of The Infertility Voice. It represents the colors of the chakras and the wave of balance depicted in the Tao.
• Lindsay, a very patient tutor of self-hosting and mover of blog material, moved me into this home.
• Melissa is my dear friend and writing mentor . My life took an interesting pivot the day I landed on her blog through a google search. She is, in many ways, responsible for the tone and look of this space.