Three months into the release of my latest book, “Parenting in the Dark,” I am currently walking in the unfolding of a miracle. The book walks the reader through a moment gone awry in our family life due to addiction, violence, and pain. Many readers have reacted with words such as courageous, brave, cringe, shocking, … More The unfolding of a miracle…
Finally! My second book, my sophomore book, my most personal account of a moment gone awry, is now available for the WORLD to read. To say I am nervous is an understatement, but I knew that it needed to be written so that at least ONE person, ONE mom, dad, brother, sister, or family member, … More It’s here…
As we all prepare to run, walk, skip, jump or crawl into this new year, I prepare to release one of the most personal memoirs I have ever written…to date. It is a raw account of a moment in time in which everything shifted. Coming to readers this spring will be my latest book, “Parenting … More Up next …
Join me this month of Thanksgiving as I have engaging and thought-provoking conversations. I start off by reading a blog I wrote in November 2017! And it still rings true. We often take for granted what someone is praying for!!! I share how we need to give thanks. My following conversation is with Conservative Pundit … More November Podcasts
I am back! Starting today! I return with the second season of “Conversations from the Green Couch Podcast!” Simply tap on the link and listen in on any and all platforms where you listen to your podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversations-from-the-green-couch-w-annette-ortiz-mata/id1566969656 I am excited about this season. I am doing something different, and I hope you join me … More Breaking News!!!
A few weeks ago, I attended a one-year birthday celebration. The party was brimming with newness! Expectant moms that were glowing, tired new moms, committed new moms. There was a palpable expression of joy and love. It was refreshing – Yet I found myself thinking… Do they know? Do they know how challenging parenting will … More The newness of motherhood…
He said, “we have a beautiful life….” I didn’t understand….until I did. All I knew was my heart was broken; how can that be called a beautiful life. I let the words settle until the realization of what he was saying became greater than my simple understanding. Our life is beautiful- Every test Every trial … More A beautiful life…
It’s called CPV It has a name Never in a million years did I ever think I would utter these words. I am a victim of Child/Parent Violence. It falls under the definition of domestic violence from a child towards a parent. That’s what happened to me, to our family. I do not share this … More It has a name…
Six months of quarantine exposed a million little cracks that, if left unattended, would shatter…it would shatter our family. Awkwardly sitting together in our first virtual session… Family therapy. Looking at a screen trying to communicate why we are here. How did we get here? It was grueling! It required us to hear words spoken of … More Seek Therapy
I was reluctant at first. Another quiz? Another label? Aye…really…but I did it. I took the Enneagram Test. I subjected myself to the algorithms that would accurately describe in detail my personality type. Did I learn anything new? Nah, not really. What I did learn is the test revealed that I apparently do live in … More 1, 8, 3 – They Say…
During this physical distancing time, I have re-organized my closets, my dresser, the kitchen cabinets, my office desk, and the bookshelves. I have sorted in stacks of what I will keep, donate, and throw away. So it occurred to me, what in my relationships do I need to re-organize? How am I relating to the … More A Seat at my table…
Three years and over 100 blog posts, I thought I had written enough, said enough, encouraged enough, brought enough insight, and it was time to wrap my blog in a beautiful, pretty bow. I didn’t believe that my weekly blogging had many legs left, and this was going to be my last post. BUT GOD! … More I thought I was done…
The other day I read the funniest tweet ever… “been quarantined with my wife for four weeks now. At this point, I have more risk of getting killed by her than by a crummy virus.” I laughed out loud and shared it with my friends and especially my husband. I couldn’t help but think how … More You are safe…
It seemed so innocent. A post…I left a comment and then… BANG!!! Just like that, I was entangled in a thread that left my head spinning. I offered what I thought was an educated opposing comment to something a relative posted. What I didn’t know at that moment, that they were not inviting opposing … More The price of silence…
Dearest Robert, Tomorrow, February 5th, we will celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary. The moment we cried (well I think you cried more than I did) and said I do to each other. And with that being said I want to say the following… Thank you for asking me to be your wife. Thank you for … More It’s the little things…that adds up!
“Don’t accumulate possessions; accumulate experiences – Mark Batterson Have you walked up to a garage sale or estate sale and wondered how much the homeowner must have “loved” these items, and now here they are laid out on a table going for just a few bucks? I often wonder did these things bring joy, love, … More Garage Sale…
 We are surrounded by so much noise that we forget what the sound of silence feels like! As this season of busyness approaches it’s important to take a moment, day, whatever you can spare and center yourself. The holidays can be emotionally and physically draining. Filled with exhilaration or unimaginable sadness for others. Be … More Stillness…
This was the year of weddings! We received six wedding invitations of which we were only able to attend three. It seemed that each time I opened my mailbox, there was another engagement, save the date and wedding invite. We take our attendance at weddings very seriously. Someone very wise once said, when you commit … More Six Weddings…
It was our recent trip to the country’s largest IKEA that prompted this blog! It was our first time walking through this monstrosity of a home goods store. We didn’t think we were going to buy anything, we just wanted to walk around, but we grabbed a bag. By the time we got to the … More Where are the instructions…to parenting?
You have my heart completely! Faith… This past week I underwent several medical tests. I’ll spare you the gory details, but it places things into perspective -that’s for sure! As I recovered and sat quietly in my bedroom. I took that the time to reflect on things I know to be true, and I wanted … More What I know for sure…