Black, Blind, and Female: Inspiration to Overcome Obstacles

By Kari Kelley

During a visit to Sedona, Arizona, Kari Kelley receives a request for forgiveness from her long-dead adoptive mother. In order to find the freedom of forgiveness and the ecstasy of unconditional love, Kari is compelled to come to terms with long-held feelings of bitterness and anger over the abandonment, abuse, and neglect of her childhood and t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Quantum Discovery
• Release date: Apr 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9781963254433

Kari Kelley

Kari Kelley is a motivational speaker who inspires others to be fabulous, despite their circumstances. She enjoys working with adoptees and foster kids, high school and college students, and the physically-challenged. She hopes to empower others to stop the vicious cycle of abuse and downward spiraling sense of self-worth that comes with it. She loves a good joke. She believes that every person she touches with her message can be a new creation of possibilities, hopes, and dreams that are just waiting to be discovered. Each of those people will in turn contribute their light and promise to the world to touch the lives of many for generations to come.

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Black, Blind, and Female

Inspiration to Overcome Obstacles

Kari Kelley

Black, Blind, and Female

Copyright © 2024 by Kari Kelley

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN

978-1-963254-42-6 (Paperback)

978-1-963254-43-3 (eBook)

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

PART ONE 1973-1983

I’m Three!

New Home, New Me

Survival Skills

Off To School

Time for Church

Almost Like Family

PART TWO 1984-1994

Life After Frances

Here Comes High School

Kari Goes to Work

A Man? For Me? Really?

Born Again

PART THREE 1995-2006

Getting Myself Together

I’m Thirty

PART FOUR 2006-2011

Lasting Impressions

My Perfect Day

Honeymoon Blues

A Model of Inner Peace

What Started My Journey

Memorable Moments

Three Blind Mice and a Dog

Accepting My Gifts

The Search Is On

Foreword

It is my belief that each of us is born for a purpose, and Kari is a prime example of a woman who is actively pursuing her purpose.

I’ve known Kari since she was five (5) and she has shown her passion for reaching out to others i.e., seemingly always wanting to see others happy or perform plain old fashion problem solving. Her contagious laughter and sense of humor has a way of lifting you from whatever is negatively affecting you.

Kari has been faced with, seemingly, insurmountable challenges but due to her tenacity she has forged ahead and overcome. She seems to bear up under difficulties with confidence and she gives God the credit.

I am very proud of my goddaughter, Kari. And without reservation, her book will touch the heart of all who read her life’s highway.

Alice Arnold

Godmother

Introduction

While the title states the outward demographic the story is about what cannot be seen by the naked eyes. Adopted, abused and determined grace the inner core and tell a story of alchemy. Kari’s life began with a series of events and circumstances that make her feel that her life is not worth much more than throw away base metal. However, over the course of time that base metal serves as the foundation for priceless golden wisdom. Through resources, unseen helpers, and a deep determination Kari uses her experiences to bring awareness to topics that are controversial and uncomfortable in an effort to stop abuse and provide an example of what is possible to overcome.

PART ONE 1973-1983

I’m Three!

I remember sitting on Santa’s lap. I told him what I wanted for Christmas and he said if I was a good girl I would get it. Also I remember a grown up telling me on my birthday that I was four years old. Having been taught to say that I was three years old, I kept telling everyone that I was three. So in complete confidence I put my four year old hands on my four year old hip and stamped my little four year old foot and said in no uncertain terms that, I am three!

One day I was eating Muncho’s potato chips at the kitchen table and I dropped one on the floor. The nice foster lady slipped on it, fell and started to cry. She stayed in bed for a long time. After that, another grown up came and told me that I was going to have a new mommy and daddy and that I was going to live with them. When my new mommy and daddy came to take me with them, I didn’t want to go. But, the grownups said that I was going to a new house and that I would be happy. Little did anyone know how unhappy I would be. Sobbing as all of my things were loaded into their car, I was still crying as I climbed into the back seat. Frances, my new mommy turned around and said, Shut up all that noise! This is the beginning of many silent tears I would cry.

New Home, New Me

What I remember next was going to many different houses and meeting a lot of grownups who were called auntie and uncle and cousin. At my new house, I walked into my very own bedroom which was right next to my parents’ room. Now I was happy. I thought I was so special to have my own bedroom. No one else who lived in my new house had their own bedroom. I was the only girl. I felt like my room was such a beautiful place. In my mind’s eye I can still see the door closed and Frances standing behind me telling me to open the door. I did and I walked into a pink and white paradise. Right in the middle of the room stood this beautiful pink and white canopy bed. There were dolls with pretty dresses on shelves and pretty curtains on the windows. I loved it.

Gradually my room stopped being my beautiful paradise. First, I broke the dolls. They were all porcelain and they