A hand-illustrated life map

The Winding Road of a Remarkable Life

From Texas beginnings to global adventures, adoption, rescue work, reinvention, strength, and purpose. This is a life story full of courage and unexpected turns.

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The illustrated life map

A hand-illustrated travel map of Annette’s life: a winding road from Texas through the Canadian Rockies, Texas A&M, foster parenting and adoption, founding Adoption.com, orphanage support in Ethiopia, Kenya and Haiti, teaching in public school and in China, dog rescue in Mexico, getting strong in London, a world cruise, and arriving in Boulder, Colorado.
Twelve chapters, one brave life. Follow the road from the very first mile.

Follow the road

Twelve chapters, one brave life

Places, purpose, service, dogs, strength, and new beginnings. The road is not a straight line, and that is the point.

  1. 1

    Born in Texas

    Wide open skies, strong roots, wildflowers, boots, and a journey that begins with heart.

  2. 2

    Elementary School in Alberta, Canada

    Canadian Rockies, sledding, skating, downhill skiing, riding and competing in hunter jumper equestrian shows.

  3. 3

    Texas A&M & University of Texas Health Science Center

    Late nights at the library, science, ambition, hard work, and the joy of being intellectually challenged.

  4. 4

    Foster Parenting & Adopting Children

    Open doors, instant parenthood, compassion, belonging, and a home full of love.

  5. 5

    Creating Adoption.com in 1995

    Teaching myself database driven web development and a visionary idea before the internet felt ordinary.

  6. 6

    Founding 3 Orphanages and International Adoption Programs

    Exciting living in my orphanage in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Haiti, saving lives and making families.

  7. 7

    Teaching Public School

    Raising 7 adopted children while teaching ESL, GED, and special education one student at a time.

  8. 8

    Founding eTeachAbroad to Train and Recruit ESL Teachers for China

    15 month-long trips to China within 4 years.

  9. 9

    Bone Voyage Dog Rescue in Mexico

    Rescue buses and planes, sunshine, wagging tails, paw prints, and joyful chaos.

  10. 10

    London & Getting Strong

    Teatime next to Buckingham Palace, conquering menopause, and rebuilding strength inside and out.

  11. 11

    World Cruise

    New York to Hong Kong via Panama, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia, and a bigger view of what is possible.

  12. 12

    Boulder, Colorado

    Mountain air, hiking trails, gratitude, arrival, and a brave new beginning.

Keep exploring

There's more to the story.

Read the writing, explore the archive, or just say hello.

Read the Writing Founder Archive

The heart of it

Every twist shaped the journey.

Part memoir, part mission statement, part invitation to keep going. Live with courage, love all in, and make a difference.

“Live with courage. Love with all in. Make a difference.”