{"id":225676,"date":"2020-06-16T16:38:20","date_gmt":"2020-06-16T21:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=225676"},"modified":"2020-06-16T19:43:04","modified_gmt":"2020-06-17T00:43:04","slug":"author-singer-baby-hold-back-enhanced-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/author-singer-baby-hold-back-enhanced-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"Author and singer says having another baby didn’t hold her back, but ‘enhanced my dream’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Since she was a child, Amanda Vernon<\/a> has known she was meant to sing. Even after becoming a mother, as her career and her family grew, she wondered if pregnancy and motherhood would have negative effects on her goals. But with faith and support, she has accomplished her dreams — including welcoming four children.<\/p>\n

Vernon kicked off her music career in high school when her church began a “kickstarter” for her first album. From there she began to sing in local concerts, then national shows, then international shows including World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. At the age of 25, she was enjoying a successful career, was married, and had two children. But there was still one more dream waiting\u2014and just as it was about to come true, she learned she was expecting her third child.<\/p>\n

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Have you seen @leah.darrow 's #babiesanddreams posts lately? So powerful. (Search the hashtag on both Instagram and Facebook to check it out!) Post after post, I've been inspired by strong, beautiful, courageous women who are speaking about the satisfaction, the sacrifice, and the triumph of welcoming new life. Here's part 1 of 2 of my #babiesanddreams story! For most of my life, one of my goals was to sing the National Anthem for the Green Bay Packers. My parents are diehard Cheeseheads, and I always wanted to combine my love of singing with my love of the Green and Gold. Finally, the opportunity arose! Not only was I invited to sing at a preseason game at Lambeau Field, but proceeds from the game benefited the Bishop's charities. Catholicism, Packers, Music. What more could I ask for?! We booked this performance about a year in advance. Within that year, I realized the blessings were multiplying. See that bump? Can't miss it, right? I was going to be 8 months pregnant by the time game day arrived! I didn't tell the Packers. ? I told the Bishop of Green Bay, though, in my first trimester. "I'm going to be really, really pregnant that day." He gave me a high five. Ha. I prayed that if I rehearsed the song every single day that summer–even under less than optimal lung capacity–I could do my best. Well. If singing the nation anthem while 8 months pregnant at an NFL preseason game could be considered an "audition," it must've worked. The Packers invited me back the very next year to sing again, this time for the live TV broadcast of Monday Night Football. They said, "ESPN told us to get someone good." Far from killing my dream, having a baby definitely enhanced it. Plus, it seems to have been good for the baby! At 5 years old, Mercedes is our most cuddly child. She toured with me for her first 8 months after birth. She stayed close to my chest when I gave concerts, often falling asleep in the baby carrier while I sang. Plus, she sings beautifully. Thanks for reading the good stuff! Part 2 will be about the more challenging side of #babiesanddreams . Stay tuned. And thank you @leah.darrow for starting this conversation!<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Amanda Vernon<\/a> (@amandavernonmusic) on