November Gratitude Spotlight: Marra’s Star
Marra and her adoptive mom, Maria.
When Marra was about three, her godmother asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. “Maybe a doctor, or a teacher, or a scientist?” she asked.
“Well,” answered little Marra, “I’m already a-doct-or. Mama tells me all about it.”
Though I didn’t pronounce the word like Marra did, she always knew she was adopted, and the story I told her was one I wrote for her - Marra’s Star. I wanted her to know how much she was wanted and loved, by me and her Dad, and by her birth mother. Because our adoption journey was long and challenging, and it felt miraculous that the universe brought two families in different parts of the world together, I created a story that reflected that.
Little did I know that eventually the story would become a children’s book, and that Marra, who grew up to be an incredible artist, would illustrate it.
Here’s a snippet of a recent conversation we had about connection, creativity, the power of story, and gratitude:
Marra: I always knew I was loved, by you and Dad, and my birth mother. And I honestly think one of the main reasons is Marra’s Star - the story you told me every night. But I had questions – about where I came from and the circumstances of my adoption. Our Ties trip when I was 18 helped me find answers to a lot of those questions. I wish that for every adoptee. Ever since I was in grade school, I knew I looked different than most of my friends, their parents, my classmates, and teachers. Whenever I could, I based my school assignments on researching my native country. You and Dad had tapestries, art, and books on Guatemala’s history and culture around the house. And remember that one that was my favorite? A photography book of Guatemala’s people and artwork, showcasing their well-known textiles. I remember thinking how the people in those photographs looked like me and how much of their clothing is full of beautiful colors. It helped make sense of why I was always so interested in art. I’ll never forget when one of our amazing tour guides told me she could tell I had Mayan Indian in me. I felt special in that moment; that this was what I was waiting for. A chance to know where I come from. And what my world would look like if I’d never left. The fact that Ties put us in touch with a searcher who helped us locate my birth family was truly life changing. I learned some tragic and hard truths, including that my birth mother had died, but my connection with my sisters and brother means everything. Truth is powerful. There will always be questions, but peace comes from truth.
Called “Hidden Mother,” this is a colored pencil drawing Marra created when she only had a photo of her birth mom (before we connected with her birth family). We got the photo for her (through persistent effort!) when we were in Guatemala in 1994.
Marra in Tikal, Guatelama on a Ties tour.
Maria: You know, after you were born, and while we were waiting for you, your birth mom would send us messages, and they would always come at a time when I needed to hear them. I was anguished about taking you away from your homeland and your country’s beautiful culture. One day when I was feeling particularly down, our social worker emailed with a message saying your birth mom wanted me to know she was happy you would be ours because she knew you would get the care and education she could not provide. It’s like when I grab my phone to text you and I get a “ping” – and it’s you texting me! There always seemed to be a magical connection between our families.
Marra: Yeah, and our Ties trip gave us even more connections, expanding our “family.” I remember crying at the end of the trip and saying, ‘I feel like I’m leaving my family.’
Maria: I felt like that, too! It’s been 15 years since that trip, and we still have close “ties” to several of those dear families.
Marra: We all understood we had the same story: We were there to uncover our distant culture, with our loved ones holding our hands along the way. I was able to explore my native culture without feeling like a complete outsider.
Maria: For Dad and me, connecting with the adoptive parents on our trip was incredible. We shared so many stories, and had so much in common, even though our adoption journeys varied. We continue to feel connected – tied – to people all over North America. And, of course, we are forever tied to Guatemala.
Marra and Maria: In this season of gratitude, we give thanks for each other, Marra’s birth family, and our extended Ties family. 100% of net author/illustrator proceeds from Marra’s Star and La Estrella de Marra (Spanish version) will go to The Gift of Identity Fund, providing grants for international adoptees visiting their birth country, and Seeds of Learning, bettering educational opportunities in Latin America. For more about our experiences with these organizations and our adoption journey, visit marrasstar.com.
Order Marra’s Star here, visit a local bookstore, or click through the images below to purchase. Le Estrella de Marra is also available at 1010 Publishing.
🎉 For the month of November, Ties is extending our Early Bird special with $100 off registration for all of our summer 2026 programs. Register by November 30, 2025 to take advantage of this offer.