And suddenly this innocent farm girl--who still thought the stork brought babies--was pregnant. The baby was secretly born, named Betty Jane, and given up for adoption. For decades, Minka wrote letters trying to get news of her daughter; she kept loving and praying for her, even though she never dared believe they would meet again. Until nearly eighty years later, when Minka whispered her secret, impossible prayer for the first time: "Lord, I'd like to see Betty Jane before I die. I promise I won't bother her or interrupt her life. I just want to lay eyes on her." Unbeknownst to Minka, that very same day, a judge was releasing the sealed adoption records to her 77-year-old daughter. And soon, Minka's phone would ring. Written by Cathy LaGrow (Minka's granddaughter), "The Waiting" brings three generations of this most unusual family together over the course of a century to tell a story of faith that triumphs, forgiveness that sets us free, and love that never forgets.

    Hungry, homeless, and bouncing in and out of the foster care system, Jimmy spent more nights wandering and sleeping in the streets than he cares to remember. His father left before he was born. And his mama, when she wasn't in a mental hospital or behind bars for various small offenses, was simply too overwhelmed, trying to survive herself.Walk to Beautiful is the powerfully emotive account of Jimmy's childhood and the unconditional love and acceptance Russell and Bea Costner gave to Jimmy. This elderly couple provided a stable home and the chance for him to complete his education. Jimmy says of Bea, "She changed every cell in my body." After his high school graduation, Jimmy went on to earn a degree in Criminal Justice because, as he says, "I knew a lot about it." But in his heart Jimmy wanted to write songs and sing.A music company opened its doors to Jimmy, and he moved to Nashville to pursue his dreams. He had several memorable hits, such as I Love You This Much, Paper Angels, and Do You Believe Me Now?, which remained at #1 for three consecutive weeks on the Billboard Chart.But success was not satisfying. Jimmy remembered where he came from, and he wanted to give back. With his Meet Me Halfway campaign—a 1,700 mile walk from Nashville to Phoenix—Jimmy walked halfway across America, raising awareness for foster children. Along the way he not only found a lot of crazy things, such as coins, keys, a plastic Jesus, and a Lucille Ball ashtray; but he also found himself. And more important, he found a way to forgive the people who had hurt him. Jimmy learned how to walk to beautiful—and so can you.

     Michaela DePrince was known as girl Number 27 at the orphanage, where she was abandoned at a young age and tormented as a "devil child" for a skin condition that makes her skin appear spotted. But it was at the orphanage that Michaela would find a picture of a beautiful ballerina en pointe that would help change the course of her life. At the age of four, Michaela was adopted by an American family, who encouraged her love of dancing and enrolled her in classes. She went on to study at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at the American Ballet Theatre and is currently a member of the Dutch National Ballet’s junior company. She has appeared in the ballet documentary "First Position," as well as on "Dancing with the Stars, Good Morning America," and "Nightline." In this engaging, moving, and unforgettable memoir, Michaela shares her dramatic journey from an orphan in West Africa to becoming one of ballet's most exciting rising stars.

    Her 3-year-old daughter Maya, whom she and her husband adopted months earlier from an orphanage in China, had transformed from a frightened, sickly little girl to a joyous being thriving in an environment where she knew she was loved. Watching her daughter play, Jenny was overcome with the desire to help the orphaned girls she couldn’t bring home. And that’s when Half the Sky was born.Wish You Happy Forever tells the story of China’s momentous progress in its treatment of orphaned and abandoned children. When Jenny began Half the Sky in 1998, determined to bring a caring adult into the life of every orphaned child, it seemed impossible that China would allow a foreigner to work inside government orphanages, let alone try to bring change. But gradually, after witnessing Half the Sky’s quiet perseverance and miraculous success, the Chinese government now not only trusts, but partners with Half the Sky to make life better for the children in its care.

    We were fascinated. Today, we're still fascinated by the purr, but in many cases, we've let our feline companions down. There are millions of homeless and hungry cats. These are but a few of the stories of the lucky ones, rescued from bad situations and given a place on easy street.You'll be inspired, you'll be awed, and you'll say "awww" over stories about cats like these:Ms. Sammy, the cat delivered to her "furever" home by the coroner.Lima, the kitty with a horribly infected tail, but who never stopped purring in appreciation of her human's efforts to help her get well.Hanuko, the rescue with two human mommies.From tales of cats rescued from a warehouse, a barn, and even a coffee can, to heartwarming stories of feline determination and human compassion, every story in The Cat Rescue Diaries is evidence of what happens when good people seek out the purr and find their "purrfect" feline match.

      At the age of three, Michaela DePrince found a photo of a ballerina that changed her life. She was living in an orphanage in Sierra Leone at the time, but was soon adopted by a family and brought to America. Michaela never forgot the photo of the dancer she once saw, and quickly decided to make her dream of becoming a ballerina come true. She has been dancing ever since and is now a principal dancer in New York City and has been featured in the ballet documentary First Position, as well as Dancing with the Stars, Good Morning America, and Oprah magazine.   Young readers will love learning about this inspiring ballerina in this uplifting and informative leveled reader. This Step 4 Step into Reading book is for newly independent readers who read simple sentences with confidence.

    Their first ten years together included Domingo’s alcoholism and abuse, and Irene’s desperate prayers for answers. Then a miracle happened: Domingo pleaded for forgiveness. As God healed their marriage, Irene and Domingo adopted a little girl. And a new season began for an imperfect couple who were willing to say yes to each other and to God. Over the past forty-five years, the Garcias have birthed, fostered, or adopted thirty-two children. Their story holds difficult endings as well as promising new beginnings. Above all, their story reminds us what can happen when ordinary people submit to God’s call. Rich in Love is about a family cemented in hope. About a need to love the orphan. And about a God who never, ever gives up.

    The town holds a secret—her birth mother’s identity. Gloria’s parents worry she won’t like what she finds, but once Gloria starts unraveling the story, she can’t be dissuaded. Gloria is armed with three pieces of knowledge about the woman who gave her up for adoption. 1) The woman was in her forties. 2) She lived in Rosewood. 3) She was accused of murder in 1974. No wonder Gloria’s parents don’t want her to dig into her past. How many women in Rosewood in 1974 could have been accused of murder? Only four, it turns out. Articles in the newspaper archives show a picture of four women dubbed The Thorns of Rosewood. The women were suspects in the disappearance of a judge’s wife, but once again, Gloria knows three things: 1) No body. 2) No proof. 3) No charges. It looks as though the Thorns got away with murder. Gloria wants the truth. Did these Thorns of Rosewood murder the judge’s wife? She finds the four women at an assisted-living facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. They tell her they are ready to confess. This is Gloria’s chance to get the story of a lifetime and find out who her birth mother is…and why that woman gave her away.

    But this time it's different. This time the baby who needs help has an older brother -- a kid Jarrett's age named Kevon. Everyone thinks Jarrett and Kevon should be friends -- but that's not gonna happen. Not when Kevon's acting like he's better than Jarrett -- and not when Jarrett finds out Kevon's keeping some major secrets. Jarrett doesn't think it's fair that he has to share his room, his friends, and his life with some stranger. He's gotta do something about it -- but what? From award-winning author Coe Booth, KINDA LIKE BROTHERS is the story of two boys who really don't get along -- but have to find a way to figure it out.

    Along with adopted people, this collection also includes the voices of mothers and a father from the Baby Scoop Era, a modern-day mother who almost lost her child to adoption, and ends with the experience of an adoption investigator from Against Child Trafficking. These stories are usually abandoned by the very industry that professes to work for the “best interest of children,” “child protection,” and for families. However, according to adopted people who were scattered across nations as children, these represent typical human rights issues that have been ignored for too long. For many years, adopted people have just dealt with such matters alone, not knowing that all of us—as a community—have a great deal in common. Contributors: Casper Andersen, Lily Arthur, Trace DeMeyer, Peter Dodds, Arun Dohle, Darelle Duncan, Erica Gehringer, Jeffrey Hancock, Bob Honecker, Cameron Horn, Tobias Hubinette, Sunny Jo Johnsen, Kristina Laine, Lakshmi, Tinan Leroy, Georgiana A. Macavei, Marion McMillan, Khara Nine, Colette Noonan, Cryptic Omega, Vanessa Pearce, Michael Allen Potter, Paul Redmond, Lucy Sheen, Joe Soll, Vance Twins and Daniel Ibn Zayd.

    A journey with a unique young girl who is so sure of what is out there waiting for her, that she never compromises her belief in finding it. Jane Rawley Solomon's humor, character, and passion for others, serve as a reminder that we choose our own path to happiness, regardless of the events that impact our lives.

    This is the real stuff: dynamic, messy, baffling adoptive parenting, rooted in domestic life.Award-winning columnist and adoptive parent Sally Donovan offers savvy, compassionate advice on how to be 'good enough' in the face of both day-to-day and more bewildering challenges – how to respond to 'red mist' meltdowns, crippling anxieties about new routines and, most importantly, how to meet the intimidating challenge of being strong enough to protect and nurture your child.Full of affecting and hilarious stories drawn from life in the Donovan household, The Unofficial Guide to Adoptive Parenting offers parents a refreshing counterblast to stuffy parenting manuals -- read it, weep, laugh and learn.

    Raised in a Montana orphanage, she is tormented that no one wanted her. Her life will be silently manipulated by her mother's powerful east coast family to ensure that Grace never finds her origins. As an emotionally scarred young adult, Grace meets Dr. Alex Gordon, a young doctor, who sees past her emotional barricades and provides her first measures of security. Incredibly, Grace stumbles onto obscure clues about her family. From there, a search for her roots begins, a search that will test her endurance and courage. Riveting but tender, The Search of Grace will captivate you from the first page.

    Many of them have Googled phrases like "stroke Nancy Zieman" in an effort to discover the reasons behind the partial paralysis of Nancy's beautiful face. Viewers purchased products Nancy used through Nancy's Notions, followed patterns she created for McCall's, and enjoyed meeting distinguished guests via the show. While today's Christian women read of Lydia and the Proverbs 31 woman and wonder how we can ever practice our faith so well in today's harried existence, Nancy Zieman was quietly living out her faith in Wisconsin. Her large Lutheran family ordered their lives around the farm, the seasons, and the church. As Nancy wrestled with the difficulties borne by the Bell's palsy, she also learned to rely heavily on God and believe that He had a purpose for her, a life lived to honor Him. Little did she realize that God would take a woman with half a paralyzed face and bless her with the longest running sewing show on North American television. For the first time, Nancy shares openly about the Bell's palsy that not only affected her appearance, but also her esteem and physical abilities. Readers learn about the growth of Nancy professionally: from addressing catalogs at the kitchen table to growing a multi-million dollar notions business - and personally: marrying Rich, then growing a family through birth and adoption. Through it all, the picture emerges of a hard-working woman of staunch faith who overcame various and varied obstacles to become what she is today: successful, humble, skilled, gracious, grateful and loved by millions of viewers. For any woman who has wondered how God could possibly build a purposeful life from one so unlikely, Nancy Zieman serves as a beautiful example of a life lived one step at a time, as He allows."

    After discussing why everyone in the world, Christian and non-Christian alike, should care to the core about caring for orphans, In Pursuit examines a framework— from family to spiritual formation (and a whole lot in between)—of what excellent, best-practice orphan care looks like in situations where kinship care, legal adoption, quality foster care, or reunification with biological family is not possible, feasible, or likely to occur.As you read this book, you will be invited to learn from others seeking best-practice orphan care, engage in the conversation, and advocate for orphans around the world . . . and in your own backyard.

    But they’re not without their quirks and sometimes puzzling behaviors.That’s where the experts at MyPetChicken.com have a beak up on the competition—they hear from chicken keepers daily and offer advice about common mistakes and pitfalls that occur when raising a flock of chickens in the backyard. And customers tell them that the advice they most appreciate is actually how not to raise chickens, what not to do, and why not to panic.The handbook helps potential chicken owners decide whether chicken keeping is right for them, how to make the best choices for their situations, how to start planning for the new pets, and—most importantly—how to head off potential trouble before the chicks arrive. Detailed care instructions for baby chicks and mature hens help to ensure a friendly and enjoyable flock. Covering both the good and the "oh no" experiences that beginners and avid backyard farmers experience, topics include choosing coops, planning a daily routine, learning about sanitation practices, and discovering signs of distress. Then the joy of chicken keeping comes full "ovoid" with 50 recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring the incredible and versatile egg, from homemade egg noodles and sesame mayonnaise to a vegetable frittata and caramel custard.

    When Christians choose to adopt, foster, mentor or support care for orphans around the world, it reveals God's true character to the world like nothing else we can do. This softcover book unpacks specific steps that you can take to care for orphans in distress.Some of these steps are 'big' choices like fostering or adopting; some are smaller choices like supporting work abroad or mentoring a foster youth. But all have the impact of revealing God's love to someone who wants to be home for good.Join Jedd Medefind, president of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), as he reveals the profound sense that deep, sustaining love for orphans springs not from duty, guilt or even idealism, but foremost as a response to the way we've first been loved by God.

    Through it all, Kristin Hill Taylor learned God hears the desires of our hearts, wants us to live in community, and uses all of our circumstances for our good and His glory. This second edition of “Peace in the Process” includes contributions from other adoptive moms, the Taylor children’s birth moms, and resources for families who want to grow through adoption and the people who support them.

    Camilla is stunned when a woman hands her a baby girl and then disappears. At a way station, she decides to leave it with the way-station’s owner. An unkempt little girl tells her the baby wouldn’t be safe, to take it with her. When Camilla leaves the next morning, the girl is hiding in the stage coach.When Camilla arrives at the ranch, she finds a sullen owner who begrudgingly lets her stay in the ranch house because she’s his cook’s niece. Sparks fly when she sees that he’d rather have anything interrupt his life than a woman and two little girls.Blake doesn’t like the feelings this beautiful woman and her two daughters stir up in him—yet, he’s furious when another man decides that Camilla would make the perfect wife…

    They have come together to share their personal stories in order to provide a glimpse into the real world of foster care. Though many of their journeys have been difficult, these ladies will inspire you with their stories of love, loss, and healing.

    Their severe behaviors can often leave caregivers feeling confused, frightened, hurt, and overwhelmed, as they struggle to make sense of a massive amount of information—and misinformation—that exists on attachment issues.This book provides understanding, validation, and solutions for these caregivers. In it, the authors explain their innovative model of “team” treatment that includes an EMDR therapist and a family therapist. Best used in conjunction with therapeutic help, it walks readers through an array of parenting strategies that will lead them to a deeper understanding of their traumatized child, and better enable them to calm their behavior and improve their attachment security so they can heal.

    

    Her harrowing tales make it easy to forget that Lilly is a real girl. As an educator, I would recommend this book to anyone who works with individuals with emotional disturbances.” Foster W. Cline, M.D., is an internationally renowned child and adult psychiatrist, as well as co-author of Parenting with Love and Logic. He has served as a consultant to school systems, pupil personnel teams, and hospitals around the world: “Just quality writing in general: descriptive, interesting, enticing, and leads me to smile in an understanding way. I have read your fascinating book, Chasing Lilly. I found it to be so enlightening, and hope it becomes a classic reference work for prospective foster and adoptive parents.” William Steele, PsyD, MSW, Founder, The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children: Chasing Lilly is “a remarkable, richly detailed journey into what matters most in the lives of severely traumatized children . . . This should be required reading for anyone caring for or treating traumatized children . . . What a wonderful story. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to endorse such a meaningful and insightful work . . .” Jayne Schooler is an international trainer, consultant, and curriculum writer with the Institute for Human Services in Columbus, Ohio. Jayne’s first book, The Whole Life Adoption Book, is required reading for adoption agencies around the country, and she has made guest appearances on over three dozen radio talk shows across the country: “It is a book that is impossible to put down. In the final analysis, Chasing Lilly is about unconditional love lived out through pain, personal suffering and disappointment, and yet that love continues today.” Leslie Brower, Ph.D., R.N. Project Director, SAMHSA Grant on Trauma-Informed Care, Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health: “Chasing Lilly is a scary, inspiring ride through the early years of a bright, charming little girl who was badly traumatized by parental neglect and violence. You will be captivated by Lilly herself … her profound psychic injuries would have discouraged any ‘normal’ parent …” Gregory C Keck, Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Attachment & Bonding Center of Ohio: “This moving book provides the reader with an inside glimpse … a journey of hope, pain, and commitment … This should be a ‘must-read’ for anyone thinking about sharing their lives with a child whose life has been touched by trauma and loss.” Dr. Gary D. Jacobs, Professor, Director Graduate Education Studies: (Chasing Lilly is) “A book every person should read … an honest portrayal … that will tug on your heart …”

    But no one said adoption is easy. As an adoptive parent and pastor who has counseled many adoptive parents, Brian Borgman knows there is another side to adoption that we are often reluctant to talk about. Parenting is always a challenge, but parenting an adopted child can have some special challenges. Adoptive parents can experience much heartache and even guilt with their adopted children. Many suffer in silence. Borgman writes with a burden to minister to those who are struggling. After They Are Yours: The Grace and Grit of Adoption talks transparently and redemptively about the often unspoken problems adoptive parents face. Combining personal experience, biblical wisdom, and a heart for people, Borgman recalls the humbling and difficult lessons God has taught him and his wife. This is not a success story, rather it’s a story of struggles and failures set in the broader context of a God who is gracious and continually teaches us the meaning of adoption. What do you do when it's hard to hope? Here is a story of adoption that's real, raw, redemptive, and edifiying.

    The product of neglect and abuse, he was a wounded little soul who fought every attempt to be integrated into our family, afraid to trust human relationships. During his first years in America, Tyler was diagnosed with PDD (an autism spectrum disorder), and Tourette Syndrome, leaving my family overwhelmed and ill-prepared to handle such an emotionally fragile little boy. HE JUST NEEDS TO BE LOVED chronicles Tyler's journey from a troubled child to a confident, happy, young man with endless possibilities.

    This anthology was written by a global community of adult adoptees and adults who were fostered. Each letter was penned to the upcoming generation of adopted and fostered youth.The literary mission of "Dear Wonderful You" is for all adopted or fostered youth to feel embraced and guided by the incredible letters contained inside. The contributors want every young reader to know they have a network of support who "get it," "get them," and have been in their shoes.DEAR WONDERFUL YOU CONTRIBUTORSJoAnne Bennett,Thomas Park Clement, Brenda M. Cotter, Charlotte Cotter, Laura Dennis, Peter Dodds, Mei-Mei Akwai Ellerman PhD, Ming Foxweldon, Suzanne Gilbert, Rosita Gonzalez, Lynn Grubb, Lee Herrick, Soojung Jo, Jeff Leinaweaver PhD, J.S. London, Dan Matthews, Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, Kaye S. Pearse, Karen Pickell, Jasmine Renee, Matthew Salesses, Liz Semons, Lucy Chau Lai-Tuen, May Silverstein, Joe Soll LCSW, Julie Stromberg, Amanda H.L. Transue-Woolston, Angela Tucker

    A mother puma, an attempt to steal a chicken and an angry chicken farmer—the search is on for orphaned cubs. Will the scientists be able to find the cubs before their time runs out?In this “Biography in Text and Art,” Harvill takes original photos as references to create accurate wildlife illustrations. These aren’t generic cats, but one particular individual in detail. Pattison’s careful research, vetted by scientists in the field, brings to life this this true story of an infant cub that must face a complicated world alone—and find a way to survive. Praise for Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and other Disasters for Over 60 Years★ “. . .Pattison writes crisply and evocatively. . .” “Harvill contributes carefully detailed and naturalistic illustrations. . .”--Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)

    In what she describes as a "silent stirring in my soul," Tandela experiences the unmistakable call of God to pursue adoption of a baby boy—one who has been abandoned and given only one month to live. She is told that her hope to adopt baby Mark will most likely be futile, if he even survives. Spurred on by a deep parental love that can only be described as God-given, Tandela nonetheless courageously embarks on the journey of adoption that will serve to test her faith like never before. Beginning in the beautiful country of Uganda, whose northern region is being ravaged by war, Tandela faces one obstacle after another on a nerve-racking quest fraught with loneliness, doubts, and fears, but pierced with moments of pure joy.This story will encourage readers that miracles do exist and that God does fulfill his promise to do more than we can ever ask or imagine."This beautiful, and beautifully told, true story celebrates adoption as God's goodness to orphans, the amazing acts of God in his sovereign providence, and the demanding yet joyful realities of the life of faith in Jesus Christ. I cannot imagine the reader who will not be gripped and led Godward by what is written here." –J.I. Packer, Author, Knowing God"In Kirabo, Kveta Rose takes the reader on an adoption journey of faith, obedience, suspense and love. This book will keep you reading." –Jean Fleming, Author, A Mother's Heart

    Paul, Minnesota, to live in Georgia, Molly feels alone and plans a visit to her brother, Patrick, in Las Vegas. Molly had been worried about him ever since his wife died in a tragic boating accident. Grieving she could understand, but she sensed something deeper going on. And she was concerned about Patrick's six-year-old daughter, Bethany. So she sets aside her life in St. Paul to spend an indeterminate time in Vegas. When Molly gets there, she finds more than she bargained on. And in the lead-up to Christmas, the situation only gets worse.... 6 year-old Bethany loses her last anchor. How does Molly convince her that somehow, Christmas will come.

    The family in this story has Two Dads. A beautifully illustrated, affirming story of life with Two Dads, written from the perspective of their adopted child. Two Dads is a book about LGBT parents and adoption. The simple narrative and illustrations depict just how very normal LGBT families are. It is a funny and tender representation of family life. The book would be a good platform for opening up conversations about adoption or same sex parenting.

    Along the way, the author uncovers details of abuse, murder, injustice and a host of tragedy with a thread of redemption running throughout.

    Julia and her husband are parents of two children with FASD and she brings her practical, real life knowledge of strategies that are helpful on a daily basis, alongside Dr Mather's medical expertise explaining the reasons behind the child's behaviour and responses. Whilst this book is a must for any parent or carer with a child affected by FASD, it will also be of value to professionals particularly in social work, mental health and counselling / therapy who are supporting families affected by FASD.

    Sharing his own personal, honest experience as both the father of children with special needs, and someone with his own special needs, Joshi ends each chapter with reflections for the reader to consider in her own life. This book offers solid, practical advice for the parent of a differently-abled child and provides a guide for the path - no matter what religion, spirituality or disability - all in small chapters that can be read in less than five minutes, perfect for a busy parent.

    Compared with children in foster care, the institutionalized children in this rigorous twelve‐year study showed severe impairment in IQ and brain development, along with social and emotional disorders.

    Born to mentally challenged parents, Ezra and Hadassah spend the first years of their lives in foster care while keeping ties with their biological parents. Everything changes when the children mysteriously disappear, leaving their parents with no clue as to their whereabouts. While Ezra and Hadassah fight to survive, their sibling bonds of love are tested to the breaking point. They forge ahead and in the process, find a power of healing beyond themselves.

    Lost Daughters is an independent, collaborative writing project that was founded in 2011 in an effort to give an accessible writing platform for adopted women. Boasting nearly 30 authors, Lost Daughters is written and edited entirely by adopted women, several of whom balance multiple roles in adoption and foster care along with being adopted. The blog’s name was inspired by author and adoptee B.J. Lifton’s concept of one's self becoming lost and found throughout the experience of being adopted. The mission is to bring readers the perspectives and narratives of adopted women, and to highlight their strength, resiliency, and wisdom--to critically discuss the positives and negatives of the adoption institution from a place of empowerment and peace. The authors come from all walks of life and have a variety of worldviews, religions, political stances, types of adoption, countries of origin, and countries of residence.

    A much-needed anthology addressing a variety of potential psychological and physiological concerns, Adoption Therapy, Perspectives from Clients and Clinicians on Processing and Healing Post-Adoption Issues is a must-read for adoptees, adoptive parents, first families, and vitally, mental health professionals.With writing by adoptees, adoptive parents, and clinicians, Adoption Therapy is a first-of-its-kind and wholly unique reference book, providing insight, advice, and personal stories which highlight the specific nature of the adoptee experience.Topics Include:• The psychological dangers in leaving trauma and grief buried and unaddressed• The importance of community in healing the wounds of separation• Understanding the physical and psychological effects of transracial adoption• Attachment—including the inability to attach, inappropriate attachment, and the myth of Reactive Attachment Disorder• Conception by rape: an adoptee speaks out• Co-dependency, intimacy, and creating closeness• The life-long effects of pre- and perinatal trauma• Processing complex trauma, complex grief, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder• Specific concerns for Late Discovery Adoptees• The relationship among trauma, anger and rage, and substance abuse• For adoptive parents and adoptees: red flags when working with a therapist

    When their youngest was three, God opened their eyes to the needs of orphans all over the world--and answered Mary's longing for another baby. Over the next nine years the couple adopted two boys from Korea and four girls from Ethiopia.Ostyn, a beloved adoption writer and blogger, shares--alongside stories from other adoptive families--the practical tools and resources she uses to thrive as an adoptive mom. In Forever Mom, she reveals how to:build heart connections prepare your other children for new siblings help babies, toddlers, and older children settle in implement attachment parenting address misbehavior while remaining connected nurture your marriage in the midst of it allWhether you're the parent of an adopted child or interested in pursuing adoption, Ostyn's warm advice and fresh perspective will inspire, inform, and affirm. You'll walk away confident you will be the perfect mom for whatever child God brings into your life.

    Written from a child's point of view, the rhyming verse takes you through an adoption journey from start to finish. It is perfect for anyone, young or old, whose life has been blessed by adoption.

    Primarily adult adoptee voices, we also hear from adoptive parents, first moms and mental health professionals, all weighing in on their experience with reunion. The stories run the gamut, and I think even non-adopted people are likely to find something in here to which they can relate. The memories of adoption reunion in this anthology are joyous and regretful; nostalgic and fresh; angry and accepting. They show pain, but they also tell of resilience and strength in the face of incredible loss. In short, the essays of this anthology relate the human experience: raw, resilient, and most of all real.

    In fact the preparation stage before is crucial in ensuring that the adopted child will arrive to a safe and secure family. Preparing for Adoption provides clear advice on how to prepare for you adoptive child and create a strong foundation for a healthy and loving relationship. Julia Davis explains how many different factors can shape preparations for adoption, such as finding out about your child's history and using this information to establish a family environment which will meet your child's specific attachment needs. There is also advice on how to prepare your home to create a sense of safety for your child and how to prepare your family to support you as adoptive parents.Primarily for adopters, foster carers and professionals supporting adopters, this book offers ideas and strategies to help parents prepare a happy and settled home for children before their arrival and ways to parent them in the early days of becoming a family that addresses their attachment needs.

    Gertz was America's most hated mother when news of a decision to place her adopted child in another family broke in the media. Her memoir details the journey to the decision that she couldn’t continue to parent her daughter, the steps toward acceptance, and the depths of compassion she found in accepting her limitations.

    He grafts a bud onto Little Tree's limb, and in time she becomes the most colorful tree in the orchard. All those who have experienced the bonds of family in more ways than one will share in Little Tree’s delight when she discovers that it does not matter if her apples came from another tree; she loves them as her very own. Existing adoptive parents, as well as those exploring the possibility of adoption for the first time, will find Little Tree's story especially touching. The book also honors the birth mother in a unique way, helping children understand how love is the motivation for her actions.

    Brown Bear only wants honey; Polar Bear craves fish; and little Panda Bear snacks only on bamboo shoots. When playing hide-and-seek in the snow, Polar Bear always wins. And little Polar and Panda are always bored while Brown Bear is hibernating. How could they get along in a family when they are so, so different? With gentleness and love, Mama Bear and Papa Bear assure their cubs that even though they are different, they are loved the same, and God put them in the same family for a purpose.Darling illustrations by Alison Edgson (An Easter Prayer, 2012) add even more sweetness to this comforting message. The book is also a great resource for adoptive families who want to assure their children that whether biological or adopted, each of them is incredibly loved.Features & Benefits:A perfect way for parents to tell their children how much they love each of themGreat purchase for parents and grandparents looking for ways to show siblings how they are each special and uniqueGood resource to prepare big brothers and sisters for new members (and personalities!) coming into the familyAdorable art from Alison Edgson makes this a great purchase for a baby shower, a gift for a new mom, or anytimeA great resource for adoptive familiesPadded Board Book

    In fact, of the nearly 8,700 international adoptions that took place last year, more than half were between the ages of 1 and 4, and nearly a quarter were between the ages of 5 and 12. This new image of adoption-due in large part to the 2008 ratification of the Hague Adoption Convention-presents new challenges for families looking to expand or start a family. From Half to Whole is a raw and honest look at the trials and tribulations of one family's struggle to adopt and raise two young boys from Poland who came to America not only with a few stuffed toys in their backpacks but also the trauma of their past. Sharing her personal diary entries, Regina Radomski reveals her compelling yet tumultuous journey to acclimate her adopted children to their new environment and the solace she found in family, friends, and valuable resources she discovered along the way. Inside you'll find . . . -Meaningful insights from licensed clinical social worker Barbara Jean Keane. -Personal letters from Radomski's husband, adopted children, and her biological child candidly describing their feelings throughout the last eight years. -Heartfelt advice from Radomski on what she's learned-and what she would have done differently. -8 key rules to successfully parent the adopted child. -Resources she recommends to help you through the adoption process. -And much more! From Half to Whole is a complete perspective on the battle scars of adoption, the love that grows from bonding together, the pride of seeing your accomplishments, and the humor that springs forth from the unexpected.

     Parents write honestly about the why, the how and the what happens next of the adoption process. Through real life examples, they share their experiences of meeting their sons and daughters for the first time, navigating the medical and educational system for visually impaired children, and what life as a family looks like for them. The chapter titles include: • English language learning for visually impaired children • Home schooling a visually impaired child • Advocating for school services for your (blind, ESL) teenager • Adapting to the reality of special needs after a “healthy child” adoption • Blind parents adopting blind children • Adopting a child with albinism • Adjusting to life in a family after life in an institution • Adopting a child with a history of cancer The intent for this book is to close the gap between concerns about adopting a child with a visual impairment and the reality of what is actually required, in the hope that more parents will move forward to adopt a child in need of a family.

    Written from a child's point of view, the rhyming verse takes you through an adoption journey from start to finish. It is perfect for anyone, young or old, whose life has been blessed by adoption.

    Taking in a severely abused and neglected baby girl...our journey from foster care to adoption

    She was "chosen" and therefore she was special. For the most part she had what seemed to be an idyllic life. On the surface she appeared to be happy, but on the inside she did not feel like she was good enough. She had been abandoned at birth. Every child experiences a time in their life when they feel like they are not good enough. For some, the feeling is temporary, but for others, that feeling becomes a belief, affecting all aspects of life. I Look Like Me is an inspirational story of transformation. Join Paula as she shares her journey, full of twists and turns, from low self-esteem/self-worth, through the process of discovery, to eventually finding self-love.

    But begin the story earlier, as SooJin Pate does, and what has long been viewed as humanitarian rescue reveals itself as an exercise in expanding American empire during the Cold War.Transnational adoption was virtually nonexistent in Korea until U.S. military intervention in the 1940s. Currently it generates $35 million in revenue—an economic miracle for South Korea and a social and political boon for the United States. Rather than focusing on the families “made whole” by these adoptions, this book identifies U.S. militarism as the condition by which displaced babies became orphans, some of whom were groomed into desirable adoptees, normalized for American audiences, and detached from their past and culture.Using archival research, film, and literary materials—including the cultural work of adoptees—Pate explores the various ways in which Korean children were employed by the U.S. nation-state to promote the myth of American exceptionalism, to expand U.S. empire during the burgeoning Cold War, and to solidify notions of the American family. In From Orphan to Adoptee we finally see how Korean adoption became the crucible in which technologies of the U.S. empire were invented and honed.

    He also has Down syndrome, and Sherry Palmer thanks her stars each and every night for the blessing that is Charley.Sherry knew that her life would change drastically when she and her husband decided to adopt a baby boy with Down syndrome, and she knew they would struggle at times with his developmental challenges, with other peoples' perceptions, and with their own emotions. What she didn't know was just how amazing their world would become once Charley was in their lives—and in their hearts.

    Golding shows how you can use stories to build connections with children aged 4–16 and support their recovery from trauma and stress. She illustrates the techniques with 21 stories adapted from her own clinical work with children and families, and explains how you can expand or adapt them to make them more relevant for a particular child. Advice and stories are arranged into sections dealing with common psychological issues, including looking back and moving on, lack of trust and need for attention. Golding also gives invaluable tips for planning stories and life story work, and for storymaking with children. She also describes how stories can be used therapeutically with parents of traumatized children and as a tool for self-reflection by counsellors.Imaginative and practical, this book will be enormously useful for counsellors, psychologists, therapists and social workers working with traumatized children, and will also be helpful for parents and carers involved in therapeutic parenting.

    

     Deanna was called by God from a young age. Driven to serve, and gifted in music and preaching, she excelled in her calling. She worked hard in her personal life, too. Coming from an adoptive family of divorce, she was determined to create the stable marriage and family she constantly longed for. She had always wondered about her origins, and as she embarked on motherhood, Deanna was compelled to search. But even getting the chance to look her natural mother in the eye as an adult would prove to be an epic emotional and logistical task. Reunion was only the beginning. Readers will be moved to laughter and tears as they journey through the rollercoaster ride of reunion with Deanna’s natural maternal family and later grief at facing further devastation from the woman who gave her life. Time and again, Deanna draws upon her immense personal resilience, her faith in God, and a healthy dose of humor to restore her emotional health. Anyone who wants to move beyond mere surviving to thriving amidst life’s complexities will find hope and healing in the pages of "Worthy To Be Found."

    Determined to regain some semblance of balance after a year of post-rape trauma, she finds a kindred spirit—Luke—who is dealing with a loss of his own. Off the hook from living up to impossible expectations, she chooses to reinvent herself through her sexuality and a series of relationship failures.Millie is also the sole Asian adoptee in a large and bustling white family whose struggles are plenty. Severe anorexia and family embezzlement allow her own less tangible issues to be easily overlooked. Emptied of the life she thought she was meant to lead, dive with her through the fractures between innocence and immorality. ‘It Wasn’t Love’ exposes a controversial self-empowerment in a society of floundering youth. It reveals the shame often coveted too closely and the truths that just can’t be changed. Through the voice of a girl on the verge of her will, experience the awkwardness of trying to cope with suicide and self-preservation. Serve as witness to the tumultuous path she must take to seek inner peace and, at last, love.

    While she wondered about her biological parents, she kept her curiosity in check, until a series of small health problems raised concerns about her genetic heritage and its consequences for her two children's lives and her own.Though Spence-Chapin Family Service, the agency that handled her adoption, could not reveal the name of her birth mother, it was able to provide details that lead to a shocking truth. Caroline's birth mother and her family were related to a friend. The woman who gave her life was none other than Carole "Cookie" Cole, the daughter of iconic crooner and pianist Nat King Cole.Drawing on details provided by the agency and her own investigative skills, Caroline embarked on a life-changing journey of discovery that stretched from coast to coast, forged through e-mail, phone calls, and post cards. The constancy, volume, and intimacy of her steady correspondence with Cookie filled the days and distance between them. Through brief yet poignant messages squeezed onto three-inch open-faced squares, mother and daughter revealed themselves, sharing secrets, taking risks, and ultimately building a bond like no other.A heartfelt, inspiring tribute to both Caroline's adoptive parents and her biological mother, Postcards from Cookie illuminates the enduring power of love to shape and guide our lives.

    Parents who don't know this spend all their energy fighting for control and are left feeling frustrated, angry and confused. Baby Owl Lost Her Whoo teaches children WHY they need to let go of control. When left to manage on her own, Baby Owl freezes in the cold, eats only sweets and forgets to brush her beak! One of eight children's books designed to teach concepts developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis, this story cleverly teaches children that parents are indeed in charge. When children know a safe loving adult is in charge, they can let go of control and spend their time laughing, playing and exploring. Proceeds from the sale of this book benefit the Institute of Child Development at TCU and HALO Project." The other seven books are coming soon!