He really loves baseball and he knows just about everything there is to know about his favorite sport. So when he’s told he can’t play baseball following an operation on his heart, Jeremiah decides he’ll do the next best thing and become a coach.Hillcrest, where Jeremiah and his father Walt have just moved, is a town known for its championship baseball team. But Jeremiah finds the town caught up in a scandal and about ready to give up on baseball. It’s up to Jeremiah and his can-do spirit to get the town – and the team – back in the game.Full of humor, heart, and baseball lore, Soar is Joan Bauer at her best.From the Hardcover edition.

    Written by Amy Eldridge, founder and CEO of Love Without Boundaries, this poignant chronicle of LWB's life-changing work, told through the stories of individual children, offers personal insight into the complex issues surrounding orphan care, abandonment, international aid, and adoption. Both thought-provoking and inspirational, "The Heart of an Orphan" reminds us all that while the needs of vulnerable children around the world may seem overwhelming, the human heart triumphs in believing that every life has value and every child deserves love.

    Another bolts across a busy parking lot, turns and smiles at his mom. An eighteen-year-old student bursts into tears when asked to change activities at school. Sound familiar? These and other common behavior issues in children with Down syndrome can quickly become engrained and may even persist into adulthood. No parent wants that to happen, and thankfully, help is available! Dr. David Stein, a psychologist and Co-Director of the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children's Hospital, shares his approach to behavior management in this new book for parents. Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome examines how the brain of a person with Down syndrome works, how those differences impact behavior, and why bad behavior should not be viewed as a willful act. Governed by this new awareness, parents are in a better position to change and manage their child's behavior using these guiding principles: [[Be proactive, not reactive [[Be consistent [[Use visual schedules & Social Stories to direct behavior [[Develop a token reward chart [[Keep gut reactions in check [[Teach siblings to ignore bad behavior [[Learn effective disciplinary techniques [[Know when professional help is needed Some of these parenting concepts are intuitive, others are not, but when they are followed consistently, children and teens with Down syndrome do their best behaviorally and the parent-child relationship remains as positive and loving as it should be.

    He made me feel things I have never felt before and came into my life when I needed him the most. I felt protected, worshiped and most of all.. Loved, I am loved fully and completely and without restraint. He consumes me. Dave Evelyn is everything I never thought I would want or need. My life was dedicated to my work and any woman was far from my mind. She smiled at me and everything around me imploded. I had the over powering need to protect and make her mine. That's what I did. But someone is trying to take her from me. Id like to see him try and it will be a deadly mistake. What they don't know is I would go to any lengths to protect her. *WARNING* If you don't like insta-love with a alpha then this book isn't for you!

    You won't be able to put The Promise down! Have you ever found something you should have given back? A watch? A purse? How about a baby? When Saraya Mathews finds a baby boy on the streets of London, she knows she should hand him over to the authorities. But Saraya has spent her whole life searching for something meaningful and as soon as she holds him in her arms, something shifts inside her. This baby is meant to be hers. She knows it. But you can't keep what's not yours. Can you? REVIEWS: "An addictive short novel dealing with maternal love and ethical questions in unexpected ways. I read the whole thing in one sitting. Highly recommended." "You can't help but get sucked right in to the storyline. There is every emotion in this book and I felt it right along with the characters. I couldn't put it down. Every parent wants to protect their child, and this story is about the ultimate protection, the ultimate distance a parent can go for that protection. I simply love this book." "A truly compelling read. Had me gripped throughout with its powerful story full of raw emotion!!" "An amazing story full of raw emotions that have you gripped throughout the whole story making it difficult to put it down."

    She’s spent her life looking into strangers’ faces, fantasizing they’re related to her, and now, at thirty-five, she’s ready for answers.Meanwhile, the last thing Lindy McIntyre wants is someone like Nina bursting into her life, announcing that they’re sisters and campaigning to track down their mother. She’s too busy with her successful salon, three children, beautiful home, and…oh yes, some pesky little anxiety attacks.But Nina is determined to reassemble her birth family. Her search turns up Phoebe Mullen, a guarded, hard-talking woman convinced she has nothing to offer. Gradually sharing stories and secrets, the three women make for a messy, unpredictable family that looks nothing like Nina pictured…but may be exactly what she needs. Nina’s moving, ridiculous, tragic, and transcendent journey becomes a love story proving that real family has nothing to do with DNA.

    Get rid of her tonight!” He towered over her as she cringed in fear. But Hansa, a thirteen-year-old child-bride in rural India, refuses to remain a victim of the oppressive society where a female child is an unwanted burden. Instead of drowning her baby, Hansa escapes from her village with three-month-old Tara.Hansa soon discovers that life as a teenage mother is fraught with danger. But a single lie opens the door to a promising opportunity far from home.Just seven years later, Hansa finds herself fighting for Tara’s life once more, this time in an American court, with a woman she calls ‘Mother.’Will the lie upon which Hansa built her life, defeat its own purpose? How can she succeed when no one believes the truth? A story of two mothers, two daughters and a fight to save a child, Fighting for Tara explores the depth of love and motherhood.

    Told from the point of view of a puppy who is adopted by a cat, this gentle and reassuring tale is perfect for very young readers and listeners. When the puppy comes to live with his new mom, he is nervous. After all, his mom has stripes and he doesn’t. But his mom says she likes that they look different, and soon the puppy likes it, too. (And who cares what anyone else thinks!) The puppy’s new mom does all the things other parents do. She plays with him, takes care of him, and sometimes even makes him mad! But that’s okay, because when he’s feeling sad, she knows just what to say.

    This is the heartwarming story of how two very different women with two very different paths were brought together for one very special purpose.Oncology nurse Tricia Seaman and her family were hoping to adopt a son. They were months into the grueling process when she met Trish Somers, a terminally ill cancer patient. Trish was a single mother and her eight-year-old son Wesley was her entire world. As the young mother poured out her fears and emotions, it became clear that this was unlike any other nurse-patient relationship Tricia had in her career. When they learned that the cancer had spread and Trish only had a short time to live, she looked at Tricia, a complete stranger three weeks ago, and asked if she could raise Wesley when she passed away. God Gave Me You tells the true story of how these two incredible mothers met, the immediate bond they formed, and the ups and downs of joining families as Trish’s earthly life ebbed away. This heartwarming tale inspires readers to find the courage to trust in faith and never give up. The miracle of these two families coming together demonstrates that family isn’t always blood; often, it’s made up of the people God gives you if you have a willing heart. God Gave Me You is a story you can turn to again and again when you’re looking for hope, inspiration, and a reason to believe in miracles.

    What is it like? It is the best gift you can ever imagine, like rain falling on a dry place.This memoir is a great reunion journey, from Paris, to California, to Denmark! A coming together of a mother and son, the only two people who can answer all the questions the other one has.

    A sudden death. A betrayal of the worst kind. Ella longs for a child of her own, but a gruesome find during an adoption process deepens the cracks in her marriage. A family visit starts off a horrifying chain of events, and Ella can only hope she won’t lose the person she loves most of all. Amanda is expecting her second child when her husband vanishes. She is tortured by thoughts of violence and loss, but nothing prepares her for the shocking conclusion to the police investigation. And in the middle of it all, a little girl is looking for a home of her own with a ‘forever’ mummy and daddy… How well do you know your own family? And who can you trust? Chosen Child is the fourth chilling psychological suspense novel from the author of The Paradise Trees, The Cold Cold Sea and The Attic Room. The pace is perfectly controlled even as it races toward the inevitable crash. Barb Taub Gripping, fast paced, wonderful storytelling. Jane Isaac

    Her life becomes a nightmare with a secret so awful that she prays no one will find out.

     Suitable for all carers, parents and supporting professionals working with children who have suffered early life trauma. Sarah Naish uses her first hand experience to clearly explain the differences between 'standard' parenting and 'therapeutic' parenting, with case studies and examples of good therapeutic parenting strategies, along with practical applications. Written with the busy parent and supporting professional in mind, this short book provides answers for all those caring for children with attachment difficulties, explaining why we need to parent our children differently, common additional challenges faced by Therapeutic Parents, and the best way to resolve them. The book may be read as a 'stand alone' document, but used in conjunction with the videos and video based courses, it provides a powerful foundation in caring for children who have suffered early life trauma. The author provides essential advice to supporting professionals about overcoming blocked care, and helping Therapeutic Parents to stay connected to their child. This book contributes to the new Level 3 Diploma in Therapeutic Parenting, which will be launched by Fostering Attachments Ltd, (Inspire Training Group) in the Autumn of 2016.

    If you are a foster parent, adopter, kinship carer or other Therapeutic Parent looking after a child with additional needs, you may be tired of putting up with Patronising Professionals, dealing with Arguing Children whilst worrying that you have become a very bad-tempered parent. This irreverent look at un-therapeutic moments, also combines strategies for efficiently dispatching 'Baking-Mother-with-Clipboard' and reward charts. Sarah Naish, a self-confessed Bad-Tempered Mother & adopter of 5, will help you to feel comfortable in your own bad- tempered skin.

    The beautifully told story of a family haunted by ghosts from the past. Summer 1994 With a glittering future as an architect ahead of him, golden child Aled mysteriously dies on Worm’s Head, a tidal island at the dramatic Rhossili Bay on the Welsh Gower Peninsula. Summer 2012 Catrin, Aled’s sister, returns to The Dragon House for the first time since his death with Bethan, her adopted Deaf daughter. They join family for a memorial service to Aled to prepare the house for sale. She longs to put the past behind her. However, the web of lies and secrets which have been spun by her father and others slowly starts to unravel. Catrin, facing a crisis in her marriage, discovers that she must face this past if she is to heal and take control of her future. Elizabeth, Bethan’s wealthy birth mother, has hidden her past. Crisis in her life prompts her to attend the memorial and see her birth daughter Bethan for the first time. Her arrival sends shock waves through the family. Hidden Chapters is an optimistic story of the hope and the courage each of us can find within ourselves to own our past and take control of the next chapter of our lives. Praise for Mary Grand’s writing: Free to Be Tegan ‘Strong writing, insights, and secrets most of us do not understand flow from the pages of this readable novel.’ Top 100 reviewer Grady Harp, Catching the Light ‘Her prose had to be … the most elegant and clear I've ever had the pleasure to read.’ Author Philip D Curwood

    The sweetness, challenges, and joys of parenting boys are lovingly shared in this heart-touching short story from bestselling inspirational novelist Karen Kingsbury. Paired with prayers and Scriptures for each stage of life, this book is a tender reminder of the special bond between a mother or father and their son. A perfect gift for Mom, Dad, or for a grown-up little boy as he starts a new stage in life. Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than 25 million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller charts, and many of her novels are under development as major motion pictures with Hallmark. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Don, and their five sons, three of whom are adopted from Haiti.

    She endured numerous moves in the middle of the night with just minutes to pack, multiple changes in schools, hunger, cruelty, and loneliness. Finally at the age of 13, Shen had had enough. After being abandoned by her mother for months at her grandmother's retirement community, she asked to be put into foster care. Surely she would fare better at a stable home than living with her mother? It turns out that it was not the storybook ending she had hoped for. With foster parents more interested in the income received by housing a foster child, Shen was once again neglected emotionally. The money she earned working at the local grocery store was taken by her foster parents to "cover her expenses." When a car accident lands her in the hospital with grave injuries and no one came to visit her during her three-week stay, she realizes she is truly all alone in the world. Overcoming her many adversities, Shen became part of the 3% of all foster care children who get into college, and the 1% who graduate. She became a successful businesswoman, got married, and had a daughter. Despite her numerous achievements in life though, she still suffers from the long-term effects of neglect, and the coping skills that she adapted in her childhood are not always productive in her adult life. Garbage Bag Suitcase is not only the inspiring and hair-raising story of one woman's journey to over- come her desolate childhood, but it also presents grass-root solutions on how to revamp the broken foster care system.

     SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW-AND SOMETHING SHE NEVER EXPECTED . . .If anyone had told Ruby James she'd be marrying the man of her dreams after starting over at the Walker Mountain Ranch, she'd have keeled over laughing, if not crying. Yet here she is: ready to walk down the aisle with her soul mate, Sawyer Hawkins-and make the adoption of their sweet foster daughter, Brooklyn, official. But just days before the event that will make their family complete, a miraculous little wrinkle appears in her plans . . . Ruby's already the most beautiful woman in the world to Sawyer, but she seems to be glowing even more than usual . . . and now he knows why. Sawyer couldn't have wished for more. Soon enough he'll have a new wife, a new daughter, and a new bundle of joy. But not everyone sees a happy future for him and Ruby. With a blizzard rolling in, Sawyer must help his family-to-be weather a different kind of storm-and clear the skies for an unforgettable Rocky Mountain wedding.

    . .starting school to walking down the aisle . . .little girls grow up in the blink of an eye. The sweetness, challenges, and joys of parenting girls are lovingly shared in this heart-touching short story from bestselling inspirational novelist Karen Kingsbury. Paired with prayers and Scriptures for each stage of life, this book is a tender reminder of the special bond between a mother or father and their daughter. A perfect gift for Mom, Dad, or for a grown-up little girl as she starts a new stage in life. Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than 25 million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller charts, and many of her novels are under development as major motion pictures with Hallmark. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Don, and their five sons, three of whom are adopted from Haiti.

    In this book, authors Jen Jacob and Mardra Sikora share their experiences and guide you through life with Ds with expert advice from diagnosis to adulthood. Each page teaches you ways to support your child through major milestones; nurture their development; and ensure that they succeed behaviorally, socially, and cognitively. You’ll also find valuable information on: -Sharing the news with loved ones -Transitioning into primary school -Developing your child's social skills -Discussing future opportunities, including employment and housing options With The Parent’s Guide to Down Syndrome, you will have the tools you need to raise a happy, healthy, and thriving child.

    Besides, he was barely much of a father to his own son... how is he going to take to being a grandfather? The story is made up of moments of sharing between the grandfather and the granddaughter, as well as various interactions around this dilemma with his wife, his lifelong friends, and his own son himself. But when surprise twists complicate matters, true feelings blossom and Life takes on a whole new palette.A comic book filled with love in which we discover this old man gradually becoming a grandfather and allowing himself to be tamed by an absolutely adorable little girl.

    Life in peace time is still hard. Her parents want a better life, and so apply to migrate to Australia to find it. But after the long voyage to Sydney, there are more testing times ahead for Teresa as she tries to learn Australian ways, avoid the bullies and do well at school. She is not about to let anything stop her from making her family and her nanna back in Malta proud of her.

    Black Blizzards, the Board of Education, and bank president overwhelm her. Addy falls in love with the orphans her grandfather adopted, and her students, but vows to guard her heart against Jess Dettmann, who has a suspicious past. Foreclosure on grandpa's homestead threatens the security of all of them. Creating a quilt from Grandma's stash pile serves as a way for Addy to cope, but eventually leads to help and justice for her family. Despair, dust and drought weave through the Great Depression and Dust Bowl producing a fabric on which vivid threads of hope appear. Will Addy save the farm, her job, and her heart on the Colorado ranch?

    It's a wonderful thing to be chosen, to be brought up by loving parents, but in order for this to happen, there has to be an initial abandonment, and this loss can settle like a seed of unease in the adopted person, quite possibly affecting the entirety of his or her life. Anne Heffron, who'd been adopted at ten weeks old, embarked on a three-month journey she called "Write or Die", leaving California for her birth place, New York City, in order to do the one thing she'd been unable to do her entire adult life: tell her own story, and not the one she'd heard all her life that began, "The day we got you." You Don't Look Adopted is an intimate look at what it means for an adopted person to live in the world as someone who was both chosen and given away.

    Encountering fertility issues and gruelling IVF treatment to no avail, but still determined to be parents, they set off on the adoption route. After many false starts and dashed hopes they eventually, and luckily, found their son.How I Met My Son is more than a memoir, it is an invaluable guide to the reality of adoption in the UK. Both joyful and heartbreaking, the path to becoming a parent is laid bare. The story explores the sadness of infertility, the rigours of IVF, the minefield of social services, the intensity of the assessment process, the difficulties of choosing a child (and being chosen) and the happiness and shock of finally bringing that child home.A candid, compelling and inspirational book about what it means to be a parent of a child that isn't, biologically, your own.

     He didn’t anticipate that his life would be turned upside down. Or that his father would tell him to run, and send him across the continent to stay with a family that he did not know. With no idea who was after him, or why, the teen was told only to hide. To disappear. But keeping a low profile isn’t easy when you were born to be a hero. After his new friends begin developing abilities beyond those of normal teenagers, the boy discovers his own telekinetic talent – and a way to teleport across the globe in search of a mysterious object that may be the key to understanding their superhuman powers. But the person holding the artifact has superpowers of his own, and will do anything to stop the boy. He has the ability to create an army, and turn anyone into a weapon willing to kill for him. And he wants Chase dead.

    A warm cozy fire. Two hearts that desperately need grace and healing and a Christmas miracle. This Christian romance novella, Christmas on Mistletoe Mountain, is the first novella in the Grace Nest series.After college, Kane Kirkland returned home to Mistletoe Mountain a changed man, fifty pounds lighter and a new Christian. Six years later, with a successful real estate career and a fresh boost of confidence, all he wants for Christmas is a chance at love with longtime crush Sydney. Something happened to his friend while he was away. Something dark and life-altering ripped the joy from her spirit. And he intends to find out what…After a disastrous relationship unraveled Sydney Camden’s life, broken and devastated, she gave up all hope for her happily-ever-after. Those silly fantasies belonged only in romance novels, not in real life. Besides, who has time for love? Her life is crazy busy caring for a disabled father and volunteering at Grace Nest, a home for pregnant teens. But then Kane turns up the heat. The gentle giant has always attracted her, but the idea of loving and losing her friend terrifies her. Because when he learns about her hidden sin, surely he’ll vanish from her life forever. A snowstorm forces them together and unleashes their fears. Kane worries if Syd still sees him as the overweight kid from their past and questions whether a future together is God’s will or his most treasured dream. Syd wrestles the demon of lies as she relives horrendous memories. Grace Nest…where broken hearts heal, chains are loosened, and hope is restored. Where love finds its way home during Christmas.Scoop up this inspirational Christian romance, a story bursting with grace, healing, and love. Another Heart-Racing, God-Gracing Romance from inspirational Christian romance author, Dora Hiers.

    But there is a better way. Drawing on twenty years of experience as a child therapist, Jennifer Kolari explains that children act up when they feel an adult does not understand their concerns. The answer is parenting with empathy, which Kolari helps parents implement via her proven CALM technique: Connect emotionally match the Affect of the child Listen to what your child is saying Mirror their emotion back to show  understanding With this simple strategy, parents can connect with their child in any situation to reduce anxiety, de-escalate tantrums instantly and increase self-esteem. Insightful and empowering, Connected Parenting is filled with step-by-step advice and examples from families that have been transformed, often within weeks. It will bring out the best in you—and your child.

    It's something that touches one in three people today, a word that will conjure different emotions in those people touched by it. A word that might represent the greatest hope…the greatest question…the greatest sacrifice. But most of all, it's a word that represents God's immense love for his people.Join birth mother Christine Lindsay as she shares the heartaches, hopes, and epiphanies of her journey to reunion with the daughter she gave up...and to understanding her true identity in Christ along the way.Through her story and glimpses into the lives of other families in the adoption triad, readers will see the beauty of our broken families, broken hearts, and broken dreams when we entrust them to our loving God.

    Raising a child with special needs is spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically challenging. Parents need encouragement to restore hope and a passion for God in their lives -but the realities of having to be parent, nurse, therapist, and caregiver make it difficult to find the time or initiative to seek encouragement.Packed with encouragement from parents who understand this complicated balancing act, Refresh is designed to provide just what these parents need. The devotional guides parents to spiritual truths that can be applied to the demands they face every day. It offers perspective and hope through the varying stages and phases families experience, from diagnosis to loss and grief.Each day's devotional includes a reading from Scripture, as well as stories and testimonies from parents who intimately know the struggle readers face. Their children represent a wide range of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, genetic disorders, chronic illness, and more. Drew and Green show how the truths of God's Word are relevant, regardless of the diagnosis. Their devotional illuminates the unique lessons and perspectives to be gained as a result of raising a child with special needs. Insightful and powerful, Refresh will help weary parents grow spiritual roots and turn toward the Light that never fades.

    In Invisible Asians, Kim Park Nelson analyzes the processes by which Korean American adoptees’ have been rendered racially invisible, and how that invisibility facilitates their treatment as exceptional subjects within the context of American race relations and in government policies. Invisible Asians draws on the life stories of more than sixty adult Korean adoptees in three locations: Minnesota, home to the largest concentration of Korean adoptees in the United States; the Pacific Northwest, where many of the first Korean adoptees were raised; and Seoul, home to hundreds of adult adoptees who have returned to South Korea to live and work. Their experiences underpin a critical examination of research and policy making about transnational adoption from the 1950s to the present day. Park Nelson connects the invisibility of Korean adoptees to the ambiguous racial positioning of Asian Americans in American culture, and explores the implications of invisibility for Korean adoptees as they navigate race, culture, and nationality.  Raised in white families, they are ideal racial subjects in support of the trope of “colorblindness” as a “cure for racism” in America, and continue to enjoy the most privileged legal status in terms of immigration and naturalization of any immigrant group, built on regulations created specifically to facilitate the transfer of foreign children to American families. Invisible Asians offers an engaging account that makes an important contribution to our understanding of race in America, and illuminates issues of power and identity in a globalized world.

    But when she was in her late twenties, she realized that she had a strong need to know the woman who had given birth to her. She was able to locate her birth mother, Sarah, and they developed a strong attachment.But Sarah set one painful condition to this joyous new relationship: she wished to keep it - to keep Caitriona - secret from her family, from her friends, from everyone.Who was Sarah, and why did she want to preserve a decades-old secret? An Affair with My Mother tells the story of Caitriona's quest to answer these questions, and of the intense, furtive 'affair' she and her mother conducted in carefully chosen locations around Dublin. By turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, An Affair with My Mother is a searing portrait of the social and familial forces that left Sarah - and so many other unwed Irish mothers of her generation - frightened, traumatized and bereft. It is also a beautifully written account of a remarkable relationship.'Caitriona Palmer has called out the false shame of her origins, with a kind of anguished courage that is incredibly moving. An Affair With My Mother is a forensic account of how it feels to be - in the interests of Catholic "respectability" - excluded from the facts of your own life. In its commitment to family love, to joy and truth, it is a gift.' Anne Enright, winner of the Man Booker Prize

    I am the Chief Executive of Bad Luck Limited, the Bad Luck Champion of the World, the Bad Luck Guinness World Record holder and it's all thanks to my invisible dog Gobber. He's my Bringer of Bad Luck."Billy Bramble likes rude words, smelly farts, loud farts and freestyle sneezing but when BAD THINGS happen, his invisible angry dog Gobber barks in his ears, gives him brain mash and breaks things. One day a competition is announced at school - The Great Big Cook Off - can Billy Bramble defeat Gobber and change his epic bad luck?An irreverent story for children aged 8-12 about a less than perfect boy, this book will inspire any child who's ever secretly thought they might be less than perfect too.

    William is now struggling with overwhelming feelings and difficulties in his everyday life, and these difficulties impact on his family. Written by authors who have lived through, and with, these challenges, it is a story for therapeutic parents, adopters and foster carers to read to their child. The story will help children with attachment difficulties make sense of their own behaviours and feelings, and most importantly, will assist the parent in building connections to their traumatised child. The story is easy for children and their parents to relate to, and explains why William behaves the way he does, how he feels, and most importantly, what his Mum can do about it. The book provides the therapeutic parent with an effective dialogue to read to their child, to connect, empower and heal. First in a series of children's books in the Therapeutic Parenting series, which sees William and his siblings demonstrate the many aspects of behaviour, related to attachment difficulties. Therapeutic Parents who are facing these challenges everyday, can now access real , practical help through these pages, for their child, and for themselves.

    With agonizing yet heartwarming honesty, Lorri offers a profound look at a deep connection of two mothers that is born with the cry of a newborn daughter. What begins as a fragile, tenuous link develops into something dreams and miracles are made of relationships that go to the soul, are meant to be, and are devoid of fear and possessiveness. To Have and Not to Hold holds much inspiration for any adoptive parent, adoptee, or first/birthparent, but it's a story that anyone will find impossible to put down.

    Our hero, Ghabriela, who was raised in an orphanage in Eritrea and later came to this country, told me, "Honey, you can't believe the things I've been through. I can't believe them myself. You know, in Ethiopia, there's a story about the lion and the leopard that I used to hear when I was a small child. The story goes that you see a lion and you run away from it, as fast as you can, and you find the first tree you see and run up it for shelter. You are so happy you find that tree, you don't see the leopard on top and it jumps on you and eats you up in one bite." She sat back and sighed. "Sometimes there are just no good choices - you do whatever you got to do to survive. The story of the lion and the leopard - that's the story of my life."After she escaped from that life and tried to leave it behind, she eventually realized that she needed to find a way to incorporate it into her new life. In 1985 she went back to Eritrea during the Ethiopian/Eritrean war and adopted two babies from Asmara. "They were so little when they left Eritrea," she said, "that they don't remember about hunger, about wars. And they don't know about my life before I raised them. I think I decide I want them to know my story the day they whine they don't have the right designer sneakers. I feel like saying to them be glad you have any sneakers. Actually, I think to myself, be glad you have feet."ELLIE PORTE PARKER is the author of Six When He Came to Us and is a contributor to the Chicken Soup books. She is a licensed psychologist with a Ph.D. in cognitive/educational psychology and is the mother of an internationally adopted child. She is interested in understanding and giving voice to people's stories and was introduced to Ghabriela Donnelly, on whom this book is based, by a mutual friend.

    Sophie Spikey is now also here to help! Sophie did not have an easy start in life. She has attachment difficulties, (RAD) and she cannot trust adults to help her. Now she has a big problem. She has lost her shoes again and has no idea how she is going to be able to leave the house. One thing she knows for sure, is that she will NOT be asking her new mum for help. Feeling overwhelmed by shame, and with her head feeling 'busy and hot' Sophie is frozen and needs some help. Luckily, Sophie's new mum has a good idea about how to help Sophie. She has had to learn to be very clever, since she adopted Sophie and her siblings. Second in the Therapeutic Parenting series, this is a simple straightforward story which gets straight to the heart of the matter. Written by an adopter and her eldest daughter, Sophie Spikey gives therapeutic parents the words they need to find, to help heal their children.

    Whether it’s addressing purity and teaching our children about sex, teens and pregnancy, caring for the woman with a high-risk pregnancy, children with special needs, caring for the single mother, or getting involved in the pro-life movement, how we interact with God’s image-bearers matters. These topics are covered in Women on Life, and it’s our desire that this book will inspire you to care deeply about issues of life, equip you for prayerful action and begin a conversation in your churches and homes.

    In no way could anyone simply summarize our beginnings. The historical, socio-political contexts from which countries we come from are culturally varied. Our identities are connected to Haiti, Germany, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Korea, Sweden, Canada, the USA and many other places not mentioned within this publication. People who identify as Black adoptees are vaguely known within both adoption circles as well as universal discussions. We are just beginning to be introduced to one another. This anthology allows for the opportunity to see the rich diversity of a people; the uniqueness within the individual stories. Inside this book, you will read the depth of struggle, and the pure grace, dignity and accomplishments achieved, sometimes connected to the privileges afforded us while in the midst of insurmountable odds." Susan Harris O'Connor, MSWCONTRIBUTORS: DR. NICHOLAS COOPER-LEWTER, JOSHUA CROME, APRIL DINWOODIE, AMANDINE GAY, TARA LINH LEAMAN,JD, NATASHA ORLANDO, ROSEMARIE PEÑA, JANET M. PRICE, PSYD, BARBARA ROBERTSON,LMSW, LIZ SEMONS, SEAN SPARKS, DR. CATANA TULLY, HANNA WALLENSTEEN, MILTON WASHINGTON, MARIETTE WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER THOMAS WILSON

    This book will change the way you look at adopting from foster care.

    Yet recent scholarship has focused much more on etymological and cultural considerations and pastoral concerns than systematic theological ones. Sons in the Son examines the function of this permeating familial concept in terms of Pauline thought: Christology, eschatology, union with Christ, and adoption's relationship to other soteric benefits. Drawing from a biblico-theological investigation of the adoption texts, Professor David Garner explores the way in which adoption frames Pauline soteriology and defines the central familial context of redemption in Christ Jesus. What does adoption in Christ Jesus the Son of God really mean for a Pauline conception of redemptive grace?

    Readers accompany the family through the trying waiting period, intriguing time in Congo, and first adjustment years home. Guided by candid and expressive narration and interspersed with reflective questions for adopting parents, it delivers both a gripping human-interest story, and a valuable resource for adopting families. Amidst faith and humor, the struggles and surprises of international adoption come to light, as a family searches for their son and finds themselves along the way.

    The road to healing is arduous and long. But when we bow our pain in worship, this broken road leads to the heart of God, where all masks are removed and divine comfort can be experienced.On this journey, understanding the true nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit brings healing and restoration to all father, relational, and mother wounds. Learning to aggressively fight against Satan, who is devious but not creative, replaces his evil lies with the truth of God so that they no longer define the person. Recognizing that God is always “with me” leads to a place of rest where there is no fear of being rejected or abandoned. As a result of these new insights, the reader can finally return to joy and experience emotional and spiritual balance. Out of the overflow of intimate worship, God becomes their refuge, provider, and protector, enabling them to move toward others in forgiveness and true community.Includes a ten-week Bible study.

    Bubbling, hissing, spitting brew, can you tell me what to do? I have a broom and a tall black hat, but my spells wont work without a cat! Everyone knows that a witch needs a cat - but which cat will be the purr-fect witch's cat?

    Join Roxie, a dachshund dog, as she makes the transition from her temporary Foster home to her new Forever home. Based on a real dog and her experiences, the book is designed to help children through the complicated process of adoption and other family transitions such as welcoming adopted children into their home, joining step-families and blended groupings, or moving between one separated parent and another.Adopted children can undergo a wide range of emotions when facing these transitions. Roxies story shows children it is perfectly normal to be afraid or anxious and to ask questions, and most importantly that they are moving into a loving, caring family and everything will be all right. The book includes a Parent & Therapist Guide for Adoptive Families written by a professional therapist to help adult caregivers in guiding children through the adoption process and answering questions they may have.

    Could this woman be related to her birth mother, who put Natalie up for adoption as a baby? When she tracks down the person who dumped the photo album at her thrift shop, she’s shaken again. Especially when the gorgeous fire-fighting guitarist offers to help her find the owner. They quickly become friends – which is all they’ll be, as far as Natalie’s concerned. Her rebellious youth turned her off cheating men, and the new Natalie is looking for true love and a family of her own – something Casey isn’t willing to provide. But how long can Natalie ignore her undeniable attraction to the man with the Irish accent and the broken-down ’57 Chevy?In Chelsey Krause’s second novel, friends become lovers over a whirlwind summer of rockabilly rhythms, twirling skirts, and a mystery that takes them hilariously far out of their element.

    Charley talks so much that her mouth gets dry but there's just so much to say!"Why is the pavement brown?"1000Therapeutic children's book about Charley Chatty who talks and talks and talks - just to make sure everyone knows she's still there!0600This set of books all deal with common emotional and behavioural difficulties of adopted and fostered children. Difficulties are introduced through characters who behave in ways that children can identify with. The text is simple, humorous and with illustrations that grab the reader's attention. The books could be used in many ways but I would see them as a springboard for adults (adoptive parents, social workers or carers) to begin to talk to children about feelings and behaviours. Read aloud, the stories may enable children to recognise that they are not alone and that other children also struggle. It is often difficult for parents or carers to know where to start in talking about these issues. This set of books provides a way of doing this without blaming the child. These books should be available in every adoption agency for use by social workers or to be lent to parents.Professor Julie Selwyn CBE, Director of the Hadley Centre for Adoption and Foster Care Studies, University of Bristol0600[These therapeutic parenting books] are the most valuable books on my book shelf. In my 11 years of fostering I have read many books, but these are different. They are people friendly but real - they are written by someone that has been through looking after traumatised children and who better to offer help, theories and guidance. Sarah has written her books simply which means the traumatised children respond to the characters and can express themselves through the books. I will be offering my copies to everyone that comes into my home to read...well done Sarah Naish and all involved...Foster Carer0600Excellent books! I have recommended them to every foster carer/adopter/professional I know! Our kids love them, and enjoy the fact that Sarah and Rosie 'get it'. 5 out of 5 stars.JS Bradley, Adopter0200Charley Chatty talks to everyone about everything. There's just so much to say! Her brother gets bored and walks away. Her sister puts her hands on her ears. Today Charley's wiggly worry worm is making her feel very anxious, that is until she starts to tell a very big tale. This is the perfect story for any child who talks for attention.0400Charley Chatty and the Wiggly Worry Worm.01000301http://www.biblioimages.com/jkp/getim...

    Ya Sama! Moments from My Life chronicles the incredible journey from her birth with spina bifida in Russia in 1989 and her early years in a St. Petersburg orphanage, to her U.S. adoption and international success in wheelchair racing. Ya sama is a Russian expression that means “I can do it.” Since her earliest memories ya sama has been Tatyana’s guiding belief that she could do anything she set her mind and imagination to do. The result is a life that goes beyond just surviving tragedy to actually using her unique situation to become a success both on and off the racing track. Beginning at the 2004 Athens Paralympics at the age of fifteen, Tatyana has proven her exceptionalism through her achievements as a ten-time gold, silver, and bronze-medal summer Paralympic athlete; a silver-medal winter Paralympic athlete; sixteen-time World Champion; and winner of thirteen major world marathons and three Grand Slams. Now 27 years old, Tatyana will be competing in the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games this September. Ya Sama! Moments from My Life is written for middle-school readers, but the book’s engaging first-person narrative will appeal to people of all ages. Tatyana’s story of optimism and perseverance will resonate with anyone confronted with obstacles in life, whether great or small. More than a story of against-the-odds survival, Ya Sama! Moments from My Life is a fascinate and unique story of the power of human spirit.

    They enlist the help of a number of creative people who try imaginative methods. You'll never guess what happens next.The story came about in 2003 when the family was visiting Greece, the home country of Ellenore's husband Michael. Coming up from the beach requires a climb of over 300+ stairs. Her son Damian was only three at that time. So she made up this story to keep him occupied as they climbed together. In 2008, Leyla joined the family from Ethiopia and the little girl in the story is a nod to her. Older brother Dimitri's early drawings provided the inspiration for Peter Le's amazing illustrations.

    

    Each party within this triad has many un- answered questions, but discussing them helps to lighten the burdens for everyone. Mary Muchiri and her adopted son share their journey and try to answer their individual questions. They hope to inspire all who are asking similar questions, by comparing human adoption with the much greater and more lasting adoption into the eternal family of God.

    soon it comes slithering, roaring, exploding out: "You're not my read mother!"His mother reassures him: "I'm as real as it gets and I'm not giving up. I'm your mother in truth. Your mother. Forever."The story ends on an “okay for now” moment of love and silliness: “Well, T Rex. Here’s the bad news. Forever for you means that you’ll always have those silly short arms, too puny to pick your nose and too tiny to tickle your son.”As Real As It Gets is for any child (adopted, step, or foster) who might be thinking, "you're not my mother," but is afraid of how she will react if they let the words escape. Children will be reassured that what they're feeling is normal, and parents will be, too.

    . . Drowning with My Hair on Fire is a lifeline for adoptive parents trying to navigate the choppy waters of raising adopted children from difficult beginnings. Author Ce Eshelman's beautiful heart really shines through in the hundreds of letters to parents to read each day when needing hope, inspiration, advice, direction, reminders, or practical help. She deeply understands them and the chaos of their lives and families because she was there, but is now able to give them the wisdom culled from reading every book on the subject, attending hundreds of seminars and workshops, years of her own therapy, and fearlessly facing her own mistakes. If you are raising a traumatized, attachment-challenged child, Ce is the friend you want, and this is the book you need. "Ce is the real deal. She's one of those rare gems who deeply cares about the people she serves. She is willing to freeze frame and blow up her mistakes for you to see so you can avoid the same pitfalls. She then points to the path of secure attachment. The book itself is a secure base you can return to again and again when things get difficult at home." -Jennifer Olden, LMFT, Certified EFT Therapist