That's what adoptive mom Heather Avis learned, and that's the invitation of this book.As the mother of three adopted children - two with Down syndrome - Heather Avis has learned that it's truly the lucky few who get to live a life like hers, who actually recognize that God's plans are best, even when they seem so radically different from the plans we have for ourselves.When Heather started her journey into parenthood she never thought it would look like this, never planned to have three adopted children, and certainly never imagined that two of them would have Down syndrome. But like most things God does, once she stepped into the craziness and confusion that comes with the unknown and the unplanned, she realized that they were indeed among the lucky few.Discover in this book what 70,000+ followers of Heather's hit Instagram account @macymakesmyday already know: the power of faith and family can help us stay strong in the toughest times. This book will also be especially touching to those with adopted family members or children with Down syndrome in their lives.

    

    After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.

    Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me, Leslie Connor’s All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, and Sarah Pennypacker’s Pax.Flora and her brother, Julian, don’t believe they were born. They’ve lived in so many foster homes, they can’t remember where they came from. And even now that they’ve been adopted, Flora still struggles to believe in forever. So along with their new mother, Flora and Julian begin a journey to go back and discover their past—for only then can they really begin to build their future.

    Little incidents along the way serve as a catalyst that leads them into a worldwide modern-day adoptee-rights movement seeking truth and transparency.The intent of this book is to inspire and uplift anyone who has been removed from their biological family to know that there is a community of like-minded individuals who've experienced the same circumstances. The book was awarded Gold in the genre of Young Adult Nonfiction by the Readers' Favorite book club and ranked first in the genre of Action and Adventure by Top Shelf Books. This novel is partly inspired by events as remembered; however, some names, persons, characters, and dates have been changed and/or fictionalized. The authors and publishing companies are not responsible for any resemblance of these character names to actual persons, living or deceased.

    In this intimate memoir she details for the first time her search for her biological parents, and her own journey from anger and shame to faith and empowerment. After a decade-long search Melissa finally locates her birth father and writes to extend forgiveness, only to learn that he has died without answering her burning questions. Melissa becomes a mother herself in the very hospital where she was aborted. This experience transforms her attitude toward women who have had abortions, as does the miscarriage of her only son and the birth of a second daughter with complex health issues. But could anything prepare her for the day she finally meets her birth mother and hears her side of their story? This intensely personal story of love and redemption illumines the powerful bond between mother and child that can overcome all odds.

    Now beloved author Charlotte Hubbard brings you an unforgettable tale of hope, courage, discovery...and the most precious gift of all." For widow Rose Raber, it s been a year of tragic loss and difficult decisions. She thought providing for her young daughter was the greatest challenge she faced. Until her dying mother revealed that Rose was adopted and her birth mother is someone with much to lose if the secret comes out. As Rose struggles to reconcile the truth with her faith and her troubling curiosity outgoing newcomer Matthias Wagler is another surprise she didn't expect. His optimism and easy understanding inspires her. And his prospective partnership with wealthy deacon Saul Hartzler promises a possible new life for them together. But with this second chance comes yet another revelation for all involved. When Saul s wife unexpectedly turns up at Rose s new job, their bond as mother and daughter is instant and unmistakable. And it isn't long before an unforgiving Saul discovers the truth, threatening Matthias s livelihood and Rose s future. Now with more than just their happiness at stake, Rose and Matthias must find the strength and courage to stand strong and trust God's enduring miracles of motherhood, forgiveness, and love.

     You are not my mother, said the wolf pup. I am not your mother, said the polar bear, but I can cuddle you and keep you safe.Here is a picture book that celebrates differences and promotes kindness, sure to resonate with the many fans of the beloved classic, Mama Do You Love Me? During the ice melt that follows an Arctic winter, a wolf cub finds himself spinning out to sea on a sheet of ice. He awakes lost and alone to an unfamiliar smell: a polar bear. And while the polar bear is not the wolf's mother, she takes him on her back to her den, where she feeds him, keeps him warm, and does everything a mother would do. Time passes, the cub grows into a wolf, and soon it's time for him to venture out into the wide world alone. Years later, the now grown wolf comes upon a tiny lost polar bear cub--and the cycle begins again. With poetic prose this beautiful picture book about the love and kindness of a stranger is sure to touch a deep chord, particularly with parents and children who have found each other in unexpected ways.

    A confidential tale literally kept in the closet for more than twenty years. This narrative, set from the 1970s through the late 90s in the Pacific Northwest, exposes how the personal issues of adoptive parents can take precedence over the truth of origin and fundamental human rights of transracial and intercountry adoptees--even into adulthood. In this particular case, hoarding, a traumatic brain injury, recovery, a divorce battle, a life-altering family secret, and cancer consume the adoptive parents time, and leave absolutely no room to deal with the true legal status of their two adopted daughters. Instead, the twins persevere by using teamwork to overcome the adoptive family struggles. Kept private for more than two decades, this narrative provides understanding on the twins' innate nature to protect and uplift the innocent and those they love. (Sometimes the box of limitations can be found within the adoptive home.) This confidential book reveals the personal young lives of individuals who now as adults inform government officials, attorneys, university professors and the public on the crisis of adoption trafficking. But back in the 1980s and in the perspective found in this book, the twins were just trying to honor and obey their American parents-like everyone else in junior high and high school.Janine is now the founder of a confidential and worldwide resource to prevent adoption trafficking; however, she merely considers herself to be just another proud product of the X Generation. Her twin, Jenette, has worked in the health care field for more than 20 years and coauthoring books on energy therapy and meditation. Vance's second book The Search For Mother Missing: A Peek Inside International Adoption reveals why she acknowledges parents and siblings of adoption-loss. An absolute must-read to caution and protect uninformed parents, families, indigenous communities, and nation-states on the crisis of adoption trafficking.

    Other families know what you are going through. Find strength in not only your faith, but in the community of others who understand your heartache and disappointment, and the desperate need to help these children have a future.[[Provides an account of real-life struggles and solutions from early childhood to young adulthood[[Opens a window into their life and family in hopes of encouraging others[[Reveals understanding, compassionate support for families facing these heart-wrenching challenges.

    Those are lessons he shares, often unknowingly, with his mom, Lauren Casper.For Lauren, living with Mareto is a lot like playing the telephone game. He blurts out little phrases that have their origin in something he saw or heard, but by the time they make their way through his mind and back out of his mouth, they’ve transformed—often into beautiful truths about living a simple, authentic, love- and joy-filled life.From “it’s okay about it,” a simple reminder that even when life is painful or difficult, things will be okay because God promises never to leave or forsake his children, to “you’re making me feelings,” which teaches the importance of leaning into one’s emotions and, in doing so, sharing a piece of oneself with loved ones—Mareto’s simple yet profound wisdom is a reminder to embrace the broken beauty of life, to believe in a God bigger than human comprehension, and to love others even when it doesn’t make sense.For all those looking to recapture the faith, simplicity, wonder, hope, courage, and joy of life, It’s Okay About It provides a guide to look inward and live outward, to discover the most wide open and beautiful life possible.

    Just grand. Clara Donovan’s failure to keep her brother from going off the rails—again—is a public spectacle. Including a handsome stranger who puts down his guitar case to help her talk Seamus down from Farthing’s tallest bridge.Everything about Danny Brady reminds Clara how many times she swore she’ll never again be that pathetic, weak woman who got taken in by a good-looking man. Especially when, the next day, she walks into a new coffee shop in her little Irish town and discovers Danny’s secret.Danny didn’t lie—technically—about his coffee shop chain. He’s just tired of women going after him for his wealth. Clara is a graceful, fiercely loyal, non-Irish Irish damsel in distress, a combination that tugs at his heart. A heart that’s spent its share of time in pieces.Danny has never hesitated to go after what he wants, but melting Clara’s defenses will take more than hot tea and charm. He’ll have to prove he’s made of stronger stuff—even when her past threatens to tear her carefully reconstructed world to shreds.

    She was adopted. This discovery leads Liz on a 29-year journey to find the mother who gave her away. Like a master detective, she deciphers decades-old agency documents to decode the truths within. Fraught with dead ends and disappointments, her journey threatens to reveal secrets that have long defined the lives of her loved ones. Told with heart, humor and bittersweet reflections of a South Carolina girlhood, All About You will resonate with any reader struggling to find their place in the world.

    The only option available to them now is adoption: they'll do anything to have a child to love.Seven-year-old Jonah is far away from home and his mama promised he'd be looked after in England. But the man who's meant to be taking care of him has disappeared and now Jonah's all alone.When Sam and Rosie meet Jonah they're certain they've found their son, and open their home and their hearts to him. Finally, their family is complete.And then the unthinkable happens and life changes for all three members of the Keep family. Suddenly Sam and Rosie must answer an impossible question: how far are they willing to go for a child who isn't really theirs?

    As Iyal and Morasha grow, it becomes clear that Iyal’s development is drastically lagging behind his sister’s. By age four, he has a devastating diagnosis: fetal alcohol syndrome. But naming their battle provides little relief as Iyal and his family try to cope with the lifelong impact of his invisible disability. As the Winokurs’ marriage is unraveling, Donnie and Harvey hang on to the last shreds of their own promise.Desperate to alleviate his constant rages and their crushing toll on the family, Donnie comes up with an innovative, untested, four-pawed solution: a golden retriever service dog named Chancer. Chancer is specially trained to give Iyal a unique love he desperately needs. But in this true-life tale infused with moments of despair, tenderness, and humor, Chancer turns out to be what the entire family has needed to stay—and grow—together.

    This box set contains both books in the Chasing Tomorrow duology - Chasing Someday and Tomorrow's Lullaby. Chasing Someday: When a school book drive brings Megan, Christina, and Kyra together, their uncomfortable secrets soon come to light. Can they overcome their mutual heartache, or will they allow infertility to tear them apart? Tomorrow's Lullaby: When she was 18, Sienna put her baby up for adoption — and past pain rushes back when she falls for Aaron, a man who never knew his own birth mother. Will God lead them to love and healing? Over 650 pages of inspirational women's fiction. This series has almost 300 reviews with a 4.7 star average. Each book can be read as a stand-alone. Read everything by USA Today bestselling author Lindzee Armstrong! Chasing Tomorrow Series: 1. Chasing Someday 2. Tomorrow's Lullaby No Match for Love Series: 1. Miss Match 2. Not Your Match 3. Mix 'N Match 4. Meet Your Match 5. Strike a Match 6. Mistletoe Match 7. Match Me if You Can 8. Match Me by Christmas 9. Never Say Match 10. Match Me Again 11. Mistakenly Matched (coming 2019) 12. Matched by Design (coming 2019) 13. My Fake Match (coming 2020) Royal Secrets Series: 1. Taming the Prince 2. Dating the Prince 3. Winning Back the Princess 4. Marrying the King (coming 2020) Kiss Me Series: 1. Kiss Me in the Moonlight 2. Kiss Me in the Rain 3. Kiss Me in a Blizzard (coming 2019)

    She had cerebral palsy and was so weak she couldn t lift her head. Meadow had always felt a call to adopt, but was this what God meant? Part family drama, part travel adventure, and part spiritual memoir, Redeeming Ruth is a heartwarming, against-all-odds story about the most unlikely pairing of a small-town New England family and their adventure in adopting Ruth, an abandoned baby from Uganda. Much more than an adoption story, this book explores what happens when we sacrificially reach out and share God's love with others.Ruth's story will inspire families considering adoption, people raising or teaching children with special needs, caregivers, and those grieving the loss of a loved one, ministering to people with disabilities, or striving to serve God despite their own wounded hearts and broken dreams.Features: Includes a Reader's Guide at the end of the book for each chapter for group discussion or personal reflection. An eight-page insert with personal photos. All personal proceeds from this book benefit orphans and people with disabilities in Uganda.

    He doesn't know anything about babies and he certainly doesn't know what to do when the gosling hatches and mistakes him for its daddy. So he decides to find the gosling a home. But with each page turn, Aput learns more about caring for a baby and, with a little help from his friends, he discovers what a baby needs most is love.

    Based on a sequence of play activities that are rooted in neuroscience, Theraplay offers a fun and easy way for parents and children to connect. Theraplay is particularly effective with looked after and adopted children.By providing an overview of Theraplay and the psychological principles that it is based on, parents and carers will gain an understanding of the basic theory of the model along with practical ideas for applying Theraplay to everyday family life. Through everyday case studies and easy language, parents will gain confidence and learn new skills for emotional bonding, empathy, and acceptance in the relationship with their child.

    An estimated two million American LBGTQ people would like to adopt and an estimated 65,000 adopted children are living with a gay parent. In 2016, The Chicago Tribune reported that 10 to 20 percent of donor eggs went to gay men expanding their families via surrogacy, and in many places the numbers were up 50 percent from the previous five years.Gay parenting: Having a kid is like coming out all over again, on a daily basis, especial if you have an infant. Was coming out stressful for you? It’s about to get more intense and you will have a child watching your every move and listening to your every word. If you stutter or pause, they may pick up on your discomfort and could start to feel like something is wrong about their family unit. The Ultimate Guide For Gay Dads is jam packed with parenting tips and advice to help you build confidence and become the awesome gay dad you were meant to be!How Is This Parenting Guide Different From Others? Unlike other parenting books that have whole chapters focusing on things specifically related to mothers (such as how to get the perfect latch when breastfeeding), this parenting book replaces those sections with things relevant to gay dads. It covers topics like how to find LGBT friendly pediatricians, how to find LGBT friendly schools, how to childproof your home with style, how to answer awkward and prying questions about your family from strangers, examples for what two-dad families can do on Mother’s Day, and much more. The book also includes parenting tips and advice from pediatricians, school educators, lawyers, and other same-sex parents.Top LGBT parenting expert: Bestselling author Eric Rosswood covers every aspect of fatherhood for gay men in this essential guide to growing your family in the post-DOMA era. He is a major influencer on social media with over 100,000 followers on Twitter alone, as well as thousands on other platforms.Exploring LGBTQ issues: Rosswood is an in-demand authority and commentator on LGBTQ issues, including civil rights, parenting, marriage and politics. The author has been featured in major media including The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, CBS News, The Huffington Post, Elite Daily, Yahoo! News, AOL News, NY Daily News, IB Times, and regional LGBTQ press.

    But there are some things you can’t even share with your best friend.Katie has always known she was adopted, but recently she’s been wondering about her birth parents and her birthplace. She worries that saying this out loud—even to her best friend—could mess up the perfect family she has now.Ana’s family has been falling apart ever since her dad left, and it’s up to her to hold it together. But Ana fears no matter how hard she tries, her family may never be whole again.At a time when they need each other the most, the links between the girls are beginning to break. Before they lose each other, they must work through the tangles of secrets to the shining truth underneath: friendship, just like family, is worth fighting for.

    . . but I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night . . . and you tell me that you’re pleased . . . and that I’m never alone. You’re a good good Father.”Experience the truth of God’s love for His children in refreshing, heartwarming ways through the children’s board book Good Good Father for Little Ones, illustrated with stunning art by Lorna Hussey and penned by Grammy Award-winning Christian music artist Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett.With sweet, rhyming text, Good Good Father for Little Ones explores many of the attributes that make God such a good, good Father: like a warrior, He protects you; like a teacher, He helps you learn and grow; like a doctor, He makes you feel better; like a farmer, He provides the food you need; like a musician, He brings you joy. Most of all, a good, good Father loves you!Based on the children’s picture book Good Good Father, this precious rhyming adaptation will leave little ones with a greater assurance that God truly is a good, good Father and they are loved by Him.

    The author quickly learns that life is best lived by expecting the unplanned when she makes the decision to become a parent in her late forties. As her unconventional family moves along in this life, she and her husband are less aware they are raising an atypical child or an adopted child. They are raising their child, and their family struggles with the same universal themes that any family goes through.Parents who have children with Down syndrome and other disabilities represent fifteen percent of all children between the ages of three to seventeen.Wagner-Peck provides an access point to start the debate about adopting a child with special needs along with her decision to homeschool.One of only a few books in the marketplace specifically addressing adopting from the foster care system.Kari Wagner-Peck, MSW, is a writer, blogger, and a freelance development consultant while she homeschools her son. She also has experience in arts management including development, event planning, and public speaking. Her writing has been featured in the Huffington Post, the New York Times’ "Motherlode" blog, the Sydney Morning Herald, Yahoo Parenting, Parents Magazine’s, and Empowering Parents. Kari Wagner-Peck currently resides in Portland, Maine.

    I live on planet Earth, I like eating spaghetti hoops and I've decided I'm going to be a SUPERHERO.Everyone loves superheroes, they solve problems and make people happy, and that's good because my mum needs cheering up. Also, I've found out that before I was adopted my real mum called me ACE. So now I've just got to prove to the world that's what I am. One mission at a time...

     Rachel McCracken gets the heartache and the sorrow of the desolate valley called Infertility. She gets the dedication and work that it takes to blend a family. She gets the commitment and purpose needed to help children rise from the ashes of abandonment and fear. For anyone who wonders: What is an orphanage really like? Can you really bond with an adopted or foster child? What is it like to lose a child who is reunified with their birth parent? Can you love an adopted or foster child as much as a biological child? How about fertility treatments, are they actually that bad? Why don’t people just adopt? What’s the big deal?​ Chasing Kites answers all of these questions and more. Going from zero to four adopted children through a Colombian orphanage and then from four to seven through the US Foster Care System, Rachel writes a masterful memoir of the good, the bad, and the beautiful with purpose-driven life lessons learned from each. If you have ever experienced loss, grief, or heartache this book is for you. If you are struggling to create a family or to blend a family this book is for you. If you are trying to support someone you love through any of these things, this book is for you. Lose yourself in this delicious tale of love both lost and found.

     I know you named me Sequoya at birth and I haven't seen you since I was ten-years-old. I want you to know that SaraJane is the name my adoptive mother gave me. I was going to look for you as soon as I had the opportunity, but you became an angel before then. I heard you had been looking for me until the very end. I sure have a story to tell you! A lot has happened since I last saw you. I learned a lot about you. Guess what I found out? Just let me begin…

    Olson's childhood tragedy gave him an overwhelming understanding of the need to find loving homes for the world's orphaned and vulnerable children. Both Hands follows his powerful journey towards spiritual restoration by recounting significant moments in his life, including his family's life-altering decision to adopt a little girl from China. Read his compelling transformation of pain into passion, the joy found through adoption and the value of every life.

    She outlines four key goals for adoptive parents:· To move from rescuing to responding· To set adoption-sensitive limits and ground rules· To have connecting conversations· To help your teen to envision their futureGuide For Adoptive Parents in the Teen Years contains invaluable insights for adoptive parents with simple strategies you can use to prepare your adopted teen for the journey ahead and strengthen the family bond in the process.

     The Shattered Hearts series is a coming of age love story spanning an epic 25 years and 1,589 pages. After eight years of being tossed from one foster home to another, Claire arrives at the home of Jackie Knight and her son, hot, tattooed guitarist Chris Knight. Chris becomes Claire’s first friend and first love. But Chris’s dreams of musical stardom soon tear them apart, until fate brings them back together in an explosive reunion. Secrets are revealed that leave them shattered. Can they pick up the pieces before it’s too late? This set includes: - Forever Ours (197 pages) - Relentless (262 pages) - Pieces of You (372 pages) - Bring Me Home (389 pages) - Chasing Abby (372 pages)

    Although she was already the mother of two biological children, expanding her family by embracing a displaced child was, in part, a fulfillment of her compassionate Christian faith. But when she witnessed the agony many Haitian women experienced when poverty —not lack of love—forced them to give up their children to orphanages, she was outraged. Soon, a new mission blossomed. As she came to better understand and appreciate the people of Haiti, Shelley had a vision of creating jobs that would help some parents earn an income so that they could support their babies and raise them to become productive adults. “… Shelley’s absolute passion and commitment for the human right to a dignified livelihood … is palpable.” —Jennifer Gootman, vice president, Social Consciousness & Innovation, West Elm Despite her own domestic challenges and, at times, the doubts about God’s providence that arose after witnessing the devastation caused by earthquakes and hurricanes, Shelley’s trial-and-error approach took hold. First, she taught a small group of mothers how to make artisanal products that she now markets worldwide. But she did not stop there. “ … what she’s made of herself, as this unflinching story reveals, is a servant … if this book doesn’t inspire you, nothing will.” —Mary Fisher, American activist and author Papillon Enterprise, which began as Apparent Project, now has a global reach that has been recognized and praised by Oprah, Vogue Magazine, The Gap, and designer Donna Karan. But there were many sacrifices and defeats along the way. As Shelley sought to reshape the economic landscape of a small nation in dire need of help, she also restored her own ravaged beliefs so that she and her family could emerge stronger and with their faith intact. This memoir is ideal for women of all faiths who know in their hearts that the cruel world can be transformed by love. For men, this unique search for truth sheds light on the undeniable power of the feminine spirit.

    A heartwarming answer to the age-old question, Where do babies come from? Teaching a child about adoption and gotcha day.

    The adoptive mother's abuse instills in the girl, whom they name Marylin Elnora, ambition to achieve great things on her own. At age 19, Marylin sparks a racial and religious scandal by marrying former Roman Catholic priest Thomas Lee Atkins, who is white and 25 years older. Poor in finances but rich in love, they have two biracial daughters, Elizabeth Ann Atkins and Catherine Marie Atkins Greenspan, who look white. Team work makes the family's dream work as Marylin attends the University of Detroit School of Law at night while she and Tom work full time; he becomes "Mr. Mom" - taking the high-achieving girls to lessons for swim, piano, and skiing. He journals nightly, inspiring the girls' passion for reading and writing.All the while, family rifts in the wake of their interracial union begin to heal, fostering harmony and healing. The family's lifestyle includes friendships and associations with people of a cornucopia of race, religion, and culture, as Tom even serves as president of an American Indian association.Marylin becomes an attorney, putting the girls through the University of Michigan. Sadly, Tom dies before seeing the girls earn graduate degrees in writing from Columbia University and University of San Francisco. And he never saw Marylin's illustrious and highly respected career as a judge, which included 12 years as chief judge of Detroit's 36th District Court. The Triumph of Rosemary's vivid dialogue, raw revelations, and heartwarming messages will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the power of one woman to pioneer a place for herself and her family in a sometimes unwelcoming world that ultimately embraced and celebrated her family's legacy of colorblind love.

    

    Sometimes Charley thinks her siblings get more than her so she likes to keep the pennies safe in her pocket.Charley spots some pennies lying around the house, and puts them in her piggy bank. But she gets very nervous when her Dad starts looking for the missing pennies. Luckily, Charley's Dad is good at working out what might have happened and helps Charley to put it all right again.Written by a mum who understands and her daughter, who is adopted, this insightful story will help your whole family to feel a bit better.

    They want to ask questions, and parents need to be prepared with an answer that helps their child feel loved and secure.After searching for adoption storybooks to read to her own adopted children, Katie Cruice Smith decided that there was a need for more books that parents could read at bedtime to connect with their adopted and fostered children.In Why Did You Choose Me?, Katie Cruice Smith answers that question in a way that young children can understand. Drawing from her own experience as an adoptive mom to three children, Katie uses the questions her own children have asked to help them see there never really was a choice she knew right away that they were hers.With beautiful illustrations by artist Sarah Strickling Jones, Why Did You Choose Me? lovingly demonstrates the uniqueness that each child brings to a family.

    Her story and her biblically grounded reflections will give readers rich new insights into the mystery of belonging to God’s big family. The Academy of Parish Clergy’s 2018 Top Ten Books for Parish Ministry

      The evangelical adoption movement is but one strand in a long cord of Christian care for orphans. While adoption trends have fluctuated over time in different contexts, the Bible has not changed its position. The gospel is decidedly pro-adoption and on the side of the orphan. Yet many obstacles stand in the way of the Christian’s mission to provide care to the least of these.  So, what now?   Editors Russell Moore and Andrew T. Walker of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) assemble leading voices to frame the issues with a gospel-centered perspective. The Gospel for Life series gives every believer a biblically-saturated understanding of the most urgent issues facing our culture today, because the gospel is for all of life.

     You’ve completed the paperwork, waited and waited and then waited some more. Then, your adopted child is yours to parent. And you plan to parent them better than anyone has ever been parented before. You’ve trained for this, you’ve prepared for this. You are so ready!    Before long, you realise that the hard work is just starting. You realise that you are dealing with a child who has experienced trauma, and that you need to partner them in healing. You face a world that treats you differently because you are an adoptive family. You start to feel isolated as people tell you “that’s just kids”. You feel like that just isn’t true.   This is where Lionheart comes in. This book was written over two years, a collaboration between four adoptive parents with over a decade of intercountry adoption experience each. It honestly and humorously shares the authors’ issues, mistakes and triumphs – from the early days, the central issue of trauma, behavioural challenges, the therapy and strategy toolbox, and parental self-care.   Lionheart chronicles years of trial and error and many (so many!) mistakes, and through shared struggles, successes and learnings will provide you comfort that you’re not alone.

    As the narrator of ADOPTION IS A LIFELONG JOURNEY, Charlie invites readers to see the adoption journey from the perspective of a child adoptee. This illustrated book — a tool for families touched by adoption and foster care — provides insight into emotions and thoughts an adoptee or foster child might encounter while also equipping parents and caregivers with timely responses and resources. While every adoption story is unique, Charlie’s voice brings to light common themes the authors encounter as post adoption therapists at Boston Post Adoption Resources (BPAR). The book begins with Charlie settling into his adoptive home and progresses as he grapples with challenges such as building trust, feeling a sense of worth, relating to his beginnings, and establishing his identity. The illustrated portion connects to recommendations for parents: things to think about, tips for conversations, family activities, and additional resources. Who can benefit from the book: adoptive or foster parents, mental health professionals, adoption and foster care agencies, prospective adoptive parents, teachers and school health facilitators.

    Jose is adopted by a couple who takes him to England, but the other isn’t so lucky. Pedro ends up on the streets of Rio, left to fend for himself in a harsh and unforgiving world.Love and betrayal.Twelve years later Jose’s family returns to Brasil, where he learns the truth about his adoption and his twin. Thinking his adoptive parents no longer want him, he runs away to find his brother. What follows will shake Jose to the core and shape the rest of his life—if he can survive.Murder.Jose isn’t the only one whose life will change. Pedro is offered an opportunity beyond any of his wildest dreams, but to keep it will mean the betrayal of someone he loves. This proves to be a far greater challenge than he anticipated when the orphan finds himself suddenly surrounded by family who, unfortunately, don’t all have good intentions.Hopes and dreams.A Boy from the Streets will tug at your heart-strings and have you rooting for the little guy as you follow the twists and turns this multi-continental tale takes.

    Even if she's sad or scared, she smiles and smiles to try and hide her wobbly feelings.She clings on to her Mum's leg and won't let go and she even follows her to the toilet, banging on the door to remind her that she's there. Luckily, her Mum understands why Katie acts this way.Written by a mum who understands and her daughter, who is adopted, this insightful story will help your whole family to feel a bit better.

    I reached out and caught it. A pretty picture of a woman was on the front cover of the magazine. She wore a short pink dress that stuck out around her in a circle. She looked very happy.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 decided to make her dream of becoming a ballerina come true. She has been dancing ever since, and after a spell as a principal dancer in New York, now dances for the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam.Beautifully and gently illustrated by Ella Okstad, Ballerina Dreams is the younger-reader edition of Michaela DePrince's highly moving memoir, Hope in a Ballet Shoe.

    His optimistic presence comes into their homes and reassures that even the gloomiest of rainclouds probably has a silver lining. He has such a way with people that it is obvious that he comes by his sunny, outgoing demeanor naturally. Billingsley always wondered if he got his personality, his bright blue eyes, or his love of people from his mother or his father. But he was adopted, so he never knew. Swabbed & Found is the fascinating story of how he combined cutting-edge DNA tests and genealogical programs in combination with his investigative skills to put the pieces of his family tree in order. Along the way he discovered that people are not always who they seem, or even who they think they are. Each time he would think that he had come to a dead end, he found himself helped by a new friend or a newly discovered relative, until finally, he was able to find the family he had wondered about for his whole life. The science of genealogy is booming, and in his typical open fashion, Billingsley puts a human face on it. His story shows that who we are is not necessarily who gave us our eye color, but who we love. Knowing our genealogical background is important, but wielding that information with care and compassion is a vital part of this new science. Providing a clear road map of how the DNA discovery process works, resources, and explanations of just what second cousin-once-removed really means, as well as insight on life as a gay public figure in the South, this generous book makes it clear why Billingsley has found such a home in Houston's heart. Anyone who has ever wondered about missing branches on their family tree, wanted to know more about their heritage, or wanted to understand, once and for all, that we are all really one big family, will find Swabbed & Found enlightening and engaging.

    This useful resource provides a complete plan for creating adoption-friendly environments in primary, secondary and specialist schools.The book is grounded on new research which gathered together testimonies from over 400 school staff members, adoptive parents and adoption specialists. With realistic consideration of pressures and limitations currently faced by schools, it gives advice on eight key areas for school development, including communicating with parents, training staff, using resources wisely and recognising children's individual needs. Completing the toolkit are a selection of printable plans for establishing adoption-friendly frameworks, and for demonstrating good practice to staff, pupils, families and school inspectors.

    Stacey’s book, Hold On To Hope, is a unique collection of stories of infertility in the Black community. It shows Black women they are not alone among their peers in their yearning to have a baby. It is joyful and sorrowful, but always gives hope. It shows the many roads to parenthood in a variety of ways. More than other first person fertility memoirs, the strong presence of one’s faith in God permeates the stories.

    With their new family, Jack and Jackie have adventures catching frogs and fireflies, eating tomato sandwiches, and playing pretend with their new big brothers and sister. They discover that the love in an adopted family is the same as in other families--because family is all about love.

    "Where's my real teacher?!" he wonders. He hides under his desk and he chews holes into his jumper, but even that doesn't take the wobbly feelings away. Luckily, his mum is here to help him cope when he's afraid.Written by a mum who understands, and her daughter (who used to have a lot of wobbly feelings), this is a story for children aged 3-10 with problematic coping habits.

    Adoption is certain. You just have to hang in there long enough.” Allowing God to be in the front seat of your adoption will make all the difference as you navigate the tougher moments and celebrate the exhilarating ones. WHAT? You are a control freak…and don’t trust anyone else but yourself to steer in the front seat. Welcome to the club!But hear me out, friend…your ability to withstand the duration and difficulties that may arise on this path hinges upon your understanding that you are on a tandem bike ride-with Jesus in the lead.Each chapter in this book weaves together: our story of adoption practical adoption tips the Lord’s Word Tandem is different than other adoption devotionals, in that it follows a chronological flow that provides adoptive parents tools and resources in bite-size pieces to tackle each task on the adoption path with faith-based confidence. Each chapter will take you step-by-step down the adoption path and leave you standing in the shadow of our Lord with a child in your arms!At the end of each chapter, Scripture and Thoughts for the Road are included as tangible tools for this adoption trek.  It is my recommendation to start each new chapter as you approach and navigate the next step in the adoption process.Take a Look inside at the Content Page to see the simple, forward moving direction of the chapters. Here are a few examples of chapter titles: The Beginning Winning at the Waiting Game Overcoming Doubt Ruling Out Options and Zeroing In The Home Study Creating Your Profile Finalization Our story is revealed through the lens of independent adoption, but many of the same steps and trials exist with agency adoption, domestic, international and also foster adoption.If you are thirsting for stories of hope, seeking a sliver of security-you will find it in the pages of Tandem. Page-by-page you will be encouraged, educated, and empowered to pedal in the backseat, while God steers your adoption. Trust his plan for your family…it is a good one!

    Her tough exterior masks a deeply wounded soul longing for emotional connection. Little does she know who’s coming her way, and how the life she’s made will change. Another barely makes it into the United States alive, the nightmarish journey leading to more than just her arrival across the border. As she protects the life within her, she prays she can hide the truth long enough to find a safe haven. The two find themselves face to face across a kitchen table. One only wants someone to love her baby Christina before she goes back into hiding. The other embraces Christina as her own without knowing the whole truth. Christina’s shocking condition astonishes the doctors. Will she survive her seemingly never-ending medical challenges? Will her new mother be able to trust that God has a plan? Or will the fight for Christina’s life finally take her down?