She couldn’t have been more wanted, loved and cherished. So why was she now in foster care and living with me? It didn’t make sense.Until I learned what had happened. …Dressed only in nappies and ragged T-shirts the children were incarcerated in their cots. Their large eyes stared out blankly from emaciated faces. Some were obviously disabled, others not, but all were badly undernourished. Flies circled around the broken ceiling fans and buzzed against the grids covering the windows. The only toys were a few balls and a handful of building bricks, but no child played with them. The silence was deafening and unnatural. Not one of the thirty or so infants cried, let alone spoke.

    But when she discovers the diary her Jewish great-grandmother wrote chronicling her escape from Holocaust-era Europe, Imani begins to see family in a new way.Imani knows exactly what she wants as her big bat mitzvah gift: to meet her birthparents. She loves her family and her Jewish community in Baltimore, but she has always wondered where she came from, especially since she's black and almost everyone she knows is white. When her mom's grandmother--Imani's great-grandma Anna--passes away, Imani discovers an old diary among her books. It's Anna's diary from 1941, the year she was twelve--the year she fled Nazi-occupied Luxembourg alone, sent by her parents to seek refuge in Brooklyn. Written as a series of letters to the twin sister she had to leave behind, Anna's diary records her journey to America and her new life with an adopted family. Anna's diary and Imani's birthparent search intertwine to tell the story of two girls, each searching for family and identity in her own time and in her own way.

    He’s happily married to his partner and love of his life, he’s the father of four beautiful children, and he’s the founder of an organization that makes life better for thousands of children in the foster care system.But life wasn’t always like this.Growing up in an abusive household before his placement in foster care, Rob had all the odds stacked against him. Kicked out of his foster family’s home within weeks after turning eighteen—with a year left of high school to go—he had to resort to sleeping in his car and in public bathrooms. He suffered from drug addiction and battled with depression, never knowing when his next meal would be or where he would sleep at night. But by true perseverance, he was able to find his own path and achieve his wildest dreams.Poignant, gripping and inspiring, Rob’s story provides a glimpse into what it’s like to grow up in the foster care system, and sheds necessary light on the children who are often treated without dignity. Both a timely call to action and a courageous and candid account of life in the foster care system, A Forever Family ultimately leaves you with one message: one person can make a difference.

    Now Wavie's back in the Holler--and in the clutches of her Aunt Samantha Rose. Life with the devilish Samantha Rose and her revolting cousin Hoyt is no picnic, but there's real pleasure in sleeping in her own mother's old bed, and making friends with the funny, easygoing kids her aunt calls the "neighborhood-no-accounts." With their help, Wavie just might be able to prevent her aunt from becoming her legal guardian, and find her courage and place in the world.

    During a trip to Miami to visit her cousin, Shayla, she falls in love right away with the city as well as her cousin’s lavish lifestyle and is set on working hard so she can share in the life of luxury along with her child. When Shayla hints to Emiko that she should try to snag Adair, the infamous leader of the Haitian Murder Mafia, she rejects the advice even though Adair is the sexiest and most thrilling man she’s ever seen. But then her luck takes a tragic turn, yielding one disaster after another and she finds herself in a place where Adair is the only one by her side, literally keeping her alive. In the midst of a drug war with the Dominicans, Adair has some tough decisions to make when Emiko changes into a woman far different from the one she was when they first met. The struggles of a hard life have made her heart cold and turned her into a savage but his addiction to her just won’t allow him to let her go. With the streets calling his name and Emiko pulling at his heart, will Adair be able to maintain control of his empire and be there for the woman he loves? Or will he lose out on one, or both, while struggling to have it all?

    This beautiful picture book is inspired by New York Times bestselling author and Today show co-host Hoda Kotb's heartwarming adoption of her baby girl, Haley Joy.With Kotb's lyrical text and stunning pictures by Suzie Mason, young ones and parents will want to snuggle up and read the pages of this book together, over and over again.In the universe, there was you andthere was me, waiting for the day ourstars would meet. . .

    Eve must admit that she has kept the fact of her own adoption secret, from Jess. Eve asks her parents about the circumstances of her birth and a startling secret is unveiled. As she delves into her mysterious past, and becomes preoccupied by her discoveries, her over-protective husband, Ken, begins to feel excluded. When Eve meets family researcher Dan, she is flattered by this charismatic man’s interest in her. As the foundation of her world shifts, Eve must make a decision that could cause a rift in her marriage, alienate her daughter and challenge everything she believed to be true about herself

    This book provides everything you need to know in order to be able to effectively therapeutically parent.Providing a model of intervention, The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting gives parents or caregivers an easy to follow process to use when responding to issues with their children. The following A-Z covers 60 common problems parents face, from acting aggressively to difficulties with sleep, with advice on what might trigger these issues, and how to respond.Easy to navigate and written in a straightforward style, this book is a 'must have' for all therapeutic parents.

    After a tragedy leaves her mother in prison, Jaycee is carrying grief and an unplanned pregnancy she conceals because she trusts no one, including the kind and handsome Gabe, who is new to town and to the local diner where she works.Dividing her time between the diner and Sudie’s place, Jaycee nurses her broken heart among a collection of unlikely friends who are the closest thing to family that she has. Eventually, she realizes she can’t hide her pregnancy any longer—not even from the baby’s abusive father, who is furious when he finds out. The choices she must make for the safety of her unborn child threaten to derail any chance she ever had for hope and redemption. Ultimately, Jaycee must decide whether the truest form of love means hanging on or letting go.Includes discussion guide.

    But when Izzy becomes pregnant, Jillian fears that future is lost. Worse, she must confront her own secret past and hope the decisions she's made don't drown their whole family.Izzy can't believe God let this happen to her. She knew the risks, but who thinks about that when they're in love? Now she has to face the consequences--and the disappointed stares from everyone who thought she was the perfect Christian girl. At least she has the baby's father, Travis. Nothing can tear them apart, right?Margaret Owens had determined dreams for her son. She's furious that Izzy's pregnancy jeopardizes his college baseball scholarship and terrified that Travis will be trapped in a life of struggle and poverty--the life she's tried so hard to save him from. She'll do anything to protect him--even if it means forcing him to leave Izzy.Stacey Frey is aching for a child of her own. But the son she was meant to adopt was taken before she could hold him in her arms. It feels like she'll never stop mourning; even the move to this new town hasn't distracted her from the pain. How can she and her husband find peace? Is there any hope of a family in their future?And in the midst of all this . . . an unborn baby. Whose arms will hold him in the end?

    For some kids, this means living with foster or adoptive parents. Speranza’s Sweater chronicles one child’s experience through the foster and adoptive system. Speranza wears her sweater everywhere, hanging onto the last memories of her birth home, until it’s threadbare. Like her unraveled sweater, Speranza must weave together a new story, bringing threads from her past and strands from her present, into a future of love, family, and the true meaning of home.In this heart-warming and reassuring story, children are offered permission to feel and experience their own story authentically. It provides hope and support for the many mixed emotions a child will experience during their foster and adoption journey, through the unraveling and re-weaving of a favorite sweater. Speranza also introduces children to potential life experiences of foster and adopted classmates, friends, or family members. By reading Speranza’s story with your child, and discussing the experience of a child in a similar situation, you can create a safe space to talk about feelings of grief, loss, excitement, confusion, anger, sadness, or any of the many other feelings accompanying removal, foster care, and adoption.Speranza’s Sweater also includes a dictionary of words to empower children and their carers by understanding the language used around them.

    In her forties Harness decided to get serious about finding answers when, conducting oral histories, she talked with other transracial adoptees. In her fifties she realized that the concept of “home” she had attributed to the reservation existed only in her imagination. Making sense of her family, the American Indian history of assimilation, and the very real—but culturally constructed—concept of race helped Harness answer the often puzzling questions of stereotypes, a sense of nonbelonging, the meaning of family, and the importance of forgiveness and self-acceptance. In the process Bitterroot also provides a deep and rich context in which to experience life.

    Asian & Asian American Studies. The orphan at the center of LITANY FOR THE LONG MOMENT is without homeland and without language. In three linked lyric essays, Arnold attempts to claim her own linguistic, cultural, and aesthetic lineage. Born in Korea and adopted to the US as a child, she explores the interconnectedness of language and identity through the lens of migration and cultural rupture. Invoking artists, writers, and thinkers--Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Francesca Woodman, Susan Sontag, among others--LITANY FOR THE LONG MOMENT interweaves personal documents, images, and critical texts as a means to examine loss and longing.

    Devastatingly, some of these families returned to the child-care centers to retrieve back their children, but have been turned away because of the label "birthparents." Those who profit from adoption the most have created a lucrative demand that has yet to be questioned due to the love affair with the word "adoption." Thus far, only a few informed individuals have the audacity to request for data that should be available to the individuals in the first place. This is the reason for the title, "Adoptees": We Are Not Who They Think We Are. Some adopted individuals were routinely labeled and as a consequence go on to live permanently deprived of original birth certificates, complete adoption documents, or even citizenship. Moreover, on the other side of the world, parents of adoption-loss have been waiting for their children's return for decades now. The problem with this system is that, "once an adoptee, always an adoptee." Many seniors and even elders are treated as perpetuated children by facilitators and authorities in the field. Adoptees: We Are Not Who They Say We Are points out the losses for all involved.

    With an art history degree and dreams of living in Europe as a curator, Teresa had big plans for herself. She had no desire to have kids -- didn't even like them -- but after a decision to lay her exciting plans at the feet of Christ, God began changing her heart little by little. While dating the man who eventually became her husband, the two felt called to adopt from Africa. Now, Teresa's house is bursting at the seams with the loves of her life -- her husband, Ben, and their six children, four of whom were born in Ethiopia. She believes in celebrating the everyday and instilling the love of God and others in her children's hearts. She views her life as a series of redirected dreams, stumbling, falling, getting up, and wondering if she is investing her time where it matters most. Through it all, Teresa grasps joy tightly amid the craziness of everyday life. Go from dreaming about your life to living it fully with God in control. Pick up this book, grab a notebook, curl up on the couch, and open your heart to the potential of allowing your life to become beautifully interrupted. Includes reflection questions and Bible study prompts. Have you gotten so caught up in life and your well-intentioned plans that you may have accidentally planned God right out of it all? Teresa Swanstrom Anderson did just that. Her carefully laid out life changed course when she whispered to God, "Send me. Use me." Be inspired as you read Beautifully Interrupted and learn the importance of giving your plans back to God and allow Him to expand the borders of your life and heart. This book offers strategies and encouragement for living through the in-between times of waiting, as well as facing trials with grace and active faith. Become equipped to brave the storms and embrace the life-changing power of seeking God's plan first and sacrificing time and set plans in favor of something far greater.

    Life after adopting a sibling group was heavy, and I didn’t know how to share the load. I’d failed to connect with outside friends and family in previous attempts, and was scared to try again. However, deep inside, I knew that fear should not be my deciding emotion. Fear wouldn’t be the reason I stayed quiet and alone. So, I focused on my hope for something better, instead. I prayed a while, and heard God’s urge for me to open a window that allows others to see inside our trauma family. It felt clear that He would use our chaos and adventure to let others see how to better understand, relate to, and support the trauma families around them, so that no one in adoptive transitions should ever feel alone, especially in a crowd. When my husband and children gave their blessing to share the excitement and devastation of our first year as an adoptive family, I felt affirmed. They all wanted something different for other children in similar circumstances, just as much as I wanted something different for other moms like me. As a family, we worked to recall every intense low and heartwarming high of our transitional year, and we invite you to both laugh and cry with us through our story. We don’t claim to be better or worse than any other family, but the context of our experience will bring light to a style of family that should no longer be feeling forgotten.

    But these days she barely notices the little daily lies she tells to keep it hidden. She has a new identity now. All she wants is an orderly, predictable life that revolves around her beloved husband and children. Kathryn was once Kelly, a girl who lived on one of the roughest estates in the north and got pregnant as a teen. When she moved away, she left the past behind. Now there's a stranger in her kitchen, and he knows more about her than he is letting on. What does he want? Has he come for help or is he planning to wreck her life?Will Kathryn finally have to admit to her family that she isn't who they think she is?

    The nuns called her Louise. Never adopted, at the age of 13, she was sent out west on an Orphan Train where she was placed out as a housekeeper and farm laborer. Unwanted and unloved she fought to survive in a lonely, abusive environment and an uncertain future. Only the hope of escaping from her prison-like existence kept her alive. Follow her adventures as she escaped from the farm and struggled to find her way in a world she knew nothing about. A short marriage left her alone with her little girl, Jennie. In Desperation she moved from life in a small farm community to the glittering life of Las Vegas. This move opened the door to their future. Thrown together by chance, Jennie met a troubled young girl name Carla who became part of their family. Their life long friendship led them into a world of intrigue, murder, heartache and survival. Through tears, laughter and love, Louise gave them all the hope and motivation they needed to become strong, powerful women. This is their story.

    Meili isn't happy. Their family is just right as it is. But as Meili begins to accept the idea of a sibling, she realizes the importance of being a big sister and finds that a new addition can be just right for their family too.

    Gain a bird's-eye view on the hidden side of the practice here! The findings have been called mind-blowing by adoptees and non-adoptees alike. Discover the history of adoption in a condensed book meant to help you see the topic in an organized manner. This research book has been divided into four short easy to read sections: revealing the making of the system throughout time starting from Europe, America, Asia and today finally in Africa. It is a must read for academics studying the field, and particularly useful for social workers, counselors, anthropologists, human rights advocates and adoptee allies. Pick up this book today and be one of the rare few who know more than the professionals profiting from the field.This research book summarizes the inception and expansion of the adoption industry, focusing on its roots and consequences kept from public awareness. For years, facilitators have denied adoptees access to documents that could lead them back to their families. In defense of the rights of adopted people, a true Ethiopian orphan briefly speaks her mind about adoption. Then, going back in time, the attention shifts from African adoptions (what's been trending) to the 1954 Evangelical Baby "Swoop" Era, to the 1854 Orphan Train Movement, and finally to the European Child Migration Schemes. Adoption History 101: An Orphan's Research supports those who have ever felt isolated due to the industry's privacy and lack of transparency. Taken children--now adults--are critiquing a global man-made market. This orphan's perspective is meant to inform vulnerable communities against a fierce industry that professes God is on their side. It is only natural for Mother-Nature to recover itself. This research is motivated by a Haitian adoptee who died of heart failure after learning that he had been trafficked to France for overseas adoption but was never able to acquire justice due to the public's love affair with the practice. This short book deconstructs the industry and acknowledges the families left behind. Has the global push for adoption exploited mothers worldwide?

    Her family thinks it's a ploy for attention. Doctors believe it's the result of an undisclosed trauma. At the mercy of memories and visitations, Shay unearths secrets that may have led to her collapse. Will she remain paralyzed in denial? Or can she accept the unfathomable and break free?KEURIUM threads through one adopted Korean American's life of longing and letting go. On a quest for family, sanity, and survival, it challenges saviorism and forced gratitude. Woven through its heartbreaking fabric is a story of love and resilience.

    But along the way we discover that the children we've been blessed with are real human beings, with their own minds, ideals, and views of the world. Our influence only goes so far, and when those children reach the pre-teen and teenage years, it may seem to have disappeared completely. Yet at no time in a kid's life is their parents' positive, godly influence more critical.For parents who are concerned that their child is pulling away, following poor role models, or making choices that will lead to pain and difficulty, Mike Berry has good news: it's not too late. He offers parents nine keys to maximizing and leveraging their influence to help their children through these difficult years and develop a relationship with them that can weather any storm.

    Secrets, lies, anger, resentment were tearing them apart and causing them to live separate lives even as they lived together in the same house. One of those secrets has brought a killer to their door and the entire family is about to pay the ultimate price, death.Detective Paige Hood feels an affinity to the deceased Oliver family because just like them she and her husband also have two adopted daughters. The more she digs into the family’s lives the more she starts to believe that the adoptions were the root of their problems and begins to worry that the same fate will befall her and her family. With each new thread they discover Paige and her partner get pointed in a new direction. If they can’t unravel them all and find the killer more people will die.↝ Trigger warning - themes of sexual assault ↜

    Decades of praying. Years of paperwork, research, and planning. Lots of tears. And the growing of faith in the waiting.One look into a pair of sparkling brown eyes, and Lori and Bryan Schumaker fell head-over-heels in love with a beautiful young girl in Bulgaria. Certain this was the child God intended for them, they stepped confidently into the adoption process they'd been preparing for. They thought they knew what to expect, and they did--but there was so much more.The application process moved smoothly ahead, and they began making plans for their daughter--only to be informed she'd been adopted by a family in Italy. Heartbroken, they struggled to move on, until, through a series of incredible events, they learned their daughter still languished in her Bulgarian orphanage. Turning heaven and earth, the Schumakers started over. Mix-ups, red tape, inexplicable delays, and a difficult judge threatened the adoption, but they were determined to bring their child home.In a true story of learning that trust means surrendering your version of how the story should unfold, Lori and Bryan finally let go--of their dream, of their daughter, of their fears and frustrations. And in that relinquishment, God began to move.

    In the midst of the ups and downs of parenting her adopted children, the Lord began to show her how she was functioning just like an orphan herself when it came to her relationship with him. And just like with her children, there was a process she could learn to bond with him, to love him, and to receive his love in return.Michelle shows you how to rebuild the foundation of your identity the right way—on God’s reckless, lavish love and on his truth. Then, she outlines specific steps for you to follow to be able to receive and embrace your own adoption. Through personal stories from her experiences as an adoptive mother and short-term missionary to Uganda, she teaches you, encourages you, and walks with you on your own journey home to the Father.

    Russian adoptee Elena S. Hall shares her own story and thoughts on the subject of adoption in addition to interviews from other adoptees of different ages, heritages, and perspectives. Whether you are an adoptive parent, curious about adoption, or an adoptee yourself, this unique collection of memoirs provides real insight into lives directly impacted by adoption.

    Then she doubled the size of her family by adopting four Ethiopian children. Why?Her answer: "God."Popular blogger NATALIE GWYN has been cited widely for her candid, insightful, often humorous writing on cross-cultural adoptive Christian families (which number more than 4 million). HuffPo has linked to her controversial posts and celebrities like Kathie Lee Gifford have quoted and pictured her on social media. Here Natalie tells her whole mom story, including the only-God-could-do-this backstory.Her lighthearted narrative begins with the nudge of God toward the uncomfortable. She and her husband are almost certain they have misunderstood what the Almighty is asking of them, and with self-deprecating humor Natalie allows readers a glimpse into the process by which this already imperfect mom agreed to transnational, transracial adoption of more children than she already has.Natalie then takes the reader on her family's adventure to Ethiopia to legally adopt the three siblings God has chosen to add to their family. With the skill of a detective novelist, she reveals their discovery of a fourth sibling, their critical decision not to leave this child behind, and their harrowing quest to find, woo and legally adopt her, too.Similar to the laugh-out-loud humor of books on blended step-families, Natalie shares the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen scenes of this adoptive family's huge adjustments. She brilliantly captures each child's and each parent's perspective and, in doing so, reveals God in their midst.

    After taking responsibility for a deadly car accident caused by someone she thought was a friend, the twenty-four-year-old costume designer is facing the possibility of spending years in jail. The intervention of Rhys Redmond Merrick saves her, but the bold, handsome attorney makes it quite clear to the beautiful, stubborn girl that she is in desperate need of a sound spanking for her foolish behavior.Despite Rhys's penchant for scolding Ainsley like a naughty little girl, he can't help but start falling for her. But when she pushes Rhys too far with her reckless disregard for her own safety, Ainsley learns the hard way that his threat to take her over his knee was not an idle one.His stern dominance sets their romance on fire, but the discovery that Rhys has a young son he never mentioned leaves Ainsley wondering if she can trust him. Will the secrets of his past and the scars of her childhood tear them apart, or can they find a way forward together?Publisher's Note: Stubborn Pride includes spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.

    Will it be hungry Harvey? Clever Dumpling? Sporty Boo-Boo? What a pickle! With gorgeous illustrations from Clara Vulliamy, and laugh-out-loud text from Polly Faber, this book is guaranteed to touch your heart.

    Dizzy learns that she began life as a surviving twin, then was fostered until a permanent home was found. Dizzy begins her search for her original identity. Why was she given up for adoption in the 1960s? Following a tenuous lead, she travels to Ireland with her best friend Sugar, but the trail takes a misleading turn. It ends in what they mistakenly believe is Dizzy’s mother’s grave. Dizzy falls in love with Will, a blacksmith. But something is missing. Dizzy’s life changes when her birth father Tommy makes contact using a private detective. He reveals that her birth mother is alive and married to a man called Vernon. Now the bigger, trickier task lies ahead: working out how to fit the disparate bits of her life together. This is a book which will both amuse and touch readers’ hearts. Strays and Relations manages sensitive subject matter with engaging wit and sharply-observed dialogue, and includes vivid descriptions of some rather unusual animals and people. It will appeal to readers who have encountered a recycled animal or family.

    With common themes of exclusion, and recollections of not looking Korean enough, black enough, white enough, or ‘other’ enough, this powerful collection features works by award-winning authors Alexander Chee, Michael Croley, and Heinz Insu Fenkl, alongside pieces composed by prominent writers, poets and scholars. Interwoven between the better known literary names, are the voices of newcomers with powerful memories that have never been captured before. Collectively, these stories will resonate with anyone who has ever stood on the outside of a group, longing for inclusion.”

     I Call You Mine is a six-week study focused on revealing the incredible spiritual insights available to those who embrace God's heart of adoption. Just as Jesus used stories to engage and teach, the Scripture passages and personal stories in this study uncover greater truths about adoption as God's children. Caring for the fatherless is a privilege, and the perspective gained when working with God in this way is humbling. Realize anew what it means to be chosen and redeemed.

    He didn’t have any freedom to run and play like other dogs get. He was stuck in a small cage and not looked after properly. His health could have suffered as a result. His life might have been shortened just so someone who didn’t care about him could make money. In this fully illustrated children’s book, Deputy Paws, we get an idea of what life is like for many dogs who are born in a puppy mill. It follows his story from a sad and unhappy pup to one full of life in his new home where he is loved. Deputy Paws isn’t just a fun read for young children. It also carries a message of hope for one young dog and an important lesson for us all about the dangers of puppy mills and how to avoid buying dogs that are sold through them. It is sure to become a favorite bedtime read for you and your child that is both entertaining and educational.

    The questions are not "can" you or "should" you, but "how" can you and "what" does that need to look like?That's what this book is about.Everyone Can Do Something is a strategic field-guide specifically designed to help your church rally around caring for the orphaned and vulnerable. In it you will discover how to:Clarify your message Make the problem relatable Connect people into a community of support Develop a strategic plan Use existing discipleship mechanisms in your church Chart a clear path of ministry "next steps" Plan and promote events ...and so much more! Whether you are launching a new foster care, adoption or orphan care ministry or leading an existing one, you'll discover the principles you need to take the next best steps for your church, your ministry and the families and children you are serving. For bulk orders of 10 or more books, visit www.everyonecandosomethingbook.com. Discounts apply.

    These kids often have violent outbursts, steal, engage in outlandish lying, play with feces, and hoard food. They are broken children who too often break even the most loving of caregivers. Many parents of these children feel utterly isolated as family, friends, and professionals minimize their struggles. Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) - The Essential Guide for Parents is written by a parent who is in the trenches with you. Keri has lived the journey of raising a son with RAD and has navigated the mental health system for over a decade. This is the resource you’ve been waiting for – you won’t find platitudes or false hopes. What you will find is essential information, practical suggestions, and resource recommendations to provide a way forward. If you desperately need help navigating the difficult RAD journey with your child, this book is for you.

    Each family is different, unique and special. This is the beginning of a children's book about family diversity. What types of families are there? And what special thing makes them a family? These are some of the answers we want to offer to encourage tolerance towards others.

    Ellie tries to get Mum's attention: she bangs the table, she makes loud singing noises, but it's no good. Finally she decides to make her own breakfast, picking up the heavy milk carton and - OH NO - spilling the milk all over the table and the floor!Mum gets really angry and shouts at Ellie - Ellie feels all wobbly and her chest is banging - will Ellie Jelly and Mum ever be friends again?This book will helps children aged 3-7 to understand why parents sometimes get angry, and that they don't always mean what they mean when they are cross. Ellie's mum loves her more than the whole wide world.

    What followed would rock the last vestiges of Catholic Ireland, enrage an increasingly secularised nation, and lead to a Commission of Inquiry. In The Adoption Machine, Paul Jude Redmond, Chairperson of the Coalition of Mother and Baby Homes Survivors, who himself was born in the Castlepollard Home, candidly reveals the shocking history of one of the worst abuses of Church power since the foundation of the Irish State. From Bessboro, Castlepollard, and Sean Ross Abbey to St. Patrick's and Tuam, a dark shadow was cast by the collusion between Church and State in the systematic repression of women and the wilful neglect of illegitimate babies, resulting in the deaths of thousands. It was Paul's exhaustive research that widened the global media's attention to all the homes and revealed Tuam as just the tip of the iceberg of the horrors that lay beneath. He further reveals the vast profits generated by selling babies to wealthy adoptive parents, and details how infants were volunteered to a pharmaceutical company for drug trials without the consent of their natural mothers. Interwoven throughout is Paul's poignant and deeply personal journey of discovery as he attempts to find his own natural mother. The Adoption Machine exposes this dark history of Ireland's shameful and secret past, and the efforts to bring it into the light. It is a history from which there is no turning away. [Subject: Current Affairs, Politics, Irish Studies, History, Religious Studies]

     Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Joshi, an adopted girl from India, burn survivor, and primary caretaker of her intellectually disabled sister, Joy, has one dream—to be a physician. Her traditional Indian father relies upon Rebecca to care for Joy while he buries himself in work to drown his grief over his wife’s death. Leaving home is the only way Rebecca can envision reaching her goal. She helps Joy develop greater independence, and is devastated when Joy becomes pregnant. Rebecca tussles—with her father and with herself—over who is responsible for Joy and her baby. When Rebecca discovers the truth of what happened the day she was burned, she struggles to hold onto her dream while wrestling with questions of life, love, and responsibility.

    Devotional exercises will equip you to record your thoughts and emotions. You will also receive spiritual insights from many adoptive parents, including stories from people who have adopted from the foster-care system.As parents, we never know what to expect. That is all too true for many adoptive parents whose children are more prone to battle mental illness. Don’t struggle alone! Through a variety of stories, you will receive strength and encouragement so you can seek appropriate help as needed.Author Julie Holmquist guides parents along the journey and vulnerably unpacks the struggles and joys of her own adoption stories. A Call to Love helps you fully prepare both emotionally and spiritually for the path God may be calling you to walk.

    This true story is a must-read for those involved in adoption, parenting difficult children, and healing wounded hearts. The incredible true story of Ani’s struggle with Reactive Attachment Disorder will stay with you long after you turn the last page. From her days in a Ukrainian orphanage through adoption and her attempts at suicide and homicide, to her struggles in therapy and her first steps toward healing and love, Ani's story will forever change the way you see childhood trauma and what it means to parent with love.

    The book interweaves this narrative with Barnz's path to parenthood - beginning with his closeted youth in 1980's New York, a time when it was statistically more likely he would die from AIDS than become a father.Alternating between legal suspense story and memoir, we examines shifting gender roles in parenting as well as modern notions of family-construction, but ultimately we is a personal narrative with universal appeal. It delves into the complicated relationships that arise between birthparents and adoptive parents, between birthmothers and birthfathers, between parent and child, between married couples. In this story, as in life, empathy is revealed where, technically, none should exist; this book examines our desire to do better, be better- better people, better friends, better parents, better strangers, better ourselves. And in the end, it celebrates the potential we all have for forgiveness.Independent film producer Ben Barnz and his husband, filmmaker Daniel Barnz, make up "We're Not Brothers Productions" and have written, directed and produced the films Cake and Phoebe in Wonderland. They are currently developing an HBO pilot with Lena Dunham and a feature film with Brad Pitt's Plan B about Ryan Wash, an openly gay black debate champion.

    In The Orphan's Abba, April shares inspiring stories from over 100 international trips to visit orphans and translates her experiences into powerful spiritual takeaways. Your faith will be bolstered as you experience God's love for you through the lens of orphan care. This book invites you to: -Uncover the deliberate ways God relentlessly pursues you -See yourself as God sees you -Discover how to ensure God hears your prayers -Understand how you can comfort the heart of God -Consider how obedience to God changes you Get ready to unveil a portrait of God's heart for all, painted in the light of His love for the orphan.

    After overcoming a challenging childhood and surviving two tumultuous marriages, a chance DNA test revealed an incredibly rare and life-threatening liver-lung disease. Julie then embarked on a difficult journey to find her birth family. Her goal was to warn them about the disease, which is highly genetic and often undiagnosed. What followed was a miraculous sequence of events and a remarkable homecoming.

    Asian & Asian American Studies. SEASON OF DARES leans into fragments of the scriptures, narratives and mythologies of a Korean adoptee's childhood in the rural American West. Fearlessly, it revisits and explores the physical and spiritual landscapes of those communities and the tensions between the impulses that shaped them--violence and tenderness, stoicism and sentimentalism, self-reliance and belief in divine providence.

    Bohl reveals the inner turmoil and broad spectrum of warring emotions—shame, anger, triumph, shyness, pride—he experienced growing up as a “relinquished” boy. Adopted at birth by a prosperous family, Bohl battled throughout his earlier years to keep up a good front and surpass expectations as he tried desperately to fit in. An over-achiever at everything he undertook, whether in sailing, academics, or life as a trader on the Chicago Exchange floor, he continued his search for happiness, often finding it in a bottle or pill, and ultimately becoming a raging and wealthy alcoholic.   Not until David marries and has children of his own does he feel compelled to search for his birth parents to discover if genetics played a role in the well-being of his offspring. “Baby Boy Bender,” as he was labeled in the adoption papers, had been born to a red-haired co-ed who struggled with alcoholism and an athlete who later died of a brain tumor.   After several severe seizures and frequent blackouts, it was time to make a drastic change and admit his addiction. Raised with no religious teachings, David struggled with traditional recovery fellowships and sought out secular supports, where he finally fit in. This approach allowed him to learn the stark facts about mental health and addiction, as well as the monumental issues many “reliquishees” need to overcome to find peace and a quality of life they deserve. Today, David is an independent addiction consultant who fully understands the challenges faced by so many who seek to escape from or drown their pain through external means. His story offers hope to those struggling with the reality of everyday life in our increasingly stressful world.

    She makes you your favorite food, takes you to the park, and kisses your boo-boos better. Some mamas didn't hold you in their belly, but they will forever hold you in their hearts. Mamas come in all different shapes, colors, and ages, but they all have one thing in common. They love you!

    Nor did she imagine falling for an old friend, but when she runs into Azarius Jacobson, she can't deny the attraction. As they begin to spend more time together, Lanie struggles with the fact Azarius keeps his past a secret. What is he hiding? And will she ever be able to get him to open up?Azarius Jacobson has loved Lanie Perkins Hall from the moment he saw her, but issues from his past have left him guarded. Now that he has another chance with her, will he find the courage to share his life with her? Or will his emotional walls create a barrier that will leave him alone once more?Find out in this heartfelt, emotional third book (stand alone) in the Star Lake series.

    Follow a couple as they experience the hopes, dreams and disappointments of creating a family and how the generosity and love of others can grow into the most wonderful gift. You Were Made For Me is a children's book that takes a look into the unique and wonderful ways some families are made, and the journey of love that brings them together. Using symbolism and sweet rhyming lyrics, You Were Made For Me introduces the complicated topic of being born from sperm, egg or embryo donation to a young child. By giving children the "pieces of the puzzle," this book sparks their imagination and stimulates them to ask questions. A great way to help families begin this journey with their child.

    From the deceptions and lies told by hosting agencies and while in country, to the trauma her family went through after bringing them home, you will find yourself sobbing, then angry, that such travesties take place, all in the name of helping children have a better future. Through the over 350 families who contributed their stories the reader realizes navigating the world of trauma children and teens is difficult at best and organizations who should support these families who have risked everything are the very organizations who contribute to the trauma. These problems with adoption are far more wide spread than most believe. Reading about confrontations with local law enforcement, child protective services, and even federal law enforcement with regards to human trafficking, this book will keep the reader glued to its pages to find out what happens next in this true story.

    George Fadok, a former Navy commander, grappled with “changing the rules” eighteen years after placing his daughter in a closed adoption. Angela Paxton, Texas state senator and an adoptee, never thought she would ever meet her birthmom, but when she did, it changed her life.Embarking on an adoption journey can be daunting, but now you are not alone! This collection of true, beautiful accounts, including Larson’s, Fadok’s, and Paxton’s, takes an honest look at the process, the struggles, and the undeniable joy that comes with adoption. With insights from all three adoption triad viewpoints, Adopting Hope shares a wealth of lessons learned and tips for every person contemplating an adoption journey.How to have the courage to adoptHow to decide on an open vs. a closed adoptionHow to handle a foreign adoptionHow to survive the agonizing wait to become parentsHow to tell your adopted child “the story”How to make your adopted child feel lovedHow to negotiate a relationship with your child’s birth parentsHow to help your child work through feelings of loneliness or rejectionHow to dispel negative attitudes you will encounter about adoptionAnd so much more, including suggestions from birthparents and adoptees!From Lorri Antosz Benson, author of To Have and Not to Hold, this heartfelt compilation is ultimately a message of hope, love, and destiny as each family discovers the truth that a child doesn't need to be blood to be truly yours.

    And like so many others entering foster care, he has more questions than answers and so many new feelings to deal with.“I don’t know what’s going to happen to me.Will I end up being like Zeke?Will I have a new forever mom?Can I visit my mom once a week?”“I have so much going on inside me right now.I feel angry, guilty, scared, hurt, and sad.But maybe the others are right.Maybe being here isn’t so bad.”Written in an honest, approachable way, Foster Care will encourage children entering or already in foster care and help them understand they are not alone. Foster, Daisy, Zeke, Simpson, and Rex all have different circumstances which brought them to foster care. Together they talk through their stories and realize this is right where they need to be for now; under the caring watch of foster mom, Miss Beulah.

    With her background and experience in social work and the child welfare system, and after countless conversations with other pre-adoptive parents, she developed this workbook to help others ask the important questions that will guide them through the complicated process.This incredibly comprehensive workbook includes: Detailed descriptions of the different types of adoption and foster care, including foster-to-adopt, private domestic adoptions, international adoptions, and embryo adoptions; Questions and issues to consider for each type of adoption; Questions to help in selecting the right agency and ensuring they adhere to ethical practices and policies; Conversations to consider with your partner or support system before starting the process; Questions to help address personal expectations and motivations; Questions regarding how to address social issues, including medical and psychological issues, and challenges facing multi-cultural families.

     Contemplating religion, politics, science, and human rights, Karen Pickell, who was born and adopted in the late 1960s, intersperses personal commentary and snippets from her own experience with history and statistics pertaining to child development and the adoption industry. The collection of micro essays is presented as an organically ordered glossary, along with a robust list of sources and suggested reading as well as an alphabetical index, creating layers of association between words commonly used when discussing adoption. Pickell draws connections between contemporary American political issues and the social climate that led to a tsunami of adoptions in the decades following World War II through the early 1970s—a period known as the Baby Scoop Era—and also touches on the complexity of transracial and international adoptions. Throughout AN ADOPTEE LEXICON, the focus remains firmly on adopted people—their perceptions, their needs, and their right to fully exist in exactly the way non-adopted people do.