Book picks similar to
Rescuing Ruby by Linny Saunders


adoption
family-read-alouds
genuine-religion

Know Who You Are, Live Like It Matters


Tim Tebow - 2017
    And the older you get, the more difficult it seems to become. Deep down you may know your value as a person isn't defined by wearing cool name-brand clothes, scoring points for a sports team, or even by having a huge number of social media followers. And you're right! Your identity resides in something--in fact, Someone--much greater than anything this world can offer:The only identity worth having...is found in Jesus Christ!American sports icon, Tim Tebow knows firsthand what it's like to face pressure head-on. In Know Who You Are. Live Like It Matters, he shares the wisdom he's learned--not from what the world says, but from what God says in His Word.Tim will guide you through thirty-six weeks of lessons, each based on a key Scripture, to discover who you are--by learning more about whose you are! You will also have the opportunity to write down your thoughts, feelings, and ideas on topics such as: * Building godly character * Maintaining great relationships * Standing out from the crowd * Doing things that matter in the big pictureGet ready to live bigger than ever before...with your faith and identity secured in a God who loves you beyond measure!

The Lucky Few: Finding God's Best in the Most Unlikely Places


Heather Avis - 2017
    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.

How Much Is Enough?: Everything You Need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible and Respectful Ch


Jean Illsley Clarke - 2003
    But despite one's good intentions, the life-enhancing abundance heaped on our children often becomes more than they need or can handle, and the line is crossed into overindulgence. In How Much is Enough?, best-selling parenting and family experts Clarke, Dawson, and Bredehoft offer an in-depth look at how damaging overindulgence is to children, affecting their ability to learn many of the important life skills they need to thrive as adults. In warm and empathetic language, the authors reveal the three different ways children are overindulged (giving too much, being over-nurturing, and providing soft structure), guide parents in determining whether they're doing something overindulgent, and show them how to do things differently. The truth is that overindulgence is not the badge of a bad parent; in fact, it comes directly from having a good and generous heart. Based on solid, groundbreaking research involving 1,200 parents and their children, How Much is Enough? gives parents the insight and advice they need to parent in an effective and loving way and put their children on track for a happy and successful life.

Jessica Lost: A Story of Birth, Adoption The Meaning of Motherhood


Bunny Crumpacker - 2011
    The daughter's search begins 40 years later, as she slowly, painstakingly, stitches together her story.These intertwined tales give us two unforgettable points of view of a remarkable journey-and of the multiple meanings of motherhood.

Gone Before


Sam Hepburn - 2020
    She vanished without a trace. Until now…Fifteen years after the abduction, Phoebe knocks on Kay Duncan’s door, clutching a yellow rainhat with Maya’s name stitched into the back. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya Duncan, and that the woman behind the door is her real mother.When Phoebe sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it seems that mother and daughter are to be reunited at last. But when a shocking discovery shatters the fragile relationship they have begun to build, Kay commits suicide, leaving Phoebe riddled with guilt.Alone and unanchored, Phoebe travels to London to dig into Kay’s life, hoping to uncover the truth behind her own identity. But as she pieces together Kay’s past, Phoebe discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her, and a terrible secret that even now could put her life in danger.Gone Before is an utterly addictive ‘ripped-from-the-headlines’ thriller that you will read in one breathless gulp. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gone Girl and The Silent Patient.

In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories


Rita J. Simon - 2000
    In this collection of interviews conducted with black and biracial young adults who were adopted by white parents, the authors present the personal stories of two dozen individuals who hail from a wide range of religious, economic, political, and professional backgrounds. How does the experience affect their racial and social identities, their choice of friends and marital partners, and their lifestyles? In addition to interviews, the book includes overviews of both the history and current legal status of transracial adoption.

Forever Lily: An Unexpected Mother's Journey to Adoption in China


Beth Nonte Russell - 2007
    But her friend, who had prepared for the adoption for many months, panics soon after being presented with the frail baby, and the situation develops into one of the greatest challenges of Russell's life. Russell, watching in disbelief as Alex distances herself from the child, cares for the baby -- clothing, bathing, and feeding her -- and makes her feel secure in the unfamiliar surroundings. Russell is overwhelmed and disoriented by the unfolding drama and all that she sees in China, and yet amid the emotional turmoil finds herself deeply bonding with the child. She begins to have dreams of an ancient past -- dreams of a young woman who is plucked from the countryside and chosen to be empress, and of the child who is ultimately taken from her. As it becomes clear that her friend -- whose indecisiveness about the adoption has become a torment -- won't be bringing the baby home, Russell is amazed to realize that she cannot leave the baby behind and that her dreams have been telling her something significant, giving her the courage to open her heart and bring the child home against all odds. Steeped in Chinese culture, Forever Lily is an extraordinary account of a life-changing, wholly unexpected love.

Tal: His Marvelous Adventures with Noom-Zor-Noom


Paul Fenimore Cooper - 1929
    His companions were the wise old man Noom-Zor-Noom and the talking donkey Millitinkle.

Unraveled


Heidi McCahan - 2014
    She’s spent years running from her scandalous past and now she’s forced to confront an uncertain future. Blake Tully, wildly successful owner of Emerald Cove’s new whitewater rafting and kayaking business, finds Lauren’s unexpected reappearance in his life ignites old feelings. Although she broke his heart once, he longs to give his childhood sweetheart a second chance. Will Lauren allow her shameful secret to define her? Can Blake forgive her when he discovers the reason she’s been hiding? Follow the story of these two shattered hearts as they discover the beauty of grace and forgiveness.

Posers, Fakers, and Wannabes: Unmasking the Real You


Brennan Manning - 2003
    Adapted for teens and students from Brennan Manning’s best-seller Abba’s Child, this book will help you see how God’s grace sets us free to be who we really are. No more games, no acts, no masks.Discover your identity in Christ and be set free.

The Secret Daughter


Kelly Rimmer - 2015
    As she was taken from me I knew I might never see my daughter again. 38 years later… ‘You were adopted’. Three short words and Sabina’s life fractures. There would forever be a Before those words, and an After. Pregnant with her own child, Sabina can’t understand how a mother could abandon her daughter, or why her parents have kept the past a secret. Determined to find the woman who gave her away, what she discovers will change everything, not just for Sabina, but for the women who have loved her all these years. From the bestselling author of Me Without You comes another touching, beautifully told story about the pain of separation and the enduring strength of love.

Moses: In the Footsteps of the Reluctant Prophet (Moses Series)


Adam Hamilton - 2017
    Sinai, the Nile, the Red Sea and the wilderness exploring the sites of Moses' life. Using historical information, archaeological data, and biblical text, Hamilton guides us in the footsteps of this reluctant prophet who grew in his relationship with God and by the end of life had successfully fulfilled the role he was given.Turn your own reluctance into boldness as you examine the significant challenges facing Moses and how God shaped his character and life in powerful ways.Additional components for a six-week study include a comprehensive Leader Guide and a DVD featuring author and pastor Adam Hamilton. For a church-wide study, youth and children resources are also available.

Parenting the Hurt Child : Helping Adoptive Families Heal and Grow


Gregory C. Keck - 2002
    With time, patience, informed parenting, and appropriate therapy, your adopted child can heal, grow, and develop beyond what seems possible now.Gregory C. Keck and Regina M. Kupecky explain how to manage a hurting child with loving wisdom and resolve and how to preserve your stability while untangling their thorny hearts. • Indexed for easy reference.• Also available: Adopting the Hurt Child

Boss On A Leash


Kara Hart - 2021
    I got a billionaire boyfriend instead.My name’s Ali Greenwald, and I’m taking a break from men. I had my vow of celibacy all planned out. Then I met Marc Wylan, my billionaire kryptonite.He’s not sporting a ring. And he’s got a metal credit card with a high spending limit. Oo-la-la.Seattle’s favorite billionaire is tall, dark, and handsome. An absolute catch. But we’ve got opposite goals. And he’s a total jerk. He’s ahead of me in line to buy the puppy of my dreams. My puppy. He thinks he’s going to get my number.He’s wrong.After stealing my dog, he makes me an offer. One date, in exchange for a sincere apology. Needing an escape, I make a counter-offer. If we run into each other again, I’ll give him my number. There’s no way that will happen in Seattle.Well, it happens. I’m his daughter’s teacher. And now I’m really screwed.Instead of handing him my number, I get defensive. I make a new offer. Whoever holds out the longest wins the dog. I’m not giving up.Problem is, I’m finding out his only defect is that he’s perfect. Too perfect. I keep an eye out for his fatal flaws. There are none. He’s a great dad.Who am I kidding? I’m falling for the man who pushed ahead of me in line. Pretty soon, I won’t need a dog. I’ll be on all fours, but he’ll be the one wearing a leash.We’ll see how long he’ll last.

I Belong to No One: One woman's true story of family violence, forced adoption and ultimate triumphant survival


Gwen Wilson - 2015
    This is one woman's story of all she lost and how hard she fought to survive.A teenager in the 1970s, Gwen Wilson grew up in Western Sydney. It was a tough childhood. Illegitimate, fatherless - her mother in and out of psychiatric hospitals; it would have been easy for anyone to despair and give up. Yet Gwen had hope. Despite it all, she was a good student, fighting hard for a scholarship and a brighter future.Then she met Colin. Someone to love who would love her back. But that short-lived love wasn't the sanctuary Gwen was looking for. It was the start of a living hell. Rape was just the beginning. By sixteen she was pregnant, her education abandoned. Australian society did not tolerate single mothers; prejudice and discrimination followed her everywhere. In an effort to save her son, Jason, from the illegitimacy and deprivation she'd grown up with, Gwen chose to marry Colin - and too quickly the nightmare of physical abuse, poverty and homelessness seemed inescapable.In 1974, in the dying days of the forced adoption era in Australia, this isolated teenager was compelled to make a decision about her child that would tear her life apart, one she would never truly come to terms with.I Belong to No One is one woman's story of all she lost and how hard she fought to survive and eventually triumph.