The Journey Of Adoption is our family's journey from a small community in northwestern Minnesota to the mountains of Guatemala. This story unfolds the uniqueness of beginning with one child, giving birth to twins, and culminating in the addition of a sibling group of three older children from an orphanage in Guatemala. The book presents both our perspectives as parents and our children's. The children's contributions of original chapters, artwork, and poetry make this a one-of-a-kind inspirational story for all ages. The cover design is an original acrylic painting by Jenna, entitled, A Mother's Embrace. This painting was created to capture the intimacy and bond between a mother and child. We pray our story will encourage others to step out in faith and become the hands and feet of Jesus. There are so many precious children who need to know and receive the Father's love through adoption. Our journey reveals how God's amazing heart moves mightily on behalf of His precious children awaiting a family.

Eighteen years after adopting his daughter from China, a father publishes the personal journal he kept during the three week period he maneuvered through the Chinese adoption system. This is a record of how he felt the first time he saw and held his daughter and what he experienced with her and the other families adopting at the same time. Ultimately it is the story of a young man who becomes a father and who, upon reflection, believes he is one of the luckiest people alive because of this gift that has been given to him. This is my story.

Marvin was adopted when he was three. In 1985, his curiosity got the best of him and he set out in search for his biological parents.

The softer side of the abortion debate ... In contrast to the front line war of words that emanate with most protest views, Doris takes us behind the scenes into real life drama. The stories contained in this book will make you smile, cry, and find a place in your heart for hurting people that are usually blurred out of the media headlines. As a Pastor, I appreciate the caring way she approaches the issues and the caring hands that she reaches out with to touch hurting hearts. Pastor Rudy Bond New Life Worship Center, Tyler, Texas Doris has gathered a treasury of hope and joy surrounding the adoption process, including Scriptural encouragement and honesty about the fears and challenges involved. This book is a testament to the hand of God with even the least of these. Sara Maynard is a Texas attorney, specializing in representing children. She is Board Certified in Juvenile Law. ADOPTION JOYS, THEY EXPECTED A MIRACLE, explains God's plan for unplanned pregnancies through moving testimonies of families who have experienced the joy of adoption. As the mother of two adopted children and one adopted grandson, I found myself rejoicing with the families through their stories. This book will be an effective tool to encourage couples to consider adopting children to complete their family. Birth parents will also understand the joy their baby will bring to the adoptive couple; and, perhaps, cause them to consider releasing their baby for adoption. God patterned adoption by adopting us into His family through His Son Jesus hrist. May this book challenge birth and adoptive parents to allow children to experience God's unconditional love through the gift of adoption. Judith E. Shalllcross, Retired Christian School principal.

A WIDOW'S INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY INTO FOSTER CARE
This is a true account of one woman's twelve years as a foster mother to ninety seven foster children. It chronicles the experiences of an emergency foster home, the different foster children and the reasons they came into care. Some of the accounts are tragic, some are uplifting and some are funny, but all of them are heartwarming and memorable. Some children spent only one night, some remained for months and some never left.

This book honors the day your child became part of your family. Because of this event, you too, can celebrate "Adoption Day" as a holiday each year in your family. This story is about circling the globe to make a family complete. It tells of a child's desire for a sibling through his or her own eyes. We offer these books in a variety of sibling possibilities to fit your family.

This book honors the day your child became part of your family. Because of this event, you too, can celebrate "Adoption Day" as a holiday each year in your family. This story is about circling the globe to make a family complete. It tells of a child's desire for a sibling through his or her own eyes. We offer these books in a variety of sibling possibilities to fit your family.

This book honors the day your child became part of your family. Because of this event, you too, can celebrate "Adoption Day" as a holiday each year in your family. This story is about circling the globe to make a family complete. It tells of a child's desire for a sibling through his or her own eyes. We offer these books in a variety of sibling possibilities to fit your family.

This gripping memoir details an ordinary American woman's quest to adopt a baby girl from Guatemala in the face of overwhelming adversity. At only 32 years old, Jessica O'Dwyer experiences early menopause, seemingly ending her chances of becoming a mother. Years later, married but childless, she comes across a photo of a two-month-old girl on a Guatemalan adoption website , and feels an instant connection. From the get-go, Jessica and her husband face numerous and maddening obstacles. After a year of tireless efforts, Jessica finds herself abandoned by her adoption agency undaunted, she quits her job and moves to Antigua so she can bring her little girl to live with her and wrap up the adoption, no matter what the cost. Eventually, after months of disappointments, she finesses her way through the thorny adoption process and is finally able to bring her new daughter home. Mamalita is as much a story about the bond between a mother and child as it is about the lengths adoptive parents go to in their quest to bring their children home. At turns harrowing, heartbreaking, and inspiring, this is a classic story of the triumph of a mother's love over almost insurmountable odds.

After the devastation of a miscarriage wore off, we decided to pursue the possibility of adopting a child. We subsequently adopted two lovely children. The process was so complicated, cumbersome and costly that I decided to write a book on it to help others through the process and minimize the complications, cost and cumbersome paperwork. Helpful bullet points are at the end of each chapter.

What happens when your child doesn't speak your native language? How do you maintain cultural traditions while living outside your native country? And how can you raise a child with two cultures without fracturing his/her identity? From our house to your house - to the White House - more and more mothers are facing questions such as these. Whether through intercultural marriage, international adoption or peripatetic lifestyles, families these days are increasingly multicultural. In this collection, women around the world, such as Xujun Eberlein, Violet Garcia-Mendoza, Rose Kent, Sefi Atta, Christine Holhbaum, Saffia Farr, and others, ponder the unique joys and challenges of raising children across two or more cultures. Suzanne Kamata's short work has appeared in over 100 publications. She is the author of a novel, LOSING KEI, and a picture book, PLAYING FOR PAPA, both of which concern bicultural families. She is also the editor of two previous anthologies - THE BROKEN BRIDGE: Fiction from Expatriates in Literary Japan and LOVE YOU TO PIECES: Creative Writers on Raising a Child with Special Needs, and is currently fiction editor of "Literary Mama." Born and raised in Michigan and most recently from South Carolina, she now lives in rural Japan with her Japanese husband and bicultural twins.

Adoption doesn't end when the papers are signed -- not for the birth mother, not for the adoptive mother and not for the adopted child. It is a decision with consequences that last a lifetime. While there are many wonderful books on how to adopt, when to adopt, making an adoption plan, and the like, ADOPTION IS FOREVER is at times humorous, sometimes gut-wrenching, but always honest. "A refreshingly new look at adoption," reviews Roger H. Rubin, Ph.D.

"IF I LOVE MY KID ENOUGH: THE REALITY OF RAISING AN ADOPTED CHILD" is based on the true story of Bethany. Adopted in infancy, she showed the promise of the perfect child. But early on there were indications that hers might not be a "happily ever after story." The book traces Bethany's erratic development and her family's attempts to find answers for her troublesome behavior. Parents of all children can benefit from studying the lessons of Bethany's life. In telling this one story, the authors provide both the parents' and therapist's points of view while probing the latest research on the early critical stages of development. This emphasis helps families focus on strengthening attachment so that they can provide the structure their children need to become mature and responsible adults. Also included are valuable strategies and resources for finding help when concerns arise.

Adopting a child can be an exciting and anxious time in prospective parents' lives. There are rooms to decorate and clothes and toys to buy. There are many preparations to make before welcoming the new arrival. In "Before You Finalize the Adoption-The Pre-Adoption Workbook," author Joyce Vrooman provides advice and information for parents who are thinking about adopting a child.

Based on personal experience, Vrooman developed this workbook to guide parents through the adoption process to ensure they are knowledgeable and informed. In addition, Vrooman discusses information that parents need to know so the child will receive the proper counseling, therapy, medical treatments, or educational assistance.

Loaded with an array of helpful details, "Before You Finalize the Adoption-The Pre-Adoption Workbook" contains forms, checklists, worksheets, and questionnaires to help adoptive parents learn everything about their new child prior to the finalization of the adoption. All information pertaining to this child and their adoption is contained in one book.

Sarah Culberson was adopted one year after her birth by a loving, white, West Virginian couple and was raised in the United States with little knowledge of her ancestry. Though raised in a loving family, Sarah wanted to know more about the birth parents that had given her up. In 2004, she hired a private investigator to track down her biological father. When she began her search, she never imagined what she would discover or where that information would lead her: she was related to African royalty, a ruling Mende family in Sierra Leone and that she is considered a "mahaloi, "the child of a Paramount Chief, with the status like a princess. What followed was an unforgettably emotional journey of discovery of herself, a father she never knew, and the spirit of a war-torn nation. "A Princess Found" is a powerful, intimate revelation of her quest across the world to learn of the chiefdom she could one day call her own.

For twenty-four years, Ray Martinez served as a police officer in Fort Collins, Colorado, working everything from minor crimes to hard-to-solve homicides. But all that time, a personal mystery nagged at him. Ray was adopted, and he desperately wanted to find his biological mother. Ray delved into his search in April 2005, soon after retiring. He was hopeful but not overconfident since his past searches had always ended in failure. This time, he put the investigative skills he acquired as a police officer to full use. By searching through public records, visiting Web sites to study ancestry, and traveling through small towns in Colorado, Ray gathered clues with dogged persistence. In the process, he met new people, developed lasting relationships, and gained a fresh perspective on life. But by far, the most significant outcome was finding his mother, four sisters, and brother-the family he had been without for fifty-four years. "Baby Boy-R" is a heartwarming story of a son who refuses to give up trying to discover where he came from and the courageous mother who welcomes back the boy she thought died at birth.

A Dress for Anna: The Redemption of the Life of a Ukrainian Orphan tells the fascinating story of how God led Deborah and Rob Amend to adopt a handicapped preschooler from an orphanage in Ukraine, and intricately knit her into their family. Beginning with the circumstances that opened their hearts to adoption, continuing through the entire process, and culminating with the difficult adjustments for Anna as she experiences life in a new culture, this book honestly shares the struggles, grief, and joy the Amend family faced as they followed God down the rocky path of international adoption.

This powerful narrative not only provides readers with a clear understanding of the often challenging aspects of adoption, particularly for special needs children, it also offers inspiration by illustrating just how much an average, ordinary family can do when listening to God and following His call.

"Children of Dreams" is borne out of Lorilyn Roberts' shattered dreams. The inspiring story of turning stolen dreams into life-changing hope not only for her but two destitute children will bring tears to the reader as he identifies with her feelings of insecurity and fear. The timeless theme of God's faithfulness-the stuff out of which God brings redemption-will leave the reader riveted to the pages of this book. "Children of Dreams" is more than an adoption story set in the remotest regions of the planet. Facing insurmountable odds-communist blockades, life-threatening illness, betrayal and deceit-Lorilyn Roberts' courage and determination never to give up will touch the reader. Despair transformed into heavenly joy and evil overcome by God's redemptive love will inspire even the most skeptical to believe in miracles. "Children of Dreams" resonates with Biblical truth at a deep level and in a sense is everyone's story. Timeless in nature, "Children of Dreams" is sure to be a favorite adoption story for years to come. Ms. Roberts is intimately familiar with adoption, having also been adopted as a child, and is able to present the spirit of adoption, as never before captured, in this tender story. Comparing the adoption of her daughters to her adoption by the heavenly Father throughout the story flows naturally.

"Psychology of Orphans" is written by Dr. Lyudmila Shipitsyna Rector of the Institute of Special Education and Psychology Saint-Petersburg, Russia. She has a Doctorate in Science and Biology and works as an honored professor in this specialty in the Russian Federation. Considered an expert and pioneer in this field in Russia, she has authored over 400 publications. Today these books have formed the foundation in teaching on special education within Russia and beyond. "Psychology of Orphans" is the combination of written theory with the clinical practice and experience of dealing with orphans, adoptions and families.

"Psychology of Orphans" was written as a resource book for students, researchers, academics and professionals. Those who work with orphans and families with special needs children affected by social and psychological problems will find "Psychology of Orphans" invaluable.

Any potential adoptive parent needs to know the research and conclusions that "Psychology of Orphans" reveals. Question on children's behaviors and actions are answered presenting a better understanding of those from state institutions.

The exciting fact that sets "Psychology of Orphans" apart from other books is that the research obtained is for the first time based from within Russia.

A Foster-Adoption Story tells the story of a brother and sister experiencing abuse, neglect, multiple foster care moves, sibling separation, and eventually adoption. The goal of this workbook is to open the door to discuss difficult topics; issues like abuse, neglect, birth parents, and loyalty conflicts. It can be used as an aid in helping children heal; one that allows them to read about "kids like me." Youngsters can color the pictures as they wish and share their feelings as they go along. This workbook will be a useful therapeutic tool to help children process their experiences and grief along the path to healing.

"Inside the Adoption Agency" provides a glimpse inside the fascinating world of international adoption and explains the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, which is revolutionizing a process that was previously uncontrolled and marred by scandal. "Jean Erichsen gives order to the often overwhelming mix of foreign and domestic requirements and provides the reader with many heart-warming and humorous moments as well." -Laura Kalish, attorney "Jean Erichsen has a lively and entertaining style of writing that makes this book hard to put down." -Sandra Carlson, LCSW "What I really appreciated about this book was how clearly it spelled out the total dependence of agencies and adoptive parents on the whims of the host countries." -Ruth Arnold, adoptive parent "This fascinating book will give the reader a renewed appreciation of the dedication and hard work by which trustworthy adoption professionals arrange for homeless children overseas to join their new American families. The Erichsens' unique historical perspective provides an understanding of why the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption will be coming into effect in this decade, in an effort to insure sound adoption agency practices with well prepared adoptive parents." -Deborah McCurdy, founder and supervisor of social work, Beacon Adoption Center Jean Erichsen is one of the leading pioneers of intercountry adoption. Part history lesson and part "how-to guide," this book provides valuable insights and information from someone who has witnessed and shaped intercountry adoption practice for the past twenty-five years. -Thomas Atwood, President and CEO, National Council For Adoption