Book Review~Redeeming Ruth

ISBN: 1619709074 | ISBN-13: 9781619709072 | List Price: $19.95 | Format: Hardcover | Page Count: 200 

About the Book: 
Redeeming Ruth is the inspirational, true story of an abandoned baby, a devastating diagnosis, and the way God loves broken, hurting people through us--even though we may be broken and hurt, too.

When Meadow met her, Ruth was a sixteen-month-old child that some church friends were hosting from an orphanage in Uganda. 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 memoir, Redeeming Ruth is a heartwarming, against-all-odds story about the most unlikely pairing of a typical American family and a physically challenged orphaned girl 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.

About the Author

 Meadow Rue Merrill is an award-winning journalist who has spent the following eight years corresponding for The Boston Globe and writing for The New York Times, Harvard University, and The Boston Sunday Globe Magazine. She has regular columns with The Portland Press Herald and Down East magazine.
Connect with the author:
Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook

What I Thought: 
Adoption is near and dear to my heart, as I was adopted and my youngest son was adopted as well. We were both domestic adoptions through foster care, so very different situations than the Merrill's. I cannot imagine traveling to a foreign country to adopt your child.

Redeeming Ruth is broken down into a prologue, 21 chapters, epilogue, author's note, author's thanks, readers guide, notes, and photographs. I thought the readers guide was a wonderful resource, whether you read the book alone or as a group. For each chapter, there is a bible scripture, questions for discussion, and application. The photos were just wonderful, eight pages of full-color images that melted my heart. 





What an amazing family the Merrills are! They did what God led them to do, period. More of us need to follow His lead, even when its so incredibly hard. Once I picked Redeeming Ruth up, I couldn't put it down. I just had to know what happened to this sweet baby and her new family. You know that saying "It takes a village"? The adoption and life of Ruth is a perfect example of that. So many wonderful friends and family did so much to help this family, some even strangers! The author is so honest and raw with her feelings through the years.

After we adopted our son from foster care at three years old, so many people praised us and said how lucky he was, and we still hear that even with him being 14 years old now!  I understand why people say these things, but once you have adopted a child you know that it is the other way around. How blessed am I to have this child? He has brought such joy to my life, and I have learned so much from him. He has some severe learning disabilities and health problems (not life threatening), and he teaches us so much with his strength and determination. I'm sure that's the same way the Merrills feel-they were so blessed for their time with Ruth. Although it appeared they were doing everything for Ruth, she was giving them all so much!

Do yourself a favor and read Redeeming Ruth-it is a wonderful story of love. All personal proceeds from this book  benefit orphans and people with disabilities in Uganda. Right now, Redeeming Ruth is half off at Christian Book Distributors: http://uroomtech.christianbook.com/redeeming-everything-life-takes-love-restores/meadow-merrill/9781619709072/pd/709072  

If adoption or foster care isn't for you, there are other ways you can make a difference! In the author's notes section at the back of the book are other ways you can help.



I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew

Book Review~Navigating the Explosion-You are Not Alone

When I was born, I went from the hospital to a foster home, and then was placed with my parents at two months old.  My older brother was also adopted, and I had several cousins who had been adopted.  So, adoption was a very normal thing in my life.  When I married, both my husband and I had hearts for helping children in need.  Over the years, we worked in a group home for troubled teens, I did home daycare, and my husband is now a social worker working with at-risk kids.

 We began doing foster care about ten years ago, with the only intention of helping kids and giving them a safe, loving temporary home-NOT adopting.  Well, that went right out the window with our very first placement!  We adopted Chad when he was three years old.  Since then we've had other foster children, but no more adoptions.  Chad is no different to me than my other children-he's all mine, just as I always felt I was with my Mom.  He was meant to be with our family, as I was meant to be with my adoptive family.  God has his plans for our lives. 

Was fostering and adopting easy?  No. There have been times of frustration, and times when you feel alone, that you feel nobody understands what you are going through.   Adoptive mother Allison Schumm has written a book that helps mothers through this incredible, but complicated, journey. 

This is a picture of Allison's amazing, beautiful family. Wow!  In Navigating the Explosion-You are not Alone, Allison shares her story and thoughts, and shares several letters written by adoptive mothers.  The chapters in the book are:

*The Call
*The Wait
*The Honeymoon
*The Groove
*The Future
*The Others

The book is full of relevant information that will also touch your heart.  I felt so understood after I read it. Even if you aren't a foster or adoptive parent, this book would be a valuable read so that you can understand and support others. 

To learn more about Navigating the Explosion-You are not Alone, including where to purchase, visit the author's website.  Here is Allison Schumm's contact information:

www.schummexplosion.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/schummexplosion

www.twitter.com/schummexplosion

www.pinterest.com/adoptedtwice

https://plus.google.com/+AllisonSchumm/posts

 

Thank you to Allison for writing such an important book. 

 

 

Book Review~Hidden in the Heart

About Hidden in the Heart: 

"Everything Claire wants seems to be beyond her reach...

After losing her mother to cancer and suffering a miscarriage soon after, Claire Ferguson numbs the pain with alcohol and pills, and wonders if her own life is worth living.

Adopted at birth, Claire is convinced she has some unknown genetic flaw that may have been the cause of her miscarriage. She must find a way to deal with the guilt she harbors. But exoneration will come with a price. With her marriage in trouble and her father refusing to answer any questions about her adoption, Claire begins the search for her birth mother. For the first time in her life, she really wants to know where she came from. But what if the woman who gave her life doesn't want to be found?

Hidden in the Heart has been nominated for a 2013 Grace Award and is on the long list for an INSPY award."

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/jyIxz          

  

My Thoughts: Having been adopted myself and having both adopted and birth children, I knew this book would probably be an emotional one-boy, was it ever!  Hidden in the Heart started a little slow for me, and I also had trouble sorting out the characters for the first four or so chapters.  I think my problem was keeping the characters AND their nicknames straight.  Early on Belinda would be called Lin by another character and I'd think, "Who's Lin?"  But, as soon as I got everyone and their nicknames straight, I was totally into this book.  There are so many emotional topics intertwined-death of a parent, miscarriage, adoption issues, a strained marriage, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, and more. Claire's search for her birth mother totally brought back memories of my search years ago, and the emotions that went with it.  I really enjoyed Hidden in the Heart. 

Click here to read more about the book and more reviews!

Meet Catherine:  

  

Catherine West is an award-winning author who writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. Her first novel, "Yesterday's Tomorrow", released in 2011 and won the INSPY for Romance, a Silver Medal in the Reader's Favorite Awards, and was a finalist in the Grace Awards. Catherine's second novel, "Hidden in the Heart", released in September 2012. When she's not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two college-aged children. Learn more about Catherine by visiting her website: http://www.catherinejwest.com

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this ebook free from Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

A sweet little boy is waiting to come home!

Some wonderful friends of ours from church are in the midst of an amazing journey-international adoption!  Having adopted domestically and being adopted myself, I am so excited for this family!  Adopting internationally can be very expensive-averaging $35,000!  This little baby is currently living in an orphanage and is 1 1/2 years old. 

I love supporting compassionate people like these however I can.  Would you consider joining me?  Their blog is Tweets from the Nest, and it is full of information on their adoption journey.  They have a paypal button on their homepage that you can click on, and they are raising money with these cool t-shirts and wrist cuffs.  I'm certain they would also appreciate your prayers as they excitedly await their little one's arrival!

Thank you!!

~A Special Day~

Six years ago today was a very wonderful day in our family!  Chad officially became part of our family.  He had been a member of our family in our hearts and home for 7 months already, but this was adoption day!

I can't believe how little the kids were! Nick was 14, Alyssa 10, and Chad had just turned 3 a few weeks before.  We were all very happy to make it official!  This little boy has brought so much joy and laughter into our lives, I can't imagine life without him. It is truly an honor and pleasure to be Chad's Mom.