Upside Down is now available in its entirety – complete, revised, and expanded – through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and WestBow Press. Enjoy this excerpt here. :)
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Thank you for writing this series, it helps to remind us we aren’t alone.
You are so welcome…and so, so not alone. :) Thanks so much for reading.
The pussy willow and rose image is perfect! I so wish you had been writing when I adopted my daughter. Of course, back then no one was talking about RAD. I thought I was insane and everyone else thought I was as well. She is 23 now and we are okay. I just wish someone had been around to say “this will be different from what you expected and what you know about kids”. I hope that somehow you can compile what you have written and LOTS of people can benefit.
As a grandma to two newly adopted children from Ukraine, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your writing! It will help me beyond measure as I love and support my daughter and her husband (and my son and his wife with two children from Russia) in their selfless act of love. Thank you! May God bless you as you are blessing others!
Patty, I so appreciate your willingness to be a teachable, supportive grandparent! Your kids (and grandkids) are amazingly blessed to have you!
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Thank you for this series! I feel that the Lord is preparing and leading me to adopt one day, (when I am married!) and am trying to study, research, and learn all I can in advance. I love the down-to-earth-reality and practicality of your writings.
The depth of pain and struggle involved in adopting is almost enough to scare me away from the idea…but how can a Christian use that excuse? We know first-hand what being bought at a very, very high price means. Redeemed. Loved and chosen despite our unworthiness. Physical adoption is an amazing picture of Spiritual adoption. And to all of you ‘in the trenches’ – you are painting that picture!
There is a little verse –
“You’re writing a gospel, a chapter a day,
By the things that you do, and the things that you say.
Men read what you’re writing, distorted or true:
Now, what is the gospel according to you?”
Earnest, loving, Christ-led adoptive parents are writing a very special chapter! A gritty, blood-sweat-and-tears gospel that contains some of the pain and grace and laying down of life that shines in the heavenly Gospel. What is the gospel according to you?
That love means laying down your life – going to the ends of the earth (physically or figuratively) to seek and to save the lost and the broken. Putting aside ease and comfort and applause and approval to pour yourself out, day after day, on the altar of God’s glory – for that, and for the sake of the ones who were lost, but now are found. Who were alone, but now are loved. Now, that sounds like a Biblical gospel to me.
God bless you!
Jasmine, thanks so much for your thoughtful words…I appreciate them so much. It is marvelous that you are researching and prepping even now in anticipation of your calling! Way to go!
Such a power packed beautiful series, Shannon! Thank you for sharing your heart – and your tears. I appreciated the link about what grandparents could do, too – watching the struggles from the outside is tough. But knowing what you *can* do is really helpful! You have empowered us to be part of the solution! Thank you!!! God bless you all!!!