Many Thorns, Yet Still Roses: Breaking the Silence with Our Story of Sibling Group Adoption
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Author: Jessie Gallaher
Publisher: Jessie Gallaher
Paperback:
ISBN 10: 0999843710
ISBN 13: 978-0999843710
“A must read for all parents,” and “A true testament of faith!”
There I was, in the middle of a crowd, realizing how alone I felt. 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.
Review
"Foster care. Adoption. Trauma. Abandonment. Family. Healing. This book is real and honest and inspiring." --Rachel McCracken, Author of Chasing Kites, and creator of Chasing Kites--a foundation committed to serving adoptive and foster families.
"After having adopted two boys and feeling the loneliness that has come as we've dealt with their emotional and behavioral difficulties, this book was very comforting. To know our family is not alone in this struggle and seeing this woman's positive attitude has inspired me to keep on fighting for the services my boys need." -- Jennifer Rodriquez, certified Elementary and Early Education Teacher.
From the Back Cover
Only Few Have Dared to Share the Whole Truth Surrounding Adoption Transitions. Jessie is of the Few.
When Jessie and Jordan open their hearts and home to children in need, their lives are instantly changed in more ways than they could have imagined. Jessie gives you a front row seat from which you will experience the overwhelming lows and heartwarming highs of their first years as a foster and adoptive family. No topic is taboo, for she tells it all. From her struggles to maintain faith, her worries over not being enough, her fears in the moments where everything seems to be falling apart, and her devastation in finding that there is always a next obstacle, she is breaking the silence. She paints detailed pictures of the most complicated situations, where many will wonder, "Why would anyone sign up for that?"
And the answer is simple. There is hope and beauty in the ugliest of circumstances. God's plan is bigger than each of us. The phrase "Things could be worse," really means "There is a rose amongst the thorns."
About the Author
Jessie is an Army wife, writer and an advocate for foster and adoptive families. She has a background in psychology and in working with adolescents. She maintains a Facebook page (facebook.com/jgal814) which seeks to inspire others to lean on their faith and improve their perspective. When it comes to outlook, she would love everyone to remember that "It's a choice to focus on what is going wrong. It is a better choice to count your blessings."
Jessie is also a mom to five kids, all of which she and her husband adopted out of foster care. They have redefined what love means to her, as she now understands at a deeper level how much work love can require. Though life can be difficult at times, she maintains faith that all things are possible with God, and therefore continues giving her best effort to overcome each obstacle as they come.
Feel Free to come follow me on FaceBook at:
facebook.com/jgal814
Or at: chasingkites.com/authors/jessie-gallaher/