"Before You Were Mine" and Telling Your Adopted Child's Life Story

 

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November is National Adoption Month, and I found a cool Activity Calendar that shares daily adoption-themed activities.

Know what isn't on the Calendar, though? "Share a good resource for adoptive parents." But I'm going to share a good book with you anyway.

Before You Were Mine: Discovering Your Adopted Child’s Lifestory is a new Zondervan release by Susan A. TeBos and Carissa R. Woodwyk. Susan (an adoptive mother) and Carissa (an adoptee daughter) bring a solid Christian perspective to the book, which will guide you through creating a "Lifebook" for your adopted child.

The Lifebook idea is more than inspiring! The Lifebook you create will tell your adopted child's story in a way that helps them to see God's faithfulness and rest in Christ's love. To help you craft your child's Lifebook, Before You Were Mine gives you real-life stories, advice, and practical excercises.

Below you'll find out what people are saying about Before You Were Mine. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment on this post.
(-Londa Alderink, Zondervan Trade Team)

What people are saying about Before You Were Mine

Before You Were Mine is another way in which adoptive parents can help their child feel an extra measure of love and care. A great resource for all adoptive families. -Mary Beth and Steve Curtis Chapman, Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter and adoption advocates Studies have shown that adopted individuals are interested in their birth and placement history, and that many adoptive parents, even those who do not describe themselves as religious, can sense the role of Providence in bringing their families together. Before You Were Mine brings these two concepts together by describing the work of a loving Father acting purposefully in the lives of children and families, and offering suggestions on how parents can help their adopted children know and understand their individual stories by recording the relevant thoughts, details, and experiences into 'Lifebooks.' -Chuck Johnson, President and CEO, National Council for Adoption This is a resource every adoptive parent needs to own.  Our adoptive children depend on us to put the pieces of their life together for them.  While I’m not a naturally creative person, Susan and Carissa have given me the tools to be successful in telling my son’s life story! -Jill Savage, CEO, Hearts at Home, author of 7 books including Professionalizing Motherhood, adoptive mom  Before You Were Mine is not only worth reading but worth referring back to again and again. Written from the perspective of an adoptive mother and an adoptee, it beautifully blends personal experience, the advice of experts, and God's promises. Full of touching vignettes, it walks the reader through not only how to create a Lifebook but why it matters in the life of a child. -Kris Faasse, LMSW, ACSW, director of Adoption Services, Bethany Christian Services

Children who were adopted often grapple with the question 'Who Am I?' To some degree, we all do. This book offers practical, experiential wisdom on how parents can lead children through some difficult truths about their stories before and after adoption. The book will stir your creativity and imagination in parenting." -Russell D. Moore, Ph.D. Author, Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches Throughout the Bible, it is often story that gives both individuals and entire communities their sense of their identity and purpose, and of God’s work in history for their good. Helping our children see and interpret the unmatched story that God has given to them is a sacred role that carries life-long consequence. Before You Were Mine helps parents give this gift to their adopted children in a way that will guide and nurture them for a lifetime. -Jedd Medefind, President, Christian Alliance for Orphans This book is a practical resource for cherishing and remembering your child's unique story, pre and post adoption. -Ted Kluck, author of Hello I Love You: Adventures in Adoptive Fatherhood Bethany Christian Services is very excited to promote the book, Before You Were Mine, to all of its adoptive families. It is a book every adoptive parent must read and use as a reference throughout their child’s development. The author shares personal stories, their personal expertise, and have rooted all of their advice in God’s Word. It is a valuable tool that will create a wonderful, loving family experience for the adoptee and the parents. -William J. Blacquiere, President/CEO Bethany Christian Services God's dream is that every child understands how much they are loved and cherished. By writing an adopted child's Lifestory, parents give them the precious gift of understanding how their unique story connects with God's dreams and passions for them. -Marla Stewart Konrad, Author of Just Like You Studies have shown that adopted individuals are interested in their birth and placement history, and that many adoptive parents, even those who do not describe themselves as religious, can sense the role of Providence in bringing their families together. Before You Were Mine brings these two concepts together by describing the work of a loving Father acting purposefully in the lives of children and families, and offering suggestions on how parents can help their adopted children know and understand their individual stories by recording the relevant thoughts, details, and experiences into 'Lifebooks.' -Chuck Johnson, President and CEO National Council For Adoption, adoptive father

 

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Learn more about Before You Were Mine.

About the Authors

Susan TeBos (M.A., Western Michigan University) is the mother of three adopted children from Siberia. She has led many workshops for adoptive organizations and for adoptive ministries in churches. She and her husband, Michael, and their children live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Carissa Woodwyk is a Korean adoptee. She holds a master's degree in counseling psychology and is a licensed counselor and marriage and family therapist. She enjoys speaking on relationships, marriage, personal growth, identity, and adoption. She and her husband have two children and live in Hudsonville, Michigan.