If you’ve been hanging around on my blog for very long, you know that I’m a firm believer in adoption. I didn’t start out that way, but after four biological children (and the necessary surgery to make sure our family was complete!), God placed another son in our family through adoption. If you’ve never read our adoption God-story, you can do that here.
Several months ago, I was asked to share our story in a book about adoption. Today I want to introduce you to this great new resource, Praying Through Your Adoption, and the woman who wrote it, Michele Scott.
Michele, what inspired you to write Praying Through Your Adoption?
Prayer has always been important to me. I turned to God in prayer during our infertility, and I had planned to pray through a pregnancy if that had been God’s plan. While adopting our son from Russia, we experienced painful delays and obstacles, such as increased fees and additional paperwork. At a particularly low point in the adoption process, I participated in an online prayer vigil that directed me to pray for very specific aspects of adoption – from government officials to waiting children. I realized the power of prayer specifically in adoption and saw the need to help other families pray through their adoptions as well.
How did you come up with the title?
Becoming an adoptive family is a process. First, you make decisions about the type of adoption and the age of child you wish to pursue. Then you work to become approved, educated, and prepared for welcoming and parenting this new child. Praying Through Your Adoption shows families how to rely on God and their faith through the entire journey of creating and nurturing their forever family.
What other life experiences shaped you to write this book?
Wow, many life experiences influenced this book. Our infertility is probably the biggest since the longing and waiting for our son is a large portion of our story. But even getting laid-off right before our adoption, experiencing post-adoption depression, and dealing with special needs made me want to encourage others dealing with similar difficulties.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Retelling my experience with post-adoption depression was hard. After our difficult time becoming parents, I never imagined I’d feel overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed as a new mom. As much as I wanted to skip over that chapter in my life and in the book, I felt it was important to paint a realistic picture for prospective adoptive families. Thankfully, other adoptive families were willing to share their real-life joys and challenges in the book as well.
What’s one of the most important things people need to know about adoption?
One of my favorite quotes in the book is from the late Derek Loux, an adoptive father of and an advocate for orphans. He said,
“My friends, adoption is redemption. It’s costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him. And when He redeems us, we can’t even really appreciate or comprehend it.”
Derek’s words capture so much. There is loss, and, yes, there are sacrifices – financial and otherwise – in adoption. But the rewards for answering God’s call to care for orphans are priceless.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I’m sure I learned a lot, but I was especially overwhelmed by the amount of transparency and support I received from the adoption community. The families featured in the book, in particular, poured out their hearts and souls. For some, telling their stories was pure celebration and thanksgiving to God. For others, it was probably a means for healing. I’m eternally grateful, and I think the readers will be, too.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
With over 143 million orphans across the globe, I would love to see more families consider adoption. But I deeply respect the person who hears this interview or picks up this book and, for whatever reason, decides adoption is not right for them, I hope they would still consider providing prayer support and perhaps even financial support to families who are pursuing adoption.
For more information on Michele Cervone Scott and Praying Through Your Adoption, please visit www.MicheleCScott.com.
I’d love to read this book because I love adoption stories and hearing how God was in the midst of them all. Our two children are adopted and their stories are such testimonies to God’s faithfulness.
Wow! I know someone that could really use this book right now!
I would love to give this to my friends Andrea and J who are in the beginning of the adoption process!
Adopting has been placed in our hearts for some time now. We keep open to the idea and know God will show us how and when it’s time for us to move forward.
I would like this book because we know for sure God is calling us to adopt, but we just don’t know when/how. Its no coincidence that this post popped up on my wall today! Praise God!
We have a family blended by adoption through God’s hand. We were not able to have children and started down the long and sometimes difficult road to adoption. After having a country close, we adopted our son, now 5, from Guatemala. Currently we have triplet girls from Haiti and are wading through a different type of adoption with them. I would love this book for our friends Carrie and Mark who are just starting the adoption process. We are trying to walk with them, as others walked with us.
We run an organization called “Vision To Becca” that advocates, helps, and provides for special need orphans with medical needs in Southeast Asia. We also help and encourage many local families with there plans to adopt children. We adopted our daughter from China in 2006 and are currently are in the process of adopting 2 more children from China. With our bio sons that make us a family of 7! Whew! I’m loving every minute of it!!! =]
We would use this book to encourage us through our adoption journey as well as to share with other families in their adoption journey’s. Thanks and be blessed! <
I would be blessed beyond words to have a book like this in our library! We are 20 months into an international adoption from Ethiopia. I would love to soak up this wise women’s advice on prayer and connection to God our father through this time. Its been a blessing to feel the peace remain after two years of waiting and praying.
we have 3 biological children and too, our family is “complete” by our sense of the word, but God has been showing me over the last few months that perhaps our family isn’t as complete as we might think it is. it will definitely take some convincing on my husband’s part and even some on mine, so reading this book would be most beneficial right now.
Adoption has been on my heart for many years. I have a sister who is a foster child that eventually got adopted by my parents. Last week, my 12 year old daughter asked about it. I explained that we have been feeling over whelmed with her behavior for so many years and we are grateful that she is finally maturing. We also have a 9 year old daughter Whenever I bring it up to my husband, he complains about the financial areas. These are all excuses. I would love to explore this further with the tips already mentioned because we know all things are possible through Christ who strengthens me!
I would love this book because we are in the middle of adopting our first from Russia, and it’s hard to know how to pray sometimes when you feel so overwhelmed – you cant get past yourself. I would love to have the help in deepening my prayer life in this area.
As an adoptive mom, love to read books about adoption and promote them as resources on our family blog. Sounds like a great book and fun giveaway!
What a great book! My husband and I do not have kids yet but we feel strongly that adoption is in our future. I would love to read about how God worked through another adoption.
This is something I need right now! If I don’t win I am going to buy it! Adoption is full of times where we have to stop and pray over every little aspect of it especially when there are so many twists and turns, you just never know what’s around the corner. I could use the encouragement and advice this book has to offer!
I would love to read this book! Adoption is dear to my heart as I look at what God did for me to make me a part of His family. We are praying and considering it for our family as well.
I would absolutely LOVE to have this book right now. My husband and I have had adoption on our hearts for a while now. I’ve listened to your story many times and have definitely been encouraged. We are praying about adopting from Africa and we are trusting the Lord to provide and show us the way. We are actually traveling to Africa at the end of July / early August for a missions trip and we will be visiting an orphanage in the country we are going. I’m so excited! Just praying that the Lord would show us what He wants for our current family of 5. What a blessing this book would be!
Thank you for sharing such an encouraging blog! Your ministry is powerful!
We just passed court yesterday for our two kids, hoping they will be home in May! Would loooooove to read this book!
Jill,
I love reading your blog and learning from your stories and other resources. My husband and I started the domestic infant adoption process last summer. We were officially in the program in November and got the wonderful call that we were chosen by a birthmom on Valentine’s Day. Our little guy to-be is due any day now! I would love this book as a reference to me as we continue down this path God has led us on. Thank you so much for considering me!
As a mom of 5 (2 being adopted) and an adoption/orphan advocate I’m super excited to see this book release. The adoption journey is not for the faint-hearted. We saw the faithfulness of the Lord in huge ways during both of our adoption journeys. I minister to adoptive families daily and would love to refer them to Michele’s new book! Blessings! ~Shelly
I have 2 sons through adoption and I love to read about other adoption stories. I feel God is leading me to speak and/or write about our adoption process to help others through theirs. I would love to read this book to see how it was written and to gain some insight on beginning to write my story.
I would love to have a copy of this book! I have several friends who would benefit from reading this book as they are going through their adoption processes! I would have loved to have something like this to turn to while going through our adoption processes…all three of them!!
This book would be an incredible asset! We have 5 bio boys and have just started the amazing journey of adopting a girl from Ethiopia. (and already, have been challenged by circumstances that threw us to our knees). Thanks for speaking out for those who cannot speak for themselves!
My husband and I have been blessed with 5 children: 4 are adopted and one birth child. We adopted 3 of them through the foster care system and that was a process that took years and was very difficult. We are in the process of doing the paperwork for another adoption: this time for either a special needs child, a sibling group, or one of the many that are currently waiting in the foster system for their forever home. This is a like a ministry for our family. We would absolutely love to have a copy of this book! No matter how many times you adopt each situation is very different and all are stressful to varying degrees. Many blessings to Michele Scott for writing this much-needed resource! Sounds like a must-read for anyone interested in the topic of adoption.
I would love to read this book. Have begun the process to become foster/adopt parents, and know just how important prayer is. Thanks for the giveaway!
Count me in!
I would love to read this book and add it to our library. We are blessed to have been able to adopt two beautiful children. We thank God for them as well as their birthparents everyday.
Adoption Is something we have considered, but havent been sure if its the right thing for us. I would love to read the book.
I would love to read this book. My husband and I are in the waiting stage and are looking forward to being matched with a birthmom and welcoming our son or daughter home in God’s timing. I would love to learn from other men and women who have gone before me, some helpful ways to pray during this time since the wait can sometimes feel painful and long.
As an adoptive mom, I would love to have a copy of the book. I would also love to be able to share it with others I know that are considering adoption or want to know how to best pray for a family that is in the throws of an adoption.
I would love to read this book! I’m really interested in what she has to say about post adoption depression.
I have four biological children, and my husband and I decided that our family was complete after our youngest son was born. Now that he’s 2, I am starting to feel that adoption may be in our future.
My husband and I are currently in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. After 4 years of infertility, our dream is finally coming true! God is faithful in the midst of every storm. I would love to pick up this read. I know prayer is the only thing that has brought us this far! Blessing!
I would love the opportunity to have a copy of this book! As a social worker, my heart has always went out to the children and youth who have been without a forever family. But my level of involvement in adoption/foster care had always maintained a professional level of involvement until one day when I was reading through the Gospels.
As I read I noticed that over and over it is written that Jesus had compassion on people. Now, that in itself is not so surprising; after all, He is Jesus. But when I studied further on each of these occasions, I discovered the most amazing thing: every single time I was told that Jesus had compassion on someone, He did something! Do you get it? Each time that He encountered a person or a group of people, He had compassion on them and he did something to help them! He either fed them, healed them or taught them. On one occasion He brought His disciples over and talked with them about praying that God would send out workers to save them.
So I got to wondering then, just what is this thing called compassion? And do I have it? I mean, it seemed to be more than just a fleeting feeling of pity or sympathy. In fact, according to these passages, true compassion does not stop at just a feeling; it goes way beyond that. So, I looked up the definition. Here is what I found…
Sympathetic concern for the suffering of another, together with the inclination to give aid or support or to show mercy!
And here is another one…
A feeling of deep sympathy or sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering!
Is that great or what? A strong desire to alleviate the suffering!! Compassion by it’s very definition compels us to help people; to get involved, to alleviate the suffering of others! Wow, right?! And that’s what Jesus did! It was His lifestyle! He demonstrated this compassion for people all around Him! He didn’t just give a pitiful glance then walk away, wishing them well. No, He got involved. The sympathy and sorrow and love He had in His heart poured out of Him in practical, helpful ways! And He did something.
So, this truth has opened my eyes to the fact that God wants for my family to ACT on our compassion for the orphans and less fortunate around us and become a foster family, and to strive to have the compassion that Jesus had!
This book would be a great start to our adoption process!
“Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” Mark 9:37
We prayed our way through our U.S. adoption. God certainly walked with us every step of the way.
We love the idea of adoption and feel God’s leading that direction but have no clue where to start. I’d love to read this book!
If I don’t win a copy of this book through your blog, I’m buying it because I resonates with me so much…Our journey is eerily similar…and as I prepare to give a speech to a mom’s group about my adoption journey, I think this book could really help in that effort!
My husband and I were blessed beyond words through the adoption of our one year old son from Russia…and saw first hand the miracle of adoption and how faithful He is to provide, protect and redeem. Thanks so much for letting your readers know about this book. I will have to share the title with my friends!
Foster-Adoption has been on my heart for years as well as all other forms. I would love to fill my house up – we are still praying and waiting for God’s moment, but I think this is such a great thing..
We started our international adoption journey in March 2006 and we received our referral this last fall (October 2010) and returned from beautiful Colombia with our daughter the beginning of December 2010. In spite of the painfully long wait and at times longing to know “why” God was having us wait so long, we never felt Him close the door and we pressed on knowing His ways are better than ours. Our daughter has truly been a blessing to us, she was so worth waiting for! We also have felt the rewards for “hearing God’s call” for us to adopt – it’s hard to explain! I have become an adoption advocate for the “orphans”. I would love a copy of this book!
Yes yes yes! Please sign me up for this book giveaway. We’re in the adoption process from Ethiopia and just emerging from a particularly difficult spot in the process.
Our email address is thepitkinfamily@gmail.com! Thanks!
I would love to receive a copy of this book. My husband and I have two children and would like to adpot one or two children. Our 11 year old daughter informed us of a meeting that we should go to to find out more information. My husband and I went and then were invited to an adoption conference to learn more. We are still in the beginning stages of this whole situation with adoption. I have so many questions and concerns and would love to read this book. If we would choice not to adopt we really would love to help out the orphans in need. We are waiting on the Lords direction for our family and our lives.
I would love a copy of this book. We are at the beginning stages of adoption..in fact we just had our first home study today. How awesome that I just popped on the computer and saw this post. God is good!!!
My husband and I recently felt that it was in God’s plan for us to adopt. As of last night, we completed the last class of the 10 week course and are beginning our “real” journey. Although we do not have a solid family support system, we are relying on God to guide us. We have second guessed ourselves quite a few times, but believe that we can offer an older child in the state not only a home, but love, guidance, support, and a safe Christian upbringing. This book would be an excellent motivator when it feels as though the world is working against us.
Thanks for all you do! I thoroughly enjoy reading your stories 🙂
I would love a copy of this book because we are in the process of praying our way through adoption decisions. It is no easy task but I know God will lead the way!
My husband and I are just starting to pray about adopting, so this is a book I think we’ll need to read!
This book couldn’t come at a better time for me! God has been instilling a desire in me to adopt a child all my life and now the time to actually begin the process is drawing near. My husband and three biological sons are excited to begin our journey for our Esther. I started a part time job just last week to earn the money to bring my daughter home. What a great book to help me bathe this time in specific prayer.
I would like this book because I have been wondering lately if adoption is God’s next step for our family.
We are just starting our adoption journey and I have started praying for our future children daily- I’d love some ideas!
I’d love to read this book! We have a log-in date for our adoption through China and I’m excited to meet our 3rd child. I can honestly say that I’ve never felt closer to God as I have through this process.
My sister passed this on to me and this book is a definite must-read! My husband and I just had our first home study in preparation of starting our family. We know God has a teenager in foster care on our hearts, and I can’t wait to read the prayers and stories in this book!
What a neat resource! We’re in the beginning stages of pursuing this adventure with our family too-
My husband and I are starting to talk and pray about adding a child to our family through adoption. This sounds like such a great book for us!