In this practical book, Michelle McColm takes the adoptee and birth parent carefully through the process of adoption reunion; drawing on extensive interviews and the experience of her own reunion.

In My Adopted Life, author Lauren Lynne tells her adoption story from her perspective. She shares lessons, questions, and letters written by her and her birth family. Through these letters, Lauren learned answers to the questions that had been with her a long time: how her birth parents met, what her birth mothers pregnancy was like, how she made decisions regarding the adoption, and what she had to sacrifice to ensure that Lauren would be placed with the best family possible. Knowing this information helped Lauren to better understand herself and to know that her adopted family is her true family and that love determines all things. In this personal narrative, a young woman shares the story of her life, exploring the details of her adoption and getting to know her birth parents.

"Collection of stories about the reunions of adopted children and their birth parents, with sections from the point of view of the children and their adoptive and birth parents"--Provided by publisher.

By comparing a group of adopted people who searched for birth relatives, with a group who did not, this is the first study to provide real answers to the fascinating subject of why adopted adults decide to search or not. Based on the experiences of 500 adopted people, the research exhaustively looked at all the possible influences on search decisions.

Susan Fedorko had always known she was put up for adoption before she was even a year old. And she had always known she was Native American. But when she turned eighteen, she felt the need to know more about herself. She received some information about her birth parents through the adoption agency, but there was so little to go on. She gave up her search many times. For the next twenty years Susie was busy with marriage and motherhood. Finally, in 2002 and at the age of forty, she received the phone call that would change her life. Someone was looking to find her. And what she discovered was astonishing. Susans birth mother was the first Native American supermodel, Cathee Dahmenan international fashion model with two celebrity marriages under her beltand her great uncle was the famed Native American artist, George Morrison. Cricket is the incredible story of one womans journey to discover her roots and define her place in a newly complex and extended familywith her adoptive family, her birth family, and her husband and daughters. Its the story of who she was before, who she became after, and how it all happened.

The book describes the experiences that people have had when tracing their birth parents, as well as offering practical advice on how to go about searching and what to expect emotionally. Each section has an advice box which summarizes key points, notes issues to pay particular attention to, or offers draft letters that readers can adapt for their own needs. The appendix contains useful addresses and weblinks, and includes checklists for searching and for the reunion. Chapters include reunion with birth fathers and birth siblings, as well as with birth mothers, the relationship with the adoptive family and dealing with reunions that break down.

Julie is adopted. She is also a twin. Because their adoption was closed, she and her sister lack both a health history and their adoption papers—which becomes an issue for Julie when, at forty-eight years old, she finds herself facing several serious health issues. To launch the probe into her closed adoption, Julie first needs the support of her sister. The twins talk things over, and make a pact: Julie will approach their adoptive parents for the adoption paperwork and investigate search options, and the sisters will split the costs involved in locating their birth relatives. But their adoptive parents aren’t happy that their daughters want to locate their birth parents—and that is only the first of many obstacles Julie will come up against as she digs into her background. Julie’s search for her birth relatives spans eight years and involves a search agency, a PI, a confidential intermediary, a judge, an adoption agency, a social worker, and a genealogist. By journey’s end, what began as a simple desire for a family medical history has evolved into a complicated quest—one that unearths secrets, lies, and family members that are literally right next door.

Every Family is Created by God God forms families in many different ways and sizes, but all are equally important and special. When adopted son Calvin needs to tell about his family for a class assignment, he discovers his parents were praying for him long before they chose him. Not only that, but God chose them for Calvin. It wasn't by chance and it wasn't an accident. It was according to His plan. We Chose You was written to communicate to all children, whether birthed or adopted, that they are chosen. That they are secure. That they are loved. This is a message every child needs to hear. Let this book give you the words to tell your child about your family's unique story.