Fredericksburg Parent

November 2017

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18 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2017 " WRITTEN BY CHRISTA MELNYK HINES New children's Book Opens Conversation for Adoptive Families FROM ESSAY WINNER TO CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR Soon after, Smith and her friend Sarah Strickling Jones, an illustrator, were puttering around the garden together. Jones suggested Smith turn the essay into a children's book that she could illustrate for her. Smith loved the idea. She could not only offer the book as a valuable resource to adoptive families, but the proceeds from the book's sales could help fund her upcoming adoption. The duo's collaboration resulted in the book Why Did You Choose Me?, geared toward kids between the ages of 4 and 8. The picture book opens the door for conversation between parents and their adopted children about the special way their family came together. Moved by the book's message, Smith's employer Ambassador International, a Christian book pub- lisher, opted to publish it. "A child's adoption story isn't something to be ashamed of. It's something to embrace," Smith said. "I want par- ents to be able to open up that communication and to show their children how they love them and how their family is special." COMMON ADOPTION MYTHS Smith and her husband, Jamie, adopted all three of their children, Hannah, 9, Ephraim, 7, and Harmony, 4, from the same birth mother. In the process, they've grown familiar with the many myths surrounding adop- tion. For example, many people assume adoption isn't financially feasible. "My husband and I can't afford it if you looked at us on paper," Smith said. But she says that multiple grants, loans and fundraising options are available for couples interested in adoption. With more than 130 million orphans around the globe and over 500,000 children in the U.S. foster care sys- tem, the need for warm, loving families is strong. But a gut-wrenching news story or movie about an adoption gone wrong can sometimes discourage prospective parents. "More often, families have a lot of good stories to share," Smith said. "Anybody who brings a child into their home—that's one less. You might not be able to change the world for 130 million orphans, but you can change it for one child." WHERE TO FIND THE BOOK Why Did You Choose Me? is available for purchase through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Christian Book beginning November 12, which is also Orphan Sunday, an initiative of the Christian Alliance for Orphans. When Katie Cruice Smith was researching resources to help finance the adoption of her third child, she came across a grant that would be awarded to the winner of an essay contest. The essay question was: "If your child asked you 'why did you choose me,' what would you say?" This was a question that Smith had already dealt with when her oldest child was just 4 years old. "Hannah asked 'why did you pick me? I don't look like you. Wouldn't you like somebody who was more behaved than I am or more talented?'" Smith recalled. Just as she lovingly reassured Hannah, Smith thoughtfully responded to the essay question and won the contest. This was a question that Smith had already dealt with when her oldest child was just 4 years old. "Hannah asked 'why did you pick me? I don't look like you. Wouldn't you like somebody who was more behaved than I am or more talented?'" Smith recalled. Just as she lovingly reassured Hannah, Smith thoughtfully responded to the essay question and won the contest. Why ME? A child's adoption story isn't something to be ashamed of. It's something to embrace"

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