A Stellar Review of The Best For You

Thank you to Robyn for this insightful review of my book. I think this just might be one of my favorite reviews yet. Why? Because Robyn really took the time to convey how the book touched her family, and she went so far as to explain why some may like it, and some may not.


I am so appreciative of people who not only take an interest in the book ... but take the time to share it with their readers and others they may know. You are so kind Robyn, and I would call you friend any day!


The Chittister Family: Book Review: The Best for You

For other points of view, please visit the tab at the top of the page that says The Best For You Reviews.

Intriguing Talk About Adoption

So, last I left you I posted for The Open Adoption Examiner where Lori is conducting, and rather beautifully I might add!, a book tour. Idea is that a group of writers, most in the adoption world and a few not so much, gather together to review and share their thoughts on a book. That book is Found: A Memoir by Jennifer Lauck. What AMAZING conversations are going on within the comments sections of just about every post, my eyes are literally tired from reading. Like a magnet to metal, I have been glued to the screen. Her Tour is where I have been for the last four days!

The best aspect of this tour is that the author herself has been making the rounds, reading right along with everyone else. She has been kind, thorough, and intriguing in her comments but always with a curiosity and gratitude that for me, is quite refreshing. Others have made her think, just as she has made us think. I have to say that her voice has been fascinating to read.

I cannot try enough to convince you to get over there and read some of the honest, intriguing, heartfelt, views that are coming together to talk openly about adoption. The old saying food for thought is not close. This book tour has become a place where everyone keeps talking, communicating, and sharing together for enlightenment from ALL sides of adoption. I will share with you the link again, and encourage you to take some time this weekend to visit, read and think. 

Found Book Tour 

Be

Be strong, be compassionate, be kind, be the light you want to see in others but most of all .... be you!

Congratulations to all the entries for the last giveaway! I am so into the Holiday Spirit that YOU ALL are going to receive a book! If you entered, please email me here so I can get your address and send you the book: thebestforyoubook@gmail.com.

 

Thank you all for coming to enter, and for those of you who missed it there will be another chance to win in January! In the mean time, I will return before the New Year to put some thoughts to things I have seen this past week.

Heroes

I last told you of a letter that I received around Thanksgiving that happened to be from the twins mother. It was a lift that was not expected and quite welcome to say the least.

It was a thick envelope because it contained more than just a letter. There were pictures and newspaper clippings from this past year. They are very handsome boys and I can see similarities they have with folks in our family. I am struck most at how much they look like their paternal Grandmother. I mean, it is just uncanny! I love to see pictures of them because we have two boys of our own and I can see features that they will have that are just like their brothers. This fact is something that one cannot imagine seeing when considering adoption, but here I am possibly looking at the future features of the children I am raising. Just another interesting factor to being a birth mother.

What I did not expect were the newspaper articles. It would seem that both the boys took jobs at the same place over the summer. One day, a young girl was found to be drowning in the pool and the twins were responsible for saving her life. WHAT?! They worked together to get her out, revive her and in a word ... she is alive today because of their quick reactions. Now, to say that my heart grew 10 fold would be a complete understatement. Pride, joy, fortune, permasmile on my face. Just a sampling of the range of emotions that I was feeling, and yes I know that permasmile is not an emotion but you could not wipe it off my face for a few days following the arrival of the letter. I cannot imagine how they felt after such a heroic act! Not to mention, I cannot imagine just how proud their parents were of them! What an amazing certification that you instilled good values and traits in your kids than to hear they put themselves aside to save another life. (And when I say that sentence I am speaking of their parents, of course.)


There was another article about one of the boys and his work at an animal shelter. He has told me about his passion for animals before, even stating that he might like to be a veterinarian someday. There he was, working along side a wonderful woman whom I am sure was appreciative of his voluntary work. It was a great picture and I rather enjoyed the article and what it had to say about the place where he worked. 


My two sons at home are Scouts, they are respectful of others, they know their pleases and thank yous which they even use with each other :) They are good boys who understand that life is not the same for everyone and they strive to be the best they can be. So imagine my happiness to hear such great things about the brothers they have. How wonderful is it for me to see the things that, through genes, might make me proud someday the way the twins mother is. And how wonderful is it that she was able to share that with me? To get copies of the papers, copies of the pictures and compose her own account of the heroics of her sons, well I can honestly say that her joy became my joy that day! When adoption has respect, honesty and communication it really can be a shared and wonderful experience for all involved.


And as a side note, not too long ago one of the twins wrote to me and told me that I was one of his heroes in life. Well let me just say that YOU are one of my heroes as well, kiddo!

Congratulations! Here's Your Book...

Wow! Thank you all for entering this round of the giveaway ... I am blessed to have so many interested in this book! And as much as I would like to give you all a copy, I cannot. What I can say is this ...

Congratulations to Bumber's Bumblings, your name came out of the hat as the winner! (Yes, I do it the old fashion way. I list all of those who entered, then tear up pieces of paper to put into the hat and that is how the winners are picked. VOILA!)

If you are interested in this book and would like to read it, you can always order a copy. Or, another great idea is to go to your local library and request that they order a copy for their branch. You can do that with any book that you are interested in, and most libraries will comply and get a copy of the book for their patrons. If would like to order a copy of the book, here is a list of places that you can find it:

Author House ~ This is my publisher and this is where you will find the cheapest price for the book.

Barnes&Noble.com

Amazon.com

Tapestry Books ~ This is a FANTASTIC website that only carries literature related to adoption. Yes, I know! How great is that??????



Again, I thank you all for entering and taking an interest in this book. Keep an eye out for more giveaways, there is usually one a month so you still have a chance to win one in the future. In the mean time, may you all have a great weekend and continue to enjoy your summer! ~ Kelsey



Winners from Latest GiVeAwAy!!!!

40 Comments!!!!!!! Love to you all!!!! The winners are:

Hannah

Jodie Lee (kind of hard not to win, you were entered quite a few times!! ;)

and ...

Russ and Kylee!

But don't fret if you did not win. I run monthly giveaways of the book so be sure to visit from time to time! I thank all of you for your enthusiasm and for entering. Remember, you can always go to your local library and request that they order a copy for the branch. Always a good way to read a book, and then share it with others!!!

Thanks to all of you, I so appreciate you coming here to read!!!! ~Kelsey

The Adoptive Parent interviews Kelsey Stewart, Author of The Best For You

More insight into my world....Sally Bacchetta is an adoptive parent and author of What I Want My Adopted Child to Know: An Adoptive Parent's Perspective. She draws on her educational and professional background in psychology and counseling to illuminate the private thoughts of adoptive parents with sensitivity and startling honesty. She has a fantastic blog and website that I do enjoy reading.

I would like to thank Sally for her generosity in asking me to be in this blog series she has created. She had so many great questions that I think I may be a little long winded at times, but she really made me sit and think! I appreciate her inviting me to do this, and if you the reader should have any questions or comments...please feel free to ask.


Summer Interview Series at The Adoptive Parent